Five years ago, Aubrey Huff was the Giants’ starting left fielder on Opening Day. Buster Posey had played in spring games, but no one was sure if he was ever going to be the same following his injury. Tim Lincecum was a four-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner coming off a fantastic season, and his career was holdin’ steady. Brandon Crawford was an unproven no-hit, all-glove shortstop who represented the biggest risk the organization had taken in years.
Which is all to say the obvious: A lot can change for a baseball team in five years.