Bay Area Sports Guy – Slim pickings: San Francisco Giants’ DH options

With the San Francisco Giants in the World Series (still fun to say by the way), a big decision awaits. For Games 3 through 5 (if it goes that far), they will need to look for a person to man the designated hitter role.

Taking a look at the roster, there isn’t an obvious answer to the question. So let’s take a look at the different possibilities and weigh the pros and cons. At the very least, one of these guys just needs to be better than Tsuyoshi Shinjo was when he DH’d for the team back in 2002.

Pablo Sandoval to DH, Joaquin Arias to third base

Pros: The defense is better and the Giants keep Sandoval’s bat in the lineup.

Cons: Arias is not a very good hitter, so adding him to the lineup isn’t a very large improvement considering that Sandoval has been a pretty decent defensive third baseman this season.

Hector Sanchez and Buster Posey split catching DH duties

Pros: Allows for Sanchez to stay as the personal catcher to Tim Lincecum if he is one of the starters who takes the ball in Detroit. Allows for Sanchez, Posey and Belt to all play at the same time. Gives Posey a rest from catching without taking his bat out of the lineup.

Cons: If Sanchez catches, the defense behind the plate takes a hit. If Sanchez is the DH, the Giants don’t add that much on offense with his .295 OBP. Playing Sanchez and Posey at the same time might lead the Giants to carry a third catcher.

DH: Xavier Nady

Pros: He had a .733 OPS with the Giants (in a very small sample) and has a bit of pop left in his bat. He doesn’t have to play defense.

Cons: The last time he put up a wRC+ above 100 was back in 2008. Since then he has basically been roster-filler for teams looking for a 25th man. Long story short, he probably won’t help the Giants offense very much.

DH: Aubrey Huff

Pros: He’s done it before. He was magical in 2010. Umm … he can still take a walk (but asking him to run is a bit much).

Cons: His power seems to be all but gone. He has been one of the Giants’ worst hitters over the last two seasons.

***

I do not envy Bruce Bochy in having to make this decision. All of these options are less than ideal.

If Bochy wants to play for the platoon advantage he will look to add another left handed bat, so that would be either the switch hitter Sanchez or Huff. If he wants to put his strongest defense on the field he will go with Arias at third and Sandoval at DH. If he wants someone who has the potential to hit the ball over the fence… well there really isn’t anyone but I guess he might choose Nady.

If it was my decision to make I think I would lean toward the Arias at third and Sandoval at DH. Arias is about as good of a hitter as any of the other options, plus he makes the defense a tiny bit better.

What do you all think? Let us know your choice in the comments.

13 comments

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The skeptical side of me says Posey/Sanchez. There's no need for it. GMs 3-5 are Vogelsong, Cain, and perhaps Zito again pending his GM1 performance, but even if he isn't sharp, I still feel they'll go to him in GM5. I'm pro-Sandoval-to-DH-Arias-at-3B. Makes the most sense. No reiteration needed. And for the record, I'd prefer Bumgarner at DH over both Nady and Huff.

Hamptons

Sanchez/Posey for sure. Have to keep Posey in the line up and that way you can rest him a game but Belt stays at first. I like the idea of Sanchez because someone has to protect Buster or the Tigers will pitch him the same way the Cards did, give him nothing or make him chase. I think Sanchez stretches the lineup more than Arais and Pablo's not a liability out there.

Bay Area Duck Guy

I like the idea of using both the Arias at 3B/Pablo at DH option as well as the Posey/Sanchez splitting time at DH and C scenario. I think the Giants gain more from having Arias in the lineup both defensively and offensively at this point, but the option to give Buster a day of rest by playing him at first base is a good one, especially since he struggled in the NLCS offensively. That being said, no one wants to see Sanchez behind the plate after what happened in Game 4 against the Cardinals. A tough decision for sure, but changing the line up each game seems like the best option and it's certainly the Bochy thing to do.

Ronbo

Definitely the Sachez, Belt, Posey option. Look at Sanchez BA with RISP. He is clutch.

paperback writer

Whatever the righty-lefty match-ups bring/hot bat theories are what Botchy will do - then again - he may play a wild hunch..............I would probably go Arias in - that we you keep Pablo's hot bat and Belt just started to find his stroke. That also keeps the other's available for pinch hitting, rather than removing that option from being in starting line-up.

adrian reynolds

Arias 3B, Pablo DH.

Lefty

I agree that I'd go with the Arias option. Arias is sometimes a VERY good hitter. He was on fire in August, and he raked in limited time in Cincinnati--and mostly against righties. He also helped win Game 3 of the NLDS with his hustle. He makes things happen. Good energy.

None of them! I'd go with Zito. Did you see that nice bunt he had in Game 5? You need someone in the lineup who can drop a bunt.

If someone ever made a list of "Great bunts in the history of bay area baseball", then the Zito Game 5 bunt would have to be in the top 5. Just don't ask me to name the other 4 bunts. Not sure about Arias or Nady bunting...never seen either of them bunt.

devnull

Awesome. "Well Zito, you just pitched 8 shutout innings in Game 1, so that's it for today." "But because we liked your bunt we're doing a double switch, so now you're DH'ing -- grab a bat, big guy." "Huff, head down to the bullpen and start warming up ...." ;-)

BASG

Or how about Madison Bumgarner? If he isn't pitching it'd be a great way to keep him involved, and he has as much raw power as anyone on the team! Just kidding, I'd go with Arias at 3B and Sandoval at DH. But the Bumgarner option is strangely tempting...

Stan

Wouldn't it be wild if Cabrera showed up as DH? Speaking of Melky..is there any doubt he gets a full WS share and a ring?...his All Star Game MVP performance is why the Giants have the home field. And this year-that's HUGE.