A good question

[msgkings322]

It depends on what "top 5 hitting" means. If you're looking at AVG, there's no reason not to have a top-5 team. What the park hurts are HR numbers from LHBs. If the Giants hitters would play to the strengths of the park, they'd be doing a lot better. Since 2000, I think the *only* guys who have routinely done so are Pagan, and to a lesser extent Scutaro. Scutaro is just a great situational hitter, and he uses the whole field. I won't say that Pagan never tries to hit a HR at AT&T, but he routinely hits into the RCF gap and the RF gap down the line, and uses triples alley perfectly. He is NOT always trying to pull the ball for a HR.

I'd *love* to have 4 guys with an AVG around .300, and OBP around .350, who hit 40+ doubles and at least 6 triples, even if they only have 8 HRs each.

I meant top 5 in runs scored, that's never gonna happen in our park. HRs get taken away from everyone, not just lefties. No opposite field HRs for righties for example, and hardly any to center for anyone.

Agreed that you want the kind of hitters you mention, and the brass seems to get it which is why they 'overpaid' Pagan and Scoots. Also why their injuries this year are a prime reason our offense has sucked.

 

[SF11704]

There is a stat that I'd like to see but can't find. Actually not even sure what it would be called. I know what RISP equates to but how do you measure the number of times we had bases loaded with no outs and/or one out and couldn't bring a run home? Something along the lines of .... how did our team fair when the odds where 70% you'd score a run in the inning (the stuff on the bottom of gameday). Getting a leadoff 2B and not scoring is one thing but to have the bases loaded with none or one out and not score just seems to send me over the edge. And it just seems like it happens much more than it should with us.

 

[msgkings322]

There is a stat that I'd like to see but can't find. Actually not even sure what it would be called. I know what RISP equates to but how do you measure the number of times we had bases loaded with no outs and/or one out and couldn't bring a run home? Something along the lines of .... how did our team fair when the odds where 70% you'd score a run in the inning (the stuff on the bottom of gameday). Getting a leadoff 2B and not scoring is one thing but to have the bases loaded with none or one out and not score just seems to send me over the edge. And it just seems like it happens much more than it should with us.

They surely keep that stat somewhere, not sure what it's called.

But the condition that creates the stat is called 'sucking'. As in 'we suck'.

 

[Stokes1931]

There is a stat that I'd like to see but can't find. Actually not even sure what it would be called. I know what RISP equates to but how do you measure the number of times we had bases loaded with no outs and/or one out and couldn't bring a run home? Something along the lines of .... how did our team fair when the odds where 70% you'd score a run in the inning (the stuff on the bottom of gameday). Getting a leadoff 2B and not scoring is one thing but to have the bases loaded with none or one out and not score just seems to send me over the edge. And it just seems like it happens much more than it should with us.

Sortable Player Stats | SFGiants.com: Stats

The Giants are hitting .293 with a runner on 3rd and less than two outs, according to this MLB.com page.

 

[Stokes1931]

Giants' leadoff hitters are 25th in the majors, hitting .248 with an OBP of .303

The Giants' 5th place hitters are hitting .267 with only 52 RBI (Orioles are #1 with 110)

 

[MarcoPolo]

Giants' leadoff hitters are 25th in the majors, hitting .248 with an OBP of .303

The Giants' 5th place hitters are hitting .267 with only 52 RBI (Orioles are #1 with 110)

So it's no surprise that Pence is hitting .277 and has 64 RBIs ...

Sadly, Pence leads the team in RBIs, followed closely by Posey (63) and Panda (59).

 

[MarcoPolo]

Only 35 more games to fight for that top-5 draft pick!

It would be pretty darn hard to catch HOU or MIA, and the ChiSox would be a stretch too, but the Giants are within a few games of 7-8 other teams. So they could end up with the #4 pick, or the #11 pick just about as easily.

 

[calsnowskier]

Only 35 more games to fight for that top-5 draft pick!

It would be pretty darn hard to catch HOU or MIA, and the ChiSox would be a stretch too, but the Giants are within a few games of 7-8 other teams. So they could end up with the #4 pick, or the #11 pick just about as easily.

I will bet you that they will not end up with the #11 pick.

What do you want to bet? I will give you very nice odds...

 

[MarcoPolo]

I don't bet, usually. But maybe you don't realize how close it is :

CHC : 54-73 ("0" games back == pick #4)
SFG : 56-71 (2 games back, pick #7)
COL : 59-70 (4 games back, pick #13)
NYM : 58-67 (4 games back, pick #14
SEA : 59-67 (3.5 games back, pick #15)

The Giants are within 2 games of pick #4, AND 2 games of pick #15. Anything could happen. (The last 3 teams haven't played the same number of games, so it's really hard to rate them exactly - I used winning %.)

