SAN FRANCISCO – Pablo Sandoval, the fabled “Kung Fu Panda” of recent Giants history, was not here Monday – but he hung like an troubled specter all day.
The Giants’ clown prince used to be like the sunshine that broke through at AT&T Park at the conclusion of a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Before his injury, Sandoval was the most consistent power threat in a lineup that is now anemic without him and is winning in a way it can’t sustain – with no power and help from weak opponents.
Sandoval is supposed provide middle-of-the-order power very soon, but for now, he is to the Giants like the clouds that dumped a light mist early in Monday’s game.
We don’t know if his personal matters will clear to help the Giants in the way the franchise desperately hopes. Santa Cruz County authorities are still investigating an allegation that Sandoval sexually assaulted a woman in the wee hours Friday.
Was this encounter consensual, as Sandoval’s lawyer stated? Or will he be prosecuted?
To speculate on facts not in evidence would be irresponsible.
But know this: Sandoval should be sleeping in the pre-dawn hours considering his importance to his team and that the Giants signed him to a lucrative deal after forgiving his huge weight gain and ineffectiveness in 2010.
His focus is supposed to be recuperating from surgery on his broken hand.
After he lost a lot of weight before last season and played so well, shame on Sandoval for gaining it back and calling his professional dedication into question.
Manager Bruce Bochy told reporters before Monday’s game that Sandoval has been informed the team is frustrated with him.
Yes, Sandoval is young – only 25.
But this season has been a puzzle for the Giants, and Sandoval is one of several key pieces the team is missing and can’t win without in the long haul.
With their pitching, maybe the Giants can survive without closer Brian Wilson. With a combination of Joaquin Arias and Ryan Theriot, maybe the Giants can make do without injured second baseman Freddy Sanchez.
But you’re not going to win unless ace Tim Lincecum starts pitching like one very soon, preferably Tuesday night at San Diego.
And you’re not going to win if your third baseman is too heavy to make the same plays Arias is making in Sandoval’s absence.
In truth, there should have been every reason for everyone here to feel great about beating the Cubs – the Giants’ first four-game win streak of the season and first series sweep.
It capped a 6-1 homestand. The Giants left for San Diego surging toward first place in the National League West, even as their offense is flagging.
But in four nail-biters over the Cubs, Chicago helped the Giants an awful lot.
On Monday, the Giants tied the score 2-2 in the fifth inning when Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro forgot there was only one out and didn’t throw to first to try to double up Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford. Castro’s brain cramp allowed Buster Posey to score from third.
The Giants’ first run was also off Crawford’s bat – a second-inning double scoring Brandon Belt. Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija was blowing Crawford away with fastballs but threw him an off-speed pitch for some reason.
The third Giants run scored when Arias hit into a double play in the seventh. Otherwise, San Francisco was 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position.
“These games could have gone either way,” Bochy said.
They will in due time unless the Giants’ missing pieces show up.
That’s not to take away from stellar Giants starting pitching, the latest example being Monday’s seven-inning beauty where Ryan Vogelsong allowed only two runs and looked better than ever.
Giants starters have now gone seven consecutive games of pitching seven or more innings while allowing two runs or fewer.
Again, the Giants played error-free, punctuated by a leaping grab by second baseman Theriot for the final out. They are a tough-minded group that believes it can win even when it shouldn’t.
But belief isn’t enough. Actual offensive talent is required. Young men have to grow up for their own good and personal safety – and for the Giants to fulfill their dreams.
