© D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
SAN FRANCISCO —Evan Longoria’s frustrations are understandable, and for many people, relatable.
After spending a decade in the same place with the same organization, he switched to a team comprised mostly of players he hasn’t played with or against. By nature, he has wished to impress them quickly.
His early Giants tenure hasn’t started how he envisioned. Through 10 appearances, he is batting .132 with one homer and two RBI.
Longoria, a three-time All-Star and 10-year veteran, knows it’s early in the season and slumps eventually end. But he also admits discontent.
“It sucks, for lack of a better term,” Longoria said after the Giants’ 7-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday afternoon. “I have been around long enough to know that it’s going to end at some point; it’s just tough when you are going through it. It’s tough to convince yourself that it is going to end.”
In mid-December, the Giants acquired Longoria, the most accomplished player in Rays history, to bolster a lineup that lacked power. Longoria hit at least 20 home runs in all but one season with Tampa Bay.
A few weeks later, the Giants traded for 2013 National League MVP Andrew McCutchen. The 3-4-5 punch of McCutchen-Buster Posey-Longoria figured to produce runs in bulks. It hasn’t happened yet.
Posey (.389 average) and Panik (.308 average) are the only Giants starters hitting consistently. McCutchen, Brandon Crawford, Hunter Pence, and Longoria — all All-Stars at some point in their careers— are hitting worse than .218.
The Giants’ 30 total runs are the second-fewest in the majors. Their .288 team on-base percentage is the third-worst. Most troubling of all is the team’s .160 average with runners on scoring position.
But, again, it’s early. And considering the Giants’ top three starting pitchers are all on the disabled list, a 5-6 record doesn’t seem too bad.
“I think we’re starting to come around,” Bruce Bochy said postgame. “We’re starting to show some life.”
After seven straight home games, the Giants face a 10-game road trip, which Longoria feels may benefit San Francisco’s struggling bats.
“It’s slower than I like, but it’s coming,” Longoria said. “I hate to get off to the start that I did, but I think this road trip is going to be good for us, just get out on the road as a group and be able to relax a little bit.”
Perhaps the most tangible sign of his eagerness is his one walk in 38 at-bats.
After Wednesday’s loss, though, Longoria seemed upbeat and confident as he spoke with reporters. He reiterated the importance of relaxing to mitigate his early struggles.
But Longoria won’t justify them because of a switch in environment or facing National League competition after playing in the American League his entire career.
“I’ve just got to be better,” Longoria said. “I feel it’s coming. I just got to relax a little bit, understand that we got a ton of good players on this team, and I don’t need to try and do more than I am capable of doing.”