by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (1:38 am ET) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (back) returned to the starting lineup Friday against the Rockies.
Belt singled in the second and drew a walk in the ninth as he finished 1 for 3 in a 5-0 defeat.
Belt is hitting .300 (6 for 20) with one home run and one RBI in his last six games. He has a .253/.323/.432 in 146 at-bats.
Brandon Belt returns to starting lineup
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (5/24/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was back in the starting lineup as expected Friday against the Rockies. Belt was held out of the starting lineup for the team's previous game Wednesday against the Nationals but appeared later in the game as a pinch-hitter.
Brandon Belt makes late appearance
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (5/22/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was unable to start Wednesday against the Nationals with tightness in his back, but he appeared as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning. He made the final out of the inning and finished the game at first base.
The Giants are off Thursday, so Belt could be back in the lineup Friday against the Rockies.
Brandon Belt out with back soreness
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (5/22/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is out of Wednesday's lineup with back tightness, CSN San Francisco reports.
Belt's injury is at a point where he could play if needed, but with the Giants facing a lefty in Gio Gonzalez, manager Bruce Bochy is taking the opportunity to let the back heal up. Brett Pill will get the start in Belt's place
Make a move for Brandon Belt
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (5/21/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt has continued to sit against occasional lefties, holding back his point total in Head-to-Head leagues, but if he keeps hitting like he has over his last 26 games, producing a .321 (25 for 78) batting average, six home runs, 10 walks and a 1.020 OPS, he'll entrench himself as an everyday player once and for all.
And Fantasy stardom may follow.
Is it really so far-fetched? We've been waiting for this guy to step up his power production for a couple of years now. In that 26-game stretch, he has nearly as many home runs as he hit in 145 games last year. And that's after ranking among the league leaders in home runs this spring. If that's not stepping it up, I don't know what is.
Not that I think Belt is going to hit 30 home runs or compete for NL MVP. But if you're still messing around with Todd Frazier or Paul Konerko at DH, it's time to upgrade.
Brandon Belt homers among four hits
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/21/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt matched a career high with four hits Monday during an 8-0 win over the Nationals. Belt also hit his sixth home run of the season.
He went 4 for 5 with four runs scored. Belt singled three times and added a solo blast in the fifth off Craig Stammen. The four-hit game gives Belt a .261 average. He had four hits total in his previous five games combined.
Brandon Belt poised for a breakout?
by Joe Polito | CBSSports.com (5/17/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt has been heating up over his last 20 games, batting .305 with five home runs. So, why is he still owned in less than 60 percent of leagues?
Our Nando Di Fino said on Friday’s broadcast of Fantasy Baseball Today that he doesn’t see Belt’s ownership percentage staying low for very long. The term “breakout” was tossed around a few times in his assessment of Belt’s expected rest-of-season production.
Brandon Belt's numbers improve over long stretch
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/15/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt homered for the second straight game and extended his hitting streak to five games Tuesday at Toronto. He's also managed at least one RBI in four straight games.
Belt is batting .467 (7 for 15) with two home runs, three doubles and six RBI during his hitting streak.
Belt's hot streak, however, has lasted more than five games. His slash line in his last 20 games is .305/.627/1.024. He also has four doubles, five home runs, eight walks, 10 runs and 15 RBI in that span.
Brandon Belt hits fourth homer
by Adam Moore | CBSSports.com (5/12/2013) Giants first basemen Brandon Belt hit his fourth home run Sunday against the Braves. Belt's solo shot came off starter Kris Medlen in the second inning.
He finished 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs in the 5-1 win.
Belt has hit safely in five of the last six games and is batting .333 (6 for 18) with a home run, two doubles and four RBI over that span.
Brandon Belt batting sixth vs. Atlanta
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (5/10/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt, who normally bats eighth, has moved up two spots in the batting order for Friday's contest against the Braves.
Belt will bat sixth against Braves starter Tim Hudson. He has gone 1 for 7 with two strikeouts lifetime against Hudson. Belt has a .222/.289/.352 line with three homers and 14 RBI in 108 at-bats.
Brandon Belt hits three-run shot
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (5/2/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt clubbed his third home run of the season Wednesday.
In the top of the eighth inning, Belt took a 95 mph fastball out to right field for a three-run home run. Belt has been off to a slow start, but he's starting to show signs of life lately. He's hitting .239/.296/.386 in 88 at-bats this season.
Brandon Belt showing signs of life
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (4/30/2013) If you dropped the Giants' Brandon Belt because of his slow start, you're not alone. In leagues where he was affordable enough for me to draft him, I've had to part ways with him because of limited roster space.
