San Francisco Giants Report Card: Shortstop, Catcher Huge Issues
The Giants entered Thursday 39-29, leading the NL West by two-and-a-half games.
And with two-and-a-half months of the baseball season behind us, let's take a look at the Giants and, well, grade them.
There are some glaring holes at some positions and some of the grades may seem like unfair judgments because of injuries, but it is what it is.
Despite some of the issues offensively, they are still rolling along.
Pitching is obviously the strength but at what positions do they need an upgrade and how are they faring to this point?
Starting Pitchers: B+
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Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Ryan Vogelsong and Jonathan Sanchez. The five of them are the anchor of the team and have been stellar once again.
But there are some chinks in the armor.
Sanchez has not figured out his control problem and, once again, is on pace to lead the league in walks.
Cain has been slightly more hittable this season.
Lincecum has struggled recently.
But Vogelsong has been one of the best stories in baseball. Bumgarner has been as good as advertised but he's not getting the run support.
The staff has been good but, as Giants fans know, they can be better than they are.
...Which is scary when you think about it.
Relief Pitchers: A
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A bullpen that was near untouchable a year ago has come into the 2011 season and been even better.
The biggest revelation has been Sergio Romo. The man with the mini-beard developed a third pitch and has an even better slider than a year ago.
Javier Lopez is still lights-out against left-handed hitters.
After rough starts by Brian Wilson and Santiago Casilla, they have also come around and are pitching well.
Wilson still does make it way too interesting in the ninth but there is not much that could make the 'pen much better.
Catchers: C-
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Let me explain this one:
With Buster Posey: B+
Without Buster Posey: F
The Giants have a huge issue at the catcher position.
Eli Whiteside and Chris Stewart cannot share the time behind the plate and the team be successful.
Whiteside is a career backup and is proving that since he became the everyday catcher. Stewart is a career minor leaguer.
Both are hurting the team on the defensive and offensive side. It's almost like having two pitchers in the lineup.
If the Giants go out to get a catcher, it has to be a rental because, obviously, Posey will be back in 2012.
They can win the division without fixing this spot but they have to improve this to succeed in the postseason.
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1st Base: C
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Aubrey Huff has not hit like anybody predicted.
His career-worst batting average is .240 and he could be looking at even worse this season.
But his home run and RBI totals to this point are about the same as last season. It could be a good sign that his HR and RBI numbers are where they are when considering the fact he hasn't hit well with runners in scoring position.
Brandon Belt, in his limited time, has shown some promise but a lack of consistency.
It could just take some time.
2nd Base: B
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Freddy Sanchez's season might be in jeopardy if he has to have surgery, leaving the Giants without their most consistent hitter all year.
That said, Manny Burriss and Bill Hall will be filling the void and each of them bring something different.
Burriss brings defense and speed. Hall brings power with his bat.
If either of them can give anything offensively, it will help tremendously.
3rd Base: B-
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Pablo Sandoval's injury didn't help the grading here.
Most of this grade is a collaboration of Pablo's hot start and Mark DeRosa and Miguel Tejada's lack of performance.
With Pablo back, the grade should shoot up pretty quickly, assuming he continues to hit like he did before the injury.
Shortstop: D+
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Offense? Near nothing. Defense? Decent.
Actually, defense is a two-part answer. Crawford, yes. Tejada, no.
The offense has been non-existent from the shortstop position overall this season.
Crawford had a good first couple of days once he came up and has taken a big slide since then.
Tejada has games where he looks like the hitter he was in Baltimore but then has games where he looks like he has a foot into retirement.
Much like at the catcher position, for the Giants to go deep into the postseason the offensive production from the shortstop position needs to improve.
Outfielders: B-
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Aubrey Huff's opening weekend in the outfield aside, the defense in the outfield has been stellar.
The Giants essentially have four center fielders and Pat Burrell on the roster which has been more than enough defensively.
Although, the group has been inconsistent offensively.
Now, Nate Schierholtz has come through in some clutch situations. Cody Ross is hitting about what we expected.
Aaron Rowand, well, is Aaron Rowand.
Burrell, early on, looked to be carrying his World Series struggles into the season but has still provided the power the lineup continues to miss.
Andres Torres has not found his rhythm yet but is the spark plug the Giants need to get the offense going.
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