San Francisco Giants; Who Should Be the Everyday Starter at Each Position, and What Should the Batting Order be?
On offense (and a little on defense), the San Francisco Giants are best known for their depth.
One day Freddy Sanchez is playing second, then it's Emmanuel Burriss, then Bill Hall, then Miguel Tejada.
But sometimes, San Francisco just has to fall back on their back-ups for pinch-hit duties and injury replacements. One guy, like Pablo Sandoval (who has a seventeen-game hit streak) plays every day. But who else should? Let's find out.
Leadoff Hitter: Andres Torres, CF
Once Cody Ross fully recovers from his mild hamstring strain (about two more days), he'll be back in left field, leaving only two outfield spots available. While Aaron Rowand has done well from the middle outfield spot, Torres is heating up.
Torres scored three runs and racked up four hits in his last ten at-bats, and he is ready for a big second half. Bruce Bochy has had patience this year with Torres, and it's about to pay off.
As for Aaron Rowand, the same goes. Rowand's ten-game hitting streak was a good sign for the Giants, and he and Torres are probably going to split duties, but for now, the surging, speedy Torres should start a couple more games, while Rowand will normally replace outfielders late or take pinch-hits, as well as filling in on injuries.
Second Hitter; Brandon Crawford, SS
The boss of the infield has been stellar on defense, and although he has only hit .216, he's come up big when he was needed.
When Emmanuel Burriss went down for a couple days, Crawford took over the number 2 spot, where success looks to be on the way. Crawford has gone three for eleven since taking over the two spot, and more success looks to be on the way.
While the Giants don't have much else at short, Crawford will stay. His defense has been spectacular, and his grand slam in his debut was huge for the Giants. For now, Crawford is here to stay.
Third Hitter; Pablo Sandoval, 3B
The Kung Fu Panda has been the only consistent hitter in the Giants lineup, as he sports a seventeen-game hit streak, and a nine-game extra-base hit streak that just ended.
Pablo has spread his hits all over the field, and thanks to his production since returning from injury, the Giants offense has received a spark. Pablo's two-run double tied the game in the eighth last night and helped San Francisco take down the Pads.
Pablo went from amazing in 2009 to struggling in 2010 to back on track in 2011. If Sandoval can continue his streak and provide production from the three-hole, the Giants offense will be in great shape.
Fourth Hitter; Cody Ross, LF
Aubrey Huff was great in the three-hole last year, and other than Buster Posey, he was the Giants best offensive player. However, with Pablo Sandoval's success hitting third, he should move down to fifth, where Huff can step up.
Cody Ross, meanwhile, has picked up where he left off last postseason, as he has provided good defense and good offense from the fifth spot of the lineup. However, Bochy might want to try Ross at the clean-up spot, where he might just fit perfectly.
Ross has led off a lot of innings with hits, and his .359 on-base percentage has been impressive for San Francisco. If he finds success as the number four hitter, there is no limit to Ross' production.
Fifth Hitter; Aubrey Huff, 1B
Bruce Bochy is trying the struggling Aubrey Huff out at the five-hole, hoping that Huff will turn into the player he was last year. Huff's eight home runs and .243 batting average are not what the Giants want, and if he wants to succeed, he will need to try something new.
With Pablo Sandoval and Cody Ross ahead of him, Huff will have runners on a lot when he comes up to hit. Although he hasn't hit many balls out, Huff has 43 RBI's this year, and if he wants more, the five-hole is perfect for Aubrey.
Huff, who is nearing the end of his career, wants to have a couple memorable seasons by the bay to end his career, and this might be a good way for Huff.
Sixth Hitter; Nate Schierholtz, RF
While Schierholtz has been doing well, his success in the six-hole means that Nate will most likely stay there. The two home runs he hit against the Padres on Wednesday night will be among the memorable moments in his career, and he wants to add to it.
Although he might want to try something new, as Schierholtz leads off innings a lot and fails to score after hits, it looks like Nate is here to stay for awhile, as his .278 batting average and .330 on-base percentage highlight a great season.
If Schierholtz is ready to step up, staying in the six-hole is the way to do it.
Seventh Hitter; Mike Fontenot, 2B
Once Fontenot returns from a groin injury (about a week), he might be able to return to what he's been, as Fontenot has done well. Right now, it looks like the seven spot is the best place to put him, as Brandon Crawford has locked up the two-spot for now.
Fontenot struggled in his first half-year as a Giant, but he began to pick it up right before his injury, the same day Buster Posey went down. Although his stats don't open many eyes, Fontenot has stepped up in the clutch, and his defense has been good.
If Fontenot turns in on late in the season, the Giants could get a lot of production from the catchers spot.
Eighth Hitter; Eli Whiteside, C
Chris Stewart and Eli Whiteside alternate just about every day in the catcher's spot, but right now, Whiteside has done better. His hitting has been better, and while Stewart is probably the better catcher, Whiteside looks to be the primary starter.
Buster Posey was by far the Giants best catcher, but right now, the job has to go to Whiteside, who's hitting is a lot better. Chris Stewart also has trouble with runners in scoring position, and basically everywhere.
