Five SF Giants Who Need to Begin Producing Now

SF Giants SS Brandon Crawford and 1B Brandon Belt

Nobody expected 2020 to be an easy season to watch. Any fan knew they would watch the Giants struggle to find their future roster, rotation and bullpen in a rebuilding year. But another problem that lingers is the decline of their big-contract vets.

Though someone like Evan Longoria continues to show an ability to hit and play solid defense at the hot corner, home-grown Giants Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt have had rough starts to the season. They were already listed among the team’s least tradable assets headed into this season, but the Brandon’s are now making things more difficult as whatever value they had continues diminishing.

Kapler has displayed zero faith in Crawford’s ability to hit left-handed pitching as the shortstop has only been allowed 11 of his 57 plate appearances against southpaws. Crawford has done nothing in those few opportunities to disprove Kapler’s choice, yet to record a hit.

Belt started the regular season late after coming off of the injured list due to a sore right heel. But after 12 games back, the left-handed-hitting first baseman still shows signs of rust. Through 42 plate appearances, Belt has slashed just .135/.238/.243. He has gone only 1-20 in his last seven games.

Needless to say, both are struggling.

Once guaranteed write-ins on the lineups of championship teams, Crawford and Belt must begin to show signs of life at the plate to help their team win games. Both of their contracts carry no-trade clauses too, so without improvement at the plate or a desire to waive that and be traded, they are track to becoming not-so-budget-friendly bench players.