Locked On Giants – Daily Podcast On The San Francisco Giants: Recent Episodes
Locked on Podcast Network, Ben Kaspick
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick, a lifelong Giants fan and former RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score contributor, breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. It's a new era of Giants baseball under Farhan Zaidi and Gabe Kapler, and the Locked On Giants podcast is a vital resource for every SF Giants fan who wants to be part of the journey. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network.
The San Francisco Giants have done the unthinkable and won back to back games on this grueling road trip after defeating the Colorado Rockies 8-6 today at Coors Field. Jordan Hicks had another quality outing as the San Francisco Giants starter, and the offense showed up for a second consecutive day. With the win, the San Francisco Giants remain the only team undefeated in the MLB when they score five or more runs.
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The San Francisco Giants needed a spark badly, and they got it from 22-year-old rookie Kyle Harrison. Harrison dominated the Rockies over seven shutout innings in Denver, becoming one of only a handful of SF Giants pitchers to have such a good outing at Coors Field.
Harrison's early-season performance has been one of the best stories of the year so far for the Giants. His ERA now sits in the low 3.00s. LaMonte Wade Jr. has been another great story, as he had a huge night in the 5-0 win, upping his walk rate and on-base percentage to the best in MLB (min. 100 plate appearances).
Elsewhere, Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi spoke on the team's very disappointing early-season struggles. Zaidi's comments, given to the San Francisco Chronicle, are discussed and analyzed.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants finally got another road win after picking up a 5-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Kyle Harrison pitched a gem in this one as he posted seven innings of shutout ball in his first time at Coors Field, one of the toughest parks to pitch in. A four run fourth inning made all the difference for the San Francisco Giants as they have been searching for a big inning all road trip.
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Something's gotta give when two teams playing awful baseball match up, and that's exactly what we have in store tonight as the San Francisco Giants begin a three-game series in Denver against the Colorado Rockies. The Giants are 1-6 on their current 10-game road trip, so this has a chance to be a complete disaster if they don't turn things around against Colorado and win at least two out of three. A sweep would be great, but that is far from a guarantee given how poorly the SF Giants have played as of late.
On paper, the San Francisco Giants are much better than the Rockies. They have better pitching and a better lineup. The Giants just haven't played up to their capabilities, whereas the Rockies are a team that, on paper, projected to be one of the worst in the NL—and that's exactly what they have been. Kyle Harrison gets the start tonight, to be followed by Jordan Hicks and Keaton Winn. The Giants should have the advantage in every game given their superior roster, but baseball is a crazy game and Coors Field makes it even crazier.
Predictions for the series are made, and discussion is had about how something has to give. Will the Giants turn things around and break out offensively in the most lively offensive park in the sport? Or will the SF Giants' struggles continue and will they be the first team to lose a series to the Rockies in 2024? For the Giants' sake, things have gotten so ugly recently that they need to play better with a sense of real urgency and timeliness.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants are suddenly playing awful baseball. After losing two of three in Boston, the Giants were swept in a four-game series in Philadelphia. The SF Giants' offense can't get anything going, and they continue to allow way too many runs.
It doesn't help that the Giants lost both of their catchers in this series. Patrick Bailey—arguably the Giants' best position player—is on the concussion IL. The day after Bailey's injury, Giants catcher Tom Murphy sustained a knee injury. Blake Sabol and Jakson Reetz took over as the catchers on the Giants' roster.
Mason Black was also added to the SF Giants' roster in a much more positive development. He started today's game and was crisp early on before losing command and giving up several runs later in the outing. Nevertheless, it was a debut with some positives for Black, but a series to forget—and a costly one at that—for the reeling San Francisco Giants.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Policygenius
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DoorDash
Get all your Mother’s Day gifts, all in one place and get 50% off your next order, up to $15 when you spend $15+ on your next flower, convenience, grocery, or retail order now with code LOCKEDONMLB. That's LOCKEDONMLB. Order using DoorDash today. Terms apply.
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eBay MotorsFrom brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.
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FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning GUARANTEED That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.
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The San Francisco Giants couldn't avoid the sweep at Citizens Bank Park, falling today to the Philadelphia Phillies 6-1. Mason Black made his anticipated debut for the San Francisco Giants, and had a mixed bag of results. After four solid innings, he fell apart in the fifth inning, surrendering five hits and four runs in the one inning alone. Three of those runs came on another Bryce Harper three-run home run. With the loss, the San Francisco Giants fall to 15-21 on the season and just 6-14 on the road.
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eBay MotorsFrom brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.
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FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning GUARANTEED That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.
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The San Francisco Giants look flat out terrible right now as they dropped their third consecutive game to the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4, at Citizen Bank Park. The ace Logan Webb was on the mound for this one but struggled for his second consecutive start, as he gave up five runs in four innings of work. The San Francisco Giants had opportunities to score with runners in scoring position and less than two outs in both in the 7th and 8th innings, but both times they failed to scratch across a run. The San Francisco Giants have now lost five of their last six games.
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Get all your Mother’s Day gifts, all in one place and get 50% off your next order, up to $15 when you spend $15+ on your next flower, convenience, grocery, or retail order now with code LOCKEDONMLB. That's LOCKEDONMLB. Order using DoorDash today. Terms apply.
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eBay MotorsFrom brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.Gametime
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The San Francisco Giants fell to the Philadelphia Phillies 14-3 at Citizen Bank Park on a very rainy day. The rain seemed to significantly hinder the San Francisco Giants playing ability both in the field and at the plate, while the Philadelphia Phillies looked like they were playing a version of backyard baseball or home run derby like kids in the rain. Keaton Winn couldn't get out of the first inning and the bullpen didn't do much better. Randy Rodriguez made his MLB debut and provided a lone bright spot for the Giants.
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eBay MotorsFrom brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.
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FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning GUARANTEED That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET!Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.
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The San Francisco Giants had so many opportunities to win last night's game. But time and time again, the Giants sustained self-inflicted wounds and lost by one run to the red-hot Phillies.
Jorge Soler, in particular, failed to come through in two huge bases-loaded situations. Soler's season-long struggles have certainly cost the SF Giants, and the offense as a whole just hasn't been able to get things going. Many Giants players, like Soler, aren't performing up to career norms as of yet.
Meanwhile, the SF Giants' defense was also costly last night. Matt Chapman made a couple of rare mistakes, and catcher Tom Murphy, replacing Patrick Bailey—who exited the game with blurry vision—dropped what should've been strike three to end the inning and allowed Trea Turner to advance two bases and score from second on the passed ball.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants fell to the Philadelphia Phillies today 4-3 at Citizens Bank Park. Jordan Hicks was shaky in what might have been his worst start of the 2024 season, only pitching four innings and surrendering four runs. Jorge Soler had multiple opportunities to do some damage for the San Francisco Giants, as he came to the plate twice with the bases loaded and failed to come up with an impact hit both times. The four-game series against the Phillies continues tomorrow.
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Today's win in Boston was huge for the San Francisco Giants. After losing the first two games of the series, the Giants needed a win to avoid a sweep to begin this 10-game road trip, and Kyle Harrison, the bullpen, and the SF Giants' defense delivered. Ryan Walker, Erik Miller, Tyler Rogers, and Camilo Doval each gave the Giants clean, stress-free innings. Jung Hoo Lee and Nick Ahmed made sensational plays.
And SF Giants rookie Kyle Harrison continued to establish himself as a reliable force, dare we say, in the middle of the Giants' rotation. Harrison worked his way into and out of trouble. He walked five but struck out seven, and the 22-year-old has an ERA of 3.79 on the season. Logan Webb, Harrison, Keaton Winn, and Jordan Hicks have all been real positives for the Giants in 2024, and each is under team control for 4-6 seasons.
League average offense is down, and it's worth pointing out in the context of the San Francisco Giants' offense. The league average batting average entering today? It was .239—exactly the same as the Giants' .239 batting average entering play. It's critical to know what league average is before we can make any effort to evaluate a team or a player (and batting average is far from the most important offensive statistic anyway). Lee's unlucky season—which continued today with a crushed ball to center being caught—is also discussed.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants narrowly avoided a series sweep against the Boston Red Sox, picking up a 3-1 win at Fenway Park. Kyle Harrison pitched well despite struggling with his accuracy early in this one, giving up just one run over five innings of work. Mike Yastrzemski gave both San Francisco Giants fans and Boston Red Sox fans a feel-good moment with a solo home run in the second inning. The road trip continues as the San Francisco Giants take on the Phillies in their next series.
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The San Francisco Giants fell again tonight to the Boston Red Sox, this time by a score of 6-2. Erik Miller started a bullpen game for the San Francisco Giants, but Daulton Jeffries was the bulk starter and struggled again in his second outing of the season. He surrendered four runs in less than three innings of work. The San Francisco Giants offense continues to look bewildered at the plate, mustering just five hits in this one. Final game of the series tomorrow.
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Blake Snell is currently on the San Francisco Giants' injured list, yet the Giants aren't relying on one of their top young starters to fill his place. Daulton Jefferies got lit up in the first series of the year and appears poised to pitch tonight.
Sean Hjelle is also on the active roster, while Black continues to dominate in Triple-A. Should the Giants add Black to the roster—forcing a 40-man move—instead of relying on the likes of Jefferies and Hjelle?
Switching gears, Tom Murphy has been the SF Giants' least productive player thus far. Is there any cause for concern? Was his two-year deal a mistake?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants were shutout by the Boston Red Sox tonight, falling 4-0. Logan Webb just did not have it tonight as he couldn't get out of the fourth inning despite throwing over 90 pitches. The San Francisco Giants offense didn't do him any favors, as they only managed four hits in this one. The two teams are back in action tomorrow.
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Losing Blake Snell to an injury was ominous, but the San Francisco Giants' rotation has more than picked up the slack. Kyle Harrison and Keaton Winn, two of the Giants' young starters, made excellent starts and helped propel the SF Giants to back-to-back series wins.
Meanwhile, the Giants' offense has continued to struggle to find its groove, with key players like Matt Chapman and Jorge Soler yet to fully get it going, but some others have picked up the slack in the meantime.
Mike Yastrzemski, for example, has been hot as of late. He homered in the SF Giants' win on Sunday, and he heads back to Fenway Park for the second time in his MLB career as the Giants take on the Red Sox starting Tuesday night in Boston.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!DoorDash
Get all your Mother’s Day gifts, all in one place and get 50% off your next order, up to $15 when you spend $15+ on your next flower, convenience, grocery, or retail order now with code LOCKEDONMLB. That's LOCKEDONMLB. Order using DoorDash today. Terms apply.
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The San Francisco Giants beat the Pittsburgh Pirates today 3-2 as they closed out their longest homestand of the season with a win at Oracle Park. Keaton Winn drew the start for the San Francisco Giants in this one, and delivered yet another excellent performance, collecting his third win of the season. Mike Yastrzemski and Thairo Estrada hit back-to-back solo home runs in this one to give Keaton Winn some much-needed run support.
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The San Francisco Giants fell tonight to the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 in their first extra-innings affair of the 2024 season. Though the squad failed to pick up the win, Jordan Hicks was dominant again on the hill for the San Francisco Giants as he posted a season-high nine strikeouts over six innings pitched. After the Pittsburgh Pirates took the lead on back-to-back home runs in the top of the 10th inning, Jorge Soler brought the Giants within one run after launching a bomb of his own over the left field fence. The San Francisco Giants will attempt to get back in the win column tomorrow in the rubber match of this three-game series.
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The fireworks show started early for the San Francisco Giants. In a scoreless game in the bottom of the ninth, SF Giants catcher Patrick Bailey, fast becoming a mainstay in this league and perhaps even a legitimate star, blasted a three-run home run off Pirates closer David Bednar to deliver an exhilarating win for the Giants.
This followed what was obviously a great pitching performance all the way through for the Giants. Kyle Harrison was excellent over six shutout innings in what was his best start of the season. Him stepping up in the absence of Blake Snell would go a very long way for the Giants.
SF Giants relievers Ryan Walker and Camilo Doval escaped huge jams in the late innings to keep the game tied at zero-zero. Walker loaded the bases with two outs but got out of it on a strikeout that hit the foot of the hitter. Doval allowed runners to reach second and third with no outs and he managed to escape with a strikeout and a 1-2-3 double play. Overall, it was a huge, explosive win for the San Francisco Giants.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants pulled this one out by the skin of their teeth, as beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on a Patrick Bailey three-run, walk-off home run. Kyle Harrison pitched a gem tonight, tossing six scoreless innings and fanning five. Camilo Doval made it interesting in the ninth inning after loading the bases with only one out, but managed to get for San Francisco Giants prospect Brian Reynolds to ground into a double play to get out of the jam.
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The San Francisco Giants looked like they had the makings of one of the best starting rotations in baseball. Logan Webb finished second in Cy Young voting in 2023 and is on a career-best run. Blake Snell, last year's NL Cy Young winner, sat right behind Webb in the Giants' rotation.
But Snell is injured—a left adductor strain—and suddenly the Giants' rotation, already without Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray, is much thinner than it was. Hopefully Snell doesn't miss too much time, otherwise the SF Giants could endure more rough stretches than anticipated from their staff.
Overall, pitching has actually been the SF Giants' biggest issue in 2024, so this news doesn't bode well. The position player group has been healthy and solid, Logan Webb, Jordan Hicks, and Keaton Winn have been very good—and Kyle Harrison has huge upside—but it's unclear if the Giants' pitching will keep the team afloat until players return from injuries.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants fell to the New York Mets today by a score of 8-2 in the final game of their three-game set. But more importantly, high-profile free agent signing Blake Snell hit the 15-day injured list, which forced the San Francisco Giants to start Ryan Walker in a bullpen game (shoutout the Gabe Kapler regime). The loss foils the San Francisco Giants opportunity to pick up their first series sweep of the season. They have an off day tomorrow before starting their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.
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Logan Webb delivered another Cy Young type performance tonight for the San Francisco Giants as they defeated the New York Mets 5-1 at Oracle Park. The win clinches another series win for the San Francisco Giants, who are suddenly starting to get hot. The bottom of the order continues to deliver as Mike Yastrzemski came up with another big night at the plate for the San Francisco Giants.
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The San Francisco Giants squared off against a hot Mets team on Monday night with their No. 5 starter on the mound, and the Giants looked every bit the part of a team that can play with anyone. SF Giants starter Keaton Winn dominated New York over six innings, lowering his ERA to 3.54.
The SF Giants have somewhat struggled out of the gates in 2024, but they're starting to play much better baseball. The Mets were a good test, and the test was passed in Game 1. The Giants' bats, cold to start the season, got to Jose Quintana and the game was mostly one-sided until things got slightly weird with Camilo Doval in the 9th.
Speaking of Doval, the Giants' bullpen is new-look these last two days. Nick Avila was optioned as Luke Jackson returned from the IL, and today Mitch White was officially added to the 26-man roster with Landen Roupp being optioned to clear space.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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Locked On Giants podcast is your daily ticket to stay ahead of the game and the first to know the latest news, analysis, and insider info for the San Francisco Giants and Major League Baseball.
The San Francisco Giants picked up another win at Oracle Park tonight, this time defeating the New York Mets, 5-2. Keaton Winn pitched a gem in this one, lasting 6 inning and giving up just one run and posting six strikeouts. The San Francisco Giants offense also gave Keaton Winn some run support for the second consecutive game, as he picks up his second win of the season. Michael Conforto hit a home run against his former team in this one as well.
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The San Francisco Giants' series against the Arizona Diamondbacks was full of ups and downs, much like the Giants' 2024 season to date. There was good and there was bad. Ultimately, the SF Giants need to start winning home series and to crawl above the .500 mark if they want to be truly competitive, which should come with time.
Logan Webb dominated in the first game of the series, and the Giants played a clean game in Game 3. In between, there was an ugly 17-1 loss and a loss in the finale that could've been won.
The Giants traded for pitcher Mitch White and placed Alex Cobb on the 60-day IL after he experienced another setback. White was once quite good for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he is expected to join the active roster, which will require a corresponding move (perhaps optioning Sean Hjelle).
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants dropped the final game of their four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-3. With the loss, the San Francisco Giants split the series 2-2, still searching for a string of consistent wins. The bottom of the lineup for the San Francisco Giants has shown some positive signs in this series, and we saw it again today with Mike Yastrzemski hitting a two-run home run. Jordan Hicks was struggling to find his control on the mound but he managed to pitch around traffic on the basepaths and finished with a decent outing on the mound. Bob Melvin was ejected as he was clearly upset with multiple questionable calls on balls and strikes.
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The San Francisco Giants bounced back from their terrible loss last night with a win today over the Arizona Diamondbacks, 7-3. It was Patrick Bailey bobblehead day at Oracle Park and Patrick Bailey showed up in a big way for the San Francisco Giants, going 4-4 at the dish with a two-run splash hit. He finished a triple shy of the cycle. This might be the greatest performance by a Giant on their bobblehead day, and on 4/20, a special day in San Francisco. The win gives the San Francisco Giants a 2-1 lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the series, and now they can do no worse than split this series.
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The San Francisco Giants laid their biggest egg of the season exactly one day after playing their best game of the season, falling tonight to the Arizona Diamondbacks 17-1 at Oracle Park. Blake Snell has yet to look like the guy who won the Cy Young award last season, but that is to be expected as he missed all of spring training. The San Francisco Giants bullpen surrendered ten runs, and their offense couldn't muster any sort of comeback as their only run came on a solo shot to left by Jorge Soler. Giants baseball, torture.
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The San Francisco Giants started off the homestand the right way with a 5-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oracle Park. Logan Webb was dominant on the mound, as he blanked the Arizona Diamondbacks over seven innings of work. Webb set a new career high, retiring 19 consecutive batters on his way to the win. Wilmer Flores and Mike Yastrzemski came up with huge hits late in this one to add on four insurance runs. Nick Ahmed had some nice moments in his revenge game against his former squad.
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Defense has been a problem for the San Francisco Giants the past couple of seasons, and it was addressed in several ways this offseason. With that in mind, what do the early numbers say about the 2024 SF Giants' defense?
Among the other questions asked and answered on today's edition of the Locked On Giants podcast are:
When is the Yaz/Slater experiment ending?
Is Luis Matos still the default call up for an injured outfielder? Heliot Ramos has been tearing it up in AAA, and Bob Melvin seemed to like him a lot in spring training.
What are your thoughts on Jung Hoo Lee’s potential of a .300 batting average?
What have you seen that's positive about Blake Snell?
How does Tyler Fitzgerald compare to other utility players around the league? Specifically former Giant Mauricio Dubon and Tommy Edman who you expressed interest in trading for in the past.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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This was a series that the San Francisco Giants really needed to win. Not necessarily in terms of making or breaking whether they'd make the playoffs, but for early-season morale. Nearly 20 games into the season, the Giants were still searching for their first series win.
The Marlins, meanwhile, have been a team in free fall. And the SF Giants made sure that they kept them in their place. Kyle Harrison and Keaton Winn, two young Giants starters of the future, put the Giants in position to win the series.
The SF Giants' bats remain relatively cold, but sooner or later they will wake up. In the meantime, every night the Giants have a chance to win with their starting pitching. And that's before the likes of Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray return from injuries. Meanwhile, a big series against the division rival D-backs looms.
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants won the rubber match against the Miami Marlins 3-1 on their final day of the Florida road trip. Keaton Winn has been sharp on the mound in this early season for the San Francisco Giants, and today was no different. Winn gave up only one run on four hits over six innings of work. The bullpen did their job and didn't allow a single runner from the Miami Marlins to cross home plate after Keaton Winn's exit. Thairo Estrada stayed hot at the plate, as he picked up two more hits, including an RBI double. Giants return home after this game for a ten-game homestand.
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The San Francisco Giants would've probably been okay had they not won last night's game, but it sure felt like a big momentum swing type of win because of he way they came back.
The Giants' offense has largely struggled in the early season, and after falling behind 3-0, it seemed like the SF Giants were destined for another loss and an ugly 6-11 record. But Thairo Estrada, Jung Hoo Lee, Wilmer Flores, and others came up huge for the Giants when it mattered most.
Meanwhile, starting pitching Kyle Harrison kept the Giants in the game despite giving up a few runs, and the bullpen shut it down. There was confusion with Bob Melvin summoning Camilo Doval—who wasn't warming up—and that led to the Marlins manager's ejection. But Doval got loose in a hurry and recorded a much-needed four-out save for the Giants.
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants picked up a much-needed win against a struggling Miami Marlins squad, 4-3. It is the San Francisco Giants fourth comeback win of the season. Kyle Harrison pitched well and picked up his second win of the season. Camillo Doval made it eventful, but he slammed the door shut in the ninth inning and earned his second save of the season. A Wilmer Flores pinch-hit RBI ended up being the difference in this one.
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The San Francisco Giants are not the third-worst team in the National League. Their 6-10 record may be, but the talent on the team would seem to make the SF Giants fairly easily one of the top half of teams in the NL, or at the very least middle of the pack. No, the Giants aren't off to the start they hoped for, but no, it doesn't mean these 16 games define them whatsoever.
Hitters like Matt Chapman, Wilmer Flores, Mike Yastrzemski, and Austin Slater are producing at far below their career averages. Jung Hoo Lee and Chapman have been particularly unlucky (their expected numbers are way better than their actual results). Quite simply, 16 games is not nearly enough to judge a baseball team. The same goes for certain SF Giants pitchers.
Blake Snell was lit up in his return to Tampa, and after two Giants starts, his ERA sits near 13.00. Obviously, that's not who Blake Snell is. When all is said and done, his season ERA might end up about 10 points lower. It's worth pointing out that last season Snell had a 5.40 ERA through his first nine starts/45 innings of the season, then he went on to have a 1.25 ERA over his final 23 starts en route to a near unanimous NL Cy Young Award.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants offense showed up in a big way at Tropicana Field as they posted a season-high 11 runs in their win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Thairo Estrada, Matt Chapman, Jorge Soler, and LaMonte Wade Jr all hit home runs in this one, a welcomed sign for the San Francisco Giants who had gone seven games without a home run before today's matchup. Logan Webb was his usual dominant self on the mound, giving the San Francisco Giants seven strong innings of work and only allowing one run.
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The San Francisco Giants lose a frustrating one one the road to the Tampa Bay Rays, falling 2-1. Tyler Fitzgerald found himself on third base as the game-tying run with less than two outs in the ninth inning, but Jung Hoo Lee and Nick Ahmed both failed to drive him in. This was the story of the whole game for the San Francisco Giants, as they were 0-10 with runners in scoring position, stranding nine runners on base in the process. Giants baseball is back to being torture, for now.
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The San Francisco Giants have generally struggled out of the gates, although they've had their moments. Several veteran players have yet to hit their stride at the plate, and multiple pitchers, including staff ace Logan Webb, haven't found their normal performance yet.
Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater are often brought up as candidates to come off the team in order to make room for younger players like Luis Matos and/or Heliot Ramos. How long is the leash for a struggling Yaz/Slater? And what about Nick Ahmed vs. Marco Luciano?
Speaking of players not playing to their full potential, what's going on with Giants catcher Patrick Bailey? His throws have been wildly inaccurate in the early season. Is he still and elite defender?
Finally, with SF Giants pitcher Jordan Hicks successfully transitioning to the rotation thus far, what will the Giants' pitching staff look like once/if everyone is fully healthy?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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eBay MotorsFrom brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.Gametime
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The San Francisco Giants continued to inexplicably struggle against the Washington Nationals in their latest series, losing two out of three at home. However, if you're going to win one game in a series, it's best to make it the last one—especially with a day off coming up.
Jordan Hicks continued his red-hot start to the season, and his seamless transition to a starters' role. The SF Giants have won all three of Hicks' starts, and he's pitched six, seven, and six innings, respectively, in his outings. Hicks has been exceptionally efficient in those outings as well.
And importantly, the Giants' offense broke out in the finale against the Nationals. Nick Ahmed and Tyler Fitzgerald were six for six from the bottom of the lineup, and the SF Giants also stole their first bases of the year in the game. This was in stark contrast to the Giants' recent offensive struggles, which came to a head with San Francisco failing to capitalized on a bases-loaded, no out situation in the bottom of the ninth in a two-run loss to the Nats on Tuesday night.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Check life insurance off your to do list in no time with Policygenius. Head to policygenius.com/lockedonmlb to get your free life insurance quotes and see how much you could save.
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eBay MotorsFrom brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.Gametime
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The San Francisco Giants closed out their first homestand of the season with a 7-1 win over the Washington Nationals. The seven runs the San Francisco Giants scored today marks the first time the team scratched across more than three runs at Oracle Park this season. Jordan Hicks pitched well again today, surrendering only one run on his way to his second win of the season.
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Blake Snell's San Francisco Giants debut didn't go as planned. Snell himself was not at his best, although his strikeout and walk rates were roughly in line with what Giants fans should expect. But Snell threw far too many pitches and only lasted three innings, while the Nationals' pesky offense, which has haunted the Giants in recent seasons, put hits and runs on the board. Blake Snell's Giants debut is discussed in detail with Locked On Giants POSTCAST host Erik Engle and Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick.
Afterwards, the SF Giants' rough 4-7 start is discussed. The Giants' offense has been MLB's worst by wRC+ ever since their series in Los Angeles started about a week ago. On the season, the San Francisco Giants haven't really pitched or hit well. There are a few exceptions, such as Jordan Hicks, Ryan Walker, Michael Conforto, and some others, but all-in-all the Giants rank near the bottom in most pitching and hitting categories. It is a small sample but one the SF Giants should be able to fix against a team like the Nationals, but it hasn't worked out that way ... for years.
The Nationals have been a different team vs. the Giants than they have been vs. everyone else since the start of the 2022 season. Most notably, the Nats have better than a .350 average on balls in play vs. the Giants since 2022, whereas it's .291 vs. the rest of the league. As such, Washington has a 120 wRC+ vs. the Giants since '22 and a 91 wRC+ vs. every other team. It's an inexplicable trend that seems more fluky than anything. The beauty of baseball, especially early in the season, is that every day is a new opportunity to get back on track. The Giants could still win this series and come away feeling good if they can put together a couple of wins to close out this homestand.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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Blake Snell's debut for the San Francisco Giants was spoiled, as they fell 8-1 to the Washington Nationals at Oracle Park. Blake Snell only lasted three innings and needed a ton of pitches to get those nine outs, surrendering three runs in the process. The San Francisco Giants offense continues to slump, especially at the bottom of the order. The San Francisco Giants will need to start hitting if they want to win some games.
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It absolutely was not pretty, but the San Francisco Giants took two out of three from the Padres and ended up going 4-6 through a tough opening stretch to start the 2024 season. The Giants went 4-3 against the Padres and 0-3 against the Dodgers to start the year. In this series, despite winning two of three, the Giants made mistakes in every series that could've cost them the game.
Michael Conforto got overly aggressive on the bases (again) and took the SF Giants out of a rally in the series opener. Jordan Hicks, who was otherwise brilliant over seven innings, threw a ball into center field on what should've been an inning-ending double play but instead led to a run. Jung Hoo Lee started off the middle game of the series by letting a routine fly ball drop in front of him as he lost it in the sun.
But the Giants rallied for a walk-off win in the home opener, courtesy of a struggling Thairo Estrada, and they pieced together an ugly but effective rally in the bottom of the eighth in the finale. Wilmer Flores had a huge pinch-hit single (what else is new?), Tyler Fitzgerald went first to third on a bloop hit to right by Jorge Soler, testing the cannon of Fernando Tatis Jr., and Fitzgerald scored on the second costly error of the game by Ha-Seong Kim on what should've been a rally-killing, inning-ending double play.
Overall the SF Giants' offense has struggled to start the season, but track records and things like a low team batting average on balls in play suggest that better results will come soon enough. After facing two really tough teams in their first 10 games, the Giants now welcome the lowly Washington Nationals into town. Hopefully the Giants are able to take advantage, and it certainly helps that they start the series with Blake Snell making his San Francisco Giants debut on Monday night.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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The San Francisco Giants eighth-inning rally and great pitching fueled the club to a win over the San Diego Padres in the rubber match of this three-game series. The series win is the first for the San Francisco Giants in the 2024 MLB season. Logan Webb scattered 10 hits across seven innings of work, and limited the San Diego Padres to just two runs. Matt Chapman drove in the go-ahead run after Tyler Fitzgerald scored on an error by Ha Seong Kim to tie the game. The bullpen did the rest with Camilo Doval slamming the door in the ninth inning and earned his 70th career save.
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The San Francisco Giants were completely shut down by Michael King and the San Diego Padres, falling 4-0 tonight at Oracle Park. The home loss is the San Francisco Giants' first of the season, and marks their first shutout as well. Keaton Winn pitched well despite surrendering four runs, but the San Francisco Giants' bats were quiet all night long. The bullpen showed some things to be excited about in their three shutdown innings, and it is time to have a discussion about Mike Yastrzemski.
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The San Francisco Giants took down the San Diego Padres in dramatic fashion, as Thairo Estrada laced a double off the wall to score Matt Chapman for a walk-off win in the San Francisco Giants home opener. Jordan Hicks continued to dazzle on the mound as he set a new career high with seven inning pitched and only surrendered one run. The San Francisco Giants needed a win in a bad way, and the boys by the bay got it done today.
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The San Francisco Giants had a nice opening series against the Padres, splitting the four-game set while exhibiting strong offense and starting pitching performances (outside of the blowout finale). Now, the Giants and Padres are set to meet again as the SF Giants kick off their home schedule. Locked On Giants and Locked On Padres recap the series that was and the series that's to come.
What have we learned about these two teams so far? The Giants were swept in LA following their solid series in San Diego, so things aren't looking as rosy as they enter their home opener with an unsightly 2-5 record. But, as discussed on yesterday's episode, there's no reason to panic and the Giants only figure to get strong as the season goes along, with Blake Snell returning Monday, Alex Cobb likely shortly after that, and Robbie Ray lurking around the All-Star break.
What will happen when these two teams square off in San Francisco for the second time in three series (before not meeting again until September)? Jordan Hicks, Keaton Winn, and Logan Webb will face off against the back three in the Padres' rotation, and the SF Giants, playing in front of their home fans for the first time, should have the edge in the series and both hosts predict San Francisco taking two out of three. This on the heels of Locked On Padres host Javier Reyes boldly and completely incorrectly predicting the Padres would sweep the Giants in the opening series.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants' 2024 season started out promisingly with the Giants winning two of their first three games. The Giants were then blown out in the series finale in San Diego, and ultimately swept in LA by the absolutely loaded Dodgers. The SF Giants lost three winnable games on this trip: Opening Day (when they took a lead into the bottom of the seventh) and the final two games in LA, both 5-4 losses.
So far in the young season, the SF Giants pitching staff is pitching at unsustainably poor levels. Part of that simply is a byproduct of facing two potent offenses on the road. Part of it is just randomness. One this is certain, though: a 2-5 road trip is not ideal, but it's not cause for alarm or panic. The Giants' offense was steady and solid, scoring four runs or more in all but one of their first seven games. However, the pitching allowed 6.6 runs a game on average, and that's going to make things tough no matter what.
Down on the farm, Marco Luciano and Luis Matos have started out the season hot, which is a great sign. Both Luciano and Matos are potentially huge parts of the San Francisco Giants' future (and perhaps present sooner rather than later), so it's good to see them start their respective seasons on the right foot.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three game series to close out their first road trip of the season. Kyle Harrison was wild on the mound for the San Francisco Giants, but he still managed to work through constant runners on base with minimal damage. Ultimately, the Dodgers murderers row of a lineup was too much for the San Francisco Giants to overcome. To make things worse for Giants fans, Shohei Ohtani hit his first home run as a Dodger, and it came against the Giants. They return to San Francisco for the home opener on Friday against the San Diego Padres.
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A role reversal in Los Angeles added up to the San Francisco Giants' third straight loss on this season-opening Southern California road trip. Logan Webb was touched up by the Dodgers' potent lineup, and this time it was the SF Giants' bullpen that pitched well. The Giants needed a better start from Webb in order to win, but it was a good sign to see the likes of Landen Roupp perform well against LA's loaded lineup.
Once again the San Francisco Giants couldn't get the big hit despite having several chances. The Dodgers defense, to their credit, made some big plays in some big moments. Jorge Soler homered and the Giants scored four runs, but they haven't been able to break through over these past few losses. All in all, the SF Giants have lost two winnable games so far, so they could easily be 4-2 or 3-3 instead of 2-4. No need to panic—at all—with just six games in the books.
The Joey Bart era is officially, officially over in San Francisco. The Pirates jumped the waiver wire by agreeing to trade 2023 draftee Austin Strickland to the Giants in exchange for Bart, the 2018 No. 2 overall pick. Bart's struggles aren't this front office's fault, as some have suggested. There's certainly no guarantee he would have been their choice at No. 2 overall, and so many top draft picks don't pan out. Even looking at that draft specifically, it's basically been bust after bust after bust so far with a few gems sprinkled in. All the best to Bart in Pittsburgh, where he'll get a shot at more playing time.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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Teams playing the 2024 Dodgers basically have to play perfectly in order to win. In the San Francisco Giants' first game against the rival Dodgers this season, the Giants did not play perfectly and so they lost. The Giants stranded a ton of baserunners and were sorely lacking the big hit. The SF Giants' bullpen continued to struggle overall, with young players failing to establish themselves and even the likes or Tyler Rogers—ground ball and home run prevention machine—allowing a 430-foot three-run blast that broke the game open.
The Giants are allowing over seven runs per game on average through five games this season. That's obviously way too many, and it's actually impressive that they've managed to go 2-3 despite allowing so many runs. What's startling is that SF Giants starters Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison, and Jordan Hicks combined to allow just four runs in 17 innings, while Keaton Winn added a respectable three runs in five innings against the juggernaut Dodgers lineup. It was Daulton Jefferies' start and the bullpen that has been the run prevention culprit. Thankfully, there are several sustainability/"luck" indicators that strongly suggest that the Giants will improve at preventing runs. Their HR/FB ratio, left-on-base percentage, and BABIP allowed are all unsustainably bad and will improve.
Another way the SF Giants will improve is by getting Blake Snell into the rotation, and the Giants say he will make his season debut on Monday at home against the Nationals. Alex Cobb doesn't seem to be too far behind Snell, and once he's ready to go, that could push Keaton Winn into a long relief role, making the bullpen that much better and deeper. Winn flashed excellent stuff in his outing that was better than the ERA over 5.00 would suggest.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Robinhood has the only IRA that gives you a 3% boost on every dollar you contribute when you subscribe to Robinhood Gold. Now through April 30th, Robinhood is even boosting every single dollar you transfer in from other retirement accounts with a 3% match. Available to U.S. customers in good standing. Robinhood Financial LLC (member SIPC), is a registered broker dealer.
Amazon Fire TV
Fire TV recently created Fire TV Channels to deliver a constant supply of the latest videos from your favorite sports brands, all for free. That includes all of us at Locked On and most of the big pro leagues and college conferences as well. To Learn More, visit www.amazon.com/LockedOnFireTV
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eBay MotorsFrom brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.
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The San Francisco Giants fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-3 after an offensive explosion from Mookie Betts and company was too much for the San Francisco Giants to overcome. Keaton Winn drew the start and pitched well, but the bullpen couldn't hold the Los Angeles Dodgers within striking distance while the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen shut down the San Francisco Giants at the plate. Jung Hoo Lee picked up another multi-hit game in the loss.
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With one series the the books, the San Francisco Giants held their own in hostile territory, splitting a four-game series with the San Diego Padres despite being blown out in the series finale. The offense showed up for the most part, and Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison, and Jordan Hicks—the starters for the first three games—each gave the Giants an excellent chance to win. The Giants' pitching ran thin, however, as Daulton Jefferies, called up to start Sunday's game, and the bullpen were far more shaky overall.
Jung Hoo Lee had an excellent first series in the majors, walking several times, collecting lots of hits, and even hitting his first MLB homer against a left-handed pitcher. Matt Chapman was as advertised defensively, and he also had some huge hits in the Giants' series split, including a two-homer game in the SF Giants' first win of 2024.
At long last, Joey Bart's time with the Giants appears headed to a close. The San Francisco Giants designated Bart for assignment in order to add Jefferies to the roster. There was no way the Giants would carry Bart, who's out of minor league options, on the major league roster for long, particularly because it meant the GIants were extra thin on the pitching side. Blake Snell is on the roster but hasn't been able to pitch yet, and Sunday's blowout loss was a prime example of how the SF Giants started the season thin on pitching, in part because they opted to carry three catchers, including Bart.
The Giants will hope to find a trade partner for Bart, but if they can't, he can be claimed off waivers by any team, who'd have to have him on their MLB roster. If Bart clears waivers, which seems unlikely, the SF Giants could outright Bart back to the minors without his consent and he would be off the 40-man roster. A player can only be outrighted once in their career.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
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The San Francisco Giants never had a real shot in this one as they trailed the San Diego Padres by 12 runs before they were able to scratch their first run across the plate, ultimately falling to the NL West rival. Daulton Jefferies drew the start for the San Francisco Giants and never found his footing on the mound, as he lasted just two innings and surrendered nine runs. The Giants bullpen pitched well for the most part in extended innings of work, but the early deficit was entirely too much for this squad to overcome. The Giants split their first series of 2024 2-2. They face the hated Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-game road series starting tomorrow.
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The San Francisco Giants took down the San Diego Padres today 9-6 on the strength of multiple home runs and excellent starting pitching. Michael Conforto continued his hot streak with a grand slam, and Jung Hoo Lee collected his first major league home run. Jordan Hicks looked electric in his first start with the San Francisco Giants, showcasing multiple new pitches that he worked on in the offseason and exited the game after five innings pitched, zero earned runs, and a career high six strikeouts. The San Francisco Giants are FUN again.
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The San Francisco Giants picked up their first win of the 2024 season with a 8-3 victory over the San Diego Padres. Starting pitcher Kyle Harrison was locked in during this early season matchup as he surrendered just two runs over six stellar inning pitched. Newcomer Matt Chapman went deep twice and plated five runs, leading the Giants offense. But it wasn't all just Matt Chapman, as the Giants laced 13 hits and went 5-11 with runners in scoring position. Giants baseball might not be torture in 2024.
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The San Francisco Giants fell to the Padres on Opening Day, but there were real positives to take away from the game. Logan Webb shook off a horrid spring and had a fantastic first start of the season, pitching six innings and allowing just two runs. The SF Giants' offense and defense flashed signs of life as well, with Matt Chapman, Nick Ahmed, and Thairo Estrada making impressive plays and Michael Conforto and Ahmed leading the way offensively.
Unfortunately for the Giants, they let a seventh-inning lead slip away from them with a disastrous inning from Luke Jackson that included a throwing error by catcher Patrick Bailey. The SF Giants' one-run lead quickly became a three-run deficit, and that was basically all she wrote outside of Conforto's ninth-inning solo homer that pulled the Giants to within two runs.
A number of players were making their Giants or MLB debuts, and for the most part so far so good. Jung Hoo Lee notched his first hit and hit a sac fly, although he was picked off immediately after singling. Erik Miller, a lefty reliever making his MLB debut, pitched an impressive eighth. Chapman was as advertised defensively and collected a hit, and Ahmed had a clutch hit as well. Now the Giants will turn to Kyle Harrison as they try to collect their first win of 2024, with Blake Snell unavailable for at least his first turn through the rotation. The SF Giants really ought to do their best to win a couple in San Diego, as things get tougher after that with a road series against the loaded rival Dodgers next.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
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The San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres got the 2024 MLB season started as the Padres spoiled a nice outing from Logan Webb on their way to a 6-4 victory. Logan Webb left after 6 innings pitched and the lead, but the San Francisco Giants bullpen couldn't slam the door on the Padres offense, as they posted 4 runs in the 7th inning. Despite a 9th inning home run from Michael Conforto, the San Francisco Giants were never able to recover.
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Opening Day is finally here! The San Francisco Giants take on the Padres today in a game that really counts, and Logan Webb will be on the mound. That's no surprise, but it doesn't mean the SF Giants' official Opening Day roster didn't have a few surprises. Most surprisingly, perhaps, is the fact that Joey Bart made the team. Bart is out of options and can't be sent to the minors, so the Giants elected to carry him, along with their two main catchers Patrick Bailey and Tom Murphy, rather than designating Bart for assignment. Pretty soon the Giants will have to make a move because they can't carry three catchers (and 14 position players) for long.
Other noteworthy decisions included the fact that Nick Ahmed made the Giants and was added to the roster. He's in the Opening Day lineup and playing shortstop. Marco Luciano was optioned to Sacramento. Luis Matos was more of a snub, as he was also optioned by the SF Giants with Austin Slater apparently healthy enough to start the season. This move will be unpopular with some fans, but rest assured that Matos and Luciano should get tons of opportunities this year and the Giants are by no means giving up on either one. It's all about protecting inventory in this case, and Slater and Yastrzemski are underrated big leaguers.
On the pitching side, a few players will be making their major league debuts if they get into a game. Left-handed reliever Erik Miller joins the Giants' staff as the second lefty in the 'pen after Taylor Rogers. Landen Roupp also made the Giants thanks to a killer breaking ball that could make him a real weapon. Blake Snell is on the roster even though he won't start in the Giants' series against the Padres. And Michael Conforto is starting in left, becoming the SF Giants' 18th consecutive different Opening Day left fielder, with a 19th likely next year.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
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Opening Day is around the corner with the new-look San Francisco Giants set to take on the San Diego Padres just two short days from now. The Giants will enter Petco Park with a new manager and several new faces, although they will be without co-ace Blake Snell who signed late and won't be with the team from the jump.
The SF Giants and Padres had very different offseasons, with the Pads subtracting Juan Soto just by way of example, while the Giants spent more than any other team outside of the Dodgers on a number of players including Jung Hoo Lee, Snell, Matt Chapman, Jordan Hicks, Jorge Soler, and others. The Giants also traded for 2021 Cy Young winner Robbie Ray.
What are the expectations for the Giants and Padres this season? What are the expectations in this opening four-game series? The SF Giants' pitching is slightly suspect coming out of the gates without Snell, but still the teams look relatively evenly matched and it should be a good and entertaining start to the 2024 campaign for both teams.
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The San Francisco Giants' 2024 season kicks off this Thursday, yet there are still several burning questions ahead of Opening Day. Most notably, perhaps, is the question of whether Nick Ahmed or Marco Luciano will crack the roster as the Opening Day shortstop for the Giants. Ahmed has been great for the SF Giants all spring, but Luciano has come on very strong as camp has wound down. The Giants could add Ahmed to the roster and option Luciano. It's possible Ahmed could opt out of his SF Giants deal if he doesn't make the Opening Day squad. That might make optioning Luciano more likely, otherwise going with Luciano and having Ahmed in Triple-A could be appealing as well.
Another key situation is what will happen with Luis Matos. Matos came into camp for the Giants having put on over 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason, and he's had a torrid spring. A lot of fans understandably want Matos on the Opening Day team, but the Giants' outfield is crowded. Austin Slater's elbow, however, could open the door for Matos. Slater had surgery in October but has been limited this spring and has trouble bouncing back after games. If he can't start the season with the Giants, Matos will get a real shot right out of the gates (in a limited role to start).
Finally, there are several open spots up for grabs on the pitching staff, particularly with Blake Snell, Alex Cobb, and Robbie Ray out to start the season. Snell and Cobb should be back not too long from now, but they won't start the season with the Giants. Juan Sanchez appears likely to make the team as the Giants' second lefty reliever. Keaton Winn, Mason Black, and Landen Roupp appear to be the most likely candidates to round out the San Francisco Giants' Opening Day pitching staff.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
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It's no secret that the San Francisco Giants' on-field product has been subpar to the point of bordering on boring in recent seasons. However, the same could be said about the Giants' in-game entertainment experience at Oracle Park. The SF Giants have been featuring essentially the same program during games since 2010. The Giants continue to play either Don't Stop Believin' or Lights during every game. There's the 'Kiss Cam.' While still moderately entertaining, there certainly hasn't been major change or innovation. Until now.
The Giants have significantly upgraded the in-game experience at Oracle Park entering the 2024 season, finally adding LED lights that are essentially capable of putting on light shows during games. Many other teams have been utilizing this technology for years, while the Giants lagged behind and seemed stuck in their ways, insistent on reliving the early 2010s for all eternity. It's a new era of Giants baseball now, and the improved lights will also be paired with a much-needed and much-improved sound system that will enhance the experience for both fans and players, per the Giants' press release. Which speaks to the players not being happy with how quiet/unintelligible the sound system was at Oracle.
Paired with the Giants' huge offseason, these upgrades should go hand-in-hand with a far more entertaining product on the field. A better team plus a better in-game experience at the ballpark should help make games far more entertaining to attend, and hopefully will contribute in bringing people back to the ballpark. These changes, both on the field and off, were far overdue for the San Francisco Giants. But better late than never. Now, there's reason to get excited about the Giants and attending Oracle Park again.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
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The 2024 MLB Season is here and Locked On has the most comprehensive MLB Season preview for you. Who wins each division? You’ll hear from every MLB host on our network debating who take the top spots in the AL East, AL Central, AL West, NL East, NL Central and NL West. Will we see the Baltimore Orioles, the Minnesota Twin, the Houston Astros, the Atlanta Braves, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Los Angeles Dodgers repeat their 2023 success?
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Blake Snell to the San Francisco Giants is official. Snell passed his physical and the deal was announced by the SF Giants on Tuesday night, capping a monster offseason for the orange and black. How exactly were the Giants able to land Snell to such a team-friendly deal? What made the SF Giants' Snell's choice in the end?
And how does the Giants' signing of Blake Snell impact the NL West? Just a few weeks ago, the Locked On hosts from the NL West got together and Millard Thomas of Locked On D-backs said the Giants could possibly be a last-place team. Now, Millard questions whether the Giants may actually be the second-best team in the division.
Ben from Locked On Giants and Millard from Locked On D-backs compare Blake Snell to other pitchers in the NL West, including Logan Webb, Zac Gallen, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and many others. How does Snell compare? Coming off a Cy Young award, is the new Giants ace the best pitcher in the division? Listen to find out.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants needed to have a huge offseason, and they've done it. Capped by the reported addition of reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell—which is pending a physical—the Giants have made numerous meaningful improvements that vault them firmly into the mix for a playoff berth and make them a potentially scary team to have to face in October.
Blake Snell is second in MLB in ERA and strikeout rate since 2022 (min. 300 innings). He's a power lefty with a mid-90s fastball that he pairs with a devastating curveball, a changeup, and a slider. Blake Snell and Logan Webb give the SF Giants one of the best 1-2 punches in baseball. The SF Giants have shot well past the first luxury tax threshold with this signing, so they're exceeding the tax for the first time since 2017. The Giants' luxury tax payroll ranks sixth in MLB, per RosterResource.
In totality, with Snell, Jung Hoo Lee, Matt Chapman, Jorge Soler, Jordan Hicks, and Tom Murphy, the SF Giants have easily had an 'A' offseason. It's pretty remarkable how good their offseason looks considering they missed out on their two top targets in Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, both of whom signed with the rival Dodgers. Outside of the Dodgers and Braves, the National League should be quite a battle when it comes to the three wild card spots. But with all of their moves combined, the SF Giants appear to have as good of a shot as anyone of playing postseason baseball, and if they make it there, they could be a very scary opponent.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IbottaRight now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 for just trying Ibotta by using code LOCKEDONMLB. Just go to the app store and download the free Ibotta app to start earning cash back now. Amazon Fire TV
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Blake Snell will be wearing orange and black in 2024. The San Francisco Giants and Blake Snell have agreed to a two-year, $62 million deal with an opt out after the 2024 season, according to multiple reports. The Giants now have the reigning Cy Young Award winner in Snell atop their rotation, followed by last year's runner-up, Logan Webb.
The Giants have been linked to Snell all offseason, and a deal finally came together tonight. Blake Snell's two-year guarantee is far lower than anyone would have predicted when the offseason began, and the SF Giants are the beneficiaries of patience. The Giants also signed Platinum Glover Matt Chapman to a somewhat similar deal just a couple of weeks ago.
Since the start of the 2022 season, among all pitchers with at least 300 innings pitched, Blake Snell is second in ERA and second in strikeout percentage. He also has the highest walk rate in the major leagues over that span, but the Giants will live with the walks if it comes with elite run prevention.
In totality, the San Francisco Giants have had a monster offseason capped off with the signing of Snell. More details on the Giants' offseason and signing of Snell on tomorrow's full-length edition of the Locked On Giants podcast.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IbottaRight now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 for just trying Ibotta by using code LOCKEDONMLB. Just go to the app store and download the free Ibotta app to start earning cash back now. Amazon Fire TV
Fire TV recently created Fire TV Channels to deliver a constant supply of the latest videos from your favorite sports brands, all for free. That includes all of us at Locked On and most of the big pro leagues and college conferences as well. To Learn More, visit www.amazon.com/LockedOnFireTV
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eBay MotorsWith all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.
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New customers, join today and you’ll get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your first bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.
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Renel Brooks-Moon is as synonymous with San Francisco Giants baseball as anyone outside of perhaps Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow. Despite that fact, the Giants sent out a press release this morning, misleadingly titled "Ahead of the 2024 Season, Giants Name Renel Brooks-Moon Public Address Announcer Emeritus," in which they described that after months of negotiations, they were not able to agree to a new contract with Brooks-Moon, whose contract had expired in December 2023.
Despite the press release stating that the SF Giants and Brooks-Moon had "mutually and amicably agreed to part ways," both Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area and Ann Killion of the San Francisco Chronicle detailed that Brooks-Moon wanted to return, with Killion going so far as to say that a close friend of Brooks-Moon said that she was being "forced out." This is the latest in a years-long series of off-the-field blunders for the Giants, and Renel's presence in the booth will be greatly, greatly missed.
In other news, Bob Nightengale of USA Today wrote over the weekend that the Giants are looming as the "favorites" to sign reigning NL CY Young Award winner Blake Snell, after the Astros balked at his asking price of at least two years and $60 million with an opt out after 2024. That seems like a very reasonable dial for Snell, and it's a shock that no one has jumped at it. Jon Heyman of MLB Network also tweeted yesterday that the SF Giants were still in pursuit of Snell.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IbottaRight now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 for just trying Ibotta by using code LOCKEDONMLB. Just go to the app store and download the free Ibotta app to start earning cash back now. Amazon Fire TV
Fire TV recently created Fire TV Channels to deliver a constant supply of the latest videos from your favorite sports brands, all for free. That includes all of us at Locked On and most of the big pro leagues and college conferences as well. To Learn More, visit www.amazon.com/LockedOnFireTV
PrizePicks
Go to PrizePicks.com/lockedonmlb and use code lockedonmlb for a first deposit match up to $100!
eBay MotorsWith all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.
FanDuel
New customers, join today and you’ll get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your first bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.
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We've been talking for weeks about how the San Francisco Giants are poised to enter the season with one of the more inexperienced pitching staffs in recent memory. One of the consequences is that several players who look like they're going to make the Giants' Opening Day roster will need to be added to the 40-man roster, which currently stands at 39. When all is said and done, the SF Giants may need to make a surprising DFA or two, or trade(s), to clear some room.
Among the other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of the Locked On Giants podcast:
Who on the Giants do you see making the biggest offensive improvement from last year?
How come our shortstop, Marco Luciano, can't hit the ball?
Are there any Vaun Brown progress updates?
Is Mason Black going to be on the Opening Day roster?
If the SF Giants don’t sign Blake Snell for whatever reason, could they still trade for a veteran shortstop (because I hear Luciano isn’t ready), or sign another veteran pitcher like Mike Clevinger or Michael Lorenzen?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!RobinhoodRobinhood has the only IRA that gives you a 3% boost on every dollar you contribute when you subscribe to Robinhood Gold. Now through April 30th, Robinhood is even boosting every single dollar you transfer in from other retirement accounts with a 3% match. Available to U.S. customers in good standing. Robinhood Financial LLC (member SIPC), is a registered broker dealer. Amazon Fire TV
Fire TV recently created Fire TV Channels to deliver a constant supply of the latest videos from your favorite sports brands, all for free. That includes all of us at Locked On and most of the big pro leagues and college conferences as well. To Learn More, visit www.amazon.com/LockedOnFireTV
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eBay MotorsWith all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.
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New customers, join today and you’ll get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your first bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.
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Twenty-two-year-old San Francisco Giants outfield prospect Luis Matos held his own in the majors last season as a 21-year-old rookie. Matos then added over 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason and has slugged all spring. With new center fielder Jung Hoo Lee in the fold, Matos can focus on corner outfield, where he profiles better as a defender. However, Matos may still find himself on the outside looking in of the SF Giants' roster on Opening Day.
Michael Conforto, Lee, Mike Yastrzemski, and Austin Slater all hold positions over Matos for various reasons. Most importantly, it's a matter of protecting inventory. A baseball season is a battle of attrition. Guys get hurt and replacements are needed constantly. Matos figures to hear his name called as soon as there's any injury in the outfield. But until then, he may have to wait his turn, unless the Giants make a surprising move such as trading a veteran with an established track record like Conforto.
Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres made yet another big splash, acquiring starting pitcher Dylan Cease in a trade with the White Sox. The Padres are not afraid to make moves, though those moves have frequently backfired or simply not led to great results. Still, there's no doubt that Cease makes the Padres better, and by doing so, hurts the Giants' playoff odds. If the Giants want to add premier pitching, Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery remain on the free-agent market.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!RobinhoodRobinhood has the only IRA that gives you a 3% boost on every dollar you contribute when you subscribe to Robinhood Gold. Now through April 30th, Robinhood is even boosting every single dollar you transfer in from other retirement accounts with a 3% match. Available to U.S. customers in good standing. Robinhood Financial LLC (member SIPC), is a registered broker dealer. Amazon Fire TV
Fire TV recently created Fire TV Channels to deliver a constant supply of the latest videos from your favorite sports brands, all for free. That includes all of us at Locked On and most of the big pro leagues and college conferences as well. To Learn More, visit www.amazon.com/LockedOnFireTV
PrizePicks
Go to PrizePicks.com/lockedonmlb and use code lockedonmlb for a first deposit match up to $100!
eBay MotorsWith all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.
FanDuel
New customers, join today and you’ll get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your first bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
In just over two weeks, the San Francisco Giants will open the 2024 season on the road against the rival Padres. Who, exactly, will be the 26 Giants that line up on the chalk to kick off the season? The SF Giants' probably Opening Day roster is broken down in detail, starting with two notable omissions. At shortstop, Marco Luciano seems to have lost the job (for now, at least) to veteran Gold Glover Nick Ahmed. In the outfield, there simply isn't room for Luis Matos. Both have minor league options and appear headed to Triple-A to start the season—barring any injuries.
Elsewhere on the diamond, Patrick Bailey and Tom Murphy are the catching duo that will start the Giants' season, with Joey Bart out of options and destined for another team before the opener. LaMonte Wade Jr. and Wilmer Flores form a strong platoon at first. Thairo Estrada, Matt Chapman, and Jorge Soler are everyday presences at second, third, and DH, respectively. In the outfield, Michael Conforto (left), Jung Hoo Lee (center), and Mike Yastrzesmki/Austin Slater (look like the go-to group), with Tyler Fitzgerald sneaking into the last spot on the roster as a super-utility player.
The pitching is way less clear. We all know Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, Camilo Doval, the Rogers twins, Ryan Walker, and Luke Jackson will take up eight of 13 spots among the pitching group, but what about the other five? The Giants need two more starters, and those are likely to be Keaton Winn and Mason Black at this point in time. In the bullpen, a mix of lesser-known names such as Ethan Small (lefty), Spencer Howard, and Daulton Jefferies could round out the staff.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants and J.D. Davis' agent, Matt Hannaford, are engaged in a war of words after Davis was released by the Giants on Monday, leaving Davis with just a fraction of his non-guaranteed $6.9 million salary. Did the Giants do something wrong, or did Davis' agent overplay his hand?
All of the details and public comments are discussed and analyzed. In essence, both parties claim that the SF Giants came in with an offer that was, according to Hannaford, "several hundred thousand" below the SF Giants' $6.55M filing number within an hour of the deadline to exchange figures. Giants president of baseball operations responded very specifically, saying that the Giants' offer was for just under $6.4M. Regardless, the key point is that had Davis' representation accepted the Giants' offer, that money would be guaranteed. If they passed on the offer and the deadline to exchange figures arrived, which it ultimately did, then Davis would go to an arbitration hearing fighting for non-guaranteed money.
Any way you look at this, it seems like Davis' agent did a poor job helping his client. The SF Giants were linked to Matt Chapman all offseason. Davis himself commented publicly on the possibility of the Giants signing Chapman before it happened. So there's absolutely no reason Davis should've let this go to an arbitration hearing, knowing that the money would not be guaranteed if it did—whether they won or lost the hearing.
What ended up transpiring was that the Giants did indeed sign Chapman, clearly making Davis the odd man out. Davis' agent should've known that would be the case—it was immediately discussed on Locked On Giants once the Chapman deal was reported. The SF Giants looked for a trade partner for Davis, were unable to find one, and put him on outright waivers. Any team could've claimed Davis and his $6.9M (non-guaranteed through Opening Day) salary, and every team passed. At that point, the Giants were left with no choice but to release Davis, leaving him with just 30 days pay, or just over $1.1M. All in all, this looks like a major blunder by Davis' representation and not really something that the Giants did wrong. It stinks for J.D. Davis nonetheless and hopefully he lands on his feet. Davis ultimately made north of $6M in his 1 1/3 seasons with the Giants.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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Fire TV recently created Fire TV Channels to deliver a constant supply of the latest videos from your favorite sports brands, all for free. That includes all of us at Locked On and most of the big pro leagues and college conferences as well. To Learn More, visit www.amazon.com/LockedOnFireTV
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Two rain-outs in two days—in Arizona?! Things are weird in the Cactus League and the San Francisco Giants' spring schedule has been victimized. Fans were also robbed of two rare televised SF Giants spring games. However, we did get to see two innings of Giants young lefty starter Kyle Harrison dominating the Dodgers' (admittedly 'B') lineup.
The SF Giants' offense and defense also shined in the two-inning game. It's a bit of a stretch to say that the offense shined, given that they didn't collect a single hit, but almost every plate appearance was a grind and they really made Dodgers starter James Paxton work in the first after he got the first two outs. Jung Hoo Lee, Wilmer Flores, Michael Conforto, Jorge Soler, and Matt Chapman were all selective and looked like tough outs. Nick Ahmed also saved a run on defense with a diving play, and he's looking more and more like the likely Opening Day shortstop, with Marco Luciano potentially ticketed for Triple-A.
With the Giants' offense and defense looking significantly improved, there's a big elephant in the room. Yes, Kyle Harrison has ace upside. Yes, Logan Webb already is an ace. But in Harrison, Jordan Hicks, and whoever else is projected to round out the SF Giants' rotation, they seem to be missing a top-end veteran addition like Blake Snell. Alex Cobb is progressing well and is ahead of schedule, so that could play a role in the Giants' decision making, but adding the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner certainly wouldn't be a bad thing for a team that otherwise looks ready to win now.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Marco Luciano came into spring training as the San Francisco Giants' presumptive Opening Day shortstop. A couple of weeks into games and the thinking may start to be shifting. Luciano has struck out in over 50% of his plate appearances, which is a continuation of a high-strikeout tendency Luciano displayed in the SF Giants' Triple-A and major league levels in 2023. With veteran Gold Glove winner Nick Ahmed in camp, in addition to other shortstop options like Tyler Fitzgerald, Casey Schmitt, and others, it's certainly possible that the Giant send Luciano to Triple-A to start the season where he can look to get hot and eventually claim a starting role in the majors. There's no reason for the Giants to rush the 22-year-old Marco Luciano.
Among the other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of the Locked On Giants podcast:
What do you think Casey Schmitt’s future looks like now with Matt Chapman signing and a logjam at SS? Do you think they’ll keep him around for when/if Chapman opts out or is he on the trade table?
How come Joey Bart hasn’t been traded yet? Can the Giants package J.D. Davis and Bart and get something back? It would be nice to sign Blake Snell and then get Bart and Davis off the books.
Any Pablo Sandoval sightings? Haven’t heard of any AB’s
What are we going to do about the pitching dilemma? We need to add two starters in my opinion. Snell/Jordan Montgomery and a starter via trade (Jesus Luzardo, Shane Bieber, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert)
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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At this point in the offseason, with spring training well underway and the regular season on the horizon, things have to be getting pretty uncomfortable for Blake Snell. He must remain on the San Francisco Giants' radar, and they legitimately could strike at any time. What kind of contract will Snell ultimately land? What number should make SF Giants fans feel like it's a wise investment? Will Snell's next deal be short- or long-term?
Among the other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of the Locked On Giants podcast:
How would you grade the Giants' offseason with the moves currently made? And if they signed Snell, what would their grade be?
Could we make the roster work while keeping J.D. Davis? Bench could look like J.D., Murphy, Wilmer, Slater. Could Chapman, Thairo, and Wilmer fill in at shortstop when necessary behind Ahmed (assuming he wins the starting job)?
NL West projections as currently constructed?
I’d like to see an exploration of a trade for Dylan Cease. I think the Giants would have to give up too much, but some folks like Marty Lurie think it would be a great move.
What SS do you think the Giants could get if they offered in a trade: Marco Luciano, Mason Black, J.D. Davis, and Joey Bart?
Do Mike Clevinger or Michael Lorenzen make more sense for a fit if they’re able to move off of Davis’s contract in a trade of some sort?
Is Madison Bumgarner coming back? Odds?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants' addition of Matt Chapman certainly made things awkward for incumbent Giants third baseman J.D. Davis. With the SF Giants adding Chapman to the fold, it's hard to see how J.D. Davis cracks the roster. Chapman is here to play third base; shortstop is not going to happen. The DH spot is occupied by Jorge Soler. Wilmer Flores and LaMonte Wade Jr. take up first base for the SF Giants. That leaves J.D. Davis without a starting job and without a spot on the bench.
Another player who seemingly needs to be dealt is Joey Bart. For both players, the only way they'd seem to stick on the roster would be in the event of an unfortunate injury. Chapman, Soler, or Flores getting hurt could keep Davis around. For Bart, an injury to Patrick Bailey or Tom Murphy—signed to a two-year deal this offseason to be Bailey's backup—could keep him around, although Blake Sabol may even make the team ahead of the out-of-options Bart even though Sabol can be optioned.
If the Giants want to add one more big-name starter (either Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery), they'd have to clear some payroll or else go over the first luxury tax threshold. One player the Giants could trade in order to do so: Michael Conforto. Luis Matos seems deserving of a role in the majors, and Conforto is standing in his way. And his $18M salary could stand in the way of the SF Giants signing one more big-name pitcher, something they need with an inexperienced rotation that continues to get bit by the injury bug. The latest casualty is Sean Hjelle, who will be shut down and re-evaluated in two weeks with an elbow sprain.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Platinum Glove third baseman Matt Chapman is officially a member of the San Francisco Giants. The Giants and Chapman were long thought to be a perfect match, and on Sunday, the three-year, $54M deal with opt outs was officially announced. Matt Chapman's deal with the Giants also includes a previously-unreported $20M fourth-year mutual option with a $1M buyout.
What is Chapman's impact on the Giants? How do the SF Giants now stack up in a National League with quite a bit of parity outside of the top two and bottom two teams. Do the Giants need to make one more move, namely for a starting pitcher? Their starting rotation outside of Logan Webb has upside and is intriguing, but it's a largely unproven group and it's already taken some injury hits.
Is Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery the answer? Probably so. Will the San Francisco Giants be willing and able to land either player? The Giants' addition of Chapman pushes them close to the first luxury tax threshold of $237M. J.D. Davis doesn't really fit the roster anymore and may very well be traded, which would free up $6.9M (if a team assumed his whole contract). Michael Conforto is another under-the-radar trade candidate given his $18M salary and the SF Giants' potential desire to clear payroll space in order to add a frontline starter that they appear to need in order to complete what would be a fantastic offseason.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Factor MealsHead to FactorMeals.com/lockedonmlb50and use code lockedonmlb50 to get 50% off. Amazon Fire TV
Fire TV recently created Fire TV Channels to deliver a constant supply of the latest videos from your favorite sports brands, all for free. That includes all of us at Locked On and most of the big pro leagues and college conferences as well. To Learn More, visit www.amazon.com/LockedOnFireTV
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eBay MotorsWith all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.
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The San Francisco Giants have been lurking all offseason. The Giants have made solid move after solid move, and on Friday night, they snagged the best position player left on the market, Matt Chapman, to a deal that's worth two to three times less than what the industry initially expected him to land. The SF Giants and Chapman agreed to a three-year, $54 million contract with opt outs after the first two seasons. Most in the industry expected Chapman to sign for somewhere in the neighborhood of 4-6 years at $25M per year, so $100M to $150M.
Chapman brings a plus-plus glove to the Giants at third base. He brings instant credibility to the lineup and defense, as well as in the clubhouse. He helps fill the leadership void after the departure of Brandon Crawford to St. Louis. Matt Chapman is also no slouch at the plate, although he can be streaky. Overall, he's been much better per plate appearance than J.D. Davis both in his career and in the last three years. So Chapman represents a significant third base upgrade for the San Francisco Giants.
There appears to be no more room for Davis on the roster, so a trade seems likely. Something else that could perhaps be likely is the SF Giants signing Blake Snell. Both the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser and NBC Sports Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic mentioned that the Giants are still in on Snell, with Slusser saying they're still very much involved and Pavlovic going so far as to say there's been optimism about a potential deal. Signing Snell would be the icing on the cake of a great offseason for the Giants.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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The San Francisco Giants are signing platinum glove third baseman Matt Chapman. It's a three-year, $54 million contract with opt outs after each of the first two years, which looks like a total steal for the Giants. Chapman has also never been a below-average hitter in his career.
The SF Giants did very well here, but there could be more on the horizon. Susan Slusser of the SF Chronicle tweeted that the Giants' signing of Chapman does not preclude them from signing Blake Snell. In fact, she said, the SF Giants are very much still involved with Snell...
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
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Have the San Francisco Giants lost their way? Or was Brandon Crawford not adequately reading the situation? Those are questions that arose while reading The Athletic's piece today in which Andrew Baggarly talks to both Giants legendary shortstop Brandon Crawford and president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi.
Crawford told Baggarly that he expressed to Zaidi a desire to return to the Giants, and that he had no playing time expectations and wanted to be a reserve player—even a versatile one—who also mentored young players like Marco Luciano, Casey Schmitt, and Tyler Fitzgerald. However, over the last two seasons, Crawford has been abysmal at the plate and declining in the field. He'll be 37 years old this season.
There's a blatant lack of honest communication from Zaidi to some Giants players, now including Crawford twice (last year Crawford wasn't told about the plan to move him off short to accommodate Carlos Correa until after news of the signing got out). When all is said and done, however, the writing was on the wall that Crawford's time with the SF Giants was over, and it's just sad and unfortunate that Crawford didn't see things the same way.
In other news, a bulked up Luis Matos hit two home runs today, and Giants pitcher Tristan Beck has elected to have surgery to address his upper arm aneurysm on Monday at Stanford.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
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First Keaton Winn and now Tristan Beck. The San Francisco Giants' remarkably inexperienced projected starting rotation outside of Logan Webb has taken two hits recently, with Winn dealing with an elbow injury (that has progressed well) and now Tristan Beck being diagnosed with a scary upper arm aneurysm. We at Locked On wish a speedy and full recovery for Beck, who stands to miss significant time with this complicated health matter.
The SF Giants love their young pitching that goes beyond Tristan Beck and Keaton Winn. There's Mason Black. Carson Whisenhunt. Landen Roupp. Reggie Crawford. And others. However, it would be foolish to go into the season with such a reliance on unproven pitching.
The Giant should sign Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery. It makes too much sense, and there is too much riding on this season. The SF Giants cannot afford to miss the playoffs for the seventh time in eight years.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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Remember when San Francisco Giants outfielder Kevin Pillar received a 10th-place MVP vote in his lone season with the Giants? It was an inexplicable vote, but yet somehow it also made sense given the grit and passion Pillar exhibited for SF Giants fans on a daily basis. Pillar is just one of several San Francisco Giants "cult heroes" who are discussed on today's Locked On Giants podcast.
Stephen Vogt gets a vote as well, even though he was also only in the orange and black for one season. Remember Alex Dickerson, anyone? How about the legend of Donnie Barrels? Indeed, in Ben Kaspick's five years of hosting Locked On Giants there have been numerous cult heroes on the team whose popularity outweighed their production on the field. Either that or their production was only short and sweet.
Locked On Padres host Javier Reyes also participates in the exercise, listing off several memorable San Diego Padres players who fall into the same category in his nearly five years of hosting his show.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
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Blake Snell or Matt Chapman to the San Francisco Giants? It could come down to a simple coin flip. According to the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser, multiple sources have indicated that the SF Giants are still pursuing Snell and Chapman, and one source described the odds of the Giants landing one of them as '50-50.'
Who better to talk to about reigning Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell than Locked On Padres host Javier Reyes, who has watched all of Snell's starts over the past few seasons? Locked On Giants and Locked On Padres discuss Snell in detail, and why signing him would make a ton of sense for the Giants. And less sense for the Padres.
Giants fans are hungry for a winner and Snell would give them one of the best rotations in baseball once Robbie Ray and Alex Cobb return from injuries. Meanwhile, the Padres have done the all-in thing and it hasn't worked, so taking a more measured approach—and waiting for a really good starting pitching free agent class next year—might make the most sense. For the SF Giants, however, the time is now to finally take a risk and push in their chips.
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🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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One by one, the core of the greatest era in San Francisco Giants history is moving on. Brandon Crawford was the last man standing, but now his Giants tenure is all but officially over. Crawford is signing a major-league deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, per multiple reports. The SF Giants were always extremely unlikely to re-sign Crawford after a couple of very disappointing seasons. He deserved more from the franchise than a minor league deal, but that's likely all they'd reasonably be willing to offer the franchise icon. The good news is that SF Giants fans will get at least one more chance to cheer for Crawford when the Cardinals come to Oracle Park this year. We at Locked On Giants wish Brandon Crawford nothing but the best as he continues his life and baseball journey.
Speaking of deals for shortstops, the SF Giants signed Nick Ahmed to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training on what not-so-coincidentally was the same day Crawford agreed to terms with St. Louis. Ahmed, like Crawford, is known for his glove and not his bat (but Ahmed has historically been a worse hitter than Crawford). Ahmed, however, was able to be brought in on a minor league deal so it's a no-risk move that provides some veteran insurance in case Marco Luciano isn't able to seize the shortstop role. The signing doesn't preclude them from making a play for Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, or Jordan Montgomery.
Switching gears, we learned that the Giants made a one-year, $14M offer to J.D. Martinez before they ultimately landed Jorge Soler for that same AAV over three years. There was initially a report that Martinez turned down the Giants because he simply "didn't want to play there," but other reporters set the record straight that Martinez was seeking $20M and the SF Giants considered that to be too pricey. The fact that the Giants' offer was exactly the same as Soler's in terms of 2024 salary further reinforces the notion that the Giants may be operating with a self-imposed salary cap of about $165M.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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The Athletic's Keith Law was on KNBR recently and he criticized the San Francisco Giants' apparent plan to start Marco Luciano at shortstop in 2024, going so far as to call the plan "reckless." Does Law have a point? Are the SF Giants setting Luciano up for failure? Or is Law perhaps not the ultimate authority on the matter? Memorably, Law wrote a piece not too long ago in which he re-drafted the class that yielded Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, and Christian Yelich, among others. The player Law said he would take first overall? Andrelton Simmons—a shocking decision. So ... maybe Law's words shouldn't always be taken as gospel. He also criticized the SF Giants ahead of the 2010 season, and we all know how that ended up: with the raising of a championship banner. Prospect analysis is a tricky game indeed.
Among the other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of the Locked On Giants podcast:
If Luis Matos has a good spring, would you trade one of Mike Yastrzemski and Michael Conforto and give Luis an everyday corner spot? Don’t understand the logic of starting him at Sac if he has a good spring but basically give Luciano SS without much competition.
Do you think we really need Slater? He’s basically a one trick pony and was horrible the 2nd half of last year. Between Matos, Blake Sabol, Tyler Fitzgerald, Wade Meckler, and Ramos he’s taking up a valuable roster spot and is a FA next year. I just think Ramos deserves a fair shot.
Any chance you can discuss the WAR for every teams 1st round pick from the 10 years and how the Hiants would've been better off having not signed a single first round pick in that span? Susan Slusser retweeted the chart I’m talking about.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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The San Francisco Giants need pitching. And not just some back-end starter type. The Giants should go out there and sign Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery (preferably Snell ... but more on that later). Right now, the SF Giants' projected starting rotation features Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, Winn, and Tristan Beck. Outside of Webb, there's a ton of risk and inexperience in that group. The Giants really like they young pitching that they have, but they project to open the season with a rotation that's full of question marks.
Complicating matters is the fact that the Giants will start the season with Robbie Ray and Alex Cobb on the injured list. If the SF Giants were to sign, say, Snell, then their rotation once Cobb and Ray are back would be something like: Webb, Snell, Cobb, Ray, Hicks. That would be one of the better rotations in baseball—all the more reason to do it—but note that there is no longer room for any of the young arms. The thing is, however, that injuries and under-performance always happen and the Giant shouldn't not sign Snell or Montgomery because it would squeeze out younger players in the second half.
Switching gears, J.D. Davis' comments on the Matt Chapman-to-the-Giants rumors are discussed. His comments are courtesy of Susan Slusser of the SF Chronicle, and they're very interesting. Davis takes the whole thing in stride, and even suggests that Chapman would be a good shortstop option in order to take some pressure off of the young Marco Luciano. Davis then says that next year, Chapman could slide back over to third and Luciano could play short if he proves to be a capable major league hitter and shortstop in 2024.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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Yesterday, the San Francisco Giants' and San Diego Padres' most unpopular players in recent memory were discussed. Turns out, there were too many to fit into just one episode. Locked On Giants and Locked On Padres continue to point out the players who were not embraced by fans since they started hosting their respective shows in Part II of the "Love to Hate" series.
Numerous recent Giants certainly fall into that category. Even in 2021, when the SF Giants won 107 games, Tommy La Stella was disliked for his poor performance on the field, frequent injuries, and generally unathletic nature. In the last couple of years, after the Giants DFA'd La Stella with a year left on his contract, players like Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, and Anthony DeSclafani have been the target of fan frustration. Joc Pederson might even qualify now that he left the Giants and liked a negative instagram comment about San Francisco on his way out the door.
On the Padres side, there's one clear and obvious winner who stands far above the rest. Eric Hosmer is host Javier Reyes' greatest nemesis. So much so that Hosmer has actually blocked the Locked On Padres twitter account. Hosmer's strong reputation is contrasted against the experience of actually watching him play on a daily basis and looking at the numbers that show he might be one of the most overrated players ever.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Locked On Giants is normally all about the data, with of course a heavy dose of passion mixed in. But on today's episode, things switch gears in a dramatic way. Javier Reyes of Locked On Padres joins the show and each host describes the players on his respective team that fans have disliked the most in recent seasons.
From the San Francisco Giants' side of things, players like Mark Melancon, Tommy La Stella, a couple of hot-headed relievers, and many others are discussed at length. Explored are the reasons why fans dislike them.
For the Padres, there are some names that might surprise SF Giants fans, including Eric Hosmer, who somehow has a reputation in the game for being a really good player, even though he was just awful for San Diego. Locked On Giant host Ben Kaspick goes so far as to call Hosmer the most overrated player in baseball in the last three decades.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants officially added Jorge Soler over the weekend, but does it mean they're done spending money? Farhan Zaidi met with the media and said something that could be interpreted two different ways. On its face, he said that the Giants making more significant additions was "unlikely" due to where we are in the calendar. On the other hand, Zaidi said, "Anybody who’s a free agent, we’ve theoretically had three and a half months to figure out a deal and if it hasn’t happened yet, at some point organizationally, you just need to turn the page and focus on the players you have" (courtesy of The S.F. Chronicle). That comment could suggest that the SF Giants have simply been unwilling to meet Scott Boras' high asking prices.
