San Francisco Giants Projected 2013 Opening Day Lineup

After winning their second World Series in three years, the San Francisco Giants mostly stood pat during the shortened offseason. Whether that will be enough to win the NL West again remains to be seen, as the Los Angeles Dodgers have made big moves and now have the highest payroll in all of baseball.

Here’s the Giants’ projected Opening Day lineup for 2013:

1- Angel Pagan (CF): “Crazy Horse” had a crazy good year in 2012, hitting .288, stealing 29 bases and leading the league with 15 triples. His career year earned Pagan a 4-year, $40 million contract. The Giants may have overpaid, but the 31-year-old has as much hustle and grit as anyone in the game, and he’s become an instant fan favorite.

2- Marco Scutaro (2B): Speaking of instant fan favorites, the Giants scored what was arguably the best deadline deal of 2012. All Scutaro did in 61 games with the Giants was hit an incredible .362, getting even better in the playoffs. Fittingly, it was a Marco Scutaro hit that clinched the Giants’ World Series sweep of the Detroit Tigers.

3- Pablo Sandoval (3B): No doubt the Kung Fu Panda is still basking in the glow of his historic 3-home run World Series Game 1. No doubt the Giants are also very worried about the weight issues that have plagued his short and sometimes erratic carrer. No doubt he’ll be hitting in the all-important 3-hole, at least on Opening Day.

4- Buster Posey (C): The 2012 NL MVP (.336/24/103/.957OPS) had the best year ever for a Giants catcher after missing most of 2011 due to a devastating leg fracture. Widely regarded as the best catcher in all of baseball at the tender age of 26, he’ll be batting cleanup for the black and orange come Opening Day.

5- Hunter Pence (RF): The Giants are hoping he’ll return to his old form after batting just .219 with 7 homers in 59 games in black and orange. Pence is a career .285 hitter and usually a solid middle-of-the order bat. That’s where he’ll start the season– the rest is up to him.

6- Brandon Belt (1B): Like Sandoval and Pence, the ‘Baby Giraffe’ is another big ‘if.’ If the 24-year-old defensive standout develops into half the power hitter that many scouts have predicted, the Giants will be very happy indeed.

7- Brandon Crawford (SS): Giants management and fans alike see plenty of upside in this 26-year-old, who proved he could defend with the best of them during his first big-league season. Look for an improvement on his .248 average.

8- Gregor Blanco (LF): In 2012, Blanco wowed Giants fans with some of the most memorable defensive plays since Willie Mays patrolled center field at Candlestick. He’s not much of a hitter, so he’ll be down in the 8-hole come Opening Day.

9- Matt Cain (SP): ‘Mr. Perfect’ is now the Giants’ ace; his formidable bat (for a pitcher) will add some pop to their Opening Day lineup too.

Brett Wilkins is a longtime Giants fan and season ticket holder.