San Francisco Giants: Creating a Set Lineup for Manager Bruce Bochy

San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy has been forced to tinker with his everyday lineups for most of his managerial career in San Francisco due to the injuries and ineffectiveness of many of his troops. 

However, when Pablo Sandoval returns from the disabled list during the next few weeks, Bochy should finally be able to go with a set lineup for the rest of the season. 

Here is how the Giants' lineup should shake out when Sandoval returns:

• RF Gregor Blanco
• CF Angel Pagan
• LF Melky Cabrera
• 3B Pablo Sandoval
• C  Buster Posey
• 1B Brandon Belt
• SS Brandon Crawford
• 2B Joaquin Arias
• Pitcher's Spot

Blanco, Pagan and Cabrera give the Giants speed, on-base ability and some power at the top of the lineup—similar to what the Cleveland Indians once had with Kenny Lofton, Omar Vizquel and Roberto Alomar in the late 90s. 

Sandoval and Posey are interchangeable in the middle of the lineup.  I put Sandoval in the cleanup spot because he has a little more power than Posey.  Posey also needs time off because of the demands of the catcher position.  Bochy can insert Hector Sanchez into the fifth spot when Posey needs a break. 

Belt has struggled mightily so far this season, but hopefully the changes he recently made to his batting stance will get him going.  Playing every day against both righties and lefties would help, too. 

Aubrey Huff looks absolutely finished at the plate, in the field and on the bases, so there is no need to waste any more starts on him.  Brett Pill is a fine player to have on the bench, but it isn't necessary to platoon him with Belt because Belt actually has hit lefties better than righties at the start of his career. 

Brandon Crawford has been hitting second lately, which has helped get his bat going.  However, when Sandoval comes back, the Giants need to move him down in the lineup to bunch their best hitters together at the top. 

The best way to consistently create rallies is to place your best hitters together at the top of the lineup.  Putting Crawford's weak bat in the second spot long-term will only serve to kill potential rallies given his propensity to create outs. 

Joaquin Arias has been an excellent find as a fill-in for Sandoval at third base during the past month.  He is a better hitter than Ryan Theriot or Manny Burriss, so he should take over the second base job when Sandoval returns. 

The Giants are two months into the season and Freddy Sanchez is nowhere to be seen.  He recently suffered another setback in his rehabilitation, making it less likely that he will play at all this season. 

The Giants have one of the best pitching staffs in the National League, even with Tim Lincecum pitching horribly.  The Giants don't need a great offense to make the playoffs with their excellent pitching staff.  All they need to make the playoffs is to be average, like they were in 2010 when they won the World Series. 

A trade to upgrade the offense at first base, second base or shortstop would certainly help, but the addition of the second Wild Card has created additional buyers at this season's trade deadline, making a trade for an impact bat an unlikely proposition. 

If the Giants offense is going to reach its full potential, Bochy needs to use this set lineup to create the maximum number of scoring opportunities.  Getting Sandoval back will give the Giants five above-average hitters at the top of the lineup, and if Belt starts hitting, this offense could be the deepest in the division.