The San Francisco Giants roster can be improved at the trade deadline if they put their mind to the task. It is helpful to take a look into each major aspect of the game. All appears to be sound offensively. This came about in part due to quality performances from their young prospects, which represents a major turnaround from a few years ago. Thus, pitching and defense will get the primary emphasis here.
The Bullpen
It is no accident that the bullpen is mentioned first in the discussion of pitching, and it’s not because the Giants bullpen has greater significance in their roster makeup than the rotation. Rather, it bears on some of the Giants unpleasant history. In an entirely new playoff atmosphere, there are things we remember.
Which Last Word on Baseball writer is the best (besides me of course ha ha ha)? You might be inclined to think Benjamin Sabin, given his sometimes creepy and eerie perspective. But you have to look further back. Daniel Sperry was a prophet.
He never intended to be one, but he was nonetheless. Back in October of 2016, he wrote about what the keys to postseason success would be for the Giants. The two key claims that he made were that a big part of winning was holding leads with the bullpen and that starters needed to pitch deep into games.
But alas! How disconcerted he would have been had he known that he was predicting the Giants downfall! Behind in the NLDS two games to one, the Giants faced elimination by the Chicago Cubs in Game 4. They went into the ninth inning with a 5-2 lead.
Starting pitcher Matt Moore had thrown eight strong innings. After throwing 120 pitches, he was pulled. Talk about pitching deep into games. Wouldn’t eight innings be enough? Sadly, no. The bullpen could not get outs. For those interested in the gory details, there will soon be a piece on the disastrous inning that sunk the Giants in the 2016 postseason.
Maybe it was the Cubs turn to win the title, given that the Giants had won three that decade and the Cubs hadn’t won since 1908. But, of course, that’s little comfort for Giants fans.
We really never know how often history repeats itself. Let’s just say that the Giants would do well to have a strong bullpen this time.
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The Rotation
The issue with the starting rotation is that it hasn’t provided the quality depth that the Giants were hoping for this year. Logan Webb has been incredibly good. But Ross Stripling, Sean Manaea, and Jakob Junis have not. Alex Cobb has been effective, but he’s currently on the IL.
The Giants have also had a high number of bullpen days. Sometimes, that works out. But if they can land at least one more quality starter at the deadline, it would have a positive impact.
Defense
The Giants defense has been an issue this year. Although it seems to have solidified. Still, further improvement would be great. Obviously, the entire utilization of the roster must be weighed, so that the Giants don’t sacrifice anything offensively. Putting a “great-field-no-hit” player in the lineup in the place of one of their current starters who can produce more with the bat is probably not a great idea.
Offense
This was mentioned last because it’s already a key strength. But it never hurts to add a bat or two. Adding another slugger might prove to be the needed finishing touch. Even if they don’t get a guy with large home run totals, a player who can get on base and has a good eye at the plate would be a plus. The goal is always to create as many runs as possible.
Conclusion
Going into the playoffs, you never know which baseball tool will have the edge. And the Giants still have to make sure they get there in the first place. October is perhaps the ultimate clutch time. It is then that you find out which teams have it and which teams don’t.
Photo Credit: © Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned:
Matt Moore, Logan Webb, Ross Stripling, Sean Manaea, Jakob Junis
