With the additions of outfielders Melky Cabrera and Angel Pagan and better health for catcher Buster Posey and second baseman Freddy Sanchez, the Giants expect to have four bona fide hitters they didn't have in last year's second half.
Throw in a bounce-back year for Aubrey Huff, and the Giants can't help but improve on an offense that was last in the NL in runs.
No matter how good the offense is, the Giants remain pitching-heavy, thanks to a rotation of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Ryan Vogelsong and Madison Bumgarner and a deep bullpen featuring closer Brian Wilson.
Like Posey and Sanchez, Wilson is coming off an injury, shut down late last year with a strained elbow. Those three will be huge storylines as spring training evolves.
Another focus is manager Bruce Bochy's lineup. How much time at first base will he give Posey, whose ankle isn't completely healthy after his home-plate collision last May with Scott Cousins? Will first basemen Brandon Belt and Brett Pill steal playing time at first base from Huff? Will Huff and/or Belt get time in left field? Can all-field, little-hit Brandon Belt stick at shortstop?
Bochy is a mix-and-match guy and seems to use different lineups every day, and perhaps we'll see more of the same in 2012.
Much will depend on the health of Posey and Sanchez and the productivity of Huff.