The Second Half

Now that the All Star Game has passed and we have had a good look at where the Giants are (record, health, pitching, etc..), it is a good time to look at the trade deadline, expansion and the dog days leading to the playoffs.

My feeling is that, while the Giants are maintaining, they are far from where they need to be to be competitive for the playoffs.  The fact that they are in first is nothing short of miraculous considering the injuries and lack of production from too many important bats.  lets recap...

Injuries
Freddie Sanchez - Gone for the season
Buster Posey - Gone for the season
Mark DeRosa - May be back before the playoffs
Johnathan Sanchez - Out for now (1st rehab start this weekend)
Bill Hall - Should be back soon

Absent Offensive Production
Aubry Huff
Chris Stewart

Emmanuel Burriss

Brandon Crawford

Eli Whiteside (much improved over the last 5 games)

Pat Burrell
Cody Ross
Andres Torres
Aaron Rowand


I would have added Miguel Tejada to the list a month ago, but lately he has been hitting well, and Mike Fontenote except he is in a  gray area having only recently being activated from the DL.

So, we have dead bats in the outfield, except for the recent run from Nate.  The only production from the infield has been from Sandoval (also, recently activated) and the pitching staff.  The only difference between this year and last is more injuries this year and more 1 run or walk-off wins.

So, solutions...  anyone..  Please do not say Carlos Beltran.  His contract just doesn't make sense unless Sabean is willing to start dropping Burrell, Huff and/or Rowand/Ross.  Are we willing to give up on those non-producers?

Torres needs to start leading off with a better OBP (.823 last year, .672 currently this year) with a .044 drop in batting average this season.

Huff was paid a pile of money and his OPS has dropped from .881 to .660 with a .052 drop in batting average this season, so far.

Burrel and Rowand aren't even playing because when they do they strike out.  Stewart and Whiteside are in the difficult position of having to suddenly catch this staff full time and produce at the plate, which Whiteside seems to be improving with a jump in his batting average of almost .050 points and the all important RBI's.

Are we ready to give up on this team and hire a gun for the stretch, parking good players who were instrumental in last years run and wins or do we hope for health for the rest of the season and for some of these guys to pick it up?

My vote is to look at a catcher for the season to compliment Whiteside and give Steward more time in the minors and then wait out Huff, Ross, Burrell & Torres.  These guys can carry us again.  The question is who would the catcher be?  Ivan Rodriguez, Jose Molina, someone else??

This will certainly keep Bochy's wheels turning.

As usual, let me know if I screwed something up, if you agree or disagree and if your interested in contributing to this site.


UPDATE: Looks like Burrell is on the DL now as well.