By Jordan Long
The San Francisco Giants know they will be playing postseason baseball since they have earned a playoff spot. They haven’t clinched the National League West Division. With 6 games left, they lead the L.A. Dodgers by 2 games. The Giants will be without one of their top players for the stretch run and possibly the MLB postseason , 1st baseman Brandon Belt.
Belt was in the lineup on Sunday when they beat the Colorado Rockies 6-2. In the 7th inning with 1 on and 1 out, Belt was trying to move Wilmer Flores into scoring position with a bunt. Flores was at first base after he walked. The Giants at the time were leading 2-1. Belt squared around to bunt but the pitch hit his thumb and he ended up at 1st base on a hit by pitch. Belt was taken out of the game before the bottom of the 7th inning. X-rays showed he had a fractured left thumb and there is no timetable for when he will be back.
According to mercurynews.com, after the game Manager Gabe Kapler said, “He knows when the best way for him to get on base is to put a bunt down. He knows when the best way to get on base is to take pitches. He knows when the right time is to take a crack at a ball in the gap or in the seats. Not surprised, though it was a smart play against a tough lefty late in the game. Thought it was a good play.”
Belt is one of the Giant’s best hitters. His batting average this year is .275 which ranks 5th on the team. Belt can move his teammates into scoring position with a base hit and score them with RBI’s collecting 59. Pitchers can’t throw the baseball in a zone to where Belt can smash it for home runs. Belt leads the Giants with 29 home runs.
When it comes to fielding, Belt is one of the better 1st basemen in the league. He rarely drops a ball that comes his way. This year he has an impressively low 3 errors. The Giants can trust him at 1st base.
This could be a big loss for the Giants in the lineup. He is one of their better players. Belt has helped the Giants at least to this point, to the best record in baseball. They are still trying to win the division. With him out of the lineup, the Giants will have to go with LaMonte Wade Jr. or Wilmer Flores. Wade Jr. has played 30 games at 1st base but has 3 errors. Flores was placed at 1st base for 28 games with 1 error. It could be Wade Jr. and Flores share the duties.
The Giants will be in the postseason no matter what happens in this final week of the regular season. They have a chance to win the National League West Division and play deep into October. If they fail to win the World Series, Belt’s injury could be looked at as the turning point of the season especially if he can’t return to the lineup.
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