Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
The Giants’ biggest addition for August wasn’t Scooter Gennett.
Their offense was badly in need of a spark, and the front office turned to the most sensible position to upgrade; until the White Sox’s Yolmer Sanchez qualified, Joe Panik had the lowest OPS among qualifiers in all of baseball.
But that was the only trade to boost an offensive unit that, while it had sizzled through much of July, was about to sag. While Panik is currently second to last in OPS in the majors, Brandon Crawford is third to last. Brandon Belt’s .720 OPS is the 18th worst in MLB. Buster Posey is slashing .243/.333/.351 this month. The veterans, by and large, have let them down.
Except, perhaps, for their biggest August addition: Evan Longoria.
The third baseman, who had been so hot in early July before plantar fasciitis forced him to the IL, returned Aug. 4 in Colorado. It took him a few games, but the fire has returned, as well.
In Longoria’s past five games, he’s batting .500 (10-for-20) with two home runs, a double and nine RBIs. Not so coincidentally, the Giants are 4-1 in the span.
In the July tilts before Longoria’s injury, the Giants were 7-2 while he slashed .400/.471/1.067. When he was abysmal in March and April, only slashing .212/.248/.375, the Giants went 11-18. As much has been made about Alex Dickerson’s input, perhaps the Giants go as Longoria goes.
“He was swinging the bat really, really well [in July] — as well as anybody. And I think he’s been getting some good swings off,” Bruce Bochy said last week. “We’re going to need him. He’s in the heart of the order. … That’s who you depend on.”
Since Aug. 5, when Longoria had an off-day in taking it slow off the IL, he has been in the lineup every game for the Giants. He was there again Friday, hitting cleanup. In a lineup that has become so platoon-based, he would get the start against righty Mike Leake. In part because the Giants need his bat, and in part because the Giants have no alternative.
Pablo Sandoval’s trip to the IL does not have an expiration date; the Giants are hopeful it won’t spill into September, but it’s dependent upon how Sandoval’s right, throwing elbow, which has bone chips, reacts to treatment and rest. There is a possibility, Bochy said, that Sandoval returns as a lefty pinch-hitter and first baseman.
Zach Green is with Triple-A Sacramento. The only non-Longoria on the Giants’ 25-man roster who has played a game at third base this year is Donovan Solano — and that comes with an asterisk, as it was only four innings at the position on July 15.
Yes, Longoria’s 15 homers are important, tied for the team lead (with Kevin Pillar) after just 318 at-bats. But the Giants need him for more than just his bat. On both ends, the Giants have no replacement.