But I'm keeping an eye on him. Another slow start doesn't negate his good work late last season, nor does it make him a lost cause at age 25. In fact, you could explain it all away with that early season illness that caused him to lose 10 pounds. He fell behind early, put pressure on himself to catch up and only now is coming around with a .409 (9 for 22) batting average and two home runs in his last seven games.
Maybe. It's too early for me to rush out and grab him again, but it won't take much. Dropping a player isn't the same as giving up on him, and he's a perfect example why.
Move down lineup doesn't faze Brandon Belt
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/30/2013) Giants manager Bruce Bochy dropped Brandon Belt into the eighth spot in the lineup Monday at Arizona for the first time this season since Belt had a poor track record against starting pitcher Ian Kennedy. It didn't seem to bother Belt.
The first baseman homered off Kennedy, who he had been 2 for 15 (.133) against coming into Monday's game, and broke open a 4-all tie with a two-run single in the eighth inning, lifting the Giants to a 6-4 win.
"I liked it tonight," Belt said of batting eighth, per MLB.com. "I don't know if it's the ideal position. As a hitter you want to try to move your way up through the order."
Belt, who hit his second home run, appears to be emerging from a early season slump. Belt has hit safely in six of his last seven games, producing a .409 average (9 for 22), one double, two home runs and six RBI. He's sent his batting average surging from .183 to .244.
Brandon Belt's not in a platoon -- should he be?
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (4/27/2013) Giants manager Bruce Bochy gave first baseman Brandon Belt a vote of confidence Saturday, telling the San Jose Mercury News that he is not in a platoon. But given Belt's history, it might be fair to ask if that is the best decision.
Despite being left handed, Belt has been consistently more productive against lefty pitching in his major-league career. Belt is batting .251 against righties and .274 against lefties in his career, and that split is .218 and .313 this season, respectively. We are dealing with small sample sizes and there are outliers on both ends for batting average on balls in play, but it has been an oddly consistent trend.
For most young left-handed hitters, holding your own against lefties is the toughest part of the transition to the majors. If Belt cannot figure out how to manage the larger part of the platoon split, it won't much matter whether his manager has confidence in him as an everyday player.
Belt is slowly turning things around, with six hits in his last four games, including his first home run, so we are not quite ready to give up on Belt. But he is not an everyday option in Fantasy, even if the Giants use him that way.
Manager: Brandon Belt not in a platoon
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/27/2013) Giants manager Bruce Bochy told the San Jose Mercury News Saturday that first baseman Brandon Belt is not in a platoon. Belt is hitting .278 in 60 plate appearances over his last 16 games played.
"He's our every-day first baseman and he's been swinging better," Bochy said. "He needs to start. We're not in a platoon here at first."
Belt is trying to turn things around after a slow start out the gate. He has recorded a hit in each of his last four games and is hitting .545 (6 for 11) with a home run and three RBI over that span.
Be patient with Brandon Belt
by Al Melchior | Data Analyst (4/24/2013) Even though we are nearing the end of the first month of the season, players have accumulated a small enough number of at-bats that a few hits could still make a huge difference to their stat line. Brandon Belt provides a classic example of this phenomenon.
Returning from a three-day absence from the Giants' starting lineup on Wednesday, Belt is primed to improve upon his modest start to the season. He is currently batting just .222, even though he has been smacking line drives at a high rate. Of the 16 liners he has smashed, only nine have become base hits. That number of line drives typically produces two or three additional hits, and if you add three hits (some of which could be for extra bases) to Belt's stat line, his average stands at .270 instead.
If you're thinking about dropping Belt, give him another chance. Not only did he deal with an illness early in the season, but he appears to have suffered from some bad luck at the plate as well.
Brandon Belt back in the lineup
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (4/24/2013) After going 3 for 3 in a pair of appearances off the bench the last two days, Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is back in the lineup Wednesday against Arizona, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Belt hit a walk-off RBI single Monday night and a game-tying two-run home run in the ninth inning Tuesday night. He's still hitting just .222/.261/.317, but the three hits rose his OPS a whopping 117 points from where it was April 19, his last start (.461 to .578).
Joaquin Arias moves back to the bench as a result.
Another great game off the bench for Brandon Belt
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (4/24/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt provided heroics off the bench once again Tuesday against Arizona, as he went 2 for 2 and hit a game-tying two-run home run in the ninth inning.
Belt was hitting just .183/.227/.233 after April 20, his last start, but his three hits in three at-bats off the bench since (he also hit the game-winning single as a pinch hitter Monday) have elevated his line to .222/.261/.317. It still isn't impressive, but it shows just how much a tiny hot streak can impact rate stats at this point of the season.
Brandon Belt doesn't start, but finishes
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (4/23/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt only received one plate appearance Monday, but made it count.
