San Francisco Giants: 4 Ways Brett Pill Can Help Down the Stretch

The Giants are 1-0 with Brett Pill in their dugout, and while he has yet to make his major league debut, what he's accomplished in Triple-A has gotten people excited about the potential contributions he could make for the defending world champs as they head down the stretch this season.

Here are four ways that Pill could help the Giants over the final 25 games of the season ...

1. A Home Run Threat

The Giants currently rank 14th in the NL in home runs, with 90. With an offense that is ranked dead-last in the league in batting average (.238) and last in all of baseball in runs scored (460), a little more of the long ball would be a welcomed change.

Brett Pill might just be able to help in that department.

Pill hit 25 home runs in 133 games with Fresno this season, and if he can adjust to major league pitching well enough, could hit a few more with the Giants.

2. Youthful Energy

When Buster Posey was lost for the season following a home plate collision on May 25, the Giants lost a huge part of the youthful exuberance and vigor that played such a key role in their drive to a world championship last season.

Manager Bruce Bochy's reluctance to play young prospects over veterans this season has caused frustration in the fan base, but now it appears that his hand is being forced by the unrelenting slumps of important 2010 performers like Aubrey Huff.

Brett Pill's promotion and presence could inject some of that lost youthful energy that any team, and especially the injury-weary and downtrodden Giants, could use as they try to catch the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West.

3. A Confidence-Builder for the Pitching Staff

With the Giants scoring just 2.8 runs/game since the all-star break, San Francisco's elite pitching staff hasn't had any reason to be confident that if they are anything but perfect in their outings, they can still somehow manage to win games.

Brett Pill could boost the staff's confidence if he gets a chance and makes the most of it by producing offensively.

4. A Wake-Up Call for Aubrey Huff

Well, another first baseman has been called up from Triple-A.

Sound familiar?

That's because Brandon Belt is also a first baseman, which has made it difficult for him to find playing time this season before several injuries to outfielders opened up an everyday job for the rookie.

Brett Pill is also a first baseman, but now that the Giants are carrying three first basemen and Bruce Bochy has decided to sit Aubrey Huff for a while, the hope is that Pill's presence down the stretch will somehow jar Huff loose from his dormant captivity at the plate.

If Aubrey Huff gets hot, the Giants offense may start to click, keeping San Francisco's hopes for a second consecutive NL West division title alive.