Notoriously, Boras has four of the top free agents from this class who are still unsigned: Blake Snell, Matt Chapman, Cody Bellinger, and Jordan Montgomery. It's not clear whether or not the Giants are done spending, but their current projected payroll of about $164M is right in line with where it's been every year over the last five years, except for 2023 when it was about $30 million higher. That catch? Last year, every team received $30 million from MLB due to its $900 million sale of BAMTech to Disney. So the Giants may in fact be operating under a self-imposed cap of about $165 million.
Switching gears, Pablo Sandoval—yes, the Panda himself—is in major league camp as a non-roster invitee. It's a completely risk-free move and not a publicity stunt. Sandoval wants to play in the big leagues again, and he is in really good shape and has been playing professionally in Dubai and Mexico in recent years. Sandoval expressed a willing to go to the minor leagues and a desire to mentor young players such as Marco Luciano and fellow Venezuelan Luis Matos.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants have had a busy and productive offseason, even if the focus is on who they did not sign, and that those top two targets—Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto—ended up on the Dodgers. The SF Giants have signed Jung Hoo Lee, Jordan Hicks, Jorge Soler (pending a physical which takes place today, per Susan Slusser of the SF Chronicle), and Tom Murphy. They've traded for Robbie Ray, who's rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and traded away underperforming players such as Mitch Haniger, Anthony DeSclafani, and Ross Stripling.
Yet despite all this business and productivity, it's hard to shake the feeling that the Giants are one big piece or two away from being legitimate contenders. Luckily, however, it's February 16th and there are still four top free agents on the market. And there's no reason to believe the Giants are done just yet, unless they come out and say something to that effect once their deal with Soler is finalized.
Pairing Blake Snell at the top of the rotation with Logan Webb is so tantalizing. The duo finished first and second, respectively, in NL Cy Young voting this past season. Adding a Matt Chapman to solidify third base is also intriguing. Both Snell and Chapman have played for new Giants manager Bob Melvin and seem like obvious fits. In other news, the SF Giants' (non-related) trade acquisition of Otto Lopez is discussed.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The Giants last won a postseason series in 2016. And it wasn't really even a series; it was a single-elimination wild card game. San Francisco Giants fans are restless and tired of waiting for a winner. That's why it doesn't make sense for the SF Giants to sit out this remaining free agent class in order to wait for next year's class, even though it's a deeper group with some really big name players mixed in (Juan Soto, anyone?). But as we've seen time and time again, there's also zero guarantee of signing a player even if you pull out all of the stops to do so.
Among the other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of the Locked On Giants podcast:
What's a realistic benchmark for a positive season for the Giants as currently constructed?
What, if anything, gives you confidence in this front office's ability to win?
Are the SF Giants a .500 team? If they were to sign some of the top remaining free agents, such as Blake Snell and Matt Chapman, how many wins would that add to the team?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!eBay MotorsWith all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.Gametime
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Jorge Soler is a member of the San Francisco Giants. Er, not officially. The SF Giants' deal with Jorge Soler, which was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser, is for three years and $42 million and pending a physical. Those last few words are scary for Giants fans, but all deals are contingent on passed physicals and no one should expect a repeat of the Carlos Correa situation.
Soler brings huge power to the Giants. He led MLB in home runs in 2019 with 48. Soler added 36 more last season. The SF Giants haven't had a player hit 30 or more home runs in a season since Barry Bonds in 2004. Jorge Soler, with three seasons to play with, has a good chance of finally breaking that streak. The Giants won't be platooning Soler, for those wondering. And it's not just because Gabe Kapler is out and Bob Melvin is in.
Jorge Soler won't be platooned because he's good against both lefties and righties. Since 2019, his isolated power is insanely high against lefties—over .300—and he sports a very high on-base percentage against them as well. He's not as prolific against righties, but has still produced at a level about 10% above the MLB average against them in the last five seasons.
On top of all the numbers, Soler adds a ton of personality and flare to what has been a dull SF Giants team in recent years. His arrival doesn't have a huge immediate impact on the Giants' roster, but if the San Francisco Giants continue to add, which they ought to do—at least providing some insurance for Marco Luciano at shortstop—they may need to make a trade or two to clear space.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
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🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!eBay MotorsWith all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.Gametime
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Jorge Soler would make the San Francisco Giants' lineup better. But at what point does the asking price become too much? For Soler, it's probably not about average annual value. He should get ≥ $12 million a year and ≤ $18 million. So there's not a huge range there, and if the Giants are truly interested, they can likely agree on that front. However, as MLB Network's Jon Morosi reports, teams, including the SF Giants, are balking at Soler's desire for a third guaranteed year. Given Jorge Soler turns 32 on Feb. 25, it's not too surprising that the Giants and other teams are hesitant to hand out that guaranteed third year, and with Spring Training report week finally here, there's pressure on Soler and other free agents to make a decision soon.
It's worth pointing out that ESPN, MLB Trade Rumors, and FanGraphs all predicted that Soler would land a three-year deal worth somewhere between $37.5 million and $45 million. However, the FanGraphs readers, with their crowdsourced submissions, had an average contract prediction of around 2.5 years, which sort of exemplifies where we stand now. The SF Giants love their club options, so something like 2/$33 million with a third-year team option could perhaps get a deal done.
In other news, the Giants signed hard-throwing lefty Amir Garrett to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. Garrett will ear $1.35 million if he makes the major league team. Left handed relief is something of a soft spot on the SF Giants' 40-man roster, and the erratic Garrett will enter camp firmly in the midst of the competition to join Taylor Rogers as another lefty in the major league 'pen.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!eBay MotorsWith all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.Gametime
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ZiPS' median projection for the San Francisco Giants is 82 wins. While not exactly exciting—or really at all exciting—an 82-win projection puts the Giants right in the thick of the NL playoff picture. The Braves and Dodgers stand alone at the top, each projected to win 92+ games. Then there are ten(!) teams projected to win between 79-85 games. At 82, the SF Giants' projection starts to look like they have a pretty decent shot at the postseason. But each additional win would mean so much, so the Giants must continue to add. Even as Spring Training is less than a week away, four $100M+ players remain available to sign in free agency, not to mention the trade market which features fits like Willy Adames.
Switching gears, ESPN's Top 100 Prospects list is analyzed. Marco Luciano gets one of the rosier scouting reports we've seen among the Top 100 lists looked at so far this offseason, with Kiley McDaniel saying that scouts believed Luciano has improved enough defensively to be adequate at short. That flies in the face of so many reports we've read about him absolutely not being a shortstop. McDaniel also says Luciano has the potential to be a star shortstop capable of hitting 30 homers.
Likewise, Kyle Harrison gets a nice ranking that includes a prediction that he'll throw 100-150 innings in the majors this year with flashes of brilliance at the very least, but the potential to come out of the gates hot and put together a Rookie of the Year campaign. Also appearing on ESPN's list: LHP Carson Whisenhunt and OF/1B/P Bryce Eldridge, the SF Giants' first-round pick in 2023. In other news, J.D. Davis defeating the Giants in arbitration is also discussed.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Logan Webb is a top-10 pitcher in major league baseball. The San Francisco Giants are lucky to have him anchoring their rotation for years to come. But beyond Webb, the Giants' current projected rotation is extremely inexperienced. The most experienced of the bunch, Jordan Hicks, has very little experience as a starting pitcher! The rest of the SF Giants' projected starters are young players looking to make their name in the game. Do the Giants need to add pitching after Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, and Anthony DeSclafani have all found new homes?
Among the other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of the Locked On Giants podcast:
Given how the Giants were reportedly aggressively involved in the Corbin Burnes trade market, doesn't that alone suggest they are still searching for a top of the rotation arm to complement Logan Webb to start the 2024 season?
Is it possible to get Jorge Soler and Matt Chapman? Or is it one of them and another starter?
Is it realistic to think the Giants will land both Soler and Chapman? Or is it a situation of just one?
Is Luis Matos going to be a starter on Opening Day?
Do you enjoy the SF Giants' brand of baseball?
Are you happy with the direction of this team?
Do you think this ownership is committed to winning - as in, is it a priority?
What grade do you give the Giants for this offseason?
What stat do you value most when evaluating pitchers?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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If the San Francisco Giants had the chance, should they trade Keaton Winn straight up for Willy Adames? They absolutely should, even though Winn has a bright and exciting future. The Giants could really use a true shortstop, and who better than a talented hitter and elite defender who's only 28? Adames fits the SF Giants extremely well, and the Giants have a surplus of young pitching. It might take more than that to land Adames, but he's a player the Giants should definitely be targeting.
Among the other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of the Locked On Giants podcast:
Why are so many people asking for Adames instead of FINALLY seeing what we have in Marco Luciano?
Thoughts on Joc Pederson liking that post about the city?
Now that Joc's gone who has the most swagger on the team?
What are a few examples of ways the front office has integrated differing viewpoints into their decision-making processes, compared to last season?
Are you proud of the Giants organization? Are you proud to be a Giants fan right now, or were you proud to be a Giants fan back when the organization was run differently (Bochy Era), and just hopeful that it will get back to something to be proud of?
Do you think a couple of signings/moves are imminent after they can add Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray to the 60-day IL on 2/14?
If you were Farhan Zaidi would you rather pay 6/$180M for Blake Snell or trade for Jesus Luzardo in a prospect package costing at least Carson Whisenhunt or possibly Marco Luciano as the top player back to Miami?
Ok real question, do you think the 107-win season was actually the worst thing that happened for the SF Giants' long-term strategy, soft rebuild (reset?), Zaidi & Gabe Kapler game plan?
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The San Francisco Giants have been the definition of mediocre over the last two seasons. The Giants finished exactly 81-81 in 2022, an exactly .500 record for the first time in franchise history. They were two games worse than than in 2023. So it's fitting, and a bit concerning, that the SF Giants project at exactly 81.0 wins in 2024 according to PECOTA. The good news is that there's still a lot of talent out there and the Giants could significantly improve their standing in what figures to be a National League with quite a bit of parody outside of LA and Atlanta.
Switching gears, Keith Law's Top 100 prospects list is discussed. Law considers Kyle Harrison to be the SF Giants' best prospect, and one of the top prospects in baseball. He views him as a No. 2 starter right now and a potential ace if he can tighten up his command or refine his breaking ball. Also appearing on Law's Top 100 are Marco Luciano (who disappointingly falls into the 80s) and Bryce Eldridge, the SF Giants' first-round pick in 2023.
Finally, with 51 days until Opening Day, Jung Hoo Lee—who will wear No. 51—is discussed. In particular, a range of projections for Lee are assessed. What's amazing about all of the different projections for Lee is how similar they are. There is a narrow range of projected outcomes in key metrics like AVG, OBP, SLG, wRC+, WAR, and K%. All of the systems view the Giants' top addition as a solidly above-average player.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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Jorge Soler led the majors with 48 home runs in 2019. Last year, the defensively challenged slugger launched 36 homers. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Francisco Giants are "in talks" with Soler, meaning that the Giants signing him is a real possibility. Soler would provide tremendous pop to the lineup, but at this stage in his career he is a pure DH. Soler is awful defensively. In his favor, however, is the fact that he holds his own against same-handed pitching so the SF Giants would not need to platoon him.
What would be the ramifications of adding Soler to the roster? Unfortunately for the Giants, it would seem to take playing time away from Wilmer Flores, who had a monster season with San Francisco last season. As of right now, Flores projects as the SF Giants' DH, but the team still needs a platoon partner at first base for LaMonte Wade Jr. So that spot may actually be Flores', but that takes at-bats away from him. It's a complicated situation that, when combined with Soler's inability to play defense, make him seem like not the most important fit/priority.
In other news, Buster Posey and Greg Johnson commented on the SF Giants' offseason after finishing a round of golf at Pebble Beach. Both Posey and Johnson were clear that the Giants remain interested in some of the top talent in free agency. There are four players remaining—two pitchers and two hitters—who are expected to command deals of $100 million or more, and the SF Giants make sense for all of them.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants' very odd and interesting offseason continued Friday, as they sent pitcher Ross Stripling to the Oakland A's in exchange for Jonah Cox and cash. In the deal, the SF Giants save $9.25 million, which is no small sum considering all they gave up was Stripling, who was awful last year, and the Giants also received a prospect in return.
But the deal immediately made it look like a precursor to a bigger deal for the Giants, likely one involving a starting pitcher. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported today that the Giants were one of the teams in on Corbin Burnes before he was traded to the Orioles, and it doesn't seem like a coincidence that this Stripling trade happened the next day. Perhaps the SF Giants are preparing to back up the Brinks truck on last year's NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, who'd pair exceptionally well with last year's Cy Young runner-up Logan Webb.
But Farhan Zaidi said the trade was mostly about creating more avenues for young pitchers to get opportunities, particularly early in the season, before Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray return from injuries that are expected to sideline them for months. That may well be true, and the Giants do have an impressive pipeline of young arms, but in that case they must trade for or sign significantly more talent for this offseason to be a success. Whether it's starting pitchers or position players, the Giants must do more to improve after fans suffered through two consecutive painfully mediocre seasons.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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Corbin Burnes being traded from the Brewers to the Orioles has implications for the San Francisco Giants. Milwaukee has signaled its intent to re-tool, trading away a Cy Young-caliber pitcher because he was entering the last year of his contract. Enter the SF Giants, who could use another Brewers player on an expiring deal: shortstop Willy Adames.
There are numerous reasons why Adames makes sense for the Giants. First of all, going into the season with just Marco Luciano penciled in as their starting shortstop is too risky. Adames is a plus-plus defender, is 28 years old, and is an above-average hitter. Acquiring him would be a big swing for the Giants, and it would allow them to move Luciano into a competition for the third base position, which currently consists of J.D. Davis, Casey Schmitt, Wilmer Flores, and perhaps David Villar. Davis is the frontrunner to play there, except it would make more sense for him to play DH given the current roster construction, especially if they acquired someone on the left side of the infield.
So the big question is: what would it take to acquire Adames? The cost for Burnes wasn't that high, simply because he is a short-term rental. And as good as Adames is, he has less value than Burnes. So the SF Giants would probably have to give up a mid Top-100 prospect type (Carson Whisenhunt?) and perhaps a bit more. Arms like Tristan Beck and Keaton Winn could also be of interest to Milwaukee. The cost won't be prohibitive, Adames would make the team better, he is a high energy player, and a trade would make a lot of sense.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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Patrick Bailey and Jung Hoo Lee were kind of robbed by the system. Bailey, who burst onto the scene in 2023 with his defensive excellence at the most important position on the field, was never a Top 100 prospect darling. Lee, who's coming over from Korea, is only 25 years old, and would certainly crack a top prospects list if eligible, was not included on MLB Pipeline's list this year because they decided to stop including international signings.
However, that didn't stop the SF Giants from having four representatives on MLB Top 100 list. There were the usual suspects, Kyle Harrison and Marco Luciano, leading the way. Both players reached the major leagues in 2023 and figure to have a real shot at further development this upcoming season. Harrison has ace potential and Luciano could have 30+ home run power.
Two newcomers joined the list for the Giants. Carson Whisenhunt, a left-handed pitcher, was ranked for the first time. Bryce Eldridge, the San Francisco Giants' first-round selection in the 2023 draft, also cracked MLB Pipeline's Top 100 list. Whisenhunt features a devastating changeup, one of the best in professional baseball, and Eldridge is a 6'7" teenager with huge raw power. Oh, and he's also a pitcher who sits in the low to mid-90s and throws strikes.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Factor MealsHead to FactorMeals.com/lockedonmlb50 and use code lockedonmlb50 to get 50% off. eBay MotorsWith all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.Gametime
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It's easy to read a headline and be disappointed or even angry. "San Francisco Giants made late run at Rhys Hoskins," the headline might read. And of course Hoskins, a native of Northern California, ended up signing with the Brewers and not the Giants. But he was never a great fit, particularly because the type of deal that made the most sense for him—which is the type of deal he got—is one the SF Giants are looking to avoid. Those pesky two-year deals with opt outs that have aggravated the Giants' fan base.
So Hoskins did what was logical for him, and the SF Giants move on. Susan Slusser of the SF Chronicle names Matt Chapman as the Giants' "top position player target," although it seems more like speculation based on Farhan Zaidi's stated desire to improve the defense rather than inside information. Chapman indeed makes sense, as he would improve the defense and add a steady presence to the middle of the lineup. But considerations such as blocking Casey Schmitt from getting an opportunity must be taken into consideration.
Blake Snell might just be the best option of all for the SF Giants, however. Imagine Logan Webb and Snell at the top of the rotation. Those two finished second and first, respectively, in NL Cy Young voting last season. The Giants also have several intriguing arms behind Webb already, with Kyle Harrison ready for lift off, flamethrower Jordan Hicks added to the mix, Keaton Winn and Tristan Beck itching for playing time, and Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray waiting to come back after missing time to begin the 2024 season.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Joc Pederson continues his tour of the NL West, agreeing to a one-year, $12.5M deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks with a mutual option for a second year. If it doesn't feel like a big loss, that's because it's really not. The Giants' departing free-agent class is mediocre at best, and the biggest deals signed by outgoing free agents are Sean Manaea's two-year deal with the Mets and Pederson's one-year deal with the Snakes.
Meanwhile, the Giants have added Jung Hoo Lee, who boasts excellent projections and cost $113M over a guaranteed six years, plus a $19M posting fee. They also added flamethrowing sinkerballer Jordan Hicks on a fascinating four-year, $44M deal and intend to use him as a starting pitcher. Tom Murphy was also signed to a two-year deal plus a club option for a third. The SF Giants also dipped into the trade market in a fascinating swap that saw Robbie Ray join the Giants with unwanted players Mitch Haniger and Anthony DeSclafani (along with $6M in cash) going to Seattle.
Switching gears, the Giants' pitching projections are discussed. Logan Webb projects across the board as one of the best starters in baseball. Camilo Doval projects as one of the best closers. That's a good place for the San Francisco Giants to start, and they've also got intriguing young players like Kyle Harrison in the mix. Alex Cobb and Ray should act as fascinating mid-season "acquisitions."
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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Like it or not, projection systems are a huge part of major league baseball. And while the SF Giants' team projections may be mediocre (although there's still time to improve the roster), the Giants' big offseason addition, Jung Hoo Lee, boasts some of the more exciting projections on the team. Lee is predicted by several major projection systems to be among baseball's best in terms of batting average and strikeout rate. If Lee's projections were to come true—and we get that games aren't played on computers, they're played on the field—he would've had the second-lowest K rate in MLB last year behind only Luis Arraez. And the SF Giants outfielder is projected to hit for among the top batting averages in the league, around .290.
Meanwhile, there was some good Hall of Fame news yesterday if you're a Giants fan. First of all, congratulations are in order for Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton, and Joe Mauer. Beltre and Mauer were elected to the Hall in their first year on the ballot. When we compare Mauer's career to that of Buster Posey, it becomes increasingly obvious that Posey is Hall of Fame worthy, as if that was really a question. Anyone who doubts that wasn't really paying attention from 2010-21. Posey was a better hitter, amassed more accolades, was the best player on a team that won three championships, and produced more fWAR than Mauer in about 500 fewer games. Posey is getting into the Hall of Fame, folks, and it should come on the first ballot.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants have quietly had a pretty good offseason. It might feel like the offseason is basically over, but that's far from the case with so many free agents still unsigned less than a month before the start of spring training. Matt Chapman, Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell, and Jordan Montgomery are the top remaining free agents, and it's not shocking that all are represented by Scott Boras, who's notorious for dragging on the free agent process until he gets his clients the deals they're seeking.
In the meantime, the Giants have added Korean star center fielder Jung Hoo Lee—the youngest free agent on the market this offseason—in addition to Jordan Hicks (who's only 27) and Tom Murphy in free agency. Those are three quality signings, and they've also made a savvy trade acquiring 2021 Cy Young winner Robbie Ray for two players who had seen major dips in production and had fallen out of favor with fans after poor performance.
With all of that in mind, how much money do the SF Giants have left to spend and on whom should they spend it? Per Roster Resource, the Giants' luxury tax payroll is about $28.5 million shy of the first luxury tax threshold. Penalties for exceeding the tax are discussed at length. Additionally, it's clear that at $28.5 million (in terms of average annual value), the Giants could easily sign any one of the top four remaining free agents. Giants president of baseball ops Farhan Zaidi spoke yesterday of upgrading the infield defense, which seems to make a Matt Chapman signing feel somewhat inevitable.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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Jordan Hicks is officially a member of the San Francisco Giants. And their starting rotation, surprisingly. The SF Giants signed Hicks to be a starting pitcher, which is not what people expected from Hicks this offseason. But it doesn't mean the plan is destined to fail. Hicks has monster stuff and the Giants truly believe he can start. If it works, the Giants will be thrilled and in a great spot. If it doesn't, he can be a stud in the back of the bullpen. The only issue? If Hicks in the rotation backfires, the SF Giants will have starting pitching problems, considering newly acquired Robbie Ray and Alex Cobb will miss significant time at the start of the 2023 season.
The Giants avoided arbitration with Thairo Estrada, LaMonte Wade Jr., and Tyler Rogers on the day of the day of the deadline to exchange arbitration figures. Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater had reached one-year deals to avoid arb earlier in the offseason. The SF Giants' lone remaining case is J.D. Davis. The Giants and Davis appear headed for an arbitration hearing, where Davis' 2024 salary will be chosen by a panel of arbiters. The two sides are fighting over $350K, with Davis seeking $6.9M and the Giants countering with $6.55M. One number or the other will be chosen—nothing in between.
Finally, Dusty Baker's return to the San Francisco Giants is discussed. What will his role be and how much influence will he have? All in all, it's been nice to see the Giants lean back more towards the middle after veering seemingly too far into the deep end of analytics and a lack of feel and soul. Baker has those latter qualities in spades and it's great to have him back.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants have signed one of the best relievers on the market. The catch? They plan to use him as a starting pitcher. The Giants and Jordan Hicks are reportedly in agreement on a four-year, $44M contract. Hicks, who at 27 years old is the sixth-youngest free agent this offseason, averaged over 100 mph on his sinking fastball last season and is an extreme ground ball pitcher. He profiles as a high-end reliever, but the SF Giants are going a non-traditional route and plan to put him in the rotation. Hicks was a starter at times throughout his minor league career and has made a handful of starts in the majors.
What does this mean about the Giants' rotation? Does the addition of Robbie Ray, paired with today's reported addition of Hicks, take them out on remaining top starters Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery? At first glance, when looking at the Opening Day projected rotation, it shouldn't. But when we flash forward to what the Giants' rotation will look like once Ray and Alex Cobb are ready to come back, it's entirely possible that the Giants are done adding starters. Whether or not that's a bad plan is up for debate.
But the Giants could instead pivot to the position player market at this point. Hicks being another extreme ground ball pitcher, the SF Giants could look to bolster their infield defense with a signing of, say, Matt Chapman, who is an elite defender at third base. Cody Bellinger remains an option as well, and he'd probably play corner outfield and first base (Bellinger is capable of playing center, but the SF Giants signed Jung Hoo Lee to be their center fielder earlier this winter). With only about $28M left before reaching the first luxury tax threshold, it's unlikely the Giants make more than one more significant signing ($20M+ AAV).
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants have been fairly active this offseason, but it sure doesn't feel that way. Such is the nature of the MLB offseason, where negotiations drag on needlessly to the point of absurdity. The Giants signed Korean star Jung Hoo Lee to a $113 deal; they traded for 2021 Cy Young winner Robbie Ray. The SF Giants also found their backup catcher in lefty-masher Tom Murphy.
However, the pace of the MLB offseason is way too slow. And Giants president of baseball operations had a very interesting idea on how to fix it when he appeared on the Athletic's TK Show podcast with Tim Kawakami. Zaidi suggested a three to four week deadline for players to sign multi-year deals. That way, even if players aren't able to a land a multi-year deal, they'd still get a chance to cash in big on a one-year deal. It's an interesting idea that's worth seriously considering given how tedious the MLB offseason has become. It's not good for players, teams, or fans.
Also discussed on today's crossover between Locked On Giants and Locked On D-backs: The state of the NL West. The Dodgers are obviously a powerhouse, particularly after adding Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow. The D-backs are the defending NL champs. The Padres are a huge wild card. Where does that all leave the San Francisco Giants? Left in the dust? On the cusp of contention? The Giants have some pieces and some upside, but they must continue to add players this offseason or they look like a fourth-place team.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants recently made a savvy trade, acquiring 2021 Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray for two players who were highly expendable to the Giants. In exchange for Mitch Haniger and Anthony DeSclafani, the Giants picked up a left-handed pitcher with Cy-Young upside. The downside? He's currently recovering from Tommy John surgery and isn't expected back until about midway through the season.
With that in mind, where do the SF Giants stand after the acquisition of Ray, in addition to their signing of Jung Hoo Lee for $113 million and their signing of backup catcher Tom Murphy for a guaranteed $8.25M with a club option for a third year? Well, simply put, the SF Giants must do significantly more to put a highly competitive and compelling product on the field. The Giants' moves have been solid so far, but they ought to strike big with one or more remaining free agents.
Players like Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Cody Bellinger, and Matt Chapman come to mind. The Giants' need to improve is especially stark in comparison to the rival Dodgers, who added Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto this winter. Locked On Giants and Locked On D-backs discuss the Dodgers' extreme spending spree and whether or not these huge expenditures—and deferrals—are good or bad for baseball.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Jase MedicalEmpower yourself when you purchase a Jase Case, providing you with a personal supply of 5 antibiotics that treat 50+ infections. Get yours today at jasemedical.com and use code LOCKEDON to get $20 off your order. Gametime
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The San Francisco Giants just made the most significant trade, by far, of the Farhan Zaidi era. The SF Giants acquired 2021 Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray—who's rehabbing from Tommy John surgery—in exchange for outfielder Mitch Haniger and starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani. First reaction: This is an A+ trade for the Giants, who get Cy Young upside in exchange for two players who were not performing well and who created logjams on their team.
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🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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It's no secret that the San Francisco Giants have had a hard time luring big-name free agents to play for the team. With that in mind, which of the remaining free agents would be worth "overpaying" in order to finalize a deal? All of the players remaining who are projected to land deals north of $100M—Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger, Shota Imanaga, Matt Chapman, and Jordan Montgomery—are discussed. Not all would be worth it, but some would. Clayton Kershaw on a one- or two-year deal might also be worth "overpaying," although the chances of Kershaw pitching for the SF Giants are essentially zero.
Among the other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of Locked On Giants:
Do you think MLB should put rules in place to encourage more free agent activity within certain timeframes to increase off-season excitement, similar to what the NBA has?
Thoughts on what could make the MLB off-season more exciting? I’d favor a deadline for free agents. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers) and Jung Hoo Lee (Giants) had deadlines, and that didn’t impact their ability to maximize their value. I’m just sick of waiting on Scott Boras clients every off-season.
What pitcher is projected to start the second game of the year for the SF Giants as of today?
Been lots of weird quotes: “break even,” “employee benefits,” coming from the front office this offseason. What does this say about the Giants as a organization and the direction they are heading?
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🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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ESPN's Jeff Passan is arguably baseball's most trustworthy reporter, and he wrote today that "One team opposing organizations expect to sign at least one top-end Boras client: the San Francisco Giants..." Passan is referring to Boras' 'Big 4': Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger, Jordan Montgomery, and Matt Chapman. It's not surprising that opposing teams view the SF Giants as a likely destination for at least one of these players. The Giants are still believed to be big-game hunting; it's just been a very slow-moving market.
The impending close of Shota Imanaga's posting window is likely holding up the market to a degree, particularly for Snell and Montgomery. Imanaga's 45-day posting window expires a week from Thursday, and he is expected to command a deal of at least $100 million, per Passan. The Giants make sense for Imanaga, just like they do for fellow lefty starters Snell and Montgomery.
Finally, Passan also mentions the SF Giants as a possible destination for high-end relievers Josh Hader, Jordan Hicks, and Robert Stephenson. He also lists the Giants among the select group of teams looking at the veteran position player market, which Passan says is "in danger of collapsing" due to low overall demand. The names mentioned: Teoscar Hernandez, Jorge Soler, J.D. Martinez, Justin Turner, Rhys Hoskins, Joc Pederson, Brandon Belt, Harrison Bader, Michael A. Taylor, Tommy Pham, Adam Duvall, and Eddie Rosario. It's difficult to see any of these players fitting the SF Giants well, but there are perhaps a few exceptions.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Gametime
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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
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The year 2024 is soon to be upon us, so perhaps it's time to start thinking about the 2024-25 free agent class. Headlining that class, assuming the Yankees don't extend him, will be Juan Soto entering his age-26 season. Should the San Francisco Giants make a serious run at Soto, as they have in recent years with Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa, and Shohei Ohtani? The Giants absolutely should, but fans have learned by now not to expect the SF Giants to land the big fish, even if fans accept that the Giants are giving it their best effort.
Among the other questions asked and answered on today's edition of the Locked On Giants podcast:
What is the Giants' payroll status for 2024 after committing $7 million to Jung Hoo Lee? In your opinion could they afford to sign two more nine-figure free agents this year like Blake Snell and Matt Chapman?
Why have I heard literally nothing about the Giants pursuing Shota Imanaga? He would help capture Japan fan interest, and would be upper rotation. Great to pair with Snell.
It seems like every player wants to be a Dodger and no one wants to be a Giant. It starts with drafting a developing star talent. Farhan Zaidi has failed to do this so far. Is there any hope this will happen in the future?
What is the difference between generously giving Carlos Correa a 13-year deal when you know he will not be good at the end of it vs. being much more conservative with long term deals for starting pitchers?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
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🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
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The San Francisco Giants' disappointing 2023 season was largely defined by the team-wide offensive collapse that started in late June. Outside of Wilmer Flores, pretty much every SF Giants player struggled offensively from July through the end of the season. Overall, the Giants have been below average offensively since the start of the 2022 season. With that in mind, even with the SF Giants' addition of Jung Hoo Lee, how much confidence should fans have in the team's offense heading into 2024 if they don't make any more acquisitions? The answer? Not very confident. The Giants still have a lot of work to do offensively, unless they want to go all-in on pitching and defense, which is a possibility given the pitching-heavy state of the free agent market.
Among the other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of Locked On Giants:
Why would the Giants even entertain the idea of signing Matt Chapman if that means blocking Casey Schmitt for six years or whatever it would take to sign him. He (Chapman) hits like J.D. Davis and fields like Casey. Should put resources toward another position.
It seems people are down on Chapman because they have Schmitt. Can you touch on this? Just seems unfair towards Chapman.
Is there a trade or free agent upgrade that would be better than the LaMonte Wade Jr./Wilmer Flores platoon at first base? Could this platoon be a sneaky strength of the team? Flores and Wade, overall, had fine 2023 seasons.
Are the KBO/AA comparisons legit? If so do you think Lee can adjust to the MLB? He is coming to one of the hardest parks to hit in after all.
I think the standard of national baseball reporting has been shown up badly this off season. How can “ordinary fans” discern reliable hotel stove reporting?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
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🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
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While in many ways this San Francisco Giants offseason has already been defined by more disappointment, with top targets Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto both signing with the rival Dodgers, there's still plenty of time for the Giants to have a good winter. Unlike last year, when all of the top talent was gone after the SF Giants' deal with Carlos Correa fell apart over medical concerns, this year's free agent market has been slow moving and seven of the top 10 free agents, per MLB Trade Rumors, remain unsigned.
MLB Network's Jon Heyman said today that the San Francisco Giants are still "big game hunting" after missing out on Ohtani and Yamamoto. Heyman names Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger, and Matt Chapman as players the SF Giants may be targeting. Susan Slusser of the San Francsico Chronicle also mentioned those three players on an appearance Tuesday on MLB Network.
Snell, Bellinger, and Chapman are discussed at length. Each player has legitimate upside and/or a high floor, but each player also has questions about future performance. Snell and Chapman are entering their age-31 seasons, while Bellinger is only 28. While none of the three represent perfect fits for the Giants for various reasons, it's time for the team to take some risks as they seek to re-energize a bored and frustrated fan base, while also propelling the team to the postseason for what would be just the second time since 2017.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Score early this NFL season with FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook! Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning FIVE DOLLAR MONEYLINE BET! That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – if your team wins! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
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Yoshinobu Yamamoto will not pitch for the San Francisco Giants. Instead, he will pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Yes, the SF Giants were rejected once again by a high-profile free agent, something that has become all too familiar of a feeling for Giants fans in recent seasons. Bryce Harper. Aaron Judge. Shohei Ohtani. Yamamoto. Those players were all highly coveted by the Giants but chose to sign elsewhere. The disappointment is adding up (but let's not forget the Giants did sign Korean star Jung Hoo Lee to the fourth-largest free-agent contract so far this winter).
What is the Giants' path forward from here? In free agency, Blake Snell, Shota Imanaga, Jordan Montgomery, and Marcus Stroman stand out as the best remaining fits, with Snell having the best upside and Imanaga perhaps being the wisest investment.
On the position player side, it's basically just Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman before a huge drop off, and both players are fits, but imperfect ones, for the Giants. Trades are also a possibility as well, and Ha-Seong Kim stands out as an ideal trade candidate for the Giants.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!FanDuel
Score early this NFL season with FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook! Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning FIVE DOLLAR MONEYLINE BET! That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – if your team wins! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
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Ha-Seong Kim to the San Francisco Giants? For the Giants, Kim is just about the perfect player for a number of reasons. He's great defensively. He's good friends with new SF Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee. Kim loved played under new Giants manager Bob Melvin. He plays shortstop, second, and third. Marco Luciano is unproven at shortstop and it would be great for the SF Giants to have a premium insurance plan like Kim in case Luciano doesn't take the job and run with it.
But what about from the Padres' perspective? Why would they trade Kim if he's become such a valuable player? There are legitimate reasons. Jake Cronenworth, whom the Padres extended prior to last season, is forced to play out of position at first base with Kim on the roster. San Diego is locked into Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts for the next decade, and Cronenworth for seven more seasons as well. Trading Kim, who has just one year remaining on his deal, would allow Cronenworth to recoup a lot of the value he loses by playing a far less premium position. San Diego could trade Kim to the Giants (or another team) while adding players at a position that's a more pressing need.
That's where some hypothetical deals come in between the SF Giants and the Pads. The Giants are flooded with outfielders on their 40-man roster, and the Padres, after trading away Juan Soto and Trent Grisham, are short on outfielders. The SF Giants also have a lot of young pitching available. Whether it's Michael Conforto or Mitch Haniger (with the Giants also sending money in the deal), LaMonte Wade Jr. or J.D. Davis, or some young pitching (or all of the above), there are reasons to believe that a Kim trade to the SF Giants is a real possibility. It certainly could make sense for both sides.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants' new backup catcher has been one of the best hitters in baseball against left-handed pitching since 2019. Tom Murphy, who has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $8.25M deal with the SF Giants with a club option for a third year, is a lefty masher who's a perfect complement to Giants primary catcher Patrick Bailey. Murphy's main issue has been staying on the field. But when he's been out there, he's been a forced to be reckoned with against southpaws.
The ramifications are plentiful. First of all, the Giants' addition of Murphy—on a multiyear pact, no less—likely means it's the end of the line for Joey Bart with the SF Giants. Bart is importantly out of minor league options, meaning he can no longer be optioned without being exposed to waivers. The Giants' lack of faith in Bart has been evident for years, and their signing of Murphy seemingly seals his fate. Bart will likely be traded at some point before Opening Day. (He has little trade value, for what it's worth).
Blake Sabol will also feel the impact of this signing. Last season, because he was a Rule 5 selection, Sabol had the luxury of needing to stay in the majors all season or else be offered back to the Pirates. The SF Giants clearly wanted to avoid that scenario, so Sabol spent the entire season in MLB. Now that that's over, however, Sabol will have a full slate of minor league options. Meaning he likely becomes the Giants' third catcher, with the fact that he has three option years remaining being a huge plus. Sabol showed promise with the bat vs. RHP, and his framing was solid, but he needs to work on his ball blocking, which was a significant issue.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
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San Francisco Giants fans who watched Jung Hoo Lee's introductory press conference today by and large seemed to fall in love with the 25-year-old center fielder from Korea. Jung Hoo Lee made several opening remarks in English, including an excited "Let's go Giants!" at the end. Lee later coyly asked, "Handsome?" after he donned an SF Giants jersey and hat for the first time. The Giants signed Lee to a 6-year, $113 million contract with an opt-out after four years, and only time will tell if it pans out. But for now, Jung Hoo Lee made a great and refreshing impression on SF Giants fans desperate for players to grow attached to again.
Next are some Giants mailbag questions. Among the questions asked and answered on today's episode of Locked On Giants are:
What's your feeling about the likelihood the Giants land Yoshinobu Yamamoto?
What would your pivot moves be if Yamamoto goes somewhere else?
When do you think Yamamoto will sign?
With Jung Hoo Lee in the fold, would you like to see the Giants be aggressive and trade for Ha-Seong Kim to corner the South Korean market? Or should they wait for him next year as a free agent?
Who’s the odd man out in the OF. Who do you think is the likeliest to get moved? I personally think they want to keep Austin Slater just for platoon reasons but maybe the new coaching staff isn’t interested in that. What are your thoughts?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!FanDuel
Score early this NFL season with FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook! Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning FIVE DOLLAR MONEYLINE BET! That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – if your team wins! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.
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San Francisco Giants fans can finally take a deep breath. Jung Hoo Lee has passed his physical, and he is officially a member of the SF Giants. It's by far the largest free-agent contract finalized in the Farhan Zaidi era, (though Correa's $350M deal that ultimately fell through would've been more than three times as large). Lee is unproven at the major league level, of course, but brings a tantalizing blend of youth and a skill set that the Giants have been sorely lacking to the lineup. He makes a ton of contact, uses the whole field, doesn't strike out, runs well, has above-average range in center, and has a plus arm. Jung Hoo Lee can opt out after the fourth year of his deal with the Giants.
Meanwhile, SF Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and former catcher Buster Posey spoke on the failed Shohei Ohtani pursuit. They spoke candidly about their efforts, with Zaidi stating that ownership was agreeable to the exact terms he ultimately signed with the Dodgers. Posey said that, in his attempted recruits of free agents, he's consistently run into an issue with players, and even players' wives, being concerned about the state of San Francisco. Posey indicated that it doesn't matter whether those claims are fair or not, because "perception is reality."
Meanwhile, the LA Dodgers officially introduced Shohei Ohtani today, and they also are reportedly finalizing a trade for ace pitcher Tyler Glasnow (who's had a very hard time staying healthy, however). The trade is contingent on Glasnow signing and extension with LA, and all parties seem to believe the trade will be completed. The Giants must continue to shop aggressively this offseason to not only improve their team to get them back into the playoffs, but to keep the fans interested and entertained. Despite missing out on Ohtani, so far so good with the Giants' official signing of Jung Hoo Lee.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants desperately needed to sign some players, especially in the wake of Shohei Ohtani electing to sign with the Dodgers on a ridiculous 10-year, $700 million contract. Per reports, they've done just that, inking 25-year-old Korean star Jung Hoo Lee to a six-year deal worth $113 million.
Lee is exactly the kind of offensive and defensive player the Giants need. He's young, he's athletic. He has incredible bat-to-ball skills. He's a plus runner with above-average range and a plus arm. He immediately brings intrigue to a stale SF Giants team.
In other news, Shohei Ohtani signed with the LA Dodgers. It wasn't exactly a shock, until everyone saw the contract. And even then, people weren't truly shocked until they saw the structure of the contract: $680 million of the $700 million is deferred, meaning Shohei Ohtani will only make $20 million total in his 10-year deal with the devil. Er, we mean, the Dodgers.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants have missed out on yet another superstar in free agency. And it's an absolute nightmare scenario for SF Giants fans everywhere. Today, Shohei Ohtani announced on his personal Instagram that he would be joining the Giants' greatest rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was quickly reported that the deal with Ohtani was for a stunning 10 years and $700 million—albeit with "unprecedented" deferrals that lessen the present day value by an unknown amount, while simultaneously lowering the Dodgers' financial "burden."
The Giants, meanwhile, must pivot in a major way. It's yet another disastrous outcome for a team and its fans that are all too used to this. But there are still some very intriguing free agents out there for the SF Giants to sign. Most notably, 25-year-old Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto feels like a must-sign, but competition will be exceptionally fierce. It remains to be seen if the Giants can salvage their offseason after losing out on another top player—the best in baseball—to their archenemies no less.
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The San Francisco Giants enjoyed a solid run of success on the pitching side of their team ever since Gabe Kapler was hired prior to the 2020 season. Kevin Gausman, Logan Webb, Camilo Doval, Carlos Rodón are a few examples of success, and they're far from the only ones. With that in mind, how big of a loss is the departure of pitching coach Andrew Bailey to the Boston Red Sox? Not to mention the loss of director of pitching Brian Bannister to the White Sox.
Locked On Giants and Locked On Red Sox discuss numerous topics, including the change to the MLB schedule that now sees all NL and AL teams play each other at least once a year. For Giants fans, this means that every other year the team will play in every American League stadium. It was a great change in a lot of ways, and means SF Giants fans get way more opportunities watch their favorite team play at historic stadiums like Fenway Park. There were also some drawbacks, but the positives outweighed them.
All of this is discussed under the shadow of Shohei Ohtani's free agency, which as of yet has not reached a conclusion. For more about the Giants' and Red Sox's offseason, be sure to check out yesterday's edition of Locked On Giants in which Ben and Gabby discuss all things Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and what the SF Giants and Sox must accomplish this winter.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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There are a ton of similarities between the San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox. The SF Giants find themselves big-game hunting once again, with Shohei Ohtani at the top of their list. The Red Sox may be out on Ohtani, but pitching is their biggest need and Yoshinobu Yamamoto tops the Sox's wishlist.
Locked On Giants and Locked On Red Sox discuss the similarities between their two historic franchises, and what each must do to achieve their similar offseason goals. Both the SF Giants and the Red Sox have big bad bully rivals in the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. The Yanks just acquired Juan Soto, and the Dodgers are considered the favorites to sign Ohtani.
But don't sleep on the Giants with Ohtani. They were finalists for his services last time around before he ultimately chose the Angels, and there are legitimate arguments to make that LA might not be the best fit for him. Does Ohtani really want to take the easy road? Perhaps. But he has a deep admiration for Buster Posey and likes to be challenged. What better way than to join the team that rivals the team with the game's biggest stars?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Juan Soto is on a trajectory to be one of the greatest hitters of all time. He's a generational offensive talent. And yet, he wasn't a fit for the San Francisco Giants. At least not right now. Not with one year of team control remaining. Not when the SF Giants have spent years building up their farm system to the point where it actually looks ready to produce impact MLB talent for the first time in a decade. Imagine blowing all of that up for one year of a great player. Yes, the present matters, but that's what free agency is for.
And last we checked, almost all of this year's free agents are still unsigned. That's because Shohei Ohtani's free agency is holding up the entire market. The San Francisco Giants appear to at least have a seat at the table as a decision is likely imminent. Giants fans are used to heartbreak, and it certainly wouldn't be surprising to see Ohtani sign elsewhere, but at least they're in the mix. The SF Giants also depart the Winter Meetings as one of the teams considered to be a finalist for 25-year-old Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
All in all, these 2023 Winter Meetings in Nashville were a total dud. At the time of this recording, even the Soto trade hadn't officially happened (but it did afterwards). Patience. The slow drip that has been the 2023 offseason will soon yield into a frenzy of activity, and it all starts at the top with Ohtani. Buckle up, Giants fans. Sooner or later, the dam is going to break.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
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🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The Winter Meetings have been a dud so far, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sure spiced things up in the middle of the afternoon. In a meeting with reporters, Roberts spoke freely and openly about the team's pursuit of Shohei Ohtani, was was surprising considering it was reported weeks ago that Ohtani wanted talks to be private and that any leaks of information would be held against teams. At first it seemed that Roberts must have been cleared to speak so openly about the pursuit, but then came a text message that darkened Roberts' expression, a huddling with PR staff, and the Dodgers' GM stating that he was "surprised" by Roberts' comments and that he refused to confirm the team had even met with Ohtani.
In San Francisco Giants-related news, Farhan Zaidi and Bob Melvin continued to convey that the Giants are shopping at the tippy top of the free agent class. This echoes what we have heard from SF Giants broadcasters Mike Krukow and Dave Flemming in recent days. The Giants—unlike Dave Roberts, apparently—are not allowed to publicly comment on free agents, and they wouldn't even if they could. But it's clear that San Francisco is in search of star talent and would love to land Ohtani or Yoshinobu Yamamoto—or both.
A fascinating development happened after Dave Roberts spilled the beans and talked about the Dodgers' recent meeting with Ohtani. The New York and Los Angeles-based media turned on Ohtani and sided with Roberts and LA. We guess that shouldn't be too surprising, but it was a bad look for those media members who applauded Roberts and criticized Ohtani for having a preference for privacy.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants may find themselves at the forefront of the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes. The San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser, as trustworthy a beat reporter as there is, reported yesterday that two rival teams that have had interest in Yamamoto believe the SF Giants "have the edge" for his services. Yamamoto, who's just 25 years old, has three plus pitches and would be a major get for the Giants. Yamamoto is expected to land a deal in the $200-300 million range.
But the biggest free agent of all, of course, remains Shohei Ohtani. And there's speculation that Ohtani was in San Francsico meeting with the Giants on Saturday. A photograph was taken of SF Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, manager Bob Melvin, and Buster Posey in very nice clothes leaving Oracle Park on Saturday. To make matters even more interesting, Ohtani followed Logan Webb on Instagram on Monday, just Ohtani's 177th follow and one of the few non-Angels players he follows.
SF Giants broadcasters Dave Flemming and Mike Krukow have also talked a big game in recent days in local media appearances. Both Flemming (on The Athletic's TK Show) and Krukow (on KNBR) spoke of the San Francisco Giants' lofty intentions and huge ambition this offseason. Krukow went so far as to say the Giants would make three major moves in the next 10 days—and he said that last Tuesday. Only time will tell if any of this actually materializes into something Giants fans can truly get excited about.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
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🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, three major teams seem to have shifted their attention away from Shohei Ohtani, and indication that they have perhaps been told they're out of the running. Per Passan, the Mets, Red Sox, and Rangers are seemingly out on Ohtani. Those are three teams that were legitimate threats to land the megastar, which only increases the SF Giants' odds of landing Ohtani. Passan adds that the Dodgers, Cubs, Blue Jays, and Angels are known to still be in the running for Ohtani, and that the San Francisco Giants' status is "unknown." Per reports, Ohtani wants things kept as quiet as possible, so that's not necessarily a bad position for the Giants to be in.
The Winter Meetings kick off in Nashville on Sunday. What's on the Giants' agenda on the offseason's biggest stage? Landing a superstar should be priority No. 1. Ohtani certainly would suffice. Yoshinobu Yamamoto reportedly won't meet with finalists until the week after the Winter Meetings, so don't expect his signing to go down in Nashville. The SF Giants would be wise, though, to improve their team to prove to Ohtani that they'd be in a position to win with him. It doesn't help that Korean star Jung Hoo Lee has yet to be posted, as he profiles as a strong fit for the Giants. Cody Bellinger is another who seems to fit well.
Finally, Gabe Kapler landed on his feet. We learned today that the Giants' fired manager was hired as Assistant General Manager of the Miami Marlins under new President of Baseball Operations Peter Bendix, who was hired away from his position as General Manager of the Rays just weeks ago. Kapler joins several of his Giants coaches in landing on his feet after not being retained by the Giants. Kai Correa, Craig Albernaz, Andrew Bailey, Brian Bannister, Ethan Katz, and Donnie Ecker are among Kapler's initial staff with the Giants that now have prominent roles with other organizations.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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According to MLB Network's John Paul Morosi, the San Francisco Giants "are set, they are devoting their whole heart and finances to landing one of Shohei Ohtani or Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the coming weeks." Talk about a juicy, tantalizing sequence of words! Morosi is a well-respected writer in the industry, not someone to be ignored. So his report about the Giants essentially pulling out all the stops to sign Ohtani or Yamamoto is fascinating and exciting.
Yes, SF Giants fans have heard this before and have been let down every single time. Yes, that could very well happen again. Just because the Giants are "set" on signing one of these Japanese superstars, that doesn't mean they'll come away with either. But there are reasons that it could actually happen, despite common narratives to the contrary.
Most consider the Dodgers the favorites to sign Ohtani, and it's easy to understand why. They have the financial resources, and they are perennial World Series contenders. However, in the eyes of Locked On Giants, Ohtani doesn't seem like the kind of guy who wants to take the easy road. Yes, winning is a huge priority, but it's important to keep in mind that the worst the SF Giants have been is mediocre. The Angels were bad with Ohtani (and Mike Trout). The Giants probably would've won around 90 games last year with Ohtani.
So they're not as far off as people think. And they have clean books in the coming years, some really solid foundational pieces in Logan Webb, Camilo Doval, Thairo Estrada, and Patrick Bailey, and some very intriguing prospects in Kyle Harrison, Marco Luciano, and Luis Matos already at the big-league level.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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How realistic would a Marcus Stroman, Pete Alonso, and Jung Hoo Lee offseason be for the San Francisco Giants? While it's obviously not exactly what fans want—namely, one Shohei Ohtani or potentially Yoshinobu Yamamoto—those three players would certainly be an intriguing mix of upgrades for the Giants. And each player seems easy enough to acquire and therefore it could be a realistic offseason for the SF Giants if they miss out on the top names available.
Among the other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of Locked On Giants:
What are the chances of the San Francisco Giants signing Marcus Stroman? Logan Webb, Alex Cobb and Stroman would make us a ground ball super rotation!
What do you think happens with Luis Matos in 2024? He is blocked by a large OF corps ahead of him and the Giants are still adding. Full season in AAA starting, bench role, or trade?
Would you reconsider trading Kyle Harrison for Juan Soto if the Padres will take on Ross Stripling's money, and other prospects below the top 12?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The Giants are primed to go big. We've heard that before, and been let down time and time again. But it doesn't change the fact that they are, in fact, primed to go big. This very offseason. Despite SF Giants chairman Greg Johnson stating on numerous occasions the unpopular phrase that "the goal is to break even," even that is not a deterrent for the San Francisco Giants going huge this winter. The reason? Payroll flexibility.
There's often a lot of strong feelings evoked when terms like "financial flexibility" are used. But in the case of the San Francisco Giants, it's worth explaining what it means and why it means they could easily sign a Shohei Ohtani and still "break even." In short, the SF Giants have very few payroll obligations for 2025, and for 2026-28, their only commitment is about $23 million annually to Logan Webb. After that, the books are completely clear.
Say the Giants were to sign Ohtani to a ludicrous 12-year, $600 million contract. That would be a record-shattering $50M per year. The Giants would still be under $100 million in commitments for 2025 and beyond with that salary on the books. That's what's meant by payroll flexibility, and that (among many other reasons) is why the SF Giants are expected to be major players in free agency this year. There's no doubt they're pursuing top names. The only question is whether someone big will finally take their money and sign on the dotted line. And pass their danged physical.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants have absolutely no business putting all of their eggs in the Shohei Ohtani basket. Ohtani is by far the most impactful player in this year's free-agent class (although arguably not for 2024, when he'll be limited to DH duties), but who's next? Which player, in terms of regular season wins added, would help the SF Giants the most? That player could be Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a young, coveted ace from Japan. Or it could come the trade market with a player like Juan Soto or Mike Trout.
Among the other questions asked and answered on today's Locked On Giants podcast:
What is a bigger need for the Giants: pitching or hitting?
Who do you prefer for the SF Giants: Cody Bellinger or Jung-Hoo Lee? Would either player alone make the Giants at least a wild-card contender?
How much will it cost a team (like perhaps the SF Giants) to acquire Juan Soto when he reaches free agency after the 2024 season?
What are the chances Joc Pederson will return to the Giants?
Is Lars Nootbaar available and a fit for the San Francisco Giants?
Other than Yoshinobu Yamamoto, which free-agent pitcher(s) are ideal fits for the SF Giants?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Last year, once the SF Giants' deal with Carlos Correa fell apart over medical concerns, the Giants were essentially left with a barren free-agent market because most of the best players had already signed. This year, the San Francisco Giants are reportedly going to put a full-court press on Shohei Ohtani. Both situations seem to suggest that this winter, the Giants should be aggressive in trying to make upgrades before Ohtani makes a decision, because it's hard to imagine him being too intrigued by the SF Giants' current roster.
Other questions answered on today's mailbag edition of Locked On Giants include:
Would the Giants trade for Mike Trout?
What would a trade package look like for Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, or Mike Trout? Who would be the best fit for the SF Giants, and who is your preference?
Will Farhan Zaidi break character and sign a pitcher for more than three years?
How many extra wins would Shohei Ohtani add to the San Francisco Giants? Would he alone make the Giants a 90-92 win team? Compare his first year as a full-time DH vs. being a two-way player.
Given the influx of third base options (J.D. Davis, Wilmer Flores, Casey Schmitt, Marco Luciano(?)) and a potential signing of Matt Chapman, does it make sense to trade Flores now while his value is high? Maybe for some bullpen and middle infield depth? And could they also package Michael Conforto/Mitch Haniger in there too?
In a more general sense, can you explain how two defensive measuring systems like Defensive Runs Saved and Statcast Outs Above Average can differ so much on players like Pete Alonso? And when they do differ, which one do clubs favor?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants are in desperate need of offensive upgrades. The problem? Besides Shohei Ohtani (and a few others a significant tier below), there aren't many attractive bats for the SF Giants to target in free agency. As such, the Giants may need to go the trade route in order to upgrade their lineup. Defense is also a need and a focus, not just ability at the plate.
MLB Trade Rumors' Top 25 Offseason Trade Candidates list is parsed through. Which players are potential fits for the Giants, and why? There are certain players on the list, such as Juan Soto, who are generational talents at the plate, but liabilities in the field. Do those types fit what the SF Giants want and need?
Or do the Giants need to target players with a more rounded skillset, those who can contribute at the plate while also contributing in the field. San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has talked about the Giants' need to improve defensively in the outfield, particularly in center field. So players like Trent Grisham, Luis Robert, and Tommy Edman stand out in that regard. The Giants would also like to acquire some shortstop insurance in case Marco Luciano struggles, which again makes Edman a fit. Ha-Seong Kim is another. The versatility of both players in an added bonus.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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It's clear and obvious that the San Francisco Giants need to improve their roster after two straight extremely disappointing seasons in which they had designs on contending. But where, specifically, should the Giants improve? A position-by-position deep dive is made in an attempt to find spots on the diamond where the SF Giants ought to improve, with this year's free-agent class in mind.
The Giants are set at a few positions, such as catcher with Patrick Bailey and second base with Thairo Estrada. After that, there is a lot of positional flexibility and potentially solid production, but a lack of impact talent. There's uncertainty at shortstop with Brandon Crawford a free agent and top prospect Marco Luciano still unproven.
Matt Chapman, Cody Bellinger, and Jung-Hoo Lee are some of the only free-agent position players who stand out as potential fits. On the pitching side, however, the SF Giants are already in a strong position with Cy Young runner-up Logan Webb anchoring what figures to be a strong staff, per the Steamer projections. If the Giants make a serious upgrade at starting pitcher, perhaps they could trade from a surplus of young arms to improve positions on the diamond, where the free agent market is exceptionally thin.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants were transparent about their intent to tender contracts to all six of their arbitration-eligible players, and by Friday's deadline, they had done just that. In addition, the SF Giants avoided arbitration with Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater, agreeing to modest one-year deals for the 2024 season. Yaz has two years of team control remaining, whereas Slater is entering his final year under Giants control before reaching the free agent market.
Speaking of the free agent market, the first major signing of the offseason recently took place, with the Phillies' Aaron Nola re-signing with the team for seven years and $172 million. That seems to be quite a strong deal for Nola, who'll be entering his age-31 season in 2024. So this contract will run through his age-37 season. In a market flush with really good starting pitchers, and the SF Giants seemingly shopping in that market, Nola's deal with his hometown team could mean the market is going to be quite hot and expensive.
Perhaps the top starting pitcher is Yoshinobu Yamamoto, coming out of Japan and officially posted on Monday. Yamamoto has been dominant in Japan and is only 25 years old. He has been compared to peak Zack Greinke. The Giants reportedly covet Yamamoto, which is not a huge surprise given their clear intent to shop at the top of the starting pitcher market and the fact that Yamamoto is exceptionally young for a free agent. Yamamoto must sign with an MLB team within a 45-day window that begins early Tuesday morning.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
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Shohei Ohtani is far and away the best free agent available in this class. Ohtani may be the best free agent ever. The San Francisco Giants are undoubtedly extremely interested in signing the face of the game, but the competition for his services will be extremely fierce. So, outside of Ohtani, who are some players that would represent a serious upgrade other than Ohtani? Most of the best players on the market after Ohtani are starting pitchers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Aaron Nola, Sonny Gray, Jordan Montgomery, Marcus Stroman, and others are all free agents who would represent real upgrades. Impact offense is tougher to find on the free agent market and trades could become necessary.
Other questions and answers featured on today's edition of Locked On Giants include:
How much torture are we as fans in for this offseason?
How will the Alex Cobb injury affect our free agency outlook?
Given that most teams are trying to court Ohtani, what moves (if any) do you think will happen before Ohtani signs?
If you had to guess, do you think the goal is to sign Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Jung-Hoo Lee? Or do you think the SF Giants will shift the plan if they land Ohtani? Signing all three sounds crazy but when you consider their ages and the fact that signing Yamamoto and Lee probably helps with an Ohtani pursuit…
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants have a true homegrown ace in Logan Webb. Nothing better demonstrates that fact than Webb finishing second in the 2023 Cy Young Award voting. Webb finished behind Blake Snell, someone who's actually been linked to the Giants. Webb has been consistently excellent for three seasons, beginning with a breakout 2021. This year, Webb led the NL in innings and had a sparkling 3.25 ERA. Webb's five-year extension, which begins next year, looked like a great move for the SF Giants at the time and looks even better now.
In other news, Jon Heyman of MLB Network said that the Giants are "in on everyone." He includes players like Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger, and Matt Chapman as players in whom the SF Giants are interested. Heyman is a relatively trustworthy reporter, although he has been known to be a bit of a mouthpiece for mega agent Scott Boras.
And then we have Jim Bowden, a former MLB GM, saying that he believes the San Francisco Giants will make the best offer to Ohtani. But before Giants fans get too excited about that, it's worth pointing out that Bowden says what many others have said: Ohtani's No. 1 goal is winning. And while the Giants aren't in a horrible position, there are certainly teams that are better now and set up well for the future. And despite being a former GM, Bowden isn't the most reliable reporter so his comments should be taken with a grain of salt.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants' coaching staff under new manager Bob Melvin has finally been finalized. When the Giants announced most of their staff late last week, there were some notable omissions: they didn't having a pitching coach nor a bullpen coach. Today, those positions were officially filled. Bryan Price, longtime MLB pitching coach and former Reds manager, will be the SF Giants' new pitching coach, and Garvin Alston will be promoted from Triple-A to be the Giants' bullpen coach.
In other news, today was the deadline for teams to add players to the 40-man roster to protect them from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. The SF Giants made a somewhat surprising move by adding RHP Trevor McDonald, who's only pitched as high as A-ball. LHP Erik Miller and RHP Kai-Wei Teng were also added and figure to be in the pitching mix next season.
The legacy of the late Peter Seidler is discussed last. Seidler, the owner of the San Diego Padres, died today at the age of 63. It's news that sent shock waves throughout the industry. Seidler is beloved in San Diego for putting his money where his mouth was after becoming the majority owner of the team after the 2020 season. The Padres have added all kinds of star talent since, and even though they didn't have a very good 2023, they still set a franchise record for attendance. RIP Peter Seidler, gone too soon.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Free agency is here, and once again, the San Francisco Giants find themselves in a position where they're looking to make a big splash to not only improve their team, but also invigorate a justifiably frustrated fanbase. Coming off two straight disappointing seasons, Giants fans want more excitement, more star power, and more winning. With that in mind, who are the top five free agents the SF Giants should pursue? It all starts with Shohei Ohtani, who figures to sign a record contract and reports indicate he could even make a decision before the early December Winter Meetings in Nashville.
Among the other questions asked and answered on today's Locked On Giants podcast:
Who do you predict the Giants will acquire this offseason? I’ve got Hoskins and Gray.
What type of offensive players should the Giants be going for? Should we would look for more power, or rather someone who can hit for contact and get on base?
Mike Yastrzemski Enjoyer: What positions do the Giants NEED to upgrade this offseason to get back to the playoffs? To improve those positions, what players do you think the Giants should sign/trade for?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants finally announced their new coaching staff under new manager Bob Melvin tonight. At least most of it, anyway. The big ticket additions: Ryan Christenson will be Melvin's bench coach, leaving former bench coach and interim manager Kai Correa's status in question. Matt Williams returns to the Giants and will be the third base coach, which pushes Mark Hallberg from third base to first base. This leaves Antoan Richardson's status in question. And finally, Pat "The Bat" Burrell joins the SF Giants' staff as co-hitting coach with Justin Viele.
Viele's retention comes as somewhat of a surprise after two straight lackluster offensive seasons from the Giants under his leadership, ever since Donnie Ecker departed for the Texas Rangers. Pedro Guererro also returns as an assistant hitting coach. On the pitching side, things are far less certain. Director of Pitching Brian Bannister has already departed for the White Sox. Pitching coach Andrew Bailey's status is uncertain. All we know is that J.P. Martinez will return as an assistant pitching coach.
What about important holdovers from Gabe Kapler's staff like Alyssa Nakken? Fortunately, Nakken will return for her fifth season as an Assistant Coach with the Giants. She been a popular figure in the dugout since her arrival, and she will forever be the first in-uniform female coach in MLB history. Taira Uematsu will also return as an Assistant Coach. Sadly, popular coach Craig Albernaz officially left the organization to join new Guardians manager Stephen Vogt's first-ever staff.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Get $20 off these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.
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Free agency officially begun, and San Francisco Giants fans have questions. Realistically, who will the Giants land this offseason? We know that they're very likely to be in on the biggest names in free agency. That includes Shohei Ohtani. It includes all of the top starting pitchers—the strength of this class—including Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Aaron Nola, and several others. Matt Chapman and Jung-Hoo Lee also stand out as realistic fits for the SF Giants.
Other questions asked and answered on today's Locked On Giants include:
How concerning is it for the Giants pitching that Brian Bannister has departed and it seems Andrew Bailey likely will as well (reports say he wants to go close to family on the east coast)? We saw the hitting struggle after Donnie Ecker left. Thoughts?
Who will be the Giants’ primary 3B in 2024? J.D. Davis could easily platoon at first base with LaMonte Wade Jr. (probably best for him given how he wore down in the second half last year) & Casey Schmitt could use some seasoning at AAA to improve plate discipline. If not Chapman, what FA/trade acquisition?
Can you give a percent chance of where you think Shohei Ohtani will end up between the Giants/Dodgers/other ?
Now that Jorge Soler is opting out with the Marlins, how much interest do you think the giants would have in pursuing him?
How will Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi getting an extension possibly change how aggressive the SF Giants be this offseason, with Zaidi now knowing he has three more seasons left?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
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🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Get $20 off these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.
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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
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At last year's General Managers Meetings, Farhan Zaidi was a popular interviewee as the industry anticipated the San Francisco Giants' president of baseball operations to make a serious run at reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge in free agency. The Giants did in fact pursue Judge and other marquee players last winter, but once again came home empty handed.
Well, those meetings are back underway, and Zaidi did share some of the SF Giants' plans for the winter. Once again, like last offseason, Zaidi talked about the Giants' desire to get younger and more athletic. Last year, the Giants and Zaidi didn't really follow through on that promise, unless you count all of the minor league callups throughout the season. But free agent signings such as Michael Conforto and Mitch Haniger didn't really fall into that category and both had disappointing seasons.
One player who did not have a disappointing season was Giants rookie catcher Patrick Bailey. Bailey was so good defensively that he probably deserved to the the Gold Glove Award at the position, but he was snubbed despite being a finalist, which is an honor in and of itself. Bailey was the best framer in MLB and his pop times were exceptional.
The potential coaching staff under new SF Giants manager Bob Melvin is also discussed, with names like Matt Williams and Bryan Price being floated with regularity. Zaidi said the Giants' staff under Melvin should be finalized this week.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Get $20 off these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.
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The release of MLB Trade Rumors' annual Top 50 Free Agents with Predictions is always a very exciting time of year. It's usually our first look at concrete contract predictions for the top free agents—this year headlined by an unprecedented talent in Shohei Ohtani—and it's also fun to look at which players are "linked" (by virtue of the three MLBTR writers making predictions) to the San Francisco Giants.
The contract prediction for Ohtani is huge, but still likely a lot less than many people would expect. The reasoning is discussed on the show, and MLBTR seems to have done a pretty good job nailing down what Ohtani's value might be. Whether or not the Giants can and will go to that level to land arguably the game's best player remains to be seen.
Cody Bellinger, shockingly, is listed as the next-best free agent and is predicted to land a massive 12-year contract. That seems scary after the two miserable seasons he had in LA in 2021 and 2022. Here's the kicker: two of the three authors predicted the Giants would be the ones to give Bellinger the contract. Besides Bellinger, a number of the top free agents are linked to the SF Giants by the MLBTR authors, which makes sense given the Giants' recent efforts to land star talent and their clear need to do so.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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It was a big day in baseball as option and qualifying decisions were due, and it was the official start of full free agency. For the San Francisco Giants, on account of them giving out so many short-term deals with options in recent seasons, were among the most interesting teams to watch today. When all and said and done, the final tally was that Michael Conforto opted to return for one year and $18M, Sean Manaea opted out of 1/$12.5M, Ross Stripling opted to return for 1/$12.5M, and the Giants decided to bring back Alex Cobb for $10M in lieu of a $2M buyout.
The most borderline and potentially consequential decision was Conforto's. At $18M, it's a hefty price to pay given the very pedestrian season he just had. The SF Giants have also expressed interest in improving their outfield, which becomes all the more difficult with Conforto, Mitch Haniger, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Slater, Luis Matos, Tyler Fitzgerald, and others all in the mix going into 2023.
Manaea's decision to opt out may have surprised some, but it wasn't really all that surprising given his excellent performance after a rough first month-plus of the 2023 season. Stripling, on the other hand, never turned things around after a slow start and his choice to opt in was inevitable. The Giants' decision to retain Cobb on what was effectively an $8M decision was made a bit less clear when it was announced that Cobb underwent hip surgery that will sideline him for at least around six months. The Giants' overall commitments and payroll situation are now relatively clear, and those figures are discussed at length on today's show.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Get $20 off these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.
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Shohei Ohtani is perhaps the greatest free agent of all time, and the San Francisco Giants figure to be in the mix for his services. The Giants have been big-game hunting for years, consistently coming up empty. So are there other offseason permutations the SF Giants can muster that will be sufficient?
Other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of Locked On Giants:
If the Giants somehow, someway sign Ohtani, how much money will they have left to spend on other pieces? They are not just one piece away from contending even if that piece is the best player in the world.
Would an offseason where the Giants walk away with Jordan Montgomery and Jung-hoo Lee/Matt chapman be a success? Or do they have to sign one of the top two free agents? Or trade for Juan Soto?
If the Giants walked away with Blake Snell and Matt Chapman would you consider it a success or failure of an offseason?
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Cody Bellinger, and Sonny Gray seem like must-get targets. Do you agree?
How do Bellinger's advanced stats look? Is the risk worth the potential contract he’s gonna get?
Do you think Bob Melvin will keep Alyssa Nakken on staff, or will she have to continue her coaching career elsewhere?
I'm hearing rumors of ex-Giants joining BoMel's coaching staff such as Pat Burrel, Ryan Vogelsong, and now recently J.T. Snow. Besides Pat, who I know to be part of our scouting department, I don't think there's much coaching experience there. Is it just a ploy to win fans back over?
A bit tactical, but when do you expect to get more formal announcements on Melvin’s staff? Lots of intriguing names being floated.
Thoughts on whether the Giants retain Mark Hallberg?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Another critical offseason for the San Francisco Giants has officially begun. The Texas Rangers are World Series champions, and now the Giants will get to work to turn their fortunes around. The SF Giants have made the playoffs only once in the last seven seasons, which is an unacceptable fate for a team of this market size and stature in the game. The Giants must significantly improve their roster this offseason, and they appear poised to at the very least make their best effort to do so.
Free agency officially opened today, but free agents can only sign with the team they finished the year with for the first five days of free agency. This is unlikely to affect the Giants in a meaningful way, as free agents like Joc Pederson and Brandon Crawford are unlikely to return in 2024. Five days from now, not only can free agents sign with any team, but option decisions are due and qualifying offer decisions must be made by teams. We will know on Monday whether Michael Conforto ($18M), Sean Manaea ($12.5M), and Ross Stripling decide whether to opt in or opt out. The SF Giants must decide whether to exercise their $10M option on Alex Cobb or whether to set his loose and pay a $2M buyout. Cobb's recent surgery and lengthy recovery timeline complicate the decision.
The non-tender deadline is also a critical date coming up in the next couple of weeks, and the Giants have six arb-eligible players. Most are easy decisions, but there are a couple of potentially borderline ones to look out for. And finally, in about a month in Nashville, Tennessee, the Winter Meetings will take place. This is when a flurry of activity usually takes place, with some of the top free agents signing contracts around this time. Like they were last year, the Giants figure to be heavily involved in the biggest names. This free agent class is headlined by arguably the best player in baseball, Shohei Ohtani.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Bruce Bochy is a World Series champion again. Bochy left the San Francisco Giants following the 2019 season, and came out of retirement a few years later and won his fourth ring in his first season with the Texas Rangers.
What lessons can the Giants take away from Bochy and this Rangers team? There are multiple potential lessons, but not all have to do with the manager. In fact, most perhaps do not. But Bochy's legacy is undeniable and incredible.
Finally, some details on the rift between new SF Giants manager Bob Melvin and Padres GM A.J. Preller come to light and are discussed. Billy Beane, who's worked closely with both Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and Melvin, thinks the two are perfect for each other in San Francisco.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The goal should be to win. San Francisco Giants fans have endured two straight disappointing seasons and a lack of making the postseason in six out of the last seven years. SF Giants chairman Greg Johnson should be saying things like "the goal is to win at all costs," but instead he keeps saying "the goal is to break even." It's not what Giants fans want to hear, but upon closer examination, Johnson's comments shouldn't be too offensive to Giants fans.
Johnson is speaking from a merely financial perspective. And it's rare to find an ownership goal who's honest enough to say such a thing publicly as Johnson continues to do. Furthermore, having a goal of breaking even is much better than a lot of teams' goal of profiting off the team every year. Johnson's comments were also more nuanced in their entirety, as he said the Giants would be willing to exceed the luxury tax for the right player under the right circumstances; they just wouldn't want to be repeat "offenders," when the penalties get stiffer and stiffer.
Among the other topics addressed on today's Locked On Giants podcast: If the Giants were to sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jung-hoo Lee, would that take them out of the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes? Additionally, the news about Alex Cobb undergoing surgery tomorrow to address a hip issue is discussed. The Giants announced that Cobb would return to pitching in six months—a lengthy recovery time that puts a tinge of doubt on the Giants' upcoming $8M team option decision.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The first phase of the San Francisco Giants' offseason is complete, as the team officially introduced new manager Bob Melvin, who seems like the right person at the right time. The coaching staff is an important next step, but more important will be the Giants' player acquisitions over the winter. Farhan Zaidi recently indicated that the SF Giants would be seeking a "pure" center fielder.
Who could that player be? Young Korean star Jung-Hoo Lee? What about the resurgent Cody Bellinger? Either player would fit the Giants like a glove, but acquiring an outfielder would create a logjam in the outfield with the Giants already committed to Mitch Haniger, Michael Conforto could opt in, Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater are arbitration eligible, and prospects like Luis Matos have shown promise.
Other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of Locked On Giants:
Would you do the proposed Mike Trout trade that Bleacher Report was proposing between the Giants and Angels? I say no on giving up Kyle Harrison in any trade unless it’s for Luis Robert or a player at that level/age range.
I’ve read that Matt Chapman might be a fit. What do you think about him as a player? He’s got a connection with Melvin, and plays an excellent defensive 3B. But he’s very streaky and strikes out a lot. I’d pass given the years and cost. Thoughts?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
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🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Bob Melvin is officially the San Francisco Giants' manager. Melvin got out of the last year of his contract with the Padres, and agreed to a new three-year deal as manager of the Giants. Bob Melvin seems to be the right person at the right time for this Giants organization that's in need of stability and credibility after four polarizing years under former manager Gabe Kapler. Melvin brings instant credibility and strong local ties to the role and is widely regarded as one of the best managers in the game today.
Of note, Melvin was signed by the SF Giants through 2026, so officially that's a two-year extension on top of the one year he had left with San Diego. Even more noteworthy is the fact that Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi was also said to have been extended through 2026. Zaidi would have otherwise been entering the last year of his contract, a dark cloud that would have hung over the 2024 season. Organizational stability is underrated, and despite his faults, Zaidi has arguably been a net asset to the Giants since arriving in the 2018 offseason.
Where do the Giants go from here? The next step is to finalize the coaching staff, which Zaidi said should be done in the next 7-10 days. It's unclear which coaches from Kapler's staff will remain, and it's unclear which new coaches will be brought in. Then, the hard work starts. The Giants have work to do to make their on-field product better and more entertaining. But hiring Bob Melvin and extending him through 2026, along with Farhan Zaidi, feels like the absolute right first step for this Giants team this offseason.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
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🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IbottaDownload the Ibotta app now and use code mlb to get 100% cash back on your Thanksgiving dinner starting November first! GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.Jase Medical
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The Gabe Kapler Era is officially over, and the Bob Melvin Era has officially begun. The San Francisco Giants are making major waves in the baseball world today as they are reportedly poised to announce Bob Melvin as the Giants' next manager tomorrow. Melvin is one of the most respected and longest tenured managers in baseball, and he brings many qualities to the role that Kapler simply didn't possess. Qualities that proved to be too much for Kapler to overcome and that cost him his job.
Melvin brings instant credibility to the SF Giants, something that was perhaps lacking under Kapler. He commands respect from players, but not in an authoritarian way. He is similar to Bruce Bochy in a lot of ways, except Melvin has more experience working with a more analytically-inclined front office, as he was once of the most successful managers in Oakland A's history when he was there for more than a decade.
From the Padres' perspective, this move is hard to make sense of and leaves a lot of fans angry. General Manager A.J. Preller continues to cycle through managers seemingly every other year, and reports of severe distrust between Melvin and Preller seems to say more about Preller than it does about Melvin who, again, is universally respected in the game. The Padres' loss appears to be the San Francisco Giants' gain as Bob Melvin is set to be the SF Giants' next manager, with an announcement expected tomorrow according to a report by The Athletic.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IbottaDownload the Ibotta app now and use code mlb to get 100% cash back on your Thanksgiving dinner starting November first! GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.Jase Medical
Get $20 off these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.
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After the San Francisco Giants fired manager Gabe Kapler with three games left in the 2023 season, Padres manager Bob Melvin's name immediately came to many peoples' minds as a potential replacement. There was skepticism by some; after all, Melvin had just led the Padres to one of the most disappointing and underachieving seasons in MLB history. Why should he manage the SF Giants?
Turns out there are more reasons than can even be counted. Melvin is a Bay Area native and has had a long, successful managerial career, including over a decade across the Bay. He would bring instant credibility where it matters most: among players and fans alike. He has reportedly developed great relationships with Asian-born players like Ichiro Suzuki, Yu Darvish, and Ha-Seong Kim, with the latter two being major potential influences on the ultimate destination of prized players Yoshinobu Yamamoto (out of Japan) and Jung-hoo Lee (out of Korea), who will be posted this offseason.