Belt hit a walkoff single in the bottom of the ninth inning. Belt took a Tony Sipp slider to center field, scoring Andres Torres for the game-winning run. Belt has seen his playing time cut recently due to an early season slump. Belt is hitting .197/.239/.246.
Giants pull back on Brandon Belt
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/21/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was held out of the lineup for Sunday's series finale against San Diego and could miss additional playing time as the team looks to shake him from his early slump. Belt has recorded just two hits in his last 13 at-bats to drop his batting average to .183; he has yet to reach the Mendoza Line this year.
"This isn't a case where he's getting benched," manager Bruce Bochy told the San Jose Mercury News on Sunday. "But we need to get (Joaquin) Arias out there, so (Belt) is going to miss a couple of games. He's been through this as much as anybody. The frustration can maybe cause you to change a few things and maybe add tension. When you have tension in your swing, that doesn't work."
Giants drop Brandon Belt in batting order
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/18/2013) Giants manager Bruce Bochy dropped first baseman Brandon Belt to the seventh spot in the lineup Thursday against the Brewers. Bochy said he made the move because other players, like Brandon Crawford, were hitting better and he hopes this move will take some pressure off the struggling Belt.
Bochy added he might keep Belt low in the lineup for a while. Belt is off to a slow start after a torrid spring, batting .180 (9 for 50) with no home runs and four RBI in 13 games.
Brandon Belt records three hits, knocks in two
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (4/17/2013)Brandon Belt put together a 3-for-4 night with two RBI Tuesday for the Giants against the Brewers.
Belt remains mired in a slump to start the year, as he's hitting just .191/.235/.255. He's still looking to get his power game going as well -- he has just three doubles and has yet to hit a home run.
Brandon Belt collects first RBI
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/12/2013) San Francisco first baseman Brandon Belt extended his hitting streak to three games Friday during the Giants' 4-3 loss to the Cubs. Belt went 1 for 4 with a two-run double in the ninth inning that gave San Francisco a one-run lead that was ultimately short-lived.
The two RBI represents his first of the season as he had been limited by an illness that has plagued him since spring training. Belt has still amassed more strikeouts (nine) than hits and walks (seven) for a .167 batting average.
Bruce Bochy confident in Brandon Belt
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (4/8/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt may only have one hit thus far, but his manager still has confidence in his abilities, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Bruce Bochy said that Belt's struggles may have warranted a stern talk in season's past, but he's less concerned about the first baseman this year. Bochy credits that to Belt's experience, saying "he knows he can hit. He had a great spring. He's thrown out some good at-bats. That's the reason I don't need to talk to him and sit him down."
Bochy has been willing to pull Belt out of the lineup in the past, but that doesn't seem to be the case this season. While he's struggled to get things started, Belt should have enough time to turn things around. That's not a luxury he had in the past.
No time to cut Brandon Belt
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/7/2013) Here we go again with Brandon Belt. After a torrid spring, one in which he hit .410 with eight homers and 19 RBI in 24 games, Belt is off to a slow start to the regular season, going hitless in his first 10 at-bats (three games).
Although I still believe Fantasy owners should hang onto Belt, there's no need to rush him into lineups for Week 2 (April 8-14). The Giants might have seven games, but they are set to face three left-handed starters -- Jorge De La Rosa, Jeff Francis and Travis Wood. History tells us Belt struggles against left-handed starters, against whom he has a career .235 average with three homers and 11 RBI in 64 games. Also, the three games against the Rockies this week are not at Coors Field.
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (4/6/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was back in the lineup as expected Friday, after missing the team's previous two games due to an illness.
Belt went 0 for 4 against the Cardinals, one of four Giants' starters to go hitless in the game. Belt is hitless (0 for 7) in two games with two strikeouts.
Brandon Belt returns to Giants lineup
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (4/5/2013) After missing two games with an illness, Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is back in the lineup Friday.
Belt went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts in his only start of the season. Belt will bat sixth and play first Friday. Joaquin Arias started at first while Belt was sidelined.
Brandon Belt still dealing with illness
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/3/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was out of the lineup for the second straight game on Wednesday against the Dodgers as he continued to deal with an illness. Buster Posey played first base in his absence with Hector Sanchez getting the start behind the plate.
Belt went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts on opening day after batting .343 with a .596 slugging percentage during spring training.
Brandon Belt misses game with illness
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/2/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt missed Tuesday's game against the Dodgers due to an illness, reports the San Jose Mercury News. Belt is day to day.
The slugger, who went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts Monday against the Dodgers in the opener, received IV fluids before the game and played through the illness but took Tuesday off.
San Francisco expects Belt to return Wednesday against Josh Beckett.
Brandon Belt back in action
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/26/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt returned to the starting lineup Tuesday against the Padres after sitting out two games with a neck injury. Belt turned in a solid performance, finishing 3 for 4 with a stolen base and an RBI-single in the seventh inning. He is hitting .453 with a .478 on-base percentage and a .906 slugging percentage in 20 Cactus League games.
