The San Francisco Giants are scoring runs, and that is a good sign. In their first four games this season, they scored a total of 19. This averages out to 4.75 per game. Along with the overall quality of the starting rotation, this is promising. By the way, if anyone’s tempted to lose confidence in the rotation because of Logan Webb and Ross Stripling’s less-than-effective first outings, I’d encourage you to just relax. Webb will put it back together. Stripling can probably be fixed. And Anthony DeSclafani is looking like the bomb, as evidenced by his six scoreless innings in his recent start.
In the series opener against the Chicago White Sox, the Giants hit seven total home runs. David Villar hit two of them, including a ninth-inning grand slam.
The Slam Francisco Giants. 💪
(MLB x @DairyQueen) pic.twitter.com/maKuatYlbe
— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2023
The Giants Are Scoring Runs, But Distribution Matters
Still Got Shut Out Twice
The Giants are scoring runs, but there are days when the sky’s the limit and others where they’re shut out. This isn’t intended as a negative comment. It shouldn’t put a damper on our excitement over seven home runs in a single game. This is merely a look at the way things stand. It isn’t enough to quantify a player or team’s performance as a whole, without giving due consideration to the parts of that whole.
Since the Giants hardly needed 12 runs in Monday’s game, you almost wish they could have spread it out a bit. But teams that are losing big put in their lowest-leverage relievers. And facing a top-level elite starting pitcher (such as Gerrit Cole) can be tough. So it really doesn’t work that way.
Giants Need to Leverage the Big Hits
Still, it’s reasonably evident that San Francisco’s offense is pretty much either “all hot” or “all cold” on a particular day. With what we saw in spring training, it’s likely that they will put up many more of the hot days. But even when things don’t appear to be going right for the bats, they need to be dialed in. This is a powerful team, and a timely home run or big hit can win a close game. They always need to be ready for the mistake pitch.
The Giants are a borderline team. Their playoff fate will be determined by a thin margin. The deciding factor may be their ability to leverage the potential in their roster. Runs must be converted into wins, whether we’re talking about runs scored or runs prevented.
Runners left on base are costly. This year, the Giants need to get those runs home. When they get a rally going, it’s always fun to watch. But when a potential rally is crushed because no one can hit the ball in the right spot, it’s a bummer.
Key Takeaways
So what should our expectations be going forward? It’s still early, but the Giants are scoring runs, and that is truly encouraging. This should end up being a winning week for the Giants. There is good reason to think that they will take both the series against the Chicago White Sox and the one against the Kansas City Royals. It probably isn’t a stretch to say that there is a reasonable probability of a sweep in at least one series.
Next week, however, the Giants will take on the Los Angeles Dodgers. That is a scary prospect, given that the Dodgers absolutely bested them last year. Without a doubt, the lineup will need to be hot. But with both the Giants pitching and hitting now at least able to compete with the Dodgers, it isn’t the time to despair.
Photo Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned: Logan Webb, Ross Stripling, Anthony DeSclafani, David Villar, Gerrit Cole
