SAN FRANCISCO -- Aware that 2008 would be a year of transition and rebuilding, the Giants entered the season with low expectations. Thus, their fourth-place finish in the National League West wasn't necessarily disturbing.

If anything, the Giants emerged with higher hopes. Finally realizing that they needed to focus more on player development, the Giants gave plenty of exposure to five rookies or near-rookies who could help them in the future: Left fielder Fred Lewis, shortstop Emmanuel Burriss, catcher-infielder Pablo Sandoval, right-hander Sergio Romo and left-hander Alex Hinshaw.

The youngsters, combined with able veterans such as catcher Bengie Molina, infielder Rich Aurilia and outfielders Aaron Rowand and Randy Winn, helped compensate for the loss of all-time home run leader Barry Bonds, who was not re-signed after last season. So did Tim Lincecum, who emerged as a legitimate Cy Young Award candidate.

"We have some star players in the making, I'm convinced of that," left-hander Barry Zito said. "I think there's a lot to be excited about."

However, that sometimes wasn't the case this season as the Giants endured more than their share of slumps. They lost six of their first seven games, dropped five in a row and 12 of 15 in May, lost nine out of 12 in June, sustained a six-game losing streak in July and lost seven of eight in late August and early September.

A variety of shortcomings plagued the Giants. They ranked last in the Major Leagues in home runs, wasted talented pitching by ranking second in walks issued and watched their fielding percentage sink steadily in the season's second half.

Record: 72-90, fourth place in NL West.

Defining moment: The Giants finished below .500 at home for the third time in four years, and their fortunes at AT&T Park seemed to turn on May 15, when they built a 7-3 lead through four innings behind Lincecum. He ultimately struck out 10 in six innings, but the bullpen surrendered five runs in the final two innings in a dispiriting 8-7 loss.

What went right: Playing their first full Major League seasons, Lincecum developed into the staff ace and Brian Wilson established himself as the closer. And starters Zito, Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez all looked extremely sharp at times. Molina and Winn were consistently productive, and Sandoval was the most prolific of the 24 rookies the Giants used.

GIANTS TOP PERFORMANCES
5/15, HOU 8, SF 7 -- Lincecum sparkles
In six strong innings, young ace Tim Lincecum fanned 10 Houston batters.
Highlights: Watch
5/25, Final score -- Vizquel long at short
Omar Vizquel took the field at shortstop for the 2,584th time, surpassing the previous record held by Luis Aparicio.
Highlights: Watch
5/30, SD 7, SF 3 -- Giants turn the triple play
Jose Castillo, Ray Durham and John Bowker, completed San Francisco's first triple play since June 1999.
Highlights: Watch
6/13, OAK 5, SF 1 -- Omar safe at home
Omar Vizquel became the first Giant since Max Venable in 1983 to pull off a straight steal of home.
Highlights: Watch
6/24, SF 3, CLE 2 -- Vizquel's friendly welcome
Omar Vizquel enjoyed a hero's welcome at Progressive Field in his first visit there since leaving the Indians.
Highlights: Watch
7/24, SF 1, WAS 0 -- Cain pitches a gem
Matt Cain records the Giants' first complete game of the year with a four-hit shutout.
Highlights: Watch
8/23, SF 4, SD 3 -- Burriss shines defensively
Rookie Emmanuel Burris shows why he has provided hope to Giants fans by making a sparkling play to rob Edgar Gonzalez.
Highlights: Watch
9/3, SF 9, COL 2 -- McClain reaches the fences
Scott McClain, the 36-year-old rookie, finds fulfillment with his first Major League homer.
Highlights: Watch
9/7, SF 11, PIT 6 -- Hitters hang 10
The Giants strike for their biggest inning in five years with 10 runs in the fourth.
Highlights: Watch
9/8, SF 6, ARI 2 -- Lincecum dominates again
Tim Lincecum strengthens his Cy Young credentials by taking a shutout into the ninth inning.
Highlights: Watch

What went wrong: Offensively, the Giants couldn't make up the shortfall that Bonds' departure created. They hit for a solid average in the season's final two months but remained at or near the bottom of the league in scoring. As good as Wilson was, his bullpen mates all too frequently didn't deliver him save situations, blowing five leads for Lincecum alone.

Biggest surprise: After being demoted from high Class A to low Class A last year, Burriss couldn't have been expected to excel in the Majors this soon. But Omar Vizquel's knee injury and Brian Bocock's ineffectiveness gave Burriss a chance, and he seized upon it by hitting .283 and playing slick defense at shortstop and second base. He already has been anointed as San Francisco's shortstop of the future.