 

[calsnowskier]

Maybe YOU don't realize that Toronto is guaranteed the #11 pick for failing to sign the #10 pick last year...

 

[tzill]

There is a stat that I'd like to see but can't find. Actually not even sure what it would be called. I know what RISP equates to but how do you measure the number of times we had bases loaded with no outs and/or one out and couldn't bring a run home? Something along the lines of .... how did our team fair when the odds where 70% you'd score a run in the inning (the stuff on the bottom of gameday). Getting a leadoff 2B and not scoring is one thing but to have the bases loaded with none or one out and not score just seems to send me over the edge. And it just seems like it happens much more than it should with us.

Well, there is a stat on runner played from third with less than two outs and the league average is historically right at 50%. Not sure what our percentage is.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Maybe YOU don't realize that Toronto is guaranteed the #11 pick for failing to sign the #10 pick last year...

Aah. No, I didn't. I don't usually pay attention to comp picks until after the season. Interesting point.

So the Giants could just about as easily get pick #4, or pick #16.

 

[MarcoPolo]

I don't bet, usually. But maybe you don't realize how close it is :

CHC : 54-73 ("0" games back == pick #4)
SFG : 56-71 (2 games back, pick #7)
COL : 59-70 (4 games back, pick #13)
NYM : 58-67 (4 games back, pick #14
SEA : 59-67 (3.5 games back, pick #15)

The Giants are within 2 games of pick #4, AND 2 games of pick #15. Anything could happen. (The last 3 teams haven't played the same number of games, so it's really hard to rate them exactly - I used winning %.)

Giants are now tied with MIL for pick #5. They are 2 games behind the cubbies (#4) and 3.5 behind the ChiSox (#3).

 

[calsnowskier]

Giants are now tied with MIL for pick #5. They are 2 games behind the cubbies (#4) and 3.5 behind the ChiSox (#3).

The tie-breaker is previous seasons record, so the G's are sitting at 6 right now.

 

[MarcoPolo]

The tie-breaker is previous seasons record, so the G's are sitting at 6 right now.

Anybody who would reasonably be tied with the Giants at the end of this year would get the earlier pick (unless Wash really goes into a tailspin).

 

[the_broom]

Well, they do play 81 games a year away from the Phone Booth.

I would be ecstatic if the Giants finished 27th in scoring every year and went to the playoffs. But it ain't going to happen. Unless we find three more Kershaw/Bum clones.

I'd be very happy if the Giants' hitting was middle of the pack, as it was in 2010 and 2012, both WS years. That they have been significantly under average in 2011 and 2013 (yes, granted there were/are injuries), is trending the wrong way. And 2012 was fluky in that we had Milkman for 2/3 of the season.

With our pitching, if the Giants finish 10th to 20th in scoring, we'll be good. I don't know how much this falls on Bam Bam.

Can we really say this anymore? I fully expect Cain to rebound...and Bum to continue to get better...but Timmy, Vogs, and Zito are very possibly done. Who takes the mound to compete even with the Doggies?

 

[tzill]

Can we really say this anymore? I fully expect Cain to rebound...and Bum to continue to get better...but Timmy, Vogs, and Zito are very possibly done. Who takes the mound to compete even with the Doggies?

Zeets is definitely done. Timmy definitely is NOT. The question is Tron. Also, you're assuming that Kershaw, Greinke and Ryu will continue to be dominant. We'll see how they handle pitching well into October.

 

[SFAnthem]

Zeets is definitely done. Timmy definitely is NOT. The question is Tron. Also, you're assuming that Kershaw, Greinke and Ryu will continue to be dominant. We'll see how they handle pitching well into October.

Good point, let's see the resiliency of those arms when they get tested in playoff baseball. Our Giants arms have been through the grinder twice and came out with two trophies.

 

[calsnowskier]

I can imagine Greinke face-planting in the post-season. He is a mental-midget.

Kershaw, I expect will be just as, if not MORE dominant in the post season.

Ryu, I have no idea.

 

[msgkings322]

I can imagine Greinke face-planting in the post-season. He is a mental-midget.

Kershaw, I expect will be just as, if not MORE dominant in the post season.

Ryu, I have no idea.

This, but I'm not as sure Greinke will fold. Guys are bad in the playoffs, until they aren't. Like Bonds.

We can't just handwave the Dodgers away anymore, they have a really good team, and it's pitching based...sound familiar?