In the first half of the season, Brandon Belt hit .302 with 10 home runs, 47 RBI and a .407 on-base percentage. He was an All-Star for the first time.
Since the break, Belt is hitting .232 with six home runs, 31 RBI and a .366 on-base percentage (he's batting .317 over his last 18 games).
On Wednesday morning, executive vice president of baseball operations, Brian Sabean, discussed Belt's place in the Giants' batting order.
"At this stage in Brandon's development, and I don't mean this in a negative way, he probably isn't cut out for the middle of the order yet," Sabean said on KNBR 680.
Belt's spot in the order before the midsummer classic (number of times):
- 3rd (27)
- 4th (14)
- 5th (35)
- 6th (7)
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Belt's spot in the order after the midsummer classic (number of times):
- 3rd (24 -- last on Aug. 23)
- 4th (0)
- 5th (12)
- 6th (16)
- 7th (6)
- 8th (1 -- Sept. 1)
- 2nd (2 -- Saturday and Tuesday)
The Giants and Belt agreed to a 5-year, $72.8 million extension in April. He will also receive a $6 million signing bonus in January.
"So maybe 2, 6 and 7, take some of the pressure off," Sabean added when discussing where Belt should be hitting. "But it also depends on who's hitting behind him and how the ballclub is going.
"We virtually tried everything..."