The one potential concern has to do with the coaching staff. For all of Kapler's faults, he did bring in some of the best in the business, most of whom were relative unknowns at the time. Donnie Ecker has since departed for the Texas Rangers (and is himself a potential frontrunner for the Giants' managerial opening), but he is thought to be a hitting genius. Brian Bannister and Andrew Bailey have been very successful in helping the Giants get the most out of pitchers during their tenures. It remains to be seen, however, what type of coaching staff Melvin would seek to put together.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IbottaDownload the Ibotta app now and use code mlb to get 100% cash back on your Thanksgiving dinner starting November first! GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.Jase Medical
Get $20 off these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.
FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
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San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi is in the midst of an intense and important search for a new manager. But in the last few days, he reportedly too a break from the search. He traveled east. Far east. But Zaidi's travels weren't for vacation. He was in attendance to watch Japanese ace superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto, per The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly. According to Baggarly, "there’s a sense within the industry that the Giants won’t allow another team to outbid them for [Yamamoto's] services."
In other significant news, Baggarly reports that the SF Giants are interested in hiring Bob Melvin as their next manager. Melvin is under contract for another year with the San Diego Padres, but the Friars could be amenable to letting Melvin go, particularly because his relationship with Padres GM A.J. Preller is apparently broken beyond repair. Melvin would bring a strong veteran presence to the Giants, and he'd instantly command the respect of players and fans alike.
Another thing Melvin has going for him: he's apparently known for his close ties to Asian-born players such as Ichiro Suzuki, and more recently Yu Darvish and Ha-Seong Kim. Darvish, who's from Japan, could influence Yamamoto's decision on where to sign. Kim, who's from Korea, could influence Jung-Hoo Lee, another player the Giants are reported to have serious interest in signing this offseason.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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When all was said and done, the San Francisco Giants' season was a major disappointment. Things went so poorly in the end that Giants manager Gabe Kapler was fired. But for much of the season, the SF Giants were actually among the best stories in the sport, and often had one of the best records in the NL. The top moments from 2023 are relived on today's Locked On Giants.
Kyle Harrison put on a show in his Giants home debut, striking out 11 Reds and showing his ace potential. Another rookie, Patrick Bailey, was often a human highlight reel, particularly on defense, but also his home run that prompted the famous "somebody named Patrick Bailey" quote.
Logan Webb and Alex Cobb each had spectacular pitching performances that rank among the season's best moments, including Cobb coming one out shy of a no-hitter, and Webb throwing two complete games on his way to leading the majors in innings pitched.
The rest of the best include highlights from the Giants' 10-game winning streak, from a circus play in LA, to a 15-0 route, to a couple of dramatic Mike Yastrzemski homers that were all part of the win streak. Blake Sabol also provided one of the season's best moments for the SF Giants when he hit a walk-off home run in April with the Giants down to their final strike.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
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🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!birddogsGo to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free water bottle with any order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.
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Everybody and their pet knows that the San Francisco Giants are in desperate need of star power. Giants fans are tired of a team that doesn't have enough big-name players, and the team's performance on the field also reflects the SF Giants' lack of impact talent. Looking ahead to this offseason, what are some ways the Giants can finally acquire a star (or two or three)?
Other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of Locked On Giants:
What do you think is the ideal balance of "let the rookies play" vs. bringing in veteran players for the 2024 Giants? Like, which rookies should the San Francisco Giants give lots of playing time to, and which positions should they seek veterans for?
With the Giants reportedly in the mix for Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jung-Hoo Lee, do we see the Giants as making a push toward a younger team rather than going for bigger veteran free agents?
What is your personal take on if the Giants choose to go very proactive/aggressive in their player acquisition strategy? I.e. trading their young players, for instance, Luis Matos and Kyle Harrison for Luis Robert and Dylan Cease?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!birddogsGo to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free water bottle with any order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.
Jase Medical
Get $20 off these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.
FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.Sleeper
Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
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It's hard to be a San Francisco Giants fan this postseason. On the American League side, former Giants manager Bruce Bochy has his Texas Rangers up 2-0 in the ALCS while the SF Giants sit at home after recently firing manager Gabe Kapler. On the National League side, Bryce Harper, whom the Giants tried to sign in 2018-19, is carrying the Phillies much like he did last October. How much of the Rangers' success is attributable to Bochy is up for debate, but there's no doubt it's a bad look for the SF Giants, from ownership to Farhan Zaidi and the front office.
Harper's influence is more clear and obvious, unlike the role of an MLB manager. Harper is simply a superstar player who impacts the game on the field. But beyond that, he seems to have elevated the whole organization, made other star players want to play for his team, and he has elevated his teammates. The San Francisco Giants must surely regret not offering more to Harper, although their final offer did come close.
The Giants need their own identity. It's not healthy or helpful to look back on the past and feel full of regret. Bochy's not coming back to the SF Giants. Harper's going to be with the Phillies for life. So how do the Giants press forward? First, Zaidi and the Giants must nail the managerial hire. Next, they must have a much better offseason than last year—much, much better. The Giants need their own players to build around, and a manager who hones in the analytics at an extent while being much more capable than Kapler was at garnering support from fans and players alike.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!birddogsGo to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free water bottle with any order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.
Jase Medical
Get $20 off these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.
FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.Sleeper
Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
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Alyssa Nakken keeps making history with the San Francisco Giants. In 2020, Nakken became the first full-time, in-uniform female coach in MLB history. Last week, according to a report by The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly, Nakken is believed to have become the first woman to interview for an MLB managerial position. Nakken would bring several qualifications to the job, including her experience playing high-level collegiate softball, being in the SF Giants organization since 2014 (first as a baseball operations intern), having a master's in sports management, and being a full-time MLB coach since 2020. She's also described as exceptionally personable and someone who puts people at ease, which is an important trait the Giants are looking for in their next manager.
In another report from Baggarly, we learn that the Giants were heavily involved in Sean Murphy trade talks last offseason. According to the report, the Giants were willing to trade Marco Luciano for Murphy, who was entering his age-28 season and had three more years of team control. Murphy is one of the top catchers, both offensively and defensively, in MLB. The A's, however, wanted Kyle Harrison and so the deal never materialized.
Nine years ago today, one of the best moments in San Francisco Giants history happened. Travis Ishikawa hit a 2-0 pitch deep into right, and as it snuck over the 24-foot high wall, the Giants had won the pennant—for the third time in five years. Ishikawa's walk-off homer to win the pennant will stand forever as one of the greatest moments in franchise history, and its anniversary is always a clear reminder of what can only be described as the Golden Age of San Francisco Giants baseball.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
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🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!birddogsGo to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free water bottle with any order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.
Jase Medical
Get $20 off these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.
FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.Sleeper
Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
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Losing Donnie Ecker may have been one of the most significant moments in recent San Francisco Giants history. Ecker was hired as part of the Giants' large new coaching staff under then-new manager Gabe Kapler entering the 2020 season. Ecker was part of a three-person hitting group, that included Justin Viele and Dustin Lind. Those two remain in the organization, but Ecker left for the Texas Rangers after the Giants shocked with world with a 107-win season in 2021.
Now that Kapler has been fired and the SF Giants are searching for a new manager, The San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser reports that Ecker is "expected to be among the potential front-runners" for the Giants' managerial opening. It makes all the sense in the world, as it appears now with two years of hindsight that Ecker had a tremendously positive impact on the SF Giants' offense. Bringing him back as manager would be the only way to offer him a promotion, which the Rangers are supposed to support even if he remains under contract in Texas.
In other news, SF Giants General Manager Pete Putila was spotted in South Korea scouting Jung-Hoo Lee, a center fielder who's going to be posted and available for MLB teams to sign this offseason. Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi recently told NBC Sprots Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic that the SF Giants have interest in Lee and Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but there figures to be heavy competition for both.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.
Jase MedicalSave more than $360 by getting these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical plus an additional $20 off by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.FanDuelMake Every Moment More.Make Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.Sleeper
Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
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The San Francisco Giants fell flat after their 107-win 2021 season with an 81-81 record in 2022. Hoping to prove '22 was just an anomaly, the Giants were actually even worse in 2023, finishing with a 79-83 record. The SF Giants' failures resulted in manager Gabe Kapler being fired. President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi is firmly on the hot seat. So what does the offseason have in store for this team that's in such an unstable position?
The Giants' biggest need is simply to have more impact position players. The problem is this is a weak free agent market in that respect. Outfield defense has also been mentioned as a need for the SF Giants by Zaidi, and top-end starting pitching could also be categorized as a need. A rotation of Logan Webb, Alex Cobb, and Kyle Harrison paired with youngsters like Tristan Beck and Keaton Winn plus an impact starter at the top would really start to look like one of the best in the league.
Other questions addressed on today's mailbag edition of Locked On Giants: Is Sonny Gray a fit for the SF Giants and how much would he cost? How high will the Giants' payroll be in 2024? Which rookies from 2023 will be on the Opening Day roster in 2024? What are your thoughts on Justin Viele and Andrew Bailey? Will either or both be retained next year under the new manager?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.
Jase MedicalSave more than $360 by getting these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical plus an additional $20 off by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.FanDuelMake Every Moment More.Make Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.Sleeper
Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
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Logan Webb is one of the best pitchers in baseball. Camilo Doval is one of the best closers in baseball. Outside of those two, for the most part, the San Francisco Giants' pitching staff was a major mixed bag in 2023. But Webb and Doval, both 26 years old and under team control for five and four years, respectively, are a great foundation for the SF Giants. Webb led the majors in innings and was as effective as ever at run prevention. He had the NL's best walk rate and led the majors in ground ball rate among qualified pitchers. Doval continued to be nasty and rock solid for the Giants, and ended up tied for the NL lead with 39 saves.
Next on the pecking order probably comes Alex Cobb, who was an All-Star for the first time in 2023 but tailed off in the second half as he dealt with a hip injury. Cobb notwithstanding, the Giants' veteran pitchers struggled for the most part. Ross Stripling was dreadful, and Sean Manaea had a really weird season with strong underlying numbers after an awful start. Both have the right to opt out and it's unclear whether Manaea will (Stripling almost certainly won't). Alex Wood and Anthony DeSclafani were not great at all. Wood's a free agent and there's one more year on DeSclafani's regrettable contract.
Several of the bullpen arms were solid, like Tyler Rogers and rookie Ryan Walker. And then there were a handful of exciting young arms, with more on the way. Kyle Harrison, arguably the best left-handed pitching prospect in baseball, made his MLB debut and showed flashes of brilliance despite mixed results. Tristan Beck and Keaton Winn also showed flashes of their potential and those two, along with Harrison and Webb, could form the core of a good young Giants rotation for years to come.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.
Jase MedicalSave more than $360 by getting these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical plus an additional $20 off by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.FanDuelMake Every Moment More.Make Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.Sleeper
Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
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The San Francisco Giants' position players were really good ... until they weren't. For the first half of the season, the SF Giants were a good offensive team, and their defense and baserunning combined with solid offense gave them one of the top fWAR rankings in MLB. However, a second-half collapse that affected everyone outside of Wilmer Flores, for whatever reason, cost them a winning record and a spot in the playoffs.
The Giants' position player MVP was probably Thairo Estrada once defense and baserunning is factored in. Flores was the Giants' best hitter, but didn't provide much of any baserunning or defensive value. Patrick Bailey was a breakout sensation defensively, but his offense really, really tailed off after a hot start.
Michael Conforto, Mitch Haniger, and Joc Pederson were varying degrees of disappointing. LaMonte Wade Jr., J.D. Davis, and Mike Yastrzemski were a solid meaty middle and provided value despite being streaky or injury prone at times. Several other rookies like Luis Matos, Marco Luciano, Wade Meckler, and Casey Schmitt showed flashes of upside but have things they need to work on to get better and help the Giants win moving forward.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants' payroll has been a hot topic ever since new president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi took over following the 2018 season. Since that time, the Giants' payroll steadily decreased until is eventually stabilized at around $162 million—until this year it shot up by $30 million. The theory that's been discussed on Locked On Giants numerous times is that this $30M increase is likely explained by MLB's sale of BAMTech to Disney for $900 million, which was evenly split among the 30 teams, for a total of $30M per team.
Zaidi, however, continues to claim that there's no "cap" on SF Giants spending from ownership, and that it's his job to make recommendations on players to sign and that, in theory, they'd give the green light if Zaidi makes a good enough argument. The pattern described above somewhat suggests otherwise. But there are exceptions. Bryce Harper, for example, was offered $310M by the Giants in Year 1 under Zaidi. Had they signed Harper, the payroll would've been significantly higher than it ended up being in 2019. So it does appear that, for the right player, the San Francisco Giants are likely to make an exception and spend beyond the break-even point, which has been the oft-stated financial goal by high ranking club representatives.
Other questions on today's mailbag edition of Locked On Giants include:
Do you think they offer Brandon Crawford a bench role next year? Does he play elsewhere? Do they offer him a front office position? Is HE the next manager?
Why does Zaidi keep saying the Giants are an attractive place for free agents when they continue to miss on the top guys? Do you fault ownership, the weather, or triples alley?
What do you think is the future of Blake Sabol vs Joey Bart as a backup to Patrick Bailey?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Gabe Kapler was fired a week ago today, and the San Francisco Giants have begun the process of looking for a new manager. But is Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi's expiring contract a potential problem? Will a new SF Giants manager want to walk into such an unstable situation, knowing that Zaidi could be fired at the end of 2024 if things don't work out—again—as was the case in 2022 and 2023? Speaking of which, should Zaidi be fired if the Giants fail to make the playoffs next year? There's certainly a strong argument to be made that he should.
Other questions that are asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of Locked On Giants include, among others:
What does a trade package for Juan Soto look like? Will the assumption that there’s no chance to extend him (because he’s a Scott Boras client) keep the cost down? Which prospects would you keep off the table in a trade?
With regular playing time as opposed to platooning, would the 2023 Giants have been more successful? It seems to me that routine and regularity make people better at things. I don’t think Michael Conforto and Mitch Haniger having the worst years of their careers is a coincidence.
Now that the Giants are getting a new manager, do you think that firing Kapler will benefit or hurt the teams chances in 2024? Will a change in direction improve the team or will there be some growing pains?
What will happen to the 2023 coaching staff now that Kapler is gone? How many could stay on and do you think they’ll have as many coaches under a new manager?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants have a managerial vacancy. That is a white-hot topic after the team fired Gabe Kapler late last week. The Giants' managerial search will dominate local headlines in the month of October, as it should. And one name that comes up time and time again is Ron Wotus.
Wotus is beloved, respected, loyal, and a Giant through and through. But there is a large philosophical gap between him and Farhan Zaidi. A gap that may be too wide to bridge. In 2019, Bruce Bochy and Zaidi were each surprised by how well they were able to work with each other. But Zaidi also interviewed Wotus for the SF Giants' managerial opening in 2019 after Bochy "retired" and Wotus didn't even make it to the round of finalists.
Many fans likely believe that the next Giants manager should be far away philosophically from Zaidi, but it's just hard to imagine that it turns out that way with Zaidi leading the hiring process. During his session with reporters the other day, Zaidi made it clear that some on the SF Giants' board of directors, including Greg Johnson, Larry Baer, and Buster Posey, will only meet with candidates once the list has been narrowed down. So Zaidi will lead the way, and it's hard to imagine Wotus is his choice when there are others who aren't as extreme as Kapler available. Stephen Vogt and Pat Burrell have been discussed on the show as options.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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I believe in Stephen Vogt! I believe in Stephen Vogt! It's a chant that Bay Area fans are very familiar with, a ringing endorsement of the ultra-popular former A's and Giants catcher. The San Francisco Giants have a managerial opening after they fired Gabe Kapler, and Vogt may just be the perfect fit to replace him. Vogt grew up a huge Giants fan. His favorite players were Will Clark and Barry Bonds.
Perhaps most importantly, Vogt possesses personality traits that are somewhat the polar opposite of Kapler's. Kapler had a way of making people feel uneasy in his presence. The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly even reported yesterday that agents described face-to-face meetings with Zaidi and Kapler as sometimes awkward, tense, and uneasy. Zaidi is a pretty affable guy though. So this was likely 95% Kapler, and that was a problem. Zaidi has stressed that the next SF Giants manager should be an effective recruiter, and very few are as well-liked and respected in the game as Vogt. He also has explicitly stated that he wants to be an MLB manager.
Vogt just finished a season as Mariners bullpen and quality control coach. The downside of potentially hiring him to manage the SF Giants stems solely from his lack of managerial experience. Otherwise he's a pretty perfect fit on paper. Switching gears, Zaidi's comments about the Giants' outfield defense being an area they'd like to upgrade are discussed. Indeed, the Giants were not good defensively in the outfield, but were among the game's best in the infield, largely thanks to a sensational defensive season from Thairo Estrada.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!birddogsGo to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free water bottle with any order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.
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First things first, the San Francisco Giants need a new manager. So it was no surprise that when Farhan Zaidi met with the media on Tuesday morning that most questions centered around the SF Giants' managerial search. Would Zaidi be open to hiring a first-time manager? Or would he be looking for someone with more experience? Zaidi's main response was that he wants the next Giants manager to be a premier recruiter of talent. Which seems to suggest Kapler was not able to do that in a meaningful way.
Zaidi also talked about the Giants' offseason plans beyond their managerial search. He highlighted outfield defense as an area where the team came up short, and that getting more athletic there would be a priority. However, Mitch Haniger is under contract for two more years. Michael Conforto could opt in for another year. Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater have value and should be tendered contracts. So where's the room for improvement? Trades would seemingly be very much on the table.
What about the future of the shortstop position? It seemed like a changing of the guard when Brandon Crawford departed in the ninth inning against the Dodgers, and as he entered the dugout, he gave a hug to the young Marco Luciano, who ran out onto the field to replace him. Zaidi said that, at least initially, the plan is for Luciano to be the SF Giants' everyday shortstop in 2024. He also mentioned Tyler Fitzgerald as perhaps the best defensive center fielder in the organization and that could play into their outfield plans next year as well.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Talk about a bombshell. The San Francisco Giants fired manager Gabe Kapler on Friday afternoon after four seasons in San Francisco. Kapler was an unpopular choice for Giants manager from the start, and he never won over a large segment of the fanbase. These weren't his failed rosters, but nonetheless Kapler always seemed to lack the communication skills necessary to face the media twice daily and seemed to be somewhat of an absent presence in a reeling SF Giants clubhouse.
Why does Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi get to keep his job? He's the one responsible for these rosters that have massively disappointed in two straight seasons, in years four and five of his tenure here. It's a very fair question. The answer would seem to be that Zaidi has made numerous savvy moves and is seemingly one or two major moves away from having far more success. Thairo Estrada, Mike Yastrzemski, LaMonte Wade Jr., and J.D. Davis are all good to above-average major leaguers, and all were acquired in trades for next to nothing. The Kevin Gausman, Carlos Rodón, and Wilmer Flores stand out as great acquisitions. The Logan Webb extension was a success. Zaidi simply must be more bold moving forward (for example, he should've signed Gausman to a long-term deal when he had the chance).
So ... who are the candidates to replace the fired Kapler? Everyone has an opinion, from old-school "baseball men" like Ron Wotus, Ron Washington, and Dusty Baker to newer school managers like Craig Counsell, who's contract is up after the season. Donnie Ecker is a very intriguing possibility but would the SF Giants be willing to take a chance on a first-time manager? One other name to keep an eye on: Buster Posey. Sure, he'd also be a first-time manager, but there couldn't possibly be a more popular choice among Giants fans, and that's kind of what this team needs right now is some good morale.
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On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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In the immediate aftermath of what can only be described as an extremely disappointing 2023 season for the San Francisco Giants, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi made some very interesting comments in an interview with KNBR. Zaidi admitted that the Giants' roster was not athletic enough, and emphasized that the SF Giants' platoon-heavy approach may only work with a couple of studs anchoring the lineup.
Zaidi also seemed to dodge a question about Gabe Kapler's future as Giants manager. He did say that he appreciated ownership's support in bringing both back next year, but also didn't unequivocally commit to Kapler returning in 2024. While Kapler has many good qualities, there are questions as to whether he's the best person to lead the San Francisco Giants moving forward, and a change wouldn't be too shocking. At the very least, SF Giants fans should expect some coaching shakeups.
Switching gears, trade possibilities are discussed. It's legitimately possible if one or more of Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, and Mike Trout are dealt this offseason. Since the free agent market is thin on position players, a trade for one (or more) of these three could make sense for the Giants, who should be desperate to make a big splash to improve their team in 2024. Zaidi won't be around much longer if the Giants don't get dramatically better in a hurry.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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No fan of the San Francisco Giants wants to be in offseason mode on September 28. But that is, sadly, the state of the Giants right now as they were eliminated from playoff contention two days ago. And so look forward we must, and it begins by taking inventory of which SF Giants players are reaching free agency. Among the headliners: Joc Pederson, Brandon Crawford, and Alex Wood.
Next are the guaranteed commitments for the Giants. Michael Conforto ($18M) and Sean Manaea ($12.5M) are possible opt outs, whereas Ross Stripling has already stated he will opt in. Mitch Haniger and Anthony DeSclafani are a couple of other SF Giants who will be back on guaranteed deals. Some good guaranteed deals include those to Wilmer Flores and Logan Webb.
Finally, the Giants' arbitration-eligible players. This list includes J.D. Davis, Austin Slater, Mike Yastrzemski, LaMonte Wade Jr., Tyler Rogers, and Thairo Estrada. All six seem like pretty easy tender decisions, because the contracts will be cheap relative to free agent prices for similar production. Estrada stands out as a possible extension candidate for the Giants.
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On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!NutrafolTake the first step to visibly thicker, healthier hair. For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners ten dollars off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com/men and enter the promo code LOCKEDONMLB. DoorDashGet fifty percent off your first DoorDash order up to a twenty-dollar value when you use code lockedonmlb at checkout. Limited time offer, terms apply.LinkedInRight now, you can try LinkedIn Sales Navigator and get a sixty-day free trial at LinkedIn.com/LockedOn. Let LinkedIn Sales Navigator help you sell like a superstar today!birddogsGo to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free water bottle with any order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you.Jase MedicalSave more than $360 by getting these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical plus an additional $20 off by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.Gametime
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Five years into the Farhan Zaidi era, San Francisco Giants fans want, expect, and deserve more. The Giants were officially eliminated from playoff contention with last night's loss to the Padres, something that's happened far too often since 2017 and under Zaidi. The SF Giants are a proud, storied franchise with a reputation for winning. However, they've done anything but outside of an anomaly 2021 season in which they won a miraculous 107 games.
Giants players appear to have their minds elsewhere. There was reporting yesterday by The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly that the team has been nonchalant about losing. SF Giants ace and leader essentially said as much. Baggarly's reporting detailed that several players appear more interested in playing cards before games rather than preparing to face their opponent. And now for the fourth time this month, a player seemed to forget how many outs there were during a game. Unacceptable, all of it.
Where does the blame land? Who, if anyone, takes the fall? It really is a top to bottom situation. Giants ownership needs to be more driven to win. Zaidi and his front office need to take bolder action instead of just constantly working at the margins. Gabe Kapler needs to take control of the clubhouse. The hitting coaches may be under the most fire of anyone. And the San Francisco Giants players themselves need to hold themselves to a higher standard. When the fans seem to care more than the players themselves, that represents a major organizational problem that must be fixed or nothing will change.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!NutrafolTake the first step to visibly thicker, healthier hair. For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners ten dollars off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com/men and enter the promo code LOCKEDONMLB. DoorDashGet fifty percent off your first DoorDash order up to a twenty-dollar value when you use code lockedonmlb at checkout. Limited time offer, terms apply.LinkedInRight now, you can try LinkedIn Sales Navigator and get a sixty-day free trial at LinkedIn.com/LockedOn. Let LinkedIn Sales Navigator help you sell like a superstar today!birddogsGo to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free water bottle with any order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you.Jase MedicalSave more than $360 by getting these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical plus an additional $20 off by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.Gametime
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Even though the San Francisco Giants are all but eliminated from playoff contention, last night's win over the Padres felt like it meant something. For one thing, the SF Giants and Padres entered the game tied in the standings. For another, it took a two-out, two-run hit from Michael Conforto to finally get the Giants on the board and overcome a 1-0 deficit. Finally, it meant something that SF Giants ace Logan Webb was absolutely dominant en route to his second complete game of the season.
Even though the game meant something, Webb wasn't satisfied afterwards. He had some harsh words about the team's clubhouse culture, stating to The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly and others: "I’m tired of losing. It’s not fun. We’ve got to make some big changes in here to create that winning culture." Apparently, the Giants don't seem too upset after losses. And several players seem more interested in a card game than studying the opposing pitcher who's likely to dominate them that night. One player even spoke anonymously and said that the team's decision to play music after losses was unprecedented around the league. This all falls on the players, but also on manager Gabe Kapler and his staff.
Webb's Cy Young candidacy is discussed. It was a great matchup last night with Webb vs. Blake Snell. Both were excellent, and Snell is likely to win the award thanks to a low-2.00s ERA. But Webb should probably be in the top three thanks to the fact that he leads MLB in innings, he's prevented runs at a terrific rate, and his walk rate and ground ball rate are both the bets in the NL (and his ground ball rate is best in all of MLB by a huge margin).
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!NutrafolTake the first step to visibly thicker, healthier hair. For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners ten dollars off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com/men and enter the promo code LOCKEDONMLB. DoorDashGet fifty percent off your first DoorDash order up to a twenty-dollar value when you use code lockedonmlb at checkout. Limited time offer, terms apply.LinkedInRight now, you can try LinkedIn Sales Navigator and get a sixty-day free trial at LinkedIn.com/LockedOn. Let LinkedIn Sales Navigator help you sell like a superstar today!birddogsGo to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free water bottle with any order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you.Jase MedicalSave more than $360 by getting these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical plus an additional $20 off by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.Gametime
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The San Francisco Giants' season is all but over. Losing three of four in LA sealed the Giants' fate, even if they're not technically eliminated just yet. The 2023 Giants season certainly had its positives, but the negatives will stand out more. According to a report in The Athletic, the SF Giants may have damaged their reputation this year by quickly moving pitchers Sean Manaea, Ross Stripling, and Alex Wood to the bullpen after early struggles, and benching or platooning high-paid players like Mitch Haniger.
While there is probably some truth to the Giants' damaged reputation, it shouldn't stem from those examples. All of those players played their way into their roles, with the one exception being Manaea, who probably deserved to go back into the rotation much earlier than the last couple of weeks. Manaea has quietly been very effective for four months, mostly in a "bulk innings" role out of the 'pen. Losing director of pitching Brian Bannister could harm the Giants as well, and could be part of a much larger shakeup with the coaching staff after this failed season.
But things weren't all bad this year for the San Francisco Giants. Rookies Patrick Bailey, Luis Matos, Marco Luciano, Kyle Harrison, Tristan Beck, Keaton Winn, Ryan Walker, Blake Sabol, and others were all imperfect in their own ways, but all provided promise for the future. Among them, several look like long-term major leaguers, and there may even be a star or two among their ranks.
Find and follow Locked On Giants:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!NutrafolTake the first step to visibly thicker, healthier hair. For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners ten dollars off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com/men and enter the promo code LOCKEDONMLB. DoorDashGet fifty percent off your first DoorDash order up to a twenty-dollar value when you use code lockedonmlb at checkout. Limited time offer, terms apply.LinkedInRight now, you can try LinkedIn Sales Navigator and get a sixty-day free trial at LinkedIn.com/LockedOn. Let LinkedIn Sales Navigator help you sell like a superstar today!birddogsGo to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free water bottle with any order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you.Jase MedicalSave more than $360 by getting these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical plus an additional $20 off by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.Gametime
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FanDuelMake Every Moment More.Make Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.Sleeper
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At least we have Kyle Harrison. The San Francisco Giants' road incompetence reached historic proportions after dropping Thursday night's game in LA, but a trio of young Giants did provide a spark. Harrison was really good over 5.1 innings, allowing just two runs against an extremely potent Dodgers lineup. The quality of Harrison's stuff was good, and he was pitching through an illness.
On the offensive side, Marco Luciano and Tyler Fitzgerald each drew a walk and had a hit. For Fitzgerald, it was his first hit in MLB. Luciano had some hits in his first stint with the SF Giants, and sending him down was an unpopular move. It's a shame Giants fans didn't get a longer look at Luciano, particularly given how this season seems certain to end up—with no playoffs. Again.
Alas, the SF Giants' road woes have reached historic levels. Their 5-26 record in their last 31 road games is the worst 31-game road stretch for the Giants franchise since 1902. If the Giants had merely been as bad as the next worst teams, they'd be tied for a playoff spot. If they'd been 10-21, they'd be in the second wild card spot. If they'd been 15-16, they'd be the No. 1 wild card team by two games. But instead, they were historically awful, and someone should have to take the fall for this Giants team's collapse (both on the road and at the plate in the second half).
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!LinkedInRight now, you can try LinkedIn Sales Navigator and get a sixty-day free trial at LinkedIn.com/LockedOn. Let LinkedIn Sales Navigator help you sell like a superstar today!birddogsGo to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free water bottle with any order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you.Jase MedicalSave more than $360 by getting these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical plus an additional $20 off by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.
FanDuelMake Every Moment More.Make Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.Sleeper
Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
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The San Francisco Giants' playoff hopes are almost certainly over. So it's not at all surprising that today, the SF Giants announced a flurry of future-oriented moves. The Giants recalled Marco Luciano and Tristan Beck from Triple-A. They selected the contract of Tyler Fitzgerald and added him to the MLB roster. Sean Hjelle was optioned. Brandon Crawford was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain, and Paul DeJong was placed on unconditional release waivers.
Hopefully the Giants give long looks to Luciano in particular, but also Fitzgerald. And give Tristan Beck, along with Kyle Harrison, chances to start games. SF Giants fans are sick and tired of the timid approach the Giants have taken with some of their young players. Watching them get jerked around back and forth between Triple-A and the Majors. Watching them get 12 plate appearances and then get sent down. Seeing them get pinch-hit for in the MLB debut when everyone in the ballpark wanted to see that player hit. It's time for all of that to stop.
Brandon Crawford may have played his last game as a Giant. He's eligible to come off the IL on the last day of the season, however, so even if he's injured he should be activated and get to walk off the field for perhaps the final time. The SF Giants failed miserably by not giving a proper sendoff to Brandon Belt in what clearly could've been (and ended up being) his last game as a Giant. Lastly, Tom Verducci's article in which he calls the SF Giants baseball's "most boring contender" is discussed.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!LinkedInRight now, you can try LinkedIn Sales Navigator and get a sixty-day free trial at LinkedIn.com/LockedOn. Let LinkedIn Sales Navigator help you sell like a superstar today!birddogsGo to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free water bottle with any order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you.Jase MedicalSave more than $360 by getting these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical plus an additional $20 off by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.
FanDuelMake Every Moment More.Make Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.Sleeper
Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
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When all was said and done, the San Francisco Giants simply withered away amidst the Arizona heat. The D-backs plunged venom into the now nearly hopeless SF Giants, who could be as many as four games back with 10 games remaining after these two losses.
Who's to blame for what went wrong for the Giants this year? It really starts all the way at the top and comes all the way down to the bottom. Ownership deserves blame. Farhan Zaidi and his staff deserve blame. The coaching staff. Gabe Kapler. The players. They all deserve blame for this unacceptable season. An offensive collapse around the halfway point of the season and a 5-25 road record in their last 30 road games seem to have done the Giants in.
So ... what's to come for this proud franchise? Change is likely. At the very least, a shakeup among the coaching staff seems like an inevitability. Kapler could be on the hot seat. Zaidi as well. Even if both remain next year, they'll enter the year under serious fire. Mostly none of the SF Giants' main offseason targets ended up panning out. Mitch Haniger was a total no-show, and Michael Conforto did very little. Ross Stripling was very bad from the very beginning. It's time for soul searching and a correction of course from the San Francisco Giants and it must start now.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!LinkedInRight now, you can try LinkedIn Sales Navigator and get a sixty-day free trial at LinkedIn.com/LockedOn. Let LinkedIn Sales Navigator help you sell like a superstar today!birddogsGo to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free water bottle with any order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you.Jase MedicalSave more than $360 by getting these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical plus an additional $20 off by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.
FanDuelMake Every Moment More.Make Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.Sleeper
Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
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The San Francisco Giants' season is one the line tonight in Arizona. But before tonight's game gets underway, the Giants have a lot of scoreboard watching to do. Last night, the Reds and Phillies won and the Marlins lost, leaving the SF Giants with essentially no shot of catching Philadelphia, but still just two games out of a playoff spot.
The remaining schedules for the Cubs, Reds, Marlins, and D-backs are discussed. Since the SF Giants find themselves two games back with three teams they must pass, these other teams' games are equally important as their own. There is a small opening that the Giants hope they can push through, but they'll need some help, and they'll need to take care of business in the desert.
The Giants and D-backs begin a critical two-game series tonight, with marquee pitching matchups in both games. Tonight it'll be ace Zac Gallen against the ailing Alex Cobb (left hip impingement). Tomorrow, the Giants will feature their ace Logan Webb against SF Giants nemesis Merrill Kelly. If the SF Giants can somehow manage to win both games, it could propel them back into the wild card race. If they split, they'll still have a faint pulse and will hold the tiebreaker over AZ. Two losses would probably effective end the Giants' season.
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U
🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN
🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg
🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!LinkedInRight now, you can try LinkedIn Sales Navigator and get a sixty-day free trial at LinkedIn.com/LockedOn. Let LinkedIn Sales Navigator help you sell like a superstar today!birddogsGo to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free water bottle with any order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you.Jase MedicalSave more than $360 by getting these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical plus an additional $20 off by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.
FanDuelMake Every Moment More.Make Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.Sleeper
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Was losing three of four to the Rockies the San Francisco Giants' kiss of death? It very well may have been. The Giants were no-hit into the ninth inning of game one, but were still in position to win in the bottom of the ninth. Camilo Doval, however, allowed two runs to score and the SF Giants lost a heartbreaker. Then the Giants were swept in a doubleheader, before finally winning the finale. Even then, the Giants held a 9-0 lead in the middle innings but barely hung on to survive an 11-10 win. Nothing comes easily with this team!
The San Francisco Giants find themselves 2.0 games out of a playoff spot with just 12 games remaining. They must pass three teams in order to claim the third and final wild card spot. Their abysmal road record since July 18, 4-23, entering Sunday is a huge reason why the Giants are where they are. If they could've just gone 10-17—which is bad, just not atrocious—they would be the No. 1 wild card team. It's truly been a season of extreme highs and lows for the SF Giants.
So ... what must the Giants do to make the playoffs? Simply put, they need to win a lot of games. It looks like it will take, at minimum, 84 wins to sneak in as the last wild card team. That would mean the Giants need to finish 8-4—not an easy task considering seven of their remaining 12 games are against the Dodgers, including four on the road. If the SF Giants can win both of their upcoming games in Arizona, that would make things a lot easier. So one game at a time.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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SFGiants #FirstListen
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The NL wild card race is living up to its name. The San Francisco Giants find themselves in the thick of a wild race to the finish, and despite getting rained out yesterday, the Giants had a great day. The D-backs, Reds, and Marlins all lost, which pushed the SF Giants into a virtual tie for the third and final wild card spot. However, the Giants' winning percentage is slightly higher than the teams they're "tied" with (AZ and CIN have played two more games and are 1-1 in them).
The Giants also have important tiebreaker advantages. If they were to tie with the Reds, the Giants would win outright without playing a Game 163. The SF Giants only need to win one of their two remaining games against the D-backs to win that season series. The Giants and Marlins split their season series, and the next tiebreaker is intradivision record, which is also an advantage for the Giants. So their playoff odds are certainly on the rise and things would be looking good even in the event of an eventual tie.
Giants chairman Greg Johnson made comments that he firmly stood behind Farhan Zaidi and Gabe Kapler. There had recently been some rumbling about discontent among ownership, particularly with Kapler, and that firings could be made if the team fails to reach the playoffs. But Johnson put that idea to rest, stating that both would be back in 2024.
Luis Matos survived a roster crunch as Michael Conforto was activated. Matos has really been playing well, and so it was infielder Casey Schmitt who was optioned even though Conforto is an outfielder.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants' 2023 season has been a wild roller coaster ride. The Giants struggled at first, then became red hot, then became ice cold, and now, in the last six days, they've been hot again. With 16 SF Giants games remaining in the regular season, fans have questions:
Daniel: Taking a more balanced question here, a rose and a thorn. What is your rose for the season, something positive to take away no matter what happens, and a negative thorn, again no matter what happens (even if the Giants go on to make a deep playoff run somehow)?
DP: Who is worthy of keeping on the offense for next year? LaMonte Wade Jr., J.D. Davis, Austin Slater, and Mike Yastrzemski (injuries) had very good first halves but have disappeared in the last few months. Joc Pederson and Brandon Crawford can't come back.
Juan: Kind of far away but how many guys do you see getting non tendered at the end of the year? Yaz? JD?
Vinnie: You are now King. What three moves would you make to make the SF Giants more competitive in 2024?
Kyle: Where is the on-field leadership?
Brian: Why does ownership love Farhan Zaidi and Kapler Gabe Kapler, and this uninspired and boring brand of baseball that the majority of the fans can’t stand?
Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Just when you're ready to count them out, the 2023 San Francisco Giants have a way of making you believe again. That was certainly the case today, as the Giants looked all but certain to lose as the innings ticked away with the SF Giants facing a large deficit. But down three in the eighth, J.D. Davis delivered perhaps his biggest hit as a Giant with a three-run homer that tied the game and set the Oracle Park crowd into a frenzy.
So many players and managerial moves contributed to the SF Giants' wild and improbable win. Alex Wood pitched four excellent innings following a not-so-good outing by Kyle Harrison that kept the Giants within striking distance. Giants manager Gabe Kapler used Tyler Rogers, not Camilo Doval, in the ninth to have the strikeout-heavy Doval available for extra innings and it paid off in a big way. There were so many pinch hitters, including LaMonte Wade Jr., who went 2 for 2 and had the walk-off sac fly.
The SF Giants' defense has been a topic of conversation lately, as they passed their error total from last year, which was a miserable year defensively. But anyone who watched last year and has watched this year should be able to tell that this year's team has been vastly better defensively. Two great examples of why errors stink as a measure of defense: Nick Castellanos is so clearly a bad defender, yet he hasn't made an error since 2021. Patrick Bailey, meanwhile, who may be the best defender in MLB, has the second-most errors on the Giants (and 10% of their errors overall).
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants' never-give-up attitude, echoing their 2021 107-win team's slogan, was on full display during their recent must-win games. Even after a hiccup from Brandon Crawford led to two runs, the Giants charged back immediately, and ultimately achieved victory with Blake Sabol and LaMonte Wade Jr. shining as the 10th-inning heroes. The playoff race remains tense: had the Giants won and Arizona lost, they'd be just 0.5 games behind. But with Arizona's clutch triumph, the Giants' victory was crucial to stay only 1.5 games back, with a tense 18 games left. Meanwhile, drama ensues off the field. Alex Cobb's gritty performance, despite battling a left hip impingement, was commendable. Concurrently, Ross Stripling's allegations about being placed on the "phantom IL" stirs controversy, casting doubts over his future with the Giants. As the saga unfolds, Sean Manaea's return to the starting rotation tonight after a long hiatus since May 10 adds another layer of excitement. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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In a season rife with unexpected turns, the San Francisco Giants may have caught fire at just the right moment. Their recent sweep over the Rockies has not just been a win on the scoreboard, but a beacon of hope for the playoffs. As momentum builds, fans and analysts alike will be following the Giants' final 19 games closely. One name gaining traction is rookie starter Keaton Winn. His Sunday performance, highlighted by nine strikeouts, raises questions: could this newcomer find a regular place amidst the Giants' rotation? While it's early days, the buzz is undeniable. But every success story has its unsung heroes, and whispers around the dugout suggest a pivotal team meeting may have played a role. Led by President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi, the gathering seems to have made an impact. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Alex Cobb certainly gave San Francisco Giants fans a thrill. Cobb was just one out away from no-hitting the Cincinnati Reds, but unfortunately he gave up a hit to Spencer Steer that spoiled the party. However, manager Gabe Kapler allowed Cobb to finish the game (with a pitch count of 130) and Cobb picked up a complete game for the SF Giants. While the no-hitter story line was certainly a blast, there were larger implications. First and foremost, the Giants needed a win and they got it. The SF Giants are in the middle of a closely contested playoff race, and every single win matters from here on out. There are only 30 games remaining. Secondly, Cobb's excellence bodes extremely well for the Giants' rotation, particularly if they find themselves in the postseason. All of a sudden, Logan Webb, Kyle. Harrison, and Cobb look like a potentially deep and fearsome trio in a postseason series. Mitch Haniger was finally activated off the IL. Heliot Ramos was optioned and Bryce Johnson was DFA'd to clear a spot. None of these moves was particularly earth-shattering, even though it's known that Ramos and Johnson have their fans among the Giants faithful. In other news, the Angels made a wild series of moves, placing Lucas Giolito and a handful of other solid players on waivers. The Giants are among any team that could claim these players, and we'll find out soon enough if they do. Waiver priority is based on winning percentage in reverse. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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How's that for a first impression in front of the home crowd? San Francisco Giants 22-year-old lefty Kyle Harrison absolutely dominated the Cincinnati Reds in a pivotal game in front of a frenzied crowd at Oracle Park last night. Harrison struck out 11 batters in 6.1 innings, walking only two and allowing zero runs. His fastball was basically unhittable, even in the middle of the strike zone, and it's clear that it's a very special pitch. Harrison was also effective with his slider and his changeup. The story of the 2023 Giants has been all about the infusion of youth. Patrick Bailey's emergence as perhaps the best defensive catcher—and perhaps the best defender in baseball, period—has been an enormous leap forward for the organization. But if Kyle Harrison continues to pitch anything like he's pitched in these first two games, the SF Giants might just have another young star on their hands. The Giants have also gotten contributions from young players such as Luis Matos, Wade Meckler, Ryan Walker, Casey Schmitt, and others. Lost in all the buzz about Harrison, this was a huge game for the San Francisco Giants. And in the very first inning, their offensive woes showed up again. They scored a quick run, but failed to score more after having runners on second and third with nobody out. J.D. Davis and Paul DeJong struck out on middle-middle fastballs in sac fly situations. However, in the third inning, Davis roped a single off that same pitcher, and DeJong came up in another sac fly situation and got the job done. So there was some much-needed redemption and positive reinforcement for the offense as the stretch run begins. The Giants are 0.5 games out of a playoff spot with just 31 games remaining. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr On X: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants desperately needed a spark. The Giants had already secured their seventh straight series loss with their first two losses to Atlanta, and were on the verge of being swept if they lost again on Sunday. Instead, in part because of a pregame team meeting led by Thairo Estrada, the SF Giants played one of their best and most complete games, on Sunday Night Baseball, and defeated the MLB-best Braves. Tristan Beck threw four perfect innings to begin his first MLB start, though things unraveled for him in the fifth. The Giants also completed one of the most entertaining double plays in recent memory, as they went 3-1-4-2, a rare combination that hasn't been done in at least 60+ years. We told you Austin Slater wasn't cooked! Slater continued to stay hot, and helped carry the Giants to victory. Recently, Slater revealed that Giants manager Gabe Kapler told him, "You could go 0 for your next 40 and I'd still use you as a pinch hitter against the lefty in the playoffs." Kapler is right to not lose trust in a player based on 30 or 40 poor played appearances. The same can be said of Camilo Duval, who shook off recent struggles to pitch to clean 1-2-3 9th with two strikeouts to secure the San Francisco Giants' win over Atlanta. Mike Yastrzemski and Mitch Haniger are nearing their returns to the SF Giants. Both may be activated as soon as this upcoming series against the Reds. Michael Conforto, on the other hand, went on the IL with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Heliot Ramos was recalled John Brebbia is nearing a rehab assignment. Johan Camargo and Luis González cleared waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento. Now the Giants take on the Cincinnati Reds in an enormous series. Both teams are 1.5 games back of the NL's final wild card spot. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants' 2023 season has largely been defined by an influx of young talent. Not all SF Giants rookies have performed all that well, so it can take some time to sort through which ones likely have staying power and which ones may not. Among the Giants' rookies to debut this year, Patrick Bailey has already established himself as one of the game's best catchers. Kyle Harrison just made his major league debut, and his stuff was so impressive that it's easy to see him anchoring the rotation for years to come. Ryan Walker has been really good out of the 'pen. Other Giants rookies like Luis Matos and Casey Schmitt have had more struggles, but it's still easy to believe in their futures (though Schmitt has a lot to work on at the plate). Wade Meckler is also in the conversation of SF Giants rookies with a good chance of being mainstays. Should the Giants extend Paul DeJong? Brandon Crawford is a free agent after the season and frankly has been bad this year, especially offensively. DeJong is 6.5 years younger, a strong defender at short, and a competent bat capable of hitting 15-20 homers a season. He absolutely makes sense as an extension candidate (probably no more than one year, however). Will the SF Giants make the playoffs this year? If so, how deep of a run could they make with this pitching staff? Which are the best Giants uniforms? How does Shohei Ohtani's injury affect the odds of the SF Giants pursuing him in the offseason? Will Alex Cobb's $10M option be picked up for next year. All that and more on this mailbag edition of Locked On Giants! Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Everybody exhale. The San Francisco Giants sure don't make things easy on themselves or their fans, and yesterday was certainly no exception. The Giants looked to be cruising their way to a nice getaway day win over the Phillies—until Giants closer Camilo Doval melted down for the second straight night. Walk, walk, homer and suddenly a 5-2 lead was erased before an out had been recorded. But the SF Giants held the line after that and fought hard to put up three runs in the 10th and held on for what was arguably their biggest win of the season. Paul DeJong sure knows how to make a good first impression. He hit a booming home run early in the game. He made a sterling defensive play later on. His two-run single against Craig Kimbrel in the 10th may have been the biggest hit of the entire game, and it came in an 0-2 count. DeJong wasn't a perfect fit for the Giants when Brandon Crawford was healthy, but with Crawford on the shelf and continuing to play poorly when he's on the field, DeJong is the right player at the right time for the SF Giants. It somehow gives this Locked On Giants host Cody Ross vibes, and the parallels are eerily similar. Austin Slater and Wade Meckler had major redemption games. Many fans have been clamoring for the Giants to make a move with Slater, who's been in a horrible slump for about a month. And fans were also upset when Heliot Ramos, not Meckler, was optioned the other day. But Giants manager has continued to show faith in both, and that faith was rewarded in the win. Slater added a huge insurance run with a bloop pinch-hit single and he made a game-saving catch at the wall in the ninth. Meckler had two hits, a walk, a hit-by-pitch, made an impact on the bases, and also made a game-saving catch in the ninth. When will we ever collectively learn that small samples in baseball (and yes, even a month is a very small sample) aren't to be taken too seriously? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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San Francisco Giants top pitching prospect Kyle Harrison was as advertised in his MLB debut against the Phillies. Harrison showed why many scouts believe he has the potential to be a frontline starter for the Giants. His fastball was electric and overpowering. He pounded the zone with strikes. No, Harrison didn't have a perfect outing, but he showed very quickly that he is one of the SF Giants' best pitchers and someone who could be a major factor for years to come. But in the ninth inning, with the Giants holding onto a one-run lead, Camilo Doval gave up two runs and the Giants lost in walk-off fashion. Doval threw only one slider out of 19 pitches in the outing. Doval seemingly had Trea Turner completely set up for a slider away, which coudl've resulted in a strikeout, but he kept throwing sinkers in. Gabe Kapler said after the game that Doval needs to trust Patrick Bailey more and implied that Doval was shaking off calls for the slider. Paul DeJong was added to the roster and is active and in the lineup at shortstop today. To make room on the roster, the Giants somewhat surprisingly DFA'd Johan Camargo, who did a decent job in his brief stint in San Francisco. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Paul DeJong, you are the San Francisco Giants' starting shortstop. In perhaps the most logical and obvious move the Giants have made in years, the SF Giants have signed DeJong to a major league contract after he was recently DFA'd by the Blue Jays. The Jays traded for DeJong mere weeks ago, but he struggled so badly that they let him go. After clearing waivers, the Giants were able to sign DeJong for just a prorated portion of the MLB minimum salary (around $180,000). It's a very worthwhile investment since Brandon Crawford is on the IL and DeJong is a plus defender at short with a track record of being a decent hitter with power. He is, at the very least, a major-league caliber player. He also has club options for the next two seasons. DeJong is a significant story, but nothing trumps the fact that Kyle Harrison will make his MLB debut today. Harrison struggles with command at times, and a debut on the road in front of hostile fans could be a recipe for nerves and poor command. But if he's pumping strikes, Harrison has a chance to be special. Even if he struggles today, don't worry too much. The kid has a sky-high ceiling and could help get the SF Giants into October and perhaps play well in the playoffs. The less said about yesterday's ugly loss the better. The Giants had Aaron Nola on the ropes in the first inning, but Johan Camargo hit into a double play with the bases loaded. It was pretty much all downhill from there. The SF Giants' defense was atrocious, with Wade Meckler making a couple of really bad plays. But let's not be too rough on a young player with just a handful of days in the big leagues. Growing pains are to be expected. But the Giants need to start winning some games, as their playoff position and odds are slipping after an extended period of poor play. Hopefully the turnaround stars tonight with Harrison on the bump and DeJong at short. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Kyle Harrison, you are a San Francisco Giant. Giants fans have waited a long time for this, but the wait is finally over. Harrison, who is considered to be among the best pitching prospects in all of baseball, and the top left-handed pitching prospect, will make his major league debut tomorrow for the SF Giants. And yes, he is going to start the game (as opposed to coming in after an opener). At least that's what the SF Giants are saying. Harrison's arrival is a big deal for a Giants team in need of more stability in their rotation. He could help lead the Giants to the postseason, and he could be a huge weapon in October if the SF Giants get there. In other news, the Giants did what they had to do in Atlanta: avoid a sweep. Normally, losing two out of three is a bad outcome. But on the road against the best team in baseball, one win is acceptable. The SF Giants very nearly won two games against the Braves, however. Tyler Rogers served up a two out single and go-ahead homer in the eighth, and that was all she wrote in Game 2. Thankfully, the Giants continued to rack up lots of hits and came through with a gutsy win in the finale. The win did wonders for their playoff odds. In other news, Brandon Crawford was placed on the IL with a left forearm strain. Johan Camargo appears to be in line to take most of his at-bats. It's been a miserable offensive year for Crawford, who could be playing his last season with his hometown Giants. Luis Matos and Casey Schmitt were recalled from Triple-A, and it was great to see Matos impact the ball a couple of times (he hit a homer and a rocket single). Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
According to Giants owner Greg Johnson, maybe don't get your hopes up about Shohei Ohtani signing with the SF Giants afterall. In an interview with the SF Chronicle, Johnson noted that they have the flexibility to add impact talent, but that it would come at the cost of being able to make other moves to fill out the roster. That is only true, by the way, if the team is unwilling to blow past the breakeven point—something that Johnson has made clear he is not inclined to do: "our goal is to break even every year," per Johnson. Also discussed is the Donnie Ecker effect. The SF Giants thrived in 2020 and 2021 with Ecker as their main hitting coach. They hit like crazy and won like crazy. Since Ecker left for the Rangers prior to the 2022 season, the Giants have been dramatically worse offensively with a record just barely over the .500 mark. It remains shocking that they let Ecker leave, although we don't know the full story behind his departure. Finally, some mailbag questions are addressed. What does host Ben Kaspick think the Giants' final win total will be? Which NL teams represent the best and worst possible matchups for the San Francisco Giants in the postseason? Why is a lifelong fan slightly repulsed by this team? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants followed up an energizing win with yet another lifeless loss. The Giants' offensive funk has been persistent and profound. Even when the SF Giants show signs of coming out of it, they have another game like yesterday in which they scored only one run—again. Some of the pitching hasn't been much better. Home run-allowing machine Ross Stripling continued to serve up taters like it was his job. Several of Farhan Zaidi's moves haven't panned out in recent years, starting with the decision to let Kevin Gausman leave. Instead, they brought back Alex Wood, Anthony DeSclafani, Stripling, Sean Manaea, and Carlos Rodón. Rodón was great but left after a year and Manaea is showing signs of life, but otherwise it's looking like a rough collection of signings, particularly when Gausman wanted to return but SF didn't make him an offer. There was some controversy about Gabe Kapler seemingly making opposite moves with Wade Meckler in the span of three days. In the first game of the series, Kap let Meckler hit agianst a lefty with the bases loaded when Heliot Ramos was an option to pinch hit. In the series finale, he pinch hit Slater for Meckler with the bases loaded down by five runs. While this stirred some emotions, Slater is clearly a superior option against a lefty compared to Ramos (or, probably, Meckler) and so the decision was justifyable. The one argument that holds weight is that Joc Pederson was on deck and there was only one out. So Meckler could hit for himself (and hope to stay out of a double play) and Slater could hit for Joc. Slater's recent struggles don't matter much compared to his recent and prolonged stretch of excellence as a pinch hitter and vs. LHP in general. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Ibotta Download the free Ibotta app and use code MLB for $5 off when you register. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Bunches Download the Bunches App today and when you do, our friends at Bunches have featured the LOCKED ON MLB Bunch in the “Discover” tab. Find the Locked On MLB bunch HERE. Nutrafol Take the first step to visibly thicker, healthier hair. For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners ten dollars off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com/men and enter the promo code LOCKEDONMLB. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Right now, when you bet on a Super Bowl Winner, you can GET BONUS BETS EVERY TIME THEY WIN IN THE REGULAR SEASON! FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
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There's something about the City Connect jerseys. When the San Francisco Giants wear them, they win. The Giants picked up a rare feel-good win over the Rays on Tuesday, and just about everything went right. The SF Giants scored seven runs. They pitched a shutout. They hit two home runs. They even gained a game on most teams in the wild card race. SF Giants fans were even treated to a rare Gabe Kapler ejection. Kapler fought for Wade Meckler, who had several calls go against him in his first two MLB games. It was nice to see the Giants manager sticking up for his players, something that he hasn't done enough, frankly. Jakob Junis and Sean Manaea led the Giants to victory on the mound. Manaea has quietly been dominant for almost three months, starting with his outing in Minnesota. Among 129 pitchers with at least 50 innings since May 22, Manaea ranks first in FIP and is top 10 in other key categories like strikeout rate and K-BB%. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Another day, another dreadful result for the San Francisco Giants' offense. The Giants scored just two runs in a loss to the Rays as their historic offensive slump continued. Prior to the game, the SF Giants added Wade Meckler to the MLB roster, hoping he could provide a desperately needed spark. While he didn't do so last night, there are lots of reasons to be hopeful about the 2022 eighth rounder who dominated across three levels of the minor leagues this season. But it's getting to be crunch time, and the Giants need results. Their .270 wOBA since June 25 is the lowest in MLB by 21 (!) points. However, the San Francisco Giants have compiled a .302 expected wOBA over this span. While a .302 wOBA is certainly nothing to get excited about, it's a heck of a lot better than .270 and suggests there has been an element of bad luck during this stretch. The minus-32 point gap is more than twice as large as the next closest team's. In other Giants news, Mike Yastrzemski suffered a setback with his hamstring that has caused him problems all season. Luis González was DFA'd, Anthony DeSclafani was placed on the 60-day IL, veteran infielder Johan Camargo was added to the MLB roster, and Mark Mathias was optioned. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Anyone else feeling nauseous? The San Francisco Giants took their fans on a roller coaster ride, one that was as nauseating as it was thrilling in the end. The Giants' offense continued its miserable funk as they were only able to muster one run through nine innings. But SF Giants ace Logan Webb was making it stand, carrying a shutout until two outs in the ninth. Webb allowed a two-out double, and was removed for Camilo Doval, who allowed the run to score on a freak play. But Patrick Bailey (who else?) absolutely bailed out the Giants with a two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th with the Giants down to their final out. What would've been perhaps the Giants' worst loss of the season became one of their best. And it's no surprise the rookie sensation Bailey was behind it all. Locked On Giants and Locked On Rangers discuss the series, the wild ending to Game 3, and so much more. How has Gabe Kapler compared to Bruce Bochy? Would Bochy have let Logan Webb keep pitching after he allowed the double in the ninth? What impact has Donnie Ecker had on the Rangers? He seemingly played a huge part in the Giants' offensive success in 2020 and 2021, and is now doing the same thing in Texas. Which player on the other team would each host most want on his team? All of that and more on this crossover edition of Locked On Giants. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Ibotta Download the free Ibotta app and use code MLB for $5 off when you register. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Bunches Download the Bunches App today and when you do, our friends at Bunches have featured the LOCKED ON MLB Bunch in the “Discover” tab. Find the Locked On MLB bunch HERE. Nutrafol Take the first step to visibly thicker, healthier hair. For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners ten dollars off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com/men and enter the promo code LOCKEDONMLB. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Right now, when you bet on a Super Bowl Winner, you can GET BONUS BETS EVERY TIME THEY WIN IN THE REGULAR SEASON! FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
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We don't need to look at numbers to tell us that the San Francisco Giants' offense has been dreadful for weeks. But in this case, a look at the numbers is warranted. The Giants have a .272 wOBA since June 25, the worst mark in MLB by a lot. However, their expected wOBA, based on strikeouts, walks, and quality of contact, is much, much higher. Their xwOBA is .306, which is not great by any stretch. But it is, however, 34 points higher than their actual wOBA. And that 34-point gap is double the next closest team. In other words, the Giants have been the unluckiest offense in MLB for six-plus weeks by two times. Several veteran SF Giants players have fallen victim to bad luck. Joc Pederson, Brandon Crawford, LaMonte Wade Jr., Michael Conforto, Austin Slater, and Mike Yastrzemski all have well below average results since June 25, but above average expected numbers. If we think back on some of the balls they've hit that have been caught, it's not hard to recall the frequent moments of poor fortune. Given all this, the Giants are lucky to have stayed afloat with such poor results offensively. Despite being by far the majors' worst offense over this span, the SF Giants have gone 18-20, which is far from disastrous. Their odds of winning the division have fallen drastically, but they're still in strong position to make the playoffs as a wild card team. Finally, one under-the-radar factor that could draw Shohei Ohtani to the San Francisco Giants is discussed. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Where would the 2023 San Francisco Giants be without Wilmer Flores? For the last six weeks, Flores has essentially been the SF Giants' offense. The Giants' decision to extend Wilmer Flores for three years, $16.5M is looking like a stroke of genius. Flores is having a career year in his fourth season with the Giants, so much so that he's essentially already been worth the entirety of the contract. The third year of the deal is actually a $3.5M player option, but if Flores declines it, it becomes an $8.5M team option. But the other moves the SF Giants made between the end of the 2022 season and the start of the 2023 season haven't worked out so well. Michael Conforto and Mitch Haniger simply haven't made the impact that was hoped or expected. Conforto has struggled to hit for any kind of impact power, and Haniger was ineffective before breaking his forearm and missing a bunch of time. Other signings like Ross Stripling and Sean Manaea also haven't been great so far. Luke Jackson and Taylor Rogers have mostly been good. AJ Pollock left last night's game with side discomfort. Marco Luciano was then promtly removed from the River Cats game. It is likely that Luciano joins the active roster, but it's not clear if he will get more regular playing time this time around. Another player to keep an eye on going forward is Wade Meckler, who's now hitting at the minors' highest level. Meckler looks like someone who will really contribute with the bat, which is what the Giants need desperately right now. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr
SFGiants #FirstListen
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This was looking like another difficult and frustrating loss. The San Francisco Giants gave away some runs with sloppy defense, only to storm back with a six-run ninth inning that felt like a therapy session for a struggling offense. It's no secret at this point that the Giants' bats have been in a major rut, but they broke out of it late in Anaheim. Wilmer Flores got things started for the SF Giants, and J.D. Davis continued a big night with a clutch walk. Patrick Bailey delivered a huge go-ahead double, and the flood gates opened from there. The story of this game before the outburst in the ninth was probably going to be about defensive mistakes by Luis Matos and AJ Pollock. Pollock completely misread a ball over his head in right that led to the Angels scoring the go-ahead run late. Earlier in the game, Matos made two mistakes on one play that allowed the Angels to take the lead. Matos is still young and developing, but his defensive performance thus far hasn't been great and it was almost very costly yesterday. With the win, the SF Giants gained some more separation in the wild card standings. The Giants now hold a four-game lead over a playoff spot, although they remained four games back of the Dodgers. FanGraphs estimates the Giants' odds of making the playoffs to be in the neighborhood of 80%. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Dave Download Dave today at Dave.com/mlb. You could get up to $500 in 5 minutes or less! No credit check. No late fees. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Right now, when you bet on a Super Bowl Winner, you can GET BONUS BETS EVERY TIME THEY WIN IN THE REGULAR SEASON! FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
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The San Francisco Giants have played some of their worst baseball against the worst teams in baseball. After going winless in Oakland over the weekend, the SF Giants fell to 4-12 vs. the A's, Royals, Nationals, and Tigers, four of MLB's worst teams. That of course means that the Giants are 57-39 vs. everyone else. Do the Giants play down to their opponents? Or is this kind of result simply random? It's probably more random, especially when we consider the fact that last year the 81-win Giants were sunk by going 10-28 vs. the 111-win Dodgers and 89-win Padres. The Giants are fortunate to have a winning record over the last six weeks, as they've literally been the worst offense in baseball over that span. The San Francisco Giants' 74 wRC+ since June 18 ranks last in MLB. They're last in batting average, last in slugging, second to last in on-base percentage, and last in ISO. They've been outscored by 20 runs over that time, but somehow they're 23-19. The SF Giants must perform much better offensively over the season's final 50 games if they want to get to the postseason. The schedule gets much tougher over the next month, but maybe that's a good thing for these Giants. Next they go to Anaheim to play in front of Shohei Ohtani for the final time before he reaches free agency (unless these two teams meet in the World Series). The Angels are fighting for their lives right now after losing their last six games. This is a big series for both teams. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Dave Download Dave today at Dave.com/mlb. You could get up to $500 in 5 minutes or less! No credit check. No late fees. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Right now, when you bet on a Super Bowl Winner, you can GET BONUS BETS EVERY TIME THEY WIN IN THE REGULAR SEASON! FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
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Finally, that good old problem to have comes around for the San Francisco Giants. With Thairo Estrada, Mitch Haniger, Mike Yastrzemski, and John Brebbia likely to come off the IL this month (Estrada as soon as Saturday), the SF Giants must decide who comes off the 26-man roster. Additionally, players like top prospect Kyle Harrison may be added in the coming weeks as well, and he's not even on the 40-man. Isan Díaz, Casey Schmitt, Luis Matos, and AJ Pollock are the position players whose spots are in jeopardy, and the pitching side is even more difficult to sort through with Tristan Beck and Ryan Walker, two pitchers performing well, the only ones who might reasonably be sent down. Jakob Junis and Alex Wood might be DFA candidates, or an IL stint could be used. Worth keeping in mind: rosters expand from 26 to 28 in September. What should Giants fans make of the team's offensive approach? Is it time to question whether Justin Viele is up to the task as SF Giants hitting coach? To answer the question we must go all the way back to 2020, when Donnie Ecker, Viele, and Dustin Lind were hired as hitting coaches to Gabe Kapler's staff. In 2020 and 2021, the San Francisco Giants hit very well, with Ecker the team's primary hitting instructor. The Texas Rangers took Ecker away in 2022, however, and the Giants haven't been the same since. So it's starting to become more clear that Ecker's influence is being missed and the Giants need to evaluate whether they have the personnel in place to get the most out of their hitters. What to make of the Giants' new jersey patches? For the first time ever, the SF Giants are wearing an advertisement on their classic jerseys. It is, unfortunately, here to stay as teams are raking in tens of millions a year from these deals. Finally, what are the odds outfielder Wade Meckler gets called up to the Giants at some point? They seem to be pretty high, as Farhan Zaidi said as much in a recent interview with NBC Sports Bay Area. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants' bats are ice cold. The Giants have been in a major offensive funk for over a month, but they've managed to do better than stay afloat. Perhaps no game represented how things have gone than Thursday's 1-0 win over the D-backs. The SF Giants got only one run and three baserunners, but they managed to win anyway. And once again, the Giants employed an unorthodox pitching strategy to do so. Scott Alexander got the "start" by going one inning, then Tristan Beck, who's been excellent, pitched four innings of "relief." The Giants rank second in MLB in ERA since May 1 despite having only two consistent traditional starting pitchers in Logan Webb and Alex Cobb. Defense has also been key to the Giants' success this season, as they currently boast the third-best record in the National League. Last year, defense absolutely sunk the San Francisco Giants' season. This year, they've been one of the best teams in baseball by metrics like Statcast Outs Above Average and Defensive Runs Saved. J.D. Davis, Thairo Estrada, Brandon Crawford, Patrick Bailey, and others have been very positive contributors as the Giants' defense has helped them win a lot of games. Finally, an old ESPN article from the offseason is revisited. The article declared which teams were winners and losers of the offseason. The winners were the New York Mets and San Diego Padres, with both teams checking in as arguably the two biggest disappointments through more than 100 games this year. The biggest losers were the Giants, the Red Sox, and the Dodgers. The Giants and Dodgers are two of the three best teams in the NL so far, and the Red Sox are also over .500 and in solid position. It just goes to show that baseball, as always, continues to be extremely difficult to predict. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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San Francisco Giants fans have been clamoring for a star and for players to get attached to for a long time. Patrick Bailey may be both. Bailey is a game-changing defender, and we keep getting reminded of it pretty much every time he's behind home plate for the SF Giants. Patrick Bailey got two huge outs in the Giants' one-run win against the D-backs last night, throwing out the potential tying run trying to steal second in the eighth, and picking off the potential tying run to end the game in the ninth. Bailey is playing at a 6-WAR pace, per FanGraphs, despite slightly below-average offensive numbers. His defense has been that good. The Giants' quiet trade deadline is revisited. Some fans are understandably irked by the team's inactivity (outside of acquiring A.J. Pollock), but the Giants' behavior is understandable. They're close to getting Thairo Estrada and Mitch Haniger back from their injuries. Brandon Crawford has returned, and he hit a crucial game-tying home run last night. They've debuted Marco Luciano so he should be in the middle infield mix moving forward. Luis Matos is heating up at the plate. The pitching quietly has the second-best ERA in MLB since May 1 (the day after the insane Mexico City series). Luciano was demoted to Triple-A to make room for Pollock on the Giants' roster. Luciano will work on playing some second base in Sacramento, which should help provide coverage if Estrada misses time again. Lefty-hitting outfielder Wade Meckler was promoted to Triple-A. Meckler was a 2022 draftee, so he's moved very fast. He was hitting very well in Double-A and could be an outfield option down the stretch. SF Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi also said that Kyle Harrison is likely to debut soon after recovering from a moderate hamstring strain. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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What an absolute dud. And we're not just talking about the San Francisco Giants' trade deadline, in which their only move was acquiring A.J. Pollock, who's having a very disappointing season. The MLB trade deadline as a whole was very underwhelming, with only a few big-name or high-impact players getting dealt. Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander headlined the list of players moves, but neither deal's structure would have made sense for the SF Giants, as will be explained later. The Giants' addition of Pollock is puzzling on the surface, but starts to make more sense upon a deeper dive. Despite being 35 years old, Pollock's sprint speed is still 89th percentile. He has a really good throwing arm. He has a track record of not striking out and doing damage against lefties, while also holding his own against right-handed pitching. With SF Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski landing on the IL again, and Mitch Haniger out at least two more weeks, Pollock should be a mainstay in the lineup as he gets a chance to regain his form. He's just two seasons removed from being an impact hitter. The Giants also received utility player Mark Mathias in the trade in which they will send a player to be named later or cash back to the Mariners. None of the trades that happened at this deadline stood out as great fits for the Giants. The Mets paid down the majority of the hefty salaries owed to Verlander and Scherzer in order to land top-100 prospect talents in return. The Giants should not be giving up players like that—think Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, Patrick Bailey, Kyle Harrison, Carson Whisenhunt—for pitchers around 40 years old who are past their primes. Otherwise, there wasn't much high-end talent traded, nor even any nice complementary pieces (like Tommy Edman) who would've fit the Giants. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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If there was any doubt, the San Francisco Giants put those doubts to rest. With four wins in their last five games, the SF Giants have cemented themselves as clear buyers ahead of Tuesday's 3 PM PT trading deadline. The Giants have certainly shown their imperfections in recent weeks, but they're still only two games out of first place, they're the top wild card team in the NL, and they're 10 games over .500. So... what must the Giants accomplish by tomorrow's deadline? The San Francisco Giants look like a team that needs another starting pitcher. Right now, the Giants only have Logan Webb and Alex Cobb as clear starters. The Giants have many "bulk guys" such as Alex Wood, Sean Manaea, Ross Stripling, and Tristan Beck, but another clear-cut starter could go a long way. Eduardo Rodriguez and Justin Verlander stand out as the best fits remaining. The SF Giants could also use a versatile hitter. Tommy Edman stands out as a great fit because he can play short, second, third, and all three outfield positions. But the Cardinals may not very well not trade him. Versatility should be important in an addition because the Giants have some of these positions dedicated to players who will eventually return from the IL, such as Thairo Estrada (who's close to a rehab assignment) and Mitch Haniger (who says he might be ready well before the original estimate of early September). Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants' biggest need is frontline starting pitching. As the Giants stand now, only Logan Webb and Alex Cobb are reliable arms in the starting rotation. Top prospect Kyle Harrison may become an option down the stretch, but Alex Wood, Anthony DeSclafani, Sean Manaea, and Ross Stripling have failed to seize slam-dunk starters' roles. Trade candidates include Dylan Cease, Blake Snell, Eduardo Rodriguez, Justin Verlander, Marcus Stroman, and Jordan Montgomery. All of those players would fit the SF Giants well, but Rodriguez might offer the best blend of availability, impact, and acquisition cost. Another SF Giants need has been said to be middle infield, but is that still a need after the promotion of top shortstop prospect Marco Luciano? Luciano has just one MLB game under his belt, but Brandon Crawford is also close to returning and Thairo Estrada is not too far behind. Casey Schmitt and Brett Wisely have struggled to cement roles thus far. Someone like Paul DeJong doesn't seem like a great fit because he's limited to shortstop. Another Cardinals player, however, makes a lot of sense. Tommy Edman can play short, second, third, and all three outfield positions—and play them well. Can the Giants offload one or more of their "unpitchable" starters? It was reported yesterday that teams have contacted the San Francisco Giants about their veteran pitching depth, and a move seems possible if not likely. In order to add pitching, the Giants would need to clear space on the MLB roster, but there aren't obvious ways to do so with so few players having minor league options. And the Giants pitchers who do have options are guys they wouldn't want to option. It's possible the Giants could include a veteran starter to offset money in a deal. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Ibotta Right now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code MLB when you register.Just go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code MLB. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today! FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
San Francisco Giants top prospect Marco Luciano made his long anticipated MLB debut last night. Luciano received a standing ovation prior to his first at-bat, and again after he flew out to the right field wall on the first pitch he saw. Luciano also made a few nice plays at shortstop for the Giants. But after only two plate appearances, leading off the seventh inning with a two-run lead, SF Giants manager Gabe Kapler elected to pinch hit for Luciano. While the move may have been correct statistically, it took away from the entertainment value of the game, as so many Giants fans wanted to see Luciano. Kapler's decision earlier in the game to pinch hit for Michael Conforto with Austin Slater, however, was a good move. The difference is that at that point the game was tied and the go-ahead run was on second base with one out. Slater hit another pinch-hit homer, giving the Giants a lead they would make stand up. Slater is the best pinch hitter in baseball, but this move does highlight the disappointing overall season Conforto has had, and the fact that his poor performance against lefties means he will sometimes not hit against them. Most of the SF Giants' offseason signings have been significant disappointments. But all that matters is that the Giants beat the A's and swept this two-game series. The Giants' position as clear buyers had slipped following their ghastly six-game losing streak, but the SF Giants are in a much better position after two straight wins. They're only three games back in the NL West, and they are the top wild card team in the league. FanGraphs estimates the Giants' playoff odds to be roughly 65% with only four games remaining before Tuesday's trade deadline. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants' offense has been absolutely atrocious in recent days. Over the last week, the SF Giants rank last in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Desperately in need of a spark, the Giants have promoted their top position player prospect, Marco Luciano, to the major leagues. Luciano is just 21 years old, and he joins Luis Matos as 21-year-olds on the roster. Luciano's bat has been red hot for a month and a half. Dating back to June 10, Luciano has a 159 wRC+ spanning Double-A and Triple-A, where he was just recently promoted. According to MLB Pipeline, Marco Luciano is MLB's No. 15 overall prospect. In their prospect write-up on Luciano they say he has the potential to hit .270 with 35 home runs. Power is Luciano's greatest attribute—and the Giants could desperately use some power right about now. Casey Schmitt and Brett Wisely have struggled mightily at the plate this season, and with both Thairo Estrada and Brandon Crawford out with injuries, the Giants simply need more production in the middle infield. The San Francisco Giants managed to eke out a win over the MLB-worst Oakland A's last night, but it wasn't easy. It took a brilliant start from Alex Cobb and some lucky breaks on offense just to scratch across two runs. With the trade deadline just five games away, the Giants must keep their foot on the gas to remain clear-cut buyers at the deadline. They're hoping Luciano can be the spark they so badly need. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants look completely lost right now. They've lost a season-high six straight games, and perhaps most perplexing is that they did so following a seven-game winning streak. The Giants won their first five games coming out of the All-Star break, only to lose the last six on their season-high 11-game road trip. Still, the SF Giants return home seven games over .500 and tied for a wild card spot. The Giants' next six games before the Aug. 1 trade deadline will be critical, and it starts with a two-game series against the MLB-worst Oakland A's. The Giants must take advantage or risk losing their position as probable buyers. When it comes to potential trades, none would be more impactful than Shohei Ohtani. The Japanese superstar could be traded in the next week, but would the SF Giants be a potential fit? Whom would the Giants have to part with in order to land the best player in baseball? It's important to keep in mind that, as great as he is, Ohtani is a pure rental—he's only under team control for the remainder of the 2023 season. That caps his value, and the cost probably wouldn't be quite as high as many seem to think. One of Kyle Harrison, Luis Matos, or Marco Luciano would likely be the headliner of a potential deal. Other trade possibilities include the likes of Justin Verlander and Tommy Edman. The Giants were reported to be interested in Verlander by MLB Network's Jon Morosi, and Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick believes Edman is the ideal position player fit for the San Francisco Giants. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Following a brutally awful series in Washington D.C., the San Francisco Giants have serious work to do ahead of next Tuesday's trade deadline. The SF Giants' flaws have been on full display lately: it's clear that they need another good and reliable starter to pair with Logan Webb and Alex Cobb, but it's also clear that the Giants need to offload one or more of their struggling starters on guaranteed contracts. Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, and Sean Manaea, in particular, are taking up space and not getting the job done. The only pitchers the SF Giants can option are Logan Webb, Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers, and Ryan Walker. But the Giants are obviously not optioning any of the first three, and Walker has been as reliable as anyone in the bullpen. And the SF Giants are carrying the maximum number of pitchers. They will need to activate John Brebbia at some point. Tristan Beck doesn't seem to belong in Triple-A. And the Giants should be adding a starter. So their only choice is to trade or DFA some of their struggling pitchers, which also includes Jakob Junis. The Giants were linked to Justin Verlander in a report by MLB Network's Jon Morosi. Verlander is owed a ton of money, is 40 years old, and isn't doing so great himself, but he would be an upgrade over the Giants' expendable mix. It's also become clear that the Giants need middle infield help. Casey Schmitt and Brett Wisely are playing everyday in the absence of Thairo Estrada and Brandon Crawford, and it hasn't gone well at the plate. The Giants don't have to give up on either, but they need more reliable production if they truly want to be in the postseason. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Ibotta Right now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code MLB when you register.Just go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code MLB. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
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Shohei Ohtani is the most talented player in baseball. If Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick were the San Francisco Giants' general manager, what prospects would he give up for a mere two months of Ohtani's services? Ben would seriously consider trading one of Kyle Harrison, Marco Luciano, or Luis Matos for Shohei Ohtani, in addition to some lower level prospects. The notion that the Giants would have to include all three is absurd, given that Ohtani is a two-month rental. Two of those three would be a stretch as well, even though Ohtani is currently the game's best player. What are some realistic offensive trade targets for the SF Giants? It is, unfortunately, a weak trade market for middle infielders, which is the Giants' top offensive need. Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has said that the Giants won't target outfielders, which makes it even more clear that middle infielders are the offensive need. Cardinals infielders Tommy Edman and Paul DeJong stand out as possible fits. Outside of those two, Gleyber Torres could make sense if the Yankees make him available, and Ramón Urías and Jorge Mateo of the Orioles could also make some sense. What's going on with Giants outfield prospect Heliot Ramos? He's turned things around in Triple-A Sacramento and currently has an above-average wRC+ there for the first time. Will he get another shot with the Giants? It's certainly a possibility given he's received chances before, and he's having the most success he's ever had in Triple-A. If he's not in the SF Giants' plans, he could also be a trade candidate with the Aug. 1 trade deadline looming. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In back-to-back losses in Cincinnati, the San Francisco Giants' offense was anything but clutch. As has become a concerning theme, the Giants were shut down early in the game both times by the opposing starter. Despite that happening time after time, the SF Giants have still managed to have MLB's second-best record since May 1, going 43-27 over that span. The Giants have been below average overall offensively over that span, with a 97 wRC+, but they have a whopping 135 wRC+ in high-leverage situations. Is that sustainable? It certainly doesn't help to keep losing players to the injured list. Brandon Crawford went down with a recurrence of his left knee inflammation. J.D. Davis had a stomach bug that kept him out the last two games, and LaMonte Wade Jr. has a hamstring cramp. The San Francisco Giants' middle infield is thin and their depth is being tested, with Casey Schmitt and Brett Wisely starting everyday regardless of the pitching matchups. Neither has seized a starting role with their offense, which might force the Giants' hand with the trade deadline looming. But there aren't a lot of impact players available at this deadline, particularly in the middle infield. Cardinals infielders Paul DeJong and Tommy Edman stand out as possible fits, with Edman being something of an ideal fit for the Giants. But his cost would be very high, and he is currently on the injured list himself. The Giants probably need a starting pitcher as well, even though they're second in MLB in ERA since May 1. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Two for the price of one! The San Francisco Giants picked up not one but two wins on Tuesday, winning the game that was suspended in the eighth inning on Monday in extra innings, and outlasting the Reds in a wild 11-10 slugfest in the second game of the day. Wilmer Flores has been red hot at the plate, and did something that hadn't been done by a Giants player since 2002 Barry Bonds. Camilo Doval picked up two saves on the night for the SF Giants. The Giants are surging in the standings, and it's time to start thinking about the trade deadline, which is now less than two weeks away. Could Shohei Ohtani be in the SF Giants' future? He'd be a perfect fit on just about every team, and the Giants are no exception. But would Marcus Stroman make sense as well? The Giants are 54-41 despite a lot of inconsistency in their starting rotation, so adding another top arm seemingly makes sense. Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick and Locked On MLB host Paul Francis Sullivan discuss these topics and more on the show. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Dave Download Dave today at Dave.com/mlb. You could get up to $500 in 5 minutes or less! No credit check. No late fees. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
San Francisco Giants fans have been waiting a long time for a youth movement, and they're finally getting it this year. Giants fans have already seen Patrick Bailey, Luis Matos, Casey Schmitt, and others arrive on the shores of McCovey Cove, and they might not have to wait much longer for another top prospect to arrive. Marco Luciano was promoted to Triple-A, meaning he's right on the doorstep of the major leagues. In Sacramento, Luciano will join another top prospect in left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, who's currently out with a moderate hamstring strain. It's become realistic that both Harrison and Luciano will make their MLB debuts in 2023. Meanwhile, the Giants find themselves in a competitive race in the NL West and in the Wild Card standings. The SF Giants' first game against the Reds was suspended due to rain, and will resume this afternoon with runners on second and third with one out with J.D. Davis at the plate in a 2-2 game. It's a huge situation for Davis, who will likely have to face Reds closer Alexis Diaz. After Game 1 is concluded, the Giants will have a big opportunity with Luke Weaver, who has an ERA of 7.00 in 15 starts, going in Game 2 for Cincinnati. In other news, Jim Bowden of The Athletic made an absurd hypothetical trade proposal involving the Giants and Angels for Shohei Ohtani. In the proposal, the Giants would get Ohtani in exchange for Luis Matos, Kyle Harrison, Marco Luciano, Grant McCray, and Carson Whisenhunt. There's just zero chance that the SF Giants would give up that much talent for about 60 games of Ohtani. That's a similar package to what the Padres gave up for nearly 400 games of Juan Soto. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Dave Download Dave today at Dave.com/mlb. You could get up to $500 in 5 minutes or less! No credit check. No late fees. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
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It wasn't always pretty, but the San Francisco Giants swept the Pittsburgh Pirates and continued to rise in the standings. The Giants' offense was at times overmatched by inferior pitching—again—but they found a way to win all three games against the Pirates while many of their opponents in the division and wild card races had rough series. Michael Conforto, Patrick Bailey, Alex Cobb, Alex Wood, Tristan Beck, Taylor Rogers, and many others contributed to the Giants' sweep. The SF Giants leapfrogged the D-backs and Marlins, and are now just 1.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. They're also now the No. 1 wild card team, but the race remains tight. The Giants' odds of making the playoffs are close to 75%, according to FanGraphs. The Giants' odds of winning the NL West are over 20%. Are the Giants chasing more, or making contact less? It seems that way, but their chase rate remains solid. They've been making less contact, but their strikeout rate oddly doesn't reflect that. On the season, the Giants' strikeout rate is one of the highest in MLB, but it's actually been significantly lower over the last two weeks, even though it doesn't feel that way. The San Francisco Giants' bats have a big chance to wake up as the team heads to Cincinnati, where the Great American Ballpark is the most homer-prone in the majors. It's a huge series for both the Giants and the Reds, and Logan Webb takes the ball for the Giants tonight. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Dave Download Dave today at Dave.com/mlb. You could get up to $500 in 5 minutes or less! No credit check. No late fees. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
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The San Francisco Giants entered the season with so many starting pitchers that it wasn't clear how they'd fit them all. At the season's halfway point, however, the Giants really only have two starting pitchers they could truly rely upon. Logan Webb and Alex Cobb put together All-Star-worthy first halves (even though Webb was snubbed from the All-Star game ... again). But newcomers Sean Manaea and Ross Stripling struggled mightily out of the gates, and Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood were inconsistent. The SF Giants' "bullpen" was extremely non-traditional. Camilo Doval was ultra reliable at the back end, and Tyler and Taylor Rogers also provided strong performances in a traditional role, but pretty much everyone else was either inconsistent, injured, or unorthodox. Manaea improved mightily when used out of the 'pen, and is making a strong case to move back into the starting rotation. Tristan Beck was strong in a bulk innings role. Scott Alexander, John Brebbia, and Luke Jackson were good when healthy. Projecting forward, it's anyone's guess as to how things will play out for the Giants. We know Webb and Cobb will anchor the rotation as long as they're healthy, but it's unclear who exactly will claim the remaining spots or whether the SF Giants will continue to rely heavily on bullpen games, which was largely a successful strategy in the first half. It's also worth keeping an eye on young players like Keaton Winn, Kyle Harrison, Carson Whisenhunt, and Mason Black to see if they get an opportunity and make an impact for the Giants in the second half—and hopefully in the playoffs. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! birddogs Go to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free Yeti style tumbler with your order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bryan Reynolds. Carlos Beltran. San Francisco Giants fans are right to be afraid of the team making an all-in move and getting burned by it. We've seen it before, and are the Giants getting set up to repeat the pattern in 2023? It's important to remember that the Beltran and Reynolds moves were made by the previous regime, and the current front office got Kris Bryant without giving up all too much in 2021. Also, the only player that would cost a lot who could be potentially available is Shohei Ohtani. Other than that, the potential moves for the SF Giants won't be extremely consequential. Any moves the Giants make in 2023 likely won't dramatically alter their farm system. Why do the Giants struggle against inferior teams and specifically against no-name starting pitchers, who seem to have their best career starts against the Giants? Is it because Donnie Ecker left for the Texas Rangers? It's a fair questions, but it's worth remembering all the success they've had with their hitting development. LaMonte Wade Jr., J.D. Davis, Thairo Estrada, Mike Yastrzemski, Patrick Bailey, and others have been significant success stories. There are some who have struggled, but overall the Giants' offense has been above average. Oracle Park, and the glare on the hitting background early in games, certainly doesn't help. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! birddogs Go to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free Yeti style tumbler with your order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
San Francisco Giants position players were top 10 in fWAR in the first half. The Giants scored more runs than the average team. They were better on the bases than the average team, despite being second-to-last in stolen bases. And importantly, the SF Giants were among the game's best defensive teams. Younger veterans like Thairo Estrada, LaMonte Wade Jr., J.D. Davis, and Mike Yastrzemski led the way, and the Giants mixed in some exciting young players like Patrick Bailey, Luis Matos, and Casey Schmitt. Many were very concerned about the Giants' defense coming into the year, and it simply hasn't been an issue. In fact, the Giants' defense has been a real strength. The Giants have been among the game's best defensive teams, with Estrada and Davis—two players many had questions about defensively—leading the way. Michael Conforto hasn't been great defensively, but he also hasn't killed the Giants out there in right field. The SF Giants certainly dealt with injuries in the first half, with Mitch Haniger out until September with a fractured forearm, and Estrada currently out 4-6 weeks with a broken hand. Conforto's been streaky at the plate, but other veterans like Wade and Davis have had very strong offensive performances. Bailey's emergence as the catcher of the present and the future was the best story of the first half for the Giants. He's been a clutch force at the plate and behind it. Matos has also been a bright spot, holding his own against MLB pitching despite being just 21 years old. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! birddogs Go to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free Yeti style tumbler with your order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Do the San Francisco Giants have a legitimate shot at signing Shohei Ohtani? Ohtani has established himself as the game's best player, and the Giants have a track record of failing to land superstars. Last winter, the SF Giants went all-out in their efforts to sign Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa. They even had a deal in place with Correa. As such, there's no reason why the Giants won't make the same efforts to bring Ohtani to the Bay Area. Is it more realistic that the Giants trade for a reliable starting pitcher or an impact position player at this year's trade deadline? Farhan Zaidi recently said that the Giants won't target depth for their rotation, given all of the options they currently have. He also said that they aren't likely to target an outfielder. So the Giants will either go for an impact starter or a middle infielder, or both. In terms of what's more realistic, probably a middle infielder with at least one more year of team control so they have an option at short when Brandon Crawford's contract expires after the season. Who would the SF Giants be willing to give up in a trade? That obviously depends on whom they're trading for. If Ohtani becomes available in a trade, the Giants would likely put just about everyone on the table. Outside of Ohtani, the Giants wouldn't be offering their top guys, such as Luis Matos, Kyle Harrison, Patrick Bailey, and Marco Luciano. Players with some major league experience could be dealt, like David Villar and Joey Bart. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! birddogs Go to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free Yeti style tumbler with your order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants' bats have been slumping, so Logan Webb put the whole team on his back. The Giants sure did not want to lose a series to the lowly Rockies heading into the All-Star break, but they were in danger of doing so after mustering only one run in the rubber match. But Webb, an All-Star snub again, carried the Giants to a thrilling 1-0 win by spinning his first career complete game and shutout. The Giants enter the break 49-41, just 2.5 games behind the Dodgers and D-backs in the NL West, and in the NL's third wild card position. Overall, a very solid first half for the orange and black. The MLB Draft got underway hours after the game, and the SF Giants took some big swings with their first three selections. The Giants picked two-way player Bryce Eldridge 16th overall, shortstop Walker Martin 52nd, and left-handed pitcher Joe Whitman with the 69th overall pick. Many evaluators believe the Giants had one of the best Day Ones of any team. Alex Cobb was named an All-Star as a replacement player. It's the first All-Star selection for Cobb, who's been in the league since 2011 and is 35 years old. Cobb was extremely happy and grateful to make his first All-Star team, and he's very deserving. He joins Camilo Doval as the Giants' 2023 All-Star representatives, with Webb, J.D. Davis, LaMonte Wade Jr., Thairo Estrada, and Tyler Rogers also deserving. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! birddogs Go to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free Yeti style tumbler with your order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bryce Eldridge was drafted by the San Francisco Giants. Locked On MLB Prospects host Lindsay Crosby is joined by Locked On Guardians host and MLB Draft expert Jeff Ellis to break down why Eldridge was the choice for the Giants.
