2008 San Francisco Giants season

MLB yearly infobox
name = San Francisco Giants
season = 2008
misc =

current league = National League
y1 = 1883
division = West Division
y2 = 1969
Uniform
ballpark = AT&T Park
y4 = 2000
city = San Francisco, California
y5 = 1958
owners = Peter Magowan (managing general partner)
managers = Bruce Bochy
television = KNTV (NBC 11)
CSN Bay Area
radio = KNBR (680AM) KLOK (Spanish)
espntn = sfo
brtn = SFO|

The San Francisco Giants are an American baseball team. Their 2008 season marks their 50th Anniversary in the Bay Area since moving from New York in 1958. It is also their first since 1992 without all-time home run champion Barry Bonds, who was not re-signed following the 2007 season.

Pre-season

On September 21, 2007, Giants' ownership announced that Bonds would not return after the 2007 season. [Citation |last=Curry |first=Jack |title=Bonds Goes From Out of the Park to Out of a Job |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/22/sports/baseball/22bonds.html |accessdate=2007-09-22] The Giants did not resign Ryan Klesko and Pedro Feliz. On December 12, 2007 the Giants signed Aaron Rowand to a five year and $60 million contract. [cite news | url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/13/SPU5TSUOT.DTL | title=HARD-NOSED Giants sign 'no-nonsense' Rowand to 5-year deal | author=Henry Schulman | publisher="The San Francisco Chronicle" | date=2007-12-13 | accessdate=2008-04-05]

The Giants finished spring training with a record of 9-23-2, the worst spring training in their recorded history. The Giants had the highest ERA and the lowest batting average among teams whose spring training was in Arizona. The team lead the majors with 40 errors. [cite news | url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/31/SP3MVT3KP.DTL | title=First lineup heavy on experience | author=John Shea | publisher="The San Francisco Chronicle" | date=2008-03-81 | accessdate=2008-04-05] The Giants lost a spring training game 4-3 to their Triple-A affiliate Fresno Grizzlies. Giants opening day starter Barry Zito allowed 24 earned runs in 25 innings in Spring training. [cite news | url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/27/SPCBVQS63.DTL | title=Zito, Giants beaten by Triple-A Fresno | author=Henry Schulman | publisher="The San Francisco Chronicle" | date=2008-03-27 | accessdate=2008-04-05]

Giants spring training included injuries and competitions for several roster positions. Steve Holm won the back up catcher spot against Eliezer Alfonzo and Guillermo Rodriguez. Relievers Merkin Valdez, Erick Threets, and Keiichi Yabu earned spots on the opening day roster. Noah Lowry, Vinnie Chulk, Kevin Frandsen and Omar Vizquel started the season the on disabled list. Brian Bocock was the opening day shortstop in place of Vizquel. Steve Kline was designated for assignment. [cite news | url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/31/SPLUVT4DQ.DTL | title=Meet, greet, know Giants Unfamiliar faces in 2008 | author=John Shea | publisher="The San Francisco Chronicle" | date=2008-03-31 | accessdate=2008-04-05] The Giants claimed Jose Castillo off waivers from the Florida Marlins late March 2008. [cite news | url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/23/SPSCVOOFP.DTL | title=Giants add Castillo to help hurting infield | author=John Shea | publisher="The San Francisco Chronicle" | date=2008-03-23 | accessdate=2008-04-05] He was the opening day third baseman. Kevin Correia won the competition to be the teams 5th starter.

The Giants were widely expected to miss the playoffs in 2008, according to numerous sports writers. [cite news | url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/04/SPDQVVDHC.DTL | title=GIANTS Losing teams still believe Winn: Expectations don't really matter
author=John Shea | publisher="The San Francisco Chronicle" | date=2008-04-04 | accessdate=2008-04-05] [cite news | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/preview08/news/story?page=08expertpicks | title=ESPN predicts the 2008 season
author=| publisher="ESPN.com" | date= | accessdate=2008-04-05]

Regular season

On May 16, 2008, Peter Magowan, the owner who brought Barry Bonds to San Francisco, built a new ballpark and kept major league baseball in the city, announced he would be stepping down as the managing partner of the Giants. Effective October 1, 2008 William (Bill) Neukom would be the new managing partner of the Giants. On July 20, 2008, San Francisco Giants purchased the contract of pitcher Geno Espineli from Fresno of the Pacific Coast League (AAA). [ Hayes, A.J.(2008-07-31). [http://www.asianweek.com/2008/07/31/giants-rookie-is-first-full-blooded-filipino-in-big-leagues/ "Giants Rookie is First Full-Blooded Filipino in Big Leagues"] .AsianWeek. Retrieved on 2008-08-01.]

eason standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log