It’s been years since the Giants have contended in the NL West. Even the last couple of years that Barry Bonds was in the lineup, the Giants failed to contend. So maybe it’s just the time of year again to be optimistic, but Giants fans are starting to get excited about their 2009 season.

The truth is while the Giants may not be ready to play with the Mets or Phillies on a daily basis, the NL West division is one that has even the lowly Padres believing they could possibly contend. So as the Giants prepare for the 2009 season the question is, “what do they have to do to finish atop their division?”

Here are five things that need to go right for the Giants this season:

#5. MIDDLE INFIELD PRODUCTION

The Giants will start the 2009 season with a completely different (and younger) middle of the infield. While many baseball experts may tell you the Giants overpaid for Edgar Renteria, not one will tell you they didn’t get a huge increase in offensive ability. Renteria’s season in Detroit was his worst year statistically in over a decade. However, it would have been a nice addition to the Giants top of the lineup in 2008 as they finished last in the league in HR’s and BA at the shortstop position.

Renteria’s defense is nowhere near the level that Omar Visquel’s is, but he isn’t as bad as people want to make him out to be. His critics said he had lost a step or two of range in the infield last year, but Renteria’s off-season workout brought him to camp 10 pounds lighter and ready to prove the critics wrong.

Second base will be a question mark until right before the season starts, and the Giants will have three young players to choose from. Kevin Frandsen, Emmanuel Burriss, and Enginio Velez all came to Spring Training with one goal, to win the starting second base job. Whomever does win the starting job, their role on the team will be very important as they will be the number eight hitter in the lineup.

The Giants need their second baseman to get on base and give the starting pitcher’s a chance to sacrifice bunt or be the last hitter of an inning, letting Randy Winn and Renteria swing with runners in scoring position, or leadoff the inning.

#4. THE PABLO

It’s easy to get excited about a young player that comes up from the minors and tears the cover off the ball if you’re a Giants fan, mostly because it hasn’t happened in so long. However, the Giant’s are placing a lot of offensive responsibility on the shoulders of the prospect Giant’s fans are calling, “the big round mound of pound.”

Pablo Sandoval made the jump to the majors straight from the AA affiliate Connecticut Defenders last year, and now is a centerpiece of the Giants offense. While he came into camp a few pounds heavier than manager Bruce Bochy would have liked, he has continued to hit the ball hard in spring and is slated to start at third base assuming Travis Ishikawa starts at first. It will be interesting to see what “The Pablo” does with a full season offensively, and find out whether he can handle the hot corner on a daily basis.

#3. THE BULLPEN

The problem in 2008 for the Giants wasn’t just the offense. There was a missing link between the Giants starting pitching and their closer Brian Wilson. Too often the Giants starters left the game with the lead only to end with no decisions because of the bullpen. The Giants tried to rectify the situation mid season with call ups of Alex Hinshaw and Sergio Romo but just young arms weren’t enough.

The Giants hit free agency faster and harder than any years in recent history signing Jeremy Affeldt and Bob Howry to shore up there bullpen issues. However, the guys in the bullpen can plan on pitching in a lot of close games, and as they go, so will the Giants.

#2. BARRY ZITO’S REEMERGENCE

The 127 million dollar man has been added to the list of one of the worst off-season signing ever by many in baseball. However, because of his awful 0-8 start to last season it was easy to miss the respectable second half he had. Zito finished the year 10-17, posting a 7-5 record after the month of June, and lowering his ERA a full point in the second half of the season.

Zito spent his off season working out with All Star closer Brian Wilson getting into what Wilson referred to as the best shape of Zito’s life. While Zito may never be the dominate force he once was while with the A’s, the Giants will settle for a respectable third starter. Cain and Lincecum will be the stars of the staff this year, but if Zito can pitch like he did in the second half of last year, the Giants will have a pitching staff with only one question, “Who do they trade at the deadline?” Leading us to key #1……..

#1. BRIAN SABEAN’S MID-SEASON MAGIC

A lot of people are down on Brian Sabean as a GM. Looking back, I’m sure Sabean isn’t exactly thrilled with the way some of his more recent trades have worked out. But none the less, the Giants are going to need him if they are in contention around the All Star break. The Giants have too many question marks offensively, and assuming some players don’t turn out to be ready to handle daily playing time (Ishikawa, Sandoval, or the second base trio), Sabean is going to have to make a move for an offensive weapon.

The Giants have had made many trades in the past ten years that have really bolstered their team right at the trade deadline. Guys like Kenny Loften and Randy Winn are players Sabean brought in at the trade deadline to jump start the offense and there is a good chance he will need to do the same this year.

If all these “Keys to Winning” happen, other teams in the NL West are going to have a tough time keeping up with the Giants. While the Giants may not be a favorite to win a championship, step one is always getting to the playoffs, and if they succeed in these area’s, they will have a good chance to do just that.