But soon there was a surprising new addition, especially in that he was the prodigal returned: After being picked up on waivers and sent to a couple of minor league teams for prep, Pablo Sandoval was back at third base.
Nobody expects the Giants to do anything much this year, but any hope that can be generated would be welcome. The Panda not only perked things up at the ball park, he seemed to boost morale in the club house and generate some play more consistent with the Giants when he was a vital member of championship teams.
In particular he seemed to perk up Hunter Pence who started hitting, and hitting for power. The two of them were really the hitting sparkplugs of the 2014 playoffs and World Series.
Meanwhile the Giants keep trying new players and different combinations, partly because more guys keep getting injured (Joe Panik most recently) as others heal up. Positives have been the return of Parker in left field, the starting pitching of Ty Blach and Sam Dyson's work as a closer. And my guy Kelby Tomlinson continues to be invaluable. The Giants started winning some games.
Meanwhile, Pablo penned an emotional essay about coming home to San Francisco. There's no guarantee he'll be back next season, but his effect on the team will have to be part of that decision.
Right now the Giants are finishing a series with the Marlins, the team I saw them play in San Francisco. Giancarlo Stanton homered in the first two games, extending his consecutive game streak and continuing his power surge. Someday I'll probably need to say that I saw him play, although I didn't actually see either of the two homers he hit in the July game. I was ducking out of the sun and saw the first one on a stadium TV, and when he hit the second I was already on the train. But if he really breaks a record this year, I can always lie. Who will know?
