At times it's not clear where Brandon Belt fits on the Giants' roster. The 24-year-old gets regular plate appearances, but he shares the first base job with Brett Pill, Aubrey Huff and Buster Posey. However, GM Brian Sabean says Belt’s not trade bait.
"He's going nowhere," Sabean told Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle. "The kid's earned his way onto the team … and we all want him to take over as the first baseman, and help this lineup, and I think it'll turn out that way.”
Sabean cautioned that Belt will have to earn his playing time and noted that some of his at bats have been disappointing. Belt, a top prospect entering the 2011 season, has a .234/.317/.407 line in 259 plate appearances as a Major Leaguer. He appeared in left and right field last year, but has played exclusively at first so far in 2012.
Giving the kid consistent playing time at one position may help him start Belting the ball in the majors.
With a combination of the players mentioned in the article, it gives the Giants some nice flexibility. Buster can play C and 1b; Pill a little 2b, 1b, 3b and OF; Aubrey the corner positions in the infield and outfield and Belt a 1b…well he can stand in LF, but wouldn’t suggest it. I wouldn’t trade any of them, just make sure they get their AB’s in.
You have got to be joking. You say that Pill can play 2B, 3B (which he never has), and the OF, and that Huff can play both corner positions in the IF (nevermind that he hasn’t played 3B in five years)…But Belt “can stand in LF, but wouldn’t suggest it.” Belt is by far the superior defender in the OF over those two.
Pill at 2B is the epitome of “he can stand there, but I wouldn’t suggest it.” Hell, why not say that Huff can play 2B? He “played” there for an inning, right?
I’m pretty sure Belt “earned” playing time with what he did in AAA last year and spring training this year. If the Giants are going to go anywhere, he needs to be playing most every day.
Belt needs ABs but with the ABs he’s had he hasn’t exactly been driving the ball hard. It’s a very weak .278. He earned the time but does need to hit like a #5 hitter
I was talking to my sf fan friends about this, they didnt agree with me… I say stick him at first for 2 years, then move posey there and trade belt for prospects. Posey is too good to risk behind the plate.
It would help if the rest of the offense wasn’t scuffling right now, but they should at least give him a month of regular time before getting reactionary. Not every prospect starts raking immediately like Posey. He hasn’t found the power stroke but he’s hitting .273 and getting on base at .360 and has an OPS of .746, not bad for a guy who hasn’t found his legs quite yet.
That’s the tough part — NO power, no hard line drives. The Giants need someone to hit 5th
Well that’s the dilemma; try to run Huff or Pill out there or give Belt some time to develop. Don’t forget that he hit 9 homers in 209 plate appearances scattered throughout last year, which extrapolates to 30 over 700 PAs.
Yep yep, except Sanchez will be the one taking playing time away. Sabean said if/when Huff returns, it will be in the OF. Pill rarely makes a dent, plays as much as any backup does. So if Hector outhits Belt with Posey at 1B I’m 100% okay with that. As long as any of the young guy’s start producing
Trade him to the Jays please. I can’t take another day of watching Adam Lind.
Giants need some bullpen help and could use an upgrade in the outfield
Eric Thames + Joel Carreno + Staring Pitching prospect = Brandon Belt
I would like to see it…and I don’t necessarily disagree with the offer. But Belt is somewhat unproven. Who would you consider as the “starting pitching prospect”?
someone in the 10-15 on the jays prospect list.
or David Cooper might be a better fit as insurance for 1B
Bonds didn’t hit very well his rookie year either. Kid needs his ABs. Let him start the remainder of the season.
…until a must have on the other side of 30 comes along.