By The Numbers: Giants Turn Batting Order Tradition Upside Down
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – Traditionally, pitchers get a little bit of a breather by the time they get to the bottom of an opposing team's batting order.
Well this season, there's nothing traditional about the way San Francisco's Giants manager Bruce Bochy has constructed his offensive attack.
It has put tradition on its head thanks to Jose Pagan catching fire as either the 8th or 9th batter. Pagan is hitting .325 with a homer and 11 RBIS and an OBP of .375.
The Giants pitching staff also is a free swinging group, hitting .152 with one homer, two doubles and a homer so far this season.
Madison Bumgarner is among the most feared pitchers at the plate having ripped 12 homers in his career.
Jake Peavy, who is a career .171 hitter has a .600 batting average so far this year and Jeff Samardzija is hitting .250 with a pair of doubles and 5 RBIs.
Here's a graphical look at the Giants production by position in the batting order this season.
Let's see how that stacks up with the three division leaders so far this season – the Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers.
First the Cubs.
And now the Nationals.
And finally the Los Angeles Dodgers.
