SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Pitchers and catchers have reported and positions players have begun trickling in, but Giants camp doesn’t truly begin until our first reader mailbag of the spring is published.

Well, the time has come and I’m pleased to dive right in after a chaotic offseason that brought the Giants a new general manager, field manager, coaching staff and even a few new players. It certainly feels different around Scottsdale this year and I’ll be the eyes and ears for you –our valued reader– all the way from now until the last game of the season.

We plan to release a mailbag with answers to your most pressing questions each Thursday during the spring and into the regular season, too. To submit a question, you can reach me via email at kcrowley@bayareanewsgroup.com, on Twitter: @KO_Crowley or on Instagram: @GiantsKerry.

Question: @11012010Finally: Which inexperienced outfielder do you expect a big year from?

Answer: The Giants seem to treat Mike Yastrzemski more like a veteran than an up-and-comer, so I’ll remove him from the equation even though I think it’s relatively realistic for Yastrzemski to have another impressive year atop the Giants lineup.

I think Austin Slater, Steven Duggar and Chris Shaw are all capable of seizing a starting spot and running with it, but the player I’m most intrigued by is Jaylin Davis. He’s an impressive athlete with a physically imposing frame, has tremendous raw power and the versatility to move around the outfield, which is something the Giants value.

Question: @Camstrong53: Lots of depth has been acquired over the offseason, do you see a lot of releases through out the course of spring training or do you think they’ll go more veteran big league club and younger players on the Sacramento team and call them up as needed?

Answer: This is a good question because the Giants have acquired a lot of veteran players with major league experience on minor league contracts this offseason. One of the reasons they took this approach is because Farhan Zaidi and Gabe Kapler wanted to create competition in camp while maintaining flexibility on the 40-man roster. Related Articles Giants lose series opener in Oakland, lose ground in NL Wildcard standings

Giants’ Yastrzemski will stay on roster with calf strain, outfield depth put to the test

How are the Giants handling the pressure of a late-season playoff push?

The Deets: The Giants’ hellacious final stretch will test team’s mettle

SF Giants Gameday podcast: Are unlikely contributions a sign Giants can sustain success?

It would surprise me if more than three or four of the non-roster vets made the Opening Day roster because I do think the Giants want to give some of their deserving young talent extended auditions in the big leagues this year, but it’s also important to keep in mind how Zaidi values depth.

One of the reasons the Sacramento River Cats won the Triple-A championship is because they had so many players with MLB experience or players who could fit niche roles on a major league roster. You’re not going to win a World Series by acquiring 50 depth pieces, but the competition for jobs will bring out the best in certain players..

Question: @Jason_Galvin: How many games do the Giants lose to the Dodgers? Will MadBum throw at someone in his SF returns just to prove a point?

Answer: This is a question I asked myself immediately after the Dodgers acquired Mookie Betts and David Price. On paper, the Giants probably win two or three out of the 19 they play against the Dodgers. How do you pitch to a lineup with Betts, Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy and Justin Turner?

The games aren’t played on paper, though, and the Giants often give the Dodgers much tougher battles than they should. I’ll say the Giants win seven this year.

As for Bumgarner, I highly doubt he’ll target anyone. He seems at peace with his decision and the friendships he made in San Francisco are still strong. I don’t know of any bad blood, but I suppose time will tell.

Question: @pmalan1979: If someone took Belt off the Giants’ hands, is Buster the first baseman and Bart the catcher?

Answer: Not yet. Even if the Giants had traded Belt this offseason, I doubt Bart would be in the mix for an Opening Day roster spot because he still has fewer than 600 minor league at-bats under his belt and the organization wants him to continue developing his offense and defense in the minors.

If Bart torches Triple-A pitching in April and May and shows there’s nothing left for him to prove, I could envision a scenario in which Belt is traded midseason and the Giants have Posey and Bart in the lineup on an everyday basis. Even when Bart does arrive, I still expect Posey to catch on a semi-regular basis and it’s possible Bart will play some first base, too.

Question: @WCS15UK: How likely is it that Yolmer Sánchez is the starting 2B on Opening Day?