Home runs adding up for Brandon Belt
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (3/25/2013) Here's a fun fact: The Giants' Brandon Belt has as many home runs this spring as he did all of last season.
Yes, it's the Cactus League, which tends to make muscle men out of lean, mean doubles-hitting matchines. Yes, it's spring training, where any stat of any note comes with a disclaimer. But for a player just entering his prime who has yet to meet his power potential but did manage to compile a .494 slugging percentage over the final two months last year, it's encouraging.
It could, in fact, be nothing, so I should warn you not to overvaluate it and reach for Belt ahead of, say, Ike Davis or Eric Hosmer. But if it's part of your justification for targeting him with a late-round pick, you should know that I'm right there with you.
Brandon Belt gets another day off
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/25/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was held out of the spring lineup again Monday because of a neck injury, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Belt added his neck feels better and he probably would have played if it was the regular season.
Belt is batting .433 (26 for 60) with one triple, five doubles, seven homers, 13 runs, 17 RBI and two stolen bases in 19 spring games.
Brandon Belt scratched with back issue
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/24/2013) The Giants scratched first baseman Brandon Belt from Sunday's Cactus League lineup due to an upper back injury, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Belt, who was spotted wearing a wrap on his back, is considered day to day. It doesn't appear to be a big concern for the Giants at the moment.
The 24-year-old Belt is batting .433 this spring over 60 at-bats with seven home runs and 17 RBI, not to mention two stolen bases. He figures to be the opening day first baseman for the Giants as long as he is healthy.
Brandon Belt launches another homer
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/23/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt went deep again for his seventh Cactus League home run Saturday against the A's. He had a solo shot off Tommy Milone in the sixth inning. He finished 1 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI in a 12-5 loss. Belt is batting .433 with 17 RBI in 60 at-bats this spring.
Brandon Belt improving his mental game
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (3/22/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt has always had the physical tools to translate his minor-league success to the big-league level, and he finally thinks he has developed the mental fortitude to become a big-time producer his season.
"There are going to be some tough times in there," Belt told the San Jose Mercury Friday. "But I'm not the same player from a mental aspect. I know what to expect now. I'm going in with a lot more confidence this year."
Belt had arguably his finest performance of the spring Friday in Cactus League action against the Rockies, as he went 4 for 4 in an 11-6 win. He wound up one triple short of a cycle in the game, hitting his second home run late in the game instead. He drove in four runs and raised his batting average to .439 in 18 spring games.
Brandon Belt's big spring is no fluke
by Nando Di Fino | Senior Fantasy Writer (3/15/2013) What you're seeing Brandon Belt do in spring training (.417 average, four home runs, 1.294 OPS) is exactly what he did in the minor leagues -- he had a .343 average over two seasons, with a 1.052 OPS and 27 total steals over 670 at-bats.
The major-league version of Belt has been less impressive for the San Francisco Giants: a .259 average and .762 OPS in 598 at-bats. Belt isn't incapable of performing, or even excelling, at the major league level. He was bounced around between outfield and first base in 2011, and started to hit a stride last year, but was still bumped occasionally so Buster Posey could play first base. In other words, his development could have been stunted a bit by all the moving around and somewhat erratic playing time.
Belt is still just 24, and that power could start popping this season. He currently has an ADP of 262, which will probably start to rise as more Fantasy players take note of the spring stats and dig into his minor league past. Consider him a viable starting first base candidate in mixed leagues. And if you do that, you can use those early round would-be first base picks to strengthen other positions.
Belt on power surge
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/11/2013) Through March 10, Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is tied with five other players for the spring training lead in home runs with four. Belt is having a pretty strong spring season, batting .467 with one triple, two doubles, eight runs and nine RBI in 10 games. His .467 average is fifth best among all spring hitters.
Belt goes deep again
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/2/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt went deep again for his second home run of the spring Saturday afternoon against the Royals in Cactus League play. Belt, who was the only Giants player in the lineup who started for the 2012 World Series team, took Louis Coleman deep in the ninth inning for a solo shot. He finished 4 for 5 with a home run in a 9-5 victory. His batting average went up to .526 in Cactus League play.
'Sky's the limit' for Belt
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/25/2013) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt has been a huge letdown in his first two seasons in the majors, but he's not ready to give up. "I want to reach my potential," he told The Oakland Tribune. The Giants also feel Belt can eventually meet and hopefully surpass expectations. "He continues to learn as a hitter, and the better hitter he becomes, the more power you're going to see," general manager Brian Sabean said. "And he's very much on the path to being a Gold Glove first baseman. The sky's the limit for him."
