By Morris Phillips

Coming into the season, the Giants needed a little pop in their bats to support their outstanding pitching.

Now—just a week into a marathon of a season—the same Giants could use just a touch of competent pitching to support their Murderer’s Row-like starting lineup.

“We weren’t swing the bats all that well,” manager Bruce Bochy said.  “But the bell rang, they answered it and we came out swinging.”

Doesn’t seem much like the team they expected to have.  Now, on the eve of Opening Day by the Bay, the remodeled Giants need to show that new is better.  Or is it?

And before you venture an answer to that loaded question, remember this: the 2013 Giants opened 23-15 and then finished 10 games below .500 while looking like the worst team in the National League for long stretches.

Likely, in order to venture an educated guess, you’ll need some facts.  Here they are:

The Giants are 5-2 after their road swing through Phoenix (3-1) and Los Angeles (2-1).  They lead the majors in home runs (11) and are second in the National League in runs scored (40).  They haven’t missed offensive catalyst Marco Scutaro in part due to the return of Angel Pagan (.419) and the signing of Michael Morse (.350).  Also Brandon Belt’s doing his best not to be a question mark, the young slugger ranks second in the NL with four home runs.

Hunter Pence (.138) and Pablo Sandoval (.148) haven’t taken off yet, but all signs are that they will.  Pence led the Giants in most offensive categories a year ago, and Sandoval’s had some quality at-bats thus far without the results to match.

Last year, the Giants finished 13^th in the National League with 107 home runs.  This season, based on early returns, they could hit 200 if their power-laden lineup stays intact.  In fact, if the Giants’ pitching catches its groove, you can see how the Giants could lean heavily on offensive patience, with their hitters looking for long balls and big innings to break open close, low-scoring ballgames.

But that’s only if the pitchers pitch.

Thus far, Matt Cain has both Giants’ losses, Madison Bumgarner’s been good, not great, and Timmy Lincecum and Ryan Vogelsong have ERA’s of 6.00 and above.  The Giants lean heavily on their starters, and their ability to pitch deep in games.  When they don’t pitch well, the team doesn’t win, at least that’s been their recent history.  Even if the team’s offense continues to show considerable improvement it’s hard to see how the team can win consistently without quality starts.

And thus far, the Giants have just two quality starts, one each from Bumgarner and Tim Hudson.  The prevailing thought was that the pitching would come around if it wasn’t quite up to snuff.  But the Giants opted to stick with the same core of starters, and they’re starting to show some wear.  It’s not clear if you can count on them coming around still.  Cain and Lincecum have lost velocity, and Vogelsong’s two seasons removed from his magical 2012.

Still not sure where this thing’s headed.  Then do this: wait another week and decide.  In 2013, the Giants were awful at home, finishing 42-40.  If this team pitches like its capable, hits like it has so far, and plays defense like they’ve done since a rough opening night in Phoenix, then they’ll be a great home team, capable of winning 60 at AT&T Park.  If that’s the case, they’re ready to take off starting tomorrow.  So watch the next six ballgames against the Diamondbacks and Rockies, and you’ll be a savant for sure.

The Giants have tabbed Tim Hudson for Tuesday’s 1:35pm opener with Arizona’s Trevor Cahill the opposing pitcher in an all-former Athletics matchup.