DENVER -- The PR staff dug up a pretty stunning stat for today's pre-game press notes. The three players who lead the team in homers -- Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford and Buster Posey -- have combined for 237 straight at-bats without a homer. Posey's streak of 142 at-bats is the longest of his career, Belt is at 68, and Crawford is at 27.
"Hopefully that means we hit a few from this point on," Bochy said. "The (numbers) are down. We're aware of it. We're not a home-run-hitting club, but hopefully it picks up."
The Giants have just 36 homers since the break, the second-fewest in the Majors. That will change this week. It has to. Coors Field always plays small, and during BP today, it played like a junior high field. Multiple players not named Madison Bumgarner or Hunter Pence hit balls to the concourse in left. Pop-ups were landing in the bullpens. Bet the over.
"The boys have to get their confidence back, no question," Bochy said. "These things are hard to explain with Crawford, Belt and Posey. These guys usually have more homers."
Posey is off today after catching 13 innings yesterday, and Bochy said he could be at first base tomorrow against left-hander Tyler Anderson.
--- Belt was checked again a day after taking a fastball off the helmet, but he's fine. It was a glancing blow more than a direct one.
San Francisco Giants
--- Bochy said some Triple-A players will be told to stay in shape the rest of the month in case of an injury at the big league level. The list includes a third catcher, but there are no current plans to add one unless someone gets hurt. That's been a surprise in the clubhouse. Regardless, the Giants will add a few players in the coming weeks. Derek Law is playing catch and remains on track to return after his 15 days on the DL. Gregor Blanco is taking swings. Jake Peavy threw a bullpen session Monday morning.
--- Bochy didn't offer much when asked about the ninth inning, but it doesn't sound like he's ready to move Joe Nathan there. "Let him get settled in," Bochy said. "You have to be fair to him."
--- Tyler Beede finished off his Double-A season with six strong innings, lowering his ERA to an Eastern League-best 2.81. In six starts in August and September, the 23-year-old allowed just seven earned runs. He hit 98 mph in the ninth inning last week, so the stuff is as good as it has ever been for the former first-rounder.
It's also notable that Beede reached 147 innings, which would put him in line for a full 2017 season with no restrictions. The Giants will give Matt Cain another shot to win the fifth starter job and Ty Blach is probably the next man up, with Beede currently ticketed for Triple-A. He has opened a lot of eyes, though, and the Giants hope to call him up at some point next year and never send him back down.
