WE spend a lot of time talking about lineups, Bowker vs. Nate,  Velez vs. Lewis etc etc etc.  The real question is, how do you maximize this rosters potential to score runs. 

To me the difference in watching the Giants and the Padres was instructive.  The Pads were the aggressors that entire series.  They took risks - hitting and running. squeezing etc.  The Giants meanwhile did very little to push the envelope.

There are a couple of givens with this offense:  1.  They are not going to hit many HR's and 2. They lack team speed.  The second bothers me more than the first. 

The NL West is  a pitching rich division.  Colorado now wins with pitching defense and speed.  SD is on this run cause its pitching out of its mind.  The Dodgers may be the exception all year.  And Ariz just looks bad right now.

So again, how do you maximize the offense to try and get an extra run or so a game.  (Statistically prob more like .5 a game, but you get my drift.)  To me, Bochy has to step outside his comfort zone.  Double plays are killing this team.  There is no reason to believe that will change unless the philosophy changes.  Right now, I play for one run early in games every chance I get.  If that means Huff bunts with runners on first and second no one out, so be it.   I hit and run a ton.  Particularly with Sandoval.  He makes contact and he stretches the strike zone anyway.  Might as well open a hole - and keep him out of double plays. 

I'd squeeze at times.  Bottom line - you scratch out runs.