Since 2008 I have said that if The San Francisco Giants made the
postseason that they would be a tough out due to their strong pitching
staff. They proved that last year as they won The World Series for the
first time since 1954. The Giants rode the arms of starting pitchers Tim
Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Madison Bumgarner to the title with a little
offense sprinkled in here and there. Yes The Giants won a World Series,
but they are putting too much pressure on the pitching staff. The Giants
pitching staff has the second best earned run average in The National
League at (3.15). The offense ranks last in The National League in
batting average (.239), runs (469), hits (1,123), and on-base percentage
(.300). The lack of offense is is hindering The Giants from winning
multiple titles.
In 2009 The Giants were in the mix for a wild card berth until they
faded down the stretch and they lost out to their division rival The
Colorado Rockies. Last year The Giants were able to catch The San Diego
Padres to win The NL West in the last series of the regular season as
The Padres offense was equally anemic. Once The Giants got into the
playoffs the rest was history. Regardless if a team wins a championship
or not, they must make improvements to the roster once the season is
done. In the off-season The Giants did not upgrade the offense. The
biggest signings were re-signing first basemen Aubrey Huff and
outfielder Pat Burrell. In The World Series Burrell swung and missed at
almost every pitch that was thrown to him, even in batting practice. The
Giants cannot let another off-season go by without upgrading the
offense.
Both Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols are free agents and Giants general
manager Brian Sabean should take a good look one of these slugging
first basemen. Both Fielder and Pujols can be penciled in for at least
35 home runs to go along with 110 runs batted in. The Giants have not
had that kind of production in the middle of the lineup since Barry
Bonds retired in 2007. It is time for The Giants to combine that feared
hitter with an equally feared pitching rotation. For Lincecum and Cain,
their winning percentages are hovering around .500 due to the lack of
run support behind them. Lincecum’s earned run average is at 2.75 while
Cain’s is at 3.19. Bumgarner’s winning percentage is under .500 largely
because of an ineffective offense. If this offense scores 4 runs or more
during a game it is reason for a parade across The Golden Gate Bridge.
Many thought that The Giants would “cakewalk” through The National
League West this season, but The Arizona Diamondbacks have had something
to say on the matter. The Diamondbacks have a firm control on the
division lead by going into AT&T Park in San Francisco and taking
two out of three from The Giants by outplaying them. The season is
winding down and more than likely The Giants will be on the outside
looking in for the playoffs due to the lack of pop in the lineup as they
trail The Atlanta Braves for the wild card berth as well.
Third baseman Pablo Sandoval was expected to be that guy to provide a
bat in the middle of the lineup, but “Kung Fu Panda” is more of a
complimentary player who tends to be a free swinger from time to time.
Sandoval would benefit from hitting in front of either Pujols or
Fielder.
Finances should not be an issue for The Giants who are eighth in team
payroll in Major League Baseball according to USAToday.com at
$118,198,333. The Giants are third in baseball for attendance averaging
41,830 fans per home game. Even before last year’s World Series triumph,
fans consistently flock to AT&T Park to see The Giants play.
Because of that the money is in place for The Giants to be active in the
off-season. If they don’t secure some offense, then 2010 will be soon
looked upon as a fluke.
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