San Francisco Giants 2012: Does This Team Have Enough Offense to Win NL West?

Pitching wins championships. But you have to score runs to win games.

The 2012 San Francisco Giants have arguably the deepest and best rotation in franchise history with three top-line pitchers in Tim Lincecum, Madison Bumgarner and Matt Cain.  Ryan Vogelsong and a revitalized Barry Zito are legitimate back of the rotation pitchers.

But as for the offense, sometimes the Giants are truly offensive.  In 2011, fans expected the Giants to produce in similar fashion to the team that had career years in 2010.  What they received was the team’s slogan made famous by Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper, “Torture.”

Bruce Bochy pulled all of the right strings to bring the San Francisco Giants their first World Series Championship in 2010 since their move from New York.  But the San Francisco Giants looked their age in 2011, had significant injuries, and scored only 570 runs all year, eclipsing only the dreadful Houston Astros by four runs as the second-worst offensive team in the National League.  

So, the Giants started off 2012 by scoring at least four runs in their first eight games. Problem solved? Not so fast!

The Giants bats cooled off quickly, coupled with Aubrey Huff’s anxiety disorder and eventually a return trip to the DL for another hamate bone injury from Pablo “Kung Fu Panda” Sandoval. A repeat of 2011 looked to be on its way.

The offensive woes are partially the blame of Bruce Bochy’s consistent lineup changes.  Bochy likes veterans over younger players, but he has no choice this year as the Giants have gone to the youth movement on the fly. Bochy’s major problem is trying to get too many players involved.

There are very few regulars in the everyday lineup such as Buster Posey, Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan and the newly appointed shortstop, Brandon Crawford.  Joaquin Arias has played his way into the lineup, filling in primarily for the injured Sandoval, but he hasn’t distinguished himself yet from the rest of the pack of substitutes.  That sets up for four or even five spots for the constant rotation.

Brandon Belt was supposed to be the next big thing for the Giants, but he hasn’t developed as expected because the Giants’ cautious handling of him.  The shuttling back and forth to the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate in Fresno last year and the now clogged rotation of Belt, Posey and Brett Pill at first base has led to the fan’s “Free Belt” movement.  The Giants need to treat Belt like Brandon Crawford, who has struggled at the plate and on the field, but gets consistent starts every game at shortstop.

The only consistent producers in the lineup are Melky Cabrera (whom the Giants acquired for talented, but underwhelming Jonathan Sanchez—who pitched their first no-hitter since John Montefusco in 1976), Angel Pagan (who the Giants received in an offseason trade that involved fan-favorite Andres Torres and pitcher Ramon Ramirez) and franchise-pillar Buster Posey.

Bochy needs to stick with at least six regulars so he can get the consistent playing time for Belt at first base.  The outfield will keep productive Cabrera, Pagan, and rotate Gregor Blanco and Brett Pill with a spot start from Nate Schierholtz.  Second base is currently the weakest position in the lineup and it needs to be a rotation of Emmanuel Burriss, recently called up Charlie Culberson or whoever else they can find.

The strategy will keep the offense afloat and let the players develop at a more rapid pace.  If the pitching continues to dominate other National League teams, the Giants will be right back in position to win another NL West title and possibly another World Series title in 2012. 

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