The Giants may not have had the best defense range-wise in 2010, but they were able to make the plays on everything they got to.

The Giants defense is subpar in 2011, but most of their errors came early on. The Giants are currently 13th-worst in the National League in errors with 40 and 12th in the league in fielding percentage at .983.

According to Baseball-Reference, as a team, San Francisco’s Rtot (the number of runs above or below average the player was worth based on the number of plays made) is minus-three, so their defense has slightly cost them a few runs.

One glaring defensive question mark is Miguel Tejada. As a shortstop this season, Tejada has made six errors and has a .942 fielding percentage in 27 games—with an Rtot of minus-three.

The Giants have made the most of Tejada by placing him at third base while Pablo Sandoval is recovering from his injury. Tejada has responded nicely by making just one error in 27 games, with an Rtot of four and a .988 fielding percentage.

If the Giants want to repeat as champions in 2011, they will have to continue doing something they excelled at last season—catching the ball.

Vinnie Cestone is a Baseball/San Francisco Giants Featured Columnist for The Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all information was obtained first-hand or from official materials from ESPN or the Major League Baseball website.

 
This article was featured on The Talking Giants Baseball Blog.

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The Freak.  The Franchise.  Big Time Timmy Jim.

Whatever you choose to call him, he has managed to become not only the face of the contemporary San Francisco Giants, but has etched his name in the history books, both with the Giants and Major League Baseball, in just his first five big league seasons.

Tim Lincecum is just shy of his 27th birthday, and already he has collected two National League Cy Young awards and a World Series ring.

Lincecum has led the National League in strikeouts in each of the last three seasons, and on June 6 recorded his 1,000th career strikeout, becoming the second fastest to reach that mark behind Kerry Wood, and just the eighth player to reach that number in his first five seasons.

The Giants ace has struck out opposing hitters at phenomenal rates, leading the National League in strikeouts per nine innings in each of the last three seasons, and averaging an astounding ten strikeouts per nine innings pitched over his entire career.

Lincecum is already a three-time National League All-Star and is likely to be appearing in his fourth All-Star game this July.

What Lincecum accomplished in the 2010 postseason was legendary.  It began in his first career postseason start against the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, in which he pitched a complete game shutout with a franchise postseason record 14 strikeouts. 

It ended with a ten-strikeout masterpiece in Game 5 of the World Series, when Lincecum recorded the win in the deciding contest, giving San Francisco its first world championship.

Number 55 is just entering his prime, and will in all likelihood be at the top of this list when all is said and done.

Buster Posey was an irreplaceable part of the Giants.

It’s rare to find a backstop with his professionalism and natural talent and it will be impossible to truly replace his presence both behind and at the plate during his at-bats.

The fact that he is currently leading the National League in all-star votes is just another reason for Giants fans to grieve.

However, the detrimental loss of Buster Posey should not mean a death sentence to San Francisco.

For now, Eli Whiteside is holding his own but management has been rumored to be talking to Ivan Rodriguez. Bengie Molina has been mentioned too, but it’s hard to see how he would really be a good addition to the team. Regardless, the catcher position will be sorted out, and if the Giants can get going offensively, they will be okay.

Another thing to remember is that, in spite of all the injuries and close losses we may have ingrained in our brains, the Giants are still only half a game out of first place in the NL West.

Rankings may change throughout the season but the Giants and Diamondbacks are out in front of the division.

With the Dodgers and intimidating Rockies 4.5 games back, San Francisco has been able to hold its own in spite of constant hurdles and hoops so far this season.

It’s going to be a long four months until October baseball and it’s hard to tell who will be a part of it right now.

However, if the Giants are able to make a few changes and stay calm, they’ve got a good chance of bringing a second parade to the City by the Bay.

The Florida Marlins are a team with fantastic pitching, with Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez, Chris Volstad and Ricky Nolasco anchoring a rotation that is quickly becoming one of the elite staffs in the National League.

The Marlins could also use some help in the outfield. The average experience in the big leagues for the four outfielders on the team is just two seasons. And apart from right fielder Mike Stanton, there isn’t much offensive contribution from Florida’s outfielders.

Hmm. Great pitching. 

A star shortstop in Hanley Ramirez. 

And a need for an outfielder with experience who can hit a little bit.

Sounds like a match made in heaven: Florida Marlins, meet the San Francisco Giants, who have more talented outfielders than they know what to do with and a need for a shortstop.

Of course no one is under any illusions that San Francisco could get Hanley Ramirez, but they certainly might be able to acquire the man who plays second base for the fish, former shortstop Omar Infante.

Infante had a breakout season in 2010 with the Atlanta Braves. He hit .321 for the Braves and helped lead them to the postseason, where they were defeated by the Giants in the NLDS.

In addition to his offensive potential, he would be a good defensive addition as well, providing more range at shortstop than Miguel Tejada.