Giants-Angels: It must be spring
With temperatures expected to soar into the 90s, the Giants christen their exhibition season Wednesday afternoon against the Angels at Scottsdale Stadium. What a double-sided treat for Bay Area sports fans, with the Warriors looking unstoppable and the Giants widely considered the favorite in the National League West. The Giants’ farm system never seems to get much credit in the annual rankings by ESPN and Baseball America, but it keeps turning out surprises, notably Joe Panik and Matt Duffy. Mac Williamson and Jarrett Parker have power to spare, and if you’re worried about advanced age (and injuries) in the Giants’ outfield, keep an eye on those two. Among a group of hard-throwing pitchers, Clayton Blackburn may be the midseason choice is something goes awry in the rotation.