Locked On MLB League-Wide: Every Team, Prospects & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnMLB
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birddogs Go to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONMLB or enter promo code LOCKEDONMLB for a free Yeti style tumbler with your order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you.
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Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.
FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.
Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Outside of Logan Webb and Alex Cobb, the San Francisco Giants' starting pitching staff hasn't performed as expected this season. So should they trade for an ace for the stretch run and potentially a playoff run? The first factor to consider is that there aren't really any true aces available at this deadline. Cases could be made for Marcus Stroman, Eduardo Rodriguez, or Lucas Giolito, to name a few, but there's no Carlos Rodón, for example. If Shohei Ohtani becomes available then that changes everything, but otherwise we're looking at more No. 2-5 starters on the board. But yes, the SF Giants should probably target starting pitching. What about middle infield? With Thairo Estrada out 4-6 weeks, should the Giants make a move well before the deadline? Tim Anderson is one possibility, although his numbers are way, way down this season, both offensively and defensively. Anderson has a strong reputation in the game, but the dropoff is concerning. Meanwhile, it's probably worth letting Casey Schmitt play a lot of second base just so the Giants really know what they have. He has a lot of potentially and shouldn't be given up on so quickly. The SF Giants should take advantage of Estrada's absence by letting Schmitt play a lot in July. How all-in should the SF Giants be this season? Which prospects are off the table? The Giants have several intriguing young players in the majors right now in Patrick Bailey, Luis Matos, and Schmitt. Those players are probably off the table this deadline, along with Kyle Harrison, Marco Luciano, and perhaps some others. But none of those players would be in play for the types of names that are available anyway. So the Giants should be aggressive in improving their team and it wouldn't cost their top guys. One name to keep in mind if the Giants decide to target an outfielder is Cody Bellinger, who makes a lot of sense for this team. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Ibotta Right now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code MLB when you register.Just go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code MLB. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today! FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants' starting rotation plans have gone haywire in 2023, but Alex Cobb and Logan Webb have been rock solid and helped lead the Giants to a 47-40 record. The SF Giants have been averaging less than 2.5 runs per game over the last week-plus, but Cobb put the team on his back with six shutout innings, and he was followed up by Taylor and Tyler Rogers and then Camilo Doval in the Giants' shutout win over the Mariners. Starting pitching may be a need at the trade deadline, as Ross Stripling, Sean Manaea, Alex Wood, and Anthony DeSclafani have all had their struggles, but Cobb and Webb have provided much-needed stability all first half. Speaking of starting pitching and the trade deadline, is the Tigers' Eduardo Rodriguez a possibility? He's having a very nice season for the Tigers, but comes with a lot of downside risk in the form of about $50 million in commitment beyond the season and an opt-out after 2023. So if Rodriguez gets hurt or regresses, his team would be on the hook for about 3/$50M. But if he excels, he would opt out. Those factors might make a trade difficult, but he's definitely a name to keep an eye on as the deadline approaches. Another mailbag question: What other team currently in the league does this Giants team remind you of? Several different teams are discussed as comparisons, including the Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, and Boston Red Sox as perhaps the most comparable. But no teams are a perfect comparison as the Giants are a pretty unique team. And they're better than those three teams that are mentioned as comparable. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Can we please get some runs? The San Francisco Giants' bats have gone ice cold recently, especially early in games, and it's led to a 2-7 stretch that has sunk the Giants' playoff odds significantly. The Giants are averaging just 2.44 runs per game over their last nine, and since June 1 they've scored the fewest runs in baseball in the first four innings of games. Even when they were winning, the SF Giants were frequently doing so by scoring late. What can be done to turn things around? Obviously, the players the Giants have just need to play better. The Giants are last in the majors in homers and isolated power over the last two weeks. Is there any possibility of help in the Minors? In Triple-A, Tyler Fitzgerald could become a possibility at some point. Brett Wisely is deserving of an opportunity. The Giants' Double-A team has several intriguing names such as Wade Meckler, Vaun Brown, and Marco Luciano who could become options at some point. The San Francisco Giants' playoff odds have fallen from a high of close to 75% all the way down closer to 55% in recent days, according to FanGraphs. Still, better to be above 50% than far below. The Giants really ought to take advantage of the Mariners' pitching plans in the series finale, with Alex Cobb going for San Francisco, followed by an off day and then a weak Rockies team coming into town. And then it will be the All-Star break. These next four games are very important ahead of the four day layoff. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants cannot catch a break. What they can catch, unfortunately, are broken bones. Thairo Estrada is the latest Giants player to go down with an injury, as he suffered a broken left hand after being hit by a pitch on Sunday against the Mets. The SF Giants already lost Mitch Haniger to a broken forearm, and they've dealt with numerous soft-tissue injuries to players like Mike Yastrzemski, Michael Conforto, LaMonte Wade Jr., Alex Cobb, and J.D. Davis. Thankfully, Yastrzemski was activated off the IL yesterday and Conforto returned to the lineup after missing a few games with a hamstring issue. It wasn't enough, however, to prevent another Giants loss. Logan Webb was really good over 6.2 innings, striking out 11 Mariners and allowing just two runs, but the San Francisco Giants were shut down offensively outside of Blake Sabol, who hit two impressive home runs. Sabol also cost the Giants a run with a passed ball and wild pitch that should have been blocked. The losses are piling up a bit for the Giants right now, as they've dropped six of their last eight games. They're now tied for the NL's final wild card spot, and their competition continues to win seemingly every night. Per FanGraphs, the Giants' playoff odds have fallen to about 63%, down from about 75% just a few days ago. The Giants need to get back on track and avoid spiraling into the All-Star break. All of these injuries have created opportunities for young players like Luis Matos and Casey Schmitt, but thus far those players haven't really produced. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Ibotta Right now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code MLB when you register.Just go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code MLB. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
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The All-Star break can't get here fast enough for the San Francisco Giants. The Giants are banged up and burnt out, and it showed during their 2-4 road trip to Toronto and New York. The SF Giants' travel schedule has been absolutely brutal, starting with their early morning arrival into Toronto. That was followed by an inexplicable night game in the finale north of the border, meaning a late arrival into New York (and having to go through customs). And just to pile on, the Giants and Mets were selected for the ESPN Sunday Night Game, which meant they didn't arrive into San Francisco until 3:20 AM, or 6:20 AM according to the Giants' body clocks. And now the Giants start another series tonight, followed by a day game tomorrow because it's July 4th. Added to all of that, the Giants have had lots of injuries piled on. Michael Conforto and LaMonte Wade Jr. aren't on the IL, but didn't start against righty Justin Verlander on Saturday. Mitch Haniger is out for months. Mike Yastrzemski didn't make the trip but thankfully should be activated tonight. The Giants are missing three of their late-inning relievers in John Brebbia, Scott Alexander, and Luke Jackson. Anthony DeSclafani admitted that he's "running on fumes." Thairo Estrada was hit in the hand by a pitch on Sunday and Crawford aggravated a side injury on a diving play. Again: the All-Star break can't get here soon enough for the San Francisco Giants. Speaking of All Stars, Camilo Doval made the team as the Giants' lone representative. He's more than deserving, and has clearly established himself as one of the game's best relievers. The Giants had several deserving players who were snubbed: Logan Webb, J.D. Davis, Estrada, and Wade Jr. But it's probably for the best that everyone but Doval will get four days off starting next Monday. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Ibotta Right now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code MLB when you register.Just go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code MLB. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Sleeper Download the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today!
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The San Francisco Giants may have lost the series to the Blue Jays, but along the way they may have found themselves a legitimate starter. Keaton Winn made his starting pitching debut after a few stints out of the bullpen, and he was efficient and effective against a potent Blue Jays lineup, pounding the strike zone with upper 90s fastballs and a devastating splitter. Winn has flown somewhat under the radar when it comes to Giants prospects, but he very much has a chance to stick in the rotation and be an important arm for the SF Giants down the stretch and hopefully into the playoffs. But it wasn't all sunshine and roses for the Giants in the series finale. The Giants' offense struck out a ton against starter Chris Bassitt, who set a career high in K's. Bassitt has been around the game for a long time, which made the accomplishment sting a little more. The SF Giants have a strikeout rate that's among the highest in the game this season, but it's actually been better over the last month or so. Meanwhile, the home run ball continues to be rather elusive, and the Giants rank near the bottom of the league in homers over the last 30 days. But they're still Top 10 overall on the season. Injuries have had a lot to do with the decrease in long balls. Patrick Bailey just keeps on hitting. He singled and doubled as the DH in last night's Giants loss, giving him a 10-game hitting streak. It's the longest streak by an SF Giants rookie since Buster Posey did it twice in 2010. Bailey's emergence has been perhaps the greatest story of the 2023 season to date, as he has solidified the catcher position in a matter of weeks. Bailey has been great at the plate and behind it, and looks very much like the Giants' catcher of the present and the future. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants lost a game, and it didn't have to feel devastating. Last year, and for much of the early part of this season, every Giants loss felt like a significant setback. The SF Giants needed to win just about every game or else fall further behind in the standings, or further away from even the .500 mark. Now, entering last night's game 11 games over .500, the Giants have put themselves in a strong position. Logan Webb struggled in the first inning and the Giants fell to the Blue Jays, but they'll look to win the series behind surprise starter Keaton Winn tonight. Switching gears to some mailbag questions, which does the Giants' front office believe is the real version of the team: the one from the first 40 games or the one from the most recent 40 games? The boring and cliché answer is that they most likely view them as the combination of the two. Obviously, however, injuries can play a role. The San Francisco Giants have certainly had their share of injuries this year, and that can change the equation. So can the arrival of young players such as Patrick Bailey, Luis Matos, and Casey Schmitt. Not to mention pitchers like Winn, who has a chance to stick in the Giants' rotation given the quality of his stuff. Another mailbag question: does the Giants having a good year make it more likely that they are able to sign Shohei Ohtani in the offseason? That certainly appears to be the case, as Ohtani has expressed that winning is his main concern. The Angels have not made the playoffs since Ohtani joined the team. Indeed, if the Giants can have a good season, make the playoffs, and have some playoff success, that would likely have a meaningful influence on their odds of signing the superstar, assuming that's something they want to do. It's hard to imagine that the SF Giants won't be all-in on the greatest player in the game. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants have won a ridiculous ten consecutive road games for the first time in a single season since 1952. It's a feat that hadn't been accomplished since the Giants moved to San Francisco. And this was no easy road environment. The Blue Jays are a good team, and Kevin Gausman is a Cy Young contender. And yet, the SF Giants found a way to win again. The Giants' last three road wins were against the powerhouse Dodgers. Patrick Bailey continues to emerge as a really, really good player for the Giants. Once again he found a way to come up big in a clutch situation, lining a double to right against Gausman in a two-strike count that scored Thairo Estrada, who had just broken up Gausman's no-hit bid. Bailey has been the best catcher in baseball by fWAR since his MLB debut, and it's not even close. He's also been the eighth best position player, period, since his debut (according to fWAR). Bailey threw out another runner last night, and he continues to rank among the best in baseball at pop times and framing. There's been a lot of talk about whether the San Francisco Giants can sustain all of these "bullpen games," but this wasn't a bullpen game! It was essentially an Alex Wood start. Just imagine that opener Ryan Walker pitched after Wood and no one would bat an eye. The SF Giants only used four pitchers in this shutout win (and they struck out 17, walked none, and allowed zero runs). A true "bullpen game" would consist of at least 7-8 pitchers, maybe more. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The midway point of the 2023 MLB season is just three games away; after this large of a sample size, how should we evaluate the San Francisco Giants' offseason? The Giants' offseason was largely defined by the players they didn't sign, from Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa to Carlos Rodón. The Giants did bring back Joc Pederson and bring in Michael Conforto, Mitch Haniger, Sean Manaea, Ross Stripling, Taylor Rogers, and Luke Jackson. Those players have been a mixed bag. None have truly been great, with the exception of perhaps Rogers, and several have been big disappointments. But speaking of big disappointments, check out Carlos Correa's abysmal numbers or consider the fact that Rodón has yet to throw a pitch for the Yankees due to injuries. The trade deadline is approaching; what are the Giants' needs? It's pretty clear the Giants could use some starting pitching. What would it take to land Marcus Stroman? What about Dylan Cease? Is Shohei Ohtani available, and does he makes sense for the SF Giants? Will the Giants trade Joey Bart? So many questions to consider and we'll have our answers soon enough. Is it sustainable for the Giants to be doing so many bullpen games? First response would be that they aren't really "bullpen games" in the typical sense. Think of these games as being started by an opener, and then the "long reliever" or "bulk guy" who follows is essentially the starting pitcher, but he takes down the middle innings instead of the first many innings. The team is certainly cognizant of how this might affect their staff. Alex Cobb's imminent return to the Giants' rotation helps, and it seems clear that the Giants' biggest need at the trade deadline would be starting pitching. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Although the San Francisco Giants were unable to complete a sweep of the first-place D-backs, there's no taking away from this great stretch of baseball the Giants have played. No team in baseball has a better record than the SF Giants since the start of May. The Giants are in the midst of one of their most daunting portions of the schedule, and they've been absolutely dominant. The Giants swept the Dodgers in LA, they took three of four from the star-studded Padres, and they took two of three against the D-backs, owners of the NL's second best record. This stretch has vaulted the San Francsico Giants into excellent playoff position first first place in the West within their sights. However, for the Giants, the injuries continue to pile up. So much so that they threaten to derail the SF Giants' strong play. Luke Jackson landed on the IL over the weekend with a low back strain, joining key bullpen pieces John Brebbia and Scott Alexander. Suddenly, the back end of the 'pen is just Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers, and Taylor Rogers. In the rotation, the Giants are without Alex Cobb, but thankfully he should return on this road trip when the Giants play the Mets. Wilmer Flores is on the IL but should return in the Giants' upcoming series. Mike Yastrzemski went on the IL with a hamstring issue, and his presence will be sorely missed. Now the Giants head to Toronto, where they'll see old friends Kevin Gausman and Brandon Belt. Gausman is almost certain to pitch in this series, which will be very interesting to see. He's still a great pitcher, and he probably has some extra motivation facing his old team, to which he wanted to return but apparently he did not receive an offer. Belt had a miserable start to his season but has turned it on in a big way as of late. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres have been two of the more fascinating teams in baseball this year. Almost everyone expected the Padres to be among the game's best teams, if not the best, and that the SF Giants would be somewhere around .500. But after 70 or so games, it's the Giants who are about 10 games over .500 and the Padres have struggled pretty much all season, particularly in the run scoring department. Despite having multiple superstar hitters in their lineup! The differences between these two teams and how they're playing is discussed. The SF Giants have a lot more roster flexibility, and they've been able to target undervalued players and get a lot of production out of them. Think Mike Yastrzemski, Thairo Estrada, LaMonte Wade Jr., and J.D. Davis. The Padres are built mostly through major pieces acquired via trade or free agency, and don't have a lot of young players coming up, which is something that's buoyed the Giants this year. Luis Matos, Patrick Bailey, and Casey Schmitt, along with pitchers Tristan Beck, Keaton Winn, and Sean Hjelle, have provided a spark for the Giants this season that has their fans excited and the team energized. It's fairly clear that the rookies' arrival and strong performance (for the most par) have breathed life into the team and fanbase. For that reason, and the fact that the Giants are now in a strong playoff position, that it doesn't make sense when people list Giants players among those who might be available at this year's trade deadline. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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It wasn't without some controversy, but the San Francisco Giants casually collected their 10th straight win on Wednesday against the Padres. The Giants' winning streak of 10 games is their longest since 2004. The SF Giants' streak began with the team sitting at 32-32, but now they're 10 games over .500 and their playoff odds are skyrocketing. They have a legitimate shot at the NL West, and they're now the No. 1 Wild Card team. The controversy involved the Home Plate Collision rule, and it was actually not all that controversial. Padres catcher Gary Sánchez blocked Giants baserunner Blake Sabol's path to the plate before he was in possession of the baseball. Case closed—that's a violation of the rule. Like it or not, the rule is the rule, and the Giants took advantage. Sabol was ruled safe, and the Giants went on to score two additional runs in the inning. So the play had a huge impact on the game, which ended with a final score of 4-2. Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski was banged up in the process. He injured his left hamstring in that inning that was extended and had to leave the game. An MRI revealed only inflammation, which is a best case scenario. Yaz is hopeful to avoid the injured list, so he's in a similar kind of purgatory as SF Giants first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr., who's nursing a side injury but hasn't been placed on the IL. Those two are obviously very key players for the Giants and they can't afford to lose them. Bryce Johnson was recalled prior to today's game, and Sean Hjelle was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants just can't be stopped right now. Even when it looks like the Giants are going to lose, they're finding a way to come back and win. That's been the case in two straight games against the Padres, with the Giants falling behind early but coming back in the late innings to win. Last night, the SF Giants' winning rally was started by Luis Matos, who continued to show excellent plate discipline and drew a walk. Patrick Bailey continued to show poise beyond his years as he rocketed a single to left. Casey Schmitt, of all people, drew a walk against Josh Hader. And after David Villar struck out, Joc Pederson drew a very tough left-on-left walk against Hader to literally 'walk' off the Padres. The unsung heroes in the Giants' comebacks were their rookie pitchers Tristan Beck (last night) and Keaton Winn (on the previous night). The Giants have used their pitching staff in a non-traditional way—to great effect. The SF Giants probably don't win either game if Winn and Beck don't take down a combined eight innings of one run ball. The San Francisco Giants' bullpen has been elite lately, and taking down more innings than any other team. Finally, the Giants had one great development on the health front and one bad development. J.D. Davis, who is more than deserving of being an All-Star this year, returned to the starting lineup at third base for the first time since spraining his ankle in St. Louis. LaMonte Wade Jr., on the other hand, was a late scratch with side tightness and will have an MRI today. Hopefully it's nothing serious, because Wade is also clearly deserving of an All-Star nod this season as well. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Birddogs Go to birddogs.com/lockedonmlb and they’ll throw in a free custom birddogs Yeti-style tumbler with every order. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.
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There's something special happening with the 2023 San Francisco Giants. With another dramatic come-from-behind win against the Padres last night, the SF Giants have firmly established themselves as a team that's capable of coming back to win games. The Giants looked dead in the water for much of the game, stymied by Padres starter Michael Wacha, but a coupe of solo homers and good pitching in the middle innings kept them in the game, and the Giants rallied for two in the ninth to tie and ended it on Mike Yastrzemski's three-run, walk-off home run into McCovey Cove. Giants rookies have helped to revitalize this team, and they have their fingerprints all over last night's win. Patrick Bailey threw out Fernando Tatis Jr. trying to steal third with no outs in the first after his leadoff double. Bailey later had a huge sacrifice fly to tie the game in the ninth. Blake Sabol drew a huge leadoff walk to set up with two-run ninth. Luis Matos' sac fly moved Yaz to third and set up Bailey's game-tying sacrifice. Keaton Winn looked like a legitimate MLB starter, and Kevin Gausman impersonator, firing five innings of one-run ball out of the bullpen. And finally, Giants manager Gabe Kapler played a large part in this win. He made aggressive pinch-hit decisions that ultimately paid off. He got J.D. Davis two plate appearances after he pinch hit for Crawford. He used a pinch hitter for a pinch hitter in the ninth, first bringing out Austin Slater to face a lefty before the Padres countermoved with a righty, before Kapler finally counter-countermoved with Blake Sabol, who led off with that key walk. And with the game tied in the top of the 10th, Kapler intentionally walked Juan Soto, a risky move putting another free runner on base, but it paid off as Camilo Doval was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run, setting up Yaz's dramatic walk-off cove shot in the bottom of the frame. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Birddogs Go to birddogs.com/lockedonmlb and they’ll throw in a free custom birddogs Yeti-style tumbler with every order. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.
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The San Francisco Giants went into LA and embarrassed the Dodgers. The Giants did things to LA that hadn't been done since the 1800s. The SF Giants' 15-0 rout in Game 2 was LA's largest shutout loss in well over 100 years. The Giants came back from a significant deficit—again—in Game 1 of the series, after being no-hit by a pitcher making his MLB debut after six. And in the finale, Logan Webb and a relentless, grinding offense took care of business to finish off the historic sweep. Despite all the positives, there has been one recent negative: SF Giants players are dropping like flies. It started with Mitch Haniger breaking his forearm in St. Louis, and J.D. Davis spraining his ankle one pitch earlier. In LA, the Giants lost John Brebbia to a lat strain for up to two months, Wilmer Flores to a foot contusion, Alex Cobb to a strained oblique, and Casey Schmitt was drilled in the forearm by a pitch in a similar manner to Haniger. Thankfully, X-rays came back negative. The Giants begin a huge upcoming homestand against the Padres (for four) and the D-backs (for three). The San Francisco Giants are now in second place in the NL West, passing over the Dodgers, but the Padres are playing well and are looking to finally get over the hump after a slow start to their season. Arizona is in first place, but their run differential suggests regression may be coming. The Giants have the second-best run differential in the NL, trailing only the 46-26 Braves. The Giants have been the best team in MLB for over a month now. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Birddogs Go to birddogs.com/lockedonmlb and they’ll throw in a free custom birddogs Yeti-style tumbler with every order. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.
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All of a sudden, it's time to start thinking about the trade deadline. We're just about 1.5 months away, and the San Francisco Giants find themselves four games over .500 and in a playoff spot. The Giants' schedule is about to get tough for a couple weeks, so it's important that they continue to play well. With all of that said, do the SF Giants need a big bat? Do they need relief help? Or is their biggest weakness ironically the area that most thought would be their biggest strength coming into the season: starting pitching? The Giants' future at the shortstop position is discussed, as is Casey Schmitt. After getting off to a red hot start, Schmitt has cooled off considerably due to a tendency to chase wildly at pitches out of the zone far too often. But Schmitt's defense gives him a high floor and still provides value to the Giants even if he's not hitting well. With Brandon Crawford's contract up after the season, is Schmitt the answer at short or will the SF Giants have to figure something else out? Kyle Harrison is a name that most San Francisco Giants fans are very familiar with by now. By many prospect evaluators, Harrison is the SF Giants' top prospect. Which is exciting, because they've already had a number of prospects come up and make an impact already. But do Harrison's walk issues make him look like more of a reliever than a starter? And with the Giants suddenly having a pretty deep, interesting, and young core brewing, is it time to go all-in on Shohei Ohtani in the offseason when he becomes a free agent? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Birddogs Go to birddogs.com/lockedonmlb and when you enter promo code, LOCKEDONMLB, they’ll throw in a free custom birddogs Yeti-style tumbler with every order. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
There's something special about these 2023 San Francisco Giants. They've got rookies providing a serious spark, and they've got a comeback spirit that has led to some dramatic wins. But none were bigger than yesterday's heroics provided by Mike Yastrzemski. Down to their last strike—and down 0-2 in the count—Yaz took some tough pitches and fouled one off, and on a 2-2 count he got a fastball over the heart of the plate and did not miss. Yastrzemski blasted one high and deep to right that was a no-doubter off the bat. The SF Giants had tied the game, and they went on to win 8-5 in extra innings. It was arguably the Giants' best win of they year, and it puts them four games over .500 and two games up in a playoff spot. Important, because the SF Giants are about to go through a very tough portion of the schedule. Luis Matos made his major league debut in yesterday's game. He singled in his first at-bat, and hit somewhat soft lineouts in his next two. Matos is an extremely intriguing prospect, and he became the majors' second-youngest position player. But in the seventh inning, representing the tying run, Giants manager Gabe Kapler pinch hit for Matos. That was sure to make many fans upset, but it was a special circumstance and doesn't mean Matos will be platooned. To the contrary, he almost certainly won't be platooned. Don't read too much into the special circumstance of yesterday's pinch hit decision. Anthony DeSclafani continued to struggle. Over his last many starts, he has an ERA in the 6.00s. DeSclafani had started out the year so well for the Giants, but has fallen off a lot recently, and yesterday was more of the same. Outside of Logan Webb and Alex Cobb (who's also struggled a bit recently), the SF Giants' starting staff has become problematic. The Giants have had success in bullpen games, but it's becoming clear that starting pitching may be the Giants' biggest need as the trade deadline approaches. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Birddogs Go to birddogs.com/lockedonmlb and when you enter promo code, LOCKEDONMLB, they’ll throw in a free custom birddogs Yeti-style tumbler with every order. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's unfortunate that it took an injury, but the San Francisco Giants' young, electric prospect Luis Matos is very likely to make his MLB debut on Wednesday after Mitch Haniger sustained a right forearm fracture after being hit by a pitch in a Giants win. Haniger will surely need weeks, if not months, to heal, and that swings the door wide open for Matos, who's been on an unbelievable tear in Triple-A. Matos is just 21 years old—the youngest player in Triple-A—and assuming he makes his debut, he will be MLB's second-youngest position player. Matos was regarded by prospect evaluators as a top prospect a couple of years ago, but injuries and poor performance took some shine off last year. But the SF Giants farmhand has come back with a vengeance in 2023, tearing it up in Double-A and doing the same in Triple-A at such a young age. Now Matos is likely to join Patrick Bailey, Casey Schmitt, Keaton Winn (who earned a save in his MLB debut tonight), Ryan Walker, and Blake Sabol among Giants youngsters to debut this season. It's an exciting time to be a Giants fan again, particularly with several of these young players performing well. And we haven't even seen Matos or potential star pitcher Kyle Harrison yet. Suddenly, things are exciting and the SF Giants' future is looking bright. Oh by the way, the Giants blew out the Cardinals, improved to three games over .500, and have sole possession of the NL's final wild card spot. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Birddogs Go to birddogs.com/lockedonmlb and when you enter promo code, LOCKEDONMLB, they’ll throw in a free custom birddogs Yeti-style tumbler with every order. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's very, very early in his career, but San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey is already looking like the real deal. In just 18 games, Bailey has surpassed Joey Bart's career fWAR of 0.9, which took him 140 more games. Bailey made a perfect throw to catch a runner stealing in last night's Giants win over the Cardinals, and he also worked a dramatic 11-pitch at-bat that resulted in a double, and he eventually scored what would be the winning run. Brandon Crawford continues to get big hits for the SF Giants as well. After he had seemingly lost his job with the emergence of Casey Schmitt, Schmitt has cooled off considerably at the plate with an overly aggressive approach that has led to non-competitive at-bats. So Crawford has been playing more and more lately, and he's brought strong defense and a clutch bat to the plate. He had a huge game-tying single as he collected two hits in the win last night. Mitch Haniger is another SF Giants players who has generally struggled on the season, but has shown signs of life in recent weeks. Haniger had perhaps the two biggest hits of the game for the Giants, as both of his hits drove in runs in two-out situations, including a go-ahead single with two outs and an 0-2 count in the eighth. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Birddogs Go to birddogs.com/lockedonmlb and when you enter promo code, LOCKEDONMLB, they’ll throw in a free custom birddogs Yeti-style tumbler with every order. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.
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Well, the San Francisco Giants' weekend certainly wasn't boring. On Friday the Giants were shut down by Marcus Stroman. On Saturday, they came ever so close to being no-hit by soft-tosser Kyle Hendricks. And then on Sunday, when the Giants needed a win pretty badly, they pummeled the Cubs 13-3 to salvage an otherwise disappointing series. The SF Giants are one game over .500 and their position in the West and Wild Card standings is explored in detail. Also of note, the SF Giants optioned catcher Joey Bart to Triple-A over the weekend. It was the latest setback in the career of Bart in San Francsico, as Patrick Bailey and Blake Sabol appear to have surpassed him on the depth chart. This is the last year in which the Giants can option Bart, so it's very possible that this is his last season in orange and black—if he even makes it through the whole season. Today the Giants announced that Keaton Winn was called up and Tristan Beck was optioned. Winn is a very intriguing starting pitcher who features a good fastball-splitter combo. Luis Matos continues to do ridiculous things for the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento. He hit three homers in his last two games, collecting three hits in each game. Do the SF Giants need to make room for Matos on the major league roster right now? What would that look like? It appears that the Giants simply don't have room on their roster for Matos right now, even though he is absolutely forcing the issue. He may have to wait until an injury creates a spot, or the Giants may at some point decide to make a trade that opens up a spot for the 21-year-old. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Birddogs Go to birddogs.com/lockedonmlb and when you enter promo code, LOCKEDONMLB, they’ll throw in a free custom birddogs Yeti-style tumbler with every order. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.
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Another day, another dramatic come-from-behind win for the San Francisco Giants. For the second straight game, the Giants fell behind the Rockies early, only to have the bullpen keep them in the game and the offense stage a dramatic comeback. A J.D. Davis triple and Michael Conforto homer brought the SF Giants closer, and then a three-run rally in the ninth, with Brandon Crawford, LaMonte Wade Jr., and Joc Pederson driving in runs, giving them a lead they would hold onto thanks to another dominant outing by star closer Camilo Doval. The series as a whole is discussed with Locked On Rockies host Paul Holden. What makes the San Francisco Giants consistently better than the Rockies? Do the Giants really care about winning the division, or is a wild card spot an acceptable goal? What were the main takeaways from the SF Giants' perspective in the series? What's in store for the Giants for the rest of the season, and at the upcoming trade deadline? All that and more on this crossover edition of Locked On Giants. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! BetterHelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. BetterHelp connects you with a licensed therapist who can take you on that journey of self-discovery from wherever you are. Visit BetterHelp.com/lockedonmlb today to get 10% off your first month. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Platoon deniers look away. The San Francisco Giants beat the Rockies in dramatic comeback fashion thanks in large part to their platoon system and ability to get favorable matchups in key situations. In the seventh inning, after Michael Conforto walked and Mitch Haniger singled, the Rockies had a choice to make. Let a righty face Mike Yastrzemski and Blake Sabol, or go to a lefty and force the SF Giants to make countermoves. They went to a lefty, and Austin Slater and Wilmer Flores came through with huge hits as pinch hitters, fueling the Giants' 5-4 comeback win. Another key factor in the win was the San Francisco Giants' bullpen. Over the last 30 days, no bullpen has a better ERA than the Giants' bullpen. Pretty much everyone in the 'pen, including players who were heavily criticized for their early season struggles (such as Sean Manaea and Taylor Rogers) has been outstanding over the last month. The Giants' bullpen was key in the win last night, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings after Logan Webb allowed four runs in 5.1 innings. Carson Whisenhunt, who was drafted less than 11 months ago, made his Double-A debut last night and continued to dominate. He's made a meteoric rise through the SF Giants' system and his first start in Richmond was more of the same. Luis Matos, another extremely intriguing prospect who's the youngest player in Triple-A, homered last night to continue to make his case that he belongs in the majors—soon. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! BetterHelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. BetterHelp connects you with a licensed therapist who can take you on that journey of self-discovery from wherever you are. Visit BetterHelp.com/lockedonmlb today to get 10% off your first month. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants' full-strength position player group is one of the best in major league baseball. By FanGraphs WAR, they're seventh-best in all of baseball, and it's easy to see why. LaMonte Wade Jr., Thairo Estrada, and J.D. Davis are legitimately having All-Star caliber seasons. Then you add in established producers like Joc Pederson, Michael Conforto, and Mitch Haniger, and mix in some youth with the likes of Patrick Bailey and Casey Schmitt, and it's easy to understand that this is a deep and dangerous lineup when at full strength, as we saw last night. But the SF Giants really should've scored more runs. The Giants' strikeout issues are examined, as are their numbers with runners in "scoring position." A breakdown on why statistics with "runners in scoring position" is really not that important is also given. But also: the Giants have done better in those situations than they've done when runners aren't on second and/or third. Lastly, the SF Giants' pitching is discussed. Once again they won a bullpen game started by John Brebbia. Sean Manaea took down the bulk of the innings, and he pitched better than his final line would indicate. Over his last four appearances, all out of the bullpen, he's struck out a third of the batters he's faced and has a walk rate of just 7%. His ERA and FIP are sparkling over those last four outings, so this bullpen game with Manaea picking up bulk innings thing is working out well for the Giants. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! BetterHelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. BetterHelp connects you with a licensed therapist who can take you on that journey of self-discovery from wherever you are. Visit BetterHelp.com/lockedonmlb today to get 10% off your first month. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants committed $43.5 million to Mitch Haniger in the offseason, expecting him to be the same player he's consistently been whenever he's been healthy enough to be on the field. For the first month or so of the season, the Giants were without Haniger, who injured his oblique (and later his back) as the season got going. But Haniger has been healthy for over a month now, and the SF Giants are still waiting for him to be a consistent performer offensively. What's behind Haniger's struggles, and will he break out of it? Blake Sabol has been a success story for the Giants so far this season. Taken by the Reds in the Rule 5 draft, the SF Giants immediately traded for Sabol, who's played catcher, outfield, and DH for the Giants this year. But really, Sabol's greatest strength so far has been hit bat—particularly against right-handed pitching. Will he stick on the roster all season if he doesn't really have a defensive home? And what's his future with the San Francisco Giants beyond 2023 if they're able to keep him all year and shed his Rule 5 status? What's behind SF Giants prospect Luis Matos' major turnaround from last year to this year? In 2021, Matos was so impressive as a 19-year-old in Low-A that he was widely considered a Top 50 prospect. His 2022 season in High-A, however, was massively disappointing that he fell off virtually all top prospect lists. This year, the biggest improvement has been plate discipline. He nearly doubled his walk rate from 2022 in Double-A, and earned a promotion to Triple-A, where he continues to tear it up. Matos has put himself on the doorstep of the major leagues where he's a phone call away from a spot in the Giants' outfield. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! BetterHelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. BetterHelp connects you with a licensed therapist who can take you on that journey of self-discovery from wherever you are. Visit BetterHelp.com/lockedonmlb today to get 10% off your first month. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants got a huge boost when Casey Schmitt and Patrick Bailey were promoted to the majors and made an immediate impact. Is SF Giants outfield prospect Luis Matos next in line? Matos is tearing it up in Triple-A, but it's hard to see how he would find consistent playing time in the Giants' major league outfield considering the fact that the SF Giants have Michael Conforto, Mitch Haniger, Mike Yastrzemski, and Austin Slater locked into roles. Carson Whisenhunt and Reggie Crawford are also discussed in this segment. What has been the influence of new Giants GM Pete Putila? Is he behind the Minor League success and aggressive promotions that we didn't see for years under Farhan Zaidi and Scott Harris? Not necessarily. A lot of this has been a function of the fact that players the Giants believe in have performed well and earned promotions. A lot of those players simply weren't ready in previous years, but are more ready now. But Putila likely has had some significant impact on the process. Some San Francisco Giants rapid fire questions are also answered: Will Gabe Kapler ever get rid of the platoon system? If you had to buy a jersey, whose jersey would you get? Do the Giants have a legit first baseman of the future in the system? Have we seen enough from Brett Wisely? Assuming he stays healthy and continues to hit well, should the Giants consider re-signing Conforto? Who are the three likeliest Giants All-Stars on the roster? What’s the expected record at the end of the year with the Giants' hot May? Do you envision the Giants being buyers or sellers in the deadline? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Kolten Wong to the San Francisco Giants? According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the SF Giants are among the teams interested in trading for Kolten Wong, the left-handed-hitting second baseman under contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers are likely to trade Wong, who's owed $10M in the final year of his contract, this offseason. Wong is historically someone who's hit right-handed pitching pretty well, and he has historically been one of the game's best defensive second basemen. Interestingly, Kolten Wong took a major step back defensively in 2022 according to most advanced defensive metrics, but it's generally best to look in three-season samples when dealing with such metrics. Given that he's only signed for one more year and is owed $10M, the cost to acquire Wong seemingly wouldn't be too high.A viral tweet by MLB Network is discussed. In the tweet, MLB Network put out a San Francisco Giants projected lineup that included Aaron Judge. Social media went to work dunking on the SF Giants for an extremely weak looking lineup. On the one hand, it certainly doesn't inspire a ton of confidence, even with Judge. On the other hand, that lineup is essentially the same one that was above average at scoring runs in 2022. Every single member of the projected lineup, except for the No. 9 hitter Joey Bart, has been above average by wRC+ over the last three seasons. The Giants certainly shouldn't roll into 2023 with a lineup like that if they were to sign Judge, but it's also not nearly as listless as some are making it out to be.Switching gears, how should the progress of some young players on the SF Giants' roster be evaluated? Thairo Estrada, Joey Bart, and David Villar are given a closer look. Estrada had a legitimately strong season that flew somewhat under the radar. He amassed 14 home runs and 21 steals, and overall was the Giants' best position player by fWAR. Joey Bart struggled with strikeouts as expected in 2022. He was pretty bad to start the year, got better, and then regressed to a rolling K% back near 50% over the final month-plus of the season. David Villar is definitely someone to watch moving forward. The power is legit, he won the PCL MVP Award, and he could be a breakout candidate for the Giants in 2023, or he could potentially be trade bait this offseason if the Giants want to make a big splash.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXDThe best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick#SFGiants #FirstListenSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!SimpliSafeWith Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
While San Francisco Giants fans range from hopeful to skeptical about the team's chances of landing Aaron Judge, MLB Network reporter Jon Morosi said on Thursday "There's a legitimate chance that Aaron Judge becomes a San Francisco Giant." Judge's favorite player growing up, Rich Aurilia, went on KNBR on Wednesday and said that Morosi told him the Giants' odds of landing Judge were 50 percent, whereas the combined odds of the Yankees plus everybody else equaled 50 percent. That would mean, in essence, that Morosi views the SF Giants as the most likely team to come away with Judge. Morosi also said that the Giants would need to prove to Judge that they can win around him, but all indications are that that is their intention. He also said that the Giants might need to get closer to $40M per year to come away with Judge. As has been suggested on this show, something like 8/$320M ($40M AAV) could possibly get a deal done. The Yankees' reported offer on the table to judge is 8/$300M ($37.5M AAV).If the San Francisco Giants are able to land Aaron Judge, what else would they do around him? It all depends on how high they're willing to push their payroll. Adding Judge would push them beyond where they've been in recent years, but they also have a lot of future flexibility with almost no guarantees on the books for 2024 and literally $0 committed in 2025 and beyond. So it's not out of the question that that could carry a $200M+ payroll in 2023, and they could go lower in 2024 if they wanted to. The Giants are set to receive $30M from the sale of BAMTech to Disney. The first luxury tax threshold is $233M in 2023, and the SF Giants are nowhere near it. Adding Judge, Carlos Correa, and Carlos Rodón at roughly their predicted AAV's would push the Giants to about $225M, still underneath the first luxury tax threshold.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXDThe best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick#SFGiants #FirstListenSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!SimpliSafeWith Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The New York Yankees' approximate offer to Aaron Judge was reported today by ESPN's Jeff Passan. Is it something the San Francisco Giants will be able to exceed? The Yankees' offer to Judge, according to Passan, is around eight years and $300 million. That would be an average annual value (AAV) of $37.5M. That would make Aaron Judge the highest-paid position player in baseball on a per-season basis, surpassing Mike Trout's $35.5M. However, Bryce Harper's $330M total guarantee would still stand as the largest free-agent deal ever handed out. The SF Giants should be able to match or exceed the Yankees' reported offer, but it stands to reason that New York is willing to go higher than their standing offer of $300M. If the Giants miss out on Judge—and heaven forbid he ends up on the Dodgers or something—what should they do? They're perhaps even somewhat likely to sign Carlos Correa if Judge falls off the board. Judge is clearly their top target, but Correa seems to have emerged as their second choice. Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area has consistently reported as such over the last few days and weeks, and other local journalists have echoed this sentiment. Correa is 2.5 years younger than Judge, and is likely to command a similar number of years. When all is said and done, Judge is the best right now and is certainly the most likely to drive fan interest and ticket sales, but Correa might be a better fit from a long-term perspective. If the Giants miss out on Judge and Correa, there are still other top shortstops, and there are some really good top-of-the-rotation arms, and center fielder Brandon Nimmo. A lot is expected to happen at the upcoming Winter Meetings in San Diego, which kick off on Sunday. Would the Giants consider just letting their young guys play if they miss out on free agents? Could Bryce Johnson do what Cody Bellinger does? The SF Giants seem unlikely to just let their young guys sink or swim their 2023 season. The Giants are determined to put a far more compelling team on the field next year, and they certainly should feel pressure to get back to the playoffs. It's hard to envision a scenario in which they don't come away with a much better looking team on paper going into 2023. That being said, their organizational philosophy is to always create opportunities for younger players who are deserving of such chances. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How upset will fans of the San Francisco Giants be if the team misses out on all of the top talent this offseason? The Giants' top target is clearly Aaron Judge, and a resolution could come within a week. Judge may very well end up back in New York, but there's also a chance he ends up elsewhere. Can you imagine the reaction if the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Aaron Judge? Giants fans would go absolutely ballistic. If Judge signs anywhere other than San Francisco, it's been pretty clearly reported that Carlos Correa is their next target. But what if the miss on him as well, and essentially don't land any top players? There's always the trade market, but the Giants' preferred method for adding top talent this winter should be cold hard cash. What's the latest with the SF Giants' reported interest in Kenley Jansen? About a week and a half ago, it was reported that the Giants were discussing a two-year contract with the former Dodgers closer. But we haven't heard anything since. It's possible that those reports were planted by an agent. No new reports have emerged on Jansen in the last 10 days or so, so it's unclear where the San Francisco Giants stand—and whether or not those original reports were even true. Other questions addressed on today's mailbag Locked On Giants: Have the Giants overused or underused platoons under Gabe Kapler? What do you make of Kapler's comments in The Athletic at the end of the season when he said he likes platooning and finds using a lot of pinch hitters "fun"? Could the Giants look to unload Tommy La Stella in a bad contract swap? Might they attach a top prospect in order to move the $11.5 million he's owed in 2023? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aaron Judge is the San Francisco Giants' top target, but at what point should they bow out and pivot to other targets? Aaron Judge is expected to command an eight, nine, or 10-year deal worth north of $300 million. If his deal is for eight years, over $40 million per year would probably be "too high". An eight-year deal for $40M per year would be $320M. If it's nine years, the SF Giants probably wouldn't want to go higher than $37M per season (which would come out to $333M in total). If Judge gets 10 years, the Giants might want to pivot to other options, but assuming they'd be willing to pay Aaron Judge through his age-40 season, anything north of $340M total would arguably be too high. Is it Aaron Judge or bust for the San Francisco Giants? What should they do if the miss out on Judge? There are lots of other good options out there, but none would be as big of a splash as Judge. Carlos Correa should be their next-highest target, with Trea Turner also in the conversation (but we have it on pretty good authority that he won't want to come to San Francisco). Brandon Nimmo, Xander Bogaerts, and Dansby Swanson are other good options, as are the top starting pitchers such as Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander, and Carlos Rodón. Why all the talk of free-agent shortstops when the SF Giants already have top prospect Marco Luciano? And what about Thairo Estrada, who would theoretically block one of the free-agent SS from playing second base? The Giants believe Estrada can move all over the diamond if need be, and most scouts believe Luciano won't be able to stick at shortstop and will end up at third base or in left field. Speaking of Luciano, whom is he worth trading for? Rafael Devers, who could theoretically be available this winter? Shohei Ohtani? Corbin Burnes? All this and more discussed on today's Locked On Giants podcast. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Despite the legitimate fan angst, there really is a lot to be grateful for as a fan of the San Francisco Giants. The 2022 season with a big letdown, but in a lot of ways the SF Giants' .500 record likely motivated them to have a big offseason this winter. The Giants are linked to all of the top free agents, including Aaron Judge, who is reportedly the Giants' top target. Reports indicate the San Francisco Giants are looking to add two outfielders, a middle infielder, and a starting pitcher this winter, and they're likely to add depth pieces as well, including addressing the bullpen. Not every team can claim to have such interest in adding talent, and it's very much something to be grateful for as a Giants fan. The Giants are also starting from a pretty good baseline win projection, according to the ZiPS projection system featured on FanGraphs. The projection system has the SF Giants at 83 wins—before accounting for any offseason additions. That projection doesn't include Carlos Rodón, since he is a free agent. It's a pretty good place to start considering the first item on the list, that the San Francisco Giants are likely to be very active this winter. Add, say, Aaron Judge, a center fielder, a shortstop, and an ace pitcher, and it's not hard to see the Giants with a projection of 90-95 wins. The state of the SF Giants' farm system is also something to be grateful for. While they've fallen or stalled out in a lot of subjective rankings in the last couple of years, there's something unique about this moment in time as a Giants fan regarding their farm system. Finally, after years of waiting, their top prospects are getting closer to the major leagues. Marco Luciano stalled out a bit in 2022, but Kyle Harrison dominated in Double-A and is a strong candidate to make a legitimate impact in 2023. Casey Schmitt has flown under the radar as perhaps the Giants' best position player prospect, and he ended the season with a handful of games in Triple-A, so he's also on the doorstep to the majors. All in all, it's a pretty good time to be a Giants fan. Now they just need to execute their offseason plans. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants seemingly will stop at nothing to lure Aaron Judge home. Judge, a native of nearby Linden, CA, would be the Giants' most significant free-agent addition since Barry Bonds. The Giants met with Judge on Monday night and again pretty much all day on Tuesday, according to NBC Sports Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic. Part of the SF Giants' pitch reportedly involved connecting Aaron Judge with Steph Curry, whose Warriors play down the street from the Giants' Oracle Park. Joc Pederson, Brandon Crawford, and Logan Webb also took to instagram in an attempt to recruit the Judge, whose 62 home runs in 2022 set the American League record. Judge was a near unanimous pick for AL MVP. Aaron Judge has also made it clear that his top priority is winning, and many have said that this makes the Giants less likely. But Dan Szymborski's 2023 ZiPS projections, which account for current rosters (so no free agents are assigned to any team) has the Giants projected at 83 wins vs. the Yankees' 85. Take Judge off the Yankees and suddenly they don't look like such a great team right now. They have a ton of money locked up to aging or underperforming players, so it could actually be argued that the San Francisco Giants are in a better spot in terms of projecting into future seasons. Relatedly, Baseball Prospectus' top Giants prospects list came out a few days ago, and once again they're high on the SF Giants' farm system. They're led by Marco Luciano and Kyle Harrison, as expected, although Luciano is more volatile now that he has been in the past. Harrison, whom Szymborski mentions as part of the reason ZiPS is relatively high on the Giants despite the absence of Carlos Rodón, is considered one of the best pitching prospects in baseball and BP suggests his ceiling is that he could be one of the best pitchers in the game. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants are meeting with Aaron Judge TODAY. Aaron Judge was captured on camera last night arriving at a hotel in San Francisco. Shortly afterwards, multiple reporters indicated that the SF Giants are meeting with Judge on Tuesday. Judge indicated in the video clip that he was there to visit friends and family, but it was obvious that the Giants are also in his plans. While the notion of Judge meeting with the Giants is exciting, it should be noted that it's not particularly surprising. The Giants' interest in Judge is well established at this point, and it's common for major free agents to sit down with interested teams. The SF Giants are a real threat to steal Judge from New York, but smart money still has him returning to the Yankees. Is there another free agent who, objectively speaking, might make even more sense than Judge? Carlos Correa is nearly three years younger, he can hit, he can defend, he's athletic, he's a leader, and the Dodgers hate him. Checks pretty much all of the boxes. Yes, he was central to the Astros' sign stealing that tainted their success in the late 2010s, but Correa is several years removed from those revelations and has continued to be an impact player. He has indicated that he's willing to sign somewhere if the money is right, and the Giants should have the motivation and means to make him an offer he can't refuse. It's not impossible to envision the Giants coming away with both Judge and one of the star free-agent shortstops. But the Giants will also need their farm system to start producing major league talent in 2023, and they might be well on their way with the likes of Casey Schmitt reaching the upper minors. Schmitt, along with catcher Patrick Bailey, won Minor League Gold Glove awards on Tuesday. Schmitt is an elite defensive third baseman, who's also spent some time at short. He has a chance to make a real impact on the MLB team in 2023. Bailey was the Giants' first-round pick in 2020, and has mostly been a disappointment thus far. But it's not hard to find good qualities to his game, as evidenced by his Gold Glove Award, 15% walk rate, and near .200 isolated power in High-A this season. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants are reportedly interested in free agents Mitch Haniger and Kenley Jansen. Haniger is a good hitter who's from the area, but has dealt with injuries (sometimes fluky ones, like when he ruptured a testicle on a foul ball) and has been an inconsistent defender. It's hard to envision a scenario in which the Giants want to add both Aaron Judge and Haniger, because they're both corner outfielders. Judge can play center, but it's beleived that the SF Giants want truly elite defense up the middle, so players like Kevin Kiermaier, Cody Bellinger, and even Brandon Nimmo might make the most sense in that regard. Kenley Jansen is one of the best relievers in baseball history. He's now 35 years old, but he had another really good season for the 101-win Braves in 2022, notching 41 saves with a 3.38 ERA. It's unclear whether Jansen would take the closer's role from the young flamethrower Camilo Doval, or if he would accept a role as a non-closer. Regardless, it's not hard to see why the Giants would be interested in a major bullpen upgrade, especially one who could likely be signed to a one- or two-year deal. The Giants' clear preference in free agency is to sign their impact talent on short-term deals, and Jansen would certainly fit the mold (although they haven't really spent big on relievers, so in some ways it would deviate from the SF Giants' tendencies). Cody Bellinger was non-tendered by the Dodgers on Friday, making him a free agent. It has been reported that the San Francisco Giants make a lot of sense for Bellinger. But in reality, Bellinger might make a lot of sense for the Giants, but not necessarily the other way around. Bellinger's agent, Scott Boras, recently told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal that they likely prefer a one-year deal for Bellinger. And why would Bellinger want to come to Oracle Park, of all places, in hopes of rebuilding offensive value? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Aaron Judge spoke last night, and we all listened. Very carefully. Judge won the AL MVP Award last night, and his free agency is the top story in baseball. The San Francisco Giants are believed to be in serious pursuit. Judge had some interesting comments about his free agency, noting that, "For me, if we're going to build a winning team, if I can get myself out of the way so they can move on or add some more pieces, I think that's an advantage." The SF Giants sound like exactly the kind of team he could be talking about, but there's no way of knowing. In a perfect world, Judge would sign with the Giants early and give them a chance to add around him. Or if he's going to sign elsewhere or return to the Yankees, his signing early would allow the Giants to pivot to other options. Judge's comments were interesting to say the least. Switching gears, today is the MLB tender (or non-tender) deadline. Teams must decide whether to tender contracts to their arbitration- and pre-arbitration-eligible players. That list includes six players for the SF Giants, including Logan Webb, Mike Yastrzemski, and Thairo Estrada. Pretty much all nine are locks to be tendered contracts, but their salaries for 2023 won't necessarily be determined for a few months. However, it's probable that the Giants will reach agreements to avoid arbitration with several arb-eligible players today. Scott Alexander was already inked to a deal yesterday. Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports that the Giants are trying to extend Logan Webb, which would be a huge deal if they can cross the finish line, although today is not some kind of deadline to do so. Last but not least, should the Giants be interested in trading for Cody Bellinger, or signing him if he's non-tendered? Bellinger's case is one of the most fascinating in the sport, and it's possible he's dealt or non-tendered by 5 PM this evening. Or the Dodgers could elect to hold onto him, but they'd end up owing him close to $18 million potentially. Bellinger was so good early in his career, but has been awful after a shoulder injury he sustained while celebrating a home run in the 2020 postseason. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants need a lot of help this winter, and it's not all likely to come in the form of free agent signings. Giants president of baseball ops Farhan Zaidi even said that the SF Giants' stated goal of getting younger and more athletic isn't best brought about through free agency, necessarily. Free agents are, by definition, players who've been in the league for at least six seasons. With that said, who are some realistic trade targets for the San Francisco Giants? The Diamondbacks have an abundance of young, talented, athletic outfielders. Their stable of outfield talent includes Daulton Varsho, Corbin Carroll, Jake McCarthy, and Alek Thomas. Thomas might be the odd man out in that scenario, and the SF Giants should have interest if any of those four are available. The Blue Jays have a surplus of catching talent, with Danny Jansen, Alejandro Kirk, and Gabriel Moreno. Jansen would be a nice target for the Giants, but it would complicate matters with Joey Bart. Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs is a talented, athletic, switch-hitting outfielder who makes a ton of sense for the Giants, and he could be available because he's one year from free agency and plays for a rebuilding team. Shohei Ohtani is the mother of all trade candidates. How are the SF Giants going to address their bullpen? Will they sign free agents, make trades, or both? Expect them to build their 'pen similarly to how they've built it the last few years: mostly minor moves. It didn't work in 2022, but the Giants' bullpen had the best ERA in baseball in 2021, so it's not like it's clearly a bad strategy. When is the earliest Aaron Judge will sign? Will Carlos Correa or Trea Turner sign before Judge? This offseason has been even slower than usual thus far, with zero major free agents signing to date. Expect at least one or two major moves in MLB before the Winter Meetings, but then things should really pick up (as they almost do) at the Winter Meetings in San Diego in early December. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Joc Pederson is back! Pederson accepted the San Francisco Giants' $19.65 million qualifying offer yesterday, which officially means he'll wear the orange and black again in 2023. The Giants surprised many in the industry when they gave Joc the QO, but it really shouldn't have come as a huge surprise if we look at their recent history. They gave qualifying offers to Kevin Gausman and Brandon Belt in the last couple of years as well, moves that also surprised those outside of San Francsico (and even some insiders). Many are griping about Pederson's defensive issues. But Pederson compares well to Kyle Schwarber, who got 4/$79M last offseason. Nick Castellanos is a far worse defender than Pederson, and he has a worse career wRC+, and he got 5/$100M last winter. There really isn't such thing as a bad one-year deal, and as long as the roughly $20M the Giants committed to Pederson doesn't stop them from making other significant moves, who cares? It's not our money. The SF Giants also added several players to their 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. Marco Luciano and Luis Matos are officially on the Major League roster, but don't necessarily expect to see them in the big leagues in 2023. The Giants also added Tristan Beck, Jose Cruz, Keaton Winn, and Brett Wisely to the 40-man yesterday. Wisely was acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays after hitting 15 home runs and stealing 30 bases in the upper Minors in 2022. The San Francisco Giants DFA'd Jarlín Garcia and Jason Vosler, among a few others, in corresponding moves in order to add so many players to their 40-man roster. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Are the San Francisco Giants going to replace Carlos Rodón with Japanese righty Kodai Senga? At the very least, it appears that the Giants are courting Senga, as Marc Delucchi snapped a photo of the Oracle Park scoreboard with a photoshopped image of Senga in a Giants uniform on it. Senga is predicted to receive a four- or five-year deal for around $14M to $15M per year. Senga features an upper-90s (sometimes triple-digit) fastball and a plus splitter. The description of Senga as a pitcher should remind San Francisco Giants fans of Kevin Gausman. If that's the case, it should come as no surprise that the SF Giants are interested. Joc Pederson's qualifying offer decision is due today. Carlos Rodón's is too, but his is a much easier call. Pederson must decide whether or not to return to the Giants on a one-year, $19.65M deal. It's possible that Pederson could get more guaranteed money from another team (say 3/$36M), but he won't come close to about $20 million in average annual value. So: will Pederson prefer the higher AAV and a chance to re-enter the market next offseason without the qualifying offer attached to his free agency, or will he seek the most guaranteed money? That decision must be made this afternoon. If the SF Giants miss out on Aaron Judge, are Joey Gallo or Michael Conforto possible fits in the outfield? They may be, but they're not even close to being on the same level as Judge. Gallo is a three true outcomes machine, as most of the time he either strikes out, walks, or homers. Conforto missed all of last season with a shoulder injury. Brandon Nimmo and Kevin Kiermaier are possible fits in the outfield as well if the Giants don't sign Judge. But if they miss out on Aaron Judge, they'll need to pivot to the top shortstop options like Carlos Correa and Trea Turner. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Theories abound as to why the San Francisco Giants surprisingly gave Joc Pederson a $19.65 million qualifying offer. Joc Pederson said towards the end of the year that he was very disappointed with how the SF Giants' season had gone, and that he wants more than anything to play in the playoffs. With that in mind, did the San Francisco Giants give Joc Pederson the qualifying offer because they were certain he'd reject it to sign with a more obvious playoff team? What pair would be better for the SF Giants: Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo, or Carlos Correa and Carlos Rodón? Both combinations are projected to produce about 10 fWAR in 2023, but at their predicted contracts, Judge would be getting a nine-year deal. Correa is also projected to land a deal of about nine years, but he is 2.5 years younger than Judge. If Judge does in fact command nine years, the Correa/Rodón pairing is more attractive. Neither would cost the Giants a draft pick, either, whereas both Judge and Rizzo would cost the SF Giants a significant pick. Speaking of Aaron Judge, would he really help the San Francisco Giants get "younger and more athletic"? It's worth pointing out that Giants president of baseball ops Farhan Zaidi made it clear that they don't necessarily need to get "younger", but they do need to have players that are more durable. Judge has had some durability issues in his career (so has the younger Carlos Correa), but he should be plenty healthy and athletic in the short term. The issue is when we start talking about a nine-year deal for Judge. That would take him into his age-39 season, which could mean that roughly half of the deal might be disastrous. A couple of bad years at the end could be stomached, but four-plus would be hard to swallow. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Everyone knew the San Francisco Giants would extend a $19.65 million qualifying offer to Carlos Rodón. But almost no one was talking about Joc Pederson as a possibility. The Giants have been the most aggressive team in baseball with qualifying offers the last few years—as evidenced by the fact that Kevin Gausman (2020) and Brandon Belt (2021) are the last two players in the sport to accept the offer. Joc Pederson very possibly will be the third SF Giants player in three years to accept the qualifying offer. Are there any downsides? Only if the roughly $20 million stops the Giants from doing something else they might've done that would've helped them more. Pederson is a good but imperfect player. He crushes right-handed pitching but struggles against lefties. He was one of the worst defenders in baseball in 2022, but hasn't been quite that bad historically. Offering Pederson nearly $20M on a one-year deal is aggressive by the SF Giants, but it's not insane. Reports indicate that he has received interest from teams on a possible three-year deal, and that his value may be helped significantly by the league's ban on defensive shifts, which goes into effect next season. Elsewhere in hot stove news, Aaron Judge is officially on the open market. He's free to sign with any team, and the San Francisco Giants make as much sense as any. At what point does his potential contract become too much? And is a 7-, 8-, or 9-year deal too much for Judge, who will be 31 in year one of any new contract? If the Giants don't land Judge, who is the next most likely? There's not necessarily a huge drop-off with the new best free agents, Carlos Correa and Trea Turner. Those players also have youth on their side more so than Judge. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants declined to pick up Evan Longoria's $13 million club option today, releasing the long-time Giants third baseman into true free agency. Longoria had been with the SF Giants since the previous front office traded for the five years left on his contract prior to the 2018 season. It's still possible that the Giants and Longoria reunite, but this decision was essentially saying that the Giants didn't think he was worth an extra $8 million. If the SF Giants bring him back, which is questionable, it'd likely be for a salary in the $2-3 million range. Qualifying offer decisions are also due today. The San Francisco Giants had until 2 PM to decide whether to extend qualifying offers to their eligible free agents. Carlos Rodón was a slam dunk to receive the offer, with Joc Pederson lurking as a possibility as well. Once the Giants extending qualifying offers, which amount to one-year deals that are worth $19.65 million this year, those players who received it have 10 days to decide whether or not to accept. Then, if they sign elsewhere, the Giants would receive Draft compensation. Farhan Zaidi met with reporters as the GM meetings. He discussed numerous topics, and also offered insight into the Giants' plans with LaMonte Wade Jr. Zaidi said that the SF Giants do intend to bring back Wade by offering him a contract ahead of next week's tender deadline. Wade is projected at a very modest salary of about $1.4 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Just like last offseason, the San Francisco Giants are faced with whether or not to bring back a free-agent ace. Carlos Rodón re-enters the market after one season with the SF Giants, and there's good chance the Giants let him walk just like they did with Kevin Gausman. ESPN and FanGraphs predict Rodón to receive a five-year deal worth about $25 million per year (about $125 million in total). That's very similar to the 5/$110M deal Kevin Gausman received from the Blue Jays last offseason. If the San Francisco Giants choose to let Rodón get his big deal from another team, what should they do? They've been clear that they intend to pair Logan Webb with another top-of-the-rotation arm. Even after letting Gausman leave, the Giants managed to replace his production beautifully in the form of Rodón, who got the same AAV as Gausman but over far fewer years. The alternatives on the market include Jacob deGrom, who's expected to land a short-term deal worth $40+ million, Justin Verlander, who's expected to come in around 2/$70 million, and Clayton Kershaw, who may be willing to accept a one-year deal but almost certainly wouldn't sign with the San Francisco Giants. Among those options, Verlander may be the most appealing because it's a nice middle ground between the absurd AAV deGrom may command and the five-plus years Rodón may command. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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It's finally that time of year: contract predictions for the top free agents are being released by various publications. Which of those contracts make sense for the San Francisco Giants? FanGraphs released its Top 50 Free Agents list, and it's no surprised to find Aaron Judge as the No. 1 free agent. The predicted contract for Judge exceeds $300 million. Judge is an obvious fit for the Giants, but the nine predicted years may be 1-3 too many. The SF Giants likely prefer something a bit shorter term, even if it means increasing the average annual value. Trea Turner comes in as the top shortstop on the list, according to FanGraphs, but Carlos Correa's predicted contract (10/$300M) feels a bit more appealing for the Giants. Brandon Nimmo and Willson Contreras are other position players who make sense for the Giants, in addition to the other top shortstops Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson. Besides that, Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander, and Carlos Rodón all crack the Top 10 and the San Francisco Giants should be in on all three. It wouldn't be a shock to see the SF Giants come away with one of those aces. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The 2022-23 offseason has officially begun, and it's a big one for the San Francisco Giants. Coming off a disappointing 81-81 season, with a team that just wasn't that compelling, the SF Giants must act boldly for the first time in a long time in the offseason. Free agency technically opened yesterday, beginning a five-day window during which teams have exclusive negotiating rights with their own free agents. For the Giants, this includes Carlos Rodón, Joc Pederson, and Brandon Belt. Option decisions are also due by Thursday, and Rodón already went through the formality of rejecting his $22.5M option to return to the San Francisco Giants next season. The SF Giants must make their option decision on Evan Longoria by Thursday. The Giants hold a $13M club option on Longoria with a $5M buyout. It's possible that they restructure the deal to bring him back in 2023; it's also possible the Giants just let him walk. Qualifying offers must also be extended by Thursday. The Giants will try to work something out with Rodón before then, but an extension is unlikely to materialize, resulting in an easy decision for the Giants to give Rodón the QO. Then, on Thursday, free agency officially opens up. That means the San Francisco Giants can at last contact Aaron Judge. They can contact Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts, Brandon Nimmo. They can pursue any and all free agents, and they figure to do so in an aggressive way this winter. Even accounting for arbitration estimates, the Giants have only about $100M committed for 2023. They've spent about $162M per year for the last few years, and they should at least get back to that point and possibly blow past it. There's no reason $180M to $200M shouldn't be possible, and the stars may well align for a homecoming to the SF Giants for Judge. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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ESPN's Jeff Passan joined KNBR 680's "Papa & Lund" on Thursday, and said that he expects big things from the San Francisco Giants this offseason. Passan said he's be very surprised if the SF Giants don't end up as one of the top-three spending teams this winter. Giants fans may recall that analysts expected the team to be similarly active last offseason, and they did make a lot of moves in the rotation, but ultimately didn't have the kind of offseason fans were hoping for. The stars might be aligning for the Giants to have a huge offseason this time around. They're motivated by the fact that they flopped to an 81-81 finish after winning 107 games in 2021. They have major payroll flexibility, with only about $70 million committed after Carlos Rodón opts out. There's a superstar lurking in Aaron Judge, and he actually might want to come play for the San Francisco Giants. Judge grew up in Linden, CA, just about 90 minutes away from Oracle Park. The one big question is whether the Giants will be willing to pay top dollar for a player his size who's already going to be 31 years old in year one of a deal. If the SF Giants don't end up with Judge (or even if they do), the top four shortstops are probably the next best players available. Carlos Correa, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, and Dansby Swanson would all improve the Giants rather dramatically. Besides those four and Judge, there's Brandon Nimmo, Willson Contreras, Jose Abreu, Anthony Rizzo, and a smattering of others on the position player side who could help the Giants achieve their stated goal of looking like an obvious playoff time in Spring Training. The World Series will be over by Sunday, and then it'll finally be time for the Giants to embark on their hugely important offseason. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants have a lot of work to do this winter. While much of the offseason conversation figures to center around Aaron Judge, there's a strong chance he re-signs with the Yankees. If the SF Giants miss out on Judge, or even if they don't, they should also be involved in pursuing the four star free-agent shortstops on the market: Carlos Correa, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, and Dansby Swanson. Correa has emerged as perhaps the best fit with the Giants. He's the youngest of the four, and will be 28 years old in all of year one of a deal. He's also been a very good bat, with a 130 wRC+ since 2020. He's been excellent overall, producing close to five fWAR per 600 plate appearances since the 2020 season. Correa's sprint speed and defense in 2022 left something to be desire, but a quick look at his past defensive work reveals that 2022 was an outlier, and given his age here's no reason to expect any sort of decline to have set in. New San Francisco Giants General Manager Pete Putila knows Correa from their time in the Houston Astros organization. Trea Turner is no slouch. Turner has been the best of the free-agent shortstops over the last few years, but the difference is that he is going to be entering his age-30 season, and so much of his value comes from his elite speed. Speed is something that usually declines rather steeply at this stage of his career. While Turner is an excellent player who would make the SF Giants much better, he comes in behind Correa for these reasons. Next is Xander Bogaerts, who is just a pure hitter. Bogaerts was also really good defensively in 2022, but a deeper dive into the numbers reveals that 2022 was an outlier in the positive direction. He has not graded out as a very good defensive player in other recent seasons. Bogaerts could slot into the middle of the Giants' order, and perhaps a move to second base would help the defense, but there are some reasons to be a bit cautious here. Last is Dansby Swanson, despite the fact that he is the best defender and runner of the bunch. The issue with Swanson is that he's been by far the worst offensive player of this group, and wouldn't necessarily be the impact bat the others could be for the Giants. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The Carlos Rodón signing was a huge win for the San Francisco Giants. They got ace-caliber production all season from Rodón, who will now opt out, re-enter the market, and net a $100+ million deal. Indeed, the Giants had a lot of work to do last offseason coming off a 107-win campaign, as the only starter who was under contract for 2022 was Logan Webb. That was a good place to start, and the SF Giants surrounded him with newcomers Rodón and Alex Cobb, in addition to bringing back Alex Wood and Anthony DeSclafani, both of whom were quite good for the Giants in 2021. Rodón and Cobb lived up to expectations, but Wood and DeSclafani had issues. DeSclafani only made a handful of starts and then was shut down with season-ending ankle surgery. Wood was generally ineffective and ended up with an ERA over 5. The Giants' defense certainly didn't help their pitchers at all this season, but overall the Giants did pretty well when it came to building out their rotation, particularly due to the ace-level season from Rodón. But their position player additions were lacking. Brandon Belt was brought back on the $18.4 million qualifying offer, and he had a major dud of a season. He was either hurt or generally not very good. He enters this offseason a true free agent, and he may have played his last game in a San Francisco Giants uniform. The only free-agent hitter the Giants signed last offseason was Joc Pederson for one year and $6 million. Pederson was as good as hoped, but he is ultimately a limited profile. He doesn't play against lefties and was a big part of the Giants' defensive problems. The SF Giants will need to do much more on the position player this offseason. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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San Francisco Giants teammates Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt showed dramatic improvement in 2020 and 2021, only to fall flat and perhaps cost the team a shot at the playoffs in 2022. After the SF Giants hired Gabe Kapler, and he brought in an entirely new coaching staff, many Giants hitters showed huge improvement in 2020. But it was a short season, and people wondered whether the SF Giants would be able to carry it into 2021. They did so and then some, with several Giants hitters having career years and the Giants winning a franchise record 107 games. It was reasonable to expect some of that success—which had spanned many players across two seasons—to continue for the San Francisco Giants in 2022. But almost everyone, including Crawford and Belt, failed to live up to even pessimistic expectations. Crawford went from a 6+ fWAR season and finishing fourth in MVP voting in 2021 to posting just 2.0 fWAR with a below-average wRC+. He was, at best, an average player for the SF Giants. The Giants extended Crawford midway through the 2021 season, so he is under contract for $16 million in 2023. Will the Giants pursue one of the top free agent shortstops despite Crawford's presence on the roster? As for Belt, he went from being legitimately one of the bets offensive players in baseball in 2020-21 to being below-average offensively in 2022. Belt went from posting about 3.5 fWAR in less than 100 games in 2021 to posting 0.0 in about 80 games in 2022. Injuries ravaged Belt's season, and he ended up undergoing season-ending surgery on his knee. The Giants had brought Belt back on an $18.4 million qualifying offer, but this offseason he is a true free agent. Will the San Francisco Giants bring Belt back for another year? Or are his days of being the Giants' first baseman officially over? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Rhone The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants' Joc Pederson and Thairo Estrada are Silver Slugger finalists. Pederson had a monster year in a somewhat limited role, given that nearly 90% of his plate appearances came against right-handed pitching. Estrada is a finalist at the utility position, which is a new one for the Silver Slugger Award. Which of these SF Giants players might win, and why? Offensively, Pederson did exactly what the Giants wanted him to do this season. He crushed right-handed pitching. He actually held his own against left-handed pitching as well, but he faced them so little that it doesn't necessarily indicate real improvement. Pederson struggled defensively, and whether he returns to the San Francisco Giants seems to have a lot to do with what his market is. Will he seek a Kyle Schwarber-type deal (4/$79M)? He has a right to want that kind of deal, as Schwarber is a similar player, but whether it's out there remains to be seen. The SF Giants almost certainly give that kind of money to him, since he is a defensively challenged platoon player. Estrada is not a free agent—far from it. The SF Giants still have four years of team control over Estrada, but happily, Estrada is a Super Two this offseason, meaning he will reach arbitration a year early. This means that he will earn far more than the league minimum salary in 2023. MLB Trade Rumors estimates a $2.4 million salary for Thairo Estrada next year. The Giants should be happy to pay it, as Estrada had a breakout campaign and was overall the Giants' best position player. While not a star in any category, Estrada was simply above-average across the board, leading to an above-average 2.7 FanGraphs WAR in 2022. The Giants were right to let Donovan Solano walk in free agency, opening up second base for Estrada. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Rhone The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bruce Bochy will probably get a statue outside of Oracle Park some day. He means that much to the San Francisco Giants, so the news of him accepting the role of manager with the Texas Rangers last week was shocking, even if it could be seen coming. Bochy read the room and seemingly agreed mutually with the organization that it was time to move on as the club prepared to bring in a new president of baseball operations, a role that ultimately went to Farhan Zaidi. Bochy managed the Giants for one more season, then he "retired." But it was apparent almost right away that Bochy still wanted to manage again someday. Which was a little bit awkward from the SF Giants' perspective. The optics made it appear that Bochy was nudged out the door, which may in fact have some truth to it (but it was seemingly decided before Zaidi was hired, so it was more of an organizational decision than a front office one). Anyhow, what will Bochy bring to Texas? What made him so beloved in San Francisco, aside from simply winning three titles? What enables the San Francisco Giants to win those three championships under Boch? There are a lot of connections between the SF Giants and Texas Rangers these days. Bochy is the new Rangers manager, and Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reported recently that the Rangers plan to make a big push for 2022 SF Giants ace Carlos Rodón. Rodón had a monster season in San Francsico in 2022, and he is certain to opt out of the $22.5M player option for 2023. The Giants have been hesitant to hand out long-term deals to starting pitchers, so it wouldn't be a shock if Rodón doesn't return to the Giants. The same kind of thing happened last year with Kevin Gausman. Former Giants hitting coach Donnie Ecker, who accepted a role as Rangers bench coach and offensive coordinator following the 2021 campaign, is also discussed. Bochy's coaching staff, and whether he'll go with more "old school" vs. "new school" coaches, will be fascinating to watch. Ecker fall firmly in the latter category. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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It happens every year. Free agents are hyped in the offseason, only to fail to live up to their new deals. Last year, several players didn't live up to expectations. Kris Bryant was hurt all season in Colorado. Nick Castellanos produced like Tommy La Stella after getting $100 million from the Phillies. Which San Francsico Giants targets are likely to underperform? And which SF Giants targets are likely to overperform? Among the top free agents available, there are certainly cases to make that each one could underperform. Aaron Judge will likely never have a better season than he just had. Xander Bogaerts has somewhat concerning expected numbers (based on quality of contact). Dansby Swanson may get a huge deal, but has never been that great of a hitter. Brandon Nimmo hasn't been able to stay on the field enough and may end up underperforming based on health alone. In terms of who may overperform, Willson Contreras is a solid bet as he seems to be lining up as a solid bargain. But will the Giants be interested in signing a catcher? Do the San Francisco Giants have the ability to sign a big-time bat (like Aaron Judge) in addition to a top-of-the-rotation arm (like Carlos Rodón or Jacob deGrom)? Their payroll, including arbitration estimates, will be around $100 million after Rodón opts out and if they take the buyout on Evan Longoria. That would allow them to add Judge at $35 million a year and Rodón at $25 million a year and still come in around $160 million, where they've been the last few seasons. Indeed, the Giants are in a great position to make impact additions if they so desire. And hopefully the San Francisco Giants are willing and able to push well beyond that modest $160 million figure in 2023 and beyond. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Rhone The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aaron Judge to the San Francisco Giants? According to our friends at BetOnline, the Giants are the favorites to land Judge—if he leaves New York. The Yankees are undoubtedly the overall favorites, but if Judge leaves, it's hard to envision a better fit than San Francisco. The SF Giants are in need of star talent, and Judge is from the Fresno area and grew up a huge San Francisco Giants fan. What, exactly, would the SF Giants be getting if they signed Judge? The one knock against Judge is the fact that he will be 31 in year one of a new deal. So if he signs a seven- or eight-year contract, he will be 37 or 38 in the final year. If Judge were five years younger, ZiPS projection system creator Dan Szymborski says Judge's projections would put him in line for a $500 million contract. Given that he's 31 and not 26, however, Judge's projection is worth more like 8/$290 million. Does that make sense for the Giants? Would they really give out a contract that large? It's not so much about the total value. It's more about the average annual value. In Judge's case, his age is working against him and some caution should be advised when thinking about the realistic odds of the Giants ending up with him. There's definitely a fit there, but other free agents might represent a better value to the San Francisco Giants. Brandon Nimmo and Willson Contreras are a couple of quality players who might end up signing for less than $100 million, but both would plug holes and should be strong values and good everyday players. And there are other top options who are younger than Judge and figure to command less on the open market, even though the production may end up being similar. Those players include Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, and Xander Bogaerts. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Rhone The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aaron Judge. Trea Turner. Carlos Correa. We all know about the top-tier free agents the San Francisco Giants could target this offseason. But what if they stay true to form and don't come away with any of the top talent? Where will the SF Giants turn in that scenario? Willson Contreras would be a major upgrade at the catcher position, but the presence of Joey Bart obviously complicates matters for the SF Giants. At first base, Jose Abreu, John Bell, or Anthony Rizzo would all be interesting pickups. The versatile Brandon Drury would be another solid addition for the San Francisco Giants. Justin Turner may be available. Joc Pederson and Mitch Haniger are local kids and would seem to fit on the Giants. What about Cody Bellinger, if the Dodgers non-tender him? He would also make some sense for the San Francisco Giants. Aaron Judge would be the splashiest possible acquisition for San Francisco, but is he the best option? He's relatively old for a free agent in line for a huge deal, and age is certainly a concern. He's likely to land a seven or eight year deal for something like $35 million per season. Other free agents might make more sense, particularly those who are a few years younger, like Carlos Correa, or those whose markets figure to be less robust for whatever reason, even though there isn't necessarily a huge drop off in talent. Examples include Correa, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, Dansby Swanson, and Brandon Nimmo. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Rhone The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bruce Bochy is coming back to manage ... the Texas Rangers?! Former legendary San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy will be the Rangers' next skipper after agreeing to a three-year contract. Bochy, 67, retired from managing after the 2019 season, his last with the SF Giants. Was Bochy pushed out by Farhan Zaidi and the San Francisco Giants front office? Those rumors have swirled ever since Bochy announced his impending retirement, but they're also factually incorrect. Reputable sources have reported repeatedly that the Giants told prospective presidents of baseball operations during the interview process that they would have a chance to pick a new manager after the 2019 season, which would be Bochy's last with the San Francisco Giants. There's an interesting dynamic permeating major league baseball when it comes to modern vs. traditional managers. Many teams—the Rangers included—have hired modern managers without experience in recent years, only to fire those managers and opt to hire more traditional managers instead. Even Gabe Kapler, who's now managed the Giants for three seasons, was one of these inexperienced types when he took over the Phillies job in 2018. The Giants seem to be the type of team that doesn't want to cycle through managers so frequently, as many teams seem to do. Kapler was recently given an extension. There's also the increasingly important of the major league coaching staff. Tradtitional managers have traditionally hired coaches that don't necessarily provide the type of cutting-edge technology that will soon be imperative in order to succeed in today's game. Bochy's staffs with the SF Giants certainly weren't of that ilk. It will be fascinating to see how Bochy makes his staff. Donnie Ecker, the Giants' esteemed and modern hitting coach in 2020 and 2021, was hired as the Rangers' bench coach and offensive coordinator in 2022, and it will be fascinating to see whether he remains in that role in 2023. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Rhone
