San Francisco Giants: 5 Keys to Make the Postseason

For the Giants and their fans to have a chance to relive the glory of last October and November, a number of things have to change.

Sure, the Giants are only two games out of first place in the National League West, despite losing 17 of their last 24 games and hitting like the sisters of the poor, as opposed to a major league baseball squad. But anyone who follows baseball knows the Giants are not going to be able to keep up this pace and have any hope at all of going to the postseason for the second straight year.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have been very accommodating lately, but that's unlikely to keep up. And if it does, someone like the Rockies, the Dodgers or even the red hot Padres could sneak up to the top with a .500 record or worse.

Some things will definitely have to change and change fast in order for the Giants to join the fall party once again.  Here are five keys that will help them taste champagne once again.

Brandon Belt and the Kids Need to Be Given a Chance

Bruce Bochy treats young players like lepers.  Brandon Belt has been jerked in and out of the lineup and up and down from Fresno so much his head must be spinning.  

Bochy and Brian Sabean need to remember how much rookies Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner had to do with those new, shiny World Series rings they now own.  Belt has shown promise ever since he came up for the second time, after being a bit overwhelmed at the start of the season.  But every time he goes 0-for-4, Bochy sits him down for a week or Sabean sends him to the minors.  Now, Belt is red hot and his performance in Houston shows how we can carry a team.  He needs to play every day, against both right-handers and left-handers, even if it means that Aubrey Huff becomes a part-time player. 

I know Sabean and Bochy love veterans, but Aaron Rowand needs to be limited to pinch hitting (which he's been very good at) and late-game defense.  He should not be playing in favor of Belt.

Plus Bochy should give some starts to Hector Sanchez behind the plate.  Barry Zito raved about Sanchez's ability to call a game on one of Zito's numerous rehab outings this year.  Sanchez can rake as he showed last night with his first major league hit, a pinch RBI single. But on his previous call-up, he hardly played at all and didn't get even one start, even with Zito on the mound.  Give the kid a chance!

Brian Wilson and the Rest of His Teamates Need to Get Healthy

When the bearded one went on the disabled list, myself and many Giants fans went screaming into the night.  At the moment Carlos Beltran, Pat Burrell, Buster Posey, Sergio Romo, Freddy Sanchez, Andres Torres, Eli Whiteside, Nate Schierholtz, Jonathan Sanchez, Barry Zito and yes, Brian Wilson are all on the DL.  

We know that Posey and Freddy Sanchez won't be back in uniform until March.  But for the Giants to have a hope of going back to the postseason, they need to get well and not lose any more significant personnel to injury.

The Giants Need to Get the Big Hit

The Giants are hitting a paltry .219 with runners in scoring position.  With two outs and runners in scoring position it gets even worse.  Would you believe .164?  If you're a Giants fan and you watch every game like I do I'm sure you would.

In 2010 and earlier this year, the Giants did a better job not as much with runners in scoring position, but with the game on the line.  They might go 2-for-12 with men in scoring position, but one of those two would tie or win the game.  Now, that big hit just isn't coming at all.  Seeing some clutch hits last night was refreshing.  It had been awhile.

To make the postseason the Giants obviously have to get that big hit.  Lincecum and Cain are getting as tired of giving up one run and losing as Giants fans are of watching it happen.

The Giants Need to Beat the Teams They're Supposed to Beat

This last series in Houston was a grand example of why the Giants won't make the postseason if they keep doing what they're doing now.  You just can't go into Houston and lose the first two games and expect to be a playoff team.

On the last home stand the Giants were handed their lunch by the Pittsburgh Pirates, when the Buckos won two of three at AT&T Park.  

In the last 33 games, the Giants only play one team with a winning record: the first place Arizona Diamondbacks.  I would have made that the sixth thing the Giants need to do to make the postseason, but that is kind of obvious.  The Giants need to beat teams like the Astros, Cubs, Padres, Dodgers and Rockies, none of which are even smelling .500 at the moment.

So to be a playoff team, the Giants need to act like the World Champions that they are and take care of business.

Carlos Beltran Needs to Be Carlos Beltran

Carlos Beltran came off the disabled list last night.

The Giants paid a big price for Beltran by giving up their top prospect in Zack Wheeler.  It was a good trade for the Giants, who got the crown jewel of the 2011 trade deadline.

It was unfortunate for the Giants that Beltran started slowly, hitting only .244 with 2 RBI in his first 11 games and then getting hurt.

But now is the time that Carlos Beltran needs to lead the Giants to the promised land.  He has a reputation as a great hitter down the stretch and in the postseason.  The Giants hope to find out just how good he can be in October.  But in order to get there, Carlos is going to have to BE Carlos for the rest of the way.

If Beltran can hit the way he did earlier in the year for the Mets, the Giants' lineup looks much stronger.

Put it all together and the Giants should be able to overcome the Diamondbacks and win their second straight NL West division title.  If not, then Giants fans can spend the postseason with the nice memories of 2010 and look forward to a better 2012.

Follow me @BleacherBruce on Twitter.