Reason for optimism: With World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014 ... well, we know what's expected in 2016.
Reason for pessimism: The rotation has been fortified, but it's still fragile.
I can give you a firsthand anecdote of how ingrained the even-year phenomenon is in San Francisco residents. When Hunter Pence went down during the first spring training game last year, I wondered how to delicately broach the subject with my 8-year old daughter, a budding Giants fan. Knowing Pence was one of her favorite players, I gently told her that he was going to miss the first month of the season. She mulled it over and then said to me, "That's OK. It's not an even year."
As silly as the narrative is, it's going to be with us all season, so let's note right now the big difference between the three-time even-year defending World Champions and the 2016 version: The team with which the Giants will break camp is easily the best.
