With Melky Cabrera done for at least the rest of the regular season?after testing positive for enhanced testosterone levels, the Giants may well fall short of the playoffs this year. Though perhaps that?s for the best, given that the cheater is a big reason they?re tied for the NL West lead at the moment.
Cabrera has hit .346/.390/.516 with 11 homers, 60 RBI and 13 steals this season. That .906 OPS was good for eighth place in the National League. It was also 97 points higher than his 2011 mark with the Royals and 177 points higher than his career mark of .729 entering the season.
Baseball-reference WAR places Cabrera as the NL?s fourth-best position player this season. Fangraphs WAR rates him the 11th best.
Needless to say, the team?s fallbacks don?t compare. Nate Schierholtz will be missed, since he was included in the Hunter Pence trade. Gregor Blanco, whose role was reduced when Pence arrived, figures to see a lot more action now. He?s hitting just .232/.329/.343 for the season, and he?s at .137/.297/.196 in 51 at-bats since the All-Star break. Justin Christian figures to return to the majors to replace Cabrera on the roster.
Perhaps the Giants will go get Alfonso Soriano from a Cubs team perfectly willing to cover a big portion of his salary. He?d replace Melky?s power, though not his on-base ability. Aubrey Huff, on the DL with a strained knee, could factor into the mix in left next month, but it?s nothing the Giants can count on.
The Giants simply can?t afford any drop-off and still expect to reach the playoffs. They?re tied with the Dodgers for the NL West lead, but the Dodgers are playing better baseball at the moment. Their 64-53 record is tied for fifth-best in the NL. As things stand now, both the Braves and Pirates have better records in the wild card spots, with the Cardinals just a half-game behind.
Cabrera will be eligible to play beginning with the Giants? fifth game of the postseason if the team does advance, but that would turn into a farce if it happens. It?d be another black mark for baseball if Cabrera could get a PED suspension and still be a postseason hero in the same year.
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