SPRING TRAINING PREVIEW: FIVE QUESTIONS

GIANTS: Playing without Bonds for the first time in 16 years, they're in rebuilding mode

Henry Schulman-San Francisco Chronicle

Take a deep breath and repeat these words: Barry Bonds. Barry Bonds. Barry Bonds. Barry Bonds. And for good measure, Barry Bonds.

Got it out of your system? Great. You are ready for the new era of Giants baseball. The Big He is gone. Everyone knew that in September, but his absence will be jarring nevertheless when the clubhouse doors swing open in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Wednesday.

Imagine, if you are 25 years old, you were 9 the last time the Giants had spring training without Bonds. If you are a 50-year-old man, find a photo of yourself from 1992 and see how much hair you lost while Bonds hit 586 home runs in a San Francisco uniform.

Bonds' absence will be a big story this spring, but so will the emergence of youth and a rebuilding phase that could be painful yet invigorating in 2008. The new guard is aware that the ghost of Bonds will hover for some time.

"He and the Giants gave each other the most out of all the years he was here," Kevin Frandsen said. "Now that he's gone, it's our time. It's a new, fresh start for the entire organization. We don't have to put everything on one superstar. We're not hanging everything on one thing."
Here are five things to consider over the next six weeks:

1. Is this a 100-loss team? The Giants must forgive those who believe it is. They lost 91 games in 2007 while ranking 14th in the National League in batting average, 15th in runs, 14th in home runs and last in OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage).

They then subtracted Bonds and Pedro Feliz, who hit 48 of the team's 131 home runs, and added Aaron Rowand, who hit 27 homers with 89 RBIs in Philadelphia. On paper, the Giants' offense looks worse in 2008, making the team even more vulnerable in an increasingly tough National League West.

The Giants see it otherwise and suggest they will get a lift from exuberant young players spreading their wings, an exceptional rotation, good defense (which took a hit with Feliz's flight to Philly), speed and all the extra oxygen in the clubhouse with Bonds gone.

Expectations will be low, which might not be a bad thing given where this team stands.

2. How good is that rotation? General manager Brian Sabean resisted the temptation to deal Tim Lincecum this winter, even when Toronto dangled outfielder Alex Rios. (Does anyone really believe Matt Cain was in play?)

Sabean was not prepared to break up the one solid unit on this team, the starting five of Cain, Lincecum, Barry Zito, Noah Lowry and Kevin Correia.

But aside from ace-in-the-making Cain, whose 7-16 record in 2007 resulted from miserly run support, the starters have big questions to answer: Was Zito's poor season (11-13, 4.53 ERA) a fluke or his new norm? How quickly can Lincecum hone his raw talent? Can Lowry stay healthy for a whole season? Was Correia's rotation audition late last season (3-1, 2.54) for real?

3. Who is the third baseman? The Giants will monitor Joe Crede's health this spring as the White Sox third baseman returns from a back injury. The Giants are interested, and one rumor suggests they already have a deal in place to acquire Crede if he shows his old form.

The alternative is a platoon of Frandsen and Rich Aurilia. The question within a question here is whether the Giants truly will give their organizational players a chance in 2008, be it Frandsen, Daniel Ortmeier, Nate Schierholtz or Fred Lewis. Or will they revert to their habit of going with older players and trading for more experience when things go awry?

Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy insist youth will be served. At the same time, Sabean said, "I can't promise the roster we have now will be our roster on Opening Day."

4. Does Ray Durham have one contract drive left? Handed the No. 5 spot in the lineup after a terrific 2006, Durham staggered in 2007. He had the lowest batting average (.218) and second-lowest OPS (.638) among National Leaguers with enough plate appearances to qualify for a batting title. Omar Vizquel had the lowest OPS (.621), but he gets paid for his glove.

Injuries were not an issue. Durham was in good shape. He simply seemed overmatched at the plate. If Frandsen wins the second-base job, Durham could become a $7.5 million pinch-hitter.

Then again, something magical seems to happen to Durham in a contract year. His last one, two seasons ago, yielded a .293 average, 26 homers and 93 RBIs. The difference now is, Durham is 36, not 34.

5. Can they close the deal? A shaky bullpen contributed to the Giants' 39-55 record last season in games decided by one or two runs. Sabean promised to seek experienced relief help, but when the market soared, Sabean stood pat.

So now it will be up to closer-designate Brian Wilson, Tyler Walker, Brad Hennessey, Vinnie Chulk and lefties Steve Kline and Jack Taschner to generate the improvement on their own.

Kline and Taschner both had trouble retiring left-handers last season. The brass would love to be surprised this spring by lefties Erick Threets, a longtime organizational pitcher who excelled in the Mexican winter league, and Jose Capellan, a 21-year-old selected from Boston in the Rule 5 draft.

Giants spring training
Where: Scottsdale, Ariz.
When: Pitchers and catchers report Wednesday, all others report Feb. 19.

Schedule
All games at 1:05 MST unless noted; home games at Scottsdale Stadium

2/28 vs. Cubs; 2/29 vs. Mariners and at Cubs; 3/1 vs. A's; 3/2 at Cubs; 3/3 vs. Rangers; 3/4 at Padres; 3/5 vs. Royals; 3/6 at Angels; 3/7 vs. A's; 3/8 at Angels and at White Sox; 3/9 vs. Rockies; 3/10 at Royals; 3/11 at Brewers; 3/12 vs. Padres; 3/13 at Mariners; 3/14 vs. Diamondbacks; 3/15 at A's and vs. Mariners, 3:05 p.m.; 3/16 vs. Angels and at Royals; 3/17 at Rockies; 3/19 vs. Cubs, 7:05 p.m.; 3/20 at Angels; 3/21 vs. White Sox; 3/22 vs. Brewers; 3/23 at Rangers; 3/24 at Diamondbacks; 3/25 vs. Cubs; 3/26 at Fresno, TBA; 3/27 vs. Mariners, 7:15 p.m., AT&T Park; 3/28 vs. A's, 7:15 p.m., AT&T Park; 3/29 at A's, McAfee Coliseum; 3/30 vs. A's, 12:35 p.m., AT&T Park.

1. Is this a 100-loss team?
2. How good is the starting rotation?
3. Who is going to play third base?
4. Does Ray Durham have anything left?
5. Can the bullpen close out games?