The San Francisco Giants aren't in championship form as they are currently in fourth place in the N.L. West. However, according to Danny Knobler of CBS Sports, the Giants still have a chance to win a championship in 2013, but they will need their general manager, Brian Sabean, to make some changes.
It is already clear that the Giants' pitching is performing at a low level. However, as they have money to blow, look for San Francisco's front office to fearlessly add players before the trade deadline, even it means spending money. They are weary of trading prospects, especially after seeing how the Carlos Beltran/Zack Wheeler move panned out in 2011.
Though the Giants' record isn't impressive, they are only 3.5 games back from the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks.They would be willing to take on any help and willing to pay the price, granted price is right.
Last season, Sabean acquired Marco Scutaro from the Colorado Rockies. We saw how great he was down the stretch and in the postseason for the Giants. Scutaro ultimately won the NLCS MVP and helped the Giants win their second World Series in three years. Also, the acquisition of Hunter Pence, though his bat wasn't there in the postseason, his motivational speeches proved clutch. His teammates loved him and his presence in the dugout was priceless.
In 2010, it was the acquisition of Cody Ross in the outfield and Javier Lopez in the bullpen. Ross made his presence felt in the postseason, smacking five home runs and driving in 10 runs while posting a .294 batting average. Ross won the 2010 NLCS MVP as he hit three home runs against the Philadelphia Phillies, two of which came against Roy Halladay in Game 1 of that series. Meanwhile, Lopez fired 5.2 innings out of the bullpen, while allowing only one earned run and striking out six hitters during the championship run.
The Giants offense this year looks strong. Gregor Blanco has recently caught fire, while Buster Posey and Pence have done marvels carrying the offense. With the return of Pablo Sandoval from the disable list, the offense becomes even deadlier.
Madison Bumgarner has done his best to carry the team's pitching, but he will need some help, which is why the Giants' radar has picked up pitchers Bud Norris, Ricky Nolasco and Matt Garza this season.
Realistically, teams like the San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies don't look capable of keeping pace with the Diamondbacks. The Los Angeles Dodgers have been dormant all season and will need more than Yasiel Puig to make a run at the division. The Giants have shown in the past that one key is all it takes to win a title. Can Sabean work magic and begin a new dynasty on the west coast?
