San Francisco Giants: First-Quarter Progress Report

The San Francisco Giants have officially completed one quarter of their 2014 schedule. They currently have a 28-18 record, which puts them in first place in the NL West and gives them one of the best records in all of MLB. They’ve gotten off to a blazing start so far, and they haven’t shown any signs of slowing down yet.

After winning two World Series titles in three seasons, the Giants followed up this success with a disappointing 2013 season. Injuries and fatigue caught up with the Giants, and they were never able to recover.

Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

This season, the Giants have been one of the best teams in all of MLB, and they’ve proven to be the best team in the NL West so far too. This is certainly a pleasant surprise for Giants fans, especially since the Giants’ roster didn’t change much in the offseason.

The Giants added Tim Hudson and Michael Morse, who have significantly contributed to the Giants’ success this season. They have also gotten fantastic and somewhat unexpected production from non-roster invitee Brandon Hicks. These offseason additions have really stepped up for the Giants this season, and they’ve given this Giants team a big boost on both offense and defense.

It’s still very early in the season, but it’s clear that the Giants have really improved in some key areas that they struggled in last season. Let’s evaluate why the Giants have been so successful so far and what they can improve on for the rest of the season.