The San Francisco Giants’ Offense Missing Platoon Edge Early

The San Francisco Giants are off to a solid 4-2 start to open the 2022 campaign. With the exception of a blowout win on Tuesday, they clearly have been lacking some thump in their line up that propelled them to an MLB best record in 2021.

Although it is early and a difficult time to jump to conclusions, the Giants have won three out of their four games by only one run.

Overall the Giants’ offense has been a slightly above average unit early in the season. They have posted a team wRC+ of 104, which is slightly above average and is good enough to place them in the top half of offenses.

On the other hand, they are 17th in runs scored so far this season, thanks to Tuesday night’s outburst, but without that game to pad their numbers, they’ve been off to a slow-ish start.

Before their April 12th drubbing of the Padres, the Giants were 22nd in runs scored and only had a 82 team wRC+. This reveals how much one game can impact a small sample early in the season.

One of the major reasons the Giants’ offense seemed to be off to a slow start, is the absence of Tommy La Stella and Lamonte Wade Jr. Now Brandon Crawford is also day to day with a wrist injury, and this further weakens one of the Giants’ greatest offensive strengths.

The Giants’ ability to leverage platoons was their greatest offensive strength last season. The Giants were a top five offense against RH
RH
P in 2021 in terms of wRC+ and ISO. So far this season they are right in the middle of the pack in terms of wRC+ and in the bottom third in ISO vs RHP to start the 2022 season.

It is important to note that the Giants have struggled significantly vs LHP so far in 2022. They were also not as effective as a team against LHP in 2021. Part of the Giants’ platoon advantage in 2021 had a lot to do with bringing fresh bats in off the bench to exploit match ups.

Without their more reliable regular bats, the Giants have had to move players up the depth chart that are starting to prove that they may be more of a bench bat than an every day bat.

The absence of Tommy La Stella has created a situation where Thairo Estrada has been taking on every day duties at second base. Estrada does have reverse splits, but in a situation where Tommy La Stella was healthy and available, either he or Estrada would be at third base against RHP.

That would make Wilmer Flores available on the bench to be the first bat up against LHP. In 2021 Flores posted a 118 wRC+ vs LHP in 2021, which makes him a weapon as a pinch hitter or spot starter. This is how the platoon advantage could help improve the Giants’ advantage against LHP and RHP.

All teams have injuries, but when you’re a team that relies so heavily on platoons and split advantages, your bench gets much thinner more quickly. It also overexposes your bench options who would otherwise pass as fringe regulars. Once they actually become regulars, it quickly reveals they are truly bench options who fulfill and excel in that specific role.

That is another reason why the Giants’ reluctance to spend or trade prospect capital in the offseason is so frustrating. Instead of attempting to acquire or purchase a more platoon proof and reliable every day option, they once again opted to replicate the production of good players with internal options via match ups.

That plan has not backfired completely, but the San Francisco Giants were fortunate enough to have a relatively good bill of health in 2021. So far this season, the injuries seem to be testing their depth. This test might be revealing that while platoons work to a degree, they are no remedy for bona fide talent.