SF Giants have new hope, and a big dilemma, thanks to Daniel Susac

While the SF Giants have gotten off to a rough start this season, fans have at least been treated to the Daniel Susac show thus far. The 24-year-old catcher is on a tear and is providing hope to the Giants while at the same time creating something of a dilemma.

If somebody came up to me and asked, "Hey, what's been the weirdest thing about the Giants so far this season?" I would honestly have trouble answering. To begin with, it is bewildering that a roster featuring sluggers such as Rafael Devers, Willy Adames and Matt Chapman, while also boasting a three-time batting champion in Luis Arraez, has been one of the worst offenses in baseball while hitting a league-low four home runs. Then there is the "Matt Chapman case." A five-time Gold Glove winner and one of the smartest base runners on the team committing multiple avoidable mistakes isn't a regular occurrence, either.

What about a rookie catcher opening his big-league career with five hits in his first five at-bats? That had not happened in San Francisco since 1959, when the iconic Willie McCovey went 4-for-4 to begin his legendary career. Daniel Susac was actually just one hit shy of tying the major league record for hits in consecutive at-bats to open a career, set by Boston Red Sox outfielder Ted Cox, who went 6-for-6 in 1977.

SF Giants lineup tweaks had to happen sooner or later

When a catcher hits .857 and owns a 2.018 OPS through his first two games, he should be granted the opportunity to stay out there as long as he stays hot. Well, things get more complicated when your everyday catcher is named Patrick Bailey.

Yes, he's been the best defensive catcher in baseball for the past few years. Yes, he's well-respected in the clubhouse and one of the longest-tenured Giants on this roster. But he's been a non-factor offensively.

Through 10 games this season, he owns a .129/.206/.129 slash line and an abysmal 5 wRC+. Meanwhile, his backup has collected two more hits in 26 fewer plate appearances. And Tony Vitello is well aware of that.

"I think he's obviously, even prior to today, earned the right to be out there for us more often and it'll be good for both those guys. I think they've got a good friendship and also a good working relationship," said the Giants manager when asked about Susac's playing time going forward.

One thing is for sure: Susac should start against lefties moving forward, just like Jung Hoo Lee shouldn't. For the first time this season, Tony Vitello decided to use Lee as a pinch-hitter while starting Jerar Encarnacion in right-field. Lee's been known to struggle against lefties throughout his three seasons in the big-leagues, and after managing just one hit in 10 at-bats against southpaws this year — with the Giants also facing one of the nastiest lefties in the league in Cristopher Sanchez — Vitello figured it was wise not to start him, and he was right.

Instead, Encarnacion singled off the lefty and Lee still got an opportunity to leave his mark on the game in the sixth after Sanchez had been chased from the mound. With runners on second and third and one out, he lifted a sacrifice fly to extend the Giants’ lead to four.

Chapman let his play silence the noise

People love to point fingers when things go south, and most of them were pointed at Matt Chapman early on. For a veteran presence like him to be at the center of multiple questionable plays, a public rebuke of a teammate and a rookie-like baserunning blunder did not sit well with the fanbase.

But Chappy quickly reminded everyone why he is one of the leaders in that clubhouse. He let his bat do the talking. After Tuesday’s 6-0 win over the Phillies, Chapman now leads the Giants’ starters in RBI (7), batting average (.304), slugging percentage (.478), OPS (.838) and wRC+ (139). His one-two punch with Willy Adames has fueled the offense over the last two games, as the two have combined for nine hits, five doubles, one triple and three RBI while striking out only twice.

The Giants will not face another lefty until later in the week, when they take on the Baltimore Orioles and Cade Povich. Still, as Vitello mentioned, Susac has more than earned additional reps, so hopefully he gets back into the lineup before then.