Are the San Francisco Giants being underrated again? Yes, they lost Buster Posey, Kris Bryant, and Donovan Solano, but this hasn't been a lineup that was totally dependent on anyone. Many are concerned about their lineup against lefties, but they feature some of the game's best hitters vs. LHP over the last couple seasons like Austin Slater, Darin Ruf, and Wilmer Flores. They're not Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Trea Turner (not by a long shot), but somehow, they've been able to produce like them.
It's a balanced attack with the SF Giants. They're one of just two teams that's been in the top five in non-pitcher wRC+ vs. both lefties and righties since 2020. Digging deeper into the numbers, 85% of those plate appearances went to players other than Posey, Bryant, and Solano. And Bryant, for what it's worth, actually was a drag on their numbers against lefties in his brief time in San Francisco.
People also expected this Giants team to struggle defensively in 2021, but the opposite was true. They were one of the better defensive teams in the league, and their worst defenders are no longer here (Bryant and Alex Dickerson). Bryant combined for minus-8 outs above average at third base and in right field. For seven years and $182 million, he's the Rockies' defensive problem now.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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