Hunter Pence is killing the Giants in run scoring opportunities
In game 3 of a playoff series that the Giants appear doomed to chase the whole way, Matt Cain was outstanding and like so many times before was left with nothing to show for it. It was a tough loss in a pivotal game, and here’s how I saw it.
All Bark, No Bite
For all the inspirational rah-rah speeches that Hunter Pence has delivered to the Giants, his inability to deliver a big hit has cost the Giants big time. Game 3 was no different as Pence has suddenly become the weak link in the Giants lineup hitting behind the possible MVP, Buster Posey.
Pence has redefined what it means to be a mindless hacker, going to the plate with seemingly no plan and no feel whatsoever for the strike zone. It’s literally swing-and-hope right now and it might be time to find another spot in the lineup to hide him. Of course the problem with that is who do you bat in that spot, which brings me to my next point…
Belt Scuffling
A 2-for-4 performance in game 2 helped to mask the fact that Brandon Belt is almost as big of a mess at the plate right now as Pence is. In game 2 Belt delivered a solid single to center and a bloop double to left which underlines the major mechanical issues that now plague the once-solid Belt.
I will refer back to an article I wrote a couple months ago that included this quote from Giants Farm Director Fred Stanley who was one of the first people to work with Belt after he was drafted.
“All we did was square him up and give him some direction back towards the middle. Just kind of freed him up so his hips and hands can work… and my goodness.”
Belt is lost at the plate
Based on what I know of Belt from his college days, he came to the Giants with a closed stance and a totally opposite field approach. What Stanley and the minor league hitting coaches did was unleash Belt’s raw talent and within a year they turned him in to one of the brightest prospects in the game. What has happened since is a master class in how to ruin a young hitter as Giants hitting coach Hensley Muelens has completely over-corrected Belt’s approach based on a perceived hole in his swing.
What you’re seeing now with Belt is a pull-conscious hitter who is jumping at the ball trying to pull everything. His ability to use the middle of the field has been diminished and his formerly impressive ability to go the other way with pop is pretty much gone. At this point Giants fans have to hope a pitcher makes a mistake out over the plate if they want to see Belt square one up. And with Tim Lincecum all but assured a start in game 4, I would be shocked if Buster Posey doesn’t play first base with Hector Sanchez taking over behind the plate.
Getting Cain’d
It has to be tough to be Matt Cain sometimes. I mean, sure, the money is great and getting to pitch for a winning team in a beautiful park in the greatest city in the world is also quite nice. But damn it if he’s not the unluckiest pitcher I have ever seen.
I thought we were past this. Past the days when Cain would put in just the kind of effort the Giants needed in a big spot, only to see those efforts wasted by a punchless, lifeless offense that couldn’t help but trip over its own feet. Cain wasn’t perfect, and the decision to go in against a left handed hitter with an open stance and demonstrated pull power (with 2 strikes no less), was not a good one. But he did everything that a reasonable fan could have hoped for and like so many times before it just didn’t matter.
Looking Ahead
It appears that Bruce Bochy is going to play the ultimate wild card in this series and start two-time Cy Young Award winner, none other than The Freak, Tim Lincecum. I said a few days ago that I thought starting Barry Zito in game 4 was the right decision based mostly on how well Lincecum had performed out of the pen. This is officially my change of heart moment because right now, in the moment, I don’t think I could stomach a Barry Zito start with the prospect of going down 3-1 on the road with another game to play in St. Louis.
So Lincecum it is and only one of two things is going to happen. Either the Tim Lincecum who dominated the best offense in baseball in game 5 of the 2010 World Series will rise from the ashes of a lost season and give the Giants the life line that they need. Or we will witness the final implosion of what has been a season full of implosions by our fallen ace. I know which one I want to see, but I must say this is as nervous as I have been in a long time.
C’mon Timmy, we need you now more than ever.
Free Brandon Belt 