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New San Francisco Giants General Manager Pete Putila keeps giving the same answer when asked what he likes most about the SF Giants' roster. In a word: depth. While it might not be exciting to fans, we should listen to the Giants' new GM. He continues to talk about how depth is crucial for building a winning team. He's mentioned that teams can be top heavy, even with a few of the best players in the game, but without depth winning is far from a guarantee. In the San Francisco Giants' case, they have the depth mostly figured out; now they just need to bring in a couple of impact talents and they could get back to the winning ways they showed in such dramatic fashion in 2021. Indeed, comparing the San Francisco Giants' 2022 numbers to the 2022 Angels, the Angels had three hitters who posted better fWAR totals than any member of the Giants. But when all was said and done, the Giants' hitters provided more overall value. That's because of the Giants' depth, and the Angels' lack of depth. Both rosters are explored in some detail to illustrate how the SF Giants' strength was having a lot of players chip in a little, and limiting the exposure of players who were proving negative value. Once a team has established the kind of depth that the SF Giants possess, all they need, in theory, are a couple of impact talents to push them over the top. Putila has said this multiple times in interviews, noting that in 2021 they had a few players producing at impact levels, and a cascade of wins followed. Looking to this year's free agent class, there are numerous players who could provide the type of impact that could push the Giants over the top. It seems at least somewhat likely that the SF Giants end up with at least one of these players: Aaron Judge, Trea Turner, Dansby Swanson, Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa, and Brandon Nimmo. There's also, of course, the potential to trade for impact talent. It doesn't have to be through free agency. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Rhone
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The San Francisco Giants' full-season attendance was down over 8% in 2022 compared to 2019. This has generated a lot of discussion on social media, and theories abound as to why the Giants have seen such a decrease. Are people less interested in the Giants because of Farhan Zaidi's roster construction? Even when the SF Giants won 107 games last year, they weren't selling out Oracle Park despite Covid-19 restrictions being lifted. We can have all the theories we want, but they're missing a crucial component: the league-wide trend of attendance declines. That's right: across MLB, attendance was down about 6% from 2019 to 2022. We're looking at those two years because they were the last two full seasons without restrictions on attendance. In other words, the San Francisco Giants are not unique in having a significant dip in attendance over the last few years! The Philadelphia Phillies, who have a lot of big names, have built their team largely through free agency (as a lot of Giants fans want Zaidi to do), and they're in the NLCS. Yet they saw nearly twice as big of a decrease as the Giants from 2019 to 2022, and they drew fewer fans overall this season than the SF Giants, who won fewer games. Turning the page, the timelines for Kyle Harrison and Marco Luciano are discussed. Harrison could impact the major league team early in 2023, perhaps as early as April (though more realistically May or June). Luciano should start the season in Double-A and could make it to Triple-A by the middle of the season if everything goes according to plan. That would make him a potential September callup candidate in a dream scenario. Farhan Zaidi's possible free-agent wishlist is discussed. Yes, the stars at the top are certainly on that list, but Brandon Nimmo might be the perfect combination of talent, value, speed, defense, and offense that the San Francisco Giants are seeking. Nimmo plus one of the big bats, plus a top-of-the-rotation arm would be a really nice offseason for the Giants. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Rhone
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San Francisco Giants starters Carlos Rodón, Logan Webb, and Alex Cobb could have been a real problem for some teams in October. Unfortunately, we never got to see that play out since the SF Giants' defense, bullpen, and offense ranged from inconsistent to flat-out bad in 2022. But that shouldn't take away from the fact that Rodón was a legitimate Cy Young candidate for the Giants in 2022. He ended up with one of the majors' best strikeout rates, and he led MLB in FIP and fWAR among starting pitchers. Rodón will opt out of his $22.5M contract with the San Francisco Giants for 2023, and somehow they'll need to replace his front-of-the-rotation presence. Logan Webb may not have been quite as good as he was with the Giants in 2021, but he was almost as good. The strikeout rate dipped a bit, but he still was basically the same guy, with an ability to strike guys out and an elite ability to keep the ball on the ground. Webb is arbitration eligible for the first time and has three years of team control remaining. It's time to start thinking about the Giants making efforts to extend Webb this offseason. Speaking of Webb's ability to keep the ball on the ground, Alex Cobb was even better in this respect. Cobb was second in baseball in ground ball rate, min. 140 innings, and Webb was third. Rodón, Webb, and Cobb were in the top 14 in FIP among pitchers with at least 140 innings pitched. Cobb's underlying numbers were substantially better than his ERA, which ended up being fine but unspectacular. With better infield defense behind him, Cobb looks like someone who's a legitimately good major league starter. Cobb is under contract for $9 million next year, and the Giants hold a $10 million club option for 2024 with a $2 million buyout. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Rhone
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Carlos Rodón is a slam-dunk qualifying offer candidate for the San Francisco Giants. Rodón will decline his $22.5M option, then the SF Giants will give him the one-year, $19.65M QO, which he'll also reject (since it's worth less than the option he'll already have declined). But what about a far more borderline case: Joc Pederson? Pederson's value, according to what teams spend per Win Above Replacement in free agency, was roughly $15M to $16M in 2022. On first glance, $19.65M being so close to those numbers makes it seem like the Giants might give the offer to Pederson. But they almost certainly will not. The reason? It seems highly unlikely that the Giants will lock themselves into nearly $20M, early in the offseason, to a defensively challenged platoon player, even though they may ultimately want him back and his production may be worth roughly that price. The SF Giants must improve dramatically this offseason, and locking up so much cash into a lateral move that doesn't improve the defense seems like it would be a huge risk. Pederson would likely accept the Giants' qualifying offer if they gave it to him, which could be viewed as a positive in some respects. The San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies advancing to the NLCS proves the point host Ben Kaspick made when Juan Soto was acquired by the Padres at the trade deadline: the Giants don't need to concern themselves so much with what the other teams in their division are doing. The Phillies finished in third place, with 87 wins, behind two teams that won 101 games (the Mets and Braves). Both of those teams are eliminated, and the Phillies are the last team standing from the NL East. Clearly, having two powerhouses in your division doesn't mean you're necessarily doomed. Lastly, we learned over the weekend that Bruce Bochy interviewed for the Rangers' managerial opening. What would it mean for SF Giants fans to see Bochy managing another team after he "retired" a few short years ago? It would certainly be tough to see, but Gabe Kapler has brought a lot of positive change to this organization, specifically with his cutting-edge coaching staff that has helped players improve and fostered a culture of perpetual development at the major league level. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Rhone
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Shohei Ohtani may very well stay in Anaheim until he reaches free agency following the 2023 season. But if the Angels are being real with themselves, they may determine that it's in their best interest to trade him now. If so, the San Francisco Giants are as logical a destination as any for the two-way Japanese superstar. Looking at the Red Sox's Mookie Betts as a comparison, what would the SF Giants have to give up to acquire Ohtani? The Dodgers gave up Alex Verdugo, Jeter Downs, and Connor Wong, and took on half of the $96 million owed to David Price over the three seasons left on his deal, in order to acquire one season of Betts. The Giants' rivals then extended Betts to a 12-year, $365 million contract, keeping the star outfielder in Los Angeles for the rest of his career. A comparable package from the Giants would look something like Thairo Estrada, Luis Matos, Brett Auerbach, and $48 million over three years. Anthony Rendon's contract could be used as a somewhat similar comp to what Price was owed, but it's not exactly the same. That hypothetical price might seem light, but remember that it's just one year of Ohtani. There's no guarantee he would agree to an extension. All of this is fantasy, of course. The Angels likely won't trade Ohtani, even though it may be in their best long-term interest. And even if they did trade him, there would be 29 other teams willing to give up big returns for his services. Remember, however, that people didn't think Boston would trade Betts, but they did. In a dream offseason scenario—if we're allowed to just dream for a minute—how about Ohtani and Aaron Judge on the San Francisco Giants. Can you even imagine? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Rhone The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Is it at all possible that the San Francisco Giants could trade for Shohei Ohtani this winter? The Angels recently signed Ohtani to a $30 million salary for 2023, but that doesn't mean he won't be traded. The Angels should make every effort to extend the superstar pitcher/DH, and if they're unable, they should seriously consider moving him. Otherwise, they risk letting him walk away in free agency and receiving nothing but a little draft pick compensation in return. The Giants, meanwhile, should be one of the most aggressive teams if the Angels make Ohtani available. This would be a similar scenario as when the Dodgers acquired Mookie Betts (one year from free agency). It would mostly make sense for the SF Giants if they could then extend Ohtani, which wouldn't be a certainty. How should the SF Giants address their bullpen, which fell off dramatically in 2022 after leading the majors in ERA in 2021. Fans might not like the answer, but the Giants are likely to remake their bullpen through minor signings and trades. That is, after all, how they built their MLB-best 'pen in 2021. They also already started to turn it over last year, with new names like Scott Alexander, Alex Young, and Shelby Miller making strong impressions. Alexander and Young can be retained, and Miller is a free agent but has expressed interest in a reunion with the Giants. Thomas Szapucki will also be in the mix after coming over in the lopsided Darin Ruf trade, and he was impressive in his brief time in the majors. How significant of a role could Casey Schmitt play for the San Francisco Giants in 2023? Schmitt has emerged as perhaps the Giants' best position player prospect, and he made it all the way to a brief stint in Triple-A to close out a highly impressive 2022 campaign in the minors. Schmitt has a chance to see the majors next year, and once he's here, he could go as far as claiming the third base position moving forward. Known as one of the better defensive players in the minors, Schmitt also impressed with the bat in 2022 and could be a huge part of the San Francisco Giants' future. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Rhone The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants' spending is always a hot topic around these parts every offseason. That conversation may be louder than ever before this winter, with the SF Giants coming off a very disappointing 81-81 record after they won 107 games in 2021. The fanbase is restless, the payroll has been stagnant, and there are stars available for the Giants to sign, if only they were willing to do so. Understanding where the Giants stand from a payroll perspective is important if we wish to predict what they will be able to spend this offseason. The Giants have relatively few commitments to 2023 salaries. They owe $73 million to eight players, not including the $22.5M Carlos Rodón will undoubtedly opt out of. That also includes the $5M buyout on the Giants' $13M club option over Evan Longoria. The SF Giants' arbitration estimates, per MLB Trade Rumors, are for $33.3M going to 13 players. The Giants will have the power to negotiate these salaries, and they are not committed to paying any of them if they'd prefer to non-tender any arbitration-eligible player. Add it all up, and the San Francisco Giants are looking at roughly $106 million going to 21 players. This does not include any pre-arbitration estimates for the Giants. And again, they can non-tender any arbitration-eligible player and won't be obligated to pay a dime. But this is a good rough starting point. And what it means for the Giants, in terms of offseason spending, is that they'd have about $56M to spend on 2023 salaries just to get back to their extremely modest range of about $162M, where they've been each of the last few years. So you could essentially sign a couple of $30M per year players and still come in with a very modest payroll. Hopefully the Giants increase payroll this year, but they're starting from a very flexible position and a big offseason for the Giants is more than possible. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Rhone The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Just a few short weeks after San Francisco Giants GM Scott Harris left for the Detroit Tigers, the Giants have found his replacement. Pete Putila, the former assistant GM of the Houston Astros, has been hired as the SF Giants' new general manager. Putila is largely credited with helping to establish the Astros' immensely successful player development pipeline. His hiring by the Giants signals their intention to dramatically improve their development capabilities moving forward. The Giants have not done a great job of successfully developing their own minor league players in the four seasons under President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi. Several of their top draft picks have stalled for various reasons, and the major league team hasn't enjoyed many breakout performances from young players in recent seasons. Logan Webb is one exception, as is Camilo Doval, but the Giants haven't had a lot of young talent impact the team and it has been a problem. Putila should be able to put the San Francisco Giants in the best position possible to improve in this area. There is, of course, Putila's association to the 2017-18 Astros teams that were known to be invovled in illegal sign stealing. But Putila was the Astros' director of player development at the time, a role that was very likely not at all involved in the in-game sign-stealing efforts that originated out of the dugout during games. Zaidi says he checked with MLB to see whether Putila had been involved in the league's investigation into the Astros, and the league confirmed that he wasn't even interviewed, meaning there was zero reason to suspect he had any involvement. The Astros' scheme is often falsely considered an organization-wide effort, but in reality it was a fairly crude operation that originated with on-field personnel. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Rhone The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aaron Judge and Trea Turner? Is it possible that the San Francisco Giants could just go bananas this offseason and sign both superstars? A report from Bob Nightengale certainly piqued SF Giants fans' interest, but some pause is warranted. This is rumor season, and far more teams will be rumored to be in on players than will actually sign those players. The Giants are often mentioned in rumors but have rarely come away with the big prize. Also, Nightengale isn't the most trustworthy of baseball reporters. Additionally, it seems that he may have just been saying that the Giants will pursue both players, not that they would actually land both of them. Just one should be enough to make Giants fans legitimately excited. If the Giants miss out on Judge and the star free agent shortstops, who's left for them? Brandon Nimmo is probably the next best option in the non-elite category for the Giants, and this year's free agent class is looking very top heavy. After the top names and Nimmo, there is a significant dropoff in talent, with the likes of Mitch Haniger, Jose Abreu, Brandon Drury, Jean Segura, and Joc Pederson being among the most attractive mid-tier free agents the Giants could pursue. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Rhone The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants are about to embark upon a huge offseason. They just had an 81-81 season, which can only be characterized as a significant disappointment following up a record-setting 107-win campaign in 2021. The Giants know they need to have a big offseason, and Farhan Zaidi's meeting with reporters was the very first step in the offseason for the SF Giants. Zaidi addressed the status of Brandon Belt and Evan Longoria. He basically implied that both could be back, but hinted that if they do return to the Giants, they would have less significant roles. This is no surprise, as both players have the potential to still be productive, and they are well-liked inside the clubhouse and amongst Giants fans, but neither should be relied upon to make a significant impact. The Giants hold a $13 million club option over Longoria (with a $5 million buyout), whereas Belt is a pure free agent and is coming off knee surgery. Carlos Rodón was also addressed. The Giants and Zaidi fully expect Rodón to opt out, which is an most obvious call. Rodón may follow in Kevin Gausman's footsteps, departing the Giants for a long-term deal Zaidi doesn't appear to be eager to hand out to a starting pitcher. The Giants may look to add an ace-caliber pitcher on a short-term deal, and players like Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander, and Clayton Kershaw should be available on that kind of deal. Zaidi also said prospect Kyle Harrison should impact the MLB rotation next year, perhaps even early in the season. Zaidi also touched on his search for the Giants' next GM, which should be wrapped up within a few weeks. He also discussed the Giants' commitment to Brandon Crawford at shortstop, and noted that "everything is on the table," meaning they won't shy away from the stud free-agent shortstops just because Crawford is on the team and owed $16 million in 2023, the final year of his deal. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
After winning 107 games last year, the San Francisco Giants flopped to an 81-81 record in 2022. Their position player group had a lot to do with it. The SF Giants' best three position players last year—Brandon Crawford, Buster Posey, and Brandon Belt—combined to produce 14.6 FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement (fWAR). This year, the Giants' top three position players—Thairo Estrada, Mike Yastrzemski, and Austin Slater—combined to produce just 7.0 fWAR. Posey's absence was felt, but also the Brandons combined to produce 8.2 fewer fWAR than they did in 2021. Joey Bart ultimately did not have a very good season. Strikeouts were a problem in the beginning, and they briefly went away after being sent down to the Minors, but those issues resurfaced later in the year. Austin Wynns actually ended up with a better wRC+ than Bart this year, and he should be the backup catcher in 2023. Bart will need to improve his swing and miss and chase issues if he wants to remain the San Francisco Giants' catcher of the future. The state of the infield and outfield is in flux. Brandon Belt is set to reach free agency. The Giants hold a $13M club option on Evan Longoria, with a $5M buyout. Wilmer Flores was extended. Tommy La Stella may not survive on the roster this winter. Brandon Crawford is under contract for one more year. The Giants can bring back J.D. Davis through the arbitration process. Thairo Estrada was one of the biggest bright spots of the year for the San Francisco Giants. In the outfield, will Joc Pederson be back? He did very well in his role, crushing right-handed pitching as expected. But he's a limited profile and his next contract will reflect that. The Giants would like to bring him back, but does he want to be back? Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater can form a formidable platoon either in center or right. LaMonte Wade Jr. and Luis González are very much on the bubble and it wouldn't be shocking if neither was on the SF Giants' active roster to start 2023. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants need impact position players, and they need them badly. That was on display yet again in the SF Giants' loss to the Padres on Tuesday night. The Giants' offense went down without much of a fight, and after winning 11 of 13 against the D-Backs and Rockies, they've lost their first two against the Padres and need to win their season finale in order to finish at .500. There are several impact talents available in free agency this winter, and the Giants will need to come away with at least one of them. If the Giants fail to sign or trade for impact talent this winter, their fans will grow exponentially more restless, and they simply won't be good enough to compete for a championship in 2023. The Giants seem to recognize that they need to be far more aggressive in free agency this upcoming winter. Only time will tell. Joc Pederson was placed on the Family Medical Emergency list prior to the Giants' season finale. Locked On Giants wishes Pederson and his family well and sincerely hopes everything turns out okay. It's been a very strong season for Pederson, and Giants fans would welcome him back with open arms. Carlos Rodón was shut down, as expected, and Alex Cobb took his place in the rotation on short rest. Good for Cobb, who stepped up for a tired bullpen. Rodón may be out the door, but Cobb, Logan Webb, Alex Wood, Anthony DeSclafani, Jakob Junis, Sean Hjelle, and Kyle Harrison are all in the mix next year. It's a good position to start from, which should allow the San Francisco Giants should be able to devote their attention to fixing their glaring position player weaknesses. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
San Francisco Giants RHP Sean Hjelle doesn't have the most impressive ERA, but don't judge a book by its cover. Looking deeper into the numbers reveals the reality that Hjelle had a rather impressive debut season for the Giants. He's struck out hitters at a higher rate than he did in the Minors, he's pounded the strike zone, and he's kept hitters pounding the ball into the ground. All in all, the 6'11 1/2" Hjelle has pitched his way into the mix for next year's SF Giants team. Hjelle ended his season very much on a high note, with eight strikeouts in five innings in the Giants' loss to the Padres. Carlos Rodón may not make his final start of the year today for the San Francisco Giants. Rodón's agent, Scott Boras, told the San Francisco Chronicle that Rodón had reached an innings limit of 180, and that the Giants should protect him like they did with Logan Webb. While the SF Giants should just shut Rodón down if he wants to be shut down, it's very unusual for an agent to make these comments publicly through a reporter. Agents don't just get to set innings limits. And what if the Giants had made the playoffs? Boras said that Rodón would've kept pitching. Well then it sounds like 180 innings isn't technically a "limit", Mr. Boras. Evan Longoria will miss the remainder of the season with a fractured right thumb. Longoria may have played his final season with the SF Giants, and perhaps even in major league baseball. But he wants to keep playing, and his first priority is to play for the San Francisco Giants. The Giants hold a $13 million club option for next year, with a $5 million buyout. The Giants need to get younger and more athletic, but they still value Longoria's leadership and strong performance when he's been able to be on the field. The two sides could reach an agreement for something between $5 million and $13 million, or perhaps bring him back for just the $5 million. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants are officially eliminated. At least it took until October, and at least they put up a fight at the end, but the 2022 Giants' season will no doubt go down as a huge disappointment. When all was said and done, the SF Giants didn't get enough out of their position players and bullpen. The Giants have played well in September/October, but they were sunk by extremely poor play over stretches during the middle of the season. Not a ton of positive development happened for the Giants in 2022, either. Joey Bart and David Villar offer some hope for the future, but they look more like role players than true impact talents. Bart's strikeout issues have resurfaced late in the year, and it's overall not a very impressive line. Villar delivered a walk-off hit for the Giants in their home finale on Sunday, but it wasn't even hit well and was lucky to sneak through into the outfield. Villar is also known to have some defensive limitations as well. Wilmer Flores has been a bright spot ever since he first signed with the team in 2020. Flores was the San Francisco Giants' most inspirational player this year, and he won the Willie Mac Award for his efforts. The Giants signed Flores to a two-year extension with a player/team option for a third year just a few weeks ago. Flores is a player the Giants want around to mentor young players as the team shifts that way in the coming seasons. Finally, Logan Webb was placed on the injured list as a procedural move to get someone else onto the roster. Jakob Junis was optioned for the same reason. Neither will pitch again for the Giants in 2022. Sean Hjelle, another somewhat promising young player to debut in 2022, will likely cover multiple innings on Monday, followed by season finales for Carlos Rodón and Alex Cobb. The Giants' slumping attendance numbers are also discussed, as is the reality that attendance is down across the sport. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! SimpliSafe With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants' dream isn't dead quite yet. With another win—the Giants' ninth in their last 10 games—they staved off elimination for at least one more day. Carlos Rodón continued to look like a Cy Young finalist as the SF Giants dominated the Rockies (before things got dicey in the 9th). Rodón leads the majors in a number of important categories. His strikeout rate is first. He's first in FIP and fWAR. His K-BB% is first in the NL. It's not out of the question that Rodón could win the NL Cy Young Award, although it's likely to go to someone with a lower ERA (Rodón's is somewhat above where peripheral numbers like FIP and xERA predict). Are David Villar and J.D. Davis a bit redundant for the Giants? It's an important question as we go into the offseason. The San Francisco Giants want to get younger and more athletic, and both Davis and Villar are somewhat DH-types. Can the Giants really bring them both back and have Wilmer Flores and even potentially Evan Longoria on the roster as well? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Despite what Joc Pederson said, finishing .500 or better should be an important goal for the San Francisco Giants. Pederson's comments sound like they're coming from someone who's not invested in the future of this team. It's hard to blame Pederson, considering he's about to reach free agency again, but Mike Yastrzemski said on the Giants' postgame show that finishing well as a team was important. The SF Giants only have to go 4-3 to finish at .500 or better thanks to this great stretch in which they've won eight of nine. The Giants' new-look bullpen continues to impress. Shelby Miller has struck out 12 of the 18 hitters he's faced with the San Francisco Giants, and he hasn't walked a batter or given up any runs. His FIP is under minus-2. Miller, Scott Alexander, and Alex Young have been strong additions to the bullpen in the month of September. John Brebbia had another successful open yesterday, and he is under club control for one more year. Sean Hjelle did a nice job in a bulk role last night, overcoming a shaky beginning to end up with a strong performance for the Giants. Getting to a mailbag question, how are the Giants going to improve their offense if only a handful of players won't be back next year? It seems that there are more players likely to be replaced than the listener realizes, and also the Giants are starting from a decent place. The SF Giants' offense is not nearly as bad as a lot of people seem to think. They've been average, or even a tick above, by most important measurements, whether it's wRC+ or simply runs scored per game. If the Giants are average now, adding one or two truly impact bats could push them to a point of being a firmly above-average offense in 2023. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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San Francisco Giants outfielder Joc Pederson sounds like he wants out. His postgame comments after the Giants’ win last night—their seventh in eight games—made it sound like he’s already halfway out the door. Pederson described the Giants’ inevitable elimination from playoff contention as “not fun,” and said of his time with the Giants, “I’m glad that I got to be a part of it for a year.” Someone who doesn’t have a choice in the matter is J.D. Davis. The SF Giants acquired Davis at this year’s trading deadline, and all he’s done is hit. Davis had three more hits and another home run last night, and he is under club control for two more seasons. His strong play over the last few weeks has all but cemented his role on next year’s team. Meanwhile, unfortunately, it’s been a miserable tenure in New York so far for Darin Ruf. The Giants also got three compelling young pitchers in the trade, which is looking more lopsided by the day. Major League Baseball’s website says that the Giants have been eliminated from playoff contention—but have they? The answer is no, but that hasn’t stopped major media outlets like Fox Sports from tweeting out that the SF Giants have officially been eliminated. It’s rather infuriating that a primary source like MLB.com is featuring incorrect information. It won’t ultimately matter for the Giants, who face nearly impossible odds, but it’s just imperative that MLB’s standings page not make such blatant errors. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Carlos Correa to the San Francisco Giants? It's not as crazy of an idea as it might seem. The SF Giants have been pretty clear that they intend to shop at the top of the free-agent market this offseason. Correa, assuming he opts out, will be one of a number of great shortstops hitting the open market for the second consecutive season. Is Carlos Correa the shortstop who makes the most sense for the Giants? He hates the Dodgers and the Dodgers hate him. That's a pretty decent place to start. But Correa was a key figure in the Astros' cheating scandal. For that reason, it makes sense to focus on the other shortstops, or Aaron Judge. Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, and Dansby Swanson are also free agents the Giants should strongly consider this winter. Perhaps the SF Giants could save money they'd otherwise spend on Carlos Rodón and use it to add a second big bat in the offseason. It's a good idea posed by a listener, and it could work because the Giants have a track record of getting the absolute most out of free-agent starting pitcher acquisitions. Kevin Gausman was originally brought in on a one-year, $9 million deal, for example. Even Rodón was signed to a short-term contract. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants are just about eliminated, but that doesn't mean this last week and a half is meaningless. Far from it, actually. Several key members of the SF Giants, like Evan Longoria, Mike Yastrzemski, LaMonte Wade Jr., Joc Pederson, Carlos Rodón, and others are playing for meaningful personal goals. Longoria wants the Giants to pick up his $13 million club option that has a $5 million buyout, effectively making it an $8 million decision. He delivered a clutch two-run single that made the difference for the Giants in Sunday's series-clinching win over the D-Backs. Yastrzemski was a possible non-tender candidate, but a strong week seems to have secured his spot on next year's roster. Wade is another non-tender candidate and hasn't been able to get it going with the bat all year. Time is running out to make a strong final impression. Rodón is playing for a $100M+ contract. His main goal should just be to stay healthy over his final two starts. Will the Giants be the one to give him the big contract he's in line to receive? The answer is unclear. Pederson is also playing for his next contract, although his absence from Sunday's lineup was noteworthy and he won't receive anything close to what Rodón gets on the open market. Pederson seems like he may be back next year, but it's an open question. Some other arb-eligibles playing for a spot on next year's team: Jakob Junis, who rebounded from a rough stretch with 5.1 strong innings in Sunday's win. He seems to have a spot locked up for next year. Luis González was also playing for a spot on next year's San Francisco Giants squad. He's cooled way off after a hot start, but has still been overall solid against righties. He'll be out of options next year, so it's not entirely certain what the Giants will do with him in the offseason. He could be a non-tender candidate, or he could be traded, or he could be back next year. It's hard to see him and Wade (and Yastrzemski) all being back. Two of those three at most seems most likely. Lastly, Giants third base prospect Casey Schmitt was promoted to Triple-A. It's been a great season for Schmitt, one of the Giants' top prospects, who should enter 2023 in Sacramento and will be right on the cusp of the major leagues. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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What is a dream scenario for the San Francisco Giants this offseason? Everyone's (rightfully) talking about Aaron Judge, Trea Turner, and the rest of the shortstop class, but there's another top talent who may be available. That's right: the Angels should and potentially will trade Shohei Ohtani this offseason. Ohtani will be entering the final year of team control in 2023, and if the Angels can't extend him, they should trade him. If Ohtani is on the market, the SF Giants should and likely will be interested. Superstars with only one year of club control remaining simply don't cost as much as many would expect. Look no further than the Dodgers' deal for Mookie Betts a few years ago. In a dream scenario, the Giants could acquire Ohtani and sign him to a long-term extension. But they'd also need to do more. Getting back to reality, will the Giants actually spend this offseason? They were expected to do so last year and it just didn't really happen. This year feels different, however, as San Francisco Giants chairman Greg Johnson and President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi are speaking with an increased sense of urgency and a recognition that they need to do more in the offseason to get the club back to being a "highly competitive" team that makes the playoffs each and every year. What's the future of Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt with the Giants? Crawford, despite his overall disappointing numbers, has been a solid player for the Giants thanks to strong defensive value. Belt wants to keep playing, but it may be with another team other than the SF Giants. Tommy La Stella, however, is the player on a guaranteed deal for next year who may actually be cut loose in the offseason. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Nugenix Now get a complimentary bottle of Nugenix Total T when you text MLB to 231-231. Text now and get a bottle of Nugenix Thermo, their most powerful fat incinerator ever, with key ingredients to help you get back into shape fast. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. BlueChew Try BlueChew FREE when you use our promo code LOCKEDON at BlueChew.com,-just pay $5 shipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, and had a very low pitch count, yet the bullpen was up as the inning began. Indeed, the Giants are monitoring Webb's workload for the rest of the season. And it's an easily defensive move for Gabe Kapler and the SF Giants considering the team's position in the standings and the fact that Webb has never thrown this many innings in a season. The Giants have made several roster moves in recent days. Jharel Cotton was claimed off waivers and is active for today's game and will likely pitch bulk inning for the Giants. Shelby Miller was also called up, with Cole Waites sent down. Jason Vosler is getting another opportunity and he tripled in the Giants' win last night. Several of the bullpen auditions for the Giants have had really nice showings in September. Lewis Brinson was designated for assignment. BetOnline released odds for Aaron Judge's and Trea Turner's next team, if they leave their current teams. The Giants aren't ranked as highly as you might expect considering the need and the fact that the team has telegraphed its need to make major additions in the offseason. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Nugenix Now get a complimentary bottle of Nugenix Total T when you text MLB to 231-231. Text now and get a bottle of Nugenix Thermo, their most powerful fat incinerator ever, with key ingredients to help you get back into shape fast. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. BlueChew Try BlueChew FREE when you use our promo code LOCKEDON at BlueChew.com,-just pay $5 shipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
There's something extra special about San Francisco Giants wins when young players play key roles. The SF Giants had a nice team win in Denver on Tuesday, with David Villar, Sean Hjelle, Thairo Estrada, and Joey Bart playing key roles. Giants rookie Hjelle tossed four very strong innings in relief, which is not easy to do at Coors Field. Thairo Estrada collected two more big hits for the Giants. David Villar hit a rocket home run to left field. Joey Bart had a triple (that was later ruled an error), a single, and a really nice tag play at home plate (which was not called an out even though the runner did, in fact, appear to be out). Buster Posey has joined the San Francisco Giants' ownership group, in a bit of shocking news. Posey will also serve on the Giants' board of directors. Posey obviously brings a fresh perspective to an ownership group that hasn't ever consisted of any former Giants players. Posey's share in the team is undoubtedly small (the franchise is valued at over $3 billion), but he's a legend within the organization and he will yield considerable influence. Posey's addition to the Giants' ownership group is nothing but a stone cold win for the franchise. Giants Director of Pitching Brian Bannister hasn't been with the team all season, reports Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic. Bannister is reportedly unvaccinated, and MLB rules dictate that he isn't allowed at any team facilities. Bannister means so much to what the organization does from a pitching standpoint that Farhan Zaidi has allowed him to continue working in his role remotely. Bannister yields considerable influence over pitching acquisitions and helps pitchers reach peak performance. He lives in the Bay Area so he has been able to work with players off site, apparently. Vaccine mandates will likely be lifted at some point in the not-too-distant future, so Bannister should hopefully be able to return to business as usual not long from now, perhaps as soon as this offseason. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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San Francisco Giants utilityman Thairo Estrada is having a breakout season. Not a lot has gone right for the SF Giants in 2022, but Thairo Estrada's season should definitely be counted among the positives. Estrada delivered yet another late, clutch home run in Monday night's Giants win over the Rockies. Estrada is on pace for about 3.0 FanGraphs WAR, qualifying him as a solidly above-average everyday player. The Giants don't have a lot of everyday players to begin with. Looking at the San Francisco Giants' position player mix, there isn't a lot to be excited about. They've been one of the worst units in MLB since the All-Star break. Wilmer Flores is solid and just signed a two-year extension. Joc Pederson is good in his role (defensively-challenged righty masher), but it's unclear whether he'll be back in 2023. LaMonte Wade Jr. and Luis González haven't had great seasons and are non-tender candidates. Mike Yastrzemski has had his second straight disappointing campaign. Evan Longoria and Brandon Belt might not be back next year. Brandon Crawford has had a highly disappointing season following a fourth-place MVP campaign in 2021. David Villar is among the players who could be a big part of the mix in 2023, and watching him the rest of the way is a big deal for the Giants. He had a rough defensive night on Monday, but redeemed himself in a big way with a two-out double in the ninth inning that tied the game. Villar has been about 20% above average by wRC+ this season, hitting for above-average power and walking at a very strong clip. Defense has been an issue at times, and he makes a well-below-average amount of contact, but overall it's not hard to see the ingredients of a quality player. How he plays over the season's final two weeks is very significant to his and the Giants' future. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Nugenix Now get a complimentary bottle of Nugenix Total T when you text MLB to 231-231. Text now and get a bottle of Nugenix Thermo, their most powerful fat incinerator ever, with key ingredients to help you get back into shape fast. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. BlueChew Try BlueChew FREE when you use our promo code LOCKEDON at BlueChew.com,-just pay $5 shipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francsico Giants have lost a lot of games this season, and they just lost their General Manager. Scott Harris, the Giants' GM since November 2019, is leaving to become the Detroit Tigers' President of Baseball Operations. It's a major promotion for Harris, who will now assume Farhan Zaidi's role with his new organization. The Giants and Zaidi will be tasked with hiring a replacement GM, something they'll want to get done as quickly as possible given that the offseason is fast approaching and the SF Giants have tons of work to do. The Giants are still a very desirable organization to work for and there should be no shortage of interest for this role. Despite the rough 2022 campaign for the San Francisco Giants, they're still a big-market team with a beautiful ballpark, and are primed to be big spenders this offseason (at least that's what we hope). The Giants finally wrapped up their miserable season series with the Dodgers. The SF Giants ended up going 4-15 against their rivals, the worst winning percentage they've ever had against LA since moving to San Francisco. It was a miserable season vs. LA, and the talent disparity was monumental. The Giants can and must add to this roster in a meaningful way this offseason. Expectations shouldn't necessarily be to match the talent of the Dodgers in one offseason, but they should at least make themselves a somewhat obvious playoff team. If they don't, pressure will start to mount in a serious way on this front office, which will be entering year five of the Farhan Zaidi Era. A new GM could bring some welcomed new perspectives. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Nugenix Now get a complimentary bottle of Nugenix Total T when you text MLB to 231-231. Text now and get a bottle of Nugenix Thermo, their most powerful fat incinerator ever, with key ingredients to help you get back into shape fast. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. BlueChew Try BlueChew FREE when you use our promo code LOCKEDON at BlueChew.com,-just pay $5 shipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants will enter the offseason motivated to fix what went wrong in 2022. They'll have money to spend and talent on which to spend it. Which of the free-agent shortstops will the SF Giants prioritize? Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa, and Dansby Swanson all figure to hit the open market (Bogaerts and Correa have opt-outs that will need to be exercised first). The Giants really can't go wrong with this group of players, but the priorities should be one of Turner, Bogaerts, and Correa. Not only are these three able to impact the game defensively, but they're also middle-of-the-order bats. Was 2021 the aberration or was 2022 the aberration? The boring answer is that neither was an aberration. The Giants got what they deserved in 2021 and they've deserved their record in 2022 as well. The issue appears to be that the 2021 performance was not sustainable; so in a way, last year was more of an aberration than this year. But they got legitimately great performances out of many players last year, and a lot of those players have regressed and gotten older in 2022. The Giants will need to upgrade their team in the offseason if they hope to contend in 2023. Why aren't the SF Giants linked to Justin Verlander more often? He would make a lot of sense on a short-term deal but smart money would have him returning to Houston. Will the San Francisco Giants do what it takes to bring back Carlos Rodón? After what happened with Kevin Gausman last offseason (the Giants didn't make him an offer, per Gausman), it's not a safe assumption that they will pony up for Rodón. Short-term deals for pitchers may continue to be the Giants' preference, and there are options (Jacob deGrom, Verlander). Also discussed: do Giants chairman Greg Johnson's comments suggest the team is more interested in being a middling playoff team than a World Series contender? Who are four position players who won't be back on the Giants next season? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants have a lot of work to do this offseason. They must spend money to get back to being a highly competitive team. Giants chairman Greg Johnson spoke with The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly recently, and Johnson said that the SF Giants will do what it takes to put a "highly competitive" team on the field. Johnson said the Giants would spend what it took. He used the numbers $175 million and $180 million, and said "or higher than that." While on the one hand it's not great to hear him point to exact numbers that aren't particularly high, it is nice to hear Johnson say the Giants will do whatever it takes. Now they must go into the offseason and prove it. Locked On Giants estimates that the Giants will spend about $103 million on about 22 players when all the dust settles in terms of team and player options and arbitration raises. This means the SF Giants could re-sign Carlos Rodón for $22.5 million per year and still only have about a $125 million payroll. This leaves plenty of room for a marquee addition like Aaron Judge (likely to command about $35 million per year) or Trea Turner ($30+ million per year) and still come in below the numbers Johnson referenced. Another significant addition, perhaps Brandon Nimmo at $20 million per year, would push them up against those $175-180 million numbers. Johnson also gave a vote of confidence to Giants' president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi. While this season hasn't gone as hoped, Johnson still believes in Zaidi and the direction of the team. Ultimately, the first two seasons were destined to be losing ones regardless. In 2020 the Giants actually showed signs of real promise. They carried that into 2021 and won a franchise record 107 games. So in reality, there's only been one truly disappointing season under Zaidi, and it's this one. He more than deserves at least one more year, but there is now a lot of pressure on the team to have a big offseason. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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It's going to be a big offseason for the San Francisco Giants. Don't just take our word for it, however. Take it from the team's president of baseball operations. Farhan Zaidi recently told reporters that it's going to be a "big offseason" for the SF Giants, and that the team "has payroll room because [they're] a big market and ... have contracts that are ending this offseason." How much money the Giants will spend remains an open question. Currently, they have about $70 million committed to next year's team, not accounting for Carlos Rodón, who can opt out of the $22.5 million he's owed next season, or arbitration raises. With arbitration raises, the San Francisco Giants will have roughly $98 million committed to 15 players. Factor in several pre-arbitraiton players (like Joey Bart, Thairo Estrada, and Camilo Doval) and the number gets to roughly $103 million going to about 22 players. That means, even if the Giants stayed around $162 million, as they have each of the last few years, they'd still have about $60 million to spend on four players. They could sign Aaron Judge for $35 million per season. They could sign literally anyone and stay below that mark. But in order to truly have a great offseason, the Giants will need to exceed the $162 million they've hovered around for a few years. Bringing back Carlos Rodón, or someone like him (Jacob deGrom?) seems important. Then Judge, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, Brandon Nimmo, Carlos Correa, Dansby Swanson seem like the best possible fits on the position player side, assuming the SF Giants are looking for impact talent. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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San Francisco Giants reliever Zack Littell was out of line. Littell allowed four of the five hitters he faced to reach base, yet somehow he had the nerve to give Giants manager Gabe Kapler a hard time about taking him out of an existing inning. It was absolutely the right decision for Kapler and the Giants to remove Littell in favor of Scott Alexander, a lefty who’s been good against Matt Olson, one of the game’s best left-handed hitters, with the tying run on third in the eighth. Littell said after the game that he was wrong and that he apologized to the SF Giants’ skipper. He was, indeed, out of line, and it was nice to see how the Giants manager handled the situation. He took Littell into the tunnel immediately after returning to the dugout and gave him a good old fashioned talking to. The Giants went on to win the game against the defending champion Atlanta Braves. More details on Wilmer Flores’ contract extension with the Giants are discussed. It’s actually three years, $16.5 million guaranteed, although the third year is a $3.5 million player option. If Flores declines his option, the Giants hold an $8.5 million club option, which could bring the value of the deal up to 3/$21.5 million. It’s a solid deal for both sides. Right-handed flamethrower Cole Waites was added to the roster and could be a big part of the Giants’ bullpen moving forward. He didn’t make his debut last night, but expect it sometime in this series. Willie Calhoun, acquired earlier in the season for Steven Duggar, was also activated and had an impressive first plate appearance with his childhood team, as he drove in the Giants’ first run with a single off the right-field wall. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants need to get younger and more athletic. Wilmer Flores isn't exactly young and isn't exactly the most athletic. Nevertheless, in his three seasons with the SF Giants, Flores has established himself as one of the Giants' most important players—both on the field and off of it. The Giants and Flores agreed to a two-year, $13M extension on Monday with a mutual option for 2025. It's a great day for the San Francisco Giants. Flores is Mr. Consistent. He's been an above-average bat in every season with the Giants. He has been durable. He can play multiple positions. He's not the greatest defender, but Flores provides value to the Giants in so many ways. He has been above-average against lefties and righties. The Giants can still get younger and more athletic around Flores; this doesn't prevent them from trending in that direction overall. The SF Giants also have quite a few mid-20s players who have had solid-to-strong performances in 2022. Logan Webb, Joey Bart, David Villar, and Camilo Doval had big weekends in Chicago, as the Giants took two out of three from the Cubs. All four are 25 years old, and making an impact to some degree with the Giants this season. Webb looks like very good major league starter. Doval is looking like a possible elite closer. Bart and Villar have had some growing pains along the way, but clearly there is potential in each of them. Another mid-20s player having a strong season is Thairo Estrada, who is young (26) and athletic. In other news, Dominic Leone was released. Leone was set to reach free agency at the end of the season, and he was injured and performing poorly. The Giants are going to give auditions to several new bullpen arms for the rest of the season who might be a part of the future, and clearly Leone was no longer in the SF Giants' future pans. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Now there is a clock in baseball. The pitch clock is coming to MLB in 2023, and a shift ban is coming with it. MLB has been experimenting with these rules in the minors, and they were officially voted in on Friday. The pitch clock will eliminate tons of dead time between pitches where nothing happens and is likely to be a smashing success when all is said and done, despite not necessarily pleasing everyone initially. The ban on shifts will also have big consequences. There must be at least two fielders on either side of second base, and all must have both feet on the dirt. This will be a huge boon to left-handed hitters in particular, who have been victims of aggressive shifts that have taken away hits in shallow right field for many years now. The San Francisco Giants got swept in their doubleheader yesterday, but the big takeaway from the game was Sean Hjelle's strong five innings of work. The Giants right-handed pitcher was pumping mid-90s sinkers in the zone, racking up strikeouts and ground balls. The rest of the season should be about watching guys like Hjelle, and seeing whether they can be key pieces on next year's team. Outfielder Austin Dean was added to the 40-man and MLB rosters prior to Friday's game, and reliever Cole Waites is on the taxi squad. Dom Leone was placed on the IL with an elbow impingement. Yermín Mercedes was DFA'd and outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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David Villar was the best hitter in his league in 2021 and 2022. He mashed 27 home runs in just 84 games for the Sacramento River Cats this season. Villar's first cameo with the San Francisco Giants, in July, didn't go particularly well. But Villar burst out in a big way during the weekend against the Dodgers. Villar hit three home runs in the series, including two in the finale and one against Clayton Kershaw. He's an important player to watch for the SF Giants over the last month of the season, as he could be a part of their future. With the Giants all but out of playoff contention, the rest of this season should be about auditioning future pieces, and Villar is first on that list. Lewis Brinson is another guy to watch, and he too had a huge series in Los Angeles. Several bullpen arms for the Giants are also new and worth watching over the final four weeks. Luis Ortiz was added to the Giants' roster on Wednesday. Shelby Miller is in Milwaukee and may be added. Alex Young and Scott Alexander have been in the 'pen for a while now and could be future pieces. The Giants' season is now about watching how all of these new players perform, as they are auditioning for roles on next year's SF Giants team. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Are the San Francisco Giants actually having fun? More importantly, are fans actually having fun watching them? It's been a frustrating season for the SF Giants, but their play in September has been a breath of fresh air. Lewis Brinson has provided a spark this month, and he had his best game yet on Monday. Brinson slugged two homers against Dodgers pitching, and J.D. Davis, David Villar, and Thairo Estrada also went deep for the Giants. It was just the third time in franchise history that the Giants hit five or more home runs in Dodger Stadium. All four players who homered are under club control for at least two more seasons. Brinson will be first-year arbitration eligible after 2022. Estrada and Villar have five-plus years of club control. J.D. Davis has a couple of arb years remaining. It's why September is such an important month for Giants such as Brinson and Villar. They're auditioning to be a part of next year's team. Villar absolutely destroyed Triple-A this year so it was nice to see him have a good game with the San Francisco Giants. Gabe Kapler took him out for defensive purposes somewhat early in the game, which was somewhat controversial, but the move immediately paid off with a great relay with Bryce Johnson moved to left field as part of the substitution. Wilmer Flores' Sunday walk-off and impending free agency are discussed. Although the Giants need to get younger and more athletic, generally speaking, Flores has been a great Giant and it's hard to see them letting him leave in free agency. There is hopefully mutual interest. Joc Pederson is another guy who is an impending free agent they may bring back. And how about that bad dude Carlos Rodón? This year may have been a disappointment on the whole, but lots of players have had very nice seasons, and a few of them have uncertain futures with the Giants. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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While it's almost certainly too little too late, it was nice to see the San Francisco Giants play well and show signs of life. Wilmer Flores hit a thrilling walk-off to seal the Giants' sweep of the Phillies. Carlos Rodón was a big bad dude on the mound and racked up his ninth 10+ strikeout game, tying a franchise record. The offense exploded in the series opener, and Alex Cobb continued to be excellent. Cobb, who was so unlucky early in the season, has seen his results-based numbers rebound in a major way. Another win for the underlying numbers... There were several key injury updates over the weekend. SF Giants first baseman Brandon Belt had season-ending knee surgery. Belt is a free agent at the end of the year and it remains to be seen whether he's played his final game in a Giants uniform. Lefty reliever José Álvarez had Tommy John surgery and will miss all of 2023. Álvarez was very good for the Giants last season, but this year was a struggle and it's his last year under contract. Alex Wood has a left shoulder impingement and might be done for the season. He's given up a ton of runs since first dealing with the injury in mid-August. It wasn't a very good second season in San Francisco for Wood, who has an ERA in the 5's. But the underlying metrics suggest he deserved better. Lewis Brinson made his San Francisco Giants debut and collected a couple of hits. The Giants and manager Gabe Kapler used their bench aggressively over the weekend, something they've been able to do more with rosters expanded to 28 from 26. Last year, as a residual effect of the covid-shortened 2020 season, teams had 28-man rosters all season. It was perhaps an underrated reason why the Giants were able to be so successful with pinch hitting, platoons, and matchups. Aaron Judge's impending free agency, and the likelihood of the slugger landing with the Giants, is also discussed. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants added another key prospect from the 2018 Christian Yelich trade. Lewis Brinson, the centerpiece of that deal, was acquired by the Giants yesterday in a trade with the Houston Astros. Brinson was immediately added to the 40-man roster and called up to the major leagues. Now that he's on the 40-man, he is under club control for three seasons via arbitration. If he has a good September and/or Spring Training, he could certainly be on the 2023 team. In other words, Brinson is auditioning for the Giants from here on out. What Giants on expiring deals will be back next year? Farhan Zaidi said on KNBR yesterday that there's interest in bringing back Joc Pederson. If Pederson is retained by the Giants, that would seemingly have a ripple effect in that it could eliminate another platoon. The Giants clearly need more everyday players, and Joc Pederson is a strict platoon player. Wilmer Flores is another Giants player who could/should be brought back, and the most important player might be Carlos Rodón. Who's the most surprising current Giants player who might not be back next year? The answer is probably Mike Yastrzemski or LaMonte Wade Jr. It hasn't been a good year for either Giants lefty, and Wade in particular is probably running out of chances. Both are platoon players, and especially if Joc Pederson is re-signed it might mean at least one of those two will not be on the 2023 roster. Honest assessments of Giants manager Gabe Kapler and president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi are also discussed on today's show. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Do the San Francisco Giants have one of MLB's worst cores? ESPN's Kiley McDaniel ranked all 30 cores, with input from executives around the game, and the SF Giants ranked 28th. These cores include all players under team control through at least 2024 and include prospects. The Giants have no "elite" talent (5+ WAR) locked up, and only Logan Webb falls into the "above average" category (3-5 WAR). The Giants have several players in the "solid" category (2-3 WAR), including major leaguers such as Alex Cobb, Joey Bart, Camilo Doval, Thairo Estrada, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Slater, and Anthony DeSclafani. Several prospects also fall into this category, including Marco Luciano, Kyle Harrison, Luis Matos, and Patrick Bailey. But the Giants need to supplement their core through free agency. That much has become apparent this season. The Giants got star-level production out of Brandon Crawford, Buster Posey, and Brandon Belt last year, but no position player has come close to matching that production this year. Aaron Judge is a free agent this offseason and would be the best and simplest way for the Giants to add a player long-term who falls into the "elite" category. Judge will probably win the MVP this year, and he grew up a Giants fan. Other players who would help the Giants build a better core include Trea Turner, Carlos Rodón (if the Giants extend him), Carlos Correa, Jacob deGrom, Edwin Díaz, and Brandon Nimmo. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The Giants needed to sweep this series in order to stay in the race. Instead, the Giants were swept by the Padres. For all intents and purposes, the season is over. What a huge disappointment after last year. The SF Giants front office needs to do some serious soul searching in the offseason and avoid having another major letdown in 2023. The San Francisco Giants’ bullpen is addressed. After leading the majors in ERA last year, the Giants’ bullpen has been one of the worst in baseball in 2022. Bullpens tend to be volatile from year to year, and it’s hurt the Giants this season. Relievers such as Dominic Leone, Tyler Rogers, and Jake McGee took huge steps back from 2021 to 2022. In recent days and weeks they’ve been auditioning some new arms, and it’ll be important to see how the likes of Alex Young and Scott Alexander perform over the season’s final month. After all, there isn’t much else for the disappointing Giants to play for. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Do the San Francisco Giants need to re-sign Carlos Rodón? The Giants been very good even with Rodón, so it would seem that they'd be setting themselves further back if they don't replace him. The best way for the Giants to replace Carlos Rodón may be for the Giants to bring back ... Carlos Rodón. The Giants' 2023 rotation options are explored. Logan Webb will be eligible for arbitration for the first time, and is under club control for three more seasons. Alex Cobb, Alex Wood, and Anthony DeSclafani have guaranteed deals for 2023. Jakob Junis, who's been a bright spot this season for the Giants, is arbitration eligible for the final time and can be retained for a relatively cheap salary. Free-agent options are discussed. Could the Giants try to sign Jacob deGrom to a short-term, high-AAV deal? Something like two years, $90 million? Or would the Giants be better off spending something like 4/$120M on Rodón? Plenty of options are out there, but Rodón and deGrom are pretty clearly the best available. The Giants should probably sign one of them and also spend aggressively in the position player market, where stars like Aaron Judge and Trea Turner are free agents. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants are just about cooked. This was a period in which they needed to take advantage of the schedule and get red hot. Instead, the SF Giants just had a 2-6 road trip which culminated in a sweep by the Twins in which the Giants were outscored 20-5. The Giants' brutal 2022 season continues. Technically, the Giants are still alive, and it helps that they're about to play the Padres. If the Giants can somehow manage to sweep, they'll be just 4.5 games back with 33 to play. But anything less than a sweep seemingly won't be good enough. The Giants pretty much can't afford to lose the rest of the way. The Giants continue to be old and banged up. Evan Longoria tweaked his hamstring again. Joc Pederson has a groin issue. Mike Yastrzemski's calf is bothering him. Luis González is sick. The Giants are not only an old, injury-prone team; they're also just not very good when everyone is healthy. It's going to be a vitally important offseason. The Giants must change the way they operate or else it'd be foolish to expect better results next season. They really must get younger and more athletic. They have to acquire some everyday players and not just pick up platoon bats off the scrap heap. Time may be running out for one or more of Yastrzemski, LaMonte Wade Jr., and others. This miserable season should light a fire under the Giants' front office. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Is a different type of offseason for the Giants on the horizon? San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi recently said that it's important for the Giants to establish two to five everyday players. He also admitted that the SF Giants' top prospects are unlikely to arrive in time to be those everyday guys in 2023. That seems to suggest that the Giants must sign or trade for everyday players this offseason if they want to have them next year. Aaron Judge headlines the class. He's likely to be the AL MVP this season, and he may end up with 60+ home runs. Judge is a Bay Area native and grew up a huge Giants fan. There's real intrigue here since he may actually be open to coming home and playing for his hometown Giants. Other outfielders of note are Brandon Nimmo and Mitch Haniger. The shortstop class is loaded again. Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, Dansby Swanson, and Carlos Correa are very good players the Giants could sign. It seems more likely that the Giants would target players who aren't necessarily pure shortstops, but rather guys who can play other positions as well. Nolan Arenado is a third baseman who's increasingly likely to opt out and should be a consideration for the SF Giants. At first base, a couple of names stand out for the Giants: Josh Bell and José Abreu. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Should fans of the San Francisco Giants be worried about Logan Webb? He's been hit hard recently, and his stuff appears to have diminished from how it looked for much of last season and particularly in the NLDS when he dominated the Dodgers. Webb's velocity is down overall. It could be a sign of fatigue, but his diminished stuff is undoubtedly cause for some concern for the SF Giants. All the more reason bringing back Carlos Rodón or signing another frontline starter will be important for the Giants this offseason. How much of a runway does Gabe Kapler have? Is there any chance he could be fired this offseason? It's extremely unlikely. Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi is very fond of Kapler and seems to value continuity. What's more, the issues for the 2022 SF Giants really don't seem to stem from Kapler. It's been more of a roster construction problem. For that, Zaidi must take ownership. How much of a runway does he have? This will be an important offseason and next year will be an important year. He has at least next season to sort this out, considering they won a franchise-record 107 games in 2021. How far should the Giants go to sign Aaron Judge? Judge has been the game's best player this season, and he's set to reach free agency when the season concludes. The problem is Judge is a very big guy and he'll be 31 years old in year one of the deal. Age is a concern, but he sure checks a lot of important boxes for the Giants. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Are the San Francisco Giants going to be aggressive this offseason? That’s what SF Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi implied in a podcast this week with The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami. Zaidi said, “I think it’s important for us to establish two or three or four or five guys who are everyday guys, who are going to be in the lineup every day.” In regard to platooning, Zaidi said “that kind of roster management philosophy works best when you have a foundation of guys that are in there everyday.” He’s absolutely right, and a big problem for the Giants this season has been their lack of productive everyday players. They’d hoped to get repeat strong performances from the likes of Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford, but it just hasn’t happened. Age and regression, often both, has been a key factor. Carlos Rodón continued his excellent season with a dominant outing over the Tigers in the Giants' win on Tuesday. He notched his eighth 10+ strikeout performance of the season, with 23 swings and misses, and continues to look like one of the best pitchers in baseball. Rodón was a savvy Giants signing, but he could very well be on another team in 2023. The Giants have a pretty full rotation coming back next year, but should probably bring back Rodón or sign another top-tier arm. Logan Webb was supposed to be a co-ace, but lately he's looked a little shaky. He was cruising along on Wednesday before the Tigers put together a six-run inning against the Giants. Brandon Crawford let a hard ground ball bounce off his body and into the outfield. It was generously ruled a hit, and the six-two out runs that followed were all charged to Webb. The 2023 schedule was released, and it's enormously different thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement. Every team will play every team every year, so the Giants face the entire American League in 2023. They open their season in New York to play the Yankees, then they head to Chicago to face the White Sox. It's a long overdue and welcome change of pace for the sport. In order to add all of these interleague games, there will (finally) be fewer intradivision games. The Giants will only play their NL West foes 14 times a year, down from 19. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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How will the San Francisco Giants behave during the 2022-23 offseason? Will the Giants do more of the same, piecing together a roster and waiting for top prospects like Marco Luciano, Kyle Harrison, and others to develop? Or will the Giants finally make some impact signings that have been non-existent during Farhan Zaidi's era as Giants president of baseball operations? What is a reasonable prediction for Joey Bart's numbers next year? The Giants' catcher has been much better since being recalled from the minors in early July, so which version of Bart should we expect next year? Probably somewhere in the middle. Bart's strikeout rate remains elevated, so it's probably reasonable to expect closer to a league average batting average and OBP, with above-average power. That would make him a quality player but not quite a star. What's going on with Mike Yastrzemski? He's been struggling for months. Should the Giants try to replace Yaz with someone from the minors? The answer is that it's reasonable to think that, but they don't have any obvious replacements ready to take over. That's a problem with the state of the organization. They don't spend big on talent, but their farm system has also been slow to develop impact talent. Same goes for the Giants' Tommy La Stella problem. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Evan Longoria turned back the clock and looked like he was 26, not 36, in the San Francisco Giants' roller-coaster win on Sunday. The Giants needed the win badly, and Longoria stepped up to the challenge. He nearly hit a home run, and then later on he hit his first grand slam in almost 10 years. He made multiple sparkling defensive plays. He was the best player on the field, and the question must be asked: will the SF Giants bring him back next year even though they don't have to? Longoria has a $13M club option for 2023. It comes with a $5M buyout. So in reality, the Giants have to make an $8M decision on whether or not to retain Longoria in 2023, which would be the final year of his deal. He will be 37 years old for all of next year. Despite his age and the fact that he's been injury prone for the last couple of years, Longoria has been very productive when he's been on the field. He is a stabilizing force defensively and has hit well to boot. There's no obvious replacement for him in the minor leagues for next season (but after that there should be ... hopefully). LaMonte Wade Jr.'s decision to lay down a sacrifice bunt in the top of the 11th is discussed. The bunt ended up working out, but was it a smart play? Lastly, the Giants' record and position in the wild card hunt are discussed. The Giants remain on the fringes of the race but they're technically still in it with 41 games remaining. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
San Francisco Giants outfielder Joc Pederson has reportedly been taking ground balls at first base—but why? Brandon Belt is under contract for 2022 but then is set to reach free agency. It's been a disappointing season for Belt, who has dealt with injuries and generally been a non-factor at the plate. Pederson has been good in his platoon role, but isn't a great defender in the outfield. It's certainly possible that Belt could see more time at DH, Pederson could play first, and an outfielder could be added to the roster. Heliot Ramos, perhaps not coincidentally, will reportedly be in Colorado on the taxi squad. Does that mean he's getting called up? Should the SF Giants start playing their younger players more. The Giants have numerous struggling veterans, including Belt, but perhaps most obviously Tommy La Stella, who's been a net negative to the Giants this season. He can't really play the field or run, and hasn't even been able to hit well even though he's mostly the designated hitter. Could his time with the Giants be coming to an end? Is there anything to look forward to next season or is it all doom and gloom? Even though this season has been disappointing for the Giants and their best player in Carlos Rodón is likely not going to be back next year, there is reason for hope in 2023. Logan Webb, Joey Bart, Thairo Estrada, and Camilo Doval look like core pieces moving forward, and their prospects are a year closer to the majors. Kyle Harrison looks like a potential future ace, and Marco Luciano is finally back from his back injury. We should see those guys in the majors in the next year or two. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Vroom With Vroom, you can buy a car entirely online, and have it delivered straight to you, so you never have to go to a dealership again. So, next time you need to buy a car, just grab your phone, go to Vroom.com and check out thousands of great cars. Liver Health Formula Now it’s easy to rejuvenate your liver health and reignite your metabolism...Thanks to Liver Health Formula by PureHealth Research. Go to getliverhelp.com/MLB to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants had a great opportunity to get greedy against the D-backs after winning the first two games of the series and turning to Carlos Rodón and Logan Webb in the last two. But the bullpen wasted a late-inning lead on Wednesday night and Webb got hit around on Thursday, and this feel-good stretch of baseball for the Giants turned into something far uglier. Yes, indeed, the SF Giants are who we thought they were. They are what their record says they are: a .500 team. The ugliness was on full display in the losses. There was bad defense, with Joc Pederson committing a crucial error and Mike Yastrzemski making an ill-advised throw from the outfield. There was bad baserunning, with Yastrzemski, who had entered as a pinch runner, getting picked off in a big situation. There were more bullpen woes for a Giants team that led the majors in ERA last season, as Dom Leone continued his miserable month-plus. Tommy La Stella continued to be ineffective at the plate. The Giants' present and future is discussed. The Giants are old and slow. Evan Longoria and Brandon Belt can't move well, and it has cost them numerous times this season. Neither is guaranteed a spot on next year's team. Belt has been a big disappointment in 2022 after emerging as the "Captain" last season. He bunted foul for a strikeout down by five runs with two on, two out, and two strikes late in the game. In other news, Luis González was optioned and Zack Littell was added. They were always going to get back to 13 pitchers and González was one of the few guys with options and had been struggling mightily. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Vroom With Vroom, you can buy a car entirely online, and have it delivered straight to you, so you never have to go to a dealership again. So, next time you need to buy a car, just grab your phone, go to Vroom.com and check out thousands of great cars. Liver Health Formula Now it’s easy to rejuvenate your liver health and reignite your metabolism...Thanks to Liver Health Formula by PureHealth Research. Go to getliverhelp.com/MLB to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
UNBELIEVABLE! The San Francisco Giants got their second walk-off home run in three days last night, thanks to two-out magic from Thairo Estrada and Brandon Crawford. Estrada was the hero on Sunday, hitting a two-run homer with one out in the ninth. Yesterday, the Giants looked destined for a super frustrating 1-0 loss after there were two outs and nobody on in the last inning. But Estrada, who took a close pitch and the home plate umpire appeared close to calling him out, delivered for the SF Giants again and Crawford finally connected well on what was otherwise a frustrating night at the plate for him. Crawford hasn't been anything close to the same guy he was last year when he finished fourth in NL MVP voting. In fact, he's performed below his career norms this season. But he has looked better since coming off the injured list about a week and a half ago, and it was great to see him finally make some hard, impactful contact. Jakob Junis was another hero from yesterday. He held the D-backs to one run in seven strong innings, and his emergence has been another bright spot of the 2022 season. Junis has drastically altered his pitch usage from his time with the Royals, and he is arbitration eligible next season, meaning the Giants will almost certainly bring him back. The Giants' position in the standings is discussed. They gained a full game on the scuffling Padres, who lost again to the Marlins yesterday. The Giants are just 4.5 games out of the final playoff spot in the NL, and are very much alive with 46 games to play. To their credit, they've been hot. But they'll need to stay hot if they hope to secure a postseason berth. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Vroom With Vroom, you can buy a car entirely online, and have it delivered straight to you, so you never have to go to a dealership again. So, next time you need to buy a car, just grab your phone, go to Vroom.com and check out thousands of great cars. Liver Health Formula Now it’s easy to rejuvenate your liver health and reignite your metabolism...Thanks to Liver Health Formula by PureHealth Research. Go to getliverhelp.com/MLB to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
They're not done yet. The San Francisco Giants needed to get hot in a hurry after a miserable start to the second half, and to they're credit they've been able to do it. The Giants won their fourth straight last night behind a gritty Alex Cobb, and improved to 7-2 since they were swept at home in a four-game series by the Dodgers. This is a soft pocket in the schedule, and it was clear that the SF Giants needed to take advantage. Fortunately, they've been able to do so over their last nine games. Now the challenge will be to keep it going. It helps to have excellent starting pitching, and the Giants have quietly had that this year. It's been lost in the shuffle thanks to bad defense and a struggling bullpen dominating the conversation. But Cobb, Logan Webb, Carlos Rodón, Alex Wood, and Jakob Junis have been among the game's best. Cobb was supremely unlucky to start the year, but those sparking peripherals that were discussed ad nauseum early in the season have proved to be more predictive of his future ERA. Cobb has an ERA under 3.00 since late May, which the peripherals predicted. Joey Bart continues to thrive since being called up from the Minors in early July. He has a 144 wRC+ since then, and importantly has only struck out about 31% of the time. That's still pretty high, but nowhere near the 45% rate he posted before being optioned to Sacramento. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Vroom With Vroom, you can buy a car entirely online, and have it delivered straight to you, so you never have to go to a dealership again. So, next time you need to buy a car, just grab your phone, go to Vroom.com and check out thousands of great cars. Liver Health Formula Now it’s easy to rejuvenate your liver health and reignite your metabolism...Thanks to Liver Health Formula by PureHealth Research. Go to getliverhelp.com/MLB to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Thairo! The San Francsico Giants' unsung infielder delivered a walk-off home run on Sunday, securing a much-needed three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Estrada has emerged as an important player on the Giants this season, and this wasn't the first time he hit a late-inning bomb that helped the Giants win a game. Down by a run with one out in the ninth, Estrada turned on the first pitch he saw and socked it high and deep into left-center field. Estrada has been above-average in pretty much all aspects of the game this season, which is great to see considering his age and multiple years of team control remaining. Co-aces Logan Webb and Carlos Rodón helped the SF Giants win the first two games against Pittsburgh. Even with the win, however, the Giants still have a tough road ahead. Their record is just 57-57, and they are six games out of a playoff spot. But they have nine straight games remaining against below-.500 teams, and will need to continue to take advantage. The D-backs come into town next for a four-game series, and they've been a tough matchup for the Giants this season. Madison Bumgarner will be on the mound opposing Alex Cobb tonight. It remains to be seen how many wins the Giants will need in order to sneak into the playoffs (probably around 88-90), but in order to get in the Giants will simply have to play good baseball for the rest of the season. Joey Bart returned after a few days off with an ankle sprain. He continues to be a bright spot this season, as he has been on a roll since being recalled after an early-season demotion to the minors. Joc Pederson took a pitch off the pinky on Sunday but thankfully X-rays came back negative. Thomas Szapucki was recalled from the minors and replaced Yunior Marte on the active roster. The Giants still have only 12 pitchers, and may make a move for another arm soon. Luis González appears to be a candidate to be optioned if that's the case. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Vroom With Vroom, you can buy a car entirely online, and have it delivered straight to you, so you never have to go to a dealership again. So, next time you need to buy a car, just grab your phone, go to Vroom.com and check out thousands of great cars. Liver Health Formula Now it’s easy to rejuvenate your liver health and reignite your metabolism...Thanks to Liver Health Formula by PureHealth Research. Go to getliverhelp.com/MLB to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants need to get hot in a hurry. They have a golden opportunity coming up, with the Giants' next 12 games against teams that are under .500. It all starts tonight with the Pittsburgh Pirates coming into town. Do the Giants need to sweep? Maybe. But winning two out of three is basically a necessity for the SF Giants, who enter play 7.5 games out of a playoff spot. It's been a disappointing season for the Giants. After winning 107 games in 2021, this year has been a struggle. Their offense has generally been fine and their starting pitching is actually pretty good, but defense and bullpen issues have plagued the Giants all season long. They lost seven straight coming out of the All-Star break, which certainly didn't help. They don't seemingly have the talent to match up against the Dodgers or the new-look Padres. Locked On Giants and Locked On Pirates discuss the state of these two teams, and what the Giants must do to take advantage of the schedule and get back in the race. A critical stretch of games for the SF Giants begins tonight, and the Giants have the pitching matchups in their favor. If a sweep is necessary, this series does set up well for the Giants to be able to do that, with Carlos Rodón and Logan Webb starting the first two games of the series. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Vroom With Vroom, you can buy a car entirely online, and have it delivered straight to you, so you never have to go to a dealership again. So, next time you need to buy a car, just grab your phone, go to Vroom.com and check out thousands of great cars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants’ 2022 season has been disappointing, and it’s just about time to start thinking about the future. There is reason for optimism in that respect, and the Giants announced some welcome news this week. Casey Schmitt, who’s been tearing it up all season offensively and defensively for the High-A Eugene Emeralds, was promoted to Double-A. Also in good news, Marco Luciano has returned from the back injury that kept him out of action for two months. Hopefully Schmitt thrives in Double-A, and hopefully Luciano can make it to Double-A by season’s end. Kyle Harrison is currently in Double-A and continues to dominate. There’s a chance he could make it to Triple-A or even the majors by the end of the season. Will Wilmer Flores be back with the Giants next year? Flores has been a popular and productive Giant in his three years in San Francisco, and there’s likely interest in bringing him back. Did Giants president of baseball ops Farhan Zaidi pass on Mickey Moniak or Jarred Kelenic at the trade deadline? Moniak was traded to the Angels for Noah Syndergaard, but the former No. 1 overall pick isn’t highly regarded anymore and would’ve been a very disappointing return for Carlos Rodón. Kelenic likely wasn’t offered for Rodón. How much bullpen turnover should we expect from this year to next? Probably a significant amount. Dom Leone and José Álvarez are impending free agents, and several others can be optioned. Many Giants prospects likely to get a look in the next two months are relievers, such as Randy Rodriguez, who was just promoted to Triple-A, and R.J. Dabovich, who’s also in Triple-A. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Vroom With Vroom, you can buy a car entirely online, and have it delivered straight to you, so you never have to go to a dealership again. So, next time you need to buy a car, just grab your phone, go to Vroom.com and check out thousands of great cars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants had a chance to cut their deficit in the wild card race down to 3.5 games, but instead they lead San Diego trailing in the standings by a season-high 7.5 games. The Giants won the first game of the series, and were in position to win the next two, but lost both in crushing fashion. They rallied against Padres closer Josh Hader in the middle game, only to lose on a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth. They led 4-0 and 7-6 in the finale, but both times the SF Giants came up with big innings, they allowed huge innings in the bottom half. The Giants simply don't do enough to win often enough. At this point, the Giants must get red hot or the hill will be too steep to climb. The opportunity sets up well, at least, since the Giants' next 12 games are against teams below .500. They haven't had an easy times with those teams this year by any means, but it represents one last good opportunity to make up ground. If they tread water or lose ground, the season will be pretty much over, barring some kind of miracle. Joey Bart's ankle injury is discussed, as is the Giants' sloppy defense in the finale on Wednesday. J.D. Davis has been a bright spot since he was acquired at the trade deadline, but he has made a couple of bad throws recently that severely hurt the Giants. Wilmer Flores made one as well. The Giants' defense and bullpen has been a huge reason for their demise this season and it shows no signs of getting any better with this current group of players. It will likely be the Giants' downfall in 2022. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Vroom With Vroom, you can buy a car entirely online, and have it delivered straight to you, so you never have to go to a dealership again. So, next time you need to buy a car, just grab your phone, go to Vroom.com and check out thousands of great cars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
