There are two Giants players that add spark to an almost dead line-up. Andres Torres gives the crowd excitement and the team some speed and patience at the plate. Juan Uribe leads the team in home runs and exhibits a stronger arm at shortstop than counterpart Edgar Renteria. Both Torres and Uribe have played better than their overpaid veteran every day starters, and should be inserted in Bochy’s line-up card every game.
Juan Uribe is the obvious start over Renteria because Renteria has been hurt a lot of the year. Despite Renteria hitting .326 AVG and a .372 OBP compared to Uribe’s .272/3.43, Uribe should get the start because the Giants need more guys knocking runners home and not just hitting to get on base. Also, Uribe displays the most power on the team, and that’s a rarity.
Uribe’s six home runs and 27 RBI’s lead the team and he’s pretty close in runs scored. Why bench the leading run producer when Renteria gets healthy? Is it just for the money?
The other position that should be changed is at center field. Aaron Rowand may be an okay CF, but journeyman Andres Torres presents the better option. In the field, Torres covers much more than Rowand and will let Schierholtz play more towards the RF line than the gap.
At the plate, Torres is a much better fit at the top of the line-up. Torres has an AVG/OBP/SLG of .296/.386/.496 compared to Rowand’s .236/.272/.417. Just from that, Torres should get the nod.
In 30 fewer AB’s, Torres has the same amount of hits, more doubles, less strikeouts, and more walks. How many times has Rowand gone up there, take hacks at three pitches, and sit right back down on the bench? At lead-off, he should at least take the first strike and make the pitcher throw over the plate. And I say that because Rowand isn’t the Albert Pujols of the Giants.
In the rest of the NL West, every other CF is fast and gets on base, except for Tony Gwynn Jr. of the Padres. What Bochy and the organization should come to realize is do what wins, not just for money. Keep Uribe at SS and Torres at CF, and move Rowand over to left field. Torres should bat lead off and Uribe at five and Rowand in the eight spot.
The Giants should change the line-up to try and win games and stay consistent instead of constantly moving two of the most explosive players. Consistency is key, and at the rate they’re going, the only thing consistent the Giants will have is .500.
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