Drew Gilbert had never hit lead-off before. The vast majority of his plate appearances this season have come out of the 8th and 9th spots in the batting order. There's plenty of reasons why Gilbert wouldn't be seriously considered to bat first when constructing a Major League line-up. Mainly, he doesn't hit for average, he doesn't hit for power, nor does he inflate his on-base percentage with walks. Gilbert's barely the same species as a Kyle Schwarber or Shohei Ohtani, the 21st century take on the top spot. Considering he's swiped only 2 bases in 137 Major League games, Gilbert is pretty far from Vince Coleman and the more old-school, light-and-fast model too, aimed at wrecking havoc on the bases after beating out an infield single.
The lead-off man has been a revolving door for the Giants all season. It's been dependent on the opposing starter's arm, who's healthy, or the hot hand. No one has been particularly good at it. San Francisco's lead-off men have posted a .279 OBP — by far the lowest in the Majors. Their overall production, with a 89 wRC+, is well below league average.
The point of the offensive spear being not that pointy could explain some of the team's frustrating inconsistencies and overall struggles.
Game 123 of this doomed season, Tony Vitello is throwing spaghetti against the wall and seeing what sticks. Dating back to July 30th, in which the Giants have gone 4-10 while dropping four straight series, seven different players have hit lead-off. Pencilling Gilbert's name into the top spot — because why not? — made him the 13th player to serve in the role this year, which is the most in any Giants season since 1901.
13 might be a lucky number because Gilbert transformed himself to fit into the role. The middle schooler hyped-up on Mountain Dew Baja Blast energy he typically emanates at the plate was completely gone. In its place, a stoic figure, a discerning eye. The new number-1 went 3-for-4, with a walk, 3 runs batted in, and 2 runs scored. He worked a lead-off walk, taking six straight pitches, and didn't lift his bat off his shoulder. The Number- 9 hitter Gilbert probably would've swung a dozen times. But that Gilbert is dead now; or at least, repressed, stuffed in the locker of his subconsciousness (for the day at least), because when he came up again in the 3rd, nothing had changed. Gilbert was just as calm and disciplined. He took a first pitch fastball in the dirt for ball one, and an elevated curveball at the letters for ball two. Being ahead in the count matters, and Gilbert specifically needs that breathing room. He's hitting .300 with a 1.014 OPS (70 AB) when he's swinging with count leverage. When he's backed into a corner: .224 with a .585 OPS (85 AB).
#gilbert #major #doesn 't
The lead-off man has been a revolving door for the Giants all season. It's been dependent on the opposing starter's arm, who's healthy, or the hot hand. No one has been particularly good at it. San Francisco's lead-off men have posted a .279 OBP — by far the lowest in the Majors. Their overall production, with a 89 wRC+, is well below league average.
The point of the offensive spear being not that pointy could explain some of the team's frustrating inconsistencies and overall struggles.
Game 123 of this doomed season, Tony Vitello is throwing spaghetti against the wall and seeing what sticks. Dating back to July 30th, in which the Giants have gone 4-10 while dropping four straight series, seven different players have hit lead-off. Pencilling Gilbert's name into the top spot — because why not? — made him the 13th player to serve in the role this year, which is the most in any Giants season since 1901.
13 might be a lucky number because Gilbert transformed himself to fit into the role. The middle schooler hyped-up on Mountain Dew Baja Blast energy he typically emanates at the plate was completely gone. In its place, a stoic figure, a discerning eye. The new number-1 went 3-for-4, with a walk, 3 runs batted in, and 2 runs scored. He worked a lead-off walk, taking six straight pitches, and didn't lift his bat off his shoulder. The Number- 9 hitter Gilbert probably would've swung a dozen times. But that Gilbert is dead now; or at least, repressed, stuffed in the locker of his subconsciousness (for the day at least), because when he came up again in the 3rd, nothing had changed. Gilbert was just as calm and disciplined. He took a first pitch fastball in the dirt for ball one, and an elevated curveball at the letters for ball two. Being ahead in the count matters, and Gilbert specifically needs that breathing room. He's hitting .300 with a 1.014 OPS (70 AB) when he's swinging with count leverage. When he's backed into a corner: .224 with a .585 OPS (85 AB).
#gilbert #major #doesn 't
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