All of a sudden, Joey Bart and Camilo Doval look like foundational future pieces for the San Francisco Giants. They brighten the outlook for next year's Giants, but they also have kept things interesting for the 2022 team that's still in the mix for a playoff spot. Matching up with the third wild card Padres is good for the Giants, and the first game of the series went their way. Luis González, Brandon Crawford, and Bart teamed up for one of the best relays we've seen from the Giants in a long time. Since first featuring a sinker in a game a few weeks ago, Doval has looked like an elite closer. Those skills were on display in Monday's 1-0 Giants win over the Padres. Doval is getting swings and misses on the sinker and a ridiculous -24 degree launch angle on balls in play against the pitch. It's made his cutter and slider better as well, as evidenced by the fact that he blew 103 mph past Josh Bell, who's tough to strike out, to end the game. Doval pitched a 1-2-3 innings against Juan Soto, Manny Machado, and Bell. The Padres are 1-5 since acquiring Soto. The Giants' position in the standings is discussed. The odds are still stacked against them, but they have a shot. There's still over 50 games to play and 5.5 games to make up. In addition, the lost 2020 minor league season is discussed. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Vroom With Vroom, you can buy a car entirely online, and have it delivered straight to you, so you never have to go to a dealership again. So, next time you need to buy a car, just grab your phone, go to Vroom.com and check out thousands of great cars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Suddenly, the San Francisco Giants find themselves in an urgent position. The Padres, losers of four of five in the Juan Soto era, has fallen to third in the wild card standings. That's the position the SF Giants have been chasing, and the timing is good since the Giants are set to begin a three-game series in San Diego on Monday night. If the Giants sweep, they could be as few as 3.5 games back of a playoff spot. If they are swept, they would be 9.5 back. Huge swings are possible one way or the other. Will the Giants be up to the task? Something else worth watching is what the Giants will do with their roster in order to add Evan Longoria today or tomorrow. Bryce Johnson and Luis González are candidates to be optioned; at some point, both may be optioned if the Giants decide to go back to 13 position players (as opposed to 14 with 12 pitch pitchers). There's a case to be made that the Giants shouldn't option those two, since the team is somewhat playing for 2023 at this point. But while they're still technically alive, perhaps they go with their veterans. Joc Pederson, Brandon Crawford, and Thairo Estrada were added back over the weekend. Dixon Machado was DFA'd and Yermin Mercedes and David Villar were optioned out to make room. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Vroom With Vroom, you can buy a car entirely online, and have it delivered straight to you, so you never have to go to a dealership again. So, next time you need to buy a car, just grab your phone, go to Vroom.com and check out thousands of great cars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aaron Judge to the San Francisco Giants? There's reason to believe he might actually want to play here, given that he grew up rooting for the Giants. San Francisco only has about $66.5 million on the books for 2023, so there's no reason they couldn't add a player of Judge's caliber even if they maintain the disappointing trend of spending about $160 million on their payroll. Signing Judge, extending Carlos Rodón, and making several other key additions could all be in the cards for the Giants if they play their hand right, but will they? How badly did the Giants screw up the trading deadline? Fans want to know, after the team didn't really buy and didn't really sell amidst a highly frustrating and disappointing 2022 campaign. However, making a trade just for the sake of making a trade wouldn't have been wise. Rodón has value for the Giants for the rest of the season, and they can also give him a qualifying offer after 2022. Other top rentals like Willson Contreras weren't dealt, suggesting that the offers in this segment of the market simply weren't good enough. Can Mike Yastrzemski or LaMonte Wade Jr. be optioned? Neither has been particularly productive for the Giants in 2022. Wade can't be optioned, which is a problem considering he has basically contributed nothing to the team this year. Yastzemski, as much as he has established himself at this point, can (and possibly will) be optioned. The Giants have a roster crunch coming up with four players set to return from injuries, and they'll have to make some difficult decisions. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Vroom With Vroom, you can buy a car entirely online, and have it delivered straight to you, so you never have to go to a dealership again. So, next time you need to buy a car, just grab your phone, go to Vroom.com and check out thousands of great cars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants have another roster crunch upcoming, with several players set to return from the injured list in the coming days. How they're going to fit those players onto the roster remains to be seen. Prior to last night's game, speedy outfielder Bryce Johnson was added to the Giants' roster. Johnson gives the SF Giants a rare element on this team: disruptive speed and high-end defense. But will he stick on the roster? Brandon Crawford and Joc Pederson are set to return on Saturday. Thairo Estrada will re-join the Giants on Sunday. Evan Longoria is likely to be added to the SF Giants' roster early next week. So who's going to come off the roster? David Villar can be optioned, but should he be? Is it really worth playing Longoria over Villar if the 2022 season is lost (which it isn't quite yet) and they don't expect him to be a part of next year's team (also unclear)? Yermín Mercedes can be optioned. The Giants will likely DFA Dixon Machado this weekend. But even if they make all of those moves, they'll still need to make more. Will the Giants option promising youngsters like Luis González or Johnson? Or will they finally cut ties with a struggling veteran like Tommy La Stella. whose tenure in San Francisco has been a disaster? As our attention turns towards the future, Joey Bart is highlighted. Bart's numbers since getting called back up by the Giants in early July are eye-opening. He's been striking out less, chasing less, and making more contact on swings in the strike zone. He's also showing more confidence and leadership, and has done a very good job defensively, whether it's framing pitches, blocking, or throwing out baserunners. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Vroom With Vroom, you can buy a car entirely online, and have it delivered straight to you, so you never have to go to a dealership again. So, next time you need to buy a car, just grab your phone, go to Vroom.com and check out thousands of great cars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants are stuck in the middle. From their 50-52 record to their half-hearted deadline, the SF Giants are in purgatory. They are neither awful nor great. They neither bought nor sold. This is the Giants' fourth year under Farhan Zaidi, and they have yet to make an aggressive move one way or the other. Sure, they've brought in some power arms who have turned out to be great, like Kevin Gausman and Carlos Rodón, but on the whole, the Giants haven't come close to putting together an exciting roster. They deserved the benefit of the doubt after winning 107 games last year, but trust in the front office has eroded after a disappointing 2022 season. The Giants' deadline moves are revisited, particularly their acquisition of J.D. Davis and three prospects from the New York Mets for Darin Ruf. Davis fits the Giants' roster better than Ruf turned out to fit, and significantly Davis appears to be an immediate and longer-term option at third base. David Villar hasn't been particularly effective at the plate or on the field for the Giants thus far, and Davis may take that role away from him. Villar can be optioned, but it's debatable whether the Giants should be taking playing time away from a rookie right now given their low playoff odds. Joey Bart's development is also discussed. The development of young players is a huge part of the rest of the season. Bart had a great game last night, homering and throwing another runner out on the bases. If the Giants aren't going to make the playoffs, watching players like Bart over the final two months will be among the most significant reasons to watch the Giants. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Vroom With Vroom, you can buy a car entirely online, and have it delivered straight to you, so you never have to go to a dealership again. So, next time you need to buy a car, just grab your phone, go to Vroom.com and check out thousands of great cars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the end, the San Francisco Giants were sellers, but they didn't sell their top assets. The Giants traded Darin Ruf to the Mets in a deal that brought back J.D. Davis and three minor leaguers. They traded Curt Casali and Matt Boyd to the Seattle Mariners. And the Giants traded Trevor Rosenthal, just signed less than two weeks ago, to the Milwaukee Brewers. The SF Giants held onto Carlos Rodón and Joc Pederson. The Ruf trade was the most significant move the Giants made. The team was so enamored with Ruf that they gave him a two-year extension prior to the season, with a club option for a third year. But his performance fell off in 2022, especially when thrust into more of an everyday role, and he became expendable. J.D. Davis is a similar player in a lot of ways, another DH type, but he doesn't have big platoon splits and is above-average at the plate against lefties or righties. He can play third, left, and first, none particularly well. Rodón not being dealt probably just means that the offers weren't good enough. He was pretty clearly available, but the Giants needed to be compelled to give up on their season and give up the potential draft pick compensation they'd receive if he rejects the qualifying offer and signs elsewhere. Other top rental options such as Willson Contreras and J.D. Martinez were also surprisingly held onto. Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres acquired Juan Soto. It's a brutal outcome from the perspective of Giants fans, who've seen a serious influx of star power into the NL West in recent years—none of it with the Giants and all of it with the Dodgers and now Padres. San Diego gave up a haul to get Soto (they also acquired Josh Bell in the same deal and Brandon Drury in a separate one), but the NL West just got that much better. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Vroom With Vroom, you can buy a car entirely online, and have it delivered straight to you, so you never have to go to a dealership again. So, next time you need to buy a car, just grab your phone, go to Vroom.com and check out thousands of great cars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The MLB trade deadline is just over 24 hours away, and the San Francisco Giants could be major players, potentially in both directions. Carlos Rodón could be the best starting pitcher available if the Giants decide to move him, which is a very real possibility. The Reds got a major haul for ace starter Luis Castillo, who is under club control through 2023, and it makes sense for the SF Giants to try to get somewhat similar value for Rodón. He will cost less, given he has an opt-out after the season which makes him essentially a rental, but there is a limited supply of starting pitchers and a huge demand. Given the Giants' position in the standings, they should probably trade him. Reports are that the Giants want major-league-ready talent in return. Some teams that make sense include the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Seattle Mariners. But realistically, any team with playoff aspirations will want Rodón. As he showed last night, he's capable of taking over a baseball game on any given night. That would absolutely play in October, which suggests that the Giants may be able to do well in a trade. Since the San Francisco Giants are still in the playoff race, and since they could give Rodón the qualifying offer and receive draft compensation if he ends up signing elsewhere (which is likely), the Giants can demand a hefty return that justifies punting on their season and sacrificing a second-round-type talent. In other news, the Giants had a powerful and thrilling number retirement for Will Clark. Clark's speech and all of the festivities were a good reminder that this Giants team needs more passion and fire. They need an everyday position player to bring excitement back to the ballpark. It was a beautiful ceremony for a more than deserving player. Well done all the way around. Also, Thairo Estrada was hit in the head by a pitch and put on the concussion IL. The Giants made a minor trade for Dixon Machado to fill in at short in the interim as Estrada and Brandon Crawford heal up. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Vroom With Vroom, you can buy a car entirely online, and have it delivered straight to you, so you never have to go to a dealership again. So, next time you need to buy a car, just grab your phone, go to Vroom.com and check out thousands of great cars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants are in limbo. On the one hand, they've played terrible baseball since the All-Star break, are below .500, and are out of playoff position. On the other, the Giants are still in the race (FanGraphs gives them about a 25% chance of making the postseason) and their run differential suggests they should be a few wins better. The trade deadline is just a few days away and it's still not clear whether the SF Giants are buyers or sellers. Are they more likely to buy, sell, or stand pat? The only thing that doesn't make a ton of sense is standing pat. The roster clearly needs help if they're trying to win in 2022, and minor additions for defense-oriented players wouldn't necessarily cost a ton in terms of prospect capital. Bullpen pieces should be available as well for a reasonable price. If the Giants decide to sell, they'll have one of the best trade chips around in Carlos Rodón. Other questions asked on today's mailbag edition of Locked On Giants include: Is there any silver lining at all to tanking at the worst possible time in the season? Should the Giants trade for Jazz Chisholm and Pablo Lopez? Are Mike Yastrzemski and LaMonte Wade Jr. possible trade candidates? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants may very well be sellers. Their awful performance coming out of the All-Star break has the Giants two games below .500 and 3.5 games out of the third and final Wild Card position. If the SF Giants sell, Carlos Rodón figures to be their best trade chip and one of the top players available at the deadline. What exactly could the Giants get for Rodón? While he is very good and could help a team win a title, he is likely just a two-month rental, and returns for rentals tend to be limited. The Giants would likely need to be overwhelmed in order to move him, considering they'd essentially be giving up on their season and they can give him the qualifying offer and get draft pick compensation if he leaves. So the Giants do have some leverage in this situation. Joc Pederson would be another target of other teams, but the return for him would be far less significant. Pederson has generally been a disappointment in San Francisco after a hot start. He's limited defensively and on the bases, and can only hit right-handed pitching. Other questions addressed in today's mailbag: Is Giants ownership responsible for the team's relative lack of spending? If the Giants do buy, would Ian Happ make sense? How can the Giants stay competitive if they keep "cheaping out" on pitching? Are we sleeping on Trea Turner as a possible free-agent signing this offseason? Might the Giants target Joey Gallo if they fail to sign Aaron Judge? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants are in a tailspin. They've lost seven straight coming out of the All-Star break. They're two games below .500. Their playoff odds are fading fast. With less than a week until the trade deadline, the Giants increasingly look like they'll be sellers. Who's to blame for the Giants' unacceptably poor performance in 2022? Most of the blame should fall on those who constructed the Giants' deeply flawed roster. They've got players out of position all over the field. They're old and unathletic. Indeed, the SF Giants front office built this roster and they must take responsibility for it. There were numerous star position players out there in free agency this winter. Why didn't the Giants sign any of them? Why was their payroll flat from last year to this year? Giants ownership may be to blame for that, but Giants president of baseball ops Farhan Zaidi has said that ownership is supportive of higher payrolls. We'll take Zaidi at his word, which means he takes the majority of the fall for this seemingly doomed roster. Manager Gabe Kapler may not be perfect, but he's mostly just working with what he has. The Giants' problem isn't their platoons; it's their lack of impact everyday talent. If you have a few impact regulars, go ahead and platoon everywhere else. But they don't have any impact regulars in the lineup. On the contrary, they have platoon players who are frequently bad defenders who play out of position. Carlos Rodón had a little blowup in the dugout in his start on Tuesday, kicking a bat into Thairo Estrada. It was a bad look for Rodón, who's time with the Giants may be coming to an end because the Giants look increasingly likely to trade him by next Tuesday's deadline. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francsico Giants' downward spiral continued last night with a humiliating 7-0 loss to the last-place Arizona Diamondbacks. The Giants don't look like a competitive team right now, and their playoffs odds are down to about 33%, according to FanGraphs. The trade deadline is officially one week away, and the big question for the Giants is: what should they do? Should they be sellers? There's certainly a case to make for it. Carlos Rodón would be arguably the best starting pitcher available. It's a sellers' market; there are more teams than ever in the race thanks to an expanded postseason field, and the supply of starting pitchers is thin. MLB.com's Mike Petriello wrote about this very topic this morning, and the pros and cons are discussed. Joc Pederson would also have some value as a rental platoon bat. But there's also a case for the SF Giants to buy. Juan Soto is out there, and he isn't a rental. He is under club control through 2024, and he might help the Giants make a run to the playoffs this year. However, if you're giving up the type of talent it would take to land Soto (FanGraphs' Dan Szymborski suggests Kyle Harrison, Marco Luciano, Luis González, and Heliot Ramos in addition to taking on all of Patrick Corbin's contract), the Giants shouldn't stop there. They should also target a catcher (Willson Contreras?), an infielder with a good glove (Joey Wendle?), and bullpen help (the Tigers have several good options). But then you've depleted your farm system and still might not be good enough to make the playoffs. Yes, indeed, the Giants are in a tough situation. This season has been a big disappointment, and missing the playoffs while declining to sell of a desirable asset like Rodón would probably be the worst outcome of all. More will be revealed in the next week. For now, the Giants just need to play better baseball and win some games. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
"Not good enough. Really frustrating. A level of play that is just not going to be acceptable for us." Those were San Francisco Giants Manager Gabe Kapler's words after the SF Giants got completely overwhelmed by the Dodgers en route to their first four-game sweep vs. their rivals since 1995. The Giants looked like the far inferior team all weekend—and really they've looked inferior to many opponents all season. Where should the Giants go from here? The NL West race is essentially over before it really started. The Dodgers have a 16.5 game lead over the Giants. But at 48-47, the SF Giants are still just two games back in the NL Wild Card race. Their next seven games are against two of the worst teams in the NL. By the time the Aug. 2 trade deadline comes around, they're likely to be still in the race. FanGraphs has the Giants' playoff odds currently at 38%. Could they add someone like Ramón Laureano, who'd help them in 2022 but also in 2023-25? What about Joey Wendle, who'd be more of a rental but wouldn't cost too much and is a plus defender at second, third, and shortstop? The Giants' defense continues to be an embarrassment. Yermín Mercedes is miscast in left field, and it showed on Sunday. All season long the Giants have stuck bad defenders all over the diamond and it has cost them seemingly every night. How do they expect it to improve with the likes of Mercedes roaming the outfield against arguably the best team in baseball? There's a case to be made that the Giants should sell at the deadline, but ultimately the Giants' position in the standings warrants an attempt at salvaging this season. But it's increasingly clear that they must upgrade their defense or they likely won't be playing in October. The Giants need major changes and their last chance to do anything significant is just over a week away. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants' loss to the Dodgers last night was heartbreaking, and it was a microcosm of their season. Sloppy defense hurt the pitching. The Giants' bats went through stretches of being ice cold, only to awaken at times. Darin Ruf's game-tying grand slam could've been one of the best moments in the season, but a less-effective bullpen coughed up the lead in the eighth. The SF Giants don't have star talent on their team, and it showed against a loaded Dodgers squad. Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, and Freddie Freeman, three of the best four players in the NL since 2019, each made an impact. The game had a lot of Giants fans about Juan Soto. But are the San Francisco Giants just one piece away from being World Series contenders? Would it be worth giving up elite prospect capital in exchange for 2.5 years of Soto, when the Nationals themselves (who have Soto already) have proven that one star player doesn't necessarily lead to winning. Heck, the Angels have proven that two elite players doesn't necessarily lead to winning! The Giants have so few future pieces on their roster, and Carlos Rodón reached 110 IP last night meaning he can test free agency again this winter, that it doesn't make the most sense for the SF Giants to give up their best prospects for 2.5 years of Soto. If they know they can extend him, that's a different story. But Scott Boras clients typically like to test free agency. The upcoming trade deadline is discussed from the viewpoint that it may not be the wisest move for the Giants to give up what it would take to get Soto. There are other players available who could help the Giants in 2022, including the likes of Willson Contreras, Brandon Drury, and bullpen pieces. It probably makes more sense to upgrade this team without giving up uber prospects, and try to sign a star like Aaron Judge (2022-23 offseason), Shohei Ohtani (2023-24), or Soto (2024-25) when they reach the open market. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What would it realistically take for the San Francisco Giants to trade for Juan Soto? Every team is wondering that right about now, as the Washington Nationals have reportedly made Soto available following a failed attempt to extend him. Soto recently turned down a 15-year, $440 million dollar offer to stay in Washington. From the SF Giants' perspective, it's hard to see a deal working out unless the Nationals are willing to include bad money to lessen the players-involved cost. If the Nats are only dealing Soto (not including any money from underwater deals to Patrick Corbin/Stephen Strasburg), the Giants do not seem likely to put together the best package. San Francisco could offer the Nats their choice of any six prospects, and it would still seem that the Giants would fall short. Other teams like the Dodgers and Padres could include MLB talent with control like Gavin Lux and Dustin May for LA and MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams for San Diego. The Giants don't have players like that outside of Logan Webb, and that doesn't really make sense for SF or the Nationals for a number of reasons discussed on the show. However, the Giants have money to spend and flexibility, so taking on money from Corbin/Strasburg is their best shot. But Washington won't want to part with Soto for salary relief alone, so it would have to be a balance of cash and talent. Aaron Judge's impending free agency is also discussed. Judge grew up a Giants fan and would seemingly be open to signing with them. The one problem is that Judge will be entering his age-31 season. He turned down a 7-year, $215M offer before the season, and it's hard to see the Giants giving him a significantly larger deal that would lock him up into his late 30s. Relatedly, Carlos Rodón's likely impending free agency is also discussed. Long-term deals for pitchers are risky, and it seems likely that Rodón will not be back next year. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It was certainly an uneven first half for the San Francisco Giants, yet they find themselves just half a game out of a playoff spot with the second half set to begin on Thursday in Los Angeles. The Giants are 12.5 games back in the NL West. The Giants' position players don't really jump off the page, but they've been a solid unit nonetheless. Their team wRC+ of 107 is 10th in MLB and the Giants' baserunning has been a net positive, but defense that has been among the worst in baseball has their overall production more or less league average. If they could improve their defense to go along with a solidly above average offense, they could get back to being one of the upper-third offensive units in baseball. Wilmer Flores, Austin Slater, Thairo Estrada, Mike Yastrzemski, and Joc Pederson all were among the Giants' best contributors. Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt, Evan Longoria, and Tommy La Stella, for various reasons (injury and underperformance) were differing degrees of disappointing in the first half. As were Darin Ruf and LaMonte Wade Jr. Starting pitching, as expected, has been the Giants' greatest strength. Logan Webb and Carlos Rodón form a dynamic duo at the top. Alex Wood and Alex Cobb have excellent peripherals but seem to have been hurt by the defense. Jakob Junis was a bright spot before getting injured and should re-join the rotation in the second half. Anthony DeSclafani had a disastrous second year for the Giants, as he was totally ineffective and ultimately succumbed to season-ending ankle surgery. The bullpen has taken a big step back, but Camilo Doval, John Brebbia, and Dom Leone were bright spots. Tyler Rogers was also hurt by the SF Giants' poor first-half defense. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mike Yastrzemski's walk-off grand slam against Josh Hader was arguably the San Francisco Giants' best moment of the first half. The Giants scored six runs in the 9th against Hader, the most runs the lefty closer has ever allowed in an outing. The SF Giants looked dead in the water up until that magical 9th inning. It was looking like another demoralizing loss fueled by sloppy defense, but then everything changed. And the Giants went on to win the next two games to ultimately win three of four from a playoff-caliber Brewers squad. The trade deadline is just over two weeks away, and we just learned over the weekend that Juan Soto is available and could be dealt. This news sent shockwaves through the industry, since Soto is a generational hitting talent and the Nationals' GM said not long ago that Soto would not be dealt this year. But things have reportedly changed, after Soto turned down the Nats' 15-year, $440 million offer. They're a bad team, and they have to get something for Soto if they're not going to be able to extend him. However, he's still under club control for 2.5 more years, so he's not necessarily going to get traded this summer. Washington could wait until the offseason or even next year's deadline to deal Soto. Regardless, the Giants should and will be among the teams to express interest. But even a package of Marco Luciano, Kyle Harrison, and Luis Matos may not be enough. Taking on some or all of Patrick Corbin's underwater deal could be the Giants' best shot since it would lessen the return, but that is not necessarily in the Nats' best interest. The Giants drafted Reggie Crawford with the 30th overall pick in last night's MLB Draft. They announced him as a two-way player: he's a lefty arm who can touch triple digits, and he was an above-average power bat for UConn. With their second round selection, the SF Giants took another left-handed pitcher, Carson Whisenhunt. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com. And, going on now is the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale … Save up to forty percent on classic fine jewelry pieces and twenty-five percent on engagement ring settings. Shop stress free and find your forever piece. Go to BlueNile.com today. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Really tough loss for the San Francisco Giants last night. The game was within their grasp, but Darin Ruf flew out to the warning track in a bases-loaded situation late, and Camilo Doval surrendered a two-out, two-strike swinging bunt hit that drove in what proved to be the winning run. The SF Giants just haven't been able to consistently win this type of game, and they fall back to 45-43. If the Giants had won, they would've moved back into a tie for the NL's final wild card spot. So it goes for the Giants this season. One major theme this year has been that the veterans haven't really done as much as they would like. That includes Tommy La Stella and Evan Longoria, who are currently on the injured list. Are the Giants a better team without them? It's a complicated question and a complicated answer, because adding them back to the roster would mean sending down a couple of players like potentially Yermín Mercedes and David Villar. Luis González is also a candidate to be optioned if the Giants decide to re-add Longoria and/or La Stella. Trading one or both seems like a real possibility at this point, although La Stella probably has almost no trade value. Are the Giants interested in Brandon Drury? Andy Martino of SNY reported on Wednesday that the Giants and Dodgers were showing the most interest in the veteran infielder, who's enjoying a semi-breakout campaign with the Reds. Drury makes sense for the Giants as a versatile player who's having a strong offensive season. That being said, he's not really a star player, more of a complimentary player capable of exceeding expectations, as he has done so far this year. But it was hard enough to figure out how the Giants would add Longoria and La Stella back to the roster; how would they add those two in addition to another veteran like Drury? Is that what's best for this team that probably needs to look for future pieces and think about getting younger? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants needed that one! They trailed the Diamondbacks 3-0 late, and were a couple innings away from yet another series loss to a below-.500 team. This time, it was not to be. Brandon Belt homered. Wilmer Flores hit a game-tying, pinch-hit homer in the eighth. And Brandon Crawford, up in a very similar spot to the one he failed in on Monday, delivered a walk-off single against former Giants closer Mark Melancon. The win was a big morale boost for the SF Giants, who improved to 45-42. The Giants are now just one game back of the NL's final wild card position with the All-Star break and trade deadline fast approaching. Locked On Giants and Locked On D-backs get together to discuss the series and what has gone wrong for the San Francisco Giants in 2022. The Giants' atrocious defense in the first half of the season is discussed, as well as whether the team regrets not doing more in the offseason. They also discuss which 12 pitchers deserved to go to the All-Star game. Originally, Carlos Rodón didn't make it in, which was an egregious snub. Thankfully, he got in as an injury replacement, but his original snubbing is discussed. Does Logan Webb deserve to be there? How do we compare elite relievers vs. very good starters? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
For the second time in two days, the San Francisco Giants' right-handed-heavy lineup, the one that faces left-handed starters, led the Giants to a double-digit win. On Sunday, they beat MacKenzie Gore and the Padres 12-0. Yesterday, they lit up Dallas Keuchel and the D-backs by the final score of 13-0. Austin Slater, Yermín Mercedes, Joey Bart, and Thairo Estrada led the way as the SF Giants crushed four home runs in the victory. Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi met with the media prior to Tuesday's win. He discussed the team's disappointing first half of the season, and he talked about the upcoming trade deadline. Zaidi said that he thinks the starting pitching is in a good spot, and it's hard to argue against that with Carlos Rodón and Logan Webb leading the group. Alex Wood and Alex Cobb have peripherals that suggest better results are coming, and Jakob Junis will re-enter the rotation after the All-Star break. Brandon Crawford's supremely disappointing double play the night prior is discussed. Should he have been swinging in a 2-0 count with the bases loaded and the tying run on third (hint: yes). Also discussed is the SF Giants designating Jake McGee for assignment over the weekend. McGee was a crucial part of last year's bullpen, which led the majors in ERA, but the results just weren't there this year. McGee was owed close to $2 million, so this move suggests the Giants are willing to eat a salary if the performance is poor enough. Luis González's return from the IL is also discussed. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Carlos Rodón was a major All-Star snub, and the San Francisco Giants have been a major disappointment so far in 2022. There's something seriously wrong with the All-Star process if a player of Rodón's caliber doesn't make the team, while some decent reliever does just because his team needs an All-Star representative. Logan Webb is also somewhat of a snub; should All-Star rosters simply be bigger? Rodón's snub is not the only think irking SF Giants fans right now. The team has been in a bit of a tailspin as of late, and overall they're just one game over .500 more than halfway through the season. Veterans like Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt haven't been able to rekindle the magic they had in 2021. The Giants' defense has been atrocious, and it has seriously cost them all year long and led to worse-than-expected results for pitchers like Alex Cobb, Alex Wood, Tyler Rogers, and many others. The Giants didn't add payroll coming off a 107-win season, and it's fair to criticize them for that, particularly given how this season has gone. Buster Posey retired, and they essentially spent the money they would've spent on his 2022 club option on Rodón, who has been excellent, but they didn't really add to their team. They brought back many players who were part of last year's historic season, but they probably should have done more. There were many star position players available to sign, and the Giants only signed Joc Pederson, who has admittedly been a very strong addition. So: will the SF Giants be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, which is now just three weeks away? It all depends on how they play over these next three weeks, which makes every game very interesting right now. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Carlos Rodón has been one of the best pitchers in all of baseball this year. He leads the league in fWAR and FIP and is second in strikeout rate. He put the San Francisco Giants on his back when they absolutely needed it, firing a complete game against the rival Padres on Saturday when a loss would've put the Giants below .500 for the first time all year. Yet somehow, Rodón was not named to the NL All-Star team. It's one of the bigger snubs in recent memory. Rodón absolutely deserves to be there, much more than Joc Pederson actually, but the politics of making sure each team is represented got in his way. It should make Giants fans and baseball fans at large wonder whether All-Star rosters are too small. Either that, or we need to stop making sure each team is represented. How is it good for baseball that Joe Mantiply is an All-Star and Rodón is not? D-backs fans might be happy about that, but that doesn't mean it's right. Clayton Kershaw should be an All-Star, but he hasn't been better than Rodón since he's pitched far fewer innings. Regardless of the All-Star talk, Rodón's complete game was much needed by the Giants. He put the team on his back, and then they carried that momentum into Sunday with a resounding 12-0 win behind an excellent start from Alex Wood. The SF Giants' starting pitching could carry this team in the second half. Logan Webb also deserves to be an All-Star, though his case is more borderline. Wood and Alex Cobb have excellenet peripheral numbers which suggest that they should have better results than they've had to date. Wood showed why on Sunday. The offense also exploded, with Wilmer Flores hitting two homers and several other Giants having good showings at the plate. Hopefully the Giants can carry this into their upcoming series with Arizona and Milwaukee before the All-Star break. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The first half of the season for the San Francsico Giants was pretty ugly. The Giants are 41-40, but that doesn't quite tell the whole story. They began the season 13-5, so they are 28-35 ever since. They've lost seven of their last eight games as well, including a walk-off loss in extras last night. Overall, their position players just haven't been good enough. Austin Slater and Joc Pederson have been good in platoon roles, and Luis González was a real bright spot when he was here and healthy, but veterans like Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt, Tommy La Stella, and many others just haven't done enough to help the team. Overall, the defense has been the worst in baseball while their team wRC+ is slightly above average. However, the SF Giants rank 20th in overall WAR by their non-pitchers. Not good enough. The starting pitching has been the strength of this team, though it isn't always apparent. Carlos Rodón has been by far the Giants' best player, followed by Logan Webb. Those two have been more valuable than any Giants position player by a wide margin. Alex Cobb and Alex Wood have deserved better fates but the defense and some bad luck has let them down. The bullpen has taken a big step back, but some have seemingly been very unlucky as well, like Tyler Rogers. Camilo Doval has been inconsistent. Dom Leone and John Brebbia had strong first halves. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS WON A BASEBALL GAME! It shouldn't be this hard to win against a sub-.500 team, but the SF Giants will absolutely take the win. The Giants fell behind 4-0 early, but Joey Bart, Austin Slater, and Darin Ruf helped mount a comeback win that got a little too interesting in the 9th inning with Camilo Doval on the mound. The Giants, who have been in free fall for a couple of weeks, desperately needed this win. With a loss, they would've fallen back to .500 for the first time since they were 1-1. Ruf's pinch-hit home run in the eighth tied the game, and astonishingly, it was the Giants' first pinch hit homer of the season. Last year, they set a major league record with 18 pinch hit home runs. Slater had a big bunt hit ahead of Ruf and a huge bases-loaded double down the right field line in the 9th inning. The Giants looked like they might actually win easily, but Doval made things interesting. He allowed three walks and a single before being replaced by Sam Long, who struck out Jordan Luplow on three pitches. Despite this horrid stretch, the Giants are 41-39 and just one game out of the NL's final playoff spot. They have a big opportunity in their upcoming four-game series against the Padres, who are also struggling right now. Carlos Rodón and Logan Webb will pitch in the series, and those guys have been as good as any duo in the National League so far in 2022. But the defense (Tommy La Stella and David Villar made mistakes in last night's win) will have to be better if the SF Giants want to have any success in 2022, and the bullpen will also have to step up. The trade deadline is less than a month away, and it remains to be seen whether the Giants will add, subtract, or both. They clearly have needs. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Is there any hope for the San Francisco Giants? With another crushing defeat last night, they've now lost six straight, and 11 of their last 14 games. The Giants started out the year 13-5, but they've gone 27-34 ever since. What can manager Gabe Kapler and his staff do to right the ship? Do Farhan Zaidi and Scott Harris need to make more moves? Will they be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline? Last night they got a good start from Alex Wood, but the offense continued to flounder, particularly in clutch situations. The Giants had the bases loaded and no outs, and they only got one run out of it. Evan Longoria struck out in a big spot. David Villar flashed some swing and miss and strikeout tendencies, and also made some mistakes with the glove. The Giants' defensive issues are widespread and alarming. Donovan Walton was optioned prior to the game and Brandon Crawford was activated, but the SF Giants' defense continues to bite them seemingly every game. The coaching staff should be feeling the pressure for the Giants' collapse. As should the Giants' front office. That being said, it's not at all unprecedented for solid teams to go through miserable stretches like this. In fact, the 2014 and 2016 SF Giants each had miserable second-half collapses. And in both cases, they ended up making the postseason and showing fairly well. The 2014 went on to win the World Series, and the 2016 team fought hard against the eventual champion Cubs, before ultimately suffering one last bullpen collapse in NLDS Game 4. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants are in free fall. They're playing absolutely horrendous baseball, and they've slipped to two games out of the NL's final wild card position. Something needs to change, and the Giants decided to (finally) promote hot-hitting infielder David Villar ahead of today's game against the Diamondbacks. It would be hard to play any worse than the SF Giants played on this homestand. They were outplayed in all aspects of the game against three teams that came in below .500. Simply put, the Giants do not look like a competitive team right now, and there's plenty of blame to go around. Farhan Zaidi did not do enough on the position player side this offseason. The Giants' older position players have not gotten the job done. Gabe Kapler's staff takes some blame for the team's miserable defense and recent hitting. Villar represents a change in the right direction. The Giants need some young players who could be a part of the future start to emerge for this team. Veterans like Evan Longoria, Brandon Belt, and Brandon Crawford simply don't have much of a future here. It's a bit of a problem that the Giants are now tied up to Darin Ruf and Tommy La Stella, who have also been significant disappointments so far in 2022. They need more players like Villar to join the roster and be given a real opportunity. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Are the San Francisco Giants just waiting it out until their minor league system starts producing star talent? It really does seem that way, since the Giants have put together competitive yet older rosters these last couple of years, and they haven't broken the bank on top tier talent in free agency. If you look at how Farhan Zaidi helped build the Los Angeles Dodgers, it was from the ground up. It does feel like the SF Giants are attempting to follow that same model. It's important to remember that the Dodgers didn't make these big external moves for Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, and Freddie Freeman until their own roster was loaded with homegrown stars. Are the SF Giants the most boring team in baseball? Should they be sellers at the trade deadline? Would it make sense to trade Carlos Rodón, Joc Pederson, and Brandon Belt? All of these questions, and many others, are addressed on today's show. There's still a month until the trade deadline, so the Giants have time to figure out who they really are. So far, they've looked more like a .500 team than anything else (they're 27-29 over the last two months), but they are 40-34 thanks to a 13-5 start to the season. Giving up on the season when they're clearly in contention doesn't make any sense, since in baseball any team can get hot at the right time and go on a run. It happened last year with the World Champion Atlanta Braves. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants, surprisingly, had the NL's second-best team ERA in the month of June. Yet they only managed a 13-13 record, their second straight month of mediocre baseball. The Giants are currently on the outside looking in of the NL Wild Card picture, but they trail the final spot by just a single game. The Giants' June overall is evaluated. Carlos Rodón righted the ship in a major way, establishing himself as a legitimate Cy Young candidate. He was easily the Giants' best player this month. Not far behind him was Logan Webb, who has also had an excellent season. The bullpen was also good, led by Camilo Doval and John Brebbia. Alex Wood and Anthony DeSclafani really struggled in June, although DeSclafani only pitched 5.2 innings (but his ERA was near 20.00). It was the position players who were costly. Evan Longoria and Joc Pederson had strong months, but otherwise there wasn't much to write home about. Mike Yastrzemski cooled off in a major way, and Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford continued to be essentially non-factors. LaMonte Wade Jr. played in just one game in June, but thankfully he is now back. Donovan Walton has played a lot and been a net negative. Jason Vosler's somewhat surprising demotion is discussed as well. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Carlos Rodón could very well win the Cy Young Award, and then find himself pitching for a new team in 2023. Rodón has been excellent for the San Francisco Giants so far in 2022, but he's getting closer to triggering his right to opt out of his 2023 contract with the Giants, which is for one year and $22.5 million. If Rodón keeps pitching like he has all year, opting out would be a no-brainer, considering he could do much better than 1/$22.5M on the open market. The SF Giants have shown that they generally don't want to sign pitchers to long-term deals, which makes it seem likely that Rodón won't be back in San Francisco in 2023, unless he's willing to accept a shorter-term deal for a high average annual value. The Giants' payroll will remain fluid going into the offseason. If Rodón opts out, they'll have roughly $70 million committed to the 2023 team, a huge fall from their roughly $165M payroll this year. That means lots of room to spend in creative ways. Their rotation looks pretty set with Logan Webb, Alex Wood, Alex Cobb, Jakob Junis, and Anthony DeSclafani signed through at least next year. The Giants could add one top starting pitcher and essentially call it a day. There should be a lot of good ones available, and many should require shorter-term deals than Rodón is likely to command. Last night's tense win is discussed. Rodón was excellent again, Mike Yastrzemski was a star on defense (and he had a clutch two-out, two-strike, two-run single), and Camilo Doval saved the day with a huge pitching performance. Prior to Wednesday's game, LaMonte Wade Jr. was activated off the injured list and inserted into the top of the Giants' lineup. It remains to be seen how the Giants will fit Luis González back onto the squad once he's ready to return from his back injury. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants might be 46-26 if their defense had simply been as good as last year through this point in the season. FanGraphs estimates that the Giants' defense has been worth 47 fewer runs this year than last year through 72 games. If we take 47 runs off of their runs allowed this season, they would have a +87 run differential, which has an expected record of 46-26. The Giants' current +40 run differential has an expected record of 40-32, just one win above their actual record of 39-33. Much has been made about the Giants' offense not doing enough, and about whether the team did enough in the offseason to back up a 107-win campaign in 2021. Some of those concerns are valid, but it's hard to look anywhere else other than their defensive issues as the main reason this team has performed so much worse than last year's to date. Their wRC+ is down just 5% and their baserunning has improved, yet their position player WAR is down 33% due to that enormous dip in run prevention caused by defense. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Just when you thought it couldn't get any uglier... The San Francisco Giants played defense like a little league team in the third inning on Sunday against the Reds. Evan Longoria couldn't make a throw across the diamond to lead off the inning. Mike Yastrzemski threw to the wrong base. Austin Slater broke in on a ball that ended up bouncing off the warning track. And they weren't done for the day. Later in the Giants' embarrassing 10-3 loss to the Reds, their second series loss to the league's worst team, there was a ground ball to Brandon Belt. Pitcher Jarlín García was late covering the bag, and Belt threw behind him. The ball went then sat near the Reds dugout for far too much time while no one in a Giants jersey went to pick it up. A high school team would've probably played a better game defensively than the SF Giants did on Sunday. What is causing them to play so poorly defensively? What's staggering is that their defense was much better last year with basically the same players. Brandon Crawford, Darin Ruf, Yastrzemski, Thairo Estrada, and Belt have had the biggest drop-offs. Have the Giants taken their fans for granted? They could've done more in the offseason to bolster their team, but didn't. Is the experience stale at Oracle Park? These questions, written about today in The Athletic by Andrew Baggarly, are addressed on today's show. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
San Francisco Giants starter Alex Wood has a 5.05 ERA, among the worst among all pitchers in the game with at least 60 innings. Is it a mirage, or is the performance deserved? What should Giants fans expect from the lefty starter moving forward? Wood was a staple in the SF Giants' rotation last year, helping the team win 107 games, but it hasn't been smooth sailing so far this season—for Wood or the team. And what about that pesky bullpen? Tyler Rogers hasn't been the same guy. Neither has Jake McGee, José Álvarez, and many others. Ironically, John Brebbia, who struggled mightily for the Giants in 2021, has been arguably their best reliever in 2022. Camilo Doval has had his ups and downs. What can the Giants do to ensure better bullpen performance moving forward? Is there any prescedent for Giants president of baseball ops Farhan Zaidi cutting ties with players on guaranteed deals? The SF Giants have had their share of roster crunches in 2022, and that figures to continue with LaMonte Wade Jr. back soon, and Luis González also likely coming back from a minor injury shortly thereafter. Giants fans have argued that underperforming veterans like McGee, Evan Longoria, and Tommy La Stella should be DFA candidates, but is that actually a realistic option at any point? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers swung a trade today. The Giants have acquired left-handed OF/DH Willie Calhoun in exchange for Steven Duggar. Duggar was on a rehab assignment in Sacramento, and a move needed to be made to activate him. This would've meant adding him back to the 40-man roster, so a corresponding move would have been needed. Rather than DFA someone just to add back a guy who wasn't in the SF Giants' immediate, or possibly long-term, plans, they made this trade for the intriguing Calhoun. Calhoun was a former top prospect, and he was the centerpiece in the Yu Dardish trade in 2017. Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi was the Dodgers' general manager at the time, so he's very familiar with Calhoun. SF Giants manager Gabe Kapler, likewise, was the Dodgers' farm director. Both think highly of Calhoun, who's never been able to put it all together despite having a very intriguing skillset at the plate. Calhoun makes a ton of contact, doesn't strike out, and makes good swing decisions. He isn't on the Rangers' 40-man roster after he cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to the minors earlier this year. Also in the last couple of days, the Giants played some tough games in Atlanta. They ended up losing three out of four to the Braves, despite the series' run differential being just +1 in favor of Atlanta. It was a bit of a bad break for the Giants, who were one shutdown inning on Wednesday and one more big hit on Thursday away from at least splitting this series. Instead, it's a disappointing loss and a long cross-country flight. On the bright side, the Giants will welcome in three below-.500 teams to San Francisco for this upcoming homestand, which includes two off days at home. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Austin Wynns to the rescue! The San Francisco Giants catcher was a triple shy of the cycle, and his three-run homer in the second inning set the tone for the offense in a thrilling 12-10 win for the SF Giants. Wynns has been a fresh air ever since the Giants acquired him from the Phillies, but he wasn't the only offensive star last night. Mike Yastrzemski had a big bases-loaded double, Joc Pederson added a solo shot, and Wilmer Flores had a two-out, two-strike hit that drove in two runs in the ninth. Those runs proved to be essential, as Giants closer Camilo Doval surrendered a two-run homer to Matt Olson in the bottom of the inning. It wasn't all sunshine and roses, however. Brandon Crawford had an injury scare and came out of the game. He's day-to-day and is getting an MRI, but it looks like he was able to avoid a serious injury. Thairo Estrada made another critical error at a very bad time (although Evan Longoria probably should've made a different throw). And Anthony DeSclafani allowed five runs in three innings in his return from the 60-day injured list. To clear a spot on the major league roster, LHP José Álvarez was placed on the 15-day IL with back tightness. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Are the San Francisco Giants un-clutch? It sure feels that way sometimes, and their woes continued last night as they only got one total run out of a bases loaded, no out situation in the 8th and a second and third, one out situation in the 9th. Their numbers with the bases loaded and no outs are abysmal, but it's a tiny sample of just 14 plate appearances. With the bases loaded and one out, their numbers are excellent. Tommy La Stella popped out in the former situation, and Austin Slater got a hit in the latter. However, Slater's ball was hit so hard that it only scored one run. Wilmer Flores then came up in that same bases loaded, one out scenario and he chased a pitch in the dirt for strike three that would have been ball four and the lead. The league average rate of scoring a runner from third with less than two outs is 52.2%. The SF Giants come in at a below average rate of 49.7%, but it's not too far off the league mark, and several good teams, including the Astros, Braves, and Dodgers are beneath the San Francisco Giants. Logan Webb was great in this game, but the Giants' offense wasn't able to pick him up. Still, the Giants are on a 91-win pace and will have a chance at redemption this evening. Anthony DeSclafani is set to be activated off the 60-day injured list, which will require a corresponding 40-man move (in addition to a 26-man move to add him to the active roster). Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
There's no way the SF Giants can option Luis González now ... right?! González continues to be one of the Giants' best overall players, yet his roster spot remains somewhat in jeopardy because of the imminent return of LaMonte Wade Jr. The San Francisco Giants will have a tough decision to make in the coming days, but for now, they're happy to have González on their side. He's been the best story of the season for the team so far, and he continues to help them win games and series, as they did this weekend taking two out of three in Pittsburgh. The Giants also picked up another intriguing former White Sox player, as they claimed 1B/C/DH Yermín Mercedes off waivers from Chicago. Mercedes famously was the AL Rookie of the Month in April 2021, before fizzling out the rest of the way and ultimately being optioned back to the minors. In a famous moment, Mercedes homered on a 3-0 pitch against a position player in a blowout, and his manager, Tony La Russa, threw him under the bus and said it was completely unacceptable to swing at the pitch. Mercedes won't have that problem with the SF Giants, should be called up. The Giants encourage their players to keep adding on no matter the score. Mercedes could find himself in the major leagues with the San Francisco Giants this afternoon, as they're facing a tough lefty in Max Fried. Then they could option him after the game and bring back Tony DeSclafani to start on Tuesday. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Sports Card Investor Download the Sports Card Investor App today and easily browse over 630K cards from every sport, with hundreds more added each week . Available for free in the Google Play and Apple App stores or go to sportscardinvestor.com/lockedon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The SF Giants' offense is better than you think. They're among the league leaders in runs per game, and they're in the top third in team wRC+. No, they haven't been the most consistent, but generally speaking, run scoring has been a strength. The issue with this team has mostly been its atrocious defense. They went from being one of the better teams in baseball defensively in 2021, to one of the worst in 2022. FanGraphs estimates that the San Francisco Giants have been about 30 runs below average defensively. That's over half a run per game. Players like Brandon Crawford, who were so good defensively in 2021, have taken a step back in 2022, along with just about everyone else. Other questions addressed on today's mailbag edition of the show: Which Giants players on the last year of their deals (Brandon Belt, Joc Pederson, and others) will be back next year? Why do the SF Giants keep running out Tyler Rogers even though he's struggled mightily in 2022? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
When should SF Giants fans worry about Brandon Crawford? He was their best overall player in 2021, racking up over six FanGraphs WAR and hitting at a clip that was almost 40% above the major league average. This year, he's been okay, but he hasn't come close to equaling last year's production. On the bright side for the Giants, Crawford is coming in significantly below his career BABIP and ISO, which he should be able to at least match when all is said and done. That's encouraging, given that he's been close to league average offensively despite those numbers being well below expectations. Defense has also been a bit of a struggle for Crawford, who was showing signs of slowing down prior to 2021. But then last year, he was great again. Can he get back to that level? Also discussed: with the impending roster crunch (LaMonte Wade Jr. getting closer to returning), is it a given that a promising young player like Luis González will have to be optioned? Or might the San Francisco Giants try to shed the contract of an under-performing older player like Darin Ruf, Evan Longoria, or Tommy La Stella? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants weren't able to finish off another sweep, but it's hard to complain too much about a 6-3 homestand. Almost surprisingly, the Giants' offense did quite poorly overall on the homestand. Thankfully, their pitching and defense was much better much of the time, but we still saw some bad defense at times and it burned them on Wednesday. Mike Yastrzemski was passive on a catchable ball in the first inning, that ultimately fell in for a double and put Sam Long in a tough position. He really should have escaped the jam, but Brandon Crawford booted a ground ball that would have ended the inning. It took a bad hop and clanked off his glove, which allowed two runs to score. That was too much for a struggling SF Giants offense to overcome. It wasn't a great look for the Giants on Wednesday, to be sure. The night before, Luis González was a hero with a 97.4 mph throw from right field to nail a runner. Austin Wynns made a magnificent play on the scoop and tag as well. Logan Webb, pitching into the seventh inning, sure was appreciative of the effort. Deep dive on the merit of catcher fielding percentage is also discussed, as well as a couple of common (and bad) camera angles we are subjected to on an all-too-frequent basis. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Clean defense and a good, clutch bullpen? It's a run prevention recipe that worked exceptionally well for the San Francisco Giants in 2021, and we've started to see more of that recently in 2022. For the longest time, the SF Giants' pitching and defense was letting them down, but things have started to normalize in recent games. The Giants fell behind 2-0 early with Alex Wood on the mound, something that was all too familiar in May, but this time they were able to hold the line and tack on runs as the game went along. Royals starter Brady Singer at one point walked four consecutive batters after a two-out double by Austin Wynns. Donovan Walton, Mike Yastrzemski, and Darin Ruf made clutch defensive plays. Jake McGee, Mauricio Llovera, and Camilo Doval pitched clean innings out of the 'pen. When those two things are happening, the Giants are tough to beat. Brandon Crawford had a big hit. Thairo Estrada drove in a run with a single. Injury updates on Brandon Belt, LaMonte Wade Jr., Matthew Boyd, and Anthony DeSclafani are also provided. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SWEEEP. The SF Giants pulled off an improbable three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend, reminding both clubs that the Giants are not to be taken lightly. The Giants came through clutch all weekend with big pitches, clutch defensive plays, and big hits. Seemingly all season long, they haven't been able to make that big pitch or big play defensively. Too many batted balls have not been turned into outs, but that trend reversed over the weekend. There was a lot of unsustainability in the Giants' high rate of batted balls turning into hits, so sooner or later the tide was likely to turn. Austin Slater and Thairo Estrada made big plays. Jarlín García, Camilo Doval, John Brebbia, and Dom Leone made huge pitches in dicey situations. Darin Ruf, Estrada, Slater, and Mike Yastrzemski hit big homers. It was a thrilling weekend for SF Giants fans, but it wasn't all sunshine and roses. Jakob Junis, whose emergence has been one of the best stories of the year for the Giants, went down with a significant hamstring injury in the sixth inning of his start on Friday. Junis will miss at least 4-8 weeks. Junis had been pitching so well, and he was about to face his former team that had non-tendered him over the weekend. So the timing was bad on multiple levels. But on the bright side, the Giants have Anthony DeSclafani close to returning. Alex Cobb and Matthew Boyd are also getting close as well. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It doesn't get much uglier than that. The SF Giants just played one of the worst defensive innings you'll ever see. Their four errors in the game don't even begin to tell the whole story. It derailed a cruising Logan Webb and led to the Giants losing a series at home against an inferior Rockies team. Defense has been a problem all season long. They really shouldn't be this bad, as many of the players contributing to the problem should at least be passable defenders. But what can go wrong has gone wrong defensively. Thairo Estrada, Donovan Walton, Austin Slater, Mike Yastrzemski, and Darin Ruf contributed to the mess on Thursday. The day prior was much better, as Luis González continued to do his thing as he delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th. He has played well enough to stick in the majors, but the options game could come into play again with Brandon Belt and LaMonte Wade Jr. getting close to returning. Tommy La Stella could be placed on the IL since he hasn't been able to play in the field (and he hasn't been contributing much with the bat) and Walton could be optioned, but González's option also looms large. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The 2022 season has been so-so from the San Francisco Giants' perspective through a little over 50 games. Joey Bart struggled so much that he was optioned yesterday. The team has had a tough time going on a sustained run of playing well. But all the while, they've maintained an above-.500 record and have been in playoff position pretty much all year. Locked On Giants and Locked On MLB discuss the state of the SF Giants. Looking at the Giants on a micro level might have some fans frustrated, but the macro perspective is that they're still playing okay despite not nearly living up to their own standards yet. Some serious regression was to be expected after a 107-win season, and we've seen that so far this year. Despite many areas in which the Giants have struggled, there are multiple bright spots as well. Luis González continues to look like a legit major leaguer who could be a contributor on the Giants for many years. Mike Yastrzemski has come back into his All-Star form. Carlos Rodón, while inconsistent, has been a strong presence in the starting rotation. Logan Webb has shown flashes of being the front-of-the-rotation arm he was in 2021. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants sent struggling catcher Joey Bart back to the minor leagues. They also traded for another catcher, Austin Wynns, in exchange for left-handed pitcher Michael Plassmeyer. So who is Wynns and what does this move mean for the SF Giants and Bart's future with the team? Wynns has quite a bit of major league experience with the Orioles, and it hasn't gone particularly well. He has struggled to hit, but has very intriguing numbers in the upper levels of the minors. He will have to be added to the Giants' 40-man roster, so a corresponding move will have to be made. Wynns also does not have minor league options, so once he's activated he cannot be sent down. In Triple-A the last two seasons, Wynns has put up jaw-dropping numbers. He has almost twice as many walks as strikeouts in the minors this season. He's also known as a strong defensive catcher. Bart's struggles have been well documented. Simply put, he's struck out way too often. It's not clear when he'll get another opportunity with the Giants, but it should happen again at some point. The former No. 2 overall pick in the country has performed well in the minors, albeit with some red flags in Triple-A last season, and has been considered at times one of the game's best overall prospects. But it has been a huge struggle offensively in the majors, and this is a chance for him to clean up his swing. The Giants have added two catchers, Michael Papierski (in exchange for Mauricio Dubón) and now Wynns in the last few weeks. That doesn't necessarily bode well for what they really think of Bart. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What are the San Francisco Giants' trading plans moving forward? With the team right in the thick of the playoff race, will they look to make a major addition like they did with Kris Bryant last season? SF Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi has a well-established track record of making major, win-now moves at the trading deadline. Who are some players the Giants could target? Willson Contreras has made a lot of sense all along, and his name continues to be one to circle in red ink. The Giants could also seek bullpen help, and a lot will depend on the health of currently injured players like Brandon Belt and LaMonte Wade Jr. Also discussed is what happens with Luis González when Steven Duggar is ready to return, and whether Jakob Junis has earned a permanent spot in the rotation even with the impending returns of Anthony DeSclafani and Matthew Boyd, both of whom are expected to fill rotation spots. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
At the beginning of the year, no one gave much thought to players like Jakob Junis, Jason Vosler, or Luis González. Donovan Walton was in another organization. But those players have established themselves as legitimate contributors on an SF Giants team that is now 29-24 despite not playing all that well all season long. Yes, the Giants have been merely mediocre for the past month-plus. But they've been a resilient bunch, and new players have been a big reason why. Walton hit a huge grand slam in the win on Sunday. He had a bases-clearing double on Saturday. Junis pitched a gem on getaway day. Vosler hit two big homers in the series and played exceptional defense. González was the NL's Rookie of the Month in May. The Giants have not been healthy all season. Brandon Belt and LaMonte Wade Jr. continue to be out with knee injuries. Anthony DeSclafani has barely pitched all year. But because of those new contributors, and strong seasons out of the likes of veterans Mike Yastrzemski and Joc Pederson, the San Francisco Giants have hung around above .500 and are still in good position to go on a run. They currently hold a two-game lead over a playoff spot. They haven't yet hit their stride but there is reason for optimism that it will happen eventually. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's time to start thinking about trades. Through 50 games, the SF Giants are a somewhat disappointing 27-23. They've been below .500 for more than a month, and there are several areas of need with this team. Somewhat surprisingly, the pitching has struggled. Their starting rotation should probably be fine, but the bullpen could use some help. And the offense has been very inconsistent. The Giants should be active in the trade market. Catcher Willson Contreras still makes sense as Joey Bart has struggled. There are also big names like J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts who could be available. While starting pitching may not be the SF Giants' biggest need, there figure to be some pretty good starters on the trade market. Also discussed on today's show: Does the vibe in the dugout seem different than last year? Is it time to rethink the use of the "line change"? Will the Giants call up David Villar anytime soon? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's unacceptable that we're still allowing humans to call balls and strikes. It's a nearly impossible task, but Statcast makes it easy. Yet, in 2022, we're still allowing imperfect masked men to dictate the outcomes of Major League Baseball games. Two games ago, according to the Umpire Scorecards Twitter account, the San Francisco Giants' change in run expectancy was -2.7 runs based on missed strike zone calls. We don't have have the data on yesterday's zone, but it was almost certainly 1+ run in favor of the Phillies. And this was a one-run loss. The loss wasn't all the fault of the home plate umpire, though. Jarlín García coughed up a three-run lead the offense had just fought for. The Giants rallied for five runs in the sixth inning against ace pitcher Aaron Nola, only for García to allow his first, second, third, and fourth earned runs of the season. The task won't get any easier as the Giants fly to Miami to face the Marlins. They're a team with really good starting pitching and a record that isn't reflective of their true talent. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It wasn't always pretty, but it was effective. The San Francisco Giants held on to beat the Phillies in 11 innings, winning their third straight grinding game. The offense continued to set the stage, but the big hit was once again hard to come by. Joc Pederson delivered a huge haymaker in the top of the 11th that essentially put this one away. Except things once again got interesting in the bottom half of the inning. Bryce Harper came up representing the tying runs with two outs, and SF Giants manager Gabe Kapler elected to intentionally walk Harper to bring up Roman Quinn as the possible winning run. It was a daring move, one that actually might not have been the right decision. But in the end, the move paid off, as José Álvarez struck out Quinn to end the game. After the game, Kapler said catcher Joey Bart was strong in his conviction that the Giants should walk Harper, and Kapler ultimately made the move. Last night's lineup was uninspiring to many fans, but it actually wasn't as bad as it looked when we consider some of the underrated performers against lefties, the injury to Austin Slater, and the fact that Darin Ruf was placed on the bereavement list prior to the game after losing his father unexpectedly. Heliot Ramos was called up to take Ruf's place, and he was in the lineup. Once left-handed starting pitcher Ranger Suarez came out of the game, Kapler was aggressive with using his strong lefty bench, going to Tommy La Stella, Mike Yastrzemski, Brandon Crawford, and Pederson for the second half of the game. Ultimately, it was a great time win and the Giants will go for the sweep this afternoon. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Wilmer Flores. Evan Longoria. Curt Casali. The San Francsico Giants rode clutch home runs from those three veterans to a resilient 5-4 win in Philadelphia. The offense was sputtering again until Flores' two-run shot tied it. We were still tied in the 9th when Longoria's solo blast gave the SF Giants the lead. And Casali's blast felt the biggest of them all, a two-run bomb that gave the Giants a two-run lead in the 10th. Logan Webb actually allowed three homers himself, but the damage was limited as they were all solo shots. Despite the three home runs allowed, Webb was brilliant in this game. He struck out 10 and walked none. Giants manager Gabe Kapler actually shook Webb's hand and told him he was coming out of the game after the 8th, but Webb talked his way into going back out there. It didn't work out, as Webb immediately allowed a game-tying homer to Kyle Schwarber, but Webb and the team at large appreciated Kapler's willingness to place trust in his young ace pitcher. Dom Leone and Camilo Doval were sharp the rest of the way. Donovan Walton had a particularly rough at-bat in the 10th. He took what should've been ball four, but continued to stand around the plate until the catcher asked if he might've swung. The home plate umpire checked, and the third base umpire said he did. None of that would've happened if Walton had just taken off for first base. He clearly didn't know the count, and it could've easily cost the Giants in a big way. Walton then chased way out of the zone of the next pitch for strike three, failing to advance the free runner placed at second base to begin each extra inning. Thankfully, the next man up Casali lifted a mammoth home run to left that saved the day. Fans have been asking why Walton has been playing over Thairo Estrada, and an explanation is provided on the show. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tommy Pham SLAPPED Joc Pederson in the face prior to the San Francisco Giants' game on Friday against the Cincinnati Reds. Apparently, Pham held onto a grudge for months after he didn't agree with some of the things Pederson wrote in a fantasy football group chat late last year. Pham thought that Pederson was being shady with some rules, but Pederson says he was operating within them and that Pham was actually doing the same thing. Pham also says (and Pederson admits) he made fun of the Padres with a GIF late last season as the SF Giants and Dodgers fought over first place in the NL West and the Padres floundered. Pham took these incidents so poorly that he decided to hit Pederson in the face on Friday. Pederson did not fight back and said that "violence isn't the answer." Pham was suspended for three games by MLB. The Giants then went on to play an ugly series in Cincinnati. Their offense just could not get anything going pretty much all series, until they finally broke through with six runs with two outs in the 8th inning on Sunday. They were being no-hit through 6.2 innings until Thairo Estrada finally broke up the no-no. Evan Longoria delivered the big hit in the 8th, crushing a three-run homer to right that gave the Giants the lead. Luis González added a two-run double, and the Giants would go on to win the finale. Still, it was a rough series and the Giants have played relatively poorly over an extended stretch this month. Their team offense has overall been pretty good, however, with a 112 wRC+. Their pitching has under-performed their peripherals by a wide margin. Alex Cobb has been perhaps the unluckiest pitcher in baseball, but the results finally matched up with the peripherals with a very strong outing on Sunday. The SF Giants have a three-game lead over the final playoff spot and are five games over .500. Despite the poor play as of late, they appear to be in pretty good shape to improve over the remaining 70%+ of the 2022 season. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Blue Nile Make your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Will Joc Pederson be back with the San Francisco Giants in 2023? It's easy to assume that a big year means he'll be out the door, based on the likes of Kris Bryant last year, but Pederson is a different type of player. His ceiling is more limited due to the fact that he's a platoon player with limited defensive or baserunning upside. These factors make it more likely that the SF Giants will want to bring him back, because he won't cost something absurd like Bryant's seven-year, $182 million contract (which is already looking regrettable). A comp for Pederson may be Kyle Schwarber, who got a four-year, $79 million deal from the Phillies. Also asked and answered: What would it take for Luis González to stay in the big leagues? What happens to Jakob Junis when Tony DeSclafani comes back? What about Matthew Boyd? Are the Giants a legit destination for Aaron Judge and Juan Soto? Will Wilmer Flores be back in 2023? What is prospect Casey Schmitt's potential? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Joc Pederson has outperformed most of the top free agents San Francisco Giants fans wanted the team to sign. Whether it's Seiya Suzuki, Kris Bryant, or Marcus Semien, Pederson has bested them all. Overall, the SF Giants' offense has been among the best in the game—again. Despite the loss of Buster Posey to retirement and Bryant to the Colorado Rockies, the Giants have a 114 team wRC+, which places them in the top five in all of baseball. The narrative that "everything went right last year" is simply false, so the Giants did have room for improvement with several players. Mike Yastrzemski had a down year, but has rebounded in a major way in 2022. They also dealt with many injuries last year, and unfortunately that has carried over into 2022. But on the whole, the Giants have been able to pick up the slack. Pederson is largely responsible, as his 160 wRC+ is among the best in baseball. Overall, the team has scored 5.19 runs per game, second in MLB behind only the Dodgers. Their weaknesses have actually been pitching and defense, which no one really expected. Sure, they have some questionable defenders like Darin Ruf and Wilmer Flores, but they were able to perform adequately last season. This year, their defense has not been very good and the pitching has under-performed. Much of that looks like bad luck, however, and should correct as the season goes on. If they can pitch better and continue to hit well, they could really take off as the season goes on. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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That might have been the wildest game in franchise history. This game appeared to be over multiple times, only for the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets to stage impossible comebacks. In the end, the Giants prevailed in the bottom of the 9th after Joc Pederson tied the game with a two-out single and Brandon Crawford won it with a walk-off knock. Pederson hit three home runs in the game and drove in eight runs. It was one of the best individual offensive performances in baseball history, especially from a win probability added perspective. Prior to the game, he got lost in conversation with Barry Bonds. Pederson says he noticed that it was almost game time and had to rush to put on his jersey and get ready. He was so locked into what Bonds was saying, and then he went out and had an all-time performance. But the game really never should've been within the Mets' grasp. Tyler Rogers coughed up seven runs on seven hits in the 8th inning, and Camilo Doval allowed two additional hits in the inning. It was an unacceptable slip, and one that has become all too familiar for Giants pitchers this season. Their team ERA is among the worst in the game, which is unacceptable given the talent they have as a staff. Their peripherals remain strong, suggesting better results should come. However, the team defense has been flat-out bad, which has led to worse results for the pitchers. They need to tighten that up in a major way. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The San Francisco Giants' starting rotation has been the unluckiest unit in baseball. They've allowed the highest BABIP, and as a team they have the biggest gap between their ERA and their FIP. Results are all that matters in the end, but it's hard to explain these numbers with anything other than luck. Maybe a bit of bad defense, too. It happened to Alex Cobb again last night. He was cruising along before five runs came across after two were out. Three bloop hits with two outs ended up scoring two runs, then Pete Alonso really made the SF Giants pay with a back-breaking three-run homer. It was too much to overcome, and Cobb (6.25 ERA, 2.73 FIP) has by far the biggest gap between his ERA and his FIP among pitchers with at least 30 innings pitcher. Carlos Rodón and Alex Wood are also in the top 13 in that category among 127 pitchers with at least 30 IP. The team is on its second five-game losing streak in the month of May. It's been an ugly stretch of baseball, bad fortune being just a part of it. Looking down to the minors for some potential help and/or bright spots, David Villar remains a call-up candidate as he continues to dominate in Triple-A. He would need to be added to the 40-man roster. Kyle Harrison, meanwhile, earned a promotion to Double-A after he struck out exactly half of the 118 batters he faced this season. He was great in San Jose last year, and somehow managed to get significantly better in Eugene this year. Harrison is just 20 years old, and he's getting closer to the major leagues. His rise is something for Giants fans to watch very closely. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's been an ugly stretch for the San Francisco Giants both on and off the field. They've lost four straight, falling to five games back in the NL West. They've been decimated by injures all season, and in particular in the last few days. Through it all, however, they have a multi-game lead on the NL's final playoff spot as we are about to cross the 1/4 mark of the season. LaMonte Wade Jr., Brandon Belt, Curt Casali, and Austin Slater have all gone on the injured list since Friday. Also since Friday, the SF Giants got spanked around in a three-game sweep by the Padres in San Francisco. And things don't get any easier with the New York Mets coming into town tonight. Even though things have been ugly lately, the Giants are still 22-18 and have a 2.5-game lead over the NL's final playoff spot. Making the playoffs via winning the division was always the less likely route, so it's not terribly unexpected that they're not in first place. Their starters have allowed the majors' highest average on balls in play (BABIP). The team's ERA is much, much higher than its FIP. This suggests that they've deserved better results, and it also suggests that better results should lie ahead. We will find out, but it is an encouraging sign that they've managed to play overall above-.500 baseball despite a lot of things going wrong so far in 2022. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Last year, the San Francisco Giants did more than get the better of the Padres. When all was said and done, the Giants were at the top of the NL West mountain, winning 107 games and the NL West crown. The Padres, a team that was expected to contend with the Dodgers for the division title, fell completely flat and finished below .500. So far this year, these two teams have been neck-and-neck all season long. San Diego currently holds an edge, with a 1.5-game lead over the SF Giants. Which makes this upcoming series all the more important. With a winning series, the Giants can close the gap. If the Pads with the series, however, they'll gain some important separation. Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick and Locked On Padres host Javier Reyes discuss all the relevant story-lines as these two teams are set to clash for the second time in 2022. From Carlos Rodón as the Giants' rotation to Fernando Tatis Jr.'s dirt-bike injury, they get you set for what promises to be a compelling series. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Juan Soto to the San Francisco Giants? It's not as crazy as it might sound if the Nationals do indeed decide to move him. With more than 2.5 years of club control remaining, the Nationals would rightfully want multiple elite prospects in return. We're talking Kyle Harrison and Marco Luciano as a starting point. Cash could certainly be part of a deal, however, and the Giants have the flexibility to take on bad money. Washington has a couple of awful deals on its hands in Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin. Could the Giants take on some of one of those deals to lessen the prospect cost? It's not impossible, but Washington would still want top prospect talent. Other mailbag questions are addressed, including Steven Duggar's status as it compares to Luis González, whether Thairo Estrada could be a leadoff option for the SF Giants, and the host's earliest San Francisco Giants memory (it's a funny one). Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tommy La Stella powered the San Francisco Giants to a series win on Tuesday night, but the Rockies avoided the sweep on Wednesday. La Stella showed fans what he's capable of in the breakout performance, with a home run, two doubles, and a walk. People tend to sleep on his power, but he showed it off with a tape-measure home run as the very first hitter of the game. Several other Giants pitched in on offense, as they scored 10 runs and beat the Rockies 10-7. Mike Yastrzemski, Brandon Crawford, and Darin Ruf also had big games. In Wednesday's loss, Logan Webb pitched great but the offense could not add on. Joey Bart came up in a couple of big spots with men on base and could not produce. His struggles, particularly with strikeouts, have looked worse in contrast to Curt Casali's recent strong performance. At some point, the SF Giants may have to consider making a move now that Michael Papierski is in the fold. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Well, they did it. The San Francisco Giants made another unpopular option decision, sending hot-hitting outfielder Luis González back to the minor leagues. González didn't deserve to be demoted, but the Giants had virtually no other choice. The only other conceivable option would've been carrying only 12 pitchers, which was clearly something they did not want to do—particularly in Denver. Same thing happened with LaMonte Wade Jr. last year, and he was back up in four days after Brandon Belt got hurt. González very much put himself on the map with his month of strong play in the majors, and rest assured that he will be back. This is his last option year, and the SF Giants can retain his rights for six seasons. If he continues to play well, he could be part of the mix for a long time. Starting next season, he will no longer be able to be optioned. Getting to the actual game, it was the Curt Casali and Mike Yastrzemski show on offense. Those two combined for three home runs, and the Giants needed every last one. Casali slugged two, and SF Giants catchers are now second in the majors in wRC+. Yastrzemski has been strong all season, and his home run last night was an impressive blast to right that traveled 420 feet. The San Francisco Giants' offense is second in the majors in runs scored per game. John Brebbia and Camilo Doval closed it out in the final two frames with scoreless outings. Prior to the game, Mauricio Llovera was added to the roster, Yunior Marte was optioned, and Anthony DeSclafani was placed on the 60-day injured list. DeSclafani isn't eligible to return until June 21. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mauricio Dubón was traded to the Houston Astros. The San Francisco Giants made the perhaps unpopular move because Dubón was out of minor league options, rosters shrunk from 28 to 26, and guys were getting healthy. Even after trading Dubón, the SF Giants will have another tough decision to make regarding the impending activation of Tommy La Stella. Last year wasn't the best of La Stella. When he's right, he brings a rare combination of contact and power. La Stella owns a 125 wRC+ against righties since the 2019 season, with a K% under 10 and ISO near .200. He should be a valuable part of the Giants' offense, but it won't necessarily be easy to add him to the major league roster. The Giants will either have to option popular outfielder Luis González, who's done nothing but hit since being called up to replace the injured Steven Duggar, or else they'll have to option a pitcher and have 14 positions players and 12 pitchers. Based on past arrangements, they seem to prefer to carry as many pitchers as possible. Things were mostly ugly for the Giants on Sunday Night Baseball in a blowout loss, but they took a turn for the better late in the game. González took the mound and threw some entertaining eephus pitches. In the top of the 9th, legendary first baseman Albert Pujols took the mound for St. Louis. González launched a three-run homer against Pujols, and Joey Bart hit a solo shot as well. Evan Longoria singled, and asked for the baseball. It was a lighthearted finish to a frustrating game and series. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today, the San Francisco Giants traded Mauricio Dubón to the Houston Astros. In exchange, the Giants received minor league catcher Michael Papierski. The move is fascinating on a number of levels, but the simple version is that it makes sense and shouldn't have caught anyone by too much surprise. Dubón was out of minor league options. He was a fringe player on the SF Giants' roster. The Giants could give Dubón some rope early on, because rosters were expanded for the season's first month and they had so many injuries. But rosters have come back down to 26, and everyone is getting healthy. There simply wasn't room to keep Dubón, and he could not be sent down. Some have said that they prefer Dubón to Tommy La Stella, but that's an apples to oranges comparison. They did not fill the same role on the roster—at all. La Stella is here to hit right-handed pitching; Dubón was on the roster to hit lefties. He was always able to do so, including this year. Many have pointed out that he was just getting on a role, but it's important to consider that his hot streak corresponded to the team facing a string of lefty starters. He's been well-below-average in his career (and this season) against same-handed pitching. The acquisition of Papierski is fascinating. He will report to Triple-A, where he's spent the last two seasons in the Astros' organization. He has great defensive qualities and an extremely discerning eye. In essence, he's exactly the type of player this Giants regime loves. He's also known to have a great personality and clubhouse presence. What this means for the Giants' current catchers on the major league roster, Joey Bart and Curt Casali, is unclear at this point. It could signal some real concern with Bart's swing and miss and strikeout issues, and it could also signal their willingness to deal the 2018 first-round pick. Only time will tell, but this was a very interesting trade. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Is Logan Webb's so-so start cause for concern? Should San Francisco Giants fans expect slugging third base prospect David Villar to get called up soon? Are Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani on the Giants' radar as their free agencies near? On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the SF Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: What seems to be the source of Logan Webb’s recent struggles? His Whiff% has dropped about 30% which has reduced his K% and xBA. Do batters have him figured out? Are there mechanical issues? Is it time to worry a little about Webb? Hasn’t really looked like the same player we saw in the second half of last season. Is David Villar an MLB caliber dude? What is the likelihood the Giants go after a player like Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani? I believe this team is missing a superstar and a player like that would probably help sell out the park. Will Brandon Belt be a Giant in 2023? Who would you rather have starting, Joey Bart or Curt Casali? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It hasn't even been fair. The SF Giants have absolutely dominated the Colorado Rockies dating back to last year, and they continued that theme with an overpowering three-game sweep this week. The Giants and Rockies entered the series with identical records, but it was clear who was the better team when the series was over. Locked On Giants and Locked On Rockies get together to sift through the wreckage. How have the Giants been able to thoroughly dominate their NL West foes? It all goes back to the 2018-19 offseason, when the SF Giants hired Farhan Zaidi away from the Dodgers to be their President of Baseball Operations. Ironically, Connor Joe was one of Zaidi's first targets that ended up on the major league roster. Now, Joe is arguably the Rockies' best player. A few years after Zaidi was hired, the Giants are getting Connor Joe-like at-bats from every spot in the lineup. Gabe Kapler and his new coaching staff have certainly made a big impact, helping guys like Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, and Buster Posey (last year) improve and reverse declining trends. It also helps to have overpowering pitchers like Carlos Rodón, a highly effective bullpen, and a lineup that can work counts, get on base, and hit for extra-base power. For the most part, the Rockies have none of that. Their above-.500 record appears to be a mirage, as they've been outscored heavily on the season. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Rockies are who they thought they were. And the San Francisco Giants are much like they were last year. They're a deep and talented team. They have good starting pitching and will beat you with patience and power. Alex Cobb pitched very well today, following up Alex Wood's strong performance the night before. The SF Giants have a five-game winning streak heading into an off day and a road trip. They dominated the Rockies in this series, with contributions up and down the lineup. Yesterday, it was the bottom of the lineup that got things going. Between Luis González, Austin Slater, and Curt Casali, the eight and nine spots in the Giants' lineup didn't make an out. Today, Joey Bart contributed with a big single on an 0-2 pitch. LaMonte Wade Jr. had three hits. Brandon Crawford homered. The bullpen continued to be rock solid. The Giants are indeed playing good baseball, and they improved to 19-12 with a +40 run differential. They're in a good spot as they head out on the road to once against face the Cardinals and the Rockies. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mauricio Dubón says "not to fast" to his critics. Carlos Rodón punches out 12 Rockies in six innings. Yes indeed, the San Francisco Giants had a good night as they won their third straight game. Now they must deal with a looming roster crunch. Dubón's role is to hit left-handed pitching, and he's done that consistently since joining the Giants. He hasn't had a chance to show it off much this year, as the SF Giants have almost exclusively faced right-handed starters. In the past few games, however, Dubón has started against lefties and homered both times. His role looks fairly secure, although the Giants will need to make corresponding moves when they activate Evan Longoria and Tommy La Stella. Longoria is in San Francisco and ready to be activated. The only player it makes sense to option is Luis González, but he doesn't seem to deserve it. They could option a pitcher and go with 14 positions players against 12 pitchers, but then they'll certainly need to make a move on the position player side when La Stella is ready. They're in a bit of a bind, and a trade is a possibility to help them sort it out. Dubón and Thairo Estrada are among many Giants who cannot be optioned, so it's difficult to tell how they will proceed. Joey Bart was pinch hit for with the bases loaded and one out, with the Giants leading 5-2. Joc Pederson came in to hit in his place, and lifted a sac fly that extended the Giants' lead. It's unclear exactly how Bart felt about being lifted in that situation, but he didn't appear to be thrilled in the dugout. He walked out with his catchers' gear as the at-bat was starting. Later, however, he could be seen cheering in the dugout. Bart has struck out in over 44% of his plate appearances this year, and that was a situation when they couldn't live with a high probability of a K. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
