The San Francisco Giants didn't have the best road trip heading into the All-Star break. In the six games leading up to the Midsummer Classic, the Giants were only able to walk away with one victory and experienced yet another Tim Lincecum meltdown. Despite those struggles, the Giants' representatives were able to show the league that they had the skills to put on a good performance at the All-Star Game - with outfielder Melky Cabrera taking down the All-Star Game MVP. Hopefully some of that showing will carry over to the second half of the season and could be compounded with some roster help.
While I think the Giants could benefit by a big-time addition that would result in a long-term offensive presence in the lineup, it appears as if the Giants won't be doing any of that. Bobby Evans, the Giants' vice president of player personnel, has stated that the Giants would look to bolster their roster, but not make any big splashes. That means no everyday replacements in their starting lineup and no offensive help that could spark the lineup.
Perhaps the Carlos Beltran experience has taught Evans and Giants' GM Brian Sabean to not try and make a big splash at the trade deadline. Or perhaps they feel like the team doesn't need such a dramatic boost and will get by with some help off the bench and in the bullpen.
I think there would be a positive result in getting the everyday lineup the boost it needs to put the team over the edge offensively - mostly because of the pitching lull that has revolved around Tim Lincecum. If it weren't for his struggles, the Giants would be in a completely different position and leading the NL West by more than just a few games.
Then on the negative end of things, it could end up just like the situation in 2011. The Giants traded away a prized prospect in Zack Wheeler for the services of Beltran, which resulted in a slump, some DL time and then an outburst of offense the last month or so of the season. However, in the end, Beltran was not brought back to the Giants and is now tearing it up, playing right field for the St. Louis Cardinals. In essence, Wheeler was given away for nothing in return, perhaps jading the Giants' idea of acquiring a player to break into the lineup at the deadline.
Either way, I just hope the Giants make the move that best reflects their biggest needs. With what little offensive success the Giants have had this year, they don't have any gaping holes to fill, but some hitting with RISP would be a nice thing to improve upon. Not to mention the struggles of the bullpen and how they might be remedied with the addition of a closer and subsequently the rest of the bullpen filtering back into their natural spots.
Food for thought: The Giants seemingly won't be making any big free agent splashes before the trade deadline. Do you agree or disagree with that decision? Does the Beltran deal affect how you would feel about another big deadline acquisition and can the Giants get by with just bolstering their roster?
David is co-founder of wrapupp sports blog where fresh content is posted daily and present sports blogs and sports opinions - all with a West Coast bias. Growing up in the Bay Area, David is a huge supporter of all the local sports teams; the Giants, Athletics, Warriors, Sharks, 49ers, and Raiders. His one fault, admittedly, as many of his friends and family would say, is his love for the Los Angeles Lakers. Growing up, Magic Johnson was his favorite basketball player and he fell in love with the team. He chalks it up to, "Not knowing any better". Now his love for sports has turned just as academic as it is intuitive and he follows most all sports all over the nation.
You can follow David on Twitter: @officialwrapupp
Sources:
MLB.com. Giants unlikely to make splash before deadline. MLB 2012.
More from David Mehrwein and the Yahoo! Contributor Network:
Alex Smith Will Use San Francisco 49ers' Peyton Manning Pipedream as Motivation: Fan Reaction
Magic Johnson Wants Dwight Howard to Join the Los Angeles Lakers; Will He? Fan Question
Los Angeles Lakers Not Moving Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum: Fan Reaction
Steve Nash Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers: Fan Reaction
Trade Rumors Place Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic at Scene of Momentous Trade: Fan Reaction
