San Francisco Giants: Is Brandon Belt the Key to a Repeat Performance?

San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt has experienced every possible baseball emotion in 2011.  He made the team out of spring training, causing him to cry in Bruce Bochy's office as the enormity of realizing a childhood dream hit him. 

Belt experienced failure in his first stint with the team, prompting his demotion to AAA.  He then experienced pain and frustration once he was recalled, breaking his wrist in one of his first at bats after his promotion.  Belt then experienced anger and bewilderment when the team brought him up, played him very little and then returned him to AAA to activate veteran Mark DeRosa who has had one at bat since his return.

Belt handled it all in a way that showed his maturity level is well past his years and was ready to walk back into the lineup when he was recalled yet again this past weekend in Florida. 

Belt started at first base in the series finale on Sunday and had a very good game, offensively and defensively.

Belt went 2-4 with 2 RBI's and 2 home runs.  He played an uneventful yet comfortable first base and those two home runs were each very different from one another yet equally impressive. 

With his first home run off Marlins starter Chris Volstad, Belt showed his significant opposite field power as he launched the ball over the 33 foot high wall to the left of the 420 foot deep centerfield fence. 

His second homerun was pulled down the right field line and went about halfway up the bleachers.  The impressive part of this home run was who he hit off of.

Mike Dunn is a left handed specialist who, in 78 career games had faced a left handed batter 152 times but had never allowed a home run to a left handed batter before Belt tee'd off on him for his second home run of the game.  This isn't Belt's first impressive at bat this year against a dominant left handed specialist. 

In his previous "first game back" Belt had hit a home run in his first at bat and later in the game, in a crucial situation Belt came up against left handed pitcher, Hong-Chih Kuo.  Belt lined a double down the left field line, showing an impressive ability to stand in against a tough left handed pitcher and take was he is given, going with the pitch the opposite way.

It is no secret that the Giants have been searching for an offensive spark all year.  Brian Sabean traded for the best offensive option at the trade deadline who is now nursing a sore hand/wrist. 

Before the injury, Carlos Beltran was providing no spark as he scuffled to find his bearings.  Beltran has been one of the most consistent hitters throughout his career, so I fully expected to him to come around but I don't know if he is the spark they seek.  Sometimes it just takes a special player to infuse energy into a team the way that Hunter Pence has done for the Phillies.

Carlos Beltran is a proven run producer.  He is the epitome of a professional and produces consistently, year in and year out.  Outside of his much ballyhooed arrival, there isn't anything too exciting about him. 

He goes about his business and will have career consistent numbers when all is said and done.  Brandon Belt carries with him the same excitement that Buster Posey brought with him in 2010.  There is something about a raw, talented rookie that loosens up a clubhouse, that gets fans excited not only for now but for the future too. 

That he is showing he can be an offensive force is even more reason to let him play.

I realize that the Giants' philosophy has been to trust the veterans when crunch time comes along and for the most part that is a safe way of conducting business. 

They trusted a rookie to lead their offense once before, that turned out okay if I remember correctly.