Answer: The Giants love what Sánchez brings to the team from a defensive perspective, but they would have to clear a 40-man roster spot for him because he joined the club as a minor league free agent.

I would guess Sánchez has about a 30-to-40 percent chance of starting at second base on Opening Day as he’ll find competition from utility players such as Mauricio Dubón and Wilmer Flores as well as waiver wire acquisition Kean Wong. Wong is a wildcard in the competition because if he outplays Sánchez this spring, he gives the Giants some added value as a left-handed hitter who has minor league options available.

At this point, I’d bet on Sánchez making the team but he’ll certainly have to earn a spot.

Question: @DeadballDomain: 1. What’s going to be be your favorite position battle to watch this spring? 2. How much time do you think the teams top prospects will get in camp as well as where they’ll start the season 3. Who has the best walkup song and why?

Answer: 1. Center field.

There are legitimately four or five different players who could start in center field on Opening Day and determining who’s comfortable out there will be one of the most interesting aspects of camp. I could see Steven Duggar, Mike Yastrzemski, Mauricio Dubón or Jaylin Davis starting there regularly, but I could also envision a scenario where the team goes with non-roster invitee Billy Hamilton.

2. Not much. Joey Bart and Sean Hjelle are the only top prospects in camp and while Bart will definitely play some meaningful innings and Hjelle will make a few appearances, most of the top prospects in the organization are over on the minor league side. The Giants did that on purpose because they want Heliot Ramos, Hunter Bishop, Marco Luciano and others to get as many at-bats as possible.

3. Madison Bumgarner’s “Fire on the Mountain” by the Marshall Tucker Band will remain my favorite until Opening Day when I’m forced to choose another. It’s an epic choice for him.

Question: @AidenWylie: From where does the myth that the Giants fans demand a competitive team come? The 2020 team could lose 90 games, and we’d be ‘fine’ with that, because it’s clear there’s a plan afoot – unlike in Baltimore.

Answer: It’s not a myth. Look at the stands at Oracle Park and look at the local TV ratings when the team isn’t competitive. Giants fans, and Bay Area sports fans in general, tune out when a team starts losing. Who’s to blame them? There are so many other incredible things to do in the area. A lot of fans will pay attention again when the team is competitive again.

Question: @lane_stapp: If the Giants keep 13 position players on the roster to start the season, it leaves Yolmer Sánchez and Billy Hamilton fighting for the last spot. Which is more likely to make the team? If they hit about the same its seems Hamilton has more trade value.

Answer: It’s too early to say that one roster spot will come down to two players because so much will happen that changes the roster equation over the next six weeks.

With that being said, I think you make a good point in saying that one of the last roster spots could come down to Sánchez and Hamilton. It will be hard to keep both because the Giants would have to create 40-man roster spots for both players and they’ll also need to add a non-roster catcher and potentially a pitcher or two.

If the Giants see enough from their young outfielders to feel comfortable about their depth heading into the season, I think Sánchez has a better shot. If they don’t, Hamilton has the upper hand.

Question: @Tracie_Cone: What, exactly, does a clubhouse culture coach do? Examples please.

Answer: It’s way too soon to know what kind of responsibilities assistant coaches Mark Hallberg and Alyssa Nakken will handle on a day-to-day basis, but manager Gabe Kapler has indicated the duo will be responsible for fostering a positive clubhouse culture and ensuring player-to-coach communication remains strong.

I can see why fans would be skeptical of having coaches who are tasked with managing something that isn’t easily defined, but let’s give this a chance before we decide it’s a bad idea. A 162-game season is a rigorous grind and in the past, I’ve noticed that some coaches appear overworked or overwhelmed by the middle of a season. Maybe it’s not the worst thing to try something new and put some smart new voices in the room?

Question: @jdotnew24: Which guy is the clubhouse organizer for fantasy football and events?

Answer: That’s Brandon Crawford. The clubhouse DJ is also the clubhouse fantasy football commissioner and perhaps most importantly, he’s the Giants’ players’ union rep. Fans may not see it, but Crawford does a lot for the clubhouse.