Trenton Brooks, it has become apparent, is not the answer at first base. It does not matter if the question is “Who can start while LaMonte Wade Jr is out?” or “Who can be an effective platoon partner for Wilmer Flores?” or “Who can catch a pop-up?” No matter what the answer is, it is plainly not Trenton Brooks.
Apologies to the family of Trenton Brooks. I hope you didn’t find this newsletter when you Googled him! If you did, please just pretend I don’t exist. It’ll be better for everyone.
But with Brooks having revealed himself as a non-factor — seriously, sorry to his family, why are you still reading this, I’m almost done talking about him and the only way I’m going to start being nicer to him is by not discussing him anymore — the Giants need another solution at first base. Another left-handed player to complement Flores, one would think. And, of course, one who does an exceptional job with swing decisions. Maybe he could be tall and awkward and nicknamed something along the lines of Baby Giraffe, and maybe he could be a good defender, and maybe he could have a better eye than most umpires.
Maybe the Giants should sign Brandon Belt?
Well, no. They shouldn’t. And they won’t.
I do not mean this as a slam on Brandon Belt, a great Giant who could very possibly have a nice few months if a team signed him today. But what the Giants need is someone who could drop into their lineup today and play first base and be effective and then go away when LaMonte Wade Jr comes back, and Belt isn’t any of that.
For one thing, there is no way Belt is in game shape. I don’t know what kind of preparation he’s been doing, if any, to be ready, but I can tell you what he hasn’t been doing: playing baseball against high level competition. It has been very generous of Blake Snell to provide us with an example of why that is an important thing to do before you play in games, and we would be unkind to simply forget his sacrifice.
So Belt will need some time in the high minors before he is ready for major league play. That’s not a slam on him, but it is a fact. He has to return, practice his skills, and get back to playing his style of baseball. Let’s be optimistic and say that that process — which also involves building up his stamina to play nine inning games back-to-back — will take two weeks.
What the Giants also need is a first baseman, and Belt…used to be a first baseman. It’s true that he played some first with the Blue Jays last year, appearing in 29 games there. But he was mostly a DH, because he’s old for a baseball player and he has an extensive injury history. Belt simply can’t play the field on a consistent basis anymore. If you’re looking for a left-handed platoon partner for Wilmer Flores, he’s not your guy. When four righties start against the Giants in a row, it would be pushing it for Belt to start at first base twice. That’s just not where he’s at anymore physically.
And would he be a good hitter? Belt certainly had a nice season last year, hitting .254/.369/.490, but that was buoyed by a .370 BABIP. His strikeout rate also skyrocketed, going up to 34.9%, which is pretty much equal to Joey Bart’s career mark (Joey, by the way, is injured right now but is having a very nice offensive season this year with a 27.5% strikeout rate, and we are happy for him). To me, that reads as a dead cat bounce year, with shiny numbers in one area obscuring a heavy decline in another.
Finally, if we ignore all that, if we just handwave it away and say, no, Belt’s good, I like him, he’s already ready to play at first base every day, he’ll be fine, it was cool when he wore that captain’s hat, this idea still doesn’t work. LaMonte Wade Jr is not that far from coming back. Last week, he was pushing to be on the roster for the game at Rickwood Field two days from now. Even if that doesn’t work out, it’s still overwhelmingly likely that he’ll be back by the end of the month. Then what do you do with Brandon Belt? Do you treat him like 2023 Darin Ruf, say thanks for the pretty good 9 games, now here’s a complimentary DFA?
You can’t do that with Belt. The Giants probably shouldn’t have done that with Ruf either, but what’s done is done. Belt, though, it a much more important figure in franchise history than Ruf was, and treating him like that would be unacceptable. It would be worse than what the Giants did with Brandon Crawford, because at least with Crawford, there was never any false hope that was dashed by a quick DFA. Crawford is more generally popular than Belt, but why invite that kind of PR nightmare again? For what? A few non-Brooks games before Wade’s return? There’s just no way that makes sense.
I like Brandon Belt. I fond memories of Brandon Belt, and forged many friendships fighting side by side in the Belt Wars. But those days are over. Belt had a great Giants career, but he doesn’t need to come back. It wouldn’t accomplish anything other than getting Trenton Brooks off the roster (his family can’t possibly still be reading, right?), and the team can find another stopgap who can serve the same purpose. So for once, I am a no on Proposition Belt. May my former comrades in the trenches forgive me.
The Prop Belt needs put to bed. Bryce Eldridge is coming on fast so pouring money into the position doesn't make a lick of sense. I don't see anyone on the Sacramento roster that fits so maybe Toribio or Whalen might be worth a look?
Brandon Belt got injured getting up to pick up his phone to read this. So no. He’s not available anymore. Please. Just turn the page and let his sub 30 hr seasons fade off fondly in the minds of those who fought for him in the Belt Wars.