Today, the San Francisco Giants will start a six game road trip featuring three games against the Chicago Cubs and three against the Colorado Rockies. Since losing Andres Torres the sparkplug in their offense and arguably the best leadoff hitter in the league, the Giants have only been able to manage to score runs with the long ball. With the pitching staff coming back to stellar form, the hitters will have to step up. Besides ROY candidate Buster Posey, every Giants player is swinging for the fences. Since the amazing comeback against the Dodgers on Sept 4th, the Giants have been averaging less than a run a game in games they do not hit a home run. Three key words this ballclub needs to focus on: On Base Percentage. Follow Buster Posey's lead and get on base; good things happen when players get on base. If they do this, and the pitching keeps doing what they have done all year, the Giants should have a great shot at making the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
Matt Cain, the workhorse of this staff and most consistent pitchers goes tonight for the Giants. As usual, Cain should keep them in the game and leave it up to the offense to get the win. In the Milwaukee series, the Giants showed that they are still unable to beat the teams they are supposed to beat. In order to remain in contention, they need to take or sweep the series in Chicago because if history shows anything, it is that Coors Field is a scary place for Giants fans. At the end of this roadtrip, we will know if this Giants team is a playoff team or if they are just happy to be in the pennant race.
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