The Curious Cult of Brandon Belt

Posted in Uncategorized by Flavor on April 18, 2012

I’m fairly surprised to read the comments from bloggers all over the local blogs who all seem to be in unison in their uproar about how Bochy is handling Brandon Belt. “They’re messing with his head again! Leave him alone and just play him every day!”

Sorry, but I am not getting this unconditional, across-the-board support for Belt. This league is about results. Nothing more. Murph (or Mac, I listen to them every day and can’t tell who is who) was interviewing Kuip yesterday and could barely contain his man-crush for Belt. “Kuip, why can’t they just leave this guy alone and run him out there for 400+ at bats this year? Who cares if he’s started slow? Melky is 0-12 and you don’t see him in any danger of being yanked from the line up!” It amazes me how either of those two doohickey’s can be paid to host one of the biggest radio morning sports shows.

Anyway, you could hear Kuiper laughing at him quietly in the background before he patiently explained to Murph/Mac that this league is about results. No one is worried about Melky going 0-12. All major league ball players go through slumps in a season. You ride it out.

But Belt, at least at this point in his career, is a major league ball player in name only. What has he done at this level? Forget his .167 batting average for 2012 (if you must). In 205 total mlb at bats he’s hitting .220. 205 at bats is not a small sample.

You know what Belt has proven he’s consistently good at? Sulking. He wears a sulk-look better than any of them. And that would absolutely explain why he’s had two rock solid spring trainings only to be immediately followed up with underwhelming (at best) starts to the mlb seasons. Based on how he looks after a poor at bat (and you have many, many examples to consider) he gets down on himself pretty easily. It’s not a terrible quality, it shows how hard he’s trying and how badly he wants this. But you have to have a flip side to that mentality. You can’t wallow in it. To me, it seems that when things aren’t working, Belt seems to get consumed by the immediate failure in the moment and I think it effects him in subsequent at bats. And that is no way to hit at this level.

You could all argue (and probably all will since it seems like every single Giants fan on the planet wants this guy in the LU) that I’m reading too much into his body language and assigning psycho-drama to a player who doesn’t deserve that type of amateur-arm chair psychoanalysis. And you might be right. But that’s how he it looks to me……

Someone on the other thread mentioned Freddy Freeman and wondered why he gets to keep playing everyday (and Belt doesn’t) despite having a slow start to the year. Look, I’m no Freeman fan, I’ve never really understood the hype on him. I think it’s his name–he’s got a snappy name. But again, this is about track record. You have to have at least SOME track record to get some slack through your slumps. Freeman hit 20 bombs last year and finished 2nd in the NL ROY voting. What’s that? That’s “track record”, baby……

The flip side to Belt’s slump is Huff’s slump. The good news for Huff is that he’s executing Belt from a batting average standpoint. He’s got him by 40 points! The bad news: he’s hitting .207. But Huff has 2 things that Belt doesn’t have: a track record and an 11 million dollar deal. I DO think the Giants would bail on Huff fairly soon if Belt was showing ANYTHING at the plate. But Bochy is trying to put together the best offense he can on a daily basis. And even if you think Huff is under-performing this year he’s still helping the team more than Belt is. So if you think about it, Huff has recent track record on Belt, too…….

This is a big-boy league. You take advantage of your opportunities when they present themselves or you don’t. Belt IS getting opportunities. He’s had 205 of them. He’s not taking advantage of them.

Kuiper told a story the other day about his rookie year. He said he got called up to sub for the Indian’s second baseman (can’t recall his name) who hit the DL with a minor ailment. When he arrived, the manager told him that he would only be here for 10 days or so until “name” came off the DL. Kuip performed, in the field and at the plate, and went on to have a very serviceable 12 year mlb career, never seeing the minor leagues again……

Belt could still do this. I’m not calling his career a certain failure or anything. He’s clearly shown that he can hit and scouts like his potential. But you don’t get a free pass to the plate 400+ times a year just because of your potential or your *good at bats*. At some point, you have to start producing to stay up here. A good start for him would be to wipe that sulk off his face and start acting like a major league ball player………

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Brian said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:10 pm

Our situational hitting has blown. And Bochy’s managing has sucked donkey dick.
- twinfan1 said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:26 pm
  
  With a runnrer on second and no out, the idea is to move on the runner over but not with the bunt in that situation.Theriot is supposed to be proficient in going to the right side -the preferred play is to move the runner without conceding the out. Theriot failed but the strategy was correct. The managing has been fine, as usual.
PawlieKokonuts said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:13 pm