That's more like it! The San Francisco Giants got a much-needed split against the Cardinals this weekend, salvaging the series by winning the last two games. Buster Posey day sparked the Giants to a blowout win on Saturday, and clutch home runs and pitching performances propelled the Giants to a close win on Mother's Day. They're getting healthy. Brandon Belt, Dom Leone, and Zack Littell were activated off the Covid-IL. LaMonte Wade Jr. finally returned from his knee injury that had kept him out the entire season. Mike Yastrzemski recently came back from the Covid IL and has continued to swing a hot all season. He added a clutch splash hit that was instrumental in Sunday's 4-3 win. Alex Cobb's spectacular peripherals are discussed. He has an unsightly 4.80 ERA, but the peripherals suggest much better results are coming. He's striking people out at a well-above-average rate, and inducing a crazy rate of ground balls. He, along with Carlos Rodón, Logan Webb, Alex Wood, Anthony DeSclafani, Jakob Junis, Matthew Boyd, and others, should put the Giants in a position to win pretty much every single day. The Rockies come into town next, with the same 16-12 record as the Giants. However, unlike the Giants, the Rockies have a negative run differential. They've been able to play above their weight class so far, but regression is likely coming. Why not have it start tonight? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants have been outscored 48-21 while losing six of their last seven games. There's no doubt they've been on a downward spiral, but it's important to maintain perspective. They're still 14-11 with a +18 run differential. They have guys coming back. A lot of the numbers this past week look fluky and unsustainable. Baseball is a crazy game sometimes, and right now the Giants are in the midst of a rut we haven't seen from them in a while. They're struggling to score and they're struggling to prevent runs. Thankfully, guys are coming back and they should be able to get into a better offensive groove soon. Joc Pederson and Mike Yastrzemski are healthy and back on the roster. LaMonte Wade Jr. could be activated as soon as tonight. Tyler Beede was designated for assignment yesterday. The Giants needed a 40-man and 26-man roster spot in order to activate Zack Littell off the Covid-IL. Beede was struggling in a mop-up role, so this is the end of the line for the Giants' 2014 first-round draft pick. He'll likely be traded in the next week. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Blue Nile This Mother’s Day give mom something she’ll treasure forever with fine jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKEDON SPORTS listeners get $50 off $500. Use code LOCKEDON at checkout. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Two total runs in two games isn't going to cut it. The San Francisco Giants were swept by the Dodgers in emphatic fashion in this two-game series—how concerned should we be about the lifeless offense? Yes, the Dodgers' pitching was fantastic. Yes, the SF Giants are missing several key players. But still, there is some concern about an offensive unit that has more or less hovered around league average so far in 2022. Part of it is the baseball: it truly appears that this baseball isn't flying as well as the ball in recent years, and it's affecting all teams, including the Giants. It was good to have Mike Yastrzemski and Joc Pederson back in the lineup yesterday, but they didn't really factor into the offense. Still, with time, they should be able to help the team get back on track. The Giants have lost five of their last six games. They've scored 14 more runs through 24 games this year than they did last year. The DH spot helps, but if anything that's a wash. LaMonte Wade Jr. could return as soon as tonight. Evan Longoria and Tommy La Stella have begun rehab assignments. Brandon Belt will be back as soon as he can return two negative Covid tests. The Giants are totally banged up, but it's a long season and they should have plenty of time to return to full strength (or something close to it) and get on a roll. At 14-10, they're only one win worse than the 2021 team that went on to win a franchise-record 107 games. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Blue Nile This Mother’s Day give mom something she’ll treasure forever with fine jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKEDON SPORTS listeners get $50 off $500. Use code LOCKEDON at checkout. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants' lineup featured Mauricio Dubón, Kevin Padlo, and Luke Williams. The Dodgers' lineup had Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Trea Turner at the top. Injuries and Covid-19 have ravaged the Giants in recent weeks, and it was on full display in the 3-1 loss on Tuesday. Carlos Rodón pitched well, but Julio Urias was just a bit better. The SF Giants' lineup was different in part by design, as they were finally facing a left-handed starter for the first time in ages. Austin Slater at the top was no surprise, and Dubón has swung the bat pretty well all year with very little to show for it. Padlo was recently acquired in a trade and had just hit three home runs in a game for Triple-A Sacramento. Thankfully, reinforcements are on the way. Mike Yastrzemski, who's been out since testing positive for Covid in Washington, DC, could be back tonight. Joc Pederson was able to pinch hit last night and could be back in the lineup tonight. LaMonte Wade Jr.'s return is imminent. Tommy La Stella and Evan Longoria began rehab assignments last night. Through it all, the Giants still have a solid 14-9 record with the fourth-best run differential in baseball. They'll wrap up their two-game series in Los Angeles tonight with former Dodger Alex Wood on the mound facing off against right-hander Tony Gonsolin. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Blue Nile This Mother’s Day give mom something she’ll treasure forever with fine jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKEDON SPORTS listeners get $50 off $500. Use code LOCKEDON at checkout. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Carlos Rodón has looked like a Cy Young frontrunner through his first four starts, but will he be gone after 2022? His deal with the Giants gets reported as a two-year, $44 million contract, but in reality it may very well only be a one-year situation. Rodón has the ability to opt out of year two if he reaches 110 innings in 2022. Is it more likely that he opts out, or that he and the San Francisco Giants reach an extension? On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the SF Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Carlos Rodón more likely to opt out after this year or Giants work out an extension? Is Rodón eligible for the qualifying offer if he reaches 110 IP and opts out of his second year? And how might that affect his market? What player on the Giants right now is someone you could buy a jersey for now and not look foolish in a few seasons when they end up on the Braves? If Alex Cobb and/or Tony DeSclafani are out for much longer do you see Jakob Junis being officially added to the rotation? Any idea when Heliot Ramos might get called up more permanently? Darin Ruf, how long can the Giants wait? Should they have been more aggressive in FA for a DH? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Blue Nile This Mother’s Day give mom something she’ll treasure forever with fine jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKEDON SPORTS listeners get $50 off $500. Use code LOCKEDON at checkout. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's hard to win a series when you allow 28 runs on 45 hits. That's over nine runs per game—yikes! The San Francisco Giants are dealing with a huge amount of injuries and a Covid outbreak, but that really wasn't why they got blown out by the Nationals over the weekend. Chalk the series loss up to uncharacteristically poor pitching. Alex Wood and Alex Cobb failed to set the tone in each of their starts, putting the Giants in big early holes. Cobb was returning off the injured list after missing a couple of starts with a groin injury. But yes, the Giants look largely unfamiliar due to all of their injuries and the Covid outbreak. Mike Yastrzemski, Brandon Belt, Dom Leone, and Zack Littell have tested positive for Covid-19. LaMonte Wade Jr., Evan Longoria, Tommy La Stella, and Anthony DeSclafani remain on the injured list. They're missing about 10 guys from their active roster who would ordinarily be in there. As a result, we're seeing a lot of the likes of Luis González (who's done a really nice job), Jason Krizan, Mike Ford (just acquired in a trade in response to all of the players on the IL), and Jason Vosler. Joc Pederson and Austin Slater are also banged up, but thankfully not on the IL. Despite it all, the Giants' hitting was not the problem this weekend, and hasn't been a problem all season. They're scoring the most runs per game in all of baseball (5.0), and scored six runs per game in this series. It was a weird one, but the Giants have no choice but to turn the page, try to get healthy, and get ready to face the Dodgers on Tuesday. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Blue Nile This Mother’s Day give mom something she’ll treasure forever with fine jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKEDON SPORTS listeners get $50 off $500. Use code LOCKEDON at checkout. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Joey Bart has struck out in exactly half of his plate appearances. What will the San Francisco Giants do at the catcher position if he continues to struggle? Curt Casali hasn't exactly lit the world on fire either, so will the Giants feel compelled to make a move at some point if they aren't getting any production out of that spot in the lineup? It was always going to be a drop-off going from Buster Posey to Bart, but Bart's swing and miss issues have been a problem. Thankfully, he has made up for it somewhat with significantly improved plate discipline and some mixed-in power. But if the K's continue to pile up, his overall offensive line will keep dropping. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the SF Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: It is obvious that Joey Bart is struggling at the plate with so many strikeouts. I know it is a small sample size, but do you anticipate the Giants making a move if his K’s continue to pile up over the next month? What do you think a Willson Contreras or Sean Murphy deal would cost us? Bart’s OPS is .646 and Curt Casali’s is .416, but Bart has much more upside. Why do you think they’re splitting time so much when other players who struggle like Darin Ruf stay in the lineup and continue to hit 3rd? Do we think Farhan Zaidi will at any point go and get a big free agent bat or trade/extend? Missed out on Bryce Harper and Shohei Ohtani, obviously he won’t over pay for older declining players but at some point, why not to get an anchor 3 hole hitter that doesn’t need to be platooned? Do you think the Rangers vs Giants off-season is a good case study of spending big vs spending smart? With Ketel Marte and Jose Ramirez extended who is the biggest impact player that the giants could reasonably trade for by the deadline or this offseason? What will happen with Thairo Estrada when Tommy La Stella is back? Estrada has been great. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Blue Nile This Mother’s Day give mom something she’ll treasure forever with fine jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKEDON SPORTS listeners get $50 off $500. Use code LOCKEDON at checkout. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Joc Pederson has been the San Francisco Giants' hottest hitter in 2022, and he may be headed for the injured list. The Giants have been banged up all year, but they've managed to overcome those obstacles. LaMonte Wade Jr. hasn't played all season. Mike Yastrzemski got Covid-19 right as his bat was heating up. Losing Pederson would be a blow, but one they could overcome with Yastrzemski and Wade likely to be back soon. The Giants lost to the A's 1-0, and looked like a tired group in the process. They'll have a much-needed day off today. Jakob Junis, however, did not look tired. He pitched another five scoreless innings out of the bullpen after Sam Long pitched one inning to start the game. Junis has been a revelation for the SF Giants, and he's doing it with about 75% slow stuff (sliders and changeups). It's a very compelling pitch mix, and it's working beautifully. WIth Anthony DeSclafani likely to miss a few weeks and Alex Cobb still on the shelf, Junis is making a compelling case to join the starting rotation. A's President Dave Kaval took to Twitter during this series in an attempt to be provocative and funny. He was trying to diss the Giants' attendance, but he came across looking foolish considering the Giants sold more than 30,000 tickets for both games against the A's, whereas the A's sold less than 20,000 tickets for their Opening Day game and have drawn under 5,000 in multiple other games this year. He even beefed with a parody seagull Twitter account. The A's continue to view the Giants as a huge rival, whereas the Giants barely even notice the A's. It's a sad dynamic from A's' perspective. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Blue Nile This Mother’s Day give mom something she’ll treasure forever with fine jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKEDON SPORTS listeners get $50 off $500. Use code LOCKEDON at checkout. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants have won twice as many regular season games as they've lost since the start of the 2021 season. At 120-60, the Giants have the best record in baseball over that span. It's a remarkable achievement for a team that people expected to struggle in both 2021 and 2022. After leading the majors with 107 wins last year, the Giants trail only the Mets in winning percentage so far in 2022. Last night, it was another dazzling performance by Carlos Rodón, who has been nothing short of dominant over his first four starts. He leads the majors in strikeout rate, and has allowed three or fewer hits and one or fewer runs while striking out eight or more in all four of his starts. Jacob deGrom is the only other pitcher in the to do that over any four-game span in the modern era. Wilmer Flores and Austin Slater each hit three-run homers as the SF Giants coasted to a victory and a 13-5 record. It was their third straight win, each in consecutive days and in a different time zone. Zack Littell landed on the injured list prior to the game after testing positive for Covid-19. He joins Mike Yastrzemski on the Covid-IL. Kervin Castro was added to the roster as a replacement. Tonight, Sam Long will take the mound for the injured Anthony DeSclafani. Long has been fantastic, and Jakob Junis is likely to pitch after Long opens. Junis had a spectacular debut with the Giants in a bullpen game on Friday. Finally, the Giants' trade for Kevin Padlo is discussed. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Blue Nile This Mother’s Day give mom something she’ll treasure forever with fine jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKEDON SPORTS listeners get $50 off $500. Use code LOCKEDON at checkout. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Those fans should think twice before heckling Joc Pederson again. Pederson clearly heard the intense heckling directed at him in the eighth inning, but he directed his focus on Trevor Gott's pitch and hammered a go-ahead two-run homer. Pederson has essentially been baseball's best hitter so far this season, and Monday night's homer may have been the highlight of the season thus far. Luis González also played hero after Jake McGee surrendered a game-tying homer in the bottom of the eighth. For González, who's filling in for an injured Steven Duggar, he sure picked a good time to hit his first career home run. What a gritty win this was for the San Francisco Giants, who had this one-game "series" in Milwaukee tacked on to the end of a 10-game road trip due to the delayed start to the season. This would've been a successful trip even with a loss on Monday night; the gritty, comeback win was pure icing on the cake. The Giants went with a bullpen game, and they were going up against reigning Cy Young award winner Corbin Burnes. The bullpen kept the game close until the Giants were able to get Burnes out of the game, and they pounced on a Brewers bullpen that was without Devin Williams and Josh Hader. The SF Giants are 12-5 with a +39 run differential. It's been a great start to the season, even though they're far from full strength and they have yet to get some key cogs, like Darin Ruf, going at the plate. They had an 8-3 road trip, their best winning percentage on a trip of 10 or more games since 1994. Now they come home to face the Oakland A's, with Carlos Rodón back on the mound. The Giants are well positioned for another victory tonight, although the A's are playing better than people expected after trading away most of their best players this past offseason. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Blue Nile This Mother’s Day give mom something she’ll treasure forever with fine jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKEDON SPORTS listeners get $50 off $500. Use code LOCKEDON at checkout. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants responded to criticism about their offense with a 24-run eruption in a sweep of the Washington Nationals. The Giants are 11-5 with the sport's second-best run differential. Doesn't matter that the Nats are an inferior opponent; doesn't matter that their runs have come in bunches. Runs are runs, and the Giants have played like one of the best teams in baseball so far in 2022. Joc Pederson continues to look like a great free-agent signing. All he's done is hit, and he hit two more home runs and a double on Sunday. Compare his production to a similar player like Kyle Schwarber, who signed a four-year, $79 million deal with the Phillies this winter. Look at the below-average production so far from the likes of Carlos Correa, Marcus Semien, Trevor Story, and many others. Would it make fans feel better if the Giants were paying Pederson more money? It's not about what they're paid; it's about the production on the field. And so far, additions like Pederson and Rodón have played like some of the best free-agent additions in baseball. The state of the roster is discussed. Mike Yastrzemski tested positive for Covid-19 and will be out for a while. Luis González was added to the 40-man as Steven Duggar went on the 60-day IL with an oblique injury. Jakob Junis was added and was brilliant in a bullpen game on Friday. LaMonte Wade Jr. started a rehab assignment on Saturday and is close to returning. Anthony DeSclafani was placed on the 10-day IL with right ankle inflammation. There was another dumb unwritten rules controversey, with the Nationals ultimately looking like a bunch of babies. Thairo Estrada attempted to steal second with a six-run lead in the ninth inning, with the Nationals neglecting to hold him on, and they took offense. The Giants don't care about these ridiculous unwritten rules, and the sport will be better off for it. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Blue Nile This Mother’s Day give mom something she’ll treasure forever with fine jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKEDON SPORTS listeners get $50 off $500. Use code LOCKEDON at checkout. Athletic Greens To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/MLBNETWORK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Just a .210 average, .300 on-base, and .386 slugging. Seems like a team destined for trouble. Oh, wait, those are last year's San Francisco Giants numbers through 13 games. And yes, that's discounting pitchers. The Giants' non-pitcher wRC+ is actually higher through 13 games this year than it was last year, and they've scored 13 more runs. So please, everyone panicking about the offense, take a deep breath. Mike Yastrzemski is showing signs of life. Brandon Belt and Joc Pederson have been hot all year. Darin Ruf and Brandon Crawford will be much better as the season goes on. You simply can't judge an offense in two weeks. Not to mention the fact that they're 8-5 and have one of the best run differentials in the league! Steven Duggar's oblique injury is also discussed. He was already their second line of defense after the injury to LaMonte Wade Jr., who thankfully begins a rehab assignment soon. Luis González, a former third-round pick by the Chicago White Sox, is likely to be added to the 40-man and take Duggar's spot, at least until Wade Jr. is ready to return. Jakob Junis is expected to join González in Washington, DC, which could indicate that Tyler Beede's spot on the active roster and 40-man roster could be in jeopardy. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Blue Nile This Mother’s Day give mom something she’ll treasure forever with fine jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKEDON SPORTS listeners get $50 off $500. Use code LOCKEDON at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Carlos Rodón for Cy Young? He sure has pitched that way through his first three starts with the San Francisco Giants. Rodón struggled with command at times in Wednesday's nice team win against the Mets, but when he was able to throw strikes, he was unhittable. He's struck out 29 batters in his first three starts, good for a ridiculous 44 K%, and it's the most strikeouts by a pitcher in their first three games with the Giants. The offense set the tone early, with three quick runs against a good starter in Chris Bassitt. Brandon Belt got a hit for the first time in his career on his birthday, and it was a home run to boot. Mike Yastrzemski had a couple of much-needed knocks. Joey Bart had a critical caught stealing against Starling Marte, who had 47 steals in 52 attempts last year. Bart continues to have major strikeout issues at the plate, but his defense has been solid all year. The bullpen closed it out with Rodón only being able to go five innings due to pitch inefficiency. But the 'pen stepped up, as they have so often in the past couple of years. They're an unheralded group. Jake McGee was a bit shaky with command in the 9th but got the job done. Tyler Rogers and John Brebbia gave up one run each, but they've been more than solid in the early season. Now, the Giants turn the page to Anthony DeSclafani vs. Carlos Carrasco in the series finale, with a chance for a split and a happy flight. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Blue Nile This Mother’s Day give mom something she’ll treasure forever with fine jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKEDON SPORTS listeners get $50 off $500. Use code LOCKEDON at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Not exactly a good day of baseball for the San Francisco Giants. Not only were they swept in a doubleheader, but they also lost Alex Cobb to a groin injury, Logan Webb lost his first start in almost a year, and the bats were quiet once again. To their credit, the Mets are playing like one of the best teams in baseball right now. And the Giants had them on the ropes in game one, taking an early 4-1 lead against Tylor Megill, who hadn't allowed a run in his first two starts. But then in a fateful 5th inning, the ball wasn't bouncing the SF Giants' way, and Alex Cobb came up limping after covering first base a couple of times on a cold afternoon. A couple of replay reviews also went against the Giants, and allowed the Mets to walk them off in the bottom of the 10th on a two-out hit by Francisco Lindor. In the second game, Webb wasn't particularly sharp and Max Scherzer was. Overall, the offense managed to score just five runs in the two games, so it's not surprising that they lost them both. Mike Yastrzmeski hit a couple of balls very well yesterday and both were caught. One would've been a game-tying homer but it died on the warning track. Joc Pederson continues to swing the bat well. Thairo Estrada looks a tad exposed as an everyday player. Steven Duggar's spot in the lineup has been a black hole. Joey Bart continues to overperform some numbers that are definitely going to come down and potentially bring the rest of his production with them. Darin Ruf just hasn't been able to get it going. There are definitely some concerns, but there are reasons for optimism mixed in as well. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Blue Nile This Mother’s Day give mom something she’ll treasure forever with fine jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKEDON SPORTS listeners get $50 off $500. Use code LOCKEDON at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Confused about all of the new stats in baseball? What's up with BABIP, HR/FB ratio, and Barrel%? WAR, what is it good for? Absolutely something. With last night's San Francisco Giants game being rained out, today's episode is another lesson in Sabermetrics 101. Locked On Giants is data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. These metrics may sound scary, but they're actually really important and not that difficult to comprehend. Their relevance is tied in with current Giants players. Regarding WAR, it's actually just an attempt at combining all of the different things a player does on the field. It's simply a combination of offense, defense, and baserunning! It's important to understand that different websites (like Baseball Reference and FanGraphs) have different WAR calculations, so we must cite which one we're using. It's also important to note that different positions have different values, so don't be fooled by FanGraphs' "Def" metric, which is "Defensive Runs Above Average." For example, Brandon Belt has always put up negative numbers in this category, but it doesn't mean he's a "negative" defender. He's dinged for playing a less valuable position (than, say, shortstop), but he actually rates as one of the game's better defensive 1B. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Do the San Francisco Giants have MLB's best starting pitching staff? They sure do look to have a case after going nine straight starts to begin the season with two earned runs or fewer allowed by the starters. In Cleveland, Carlos Rodón, Anthony DeSclafani, and Alex Wood led the Giants to a series sweep. San Francisco is 7-2 and has allowed the fewest runs in baseball by far. Offensively, it's largely been a grind thus far. Their expected numbers have consistently been ahead of their actual results. That's a good sign, as expected numbers are more predictive of future performance. Sure enough, on Sunday, the offense seemed to finally break through. Brandon Belt and Thairo Estrada homered, and several SF Giants had good days at the plate. Joc Pederson has been swinging the bat well all season. Now the Giants go to New York to face the Mets. If anyone has rivaled the Giants' pitching so far this year it's been the Mets. On paper, this is a heavyweight matchup of two of the game's best pitching staffs. On Tuesday, the matchup is set to be Logan Webb against Max Scherzer. The Giants seem well positioned to win at least a couple of games in New York, especially considering that the Mets are dealing with a couple of key absences on the Covid-19 IL. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Blue Nile This Mother’s Day give mom something she’ll treasure forever with fine jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKEDON SPORTS listeners get $50 off $500. Use code LOCKEDON at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's 2022 and we're still using AVG/HR/RBI to evaluate hitters? That's like using field-goal percentage in basketball without caring whether the shots made are two-pointers or three-pointers. Except batting average is MUCH worse. Shouldn't we care what types of hits a hitter is getting? A player may have a .300 AVG, but if most of the hits are singles, it might not be that valuable. Conversely, a player who hits .240 but has a great eye and hits for power may be much more valuable. The benefits of on-base percentage and slugging percentage are discussed, but those aren't without their pitfalls either. Ultimately, something like on-base plus slugging (OPS) is such an improvement over batting average that it's hard to complain, even though it has its own flaws. Going even further, something like OPS+ is even easier to understand since it sets the league average to 100. OPS+ vs. wRC+ is also discussed, as are the issues with RBI. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants don't care about the unwritten rules. Even if they're winning by a lot late in the game, they're going to keep trying to score. Why shouldn't they? The oppoenent is still trying to win, and they won't apologize if they come back. For the San Francisco Giants, it's completely unemotional. They see a strategic reason why they should always continue to apply pressure to the opposing team. Critically, Gabe Kapler said the Giants will not be upset if the opposing team does the same to them. It's a refreshing stance that seems like it could make a real difference in unwritten rules that are not exactly good for the game. Logan Webb delivered another gem in Wednesday's win, and the SF Giants improved to 4-2 on the young season. The starting pitching has been as advertised, with Webb, Carlos Rodón, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, and Alex Cobb collective producing the game's highest strikeout rate, fifth-lowest walk rate, and third-highest ground ball rate among starting pitchers. The offense has mostly struggled, but they've done enough to win several one-run games to date. Joey Bart has been striking out too much, but his plate discipline has been improved through a han Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Fantrax Win tickets for you and your entire fantasy baseball league to any MLB game of your choice. Go to Fantrax.com/Lockedon today to create your fantasy league and be entered to win! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Did Mauricio Dubón and Steven Duggar violate the unwritten rules? The Padres sure thought so. But the Giants had the explanation to end all explanations for continuing to try to score even when the game was out of hand. They're trying to win a series, not just a game. Gabe Kapler explained that he liked the plays by Dubón and Duggar because their goal is to exhaust the opponent. They want to force them to throw as many pitches as possible and use as many pitchers as possible. Not to mention the fact that tiebreakers are now determined partially by run differential, so teams should never try to stop scoring. Kapler also explained that the Giants will have no issue with other teams doing this to them. Honestly, this was such a refreshing take and it's good for the game. Giants first base coach Antoan Richardson was ejected following an interaction with Padres third base coach Mike Shildt. Richardson said after the game that Shild told Gabe Kapler to "control that f—er." Richardson said it was highly inappropriate and had racist undertones. In his absence, however, Alyssa Nakken took over at first base and became the first on-field female coach in the game's long history. And oh by the way, the Giants put a whoopin' on the Padres. They scored 10 runs in the first two innings. Brandon Belt, Joc Pederson, and Wilmer Flores homered. Alex Cobb, making his Giants debut, put together an exciting performance. He struck out 10 in five innings. One turn through the Giants' rotation, it's easy to see why they could be one of the better staffs in the game. Logan Webb and Carlos Rodón get the next two. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Fantrax Win tickets for you and your entire fantasy baseball league to any MLB game of your choice. Go to Fantrax.com/Lockedon today to create your fantasy league and be entered to win! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The results have been frustrating, but the process looks strong. The San Francisco Giants' offense has struggled to score runs in the first four games of the season, but they've also been rather unlucky. Just last night, the Giants had two so-called Barrels, or batted balls with at least a .500 expected AVG and 1.500 expected SLG, and both of them were caught. Darin Ruf's deep drive to left-center looked like it might change the game in the Giants' favor, but Jurickson Profar made an incredible catch to rob extra bases and keep runs off the board. Through it all, the Giants are still 2-2. And their approach has been solid. They've chased pitches at the 8th-lowest rate in the majors, and hit the ball hard at the 8th-highest rate. That should lead to improved offensive results. Joey Bart has been a shining example of plate discipline, in an unexpected turn. It's a critical key for Bart, who's already walked more times in 11 plate appearances in 2022 than he did in 111 plate appearances in 2020. If he can keep that up, it could unlock Bart's full All-Star potential. Tyler Rogers had another Tyler Rogers inning, although Brandon Crawford and Rogers himself didn't do him any favors with a couple of defensive misplays. Mike Yastrzemski made a couple of sensational catches and finally notched his first hit of the year. Joc Pederson had a big bunt hit. He and Brandon Belt have been bunting like crazy, and it's great to see since opposing teams are essentially giving them a free single. Expect to see the Giants continue to exploit that. Tonight Giants fans will get their first look at Alex Cobb, who goes up against the Padres' Opening Day starter, Yu Darvish. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Fantrax Win tickets for you and your entire fantasy baseball league to any MLB game of your choice. Go to Fantrax.com/Lockedon today to create your fantasy league and be entered to win! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Heliot Ramos, one of the San Francisco Giants' top prospects, was finally promoted to the Major Leagues. He made his debut on Sunday and collected two hits and scored a run. Ramos, an outfielder, figure to play in a platoon for now, but with plenty of opportunities to prove himself against same-handed pitching. But how long will he be in the majors? Reliever John Brebbia was placed on the Bereavement List in a corresponding move. Ramos' time with the Giants could be short-lived, but that doesn't make it a less significant addition. He's clearly on the top of their list of young players ready to contribute, and even if he's sent down he'll likely get called back up numerous times. While he's not an uber-prospect, he has consistently ranked among the game's top 100, according to prospect evaluators. He's a well-rounded outfielder who could excel in all areas, although it's possible that he doesn't have a standout skill. In other news, the SF Giants won their opening series against the Marlins. As expected, it was a tight, hard-fought series. Particularly impressive were Logan Webb and Carlos Rodón. Rodón, specifically, was absolutely dominant. He induced 24 swings and misses and regularly pumped in upper-90s heat at the top of the zone, and the Marlins could do absolutely nothing with it. He also featured a wipeout slider. Webb and Rodón could be co-aces at the top of this rotation, and it's exciting to think of what they're capable of. On offense, the Giants haven't really gotten it going yet but figure to improve pretty much across the board as more games are played. Some relievers have been great, and others have had some pretty rough performances to date. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Fantrax Win tickets for you and your entire fantasy baseball league to any MLB game of your choice. Go to Fantrax.com/Lockedon today to create your fantasy league and be entered to win! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants begin their NL West title defense TODAY. Logan Webb will take the mound for the San Francisco Giants in a rare Opening Day in San Francisco, as the Giants look to build off their shocking and remarkable 107-win season in 2021. The Giants' lineup is missing key contributors from last year like Buster Posey and Kris Bryant, but they're a deep and flexible group that should continue to be a problem for opposing pitchers. Webb leads a staff that figures to be among the best in baseball. New to the Giants are Carlos Rodón and Alex Cobb, who join returnees Alex Wood and Anthony DeSclafani. Joc Pederson, the former Dodgers, joins the lineup and should add thump against right-handed pitchers, whom the Giants figure to see a lot of over the first month of the season. What will the Giants' record be in 2022? The prediction here is 91-71, which ought to be good enough to make one of the six up-for-grabs playoff spots in the National League. World Series prediction (homer alert): SF Giants over Chicago White Sox. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Fantrax Win tickets for you and your entire fantasy baseball league to any MLB game of your choice. Go to Fantrax.com/Lockedon today to create your fantasy league and be entered to win! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Yes, the San Francisco Giants released their 2022 Opening Day roster today. No, it does not feature Buster Posey, Kris Bryant, or any of the superstar hitters who were free agents this offseason. But it does feature two aces at the top of a deep rotation. And the position players should form versatile lineups that can maximize performance and exceed expectations again. It also features an underrated bullpen, one that posted the majors' best ERA last season, plus a full season of breakout sensation Camilo Doval. Carlos Rodón and Logan Webb could be as any 1-2 punch in the game. Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, and Alex Cobb are as solid of a back-three as there is in the sport. Doval, McGee, Tyler Rogers, Dominic Leone, Jarlin Garcia, and others make up a better-than-perceived bullpen. Fringe pitchers who made the roster include Tyler Beede and Sam Long. On the position player side, Mauricio Dubón and Luke Williams are the fringe players to make the team. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Fantrax Win tickets for you and your entire fantasy baseball league to any MLB game of your choice. Go to Fantrax.com/Lockedon today to create your fantasy league and be entered to win! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Are the San Francisco Giants being underrated again? Yes, they lost Buster Posey, Kris Bryant, and Donovan Solano, but this hasn't been a lineup that was totally dependent on anyone. Many are concerned about their lineup against lefties, but they feature some of the game's best hitters vs. LHP over the last couple seasons like Austin Slater, Darin Ruf, and Wilmer Flores. They're not Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Trea Turner (not by a long shot), but somehow, they've been able to produce like them. It's a balanced attack with the SF Giants. They're one of just two teams that's been in the top five in non-pitcher wRC+ vs. both lefties and righties since 2020. Digging deeper into the numbers, 85% of those plate appearances went to players other than Posey, Bryant, and Solano. And Bryant, for what it's worth, actually was a drag on their numbers against lefties in his brief time in San Francisco. People also expected this Giants team to struggle defensively in 2021, but the opposite was true. They were one of the better defensive teams in the league, and their worst defenders are no longer here (Bryant and Alex Dickerson). Bryant combined for minus-8 outs above average at third base and in right field. For seven years and $182 million, he's the Rockies' defensive problem now. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Fantrax Win tickets for you and your entire fantasy baseball league to any MLB game of your choice. Go to Fantrax.com/Lockedon today to create your fantasy league and be entered to win! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Can the San Francisco Giants repeat as NL West Champions? Or will the Dodgers, who added Freddie Freeman to what was already a star-studded roster, reclaim their spot at the top? What about those pesky Padres, who continue to make win-now moves with the aim of asserting themselves into contention for the NL West crown? The hosts of Locked On Giants, Dodgers, Padres, D-backs, and Rockies sit down to discuss all-things NL West. Who had the best offseason? Who had the worst? Which team is going to win the division? Can the Giants legitimately challenge the Dodgers again? Did the Giants do enough following the losses of Buster Posey and Kris Bryant? (Their pitching staff looks like one of the best in baseball with Carlos Rodón joining Logan Webb, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, and fellow newcomer Alex Cobb.) Which team has the best farm system? All of that and much more on today's Locked On SF Giants podcast. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Fantrax Win tickets for you and your entire fantasy baseball league to any MLB game of your choice. Go to Fantrax.com/Lockedon today to create your fantasy league and be entered to win! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Carlos Rodón was an underrated addition, and he and Logan Webb could be legitimate co-aces on one of the best starting staffs in baseball. But their main position player addition was ... Joc Pederson? When stars like Seiya Suzuki, Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman, and others were available to sign? And the Giants had so much money coming off the books? Yes, the Giants had a strange offseason. On the one hand, they brought back several key players such as Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford (mid-season extension), Anthony DeSclafani, and Alex Wood. They brought in Alex Cobb, who could be a big upgrade at the back of the rotation. They stockpiled pitching depth in the form of Matthew Boyd, Jakob Junis, and Carlos Martinez. But it's hard not to be underwhelmed by simply adding Pederson to a team that lost the likes of Buster Posey, Kris Bryant, and Donovan Solano. They'll probably be fine, but it's understandable that some fans are frustrated. The Giants' payroll looks to be about flat with last year's final payroll of $162 million. They rank 13th in MLB, but they figure to be a good team that has future flexibility (much better than being stuck with bloated contracts and a bad team, which is what Farhan Zaidi took over in 2018) to make additions if they so desire. They're in a good place as 2022 is set to begin on Friday. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Fantrax Win tickets for you and your entire fantasy baseball league to any MLB game of your choice. Go to Fantrax.com/Lockedon today to create your fantasy league and be entered to win! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The SF Giants will make a major trade between now and the deadline. Their starting rotation, led by breakout star Logan Webb and newcomer Carlos Rodón, will be a top-three unit in the game. Joey Bart will struggle, and the prospect shine will fall off even more. Those are some bold predictions for the San Francisco Giants in 2022. And what about their won-loss record? Last year, people expected around 76, and they won 107. What about this year? They seem destined for somewhere in the neighborhood of 90 wins. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listners about the state of the Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Will a move be made before start of season? If so, which position? Do you think the Giants will let Mike Yastrzemski play every day until or unless he plays himself into a platoon situation? Do you see any changes to the 40-man roster between now and Opening Day? What are the chances of Alex Blandino making the team and who would be on the chopping block to get DFA’ed? Or more likely a trade? Would this move make Mauricio Dubón redundant or with these injuries could they keep everyone during April? Do you think the Giants will stick with a traditional 5 man rotation, or will they try 6, or 5 + a bullpen day? The starters all perform much better with 5+ days of rest, and it could help prevent injury. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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A signature of the Farhan Zaidi Era in San Francisco has been the breakout performer. In 2019 it was Mike Yastrzemski and Alex Dickerson. In 2020, it was Kevin Gausman, Darin Ruf, and others. In 2021, LaMonte Wade Jr. and Logan Webb. Who's it going to be in 2022? Thairo Estrada jumps off the page as someone who may be primed for a breakout season. He hits for contact, he recently showed that he can hit for power, he's athletic, and he can move all around the diamond. He's only 26 years old. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the SF Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Who do you think is the most likely player to have a breakout year? Is it worth making a deal for Cedric Mullins? Also, if the Yankees can’t come to terms with Aaron Judge, would you go after him? What is it that the Giants are unwilling to do that other teams are in order to land top free agents? Is it the number of years we are willing to offer, or the AAV, or do we simply have a payroll cap given to us by ownership? Or do players simply just not want to sign here? Why don’t they care about right handed power hitters? Patrick Bailey is obviously Farhan Zaidi's type of catcher, and after a slow start last year, he finished off the year strong and gained the team's confidence that they made the right choice drafting him . Do you think he’s the catcher of the team's future over Joey Bart? Do you really think we could trade for another catcher? or a far-fetched pipe dream? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Late Night LaMonte has an injured knee. Evan Longoria, the Giants' starting third baseman, will miss at least six weeks following finger surgery. Are the Giants completely doomed? Actually, when Longoria missed more than two months last season, the Giants went 38-20 in his absence. This is a team built on depth, and Wilmer Flores is an underrated substitute at third base. His defense was surprisingly adequate last season (after a disastrous showing in 2020), and his bat more than held his own when Longoria went down. In the outfield, Wade's injury opens the door for Steven Duggar, who looked destined for another Triple-A assignment to begin 2022. Trades and free-agent signings should remain in play as well. How about the Tampa Bay Rays' Vidal Bruján? He's an explosive athlete with electric speed, but only a contact oriented hitter who may not develop game-chaning power. So what? The Giants could absolutely use a player like that, and he's a bit blocked on the Rays' roster. Part of a deal could involve taking on the roughly $14.7 million owed to Kevin Kiermaier. Just a thought. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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A San Francisco Giants offense that was already looking questionable is without two of its likely Opening Day starters. LaMonte Wade Jr. and Evan Longoria will start the season on the injured list. Where should the Giants go from here? Neither injury looks to be extremely serious, with Longoria having a minor surgery on his right index finger that will lead to him immobilizing the finger for at least 10 days. Wade Jr. has swelling and a bone bruise in his knee, and he will be re-evaluated in 10 days. It's not like the Giants to make big, reactionary moves in a panic, so don't expect major changes because of these injuries. However, it's clear that the Giants' depth is already being stretched thin and the season hasn't even started. Michael Conforto is still a free agent, José Ramírez may be available in a trade, and there are several other options the Giants could turn to in order to fill these voids. Also discussed is the announcement that Logan Webb will be the Giants' Opening Day starter. For Webb, he joins other homegrown starters such as Madison Bumgarner, Tim Lincecum, and Matt Cain to get the Opening Day nod. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's a make-or-break month for Mauricio Dubón and Tyler Beede. The San Francisco Giants have several out-of-options players who must perform, or risk being traded or designated for assignment. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listners about the state of the SF Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: How many of the fringe players without options will make the team? Any trades that you see with the ones that don’t make it, or do they just get DFA’d? Thoughts on LaMonte Wade Jr. building off of last year? Or will he come back down to earth in 2022? Why aren’t teams signing Michael Conforto? He’s coming off one bad year in which the underlying metrics still looked good. He should be willing to accept a short, prove it deal. At this point would you say the Giants are out on him given the Joc Pederson addition? Should we be concerned about the lineup after not much additions during free agency, and the loss of Buster Posey, Kris Bryant, and Donovan Solano? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
José Ramírez to the San Francisco Giants? It's a pipe dream for sure, but it may not be entirely unrealistic. Ramírez will be entering the last year of his deal with Cleveland in 2023, and if the Guardians don't believe they'll be able to extend him, history suggests they'll be looking to trade him. And that it might not even cost as much as you'd expect. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Would there be a decent enough package without Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, and Kyle Harrison to pull off a José Ramírez trade? With the off-season spending seemingly at an end, how would you rate the Giants? A+? B-? I think I've had enough of the hot stove. On the current roster, which position player do you think is due for the biggest negative regression and the biggest (positive) surprise? Any chance we try and trade for Trey Mancini maybe for package of Tyler Beede, Mauricio Dubón, etc. to bring a big right-handed bat to a mostly lefty lineup? Thoughts on LaMonte Wade Jr. building off of last year or will he come back down to earth in 2022? Let the YOUNG guys play! After the revolution of old players last season, do you think the team is led this year by the next generation of Giants stars? Heliot Ramos? Logan Webb? Joey Bart? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
For an SF Giants team in need of more thump, why not Michael Conforto? Yes, he would add to an already crowded left-handed outfield mix, but the addition of the DH in the National League should make the fit possible. LaMonte Wade Jr. could play left, Mike Yastrzemski could play center, and Conforto could play right against right-handed pitching. This would allow Joc Pederson so slide into the DH spot on most days against righties. Darin Ruf might not get his opportunity to be an everyday player right away, but is that really such a bad thing? He would be their top weapon off the bench every single night, and he would hit in the middle of the lineup every time they face a lefty. Against lefties, Ruf could start in left, Austin Slater in center, and Conforto in right (as one of the Giants' few everyday players, along with Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, and Evan Longoria). ESPN predicted when the offseason began that Conforto would command a three-year, $51 million deal, which host Ben Kaspick thinks is extremely reasonable for a player of his caliber, particularly given that he's just 29 years old. Ben thinks a deal like that with multiple opt outs could make sense for both sides. A one-year deal is also a possibility at this point for Conforto, who has some questions about his vaccination status, which could be holding up his market. Teams in the AL East are wary of signing unvaccinated players, since they won't be allowed to travel to Toronto under current Canadian law. One more consideration: Conforto rejected the qualifying offer from the Mets, meaning he would cost the Giants their second-highest draft pick in 2022 (roughly 65th overall). Ben thinks that shouldn't be prohibitive and that Conforto should still be a priority. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What if Joey Bart is a bust? The Giants lost a Hall-of-Fame catcher in Buster Posey, and they could crash and burn at the position if 2022 is anything like 2020. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the San Francisco Giants' catching situation heading into the new year, with Bart and Curt Casali poised to get most of the playing time at the critical spot on the diamond. Although Bart is still considered a top prospect by many, there are significant concerns about whether he'll be able to reach his potential. Ben discusses potential alternatives for the Giants, including trades for catchers who could be on the market like the Cubs' Willson Contreras, and the Athletics' Sean Murphy. Contreras, Ben argues, makes the most sense. But it's hard to figure what the return would have to be (Contreras is only under club control for one more season) and where that would leave Bart, who would be understandably upset by such a move. Also discussed on today's show is the fact that rosters will be expanded from 26 to 28 in April. This helps out-of-options players like Mauricio Dubón and Tyler Beede. Thairo Estrada has always seemed destined to make this team (he's out of options as well), but this expansion certainly doesn't hurt. He also recaps the Giants locking up all of their arbitration-eligible players, including Darin Ruf, Curt Casali, Dominic Leone, and Mike Yastrzemski. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Darin Ruf is going to keep mashing for the Giants for at least the next two seasons, and possibly a third. Mike Yastrzemski finally got what he deserved, $3.7 million, and is set up well to continue to earn for the next few years. A key deadline is passed, and Giants fans should be excited about what transpired today. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses Ruf and Yastrzemski's new deals. He details how and why the deals came to fruition, and what these two inspirational players have meant to this team and fanbase. Both have great stories of perseverance that have endeared them to the fanbase. Ben also discusses the Giants' second base situation, with Tommy La Stella rehabbing from offseason Achilles surgery. Thairo Estrada and Wilmer Flores are solid fill-ins, with Estrada being likely to get a real opportunity to prove himself this year. However, keep an eye on whether the Giants make another addition at the position to improve their depth. Ben lastly discusses last night's televised Spring Training game. Alex Wood was very impressive, as was Luis Matos' center field defense. Grant McCray and Will Toffey also stood out at the plate as they belted home runs. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants' offseason is likely over. Did they do enough to defend their National League West crown? Plenty of fans probably don't think so, and for good reason. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick summarizes the Giants' offseason now that Trevor Story is off the board after signing with the Boston Red Sox. The Giants' pitching staff looks very strong, but their offense appears worse than last year after losing Buster Posey and Kris Bryant. Donovan Solano also departed for the Cincinnati Reds. However, as Ben explains, the Giants' offense was not overly dependent on Posey and Bryant. In fact, their numbers without Bryant, Posey, and Solano in the lineup were not too much worse than their numbers with them. The Giants' strength was in their depth and ability to create favorable matchups on a consistent basis. That should continue in 2022, and addition Joc Pederson fits that mold extremely well. Still, Ben understands how this can be disappointing for fans. He also looks at the Giants' attendance numbers, and how an average of only about 20,000 fans per night in 2021 (and zero in 2020) may be causing the Giants to spend less than anticipated. Compared to selling out every night, half capacity costs the Giants about $85 million per year, according to Forbes. That's more than they make from their television deal in a given year. Hopefully attendance numbers rebound in 2022 and spending can increase as well. If not, it's understandable for fans to be frustrated. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Are the Giants going to sign Trevor Story? MLB Network's Jon Heyman tweeted this morning that the Giants were among four finalists for Story, and that he was open to short-term position changes if necessary. This would seem to fit the Giants' needs, as Story's natural position, shortstop, is taken up by Brandon Crawford. The Giants have an opening at second base, with Tommy La Stella rehabbing from offseason Achilles surgery. Story would presumably play second, and could fill in and shortstop and third base as needed. He could also potentially play the outfield, an area where the Giants do have some needs and openings. However, Giants president of baseball ops Farhan Zaidi said yesterday that the position player group is "pretty set" and that they didn't feel the need to add more pieces. Also on today's show, Ben addresses mailbag questions. Among the questions asked and answered are: Will Zaidi sign a free agent to a contract worth $100 million or more in the next three seasons? Are the Giants ever going to make that big splash signing? How does this lineup look against left-handed pitchers? I feel like it’s weak, yet they feel completely okay with what they have. They traded for a right-handed hitter last year because they needed one, and then lose Buster Posey. Can the hitting coaches help get Joc Pederson back closer to pre-2020 numbers realistically (OPS+ above 100)? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The Giants are hoping for another Joctober. Joc Pederson has been an October baseball staple over the course of his career, and he joins the SF Giants on a one-year deal. Matthew Boyd, an intriguing depth signing for the rotation, also joins the team for 2023. However, the news of these two signings was overshadowed by the Dodgers acquiring yet another superstar in his prime, inking Freddie Freeman to a six-year deal last night. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about how Pederson and Boyd will fit the Giants, and why he understands fans' disappointment at the relatively small moves compared to the Dodgers' acquisition of Freeman. The Giants have spent money this offseason, but they've really spread it around and haven't made any commitments longer than three years. Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, and Brandon Belt were re-signed. Alex Cobb and Carlos Rodón were added to the rotation. Pederson joins the offense, and the likes of Boyd, Jakob Junis, and Carlos Martínez are depth signings for the rotation/bullpen. Ben also discusses the official changes to the schedule to make up the six games that were lopped off from the beginning of the year. The Giants make up the games in some tough ways in Milwaukee, and now end the year on the road against the Padres. The Dodgers get the advantage of ending the season with six home games against the lowly Rockies, who, by the way, signed Kris Bryant to a seven-year, $182 million deal yesterday. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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What's left for the San Francisco Giants? Seiya Suzuki and Kyle Schwarber signed new deals this morning, neither with the Giants. Suzuki ended up landing a five-year, $85 million deal from the Cubs ($100M with posting fees), and Schwarber got 4/$79 million from the Phillies. Where do the SF Giants go from here? On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the state of the free agent market. He analyzes the trends in the market so far: it's generally been inflated, with players signing for far more years and higher AAV's than predicted. He explores the remaining free agent market, and goes into detail on players like Tommy Pham, Joc Pederson, and Jorge Soler. He also reiterates that Michael Conforto, Kris Bryant, Nick Castellanos, and perhaps even Trevor Story continue to make sense for the Giants. Farhan Zaidi said yesterday that Tommy La Stella may miss the beginning of the season while rehabbing Achilles surgery, so the Giants are targeting a second baseman. There are lots of options on the free agent market, with varying degrees of talent available. Finally, he explores the fantasy of the Giants signing Carlos Correa or Freddie Freeman. It's hard to see the fit for either player, but they're both special talents worth exploring. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Kris Bryant. Kyle Schwarber. Michael Conforto. Nick Castellanos. Trevor Story. Seiya Suzuki. The Giants seem poised to end up with at least one of these big-name bats—but which one? On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick breaks down each of the six remaining big-name hitters that could make sense for the San Francisco Giants. Bryant is indeed a big name, but Ben thinks his general decline is a major concern, especially when Bryant's contract is predicted to be in the 6-7 year range for over $20 million per season. Schwarber and Conforto make a lot of sense for the Giants, for different reasons. Schwarber is coming off a monster offensive season that looks sustainable. However, he's not a great defender and may be best suited for DH duties. Is that worth a multi-year commitment for $15M+? Conforto is coming off a down year and is looking to rebuild value; the Giants may seize the opportunity to buy low on a player who has been well-above-average for several years prior to 2021 and is still just 29 years old. Castellanos is an impact bat but questionable defender, and Ben thinks his tendency to chase out of the zone will be a turnoff for this front office. The same can be said about Story, who also has a tendency to swing aggressively, but he is an elite runner who could potentially play center field well if he's willing to change positions. An elbow injury, however, is a concern. Suzuki may be the real prize, given his very modeset predicted contract and the potential to be an impact bat. Ben thinks Suzuki, Schwarber and Conforto represent the best potential fits for the SF Giants. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Carlos Rodón, Carlos Martínez, and Jakob Junis are San Francisco Giants. When the lockout ended, the Giants' pitching staff looked solid, but lacked a front-line arm to pair with Logan Webb. Rodón fills that void, as he has the upside of a true ace. With a starting five seemingly in place, it was still a group that looked particularly vulnerable to potential injuries. Enter Martínez and Junis, who represent a nice secondary layer of depth. This is how the Giants built out their staff last season, and it worked exceptionally well. Now that the starting staff looks well equipped, with Webb, Rodón, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, and Alex Cobb leading the group (a couple more additions may be necessary), the Giants can turn their attention to the position-player segment of the market. Several very good option remain: Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman, Trevor Story, Seiya Suzuki, Nick Castellanos, Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant, Tommy Pham, and Michael Conforto among them. Ben thinks there's a pretty good chance at least one of those players is wearing an SF Giants uniform in 2022. Finally, Ben looks at the Giants' under-the-radar pickup of José Godoy off waivers. Godoy becomes the Giants' third catcher on the 40-man roster, an important position to be in behind the unproven Joey Bart and veteran Curt Casali. If there's an injury or if Bart struggles, the Giants will need to rely on their next-in-line catchers, an area in which they were lacking after everyone moved up on the depth chart following Buster Posey's somewhat unexpected retirement. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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The Giants just made a major move, signing LHP Carlos Rodón to a two-year, $44 million deal. Rodón joins breakout star Logan Webb at the top of the Giants' rotation, one that now looks to be among the best in the game -- assuming health. Health is not something that can be assumed with the rest of the Giants' rotation, let alone Rodón. He has dealt with injuries throughout his career, including shoulder fatigue in 2021. Nevertheless, he has huge upside when he's on the field, as evidenced by his sensational ERA and strikeout rate last season, both of which ranked among the very best in the game. With Rodón in the fold, the Giants are likely to turn their attention to adding a significant piece on offense. They'll need to continue to stockpile depth on the starting pitching front, but the heavy lifting is out of the way after the Giants re-signed Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood prior to the lockout, in addition to bringing in newcomer Alex Cobb on a two-year deal. Kevin Gausman, notably, departed on a five-year deal with the Blue Jays. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Are the Giants primed to be big spenders post-lockout? Larry Baer suggested that, at the very least, the Giants will be among the most aggressive teams as clubs try to finalize their rosters in anticipation of an Opening Day that is now just four weeks away. With the MLB lockout finally ending yesterday after a grueling 99 days, the San Francisco Giants still have work to do in order to maximize their roster as they attempt to defend their NL West championship in a stunning 107-win 2021 campaign. Locked On Giants podcast host Ben Kaspick discusses Baer's comments, in addition to those from SF Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi, who threw a bit of cold water on Baer's more exciting comments. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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BASEBALL IS BACK! After 99 days of a grueling MLB lockout, the sport we love is officially back. Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association finally agreed to a deal on Thursday afternoon, ending the lockout and preserving a full 162-game season. Ben details the final agreement, including the fact that it wasn't unanimously approved by players. In fact, the executive subcommittee voted 8-0 against it, but player-union reps voted overwhelmingly for accepting MLB's offer. Highlights of the deal include a 9.5% raise to the first CBT threshold, a new $50 million pre-arbitration bonus pool, a 22.7% raise to the league minimum salary, a new draft lottery, anti-service time manipulation measures, and more. Now that an agreement is in place, the league is set to resume normal activities. Free agency is set to resume tonight after the owners officially vote to ratify the deal. Ben discusses the possible moves for the San Francisco Giants, including where things stand with Seiya Suzuki, Kris Bryant, Nick Castellanos, and others. Mandatory report date for Spring Training will be on Sunday, and Opening Day will be on April 7. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick
SFGiants #FirstListen
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Is the MLB lockout nearing an end? The two sides have held secret meetings in the last few days, and there's some hope that a deal could be reached as soon as today. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the latest with the MLB lockout. The league has created another artificial deadline, stating that if a deal is not reached by the end of Tuesday, it will cancel another round of games. It has also said that Tuesday is the deadline for paying players for a full season, and giving them a full year of service time. The league can't unilaterally make those calls, but it can take those positions in negotiations. The players can and will demand full pay and full years of service no matter how many games are ultimately missed. In its latest reported offer, the league has increased the first CBT threshold to $228 million, up $8 million from its last reported offer of $220 million. Importantly, the players have been asking for a $238 million threshold in Year 1 of a new CBA, so $228 million is the midpoint. Ben says that it's not hard to see the sides bridging the gap on this issue as soon as today, given that the starting point seems about right. Still, the owners are only proposing increasing the CBT by $10 million over the life of a five-year agreement, while the players want it to grow from $238 million to $263 million over the five years. There's still a ways to go for an agreement on this front, but it seems more feasible than ever. Ben also discusses the $50 million gap between the two sides on the new pre-arbitration bonus pool. The league wants it to start and end at $30 million; the players want it to start at $80 million and increase by $5 million a year. This may have just become a more significant obstacle than the CBT. Finally, Ben continues his look across the NL West, today comparing the various lineups. He ranks the San Francisco Giants third, behind the Dodgers and Padres. The Dodgers continue to have a ridiculously talented roster, and Ben quite likes the top four in the Padres' order. However, he points out the the Giants have the depth to potentially over-perform projections and expectations again. He thinks that the holes left by Buster Posey's retirement and Kris Bryant's free agency are sizable enough to rank them third, but a big right-handed acquisition after the lockout ends could change the calculus. Follow & Subscribe to the Locked On Giants Podcast on these platforms 🎧 Apple http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD 📲 Follow Locked On Giants on Twitter Locked On Giants https://twitter.com/LO_SFGiants Ben Kaspick https://twitter.com/BenKaspick More by Ben Kaspick Personal channel https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Website https://www.benkaspick.com/ Linktree http://www.linktr.ee/benkaspick Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Seiya Suzuki to the San Francisco Giants? The Japanese outfielder may be the Giants' top priority when the MLB lcokout finally comes to an end. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the SF Giants and the MLB lockout. Among the questions asked and answered are: Do you think Seiya Suzuki will be the Giants' main right-handed-hitting free-agent target when the lockout ends? If not Suzuki or Nick Castellanos, which other free-agent hitters do we actually think Farhan Zaidi would be interested in adding? Is Kris Bryant as good as gone, or is he more likely to come back? How do you think expanded playoffs will affect teams? Are they abolishing the Manfred runner? Do you think the players hold on their earlier threat that any loss of regular season games would result in them refusing expanded playoffs? Who is YOUR #1 target, signing or trade, that you want to see the Giants make when the lockout ends (in 7 months)? Your hot take: _______ will be the most likely Giant to get NL MVP votes in 2022. Follow & Subscribe to the Locked On Giants Podcast on these platforms 🎧 Apple http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD 📲 Follow Locked On Giants on Twitter Locked On Giants https://twitter.com/LO_SFGiants Ben Kaspick https://twitter.com/BenKaspick More by Ben Kaspick Personal channel https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Website https://www.benkaspick.com/ Linktree http://www.linktr.ee/benkaspick Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Opening Day is cancelled. Major League Baseball took the dramatic step of cancelling the season's first two series of the year yesterday, casting blame on the players for not accepting what they described as a very generous final offer. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick breaks down what went wrong on the final day of negotiations in Florida, as the league and the players attempted to hammer out a deal that would save the scheduled start date of the 2022 season. After a 16.5-hour negotiating session the night before, there seemed to be real optimism that a deal could be struck before MLB's made-up deadline for "saving" Opening Day. But the league accused the players of "changing their tone" the next day (something the players vehemently dispute), and presented them with a "best and final offer" that never had a chance of being accepted. Ben breaks down what was in the league's proposal, and how it differs from what the players are seeking. He also discusses additional ramificaitons that come from missed games, including the loss of pay for players (and revenue for teams), as well as issues of service time. Starting at 15 days missed, players will potentially start losing out on the ability to accrue a full year of service, even if a "full season" is played. These are major issues that will now need to be an additional component of the CBA negotiations. Both sides are likely to go their separate ways for some period of time, before ultimately reconvening to continue bargaining. Ben also continues his tour of the NL West, today comparing the division's bullpens. Ben thinks the Dodgers' pen ranks at the top on paper, but has the Giants close behind. A rag-tag group made up of cast-offs and under-the-radar players, Ben thinks the Giants' bullpen (with the likes of Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers, Jake McGee, and a deep cast of others) has the potential to be good again. They led the majors in ERA at 2.99 in 2021. Following the Dodgers and Giants, Ben has the Padres well above the D-Backs and Rockies, who feature two of the game's weaker 'pens. Follow & Subscribe to the Locked On Giants Podcast on these platforms 🎧 Apple http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD 📲 Follow Locked On Giants on Twitter Locked On Giants https://twitter.com/LO_SFGiants Ben Kaspick https://twitter.com/BenKaspick More by Ben Kaspick Personal channel https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Website https://www.benkaspick.com/ Linktree http://www.linktr.ee/benkaspick Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sixteen and a half hours later... Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association had a marathon bargaining session on Monday (which bled into the early morning hours on Tuesday). No new CBA was reached, but there's real momentum towards a deal for the first time since the lockout began. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick breaks down the latest on the lockout. Apparently, a 12-team expanded postseason has been agreed to in principle. Additionally, the penalties for exceeding the Competitive Balance Tax (also known as the "luxury tax") will remain the same. The league had been pushing for harsher penalties. Also likely to be in a new deal: a pre-arbitration bonus pool of at least $25 million (the players likely will need this to be at least $40-50 million), substantial increases to the league minimum salary, and a significant bump to the CBT threshold amounts. Although the sides remain apart, for the first time since the lockout began it's not that difficult to see an agreement being reached. Ben also discusses the state of starting pitching in the NL West, and compares the Giants to their division rivals. While the Dodgers and Padres have good starting pitching on paper, both have significant question marks. Yu Darvish and Blake Snell were big offseason acquisitions last year, but neither was a real difference maker for the underperforming Padres. Meanwhile, Clayton Kershaw is a free agent and Trevor Bauer is a great unknown at this point for LA. The Giants have Logan Webb and three solid mid-rotation arms, but there is injury risk. The Rockies and D-backs are pretty clearly ranked fourth and fifth in Ben's interpretation. Follow & Subscribe to the Locked On Giants Podcast on these platforms 🎧 Apple http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD 📲 Follow Locked On Giants on Twitter Locked On Giants https://twitter.com/LO_SFGiants Ben Kaspick https://twitter.com/BenKaspick More by Ben Kaspick Personal channel https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Website https://www.benkaspick.com/ Linktree http://www.linktr.ee/benkaspick Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mike Yastrzemski looked like an MVP candidate in the short 2020 season, but then came crashing down to earth in 2021. Will he bounce back in 2022, or continue to become less relevant to the San Francisco Giants? On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the SF Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Will Mike Yastrzemski bounce back or continue to become less relevant to the team? Thoughts on Evan Longoria having a big year and having his $13 million club option picked up in 2023. I think there’s a real possibility. Is Camilo Doval the 9th inning guy to start the season? Who’s the 5th starter? Starting outfield best guess? Follow & Subscribe to the Locked On Giants Podcast on these platforms 🎧 Apple http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD 📲 Follow Locked On Giants on Twitter Locked On Giants https://twitter.com/LO_SFGiants Ben Kaspick https://twitter.com/BenKaspick More by Ben Kaspick Personal channel https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Website https://www.benkaspick.com/ Linktree http://www.linktr.ee/benkaspick Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Is Luis Matos a better prospect than Marco Luciano? Is Patrick Bailey a better prospect than Joey Bart? These questions would've once seemed crazy, but now there is a case to be made. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the release of FanGraphs' Top 100 Prospects list. Matos potentially being better than Luciano isn't a knock on young shortstop; rather, it's a credit to the young center fielder, who just had an unreal season for Low-A San Jose. Luciano, Matos, and Kyle Harrison are three very exciting young prospects, all ranking in the Top 38, in the lower levels of the Giants' system, and 2022 is a crucial year when projecting their futures, and how fast they'll move through the system. Moving up the system, the Bailey vs. Bart discussion has never been more relevant. We all was Bart's downside when he struggled mightily during his major league debut in 2020. That performance, along with continued swing decision issues in Triple-A in 2021, put him on the very outside of FanGraphs' list. In fact, he came in at No. 113 out of 114 players ranked. Bailey, meanwhile, comes in at No. 76 after an explosive end to his 2021 campaign, which came after a demotion to Low-A from High-A, where he started the season. Sandwiched in between Bailey and Bart is Heliot Ramos, who comes in at No. 99 on the Top 100 list. Ben also gives his condolences to the Kuiper family. The Giants announced yesterday that Duane Kuiper's beloved wife, Michelle, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday morning. She is survived by her husband Duane, as well has her two children, Cole and Dannon. Locked On Giants extends our deepest sympathies to the Kuipers during this difficult time. Follow & Subscribe to the Locked On Giants Podcast on these platforms 🎧 Apple http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD 📲 Follow Locked On Giants on Twitter Locked On Giants https://twitter.com/LO_SFGiants Ben Kaspick https://twitter.com/BenKaspick More by Ben Kaspick Personal channel https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Website https://www.benkaspick.com/ Linktree http://www.linktr.ee/benkaspick Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A bullpen of extremes was quietly among the most effective in baseball in 2021, and a big reason why the Giants won more games than any other team and their most in franchise history. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: You’ve talked about the Giants going after a starting pitcher or even some possible position players after the lockout ends. Do you think there are any bullpen arms they could consider making a move for or is the bullpen something they will work on if the need arises later on? Mauricio Dubón comeback szn? I’ve seen a few of his workout vids. When will the lockout end? Speaking of the MLB lockout, Ben also talks about the latest in that regard. The league and the MLBPA are meeting all week in Juputer, Florida as they try to hammer out a deal before the unofficial deadline passes that would make starting the regular season on time difficult or impossible. Follow & Subscribe to the Locked On Giants Podcast on these platforms 🎧 Apple http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD 📲 Follow Locked On Giants on Twitter Locked On Giants https://twitter.com/LO_SFGiants Ben Kaspick https://twitter.com/BenKaspick More by Ben Kaspick Personal channel https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Website https://www.benkaspick.com/ Linktree http://www.linktr.ee/benkaspick Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Life without Longoria. Is it time for the San Francisco Giants to figure out what comes next at third base? Evan Longoria is finally entering the last year of his deal that the Giants inherited in a trade, and the future at the position is murky. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the SF Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Now that Longoria has just one year left on his deal, is it possible for the Giants to stop thinking of him as an unmovable contract? Can we stop trying to find platoon partners for him and instead trade for/sign another cheaper and/or better long-term solution? How likely is it that I’ll be able to use the current bookings I have for my kids & I to go watch Spring Training the 1st weekend in March? Alex Pavlovic mentioned in a recent article that the Giants could look to add a LEFT handed bat at DH like Kyle Schwarber or Joc Pederson. Can the idea make sense if they also add a righty as well? Follow & Subscribe to the Locked On Giants Podcast on these platforms 🎧 Apple http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD 📲 Follow Locked On Giants on Twitter Locked On Giants https://twitter.com/LO_SFGiants Ben Kaspick https://twitter.com/BenKaspick More by Ben Kaspick Personal channel https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Website https://www.benkaspick.com/ Linktree http://www.linktr.ee/benkaspick Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Did the players just increase their demands? The MLB lockout marches on, and Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick has the very latest. Ben explores the MLBPA's latest proposal to owners, in which they increased the amount of the pre-arbitration bonus pool from $100M to $115M. On first glace it may appear to be a bigger ask, but the devil is in the details. As Ben describes, the fact that the union is reducing its ask in terms of when players reach arbitration, this is actually a modest concession. The players had been asking for players to reach arbitration after two years of service, but in today's proposal they change it to the top 80 percent of players between two and three years of service (as it is now, the top 22 percent reach arbitration). Ben's quick math reveals that this is at least a $15M per year concession by the players. Ben also discusses the latest with the competitive balance tax, aka the luxury tax. The league is proposing major changes to the penalties for teams exceeding various tiers above the threshold. Ben explains why these are such major changes, and why it's obvious that the players are not on board. The players are proposing a substantially increased threshold; the owners are proposing a slight increase that doesn't even keep up with rates of inflation or increased revenues. Essentially, MLB is proposing something that would effectively become a hard cap. Finally, Ben gets into ESPN/Kiley McDaniel's Top 100 prospects list, which came out yesterday. He discusses the rankings for Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, Kyle Harrison, and Joey Bart. Overall it's a mixed bag. These are relatively disappointing rankings for Luciano and Bart, but relatively optimistic rankings for Matos and Harrison. Thankfully, the Minor Leagues aren't affected by the MLB lockout, so Minor League Spring Training and the Minor League season will proceed as normal. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline..net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today was supposed to be the day that San Francisco Giants pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training. But thanks to the MLB lockout, that's not happening. Spring Training is OFFICIALLY delayed. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the latest with the MLB lockout. He talks about MLB's proposal on Saturday, and the MLBPA's response. Predictably, the players didn't come away pleased. This has been an ongoing theme during these negotiations. Notably, the two sides are still mostly talking about the same issues, they just disagree on the money. They continue to agree on the principle of a pre-arbitration bonus pool. The league proposed a pool of $15 million in its latest offer (up from $10M in its last); the players have proposed $100M (down from $105M in their first proposal). So the two sides are very far apart on the money. They're also far apart on the Competitive Balance Tax (CBT), also known as the luxury tax. The league is proposing very modest increases, while also proposing harsher penalties for exceeding the threshold. The players, meanwhile, are proposing a substantial increase and are obviously not interested in harsher penalties for exceeding the threshold. Also in the league's proposal on Saturday was a modest increase in the league minimum salary (two options were presented: one a flat rate, the other a tiered rate based on service time). Ben also discusses some of what's going on regarding rights and pay for Minor Leaguers. The league is arguing in a class action lawsuit that they shouldn't have to pay Minor League players during Spring Training, and that the players are the ones who benefit from the instruction. They paid someone $775 an hour to come to these conclusions, which is pretty bad optics for the league. Ben also talks about the fact that rights for Minor Leaguers has increasingly become a part of the mainstream conversation around the sport, which is undoubtedly a sign of progress. In recent years, because of pressure from advocates for Minor Leaguers, the league has agreed to increase the pay for MiLB players, and this year they will begin to guarantee housing. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline..net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The San Francisco Giants must do this when the lockout ends. They got a lot of their offseason work done prior to the lockout, but there's still much work to do. Their starting rotation, while solid, is thinned out with the loss of Kevin Gausman to the Blue Jays. Logan Webb, followed by Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, and Alex Cobb, features four quality starters, but Ben believes they need to add another starter who is a clear upgrade over Tyler Beede, who's out of Minor League options and currently projects as the fifth starter. Carlos Rodón, Clayton Kershaw, Sonny Gray, Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle, Sean Manaea, Chris Bassitt, and Frankie Montas are the names Ben is looking at. On the position player side, the Giants must add at least one significant piece, Ben believes. Buster Posey has retired and Kris Bryant is a free agent. Seiya Suzuki, Bryant, Tommy Pham, Nick Castellanos, and Michael Conforto are among the names Ben is circling. Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi even said in November that a right-handed hitter with good at-bat quality and power fits their team, but as of yet they have not addressed it. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the latest with MLB lockout. Commissioner Rob Manfred met with the media on Thursday and expressed optimism about the league and the players reaching a deal in time to begin the season as planned on March 31. Previously, the league had said it would not make a counteroffer to the players' latest offer, but they have since backed off that position, and they plan to make a core economics proposal on Saturday. Jon Heyman of MLB Network and Audacy Sprots reports that the league is expected to make significant concessions in its next proposal. Manfred also mentioned that the league has "agreed to" a universal DH and the elimination of the qualifying offer. These statements have sparked some confusion; what he meant was that the league has offered those concessions in its rejected proposals. No official agreements have actually been made to this point. Finally, Ben gets into some mailbag questions. He names Joey Bart, Heliot Ramos, Sammy Long, Camilo Doval, Kervin Castro, Gregory Santos, Sean Hjelle, and others as prospects who could play roles for the Giants this season. Speaking of Bart, he also discusses the Giants' catcher situation, which is much worse off after Buster Posey retired. Bart and Casali is not a strong enough pair at this point, and some kind of additional move (or moves) will need to be made prior to the start of the 2022 season. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
No team was more extreme than the San Francisco Giants in 2021. At least Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick doesn't think so. So many of their players show up unexpectedly among the leaders in important categories. Either that or they lead in categories fans might not immediately think of when talking about baseball numbers. Yes, the SF Giants were a team of extremes last year, all the way down to their MLB-best 107-55 record. The poster boy might as well be Tyler Rogers. Among all pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched since 2019, Rogers is first in Barrel percentage, second in soft-hit percentage, third in HR/9, third in Zone percentage, eight in ERA and ground ball rate, and ninth in walk percentage. And he does it in such an unconventional way. He allows a ton of contact, but he's almost impossible to square up in the air. He was a big reason for the Giants' shocking success in 2021. Some other examples include Tommy La Stella, who's among the very best in the game in strikeout-to-walk ratio. He's up there with Juan Soto and other elite hitters. He also makes more contact than almost anyone in baseball when he swings. José Álvarez—yes, José Álvarez, has had baseball's best fastball (per 100 thrown) since 2019, according to FanGraphs. No one throws more pitches in the strike zone than Jake McGee. No team threw a higher percentage of pitches in the zone than the Giants in 2021. Anthony DeSclafani's fastball was among the most valuable in baseball in 2021. The Giants flew extremely under the radar coming into 2021. Projection systems had them as a below-.500 team, and they won 107 games. They did it by having lesser-known players end up near the top of key leaderboards, and by leading the league in some more under-the-radar categories. The league is zigging, and the Giants are zagging. And it's hard to argue with the extremely good results. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick joins Locked On Diamondbacks host Millard Thomas to discuss all things San Francisco Giants Hall of Fame. With Barry Bonds falling off the ballot recently, Ben and Millard discuss the writers keeping him out of Cooperstown, and if it makes sense. They talk about David Ortiz getting in on the first ballot despite him reportedly testing positive for a PED in 2003. The process doesn't appear to be fair at all, and Ben's opinion is that we don't know who was using and who wasn't, so the writers really shouldn't pick and choose based on suspected PED use. Ben and Millard also talk about the careers of Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. Lincecum, of course, burst onto the scene in the late 2000s and quickly became the best pitcher in the game. He won back-to-back Cy Young Awards in 2008 and 2009, and he looked to be on a Hall of Fame trajectory. But then his career went sideways in a hurry. Ben explains to Millard that Lincecum quickly and consistently lost velocity on his fastball due to hip issues, and once the velocity was diminished everything fell apart. Similarly, Matt Cain was a solidly above-average pitcher for many years for the Giants, yet he abruptly fell off a cliff around the same time as Lincecum. Ben adds that Cain also dealt with numerous injuries and diminished velocity during his decline. Finally, the two talk about the Hall of Fame candidacies of Madison Bumgarner and Buster Posey, both of whom probably have a better shot than Lincecum or Cain. Ben believes Bumgarner is probably not a Hall of Famer, but that Posey will be the one player to get in for the Giants this century, despite having so much individual and team success since 2000. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about MLB and the MLBPA's 90-minute meeting in New York on Tuesday, and how the two sides remain far apart on several major issues with Spring Training report dates looming. In Tuesday's meeting, the MLBPA made slight alterations to its proposals about the pre-arbitration bonus pool and service time manipulation. They lowered the amount they're asking for in the bonus pool from $105 million to $100 million, but importantly, they continue to ask for players to reach arbitration after two years, compared to the three it is now. The league has said that is a non-starter. Ben goes through issue by issue discussing where the league and the players stand, and the separation that exists between them. He discusses arbitration and pre-arbitration pools. He discusses the luxury tax, which is a major point of contention. It has functioned like a soft cap, while its intended purpose was to prevent high-payroll teams from buying success and bulldozing over smaller market teams. It hasn't played out that way, with tons of parity still existing in the sport even among smaller market teams. The league is a very small increase while the players want a big one. Ben also discusses the issues of a draft lottery and service time manipulation. Regarding the draft lottery, the league's warts are clearly showing, as the players' asks are clearly aimed at competitive integrity, and league seems to be fighting against that, which is hard to justify. Follow & Subscribe to the Locked On Giants Podcast on these platforms 🎧 Apple http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD 📲 Follow Locked On Giants on Twitter Locked On Giants https://twitter.com/LO_SFGiants Ben Kaspick https://twitter.com/BenKaspick More by Ben Kaspick Personal channel https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Website https://www.benkaspick.com/ Linktree http://www.linktr.ee/benkaspick Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses FanGraphs' newly released San Francisco Giants Top 39 Prospects list. The list is full of surprises, not at all conforming to the status quo or other rankings. For example, Patrick Bailey, to Ben's knowledge never before seen in the Giants' Top 5, ranks as the organization's third-best prospect. Joey Bart, meanwhile, continues his fall with evaluators, coming in as the team's sixth-best prospect. Bart's miserable 2020 debut really sent his stock reeling, and Ben discusses what this means for the Giants' future at the catcher position, with Buster Posey retired and Curt Casali the only other catcher on the roster (along with Bart) who projects to get major league playing time in 2022. Ben also talks about another top ranking for Marco Luciano, although he wonders a little bit about Luciano's fall from a 60 future value ranking down to 55. His struggles in High-A don't seem too important, given he was the youngest player at the entire level. Luis Matos also gets another high ranking, coming in as the organization's second-best prospect. Matos offers a tantilizing blend of hit and power, to go along with speed and a center field profile. He has an elite strikeout rate, but his feel for contact does lead to a little more chase than the Giants likely want. Regardless, Matos and Luciano have sky-high ceilings and it will be exciting to follow their progress in 2022. They're likely to begin the season in High-A Eugene, and could be promoted to Double-A by the end of the year, with a major league debut possible in 2023. Kyle Harrison, Heliot Ramos, Gregory Santos, Hunter Bishop, Will Bednar, and Jairo Pomares round out the Top 10. Follow & Subscribe to the Locked On Giants Podcast on these platforms 🎧 Apple http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD 📲 Follow Locked On Giants on Twitter Locked On Giants https://twitter.com/LO_SFGiants Ben Kaspick https://twitter.com/BenKaspick More by Ben Kaspick Personal channel https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Website https://www.benkaspick.com/ Linktree http://www.linktr.ee/benkaspick Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are:
Do you think Giants could land Seiya Suzuki?
