Freaky Friday: featuring Barry Zito and Tim Lincecum.
So far, the Giants have played in 23 games (not including tonight’s game against the Marlins) and have their fare share of hot and cold starts. In the month of April, the Giants had a rough start but found their groove to earn a 12-10 record.
The brightest spot of the giants so far is their offense averaging a hair under four runs per game. A big part of that has to do with…
Buster Posey – C/1B
Posey seems to be recovering from his injury quite well, as he is currently on pace for:
140 games, 30 doubles, 24 home runs 54 RBI, 6 stolen bases
.333 avg., .392 on-base %, . 569 slug %, 173 OPS+
He held a high-.300 average for most of the season and has been on a home run tear lately. He has been throwing guys out as easily as he has in the past; Posey looks like an all-star catcher.
That brings us to the equally effective, “Kung Foo Panda.”
Pablo Sandoval – 3B/1B
After another curious off season from Sandoval after some concerns over his weight had surfaced, he looks pretty good:
162 games, 42 doubles, 35 home runs, 105 RBI
.323 avg., .376 on-base %, .548 slug %, 162 OPS+
After hitting in 20 straight games to start off the season, and leading the team in home runs, RBI and runs, Sandoval is the biggest bat in the Giants lineup.
Melky Cabrera – OF
Newcomer Cabrera looks like a good pickup for the Giants so far. His ability to get on base and score runs, as well as hitting in clutch situations makes him a multi-tool outfielder. He is on pace for some low power numbers, but I’d expect that to increase:
162 games, 42 doubles, 7 home runs, 56 RBI, 35 stolen bases
.287 avg., .352 on-base %, .404 slug %, 117 OPS+
He hasn’t been showing much of his power we saw last year. Only one home run may not seem like a lot, but he should be on pace for at least three if he wants to average 20+.
Angel Pagan – OF
Another newcomer, Pagan is currently on a hitting streak, and has raised his average to a respectable .253. Pagan has also hit a few home runs more than I expected:
155 games, 21 doubles, 24 home runs, 56 RBI, 14 stolen bases
.253 avg., .283 on-base %, .474 slug %, 113 OPS+
Again, this doesn’t give us a good indication of what he will probably end the season with. He will steal more than this, hit fewer home runs (sorry), and raise his average above .280. That’s my gut feeling, but if he continues in this pace, I guess I wouldn’t mind.
Nate Schierholtz – OF
The kid from Danville, Calif. finally gets a good string of starts in right field for the Giants, putting up some solid numbers thus far.
148 games, 6 doubles, 18 home runs, 54 RBI, 6 stolen bases
.266 avg., .294 on-base %, .516 slug %, 128 OPS+
His average was as high as .330, but lately hes been in a hit-less streak thats dropped his average drastically. His power is about right, but we should be seeing more doubles (and triples, to which he already has three).
The pitching has been above average, but have seen better days, allowing a 3.82 ERA thus far.
Matt Cain – SP
Matt Cain, a Giant forever, has been pitching like everyone wanted him to pitch: very, very good. He is posting a low ERA with an excellent 5 K:BB ratio.
35 starts, 7-14 W-L, 260 IP, 210 strikeouts, 42 walks
2.35 ERA, o.67 WHIP, 143 ERA+
I like this start for Cain, it makes the contract extension feel so much better. We know Cain can pitch this good until he retires, he’s a workhorse built to throw a baseball really hard. And accurate.
Barry Zito – SP
Zito was Zito this off season. Pilates, unicorns, herbal tea are all a parts of his intricate, yet ironically “cool” workout routine. This year, somehow, he is pitching like its 2002.
28 starts, 6-0 W-L, 162 IP, 84 strikeouts, 36 walks
1.67 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 203 ERA+
So Zito is pitching like old Zito, eh? I guess that’s a good sign, but I’m still skeptical. I want to belief he has found his forgotten and long-lost groove, but something is holding me back. I don’t know what it is, but I want Zito to continue to prove my skepticism wrong.
That’s my big list, I could include guys like Brandon Crawford, Manny Burriss, Ryan Theriot and Brandon Belt, but they are performing at about where we anticipated.
As for Tim Lincecum, Aubrey Huff, Brian Wilson, and Gregor Blanco – they seem to be having a slow start to the season. Their numbers are low, but the odds of Lincecum staying a 5+ ERA guy are very unlikely.
