You carry things with arms, right?

Been to the zoo lately? Seems we lost our panda but the giraffe is still there and we’ve added a second shark. There’s a crawdaddy in the pond as well, but all are under control so don’t have a panik attack. Our zoo can no longer get its freak on but we still have an angel in the outfield.

Jeez, that’s more bad nicknames and puns than it was worth. Better call a chiropractor after that stretch.

Jeff Samardzija. No, wait ....

As noted, the latest addition is Jeff “the Shark” Samardzija, so dubbed during his freshman year at Nortre Dame when fellow pitcher Chris Niesel decided he bore a striking resemblance to the shark in Finding Nemo. Remember, hitters aren’t friends, they’re food, Dude.

Samardzija is a big piece to what is simultaneously the Giants’ greatest improvement and greatest mystery: the rotation. Samardzija and Johnny Cueto are in at a cost of $220 million; with Tim Hudson, Ryan Vogelsong and (most likely) Tim Lincecum bidding the Bay Area adieu. The Giants also hope Matt Cain and Jake Peavy can rebound to back up ace and newly-minted pretty boy Madison Bumgarner.

This is going to be either the greatest investment since Google IPO’d at $85 a share or…not… because the Giants arguably bought low.

Jeff Samardzija

There were a lot of hard swallows and sideways glances when the Giants threw a serious ante into the pot to replace 40 percent of the rotation. But if you’d heard the same numbers after 2014 you’d have thought the $130 million tossed at Cueto and Samardzija’s $90 million payday were right in line with the market, if not even a bit low when you consider Max Scherzer’s ungodly deal.   

Cueto was near the top of everyone’s list but proved shaky when dealt to the Royals from Cincy at midseason, giving rise to rumors about injury. Samardzija was the popular girl at the party and set for a big number but gave up more hits and earned runs than any AL starter in his year with the dysfunctional ChiSox.

Just gimme the ball -- Cueto

Both were devalued. GM Bobby Evans nabbed the tandem for about the price of one Zack Greinke and has reason to feel good about the decision. Samardzija had bad numbers, but MPH wasn’t one of them; his average fastball was a tick over 94. Cueto didn’t adjust well to life in the AL but was dominant in his World Series start for the Royals and now returns to familiar territory.

And now both have Rags. Dave Righetti is, quite simply, the most under-appreciated weapon in baseball.  

The X Factor here is between the ears. Cueto and Samardzija have spent their careers expect to be The Man. The Giants already have one of those, and at last glance he was pretty darned good. Neither has to carry the weight of a team; the big debate will be who ends up the number two. Both had other suitors. Both wanted to be in San Francisco. Better situation, better results? The Giants certainly believe that’s the case.

A bigger issue will be the four and five spots. Just how much can be expected from Cain and Peavy?

Workhorse Cain hopes to saddle up again

While Lincecum was the team’s unqualified star during its first two title runs, Cain was its workhorse and go-to stud. The elder statesman of the team is still just 31 but injuries derailed his last two seasons. Elbow surgery killed 2014 and a strained flexor tendon limited him to 11 starts and a 5.79 ERA a year ago. He claims that’s all behind him.

Peavy likewise suffered from injuries; a hip and his back proving as cranky as his on-field demeanor. He rehabbed longer than Lindsay Lohan but was effective in the second half. Well, sort of. SSFGF enjoyed a Twitter skirmish with a pair of Giants beat writers (Alex, Baggs, you remember) over Peavy’s effectiveness, and we were all right. 

He was awesome for six innings, which was usually about the time hitters were seeing him for the third time. Peavy held batters to a .203 average the first two times through the order and allowed a homer every 157 ABs. From that point on the long-ball ratio was 1 out of 12 and hitters stroked at a .350 clip. His best friend was a quick and merciful hook.

Jake Peavy: Mr. Congeniality

Both men seem better suited to the back of the rotation at this point in their careers and Peavy is likely done after the season. With the top three expected to eat innings like Joey Chestnut slamming hot dogs, they should benefit from a bullpen that isn’t overtaxed.

Of course, the Giants do have to be concerned about injury given Cain’s and Peavy’s recent history. In such an event PCL ERA champ Clayton Blackburn could be called upon, touted prospect Tyler Beede might get a call, or the roller-coaster that is Chris Heston could be thrust into the “break glass in case of emergency” role.

Overall, there’s reason to believe the 2016 edition of the Giants five-man show will be an improvement, good news for a team that stayed in the 2015 race despite obvious shortcomings. As a staff, the Giants ranked ninth in ERA (3.72) and seventh in runs allowed (627). USA Today had them ninth in their preseason rankings, inexplicably two spots behind the Greinke-less Dodgers, citing questions on the back end.

We're betting they're better than that.