The San Francisco Giants used to be in first place in the National League West. They had a four game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks not too long ago. Are the defending World Champions on vacation? Many folks might think so just by looking at the two game deficit in the standings. Giant fans, on the other hand, are watching the games, looking at the stats and probably experiencing a case of deja vu.
Let’s look at August. The Giants are off to a 4-11 start this month. I’m reminded that last year’s August (13-15) wasn’t so great, either
I’m going on a witch hunt to look for the cause of the Giants’ issues with the month of August. Most Giants fans will quickly point to last year’s collapse of the pitching staff. When ace and two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum was out-pitched by the likes of Barry Zito, need I go further? To make more sense of the situation, I did some digging.
"He didn't just compare me to Barry Zito, did he?"
The 2010 Giants ended their season not only as World Series Champions but their pitching staff ranked 1st in era, 1st in avg and 3rd in whip in the National League. For August, though, they were ranked 13th, 14th and 13th in those three categories. That was the one month the Giants pitching staff would like to have back. Fortunately for the team and Giants faithful, things turned around big time in September and the Giants cruised in the playoffs and on to their first World Series Championship since coming to San Francisco.
This season, though, the 2011 Giants pitching staff can’t take the majority of the heat, even though August has not looked as good as they do during the season as a whole (August rankings of 5th in era, 2nd in avg and 5th in whip compared to season rankings of 2nd, 1st and 2nd respectively), the Giants offense has been horrible. Almost nonexistent, in fact, even with a healthy Carlos Beltran (newly acquired—although currently sidelined with a sore wrist).
The Giants’ offense didn’t strike fear into many opposing pitchers last season, either. With Buster Posey having a shot at his first full year at the Major League level and a shaped-up Pablo Sandoval rebounding from a disappointing 2010 campaign, they were supposed to be more potent this go-round. Posey, of course, was injured and lost for the season, but even with Sandoval’s resurgence, things have not worked out that way, even with the big-time, middle-of-the-order bat (Beltran).
Last August the offense ranked 8th, 8th and 7th in average, home runs and slugging percentage. This month? Don’t look if you are squeamish. The lineup is 10th in avg, 14th in hr’s and 14th in slg. Pretty much on track with how things are going for the entire season to date (14th, 12th and 15th). You’d have to wonder how it could get worse. Well, wonder no more. The Giants are currently extending their streak of hitting home runs with NOBODY ON BASE!!! There has not been a runner on base during a Giant round-tripper since before the All-Star break. (“UGH” doesn’t even begin to describe it.)
Aubrey Huff's "Please get out of play so I don't foul out with runners on, again" look
No National League World Series winner has come back to repeat as champions since the 1976 Cincinnati Reds. If the Giants have any hope of doing the same, their pitching is going to have to remain dominant. And with 18 games left in this year’s August, they are going to have to get Carlos Beltran healthy and the rest of the bats hot or they just may look back at this fateful period as the month when the playoffs slipped out of reach.
by Steve Bostwick
blog GIANT 