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Bruce Bochy’s Greatest San Francisco Giants Team

By Michael Saltzman
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 31: Manager Bruce Bochy #15 of the San Francisco Giants, holding the Commissioner's Trophy waves to the crowd along the parade route during the San Francisco Giants World Series victory parade on October 31, 2014 in San Francisco, California. The San Francisco Giants beat the Kansas City Royals to win the 2014 World Series. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 31: Manager Bruce Bochy #15 of the San Francisco Giants, holding the Commissioner's Trophy waves to the crowd along the parade route during the San Francisco Giants World Series victory parade on October 31, 2014 in San Francisco, California. The San Francisco Giants beat the Kansas City Royals to win the 2014 World Series. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO – APRIL 08: Pitcher Tim Lincecum #55 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates after receiving his 2008 Cy Young award with teammate Bary Zito #75 before their game against the Milwaukee Brewers at a Major League Baseball game on April 8, 2009 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO – APRIL 08: Pitcher Tim Lincecum #55 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates after receiving his 2008 Cy Young award with teammate Bary Zito #75 before their game against the Milwaukee Brewers at a Major League Baseball game on April 8, 2009 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /

Starting Pitcher – Tim Lincecum (2008)

Pitching is the number one reason the San Francisco Giants won three World Series championships and they were as top heavy as any team in the Bochy era.

Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner all cemented their names in Giants folklore with their incredible performances in October.

Lincecum in 2010, Cain in 2012 and Bumgarner in 2014 each took the reigns of the Giants starting staff and led the Giants to the promised land.

However, looking at the overall production, Lincecum’s best season came in his first Cy Young season of 2008. His 7.8 WAR was the highest single season WAR of Bochy’s tenure.

He posted a 18-5 record with 265 strikeouts and an incredible 168 ERA+. He actually posted an even higher ERA+ in 2009 at 171.

As we mentioned Molina’s impact before, his impact on Lincecum and Cain in 2008 and 2009 will forever be undervalued.

Cain’s best season came in 2009 with a WAR of 6.1, while his best statistical season came in 2012. After struggling to earn wins for bad Giants teams, Cain went 16-5 in 2012, including the team’s one and only perfect game.

Bumgarner’s best season was 2015, with a WAR of 5.1. However, similar to Cain, the season he’s remembered for the most in 2014, where he dominated the post season like few in the history of the game.

There also needs to be a special shout out to Johnny Cueto, who’s 2016 season was even better than Bumgarner’s 2015, with a WAR of 5.5.

However, when having to choose between the three legends of the Giants starting staff, Lincecum stands tallest.

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