San Francisco Giants position players were top 10 in fWAR in the first half. The Giants scored more runs than the average team. They were better on the bases than the average team, despite being second-to-last in stolen bases. And importantly, the SF Giants were among the game's best defensive teams. Younger veterans like Thairo Estrada, LaMonte Wade Jr., J.D. Davis, and Mike Yastrzemski led the way, and the Giants mixed in some exciting young players like Patrick Bailey, Luis Matos, and Casey Schmitt.
Many were very concerned about the Giants' defense coming into the year, and it simply hasn't been an issue. In fact, the Giants' defense has been a real strength. The Giants have been among the game's best defensive teams, with Estrada and Davis—two players many had questions about defensively—leading the way. Michael Conforto hasn't been great defensively, but he also hasn't killed the Giants out there in right field.
The SF Giants certainly dealt with injuries in the first half, with Mitch Haniger out until September with a fractured forearm, and Estrada currently out 4-6 weeks with a broken hand. Conforto's been streaky at the plate, but other veterans like Wade and Davis have had very strong offensive performances. Bailey's emergence as the catcher of the present and the future was the best story of the first half for the Giants. He's been a clutch force at the plate and behind it. Matos has also been a bright spot, holding his own against MLB pitching despite being just 21 years old.
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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.
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
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