In taking a look at the 2012 World Series champion San Francisco Giants, perhaps there is something for other teams around the league to learn from. This in terms of building a title contending team that has now won the Fall Classic in two of the past three years.

The most obvious observations about what has made the Giants the team they are are simple. The team's pitching is fantastic and the defense is sound. Hmmm, pitching and defense — what a concept for a place to start with a successful team.

Unlike the teams many have compiled over the past decade or so, the Giants have very few sluggers in their lineup. In fact, San Francisco hit the fewest home runs in the big leagues last season. Now, part of that has to do with their ballpark, AT&T, which is a big-time pitcher's park, but the success of Giants GM Brian Sabean in building the team this way shouldn't go unnoticed.