5 Reasons Why the Giants Will Be Contenders For A Long Time

# 1 – Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy

There are two members of this Giants team that often do not receive the credit they so obviously deserve:  General Manager Brian Sabean (who has been with San Francisco as GM since 1996) , and manager Bruce Bochy (brought in by Sabean from San Diego following the 2006 season to replace Felipe Alou) have been at the center of many moves over their combined sixteen years with the club, and were often met with much vigor from fans.

Oct 28, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy in the dugout during the first inning of game four of the 2012 World Series against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports

Bochy is a genius of mixing and matching, and proves this fact on a daily basis.  Whether it’s a defensive substitution, a last minute change in the lineup because of a match-up, or just a good ’ole gut feeling, the Giants’ skipper has done his homework, and will always try and put out the best team possible with whatever pieces Sabean gives him.

Opposite the cool, calm, and collected Bochy, Brian Sabean has often been described as hot-headed.  But I like to think of it as passionate, and he is one of the most passionate general managers in the game today.  He believes in his team’s players, even if they appear to be castoffs or misfits; a lesson learned by everyone following the team’s first championship run in 2010.

What’s interesting, though, is how the pair seamlessly work off one another.  Their relationship is palpable to the team’s success, as they are very close friends, and their tireless work for the betterment of this team has paid enormous dividends over the past few seasons, most notably in the form of two championships over the past three seasons.

Which says what? They know what they’re doing.

What these two have for the club has been nothing short of incredible.  Two World Championships in three seasons?  Sure, it took sixteen years and three different managers to do it, but they did deliver.  And they did more than that.  They’ve put this team in a position to win for years to come; drafting the right players at the amateur/college levels with a strong emphasis on pitching, finding players who work well with one another, and trusting in their guys.  Giving them a chance to develop.  Not every organization is like that, so do to do what this duo has done in such a short amount of time working together, is actually phenomenal.

With Sabean and Bochy both receiving extensions that will keep the pair in San Francisco until at least the 2017 season, the Giants will consistently be given the opportunity to win.