San Francisco Giants: Series vs. Arizona Is Do or Die

The San Francisco Giants head into the weekend series against the San Diego Padres a completely different team than the one that started play on Monday against the Chicago Cubs.

Gone are established veterans Aaron Rowand and Miguel Tejada.  Long overdue for both, but better late than never.  Pat Burrell returned from injury and Brett Pill's contract was purchased and he was called up to San Francisco. 

The Giants are expected to add Brandon Crawford, Emmanuel Burriss, Darren Ford, Bill Hall and maybe even Francisco Peguero among others as the rosters expand for September.

None of these names are game changers, except for Ford and Burriss who, if put in the right position late in a game can absolutely change the course of that game.  What all of these additions do is provide some energy, some stability and some severely needed depth for a team that has had their two-year share of injuries in less than one.

Burriss and Ford are serious weapons when they are on the basepaths.  Bruce Bochy will do well to pick and choose when he inserts them as pinch runners.  They both are more than capable of stealing a base when the whole world knows that they have to, and Ford is so electric on the bases that his mere presence disrupts pitchers and defenders.  When he scored from third on a sharp ground out to shallow second base in Pittsburgh this year, he proved that he is lethal on the bases.

Brandon Crawford really should start at shortstop every day.  He isn't a great hitter yet, but his defense is head and shoulders above that of Orlando Cabrera, no question.  One of the reasons that the Giants are in the position that they are currently in is because of sloppy defense.  One guy making all of the routine plays and some spectacular plays up the middle can solidify a defense that has shown that it can be an asset.  Orlando Cabrera is a liability in the field, plain and simple.

The Giants should also get some bullpen relief and will get Eric Surkamp back to start in San Diego on Tuesday.  He threw six shutout innings in San Jose on Thursday night. 

All of these changes really won't mean anything unless the Giants can get past Arizona this weekend.  Baseball people always say that until the very last game, no game is must win and usually they can make a pretty good case that they are right.  This weekend, anyone in the Giants organization who tries to convince themselves that these aren't must win games is lying, and it will show. 

This weekend, the Giants have to actually take it one game at a time while playing with the sense of urgency that comes when your season is on the line.  They have to play like the reigning World Series Champs that they are, make no mistakes and fight to the last pitch.  The September additions should help them do all this. 

If they leave it all on the field, then the better team will have won in the end.  Its do or die time Giants fans, and it all starts tonight.