San Francisco Giants: 5 Players Who Need to Step Up in the Second Half

Buster Posey won’t draw as much ire from me as Panik. Buster still has a wRC+ over 100, he’s surpassed his defensive numbers from last year, which is good as well. He doesn’t have that 23 dRS like he did in 2016, but 7>2, and last year was a down year for him behind the plate. We know the work he’s done with the young pitching staff as well.

The fact he’s done that all while being hurt is really impressive. Obviously his injury has hindered him when it comes to the power in his swing and that is precisely what I’m looking for when I say “Posey can step it up a bit.”

Posey’s power is a big miss. While he’s been fine in the two hole, it would be nice to have a little more power coming from that spot. His slugging percentage is down 60 points, and his OPS is down almost 100 points from last season.

I’m sure his lower Batting average, lower BABIP, and lower OBP are all playing into the same injury factor that is affecting his power. Posey’s bat is key to them moving forward. If he could have a second half near as good as his second half in 2012, Posey alone could spur the Giants on to the postseason. But they don’t have to rely on Posey alone anymore, which is why any improvement on his first half will be impactful enough on the Giants going forward.

We’ll have to see how he keeps moving forward with the injury. If the time off and cortisone shot helped spur him on to a good and healthy second half, then that will be fantastic. The Giants absolutely need their face of the franchise to be playing to the best of his abilities if they’re going to make the postseason.