The Giants Bench Projections

I have gone through all the regular position players, so now it is time to look at the guys that I expect to start the season on the bench.

Again, like the regulars, I give a projection, a best case, and a worst case.


Travis Ishikawa

	BA	OBP	SLG	R	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB
2011 Projections	.260	.321	.406	37	14	1	6	35	1
Best Case	.286	.353	.446	48	18	2	8	46	2
Worst Case	.234	.289	.365	26	10	1	4	25	0

Ishikawa could be in some trouble if Brandon Belt is the real deal. The need for his plus defense and lefty bat would be redundant, as Belt has that and much more upside. Ishikawa will be fighting to show that he deserves to be on the team or he may be headed out of town in the roster crunch at the end of Spring Training (similar to Fred Lewis last season).

Aaron Rowand

	BA	OBP	SLG	R	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB
2011 Projections	.250	.309	.398	49	20	1	12	45	5
Best Case	.275	.339	.438	63	26	1	16	59	6
Worst Case	.225	.278	.3358	34	14	1	9	32	3

The $60 million dollar man has not exactly lived up to that billing in his time with San Francisco. I expect that he will be better than last season, but he is fighting for the 4th outfield spot which will limit his playing time. If he has a good Spring and the Giants are willing to eat most of the contract, he is another trade candidate to free up room on the 25 man roster.

Nate Schierholtz

	BA	OBP	SLG	R	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB
2011 Projections	.259	.315	.406	40	18	4	5	29	5
Best Case	.285	.346	.447	52	23	5	7	37	7
Worst Case	.233	.283	.366	28	12	3	4	20	3

The projection systems all love Nate, with both Zips and Bill James projecting a line around .275/.320/.430, but he has yet to turn in a full season of solid play. If he could approach his projections, he could supplant Cody Ross or Pat Burrell in the outfield. If not, he is destined to be a defensive replacement who only gets the occasional at-bat.

Eli Whiteside

	BA	OBP	SLG	R	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB
2011 Projections	.235	.291	.379	19	9	1	5	19	2
Best Case	.259	.320	.417	25	11	2	6	25	2
Worst Case	.212	.262	.341	14	6	1	3	13	1

Whiteside should only play once or twice a week, so I don't care all that much about what he does with the bat (as long as he holds on to it and doesn't fling it into the dugout, injuring Buster Posey or any of the starting pitchers).

Mike Fontenot

	BA	OBP	SLG	R	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB
2011 Projections	.270	.327	.388	36	19	3	4	35	2
Best Case	.297	.360	.427	46	24	3	5	3	4
Worst Case	.243	.300	.349	25	13	2	3	24	2

Fontenot doesn't give much to be excited about. He is here for depth and Freddy Sanchez injury insurance.

Mark DeRosa

	BA	OBP	SLG	R	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB
2011 Projections	.255	.330	.395	45	15	3	10	50	2
Best Case	.274	.351	.414	55	20	5	14	60	3
Worst Case	.224	.287	.339	28	10	1	7	28	1

DeRosa is a hard one to project. There are a number of questions surrounding his wrist and if he can regain his swing that he had two seasons ago. If he is healthy and productive, he could be a very valuable guy to have moving around the diamond, giving guys a day off without sacrificing any offensive production. If he isn't healthy, well I guess we know that the team is capable of winning without him.

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