Although Bochy will probably continue to alternate these two hitters, when you need only one of them, Whiteside is probably the better player.
One day Freddy Sanchez is playing second, then it's Emmanuel Burriss, then Bill Hall, then Miguel Tejada.
But sometimes, San Francisco just has to fall back on their back-ups for pinch-hit duties and injury replacements. One guy, like Pablo Sandoval (who has a seventeen-game hit streak) plays every day. But who else should? Let's find out.
Leadoff Hitter: Andres Torres, CF
Once Cody Ross fully recovers from his mild hamstring strain (about two more days), he'll be back in left field, leaving only two outfield spots available. While Aaron Rowand has done well from the middle outfield spot, Torres is heating up.
Torres scored three runs and racked up four hits in his last ten at-bats, and he is ready for a big second half. Bruce Bochy has had patience this year with Torres, and it's about to pay off.
As for Aaron Rowand, the same goes. Rowand's ten-game hitting streak was a good sign for the Giants, and he and Torres are probably going to split duties, but for now, the surging, speedy Torres should start a couple more games, while Rowand will normally replace outfielders late or take pinch-hits, as well as filling in on injuries.
Second Hitter; Brandon Crawford, SS
The boss of the infield has been stellar on defense, and although he has only hit .216, he's come up big when he was needed.
When Emmanuel Burriss went down for a couple days, Crawford took over the number 2 spot, where success looks to be on the way. Crawford has gone three for eleven since taking over the two spot, and more success looks to be on the way.
While the Giants don't have much else at short, Crawford will stay. His defense has been spectacular, and his grand slam in his debut was huge for the Giants. For now, Crawford is here to stay.
Third Hitter; Pablo Sandoval, 3B
The Kung Fu Panda has been the only consistent hitter in the Giants lineup, as he sports a seventeen-game hit streak, and a nine-game extra-base hit streak that just ended.
Pablo has spread his hits all over the field, and thanks to his production since returning from injury, the Giants offense has received a spark. Pablo's two-run double tied the game in the eighth last night and helped San Francisco take down the Pads.
Pablo went from amazing in 2009 to struggling in 2010 to back on track in 2011. If Sandoval can continue his streak and provide production from the three-hole, the Giants offense will be in great shape.
Fourth Hitter; Cody Ross, LF
Aubrey Huff was great in the three-hole last year, and other than Buster Posey, he was the Giants best offensive player. However, with Pablo Sandoval's success hitting third, he should move down to fifth, where Huff can step up.
Cody Ross, meanwhile, has picked up where he left off last postseason, as he has provided good defense and good offense from the fifth spot of the lineup. However, Bochy might want to try Ross at the clean-up spot, where he might just fit perfectly.
Ross has led off a lot of innings with hits, and his .359 on-base percentage has been impressive for San Francisco. If he finds success as the number four hitter, there is no limit to Ross' production.
Fifth Hitter; Aubrey Huff, 1B
Bruce Bochy is trying the struggling Aubrey Huff out at the five-hole, hoping that Huff will turn into the player he was last year. Huff's eight home runs and .243 batting average are not what the Giants want, and if he wants to succeed, he will need to try something new.
With Pablo Sandoval and Cody Ross ahead of him, Huff will have runners on a lot when he comes up to hit. Although he hasn't hit many balls out, Huff has 43 RBI's this year, and if he wants more, the five-hole is perfect for Aubrey.
Huff, who is nearing the end of his career, wants to have a couple memorable seasons by the bay to end his career, and this might be a good way for Huff.
Sixth Hitter; Nate Schierholtz, RF
While Schierholtz has been doing well, his success in the six-hole means that Nate will most likely stay there. The two home runs he hit against the Padres on Wednesday night will be among the memorable moments in his career, and he wants to add to it.
Although he might want to try something new, as Schierholtz leads off innings a lot and fails to score after hits, it looks like Nate is here to stay for awhile, as his .278 batting average and .330 on-base percentage highlight a great season.
If Schierholtz is ready to step up, staying in the six-hole is the way to do it.
Seventh Hitter; Mike Fontenot, 2B
Once Fontenot returns from a groin injury (about a week), he might be able to return to what he's been, as Fontenot has done well. Right now, it looks like the seven spot is the best place to put him, as Brandon Crawford has locked up the two-spot for now.
Fontenot struggled in his first half-year as a Giant, but he began to pick it up right before his injury, the same day Buster Posey went down. Although his stats don't open many eyes, Fontenot has stepped up in the clutch, and his defense has been good.
If Fontenot turns in on late in the season, the Giants could get a lot of production from the catchers spot.
Eighth Hitter; Eli Whiteside, C
Chris Stewart and Eli Whiteside alternate just about every day in the catcher's spot, but right now, Whiteside has done better. His hitting has been better, and while Stewart is probably the better catcher, Whiteside looks to be the primary starter.
Buster Posey was by far the Giants best catcher, but right now, the job has to go to Whiteside, who's hitting is a lot better. Chris Stewart also has trouble with runners in scoring position, and basically everywhere.
Although Bochy will probably continue to alternate these two hitters, when you need only one of them, Whiteside is probably the better player.
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