Giants Need To Stand Pat After Hunter Pence Injury
Thursday, the San Francisco Giants started off their Spring Training with the wrong kind of “panic” — no, not referring to Joe Panik — but the panic Hunter Pence brought to the Giants and their fans.
In Thursday’s exhibition game with the Chicago Cubs, pitcher Corey Black threw a fastball up and in on Pence, making contact just above the wrist. With immediate fears that the injury was more than just a major bruise, the Giants sent Pence in for X-rays. And sure enough, the tests confirmed that Pence had sustained a broken bone in his arm.
The initial prognosis of the injury sets a timetable of recovery for six to eight weeks. Which means that essentially, the voice and leader in the Giants clubhouse will be missed for 2 months. The news led to Giants fans across the country groaning, “Great there goes the season.”
But wait, not so fast.
For the last half decade, the Giants have been plagued by what some think of as an odd numbered year curse. The season following one of their title runs, the Giants have displayed inconsistency and/or a handful injuries to the team. And given Pence’s Spring Training injury, 2015 looks to be in sync with the curse again.
But this time, the Giants look like they may be able to beat it.
Oct 22, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; San Francisco Giants right fielder Hunter Pence before game two of the 2014 World Series against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
While most of their curse-related injuries occurred during the regular season, Pence’s injury — if it had to happen at all — couldn’t have come at a better time. You might say it’s a bit of a blessing to have it happen in the beginning of Spring Training.
Pence’s broken arm has certainly caused alarm among the Giants’ faithful. And the reaction by fans has indicated that the immediate need to replace Pence in right field is urgent. To hear the fans talk about it, the Giants are in the midst of Armageddon.
Do the Giants need to replace Pence? Yes. For the short-term. But Pence’s injury doesn’t call for a large portion of time missed.
The good news is that Pence does have a broken arm, but it appears to be a clean break that can be easily healed with the work of a hard cast. The better news is that Pence’s injury does not require surgery — unlike some previous players in the league in recent years who have broken broken digits on their hands and feet.
Which begs the question — do the Giants need to look elsewhere or can they get by with who they currently have on the roster?
Pence’s heart and soul can not be replaced in the Giants lineup, but skipper Bruce Bochy does have in-house options to occupy right field for the time Pence is out — Bochy’s options include Juan Perez, Gary Brown, Gregor Blanco, Nori Aoki, and Travis Ishikawa.
Losing Mike Morse in the offseason certainly hurt the Giants in the power bat department, but the Giants know what they do best — play defense.
Spacious AT&T Park is a pitcher’s park, and year after year, the Giants have proved to man the outfield better than any other team.
With an unorthodox right field, and an unpredictable wind, the Giants host one of the most difficult corners to defend. After being acquired in 2012, Pence has fielded the right corner better than any Giants player or opponent.
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If the team has any reason to be concerned, it is how the substitute right fielder will handle the defense during Pence’s short absence. They don’t seem to be too worried about a lack of power in the lineup.
The Giants find ways to score runs when they matter most, and they know how to get on base.
In Pence’s absence, the likes of the newly acquired Casey McGehee and Brandon Belt, will have to assist Buster Posey in the middle of the Giants lineup to help push runs across.
A lack of home runs is nothing new for the Giants, but they still find ways to drive in runs — and that is what matters most. The Giants defensive void is more of a concern than the actual hole in the batting order.
Pence has proven that he has a superb work ethic and takes care of his health. Pence’s durability cannot be denied as he has played an average of 152 games a season over his nine year career so far — and has not missed a regular season for the Giants the past two seasons.
Pence takes his job as a professional athlete seriously and makes sure he is out on the field. His enthusiasm will be missed for the next six to eight weeks — barring any setbacks — but Giants’ fans should not be surprised if he is back sooner.
Acquiring Allen Craig in a trade from the Boston Red Sox is a rumor that has been swirling around all offseason. And it’s one that has gained steam again after the injury to Pence. Acquiring Craig will result in a short term solution to the problem.
But it will be a headache for Bruce Bochy to find him playing time once Pence does return. Not the mention the fact that it will come at the cost of losing some minor league player in an already thin farm system.
So why would the Giants even consider making that deal?
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Many fans believe that the Giants don’t need to add any additional players while Pence is rehabbing. While the bench lacks every day experience in the outfield, the Giants need to hope that one of a plethora of options they currently have on the roster will step up this spring and contribute over the course of April.
The Giants organization needs to focus on developing on what they have in house already, as opposed to bringing in more players.
It looks like Pence will only miss April, and perhaps a little of May — based on the recovery timetable for the broken forearm he sustained.
The Giants are fortunate that Pence’s injury has happened in the early going of Spring Training, and may not have to deal with the injury closer to contention time. Over the next month or two, Pence’s presence out in the field and at the plate will be missed, but his work ethic and optimism will help get him back on the field quicker than anticipated.
The regular season begins April 6th against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and will kick off a very competitive NL West in 2015. If they don’t make a move to acquire a replacement, general manager Brian Sabean and the Giants’ front office will likely take heat from fans until Pence’s return.
But they have plenty of in house options. The Giants need to weather the storm, remain strong and stand pat during Pence’s recovery.