In 2011, Giants’ shortstops combined for a slash-line of .210/.265/.299, or a wRC+ of 62. That wRC+ score ties them with the Reds for the second-to-worst score in the majors. Braves’ shortstops were a single percentage point (61) worse than the Giants and Reds. As defined by the bold dashed line, the league average shortstop was a 87 wRC+ in hitter the majors this past year. Teams with ungodly hitting from their shortstops are the Rockies (130), Mets (129), and Indians (117).
The graph doesn’t take into account any defensive factors. It seems pretty clear that, for the Giants, fixing shortstop, or even finding a suitable stop-gap, should rank high on the team’s to-do list this offseason.


At how many other positions would the Giants have been above average on a similar graph? Anywhere besides 3rd? The mistake the Giants make every year when building an offense is to work position by position. They should be signing the best free agent hitters they can afford for their lineup needs rather than taking compromises to fill positional needs. If they don't get Reyes, who else is left at SS? Rollins? Save the money for a better bat and run Crawford and his glove out at SS.
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