Examining the San Francisco Giants’ Depth Chart: First Base
First base was a bit of a revolving door for the San Francisco Giants in 2014, as eight players held the bag over the course of the year. Injuries were a big problem for the position, as both the starter, and the starter’s replacement, missed big chunks of the season with varying ailments. The Giants hope that, in the coming year, the injury bug doesn’t bite quite so hard.
Starter – Brandon Belt
Belt got out of the gates in a hurry in 2014, as he blasted five home runs in the first eight games of the season. Over the course of April and early-May, he totaled nine longballs and 18 RBI’s in 35 games, and seemed poised to have a breakout season and become the big bopper Giants’ fans always thought he could be.
Then, the bad luck hit. And by bad luck, I mean the Paul Maholm fastball hit. The ball ran in tight and caught Belt on his left hand, resulting in a broken thumb. He would miss just under two months with that injury, and returned in early June, but the return tour was cut short two weeks later by another freak accident.
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During batting practice, of all places, Belt was hit in the face by an errant throw, and he would suffer a concussion. He would make two trips to the disabled list for concussion-like symptoms before being reactivated for the rest of the season on September 15.
Overall, Belt missed all of June, and played in just 26 games over the final three months of the regular season. He would, however, play in all 17 postseason games, and he made a big impact. He drove in three runs in the win-or-go-home Wildcard Round game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and hit the game-winning home run in the 18th inning against the Nationals in game two of the NLDS. He would hit .308 in the seven-game World Series battle with the Kansas City Royals.
Defensively, Belt’s massive wingspan (he’s 6’5″) is a great asset, as he can handle high or wide throws that a shorter first baseman might not snag. He also has good range to his right and left, and, being a former pitcher, has a great arm that is perfect for 3-6-3 double plays. Belt could get serious consideration for a Gold Glove at some point in his future.
The main thing for Belt in 2015 is to stay healthy. The injuries last year were of the “freak” variety, so don’t label him injury-prone just yet. Hopefully the weirdness can be avoided next year. The power is there, and I firmly believe his true breakout season will come in 2015.
Backup – Buster Posey
Posey is the Giants’ starting catcher, and that’s where you’ll find him on most nights. But if there comes a time where Posey needs a night out of the squat, Belt will most likely take a seat to make room for him at first. Another possible scenario would be, when facing a tough left-handed starter, the Giants could opt to put Posey at first and bring in the right-handed Andrew Susac to catch.
Oct 14, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman
Travis Ishikawa(45) hits a double during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in game three of the 2014 NLCS playoff baseball game at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Posey hit .347 with four home runs and 19 RBI’s in 33 games as a first baseman last year. You know what you’re gonna get offensively from the former MVP.
Defensively, Posey has proven he can handle first well. He’s not going to dazzle you with spectacular plays, but he will make all the plays he is expected to make. Overall, Posey makes for a solid first baseman.
Added Depth – Travis Ishikawa, Adam Duvall, Casey McGehee, Joaquin Arias
Ishikawa has been a first baseman throughout most of his career, but he began playing left field throughout the 2014 postseason. He is still a capable first baseman, and is known for having a slick glove there. He won’t light up the stats sheet on offense, but he can hit a little. If Belt needs a normal day off, Ishikawa could be an option off the bench.
Aug 13, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman
Adam Duvall(37) tags the base for an out against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Duvall is an interesting prospect. At 26 years old, he’s got tons of power, as he owns 100 career minor league longballs, and hit three dingers in limited big league time last season. He is no defensive wizard, but if Duvall can hit like he did in the minor leagues, the defense could be overlooked. If Belt goes down longterm like he did last season, Duvall seems like he would be the logical choice to take over the job.
McGehee was acquired via trade with the Miami Marlins in late December, and he will be the everyday third baseman for the Giants. However, if things get desperate across the diamond, “Hits” McGehee could switch sides. He has played 96 games at first in his career. He’s a good fielder at the other corner, with a .997 career fielding percentage.
Arias, Mr. Do-It-All for the Giants, has played 22 games at first for San Francisco over the past two years. He’s the emergency first baseman, as his services are much more necessary at the other infield positions. But if things get to the point that Arias is needed, he can play first at a moment’s notice.
Overall, the job is Belt’s. He’s got a great glove, and his bat is on the verge of a true breakout. Behind him, there’s plenty of depth. This isn’t a position that a lot of people should be worrying about.