Jeff Sullivan, Special to ESPN.com 8y

Walk this way: Overachieving Giants keep winning with patience, contact

MLB, San Francisco Giants

Browse around the top of the standings and it's no surprise to see the Chicago Cubs. This is where the Cubs were supposed to be, after all, and to this point they've lived up to the hype. They're not out there all by themselves though. Within striking distance you find the Texas Rangers, and the San Francisco Giants, who are running away with the National League West. The Giants, too, were supposed to be good -- why else would a team sign Johnny Cueto? -- but this team has the feel of an overachiever.

It was supposed to be more of a dogfight. And, who knows, maybe it'll still be a dogfight, but the Giants have a stranglehold on the division with the Los Angeles Dodgers being a modest disappointment. The Giants, on the other hand, have clicked, and they've overcome their own injury issues. A team doesn't achieve the Giants' record without defeating a little adversity, and it's been a whole team success.

How have the Giants gotten to this point? It begins with Cueto and Madison Bumgarner. With Cueto restored, few teams can compete with the Giants' front two. The bullpen has had its wobbly moments, but for the most part it's gotten the outs it's needed. The team defense has been outstanding -- the team ranks first in baseball in defensive runs saved, and it ranks second in ultimate zone rating.

Yet you can't overlook the lineup. It's not exactly a juggernaut, even if the ballpark keeps the power down. But no team controls the zone like the Giants do. They're on a historic pace in that category.

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