The World, Up-side-down

I'm sure you've noticed this spring the impressive hitting being displayed by the Giants Youngsters. I'm also just as sure you've noticed the slumping hitting show the Vets are putting on. But have you noticed the trend...

Here is the Offense, from a Major league service time point of view:

-Richie Aurilia, 13.027
-Edgar Renteria, 12.143
-Randy Winn, 10
-Bengie Molina, 9.077
-Juan Uribe, 7.089
-Aaron Rowand, 7.065
-Kevin Frandsen, 2.083
-Fred Lewis, 1.129
-Eugenio Velez, .162
-Emmanuel Burriss, .162
-John Bowker, .151
-Nate Schierholtz, .078
-Travis Ishikawa, .065
-Ryan Rohlinger, .047
-Pablo Sandoval, .047
-Buster Posey, 0
-Andres Torres, 0
-Jesus Guzman, 0

Now take a look at the team leaders overall offensively:

-Jesus Guzman, .404/.440/.872/1.276, 8 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 10 R, 14 RBI
-Andres Torres, .455/.510/.636/1.146, 1 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 15 R, 5 RBI, 4 SB
-Buster Posey, .421/.435/.789/1.224, (19 AB) 1 2B, 2 HR, 6 R, 7 RBI,
-Pablo Sandoval, .417/.440/.625/1.065, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 5 R, 7 RBI
-Travis Ishikawa, .327/.351/.655/1.006, 3 2B, 5 HR, 9 R, 10 RBI
-Fred Lewis, .341/.400/.659/1.059, 4 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 10 R, 7 RBI, 3 SB
-Ryan Rohlinger, .269/.269/.808/1.077, (26 AB) 2 2B, 4 HR, 9 R, 11 RBI
-Emmanuel Burriss, .404/.458/.463/.922, 3 2B, 11 R, 6 RBI, 2 SB
-Nate Schierholtz, .316/.409/.526/.935, (19 AB), 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI
-Eugenio Velez, .327/.352/.519/.871, 3 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 12 R, 9 RBI, 5 SB
-Richie Aurilia, .344/.475/.500/.975, 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 R, 3 RBI
-Kevin Frandsen, .333/.397/.474/.871, 5 2B, 1 HR, 10 R, 5 RBI, 1 SB
-Juan Uribe, .283/.283/.435/.718, 4 2B, 1 HR, 6 R, 9 RBI, 1 SB
-Bengie Molina, .283/.298/.413/.711, 3 2B, 1 HR, 1 R, 11 RBI
-Aaron Rowand, .229/.260/.438/.698, 4 2B, 1 HR, 6 R, 9 RBI, 1 SB
-John Bowker, .226/.317/.377/.694, 2 2B, 2 HR, 9 R, 10 RBI
-Edgar Renteria, .235/.250/.333/.583, 5 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI
-Randy Winn, .240/.250/.320/.570, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 R, 6 RBI

As you can see, the inverse of the order almost holds true to everyone. As a matter of fact, Bowker is about the only significant displacement. What does all of it mean... Well, maybe absolutely nothing, but what is the fun in that. Actually, it could be a sign of good things to come... or maybe a sign of the bad...

Who likes a Pessimist? Yeah, I know, but it would be an injustice to not recognize other possibilities. The Bad... With all of the regulars hitting so crappy this spring, one could justify the nation wide argument that the Giants just can't hit, and the vets are showing their true colors early, getting up there in age, and have lost a step or two. The youngsters full of youth and exuberance, are only hitting well down in the warm desert air and once they get back to PacBell (I still have a problem with AT&T) Park, they will come crashing down. Along with that, the youth movement is too inexperienced to carry the hitting over all season...Yeah, but who likes a pessimist?

I think that this just means the Giants are in great shape. I don't worry too much when I see gamers like Molina, Winn, and Rowand struggling. It's early. These guys will find their stroke soon enough, and Winn seems to be on a roll lately. Renteria was already a question mark coming into the season and what he is doing now is already an improvement on the combined SS numbers from last season. Really, it's the top have that get me excited.

5 of the top 8 hitters, Posey, Rohlinger, Guzman, Torres, & Burriss weren't even expected to make the team and the first 4 of them undoubtedly weren't even really considered. The plan with Burriss, to get him a season at SS in AAA has blown up and Guzman & Torres are causing a major 40 man roster dilemma, as well as a few of the middle relievers. Posey and Rohlinger both won't make the team anyways, but have probably opened a few more doors for Brian Sabean and company. The reality of this whole thing is if the Giants want to field the best team they can out of camp, they are going to have to make a few trades...and not necessarily to get better hitting.

Guzman has earned a job on the 25 man roster. He has the hottest, and possibly the best bat on the team. He has nothing left to prove down on the farm. The problem is,where does he fit, and how to create a spot on the 40 man. Torres has also earned a job...at least he would be the best fifth outfielder. He is much older, and at 31, really doesn't need the minors to show what he has. He just needs an opportunity. He has the same issues Guzman has, how to create a spot.