Nix looked safe but I’ll take it.
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:15 pm

Where’s NO Whitey to pitch run?
unca_chuck said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:17 pm

4 DPs?
unca_chuck said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:18 pm

Nate the Great.
unca_chuck said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:19 pm

Time to shine
unca_chuck said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:20 pm

Or suck . . . . . . .
PawlieKokonuts said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:21 pm

You know what, this will sound Little League but I think both Pill and Nate could’ve been safe w/ just a bit more hustle. Really.
unca_chuck said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:24 pm

Stupid call by Buster there. 2 sliders in a row?
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:31 pm

I think our LOOGY might be my third favorite Giant behind The Horse and Pablo.
I love that guy.
unca_chuck said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:34 pm

Well, we got Lee out. Let’s take advantage.
Alleykat said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:37 pm

Whew…Dodged a bullit that inning.Let’s end this Damm game Now!!! All call a Belt Walk Off Bomb.
twinfan1 said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:37 pm

Bastardo is no bargain..
unca_chuck said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:37 pm

Fuck. Watch the good one. Swing at shit.
unca_chuck said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:38 pm

Belt!
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:38 pm

Good morning, good afternoon and good night Brandon Crawford.

Hey! Belt with a broken bat single of the tough bastard. let’s go!
Alleykat said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:39 pm

I’ll settle.for a single.(grin)
unca_chuck said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:42 pm

Come on Melky. . .
unca_chuck said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:43 pm

Melky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mrmrbill said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:44 pm

champagne!
Macdog said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:44 pm

The Melkman delivers!
Alleykat said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:44 pm

The Melky Man,The Melky Man Can!!!!
Flavor said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:45 pm

Fantastic. I was playing softball all night so I just caught the last 20 minutes– not a bad 20 minutes to catch….
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:46 pm

The Phillies DESERVED to lose that game. Not Cliff Lee, but his other 24 teammates and his country bumpkin of a manager sure did. Phuck Philly!
twinfan1 said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:47 pm

Missed most of it, looking forward to watching this later. Nice baserunning by Belt.
- Alleykat said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:56 pm
  
  Enjoy the replay Twin.Some nice work by Pill you might enjoy.Both with the bat and glove.
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:48 pm

That was another game we won that Brandon Belt did not start. If he starts Friday in NY, we deserve to lose. 😀
Alleykat said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:48 pm

Enjoy your interview tonight Brandon,cause it’s back to the pine meat.
twinfan1 said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:53 pm

Yeah, as I noted, they’re “on pace” for 156-6 if they keep Belt on the bench. What a bummer for your Dodgers, Denny.
snarkk said, on April 18, 2012 at 9:56 pm

THAT was a major league game. THAT is why I wish there were fewer intradivision games, and more interdivision. How many fuckin games with the Pads do we needs?
Anyway, Belt just showed why he has a “curious cult”. The kid delivered a hit under pressure, after Bastardo abused Crawford. Got the rally started, scored the winner. Of course, now back to fixing the “holes” in his swing while Huff plays the next 3 of 4 games…
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 18, 2012 at 10:06 pm

Crawford after his 0 fer 4 w/ 2 K’s is now hitting .196
At least he didn’t boot any tonight.

Pablo’s got a nice little streak going…12-game hitting streak to start the year. Go Pablo!
twinfan1 said, on April 18, 2012 at 10:13 pm

– And Belt gets one hit and raises his average 44 points. Hot, cold-forget about it until June or so.
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 18, 2012 at 10:19 pm

Scheduled to face another lefty (Niese) Friday in NY. That means no Belt in the starting lineup.
That means another W!
snarkk said, on April 18, 2012 at 10:19 pm

Likin’ the Melkman so far. Delivered the game winner. Looks like he’s a season long better-than-solid addition to the OF. So far, of course. I give Sabes credit for the trade — at this point, looks like a winnah…
- PawlieKokonuts said, on April 18, 2012 at 10:25 pm
  
  Dirrrty 97 pitches in 5 ip tonight, I believe
PawlieKokonuts said, on April 18, 2012 at 10:24 pm

can’t wait to show off my WS gear at Citi; good night, girls
- Flavor said, on April 19, 2012 at 6:23 am
  
  keep an eye out for DJ Loo. He’ll be the one with his head craned away from the diamond and up the nearby stairwell. 🙂 🙂 🙂