Can San Francisco Giants Survive Without Aoki and Pence?
The San Francisco Giants‘ once-deep outfield suddenly finds itself in dire straits, as the team is now missing two-thirds of their starting outfield. Already without right fielder Hunter Pence, the Giants got the disheartening news after Tuesday’s loss that left fielder Nori Aoki would be going on the disabled list. Aoki was initially diagnosed with a lower leg contusion, but further tests revealed a fracture in the fibula that will likely keep him on the shelf for a good chunk of the summer.
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Now the team must figure out a way to soldier on without two of their biggest offensive weapons. Pence is the motor that makes the Giants’ offense go, as evidenced by the team’s offensive outbursts during his short 18-game stint off the disabled list. Aoki is the ignitor, setting the table for the meat of the order.
Angel Pagan, normally the most fragile of the Giants’ outfielders, is the lone starter left standing, as the normally-durable pair of Aoki and Pence are forced watch from the dugout. As the Giants try to press forward without the two firestarters, they will need players to step up and pick up some of the offensive slack.
First and foremost, Pagan has got to find a good swing again. Pagan has been mired in a slump that has some questioning if this is the beginning of a steep decline. Without Aoki out, Pagan figures to move back into his familiar role of leadoff hitter, but his offensive production will need to pick up if he wants to fill Aoki’s shoes.
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In the month of June, where the team has struggled as a unit for the most part, Pagan’s struggles are amplified. For the month, Pagan is hitting just .179, and has just one extra-base hit. His power numbers are down for the season, as he has not hit a home run yet, and owns a career-low .328 slugging percentage to this point.
Justin Maxwell becomes a key figure again as the Giants’ fourth outfielder. After a tremendous start that really helped the team get by without Pence, Maxwell has fallen into old habits that caused him to struggled in the past. In his past 24 games, Maxwell is batting .167, and striking out at a high rate: 17 times in 60 at-bats through that span. His season on-base percentage is .267, higher than only Joaquin Arias, who hasn’t taken a walk all season.
Though he is just the backup outfielder at this point, the Giants will need more production out of him when he sees the field. Against left-handed pitchers, Maxwell will figure to get some starts, and his bat has got to come show more signs of life.
Andrew Susac is another player who will need to pick up some slack due to the injuries. It may sound strange. Why would a catcher fit into this category? Wednesday’s lineup showed exactly why.
Brandon Belt started Wednesday’s contest with the San Diego Padres in left field, with Buster Posey playing first base. That lineup will probably be seen more often as the season keeps chugging along, meaning Susac will see more time behind the plate.
After a very slow start to the year, Susac’s bat has come alive recently. He’s riding a career-high six-game hit streak, and has 10 hits in his past 24 at-bats. He’s showing that his bat is ready for Major League action, but can the same be said for his glove?
Susac has looked more and more comfortable calling games as time goes, as evidenced by the two shutouts in his past three starts behind the plate. On the other hand, Susac has had a hard time nabbing potential base stealers. That isn’t entirely his fault, as the numbers are skewed a bit, namely by Susac playing personal caddy for Tim Lincecum for more than a few starts.
Lincecum, as we all know, is slower than a one-legged dog on tranquilizers out of the stretch, and doesn’t give his catchers a chance to throw out runners. Base stealers are a perfect 7-7 stealing on Lincecum and Susac. But runners are also 14-17 against Susac with other pitchers on the mound. That is one figure that will definitely need to improve.
The pitching staff will need to be at their best if the offense struggles to score, which has been the case on several occasions this year. In the past, the team’s pitching staff has led them through rough offensive stretches, pitching very well and winning 1-0 and 2-1 games. That could become the case a lot more down the strech. When Matt Cain and Jake Peavy return, they will need to come out firing, and keep the Giants in close games.
The bottom line is: can the Giants survive with their outfield the way it is? Yes they can, they’ve gotten through worse and they can get through this as well. Will they survive? Only time will tell.