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Which MLB contenders should hit panic button?

By Joshua Sadlock

Apr 7, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (19) reacts as he strikes out and walks back to the bench during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (19) reacts as he strikes out and walks back to the bench during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 13, 2017; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) throws to the Colorado Rockies in the sixth inning of their MLB baseball game at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2017; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) throws to the Colorado Rockies in the sixth inning of their MLB baseball game at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports /

San Francisco Giants

  • Record: 5-9
  • Culprit: Bad luck

No real culprits stand out when looking at the slow start of the Giants. Their team OPS ranks near the bottom of the National League, but the team ERA is right in the middle. The bullpen has actually been better than the starting rotation, and has recovered nicely after blowing a lead on Opening Day. Madison Bumgarner is 0-2 despite pitching well enough to win in every start. The Giants have just caught hot Arizona and Colorado teams that are much improved this season.

The Giants have gotten a .146 batting average and .458 OPS from their left fielders and a .530 OPS from center field. Those two positions on the diamond have dragged down the offense. Brandon Belt is also off to a slow start at first base, but the rest of the infield — Joe Panik, Brandon Crawford, and Eduardo Nunez — has been very good to start the season. Nick Hundley has done a nice job filling in for Buster Posey, who was off to a hot start, while he recovers from a concussion.

San Francisco has gotten some up-and-down results from its starting rotation. Bumgarner and Cueto have pitched well at the top. The offense has picked Cueto up while letting Bumgarner down. Matt Moore makes a nice number-three option, but Jeff Samardzija has looked ugly. He has gotten by on potential for years and parlayed it into $90 million despite having only one half of a good season in the big leagues to date. Samardzija does lead the league with 24 strikeouts, but has given up 21 hits in 19 innings.

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At 5-9, the Giants have not looked as bad all around as the Cardinals. They have hot hitters at key positions around the diamond, and have to feel good about the hot start for Hunter Pence. Most of the starting rotation has performed up to task, and the bullpen has recovered from its early hiccups. If the Giants are able to find an answer in left field, and get more out of Denard Span, the offense will start clicking.

Level of Panic

Cali cool by the Bay. The Giants are built to win now, and this slow start should not dampen expectations. They are one hitter and one starter away from being right where they expected to be at the start of the year.

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