Giants notes: Is Denard Span the new Angel Pagan?

San Francisco Giants center fielder Denard Span (2) scores against the Colorado Rockies in the seventh inning at AT&T Park Friday, April 14, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)ST. LOUIS – For several seasons while Angel Pagan oscillated between the disabled list and the active roster, the Giants posted starkly different records with and without him.

They were 306-248 when Pagan was in the lineup during his five seasons, and 123-133 when he wasn’t. Maybe that wasn’t a reflection on Pagan so much as the Giants’ reliance on a stable presence in the leadoff spot. Every team can use a catalyst atop the lineup. It’s particularly important for the Giants, given the…