Why we HAVE to keep Panik and Pablo

[klaiggeb]

Now understand up front, I'm being silly.

We have to keep both guys so the fans can bring back the "Killer P" signs!

Pagan
Pablo
Posey
Pence
Panik.

Now if only our big, left handed firstbaseman would consider changing his last name to PELT... Yes! That's the ticket! THAT would be perfect!

Or how about, Matt PUFFY?

Or even Andrew PUSAC?

Our line up COULD look like:

Pagan-CF
Panik-2B
Pence-RF
Posey-1B
Pablo-3B
Pelt-LF
Pusac-C
Puffy-SS

Now THAT'S a bunch of Killer "P's"!

As the song from "Holes," sung by Madame Zarrone goes: "If only, if only..."

boly

[Rog]

Perhaps the Giants' biggest decision this off-season is whether to re-sign Pablo. Here's the shocking thing: If they do re-sign him, it might be as much for his glove as for his bat. As in 2011 when he lost weight, he's been excellent with the glove. Unlike 2011 though, he hasn't bounced back with the bat. In fact, the past three seasons he's hit .283, .278 and this year .277, which could lead us to believe it's his new level of hitting. Good, but not even very good.

In 2011, he hit a homer every 20.2 at bats. The past three seasons -- and not including his three-homer explosion against Justin Verlander and the Tigers in the 2012 World Series opener -- he's homered little more than half as often.

The Giants don't want to pay him Hunter Pence money, and they shouldn't have to. The Giants gave Hunter a rich contract, and he's a better player than Pablo right now. But how much should they pay him?

Here's an intriguing idea if they do re-sign Pablo. He doesn't hit left-handed pitching anymore, so platoon him with Andrew Susac. Have Buster catch in the 70% or so of the games Pablo starts, and have Buster play third base while Andrew catches the other 30%. That way Belt stays at first base. The problem is that Pablo will make too much to be a platoon player. Still, it's an idea that could work.

The Giants can help reduce the amount Pablo is offered by other teams by making him a qualifying offer. Free agents who have received qualifying offers have seen their contracts greatly reduced, since their signing team doesn't like to play huge bucks AND lose their draft pick.

The problem with signing Pablo is that he'll make a lot of money for a player who is hitting less than .200 from the right side. The problem with not signing him is that there are limited options in the free agent market and almost none internally.

It's a tough call. It's too bad that Buster isn't already prepared to play third base. If Susac plays well, the "platoon" could work right now.