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San Francisco Giants: Deconstructing the 2022 lineup

By Jonas Thoms

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 31: Manager Gabe Kapler #19 of the San Francisco Giants stands with his team during the playing of the National Anthem prior to the start of their game against the Los Angeles Angels at Oracle Park on May 31, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 31: Manager Gabe Kapler #19 of the San Francisco Giants stands with his team during the playing of the National Anthem prior to the start of their game against the Los Angeles Angels at Oracle Park on May 31, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 26: Brandon Crawford #35 and Wilmer Flores #41 of the San Francisco Giants celebrate after scoring on Crawfords ninth inning three-run home run against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 26, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 26: Brandon Crawford #35 and Wilmer Flores #41 of the San Francisco Giants celebrate after scoring on Crawfords ninth inning three-run home run against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 26, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Surprising everyone, the 2021 San Francisco Giants had one of the best offenses in the game, ranking second in the National League in runs and first in OPS and OPS+. They did it distinctly, constructing an offensive lineup of older players with distinct platoon advantages and positional flexibility.

Of all the teams in Major League Baseball in 2021, the Giants were the only team to not have a player appear in 140 games and one of three teams with only two players to reach 500 plate appearances for their team. Who led the Giants in games played last year? Wilmer Flores and Mike Yastrzemski with 139. Brandon Crawford was third with 138 and first in plate appearances with 549.

What the San Francisco Giants did remarkably was use their platoon advantages and positional flexibility to construct the best lineups possible.

This also provided additional rest to their older lineup. Guys like Darin Ruf, Tommy La Stella, and LaMonte Wade Jr. were given playing time in situations where they were most likely to succeed and could play multiple positions adequately.

It looks like the 2022 Giants will look very similar to last year’s team. Kris Bryant and Donovan Solano have left in free agency while Joc Pederson is the lone addition.

The 29-year-old Pederson fits the mold of the Giants lineup creation. With a career .832 OPS (123 wRC+) versus right-handed pitching and a .610 OPS (68 wRC+) against southpaws, Pederson makes sense as a platoon player. If he starts versus righties and Austin Slater (.853 OPS and 131 wRC+ against LHP) against lefties, the Giants could have All-Star level production with minimal salary.

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