Assessing the Giants Offensive Productivity

The allure attributed to the San Francisco Giants (31-24) since winning the 2010 World Series has been touted to stellar efforts from its starting staff, and clutch lights-out bullpen performances. Last season, the Giants set all-time, major league record-low .171 team AVG. with runners in scoring position.The Giants consequently missed the playoffs in their championship defense, specifically because of their inability to hit in the clutch, finishing 86-76 in 2nd place in the mediocre NL West, and tackling the disabled list a major-league high 25 times.The major question mark engulfing the Giants during the offseason was offensive productivity. However, San Francisco was avid in prioritizing long-term contracts for the front-end of their rotation instead.  Matt Cain (6-2, 2.62 ERA, .92 WHIP) inked a 5-year, $112.5 million extension, making him the highest paid right-handed pitcher in the history of baseball.  Long-tenured GM, Brian Sabean then locked up young southpaw, Madison Bumgarner (6-4, 3.04 ERA) with a 5-year, $35 million contract.It must be noted that Tim Lincecum (2-6, 5.82 ERA) is suffering the worst season of his big league career thus far. The “Freak” signed a 2 year, $40.5 million deal in the offseason, and is eligible for free agency after the conclusion of the 2013 season. The two-time Cy Young champ is currently a tremendous liability to the Giants’ efforts to chase down the division-leading Dodgers. San Francisco has won just 2 of the 11 games which Lincecum has started. It’s indubitable that the Giants can still pitch despite Lincecum’s struggles, but certain, pivotal offseason acquisitions have launched the 2012 version of the orange and black into a category of seeming offensive relevancy.

 

Melky Cabrera (.364, 4 HRs, 27 RBIs) leads the National League in batting average, and has been a prominent catalyst in propelling the Giants to a .600 win percentage in the absence of slugger, Pablo Sandoval. Cabrera was acquired from Kansas City in exchange for veteran left-hander, Jonathan Sanchez (1-2, 6.75 ERA). GM, Brian Sabean also sent right-hander Ramon Ramirez and outfielder Andres Torres to the Mets for Angel Pagan (.318, 4 HRs, 19 RBIs) in return. Pagan recently set a franchise record with at least one base hit in 28 consecutive Giants’ home games. Both Cabrera and Pagan have become insanely popular in the city by the bay, earning fan-clubs and nicknames alike, while evolving into the Giants two biggest offensive threats.

 

The cornerstone to the Giants outfield is offseason, under-the-radar pickup, Gregor Blanco. The “White Shark” has put a strangle-hold on the Giants leadoff spot, claiming a .383 on-base percentage, enabling San Francisco to be relatively efficient at the top of the order.

 

It is presumed that Sandoval (.316, 5 HRs, 15 RBIs) will claim the clean-up spot in the lineup when returning from the disabled list after having his right hamate bone removed, which should move Posey and Pagan down one slot in the order respectively. Even with Buster Posey’s tremendous recovery from season-ending ankle surgery in 2011, the Giants still sport a mediocre, .697 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage), which ranks 13^th in the National League. Posey (.295 6 HRs, 29 RBIs) leads the team in both home runs and runs batted in, meaning that his run production in the clean-up spot has been moderate at best.