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SAN FRANCISCO–After a 98-loss season, general manager Bobby Evans and vice president of baseball operations Brian Sabean rolled the dice.
They gambled on an aging core, pushing their chips in with a roster they worked diligently to construct even if others in the same position would have folded.
Evans and Sabean specifically chose their cards, marrying their fate to a unit that fell so spectacularly in 2017 that few envisioned the duo could cash in with the very next hand.
Though the odds still aren’t in their favor, the Giants have reached the All-Star break with a 50-48 record and a shot to hit the jackpot. Doing so isn’t likely, but with a team that sits 4.0 games out in the National League West, the Giants remain within striking distance of the first-place Dodgers.
Very little has gone according to expectation along the way, which is why we decided to grade each player’s performance from the first 98 games of the season. In the end, the Giants will be judged on what they accomplish collectively, but to this point, certain players are pulling more weight than others and many of the most significant contributors are not the assets the front office expected to rely on this year.
First half grades
Brandon Belt (A-): The Giants were hoping Belt would return to form after a concussion ended his 2017 season in August, but he’s done more than that as he’s emerged as the most consistent hitter on the club. Belt was nearly an All-Star and could set career-highs in several offensive categories if he maintains his production.
Ty Blach (B-): Blach’s highs include five innings of shutout ball on Opening Day and 6 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in a 16-inning win over the Marlins. His lows include a demotion to the bullpen and three starts in which he gave up at least five earned runs.
Madison Bumgarner (Inc.): The hand injury that cost Bumgarner two months was out of his control, but he’s slowly but surely proven he still has the “stuff” to be an ace and lead the Giants staff in the second half.
Brandon Crawford (A): A career .256 hitter, Crawford busted out of an April slump with the two best months by a Giants player this season in May and June. He’s clearly the top shortstop in the National League and was the club’s first half MVP.
Johnny Cueto (Inc.): Cueto was the best pitcher in baseball in April, but like Bumgarner, an injury prevented him from taking control of the spotlight in the first half. The health of his elbow is one of the Giants’ biggest second half stories.
Sam Dyson (B): When Dyson is on, he’s a groundball machine with a devastating sinker. When he’s off, it’s tough to watch as hitters feast on his mistakes. A 3.13 ERA is about what you’d expect from Dyson to this point in the year, as he’s improved after enduring a roller coaster ride in 2017.
Alen Hanson (B+): A minor league free agent who signed with the Giants this offseason, Hanson never looked like he had a real chance of making the club in spring training. Now, he’s a utility player who has forced his way into the lineup and brings the Giants an element of speed they haven’t had in recent years.
Gorkys Hernández (A-): Hernández outlasted Jarrett Parker and Mac Williamson for the final Opening Day roster spot in the outfield and turned it into a regular starting gig. He’s enjoying the best offensive season of his career thanks to a power surge and is a Willie Mac Award candidate.
Derek Holland (B): Is it possible Holland was the Giants’ best offseason signing? The left-hander struggled in April, but became a steadying force in May and could rejoin the rotation if Jeff Samardzija’s shoulder issues continue. Aside from what he’s done on the mound, Holland is a tremendous clubhouse asset.
Nick Hundley (B): Hundley’s defense leaves a little to be desired, but for a backup catcher, he’s met every expectation and his .784 OPS is an asset for a power-starved club.
Austin Jackson (D): A misevaluation of Jackson’s talents cost the Giants dearly during the first half of the year, as the veteran didn’t have the speed to play center field and struck out 59 times in 165 at-bats. Jackson was an Opening Day starter and expected to fill a platoon role as an outfielder, but Hernández’s emergence took the bat out of his hand.
Evan Longoria (C): Longoria admitted he felt the pressure of assimilating to a new club in April, and an unfortunate injury on a hit by pitch robbed him of the chance to get into a groove in June and July. He’s a critical asset against left-handed starters, though, and the Giants need his bat back in the lineup if they hope to push the Dodgers.
Andrew McCutchen (C): The transition from Pittsburgh to San Francisco hasn’t been easy for McCutchen, who has decent numbers but hasn’t provided the spark Evans and Sabean expected when they traded for him.
Mark Melancon (C): The Giants are paying Melancon a massive sum to close games for them, but he’s limited to an eighth-inning role because of continued arm trouble. Unless he proves he’s healthy enough to pitch on back-to-back days, it’s unlikely Melancon returns to the closer role.
Reyes Moronta (A-): Moronta wasn’t expected to make the Opening Day roster, but injuries to several relievers forced him into a bullpen role. He’s taken the opportunity and developed into one of the Giants’ most reliable arms, a right-hander with closer potential who has the valuable skill of being able to pitch in traffic.
Joe Panik (Inc.): It’s hard to believe the turn Panik’s season took after he led the Giants to a pair of 1-0 wins in their first two games, but injuries to his thumb and groin have crushed his chances to contribute.
Hunter Pence (D): Even after a regression in 2017, the Giants expected Pence to handle a regular starting role and a position switch in his age 35 season. Though he turned in a memorable moment with a walkoff single against the Padres, he’s hitting just .212 with a .263 slugging percentage.
Buster Posey (B-): Posey is showing the wear and tear that’s typical for a veteran catcher and his offensive decline reflects the injuries he’s had to deal with. However, his command of a pitching staff is second to none and he’s a major reason why several rookie pitchers have emerged as key contributors for the Giants.
Dereck Rodríguez (A-): Rodríguez had never thrown an inning above Double-A before this season, but joined the Giants at the end of May and posted a 2.89 ERA during the first half. Rodríguez wasn’t expected to contribute at all and is now a mainstay in the rotation and could be an asset for years to come.
Jeff Samardzija (D): Samardzija dealt with a shoulder injury during spring training and has continued to face setbacks throughout the season. He’s a competitor who wants to be on the field, but he’s had trouble getting loose and has cost the Giants opportunities by pitching through pain.
Pablo Sandoval (B+): The expectations were relatively low for Sandoval after he joined the Giants last summer, but he’s done everything in his power to help his team win this year. Sandoval has proven he’s more than a solid bench presence as he’ll play wherever and whenever manager Bruce Bochy needs him.
Will Smith (A): After undergoing Tommy John surgery last spring, the Giants expected Smith to rejoin the club in May and help Tony Watson as the second lefty in the bullpen. Smith is now the closer and has a 1.23 ERA which is the best mark of any Giants reliever.
Chris Stratton (C): The Giants thought Stratton was poised for a breakthrough, but that never materialized as he posted a 4.93 ERA in 18 starts before being demoted to Triple-A. Stratton demonstrated flashes of potential at various points in the first half, and there’s still plenty of time for him to save his season if he’s called into action.
Hunter Strickland (C+): Strickland’s numbers in the closer role were respectable, but he crushed the team with a self-inflicted injury that landed him on the 60-day disabled list. Expectations will be high for Strickland when he returns, but recovering from an injury to the pitching hand is no easy feat.
Andrew Suárez (B+): The Giants were hopeful the rookie might break through in 2018, but injuries forced him into action earlier than expected. Despite a rough outing against Oakland Sunday, Suárez racked up six straight starts in which he allowed two runs or fewer and has consistently given the Giants a chance to win when he’s on the mound.
Tony Watson (A-): The left-hander isn’t a specialist in the mold of Javier Lopez, but rather a reliable set-up man who has proven he can get righties and lefties out with ease. His numbers have taken a hit recently, but his 2.08 ERA is better than expected.