Is Suzuki actually possible and does it make sense for the Giants?
I see a lot of, "the Giants are unwilling to spend", but they can take on a bad contract for a player they want, not losing prospects. What would a logical deal like this look like? What teams? For example: Mike Moustakas ($$ LH platoon for Longo) and Tyler Mahle or Luis Castillo?
Why is everyone saying they are cutting payroll? And by everyone I mean all the beat writers ok the bay area and nationally
What are your expectations for LaMonte Wade Jr. this year? I am a little down on him based on his last two months of 2021. Not sure if that is just a prolonged slump or if pitchers figured him out and that is just who he is now.
What players on the 40-man roster are on the chopping block and/or trade bait to make room for free agent signings after the lockout ends?
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses San Francisco Giants legend Barry Bonds falling off the Hall of Fame ballot after being rejected for a 10th and final time by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Bonds received 66% of the vote, far short of the 75% threshold needed to get in. David Ortiz, in his first year on the ballot, was elected to the Hall of Fame. Ortiz reportedly tested positive for PED's in 2003, but that apparently didn't matter to some of the writers who felt the need to keep Bonds, a far superior player to Ortiz, out of the Hall. Ben discusses how the Hall of Fame has left him feeling jaded after all these years, and his overwhelming feeling is one of not caring anymore, as opposed to being enraged. He talks about how Bonds has the second-most fWAR of all time, behind Babe Ruth, and Ortiz is over 100 fWAR behind him. Ben would've voted for Ortiz, but Bonds is arguably the best baseball player ever. As former FanGraphs writer Jeff Sullivan noted on Twitter, the difference between Bonds' fWAR and Ortiz's fWAR is Alex Rodriguez. That just about says it all. Finally, Ben discusses more details about the MLB lockout. The MLBPA and the league met on Monday and Tuesday in New York, and Ben has more details about those meetings. The league reportedly agreed to the players' proposal of a bonus pool for pre-arbitration players, although they remain far apart on the amount of the pool. The league proposed $10 million after the players asked for more than $100 million. But Ben sees a big flaw with the idea: both sides have proposed basing it on Wins Above Replacement, or WAR, which is not a clear-cut metric like average, OBP, or slugging percentage. Different sites use different calculations, and their formulas are regularly tweaked. There are many issues with using WAR, but on the whole, it's a good thing that both sides agree that pre-arb players should be eligible to earn more money based on performance. Follow & Subscribe to the Locked On Giants Podcast on these platforms 🎧 Apple http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD 📲 Follow Locked On Giants on Twitter Locked On Giants https://twitter.com/LO_SFGiants Ben Kaspick https://twitter.com/BenKaspick More by Ben Kaspick Personal channel https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Website https://www.benkaspick.com/ Linktree http://www.linktr.ee/benkaspick Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the latest from around Major League Baseball. The MLB Players Association and MLB met in person in Manhattan on Monday and Tuesday, marking significant progress from the weeks of no substantive meetings between the two sides since the lockout began on Dec. 2. In its counterproposal to the league, the MLBPA held firm on its push for two-year arbitration eligibility, a substantially increased Competitive Balance Tax threshold, and cuts to revenue sharing. Notably, the league lowered its proposed cut from $100 million to $30 million in its latest offer. The players' side also proposed a substantial increase to the league minimum salary, to $775,000. Ben also discusses Kevin Gausman's tweet over the weekend, in which he declared that the San Francisco Giants never made him a contract offer this offseason. Gausman ultimately signed a five-year, $110 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. Ben dives into why the Giants may not have made him an offer. It's plausible that Gausman's representation made it clear that their client was seeking to maximize total dollars, and that the Giants were more interested in a shorter-term deal with a higher average annual value. Finally, Ben discusses the Hall of Fame vote, which is set to be announced today. Barry Bonds, Jeff Kent, and Tim Lincecum are the names to watch for Giants fans. The threshold to get in is 75% of the vote; last year, Bonds received 61.8%. This is Bonds' final year of eligibility. Kent has two more years counting this one, and his highest total was in the low-30s. This is Lincecum's first year on the ballot, and he is very unlikely to ever get in. But the number to watch is 5%: that's what Lincecum needs today in order to remain on the ballot next year. Follow & Subscribe to the Locked On Giants Podcast on these platforms 🎧 Apple http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD 📲 Follow Locked On Giants on Twitter Locked On Giants https://twitter.com/LO_SFGiants Ben Kaspick https://twitter.com/BenKaspick More by Ben Kaspick Personal channel https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Website https://www.benkaspick.com/ Linktree http://www.linktr.ee/benkaspick Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' sixth- through 10th-best prospects, according to Baseball America. Yesterday he talked about the Giants' Top Five, all of whom had a spot on BA's Top 100 Prospects list. Marco Luciano, Joey Bart, Luis Matos, Heliot Ramos, and Kyle Harrison are exciting prospects indeed. But what about the next five names? Ben discusses the scouting reports on Will Bednar, the Giants' first-round pick in 2021, Matt Mikulski, their second-round pick last year, and the three others rounding out the top 10. Jairo Pomares, Aeverson Arteaga, and Ryan Murphy complete the list. Overall, Ben points out that it's best not to only look at one source when evaluating prospects. Predicting the future success (or failure) of prospects is an extremely tricky business, so looking at as many sources as possible is always a good idea. Ben plans on discussing the upcoming top prospects lists that will be announced by other major sources. He also discusses the fact that the MLBPA is going to make an in-person proposal to MLB on Monday in Manhattan. This will be the second significant meeting of the MLB lockout, with the league having made its first core economics proposal to the MLBPA last Thursday. Follow & Subscribe to the Locked On Giants Podcast on these platforms 🎧 Apple http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD 📲 Follow Locked On Giants on Twitter Locked On Giants https://twitter.com/LO_SFGiants Ben Kaspick https://twitter.com/BenKaspick More by Ben Kaspick Personal channel https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Website https://www.benkaspick.com/ Linktree http://www.linktr.ee/benkaspick Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses Baseball America's newly released Top 100 Prospects list, which includes five members of the San Francisco Giants organization. Atop the Giants' rankings is 20-year-old shortstop Marco Luciano, who comes in with a ranking of No. 17. It's a slight fall for Luciano, who was ranked No. 9 in BA's most recent update to last year's ranking, but it's a strong showing nonetheless. Luciano is still very young and struggled in High-A Eugene in 2021, but he's likely to start there in 2022 and could move quickly if he's able to produce. He has the makings of a superstar if everything is able to come together for him. Next on the list is Joey Bart, who fell all the way into the 70s after at one point being near-universally considered a Top 20 prospect a couple of years ago. Nonetheless, Bart is still considered on of the game's better prospects, and he still has a chance to be a big-time producer in the majors. He has a lot to work on, but he has pedigree, tools, and a clear path to a major league job now that Buster Posey is retired. Next is Luis Matos, whom Ben might have higher than Bart. Matos offers a tantalizing blend of contact, power, and speed. He has a very high ceiling and could jump up rankings with another strong showing in the minors in 2022. Finally, Ben reads off the scouting reports for the final two prospects ranked in the Top 100 by BA: Heliot Ramos and Kyle Harrison. The Giants are one of only six organizations to have at least five BA Top 100 Prospects, with Pittsburgh and Arizona being tied for the most with six. Follow & Subscribe to the Locked On Giants Podcast on these platforms 🎧 Apple http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD 📲 Follow Locked On Giants on Twitter Locked On Giants https://twitter.com/LO_SFGiants Ben Kaspick https://twitter.com/BenKaspick More by Ben Kaspick Personal channel https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Website https://www.benkaspick.com/ Linktree http://www.linktr.ee/benkaspick Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are:
What player are you most excited to see going into next season?
Who produces more value in 2022: Thairo Estrada, or Tommy La Stella?
Could you see a La Stella/Evan Longoria platoon at 3B next year? Both hit well against their respective sides. Both are injury prone so they get plenty of rest. Plus it opens up for Estrada to get more time at 2B
When is this damn lockout ending lol?
Let's say Giants don't win the Seiya Suzuki sweepstakes (or even if they did), What do you think of Jorge Soler as a DH/LF RH power bat to add to the Giants?
107 wins was incredible and very unlikely to be matched. But I am having a hard time figuring out what my expectations should be this year. 90 wins?
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick, who covers the San Francisco Giants, discusses the latest with the state of the Major League Baseball lockout. On Thursday, for the first time since the lockout began on Dec. 2, MLB made a core economics proposal to the MLB Players Association. To absolutely no one's surprise, the players were not impressed with the league's proposal. The league's proposals ranged from modest to absurd, including a bizarre attempt to address service time manipulation that would see teams rewarded with a draft pick if prospects ranked in the top 100 (inherently subjective) win Rookie of the Year or finish in the top three in MVP or Cy Young voting in their first three years after being placed on an Opening Day roster in their first year.
In other areas, MLB's proposal included only modest change, and more importantly, the league did not address the players' biggest concerns. There was no change to the competitive balance tax, currently $210 million. The players have proposed an increase to $245 million. There were no changes to arbitration and free agency. The MLBPA has sought to have players reach arbitration a year sooner (two years instead of three).
There were, however, some areas where it's not impossible to see an agreement come together. Both sides have proposed a lottery system for the bottom teams in the draft. The league proposed the bottom three teams enter a lottery; the players have proposed eight. The league has proposed expanding playoffs to 14 teams; the players have proposed expanding it to 12. The league also continued to propose a universal designated hitter, something that the players have wanted for a long time, as it adds another player on every roster.
Ultimately, it's hard to call this a productive meeting. Spring Training is likely to be delayed as the teams continue to negotiate, and Ben believes the regular season is likely to be delayed as well. Eventually, economic pressure on both sides caused by missing games seems most likely to incentivize the coming together on a new agreement. It's just a matter of when that happens.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are:
Farhan kept mentioning making changes to the roster via trade. If that's the case, what team(s) do the Giants best match up with for a deal, and what Giants prospects or active roster players could be trade bait?
I’ve been seeing a lot of Instagram pages saying we should trade for Tyler Mahle. Is this realistic, or are people just hyping him up because of the success Reds pitchers have had with the Giants?
MLB Trade Rumors mentioned the Giants should pick up Matt Olson from the A's and use Brandon Belt as DH (if implemented). Olson is 27 and can hit for power and average, and is under team control until 2024. SF would have to give up a lot but worth it in my opinion.
Number of regular season wins doesn't necessarily equate with going deep in the playoffs. Which do you think the front office thinks more about when building the team? And don't say both - please pick one.
How much do you think the Giants are willing to spend for Seiya Suzuki?
Barry Bonds getting in the Hall of Fame??
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the latest news with Major League Baseball and the San Francisco Giants. The first order of business is the major news that Yankees hitting instructor Rachel Balcovec will become the first female manager in affiliated professional baseball. She will manage the Yankees' Low-A team beginning in 2022, and it puts her on a path to greater things in years to come. Notably, Giants manager Gabe Kapler interviewed Balkovec in 2019 for the position of quality control coach, where she would have worked as a hitting instructor and in strength and development. Balkovec opted to stay with the Yankees, and the move seems to have paid off. Kapler later hired Alyssa Nakken as a major league coach, and she became the first female to hold such a role in major league history. In the past year or so, many women have broken significant barriers, including Kim Ng becoming general manager of the Miami Marlins, the first female to hold that role.
Ben also discusses the latest with the major league lockout. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported today that MLB is going to make a core-economics proposal to the MLB Players Association on Thursday. While this is extremely welcome news, as this will be the first of its kind proposal by either side since the lockout began on Dec. 2, Ben urges listeners not to be overly optimistic about the proposal leading to any significant momentum. It's entirely possible, if not likely, that the MLBPA will not respond positively to the proposal and we'll be back to square one.
Finally, Ben discusses the Giants denying the Mets permission to interview pitching coach Andrew Bailey for the Mets' open bench coach position. It's debatable whether the position would be a promotion, and it's pretty late in the offseason for teams to be willing to give up a key member of their staff. Ben relates the situation to the Giants losing Donnie Ecker to the Rangers much earlier in the offseason, when they were willing to allow him to explore the role, one which he eventually was offered and accepted. Ben also discusses Austrailian LHP Genevieve Beacom becoming the first Australian professional baseball player over the weekend. The lefty tossed a scoreless inning and featured a fastball/breaking ball mix.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are:
What do the Giants have to do to maintain their status as an elite team next season?
Based on the current roster and philosophy towards player acquisitions, do you see the Giants maintaining their current success next season around 100 wins? Or do you think it’s more likely they regress to finish at what most fans expected them to heading into 2021? 83ish wins.
Will spring training happen?
Do we bring back Kris Bryant?
What does the potential market for Bryant look like? Any chance he’s back on a less than monstrous deal?
Would Patrick Wisdom be a trade candidate? Right-handed power guy who can play multiple positions and at 30 years old, hopefully wouldn’t cost a premium. He’s also from California.
For the Hjelle of it: what do you see as Sean Hjelle’s future with the Giants? SP, RP, tweener, or maybe a 3 innings reliever?
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the state of the MLB lockout by reviewing an ESPN piece by Jeff Passan that explores the subject in great detail. Ben goes through the Passan article, using direct quotations to provide listeners with up-to-the-minute updates about what's happening (or not happening) between MLB and the MLB Players Association. The league locked out the players at midnight on Dec. 1, and a whole lot of nothing has happened since. But that doesn't mean Passan's update isn't jam-packed with important information.
Passan speaks with numerous sources to gather information about where we are and where we're headed. He compares the state of affairs to the "disastrous" negotiations about how to start the 2020 season after Covid-19 cancelled spring training. Although Commissioner Rob Manfred says those talks are irrelevant to the current negotiations, Passan (and Ben) disagree. They clearly demonstrate how toxic the relationship currently is between the parties.
Passan details what the players are looking for in a deal. Whether it's raising the CBT threshold, earlier free agency, earlier arbitration, raising the minimum salary, and a whole host of other desires, the players want fundamental change across the board, which doesn't bode well for the season starting on time. Passan says that the next step in the process appears to be that the players need to define their top priorities, because it's impractical to expect the league to meet all of their numerous demands.
In terms of key dates, Passan and his sources don't expect anything substantive to happen until at least late January/early February. After that, March 1 is a key date. If serious progress hasn't been made toward a deal by then, the start of the season will be in jeopardy. Given how the negotiations, or lack thereof, have gone so far, that seems like a more distinct possibility by the day.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the MLB Network decision not to bring back universally respected journalist Ken Rosenthal. The tension between the network, which is owned by the league, and Rosenthal reportedly originated after Rosenthal was critical of commissioner Rob Manfred when the league and players were attempting to negotiate new terms to start the 2020 season, which was on pause due to the then-emerging Covid-19 pandemic.
Rosenthal was harsh but fair in his article in The Athletic, which was published in June 2020 under the title "Rosenthal: Manfred must strike a deal with the players or ruin his legacy." The network's decision not to retain Rosenthal, one of the top baseball journalists there is, speaks volumes into its intentions. They are clearly more interested in perpetuating propaganda than the truth. It's a sad move for the sport, and one that Ben believes will backfire. Whatever negative publicity may have come from Rosenthal will come back around many times over from other journalists witnessing the ill-fated move. The league has lost a lot of credibility in recent years, and they just lost a big chunk of whatever they had left among members of the media, Ben included.
Finally, Ben ties this in with the San Francisco Giants. Ultimately, Rob Manfred is employed by the owners, which of course includes the Giants' ownership. But Ben believes the Giants are a far better organization than most when it comes to valuing their fans and their place in the community. Also, Ben makes the point that front offices aren't the ones who should take criticism when fans are upset with a team at large's behavior. For example, many fans have been accusing Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi of being "cheap" lately. This is factually incorrect, but also, it's not Zaidi's money. If fans believe a team is choosing not to spend money that would help them be a significantly better team, that anger should be directed towards ownership as opposed to the front office. The front office is clearly incentivised to make the team as good as possible, or else they risk losing their jobs. However, they always have to obey their bosses and keep them happy. Just food for thought...
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are:
Will the Giants regret trading Caleb Kilian and Alexander Canario in the Kris Bryant trade?
Are the Giants in on Seiya Suzuki? Seems like a much-needed right-handed bat and probably much cheaper and better defense than Bryant and Nick Castellanos.
Do you think teams will begin secretly working out trades that they can announce after the lockout ends?
How would you rate Michael Conforto as a potential outfielder pickup?
Over/under on wins next year? 81?
What do the Giants have to do to maintain their status as an elite team next season?
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are:
Is the Giants’ platoon system just a short-term solution to a rebuild or do you think it is the long-run goal? We saw how cheap and affordable it can be to find platoon players, but I’ve got to think SF is hoping for mostly everyday contributors in a couple years. Thoughts?
With the Giants having so many platoon positions currently, do you see more teams implementing methods to take away the platoon advantage? What might be the best way for the Giants to combat this in the future?
Which minor leaguers do you see being on the big league roster on opening day and/or at some point during the year. Both players making their debut and also guys who have been up but for just short periods of time.
Do you think the Giants could pull off four starters and have relievers interspersed to cover the fifth day a la Sean Hjelle, Sammy Long, Tyler Beede, etc.?
Do you think the Giants would consider a six-man rotation to protect some of the fragile arms that are presently in the starting rotation?
Why not bring Johnny Cueto back as fifth starter?
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick examines the state of the San Francisco Giants' farm system. He dives into The Athletic's Melissa Lockard's Top 30 Giants prospects list, getting to the top five names. By this point, almost everyone knows that Marco Luciano is considered the Giants' top prospect. But what should we make of his 2021 season? He dominated in Low-A San Jose, but struggled after a promotion to High-A Eugene. He then struggled in the Arizona Fall League as well. Thankfully, his stock hasn't really fallen, because he was so much younger than the competition where he struggled. The sky remains the limit for Luciano.
Next on the list, without giving away any spoilers, is some combination of Joey Bart, Luis Matos, Kyle Harrison, and Will Bednar. It's refreshing to have two pitchers emerge within the top five in the system, and Matos' emergence should be exciting for Giants fans. Bart has fallen in recent seasons, but how far? What should fans expect from Bart in 2022, when he's expected to get most of the playing time at the catcher position with Buster Posey deciding to retire?
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick airs part three of his three-part conversation with Millard Thomas from Locked On D-backs, as the duo continue to discuss the San Francisco Giants' offseason to date. The conversation resumes with Ben and Millard discussing Kris Bryant's free agency, and whether he's likely to return to the Giants after they acquired him in a midseason trade.
Next, they discuss the free agencies of Freddie Freeman and Carlos Correa. Both agree that Freeman's likely to return to Atlanta, but Correa's fit is harder to pin down. Are the Giants a possible dark horse contender for Correa's services?
Finally, the two discuss any last under-the-radar options in free agency. Ben singles out Japanese star Seiya Suzuki and left-handed starter Carlos Rodón as possible fits for the Giants.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick airs part two of his conversation with Locked On D-backs host Millard Thomas, as the two continue to discuss the San Francisco Giants' offseason to date. The conversation resumes with Millard asking Ben whether the Giants should have signed Kevin Gausman to a five-year deal. Ben explains that it's complicated, and that he had hopes of the Giants bringing him back. However, Ben defends the state of the Giants' rotation as relatively strong, with Logan Webb emerging as an ace, Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood being brought back after strong first seasons in San Francisco, and Alex Cobb being a strong under-the-radar pickup. It's not a complete rotation, but it's a solid one that may be just one big piece away from greatness.
Next, Ben and Millard start to discuss the remaining Top 10 free agents from MLB Trade Rumors' Top 50 list. They discuss Nick Castellanos and his potential fits, as well as Trevor Story. Are either possible targets for the Giants? Listen to find out!
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick joins Locked On Diamondbacks host Millard Thomas to discuss the San Francisco Giants' offseason. Millard poses a shocking but thought-provoking question: Are the Giants having the worst offseason of any team in baseball? While Ben certainly does not agree, it's hard to argue with the fact that the Giants have lost some of their best players. Buster Posey retired. Kevin Gausman is a Blue Jay. Kris Bryant is a free agent.
While the Giants' rotation may have technically taken a step backward with Alex Cobb essentially replacing Gausman, Ben is happy with the front office's progress so far, bringing back Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood on multi-year deals, after both were quality contributors for San Francisco last year. Logan Webb broke out and emerged as a frontline starter, so overall it's a very solid-looking rotation at this moment in time. That being said, they need to do more. Ben thinks they need to add at least one more quality arm, and probably more.
On the position player side, Joey Bart is one of the top catching prospects in baseball, so there is some hope that the Giants have their catcher of the future on the doorstep of the majors. The Giants aren't likely to spend nine figures on anyone, reportedly, but there are several quality position players left who figure to command $50-99 million. Ben thinks the Giants have a lot of offseason left, and will ultimately field a team that will be competitive in 2022 without sacrificing future seasons.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are:
Who in the pitching development pipeline is going to start the most games for the 2022 Giants? Tyler Beede? Sammy Long? Sean Hjelle? Someone else?
Do you think Darin Ruf could get regular/everyday playing time in left field next year?
Your personal wants/hopes to come out of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement?
To piggyback off some of the Carlos Correa questions, why don’t they just go after him? With a year left for Evan Longoria, I know Farhan Zaidi can get creative with a trade even if they have to eat a chunk of the salary. After losing Buster Posey and possibly Brandon Belt after next year, Correa becomes the CAPTAIN.
Do you think the Giants have moved off of Kris Bryant? It seems they may be willing to let someone else over pay.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses an ESPN report that had some interesting things to say about the San Francisco Giants. On the one hand, the Giants have tons of room to spend and are expected to spend it. On the other, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel reports that sources indicate the Giants aren't likely to be in on players commanding nine-figure deals.
Ben explores some possible middle-of-the-road solutions. He loves Carlos Rodón's upside, and believes he would be a perfect addition to the Giants. Alongside Logan Webb, Alex Wood, Anthony DeSclafani, and Alex Cobb, Rodón would give the Giants one of the best rotations in baseball—albeit one with considerable injury risk.
On the position player side, Ben is intrigued by Seiya Suzuki, Michael Conforto, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, and Kris Bryant.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are:
Are you surprised that the Giants haven’t been more aggressive during free agency? Mark Canha, Marcus Stroman, Jon Gray, and Corey Kluber all seemed like very good fits, and the Giants didn’t even seem to go after them.
With the need to add a right-handed power bat most likely in the outfield and the emergence of LaMonte Wade Jr. is it possible Mike Yastrzemski could be traded? It’s already a crowded outfield as it sits.
Is a trade the most practical bet for backfilling Kevin Gausman’s production with Oakland or Cincinnati? Seems like we need Nick Castellanos to fill the right-handed hole in the lineup and then some. Why not trade for Hunter Renfroe if he was on the market? Plus defender and bat.
What are the realistic options at catcher? Can Curt Casali provide enough production (especially defense) to start? Is Joey Bart worth more in a trade vs. a second chance as a starter? Would a Kris Bryant provide enough production to cover for low offensive production at catcher?
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are:
Should the Giants be in on Carlos Correa? He is one of the only players that has all the traits that the Giants like since Bryce Harper (plate discipline, strikeout rate, defense, and power). He is willing to play 3rd base, and Evan Longoria's one year should not affect his free agent fit.
Why not Correa? He’s still young. He’s an impact bat that we need to replace Buster Posey. He’s a premium defender that has said he’s open to playing 3rd in the right situation. And, he’d be a great mentor for the young phenom, Marco Luciano. Makes sense to me
What is the likelihood they bring back Kris Bryant?
o this was the off-season we’ve all been waiting for from a spending standpoint. Obviously there’s a different direction. Where do you see Giants' payroll compared to the league during this new era.
Do you ever see the Giants making a big 10-year, $300M+ deal, and if so which player would that be in the future?
With so much payroll flexibility in the coming years and a rising farm system, when do you think we sign a cornerstone player in free agency? Which upcoming free agents stand out to you?
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francsico Giants' 40-man roster three-plus years into Farhan Zaidi's tenure as president of baseball operations. Only one player is still under a guaranteed contract that was inherited by Zaidi, and it's Evan Longoria. Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford were here when Zaidi took over, but both players were set to reach free agency after 2021, and were brought back in what represents a Zaidi decision.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' 2022 ZiPS projections. Last season, the Giants outperformed their ZiPS projections more than any team had ever before. In Ben's opinion, the projection failed to take into account the influence of the Giants' new hitting coaches, Donnie Ecker, Justin Viele, and Dustin Lind, who demonstrated an ability to make players better in the short 2020 season.
This year, the projections still aren't fully buying the Giants' collective breakout. Brandon Crawford is projected to be good, but not great, and roughly league average offensively. Buster Posey, had he still been playing, would similarly be projected to be more average than great. Brandon Belt is projected to be an above-average hitter, but nothing like the monster he was in 2020 and 2021 when on the field. Ben also explores the projections for the likes of Joey Bart, LaMonte Wade Jr., Mike Yastrzemski, and Kris Bryant.
Lastly, he looks at some of the Giants' top pitchers. Logan Webb has an excellent projection, and it seems that the computers agree that Webb has arrived as a front-line starter. Alex Wood, Alex Cobb, and Anthony DeSclafani are projected to be solid second-tier starters behind an ace-like Webb, but the Giants are still missing at least one more trusted arm, it would seem. Follow & Subscribe to the Locked On Giants Podcast on these platforms 🎧 Apple http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the state of the San Francisco Giants outfield. This was a trouble spot in the last few years under the old regime, and it seemed that Farhan Zaidi had done a nice job of rejuvenating those three positions with the emergence of Mike Yastrzemski, Alex Dickerson, Austin Slater, and Darin Ruf. However, following down years from most of that group, Zaidi and the Giants may be in the hunt for an upgrade in the outfield again. Dickerson was DFA'd recently. Thankfully, LaMonte Wade Jr.'s emergence helped offset the poorer performance from other outfielders. Ben also looks at third base, where Evan Longoria is a borderline platoon candidate thanks to his continued struggles against same-handed pitching.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick examines how the San Francisco Giants currently compare to the rest of the league. With Logan Webb leading the rotation (and projected to be an ace), plus the re-signings of Alex Wood and Anthony DeSclafani, plus the addition of Alex Cobb, the Giants' rotation currently projects as baseball's ninth-best. It's a surprisingly good projection, and indicates that with one more big addition the Giants could have a top-five or better staff. Of course, health is not a given, particularly with Wood and Cobb, so more additions will be necessary.
Ben also examines the catcher position, wherein the Giants may have a problem on their hands. As we saw in 2020, not having Buster Posey is a major hit to the Giants. With Posey having retired, the position currently belongs to Joey Bart and Curt Casali, neither of whom is projected to be great. In fact, the Giants rank dead last in terms of their Steamer projected WAR at the catcher position. Ben reiterates that the Giants may need to make a significant addition here, but it could be difficult because catching talent is hard to come by. They may just need to find out what they have in Bart, the former No. 2 overall pick in the country.
Finally, Ben discusses the Steamer projections for the Giants at first base, second base, and shortstop. Brandon Belt, Tommy La Stella, and Brandon Crawford are projected to give the Giants better-than-average production at each position, with Thairo Estrada serving and a solid backup at the up-the-middle positions. Ben believes there is significant upside beyond the projections at these positions, particularly at short and first where Crawford and Belt have demonstrated in recent seasons that the sky is the limit under the influence of the Giants' new coaches.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants, with baseball's first work stoppage since 1994 underway. Among the questions asked and answered are:
What’s the plan in the rotation? Are they going to patch it together or make a big trade? Will they see how it goes and re-assess in season?
How likely do you think the lack of moves is due to players on the cusp such as Heliot Ramos, Sean Hjelle, Kervin Castro?
Is this the year Tyler Beede makes meaningful contributions at the major league level?
Which starting pitchers do you see as most realistic trade targets? And what would it take to get them?
How do you see the Giants patching up the outfield? Mike Yastrzemski seems he needs to be platooned, so I see them needing a RH and LH OF. Nick Castellanos/Joc Pederson? What do you see as the Giants' biggest need on offense? What players would you target to fit that need?
Thoughts on this Forbes story from this morning, "San Francisco Giants’ President Is An MLB Team Owner’s Dream”?
Do you see anyone on the 40 man likely to be traded?
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses Major League Baseball's owners initiating the sport's first work stoppage since 1994. He discusses the statements from MLB and the MLBPA, how we got here, and what's likely to happen next. Ben is not optimistic about anything positive getting done for quite some time, and he worries about the very real possibility of games being lost in 2022.
Next he discusses the frenzied activity that preceded the lockout. He explores free-agent spending by team, and looks at the San Francisco Giants' spending. Many fans seem to be upset that the team hasn't shopped at the top of the market so far this winter, but they can't be accused of not spending money. They're in the top 25% of teams in terms of spending this winter, and they're top 10 in spending the last two offseasons combined. No, they're not the top spending team or even top five, but they're distinctly in the upper tier and well above the league mean and median.
Lastly, Ben takes a look at some of the free-agent starting pitcher classes of years past. From five years ago, it's shocking who were considered the best starters. Ben reminds fans that Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija were big name acquisitions at the time, but neither contract worked out remotely as hoped. He looks at more recent signings like Dallas Keuchel, whom Ben compares to Marcus Stroman. There's a clear trend that starters break down quickly, either with injuries, poor performance, or both. Therefore, it's not shocking that the Giants haven't appeared eager to spend big/commit many years to top-of-the-market free-agent starters.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the San Francisco Giants' signings of Alex Cobb and Alex Wood. Both starters were among only six in major league baseball last season with at least 90 IP and a K% ≥ 24% and ≥ 50%. Logan Webb was also among the six. The Giants' rotation is now mostly made up of pitchers that possess this rare combination of skills: an ability to keep the ball on the ground, and an ability to strike people out. Wood's deal was announced in the middle of Ben's recording of the show, and he reacts accordingly.
Ben also gets into last night's tender deadline, with the Giants making some interesting moves. The club non-tendered pitchers Sam Delaplane and Joe Palumbo, as well as outfielder Luis Gonzalez. Those players were thus removed from the team's 40-man roster, which opened spots for the additions of Cobb and Wood, plus another for an unknown reason. It's possible the Giants making another addition today that hasn't been reported on yet. Additionally, the Giants tendered contracts to all of their arbitration-eligible players, including agreements to one-year deals with Austin Slater, Jarlín García, and John Brebbia.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants seemingly closing in on deals for free-agent starters Alex Wood and Alex Cobb. The team has been rumored to be in hot pursuit of these two pitchers for about a week, and it seems those agreements may finally materialize. Ben addresses that both pitchers come with injury risks, and the Giants' rotation is still worse off than it was last year after the club lost Kevin Gausman to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Next, Ben discusses tonight's tender deadline. The Giants already made a move related to this deadline, agreeing to a one-year deal with reliever John Brebbia, avoiding arbitration. It's a deal for less than $1 million, virtually a zero-risk investment in a guy with a Minor Leauge option and a track record of success. The Giants have six other arbitration-eligible players: Mike Yastrzemski, Darin Ruf, Austin Slater, Jarlín García, Dominic Leone, and Curt Casali. Ben strongly believes all six will be tendered contracts, and many are likely to agree to new deals by tonight's deadline.
Lastly, Ben discusses the state of the free agent market, with the Giants failing or declining to sign any of the top tier talent that has flown off the board in recent days. Specifically, he wonders aloud whether the Giants saw too much risk in a five-year deal for Gausman, and whether the Giants were realistically willing to match or best the $43.3 million Max Scherzer is going to receive annually over three years. Regardless, Ben expresses strong trust and faith in this front office, which many have doubted every step of the way. Ben believes, among other reasons, their 107-win 2021 was strong evidence as to the front office's competence, and their ability to put together strong teams without necessarily shopping at the top of the market.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' offseason so far, relative to the rest of the market. Kevin Gausman, obviously a top target of the Giants, signed a new deal with the Blue Jays yesterday for five years, $110 million. It's a strong deal for Gausman, but it actually looks pretty reasonable compared to some of the other names flying off the board. Max Scherzer, another Giants target, signed with the New York Mets for three years, $130 million (a whopping $43.3 million per season, a new record).
What does the rest of the market look like? Will the Giants get in on the frenzied activity? There was a report this morning that Alex Wood is getting his physical with the Giants today, so that would give them three solid starters locked up for at least two years in Wood, Anthony DeSclafani, and Logan Webb. They'd still be in an enviable financial situation, with a solid roster and tons of cash available to spend. The question is how much of it they're going to spend.
Finally, Ben discusses Mike Yastrzemski officially reaching Super Two status. It's great news for Yaz, who will now make something closer to $3 million than what he otherwise would have made (near the league minimum).
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the state of the free-agent market as it pertains to the San Francisco Giants. The market overall has been quite inflated so far, particularly for starting pitchers. Ben explores the numbers behind the inflated prices: years, average annual value, and total guaranteed money are all up across the free-agent market.
However, when we look at the contracts given out to Brandon Belt and Anthony DeSclafani (and when we add the expected contract for Alex Wood), the Giants' signings look among the most reasonable in the sport. Their total years would come in below the predicted years. The total money would come in for less than the total predicted money. The AAV would be slightly inflated, but looks mild compared to what we're seeing across the league. Ben explains why he believes signing players to market value deals or below-market deals is important for teams.
Finally, Ben discusses the impending expiration of the collective bargaining agreement and the lockout that is likely to follow. That deadline is fast approaching, and we may see a flurry of activity between now and then, with the holiday behind us and the deadline only a few days ahead. Ben wonders what will happen with the Giants, and whether they'll have official deals with Wood and perhaps Alex Cobb by that time. He also talks about the big win for Minor League rights, with MLB finally agreeing to supply housing to all Minor League players (with some exceptions for players making sufficient money) beginning in 2022.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick asks the question: What's the holdup with the San Francisco Giants' potential signings of Alex Wood and Alex Cobb? Multiple reputable reporters have said in recent days that the Giants were in the final stages of hammering out a deal, so why hasn't anything been announced? Have those potential deals hit a snag, or are the Giants trying to work out a 40-man move to make room ahead of announcing the signing(s)?
Assuming those deals get done, Ben looks at where the Giants' 2022 payroll would stand, and compares it to recent years' payrolls. Ben opines that the Giants would still have $40 to $80 million to spend on 2022 payroll alone, putting the Giants in a very enviable position. Especially when we consider that their team would be mostly filled out at that point. They'd have four solid starters in Logan Webb, Anthony DeSclafani, Wood, and Cobb, a mostly complete bullpen, and a solid, platoon-heavy lineup. There are definitely areas that could stand to be upgraded, and they'd still need multiple starting pitchers, but the Giants would be in a great position with most of the free agent class's stars still available, and tons of money available to spend.
Finally, Ben discusses the announcement yesterday that the Tender Deadline was moved up to Nov. 30, in order to give some breathing room ahead of a potential lockout starting on Dec. 2. The Tender Deadline was supposed to occur on that date. This is good news for all involved, as it will give non-tendered players a few days to explore their markets and potentially lock in deals ahead of a lockout. The Giants, though, figure to tender contracts to almost all of their arbitration-eligible players. Alex Dickerson seemed like a lock to be non-tendered, but he was DFA'd when they announced the DeSclafani signing. The only possibility to be non-tendered appears to be John Brebbia, though he's a borderline case at a predicted arbitration salary of only $1 million, considering his strong major league track record.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the San Francisco Giants' three-year agreement with free-agent starter Anthony DeSclafani. Desclafani was a driving force behind the Giants' miraculous 107-win season in 2021, and he's back on a $36 million deal that's now the largest handed out by Farhan Zaidi in his tenure as Giants president of baseball operations.
Rumors have been swirling about other starters as well, with multiple reporters stating that the Giants are finalizing a two-year deal to bring back Alex Wood, and that the Giants are in deep discussions with Alex Cobb. They were also linked to starter Steven Matz in recent days. If the Giants finalize deals for one or two of those additional starters, Ben loves where the Giants would stand from a payroll and talent perspective. They'd still have tons of money to spend just to reach last year's payroll, which they could probably blow past if they wanted to. That would allow them to wait out the markets for top starters like Kevin Gausman and Max Scherzer, or pivot to position players like Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Carlos Correa, and Trevor Story. They have roster and financial flexibility, and figure to be among the most aggressive teams in all of baseball this winter.
Ben disucsses the roster casualties of the Giants' recent move. Alex Dickerson was DFA'd yesterday to make room for DeSclafani, and his role in helping to transform the Giants will not soon be forgotten. Jay Jackson, a popular reliever from last season, was traded to the Braves for cash and a player to be named later or cash. Jackson had been DFA'd on Friday to make room for the Giants' 40-man additions that protected them from selection in the Rule 5 Draft.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the ongoing San Francisco Giants offseason. Among the questions asked and answered are:
Who are some low risk pitchers we might get?
Will Joey Bart, Heliot Ramos and Sean Hjelle make the 26-man roster?
Which guys left unprotected from the Rule 5 draft do you see getting picked?
Do you see Seth Corry getting traded by the draft?
Why is it that there are more rumors surrounding position players/outfielders than pitchers for the Giants? Rotation has been the No. 1 concern this offseason, yet (besides Kevin Gausman) there’s no talk of Carlos Rodón, Robbie Ray, Marcus Stroman, etc..
Where does Nick Castellanos fit in the Giants' lineup? Outfielder? Potential DH? Which right-handed OF are we getting? Which pitcher will be our No. 2?
Chances of getting Seiya Suzuki?
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick joins Locked On A's host Jason Burke to discuss the possibility of an Oakland A's-San Francisco Giants swap. For the first time in a long time, it really does seem like these two teams could match up on a major trade.
First, Jason asks Ben about the Giants' offseason needs. Naturally, as Giants fans know, the need is pitching, pitching, and more pitching. Starting pitching specifically. Ben explains that Logan Webb is the only player under contract for 2022, and that Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani, and Alex Wood are all free agents.
Jason asks Ben to name any A's players the Giants might be interested in, and Ben names Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea, and Frankie Montas—three good-to-great starters with relatively cheap arbitration years to come. Ben says that Bassitt and Manaea are his preferred targets, because they only have one year of control remaining (Montas has two), and that would make them cheaper for the Giants to acquire.
Jason names some possible targets by the A's, including Luis Matos, Jairo Pomares, and Gregory Santos. Ben explains that Matos is flying up prospect rankings and won't be available in almost any trades. Pomares and Santos could be moved, and Ben adds that players who need to be projected from the Rule 5 Draft, as well as out-of-options players, could be available in any trade. Some of those names include Sean Hjelle, Seth Corry, Heliot Ramos, Tyler Beede, and Mauricio Dubón, among others.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the latest with the San Francisco Giants. Brandon Belt accepted the Giants' $18.4 million qualifying offer yesterday, meaning he'll be back at that price in 2022. It's a huge offseason item checked off the list for the Giants, as Brandon Belt has emerged as one of the game's best hitters in recent seasons, and he has emerged as a leader in the clubhouse. Losing Belt and Buster Posey, who retired after the season, would be a big blow to the Giants' culture and lineup. Belt is also an excellent defensive first baseman, so it's great to have him locked up for at least one more year. Belt was the only player among 14 who received the qualifying offer to accept it. Last season, Kevin Gausman was one of just two players to accept the offer, and it worked out beautifully for San Francisco.
Ben next discusses Giants general manager Scott Harris telling KNBR's Kerry Crowley yesterday that the team hoped to cross the finish line with one or two pitchers in the next week. In the last few years, anytime either Harris or Farhan Zaidi has said something like that, it has come to fruition. So that's something fans should be on the lookout for in the coming days. Another starting pitcher, Justin Verlander, came off the board yesterday with a stunning two-year, $50 million deal with the Astros (the second year is a fully guaranteed player option). Four of the 22 starters to appear on the Top 50 Free Agents lists by MLB Trade Rumors, ESPN, and FanGraphs have already signed. The Giants will need to get in that market sooner or later, and it's worth pointing out that the pitchers who have signed have received more years, a higher AAV, and more total money than predicted by the three sources mentioned above.
Finally, Ben discusses a Marcus Semien rumor and the fact that tomorrow is the deadline for teams to add players to the 40-man roster to protect them from selection in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. The Semien rumor, courtesy of the Seattle Times, states that the Mariners may need to offer the player a five-year deal in the $150 million range to keep him from the Giants or Yankees on a four-year deal. Ben discusses Semien's potential fit in San Francisco and how he would make the Giants' infield defense among the very best in baseball. Ben discusses which players need to be protected by adding them to the 40-man, and gets listeners set for tomorrow's deadline.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the latest with the San Francisco Giants. Today is the deadline for players tagged with the one-year, $18.4 million qualifying offer to accept or reject the offer. Brandon Belt was among 14 players around the league who received the offer. Ben explains everything the QO is (and is not), and makes a prediction about what Belt will ultimately decide.
Ben gives detailed thoughts about why Belt would accept the offer, and why he would reject it. Ben ultimately lands on Belt rejected the qualifying offer, because he thinks Belt could get a two- or three-year deal worth around $15 million per season. When healthy, Belt has been among the very best hitters in baseball since the start of the 2020 season, trialing only Mike Trout and Bryce Harper in wRC+ among players with at least 500 plate appearances since '20.
Ben also discusses the state of the starting pitcher free agent market, with Noah Syndergaard and Eduardo Rodriguez coming off the board in recent days. The trend in the market right now is that players are receiving more than their average predicted contracts by MLB Trade Rumors, ESPN, and FanGraphs. Ben ponders what this means for the Giants, who must enter the starting pitcher market in a big way this offseason. Specifically regarding high-upside pitchers with injury concerns, Syndergaard's hefty one-year deal may mean Justin Verlander and Carlos Rodón will have even more robust markets than imagined, and may cause the Giants to pivot to another segment of the market.
Finally, Ben discusses Gabe Kapler winning NL Manager of the Year in a landslide.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the latest with the San Francisco Giants. Gabe Kapler was extended through 2024, in a move that shouldn't come as a surprise. He's coming off a 107-win season, and was going to be entering the final year of his original deal. This extension was a foregone conclusion, assuming he wanted to remain with the Giants.
The Giants also made three waiver claims recently, nabbing off waivers RHP Hunter Harvey, OF Austin Dean, and LHP Joe Palumbo. All three were added to the club's 40-man roster, which currently stands at 38. Ben gives a brief scouting report on the three claims, and concludes that Harvey seems most likely to stick, where he could carve out a role in the bullpen. Friday is the deadline for teams to add players to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft. The Giants will need to make several adds, which could force one or more of these recently claimed players to be designated for assignment.
Finally, Ben discusses Giants president of baseball operations winning the fourth annual Executive of the Year award, which is voted on by other heads of baseball ops. Zaidi joins past winners Billy Beane, Erik Neander, and Andrew Friedman, two of whom are his former bosses. Zaidi's role in shaping this year's 107-win team is undeniable, and it was a truly amazing achievement. Ben also discusses the Giants hiring hitting coach Pedro Guerrero to replace Donnie Ecker, Mark Hallberg being promoted to third base coach, and Taira Uematsu being promoted from bullpen catcher to Assistant Coach.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the San Francisco Giants' 2021-22 offseason. Among the questions asked and answered are:
Chances the team signs/trades for a veteran catcher vs. letting Joey Bart go in as their No. 1 choice for the catching position?
Do you think Bart will actually start Opening Day? Or do you think the Giants will trade for the Yankees or Cubs starting catchers (Gary Sanchez, Willson Contreras), who only have one year remaining on their current contract, and have Bart No. 2 for the whole season and Curt Casali No. 3?
Your thoughts on Brian Sabean vs. Farhan Zaidi after 3 seasons? Not results but more style, persona, media engagement, management style.
What is the likelihood the Giants do at least one trade involving a mid-tier MLB player? They have a surplus of quality outfield prospects that should be attractive to many teams.
Which current Giants pitching prospect has the best chance to make the starting rotation with an impressive spring training performance?
Logan Webb extension: when?
Do you like the Giants trading for someone like Jose Ramirez? Or is signing someone like Marcus Semien more likely?
The Giants’ offseason is going to be just as frustrating as the trade deadline, huh?
Will they sign someone before December 1?
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the top free-agent position players for the San Francisco Giants to pursue. Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi recently told The Athletic's Andy Baggarly "We’ll be in that outfield market and adding another right-handed bat, particularly one that hits for power with good at-bat quality, kind of fits our team.” So Ben decides to look at all right-handed hitters on any of MLB Trade Rumors, ESPN, or FanGraphs' Top 50 free agents lists, and he eliminates players with below-average chase rates. As a result, he's left with Kris Bryant, Chris Taylor, Seiya Suzuki, Mark Canha, and Tommy Pham. Ben examines the average predicted contract for each, and discusses which players make sense for the Giants and which don't.
He then examines the players who were eliminated based on not having better-than-average chase rates in 2021. Those players were Nick Castellanos, Starling Marte, Avisaíl García, and Jorge Soler. Castellanos, García, and Soler rate as well-below-average defenders by Statcast Outs Above Average. Among this group, Ben considers Marte the best fit, and his ability to hit for average and make contact could be part of "at-bat quality" Zaidi was referring to.
Finally, Ben looks at right-handed infielders who might match Zaidi's criteria. He lands on one big name near the top of the list as a prime potential target: Marcus Semien. Semien had a monster season in Toronto, and now seems in line for a deal in the five-year, $125M range. Ben considers that a pretty strong buy considering Semien's all-around excellence. He hits for power, has elite discipline, plays great middle infield defense, is a plus base-runner and runner in general, and is known as a great clubhouse presence. For all of these reasons, Ben thinks he may be one of the more attractive free-agent options for this Giants this offseason. He would play second base, giving the Giants a potentially elite infield defense, if Brandon Belt returns. Tommy La Stella could move to DH duties more regularly, assuming it comes to the National League in 2022.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick looks at which of the top free-agent starting pitchers the San Francisco Giants may pursue and why. He looks at the top 50 lists for MLB Trade Rumors, ESPN, and FanGraphs, examining each predicted contract for the 18 starters on MLBTR's list. Among the starters examined today are Kevin Gausman, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Noah Syndergaard, Robbie Ray, Marcus Stroman, and Jon Gray. A trend that emerges is that the Giants will probably be looking for guys on shorter-term deals, for the most part. There is a lot of risk with long-term deals for pitchers, and there are some prime candidates on the market that could be seeking short-term deals for whatever reason. The one guy who may warrant a longer-term deal from the Giants is Gausman. Follow & Subscribe to the Locked On Giants Podcast on these platforms 🎧 Apple http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the predicted contracts for San Francisco Giants free agents Kris Bryant, Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, and Brandon Belt. He examines the Top 50 Free Agents lists for MLB Trade Rumors, ESPN, and FanGraphs, each of whom make a prediction for what the ultimate contract will be that each player signs.
Ben thinks FanGraphs is way off on a few of their predictions, most notably for Gausman. There is a fascinating amount of variance for Gausman and Bryant. The sources seem to agree most on DeSclafani and Wood, but even then there isn't exactly consensus. Ben admits that he thinks ESPN's predictions are the most accurate for Gausman and Bryant, and that the Bryant contract will represent a shock to a lot of people.
He thinks the DeSclafani and Wood predictions are reasonable, and that at those prices Wood represents a better buy. Regarding Belt, Ben thinks that all three sources are off. Two expect Belt to accept the qualifying offer, and one comes in on a two-year deal that's barely above the QO. Ben expects Belt to do better after the top-tier offensive success he's had across 2020-21, even though he has been injured a lot.
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Ben Kaspick from the Locked On Giants podcast and Javier Reyes from the Locked On Padres podcast discuss Buster Posey's Hall of Fame candidacy. Ben explains why he believe Posey should be a lock for Cooperstown, and the two discuss all of the current flaws bogging down Hall of Fame discourse. Ben also gets into Barry Bonds' candidacy, and how the whole process has caused Giants fans to become jaded.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the San Francisco Giants' offseason. Among the questions asked and answered are:
Likelihood the Giants sign Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander?
Will the 2022 rotation be Logan Webb, Scherzer, Verlander, Kevin Gausman, Clayton Kershaw?
Starling Marte: better option than Chris Taylor now that Taylor has a qualifying offer tied to him?
Was Alex Wood really not worth the qualifying offer? With the way he pitched in the postseason, I thought he would be worth the one-year deal, especially when $22 million unexpectedly freed up with Buster Posey's retirement.
Surprised Anthony DeSclafani didn't get qualifying offer? Chances 0 to 100 Giants find a way to sign him anyway?
If Brandon Belt doesnt accept the Giants' qualifying offer, who are our first-base options (in house and potential signings)?
Do you see Reds starter Luis Castillo as a good fit for a short-term deal for market rebuilding? He had a down year, and the Giants have lots of history with that front office.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details a busy weekend that was for the San Francisco Giants. Sunday was a day of forced action, as qualifying offer and option decisions had to be made. The Giants exercised their options for Wilmer Flores ($3.5M) and José Álvarez ($1.5M), and officially declined their $22M option for Johnny Cueto, in favor of a $5M buyout. Flores and Álvarez were strong contributors for the Giants in 2021, and it's good news for the team that they'll be back next year, both in the final year of their deals with San Francisco. Cueto is officially a free agent after six mostly underwhelming years with the Giants. His first season in orange and black was spectacular, but he wasn't able to come anywhere close to it again over the final five. The Giants extended a one-year, $18.4M qualifying offer to Brandon Belt. There was some possibility that they might extend qualifying offers to Anthony DeSclafani and/or Alex Wood, but both were unlikely and the team ultimately elected to pass. This doesn't mean that they won't be back; just that they didn't extend them qualifying offers. Belt will have 10 days to accept or reject the Giants' offer. If he signs with another team this offseason, the Giants will receive Draft Pick compensation. Belt is a candidate to accept the offer, but he could also work out an extension to stay in San Francisco. Finally, Ben discusses Brandon Crawford winning his fourth career Gold Glove Award. He was spectacular defensively in 2021, which is a testament to his own hard work and the influence of Kai Correa and Ron Wotus. The Giants' new coaching staff has done a tremendous job getting the most out of players since taking over in 2020, and that includes Correa and his influence over the defense. Crawford, Belt, and Buster Posey were all at or near their best in 2021 despite being in their mid-30s. Ben reminds listeners of how significant of a loss it was when hitting coach Donnie Ecker accepted a position as bench coach and offensive coordinator with the Texas Rangers last week. Mike Yastrzemski was a Gold Glove finalist in right field, but he did not win the award. Still, it's an honor just for Yaz to have been named a finalist. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube BONUS CONTENT: https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick, host Ben Kaspick tries to come to grips with Buster Posey's official retirement. His press conference on Thursday was moving, and it's hard to believe it's really the end. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube BONUS CONTENT: https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick breaks down the news that Buster Posey has decided to retire after 12 major league seasons. He leaves the game as one of the best catchers of all time, and he should be in line for induction into Cooperstown one day. Posey changed the Giants from the minute he burst onto the scene in 2010, a year in which he ultimately won Rookie of the Year and led the Giants to their first ever championship in San Francisco. Two years later, he was the MVP and he won another ring. Two years after that, another ring. All the while, Posey just kept on being one of the best players in baseball. Since his debut in 2009, only Mike Trout has amassed more FanGraphs wins above replacement. Hall of Fame guru Jay Jaffe considers Posey a lock for induction one day. Ben relives some of the best moments of Posey's career, from the rings to Matt Cain's perfect game to the grand slam off Matt Latos in 2012 NLDS Game 5. Posey won multiple Silver Sluggers, was selected to seven All-Star teams (and was snubbed a few more times), won a Gold Glove, and was Comeback Player of the Year twice. It will be hard to find a more decorated career in baseball history. Finally, Ben attempts to turn the page to what comes next for San Francisco. They've been so fortunate to be able to write Posey's name into the lineup most days for 12 years, but that's no longer an option. The team has one more year of control over Curt Casali, who can be retained for roughly $2M if the club so desires. The free agent market for catchers is bleak. There are some possible trade candidates, and of course Joey Bart is waiting in the wings. Ben is still not convinced that Bart is ready following his difficult-to-watch debut season in 2020. Bart's struggles, despite being considered one baseball's best prospects, is a perfect illustration of how truly special Posey was. He couldn't have been much better, and the franchise couldn't have been more fortunate to have him wear the orange and black for his entire career, from start to finish. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube BONUS CONTENT: https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the key dates and deadlines for the San Francisco Giants' 2021-22 offseason. Things kick off with a five-day window during which time teams and players must make decisions on options and opt-outs, and teams must decide who among their eligible players to tag with the qualifying offer. The Giants hold club options over Buster Posey, Johnny Cueto, Wilmer Flores, and José Álvarez, and Ben expects the Giants to pick up the options for all but Cueto. Posey is a possible extension candidate, and there is a possibility he could choose to retire. The club also must decide whether to tag Brandon Belt, Anthony DeSclafani, and Alex Wood (the only three realistic candidates) with the one-year, $18.4M qualifying offer. Once the deadline for all of that activity passes on Sunday, free agency officially kicks off on Monday, Nov. 8. Ten days from Nov. 7, players must decide whether to accept or reject teams' qualifying offers. Two days later, on Nov. 19, teams must add eligible players to their 40-man roster if they want to protect them from selection in the Rule 5 Draft, which is scheduled to take place in early December. The Giants have several of their better prospects eligible for selection, including Heliot Ramos, Sean Hjelle, and Seth Corry. The biggest deadline of all comes on Dec. 1 at 11:59 PM Eastern, when the current Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire. If MLB and the MLBPA don't reach an agreement on a new CBA by that time, the league may institute a lockout and a transactions freeze. All major-league dates and deadlines thereafter could be put on hold until a new CBA agreement is reached. That would affect the tender deadline, free agency, trades, and the Winter Meetings. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube BONUS CONTENT: https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the San Francisco Giants' offseason. Among the questions asked and answered are: Thoughts on the Giants going for one of the four Braves outfielders if they don't re-sign? Eddie Rosario and Jorge Soler are free agents; Adam Duvall and Joc Pederson have options. Why haven’t the Giants extended Gabe Kapler? Isn’t his contract up next year? Never want a lame duck manager. Seems the Giants would be smart to try to extend Farhan Zaidi too, while they’re at it. How is a potential universal designated hitter going to change the Giants off-season plans? Do you think the idea of the Giants having to overpay hitters to lure them to the Bay are finally over with, now that they led the league in HR? More likely to come back: Brandon Belt or Kris Bryant. Who would you rather have? Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube BONUS CONTENT: https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. Tommy La Stella, who received the largest contact handed out by Farhan Zaidi in San Francisco last offseason, had a disappointing first season in San Francisco. He was injured several times, and most recently his left Achilles bothered him down the stretch and kept him out of some key games. He met with a specialist last week, and ultimately ended up having surgery. He is expected to be back at full strength in four months, but you never know with these things. The Giants may need additional insurance at second base, as Donovan Solano is a free agent and their depth chart there currently looks something like Wilmer Flores, Thairo Estrada, Jason Vosler, and Mauricio Dubón. The Giants also suffered a big blow in the world of coaching on Monday. Donnie Ecker, one of the Giants' hitting coaches responsible for turning this team's offense around over the past two seasons, is leaving for the Texas Rangers, where he'll be bench coach and offensive coordinator, in charge of offensive development at the major and minor league levels. Ecker is considered a rising star in the industry, and this moves him one step closer to potentially becoming a manager. But it stings for the Giants, although manager Gabe Kapler is known for constantly keeping tabs on coaches who would be next in line if one of their own departs. This is par for the course for a team that shocked the industry by winning a franchise-record 107 games. Finally, Ben discusses Buster Posey winning his second Comeback Player of the Year Award. It was a tremendous bounceback season for Posey (in part thanks to Ecker, no doubt), after he opted out of the 2020 season and had struggled to below-average offensive performance in 2019. Several Giants veterans enjoyed career years in 2021, thanks to the Giants' new coaches hired by Kapler. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube BONUS CONTENT: https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the state of the San Francisco Giants' pitching staff. Logan Webb emerged as an ace in 2021 and in the postseason, and he is under club control for four more seasons, but the rest of the starting rotation is a great unknown. Ben expects Kevin Gausman to be re-signed on a multiyear deal in excess of $100M, and he also expects one of Anthony DeSclafani or Alex Wood to be retained. However, that would still leave San Francisco with two open spots in the starting rotation, and of course it takes more than just five starters to get through a season these days. Ben discusses some possible solutions on the free agent market, from top shelf options like Max Scherzer and Robbie Ray, to pitchers looking for pillow contracts like Noah Syndergaard and Justin Verlander. Also discussed on today's show is the state of the Giants' quietly excellent bullpen. They led the majors in bullpen ERA in 2021, and only Tony Watson is set to reach free agency. The Giants have years of control and roster flexibility in their 'pen, which is an enviable position to be in. Camilo Doval and Kervin Castro have many years of control and are optionable if necessary, and under-the-radar guys like Tyler Rogers, Jake McGee, and Jarlín García are good and retainable as well. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube BONUS CONTENT https://bit.ly/BenKaspickYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick explores the state of San Francisco Giants position players entering the offseason. He's already spent a few shows discussing who he expects to be back and who he doesn't expect to be back, so today he looks at where things stand assuming that's how things play out. He goes position by position, looking at who currently projects to play, and exploring possible areas for improvement. Tommy La Stella returns, but he may need a new platoon partner with Donovan Solano expected to play elsewhere. Thairo Estrada is out of minor league options and seems like a logical candidate. But Wilmer Flores is expected to be back and could also be a candidate to platoon at second base. Ben expects Brandon Belt to be back, and he would lock down first base. Brandon Crawford is signed for two more years, and the Giants have a club option on Buster Posey. Ben thinks Evan Longoria should have a left-handed platoon partner, but it's hard to find an obvious fit on the free-agent market. He continues to dream about Corey Seager, but it's difficult to envision that dream coming to fruition. In the outfield, Ben imagines that LaMonte Wade Jr. could platoon in left with Darin Ruf. Both are under club control for at least the next two years. Ben does not expect Alex Dickereson to be back. In right field, Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater could platoon, with both under club control for three-plus seasons. In center, the Giants have Steven Duggar and Mauricio Dubón, both of whom have several years of club control but are out of minor league options. Ben identifies center as a possible area for improvement, and looks at the likes of Starling Marte, Chris Taylor, and Mark Canha as possible targets. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick names five San Francisco Giants he doesn't expect to be back in 2022. The first is Kris Bryant, which is sure to be a controversial take among Giants fans. While Ben acknowledges that Bryant is a very good player, there are several reasons to think he won't be wearing orange and black in 2022 and beyond. He's likely to have a robust market, and Scott Boras clients often don't sign until late in the offseason. The Giants aren't likely to wait around for Bryant, whose performance with the club was good but not great after he was acquired in a midseason trade. Ben also names Johnny Cueto, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Dickerson, and Donovan Solano as key players he doesn't expect to be back in 2022 for various reasons. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick covers the latest with the San Francisco Giants. Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford were named finalists at their respective positions for the Silver Slugger Award. Both had excellent offensive years, and Posey looks to be in line to win the award. He led all catchers in wRC+ (min. 300 plate appearances) by a substantial margin. Crawford will almost certainly not win the award, given that Fernando Tatis Jr. is another finalist and is likely to win. Ben also discusses the report that the Giants are being innundated with permission request to interview their coaches for positions with other teams. Generally speaking, teams are expected to grant such permissions when the open position would be a promotion. General manager Scott Harris was reportedly contacted by the New York Mets about their vacant President of Baseball Operations job, for which he declined to be a candidate. Finally, Ben discusses the upcoming World Series between the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros, which gets underway tonight. The Dodgers appear to have been worn down by their race with the Giants, which included being pushed to the limit in a five-game NLDS. Major-league veteran Gordon Beckham joins the show to discuss his thoughts on the Fall Classic matchup. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the San Francisco Giants' upcoming offseason. Ben discusses how the Giants have four openings in their starting rotation, and that will be their top priority. Kevin Gausman seems at least somewhat likely to return, given there is seemingly strong mutual interest. The Giants have had success revitalizing the careers of several starters, including Gausman, Drew Smyly, Anthony DeSclafani, and Alex Wood. All four were brought in on one-year deals, and hit the market in line for much bigger paydays following their time with the Giants. That should help the Giants sign more pitchers coming off down years, as they've established themselves as an extremely attractive destination. On the offensive side, Ben expects the Giants to re-sign Brandon Belt, who has been among the very best hitters in baseball since the start of the 2020 season. If Belt departs, that would leave a huge hole in the lineup, although the Giants could figure out first base with some combination of LaMonte Wade Jr., Tommy La Stella, Darin Ruf, and Wilmer Flores. Keep in mind, however, that there's likely to be a universal DH in baseball next year, so the Giants will have an additional offensive spot in the lineup to fill every day. That could create a better opportunity for younger players like Joey Bart. Signing other offensive players, even big fish at the top of the market, remains a distinct possibility as well. The Giants have only about $40M committed for 2022, after being near $200M in annual payroll not long ago. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Is Chris Taylor a better fit for the Giants than Kris Bryant? On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Is Chris Taylor a better fit than Kris Bryant? Are Marcus Stroman, Marcus Semien, Starling Marte or Mark Canha realistic options? Do they go after Corey Seager? Do you think Farhan Zaidi spends big on anyone, or does he resist knowing that depth is so important? Based on any weaknesses or problems our team had this season (there weren’t many!) or even something another team did that you liked (had a good player, emphasized certain skills, etc.) is there anything in particular you would like the Giants to address/change this off-season? On a scale of 0 to 100, guess the chances the Giants sign Brandon Belt, Bryant, Kevin Gausman, Alex Wood and Anthony DeSclafani for 2022? Any players the Giants might need to protect from the Rule 5 Draft? Do you see Giants re-signing most of their pitchers, or repeating what they did last year and handing out one-year deals to guys who had down years or injuries? Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick explores the San Francisco Giants' production in the infield in 2021. Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, and Brandon Belt were absolute studs and had career years. Darin Ruf, Wilmer Flores, and LaMonte Wade Jr. played valuable part-time roles. Evan Longoria was really good until he wasn't. Tommy La Stella had an overall disappointing first year in San Francisco, but it's easy to see why they like him and he will be back for the next two seasons. Donovan Solano came down to earth and is a free agent. Thairo Estrada impressed in limited opportunities, and may take Solano's role next year. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Some good, some bad, some in between. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick evaluates the 2021 Giants' outfield. In many ways this group was disappointing overall, but there was some good performance and even a legitimate breakout. Mike Yastrzemski followed up his MVP-caliber 2020 with somewhat of a dud in 2021. His offense dipped to mediocre levels, although he continued to play strong defense. Alex Dickerson fell off a cliff and seems like a definite non-tender candidate. Austin Slater seemed to take a step back from 2020, but his numbers clearly indicate he continued to be a force against left-handed pitching. LaMonte Wade Jr. broke out and became Late Night LaMonte. Darin Ruf was a monster at the plate and figure to be back. Overall, the Giants have a ton of flexibility when it comes to their outfield. Not one player is under guaranteed contract, but almost everyone can be retained if the Giants so desire. The one exception is Kris Bryant, who is a free agent, but the Giants have tons of freed up money and can choose to spend some of it on an outfielder if they so desire. Ben names Starling Marte, Chris Taylor, and others among the outfielders the Giants may attempt to sign. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' season-ending press conference with president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and manager Gabe Kapler. Zaidi spoke about the team's desire to retain Buster Posey, who's going to spend some time talking with his wife and deciding his future. The Giants hold a $22M club option on Posey for 2022, and it's a no-brainer for the Giants to at least pick that up, if not extend Posey, assuming he wants to keep playing. Joey Bart doesn't appear ready to take over a primary role at the major-league level, and the free-agent market offers no solutions at the catcher position. Ben also discusses how the Giants will approach Brandon Belt and Kris Bryant's free agencies, as well as all members of the starting rotation reaching free agency besides Logan Webb. There are a lot of talented free-agent pitchers out there this winter, as well as young stud position players like Carlos Correa and Corey Seager. Expect the Giants to be among the most active teams in baseball this winter as they have money to spend and a 107-win season to back up. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' upcoming offseason. He talks about the key players set to reach free agency, and the critical decisions the Giants will have to make. The first order of business is Buster Posey, who has a $22M club option for 2022 (with a $3M buyout). Posey has said that he wants to take some time with his wife to discuss his future, so it remains to be seen if he's 100 percent committed to playing next year and beyond. Brandon Belt is set to reach free agency, as is the Giants' entire starting rotation besides Logan Webb. Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani, and Alex Wood are all impending free agents, and Johnny Cueto has a way-too-expensive $22M club option that will be declined with a $5M buyout. Brandon Belt will likely be offered the $18.4M qualifying offer. Kris Bryant is set to reach free agency. Players who will be back because they're still under club control include Webb, LaMonte Wade Jr., Evan Longoria, Brandon Crawford, Tommy La Stella, Jake McGee, Darin Ruf, and Mike Yastrzemski, among others. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick tries to make sense of the San Francisco Giants' magical season ending abruptly on Thursday night at the hands of their bitter rivals. Wilmer Flores was ruled to have swung at a two-strike Max Scherzer offering, even though he didn't, and just like that, the game and the season was over. Ultimately, the Giants didn't score enough runs to win. They scored just 10 runs in the five-game series, an average of just two runs per game. The Dodgers' pitching and defense shut the Giants down for most of the series, and in the end it was too much to overcome. Logan Webb stepped up again and was brilliant, but the Giants could not give him the support he needed. Now our attention turns to a long offseason, one in which the Giants will be primed to spend big and have a ton of holes to fill. It was a magical and incredible 2021 season for the Giants. They were supposed to win 75 games, per projection systems, but instead they won 107, they won the NL West, and they took the all-time talented Dodgers to the final pitch of NLDS Game 5. There's nothing to be ashamed of with this group. They exceeded everyone's expectations, and from top to bottom they deserve immense credit. They took a quantum leap forward in 2021, and the bar has been raised for 2022 and beyond. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It all comes down to this. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers listeners' questions about the San Francisco Giants' NLDS Game 5 tonight against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Among the questions asked and answered are: Are we winning Game 5? Give us some stats that’ll make us feel good about Thursday’s game. Do you think the Giants will be aggressive early against Julio Urías? Have the Giants had any success against Urías this year? Do you think home plate umpire Doug Eddings will play a role? With everyone available in the bullpen, how aggressive do you expect Gabe Kapler to be? Webb followed by Kevin Gausman (if necessary) followed by Camilo Doval I would imagine if things go as planned, right? Has Tyler Rogers been overused in this series and should he be considered unavailable for Game 5? Besides Doval and Gausman, who can be trusted to relieve Webb if/when necessary? Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' 7-2 loss in Game 4 of the NLDS, with the Dodgers forcing a decisive Game 5 in San Francisco on Thursday night. Anthony DeSclafani started for the Giants, and he was shaky from the first pitch. Manager Gabe Kapler did his best to keep the Giants in the game, deploying his bullpen extremely aggressively, but they were uncharacteristically wild and the offense just could muster enough to compete. Overall, the offensive numbers for the Giants in this series are not pretty. They're not getting on base nearly enough, and half of their position players on the roster are hitless, amounting to an 0 for 39 funk for the seven Giants combined. Regardless, the series is tied at two games apiece, and the Giants have a great shot to advance on Thursday. Logan Webb will take the mound, with Kevin Gausman, Camilo Doval, and other high leverage Giants relievers ready to go. The right-handed lineup looks good on paper, and they'll have a chance to break out against Julio Urías, who was very good in a Game 2 Dodgers win. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the San Francisco Giants' thrilling 1-0 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in LA. In a game that heavily favored the Dodgers because of the pitching match-up, Alex Wood out-dueled Max Scherzer. Scherzer allowed a solo home run to Evan Longoria, and that was the only scoring in the game. Wood pitched into the fifth inning, and manager Gabe Kapler aggressively deployed Tyler Rogers to finish out the frame. He did, and he also pitched the sixth and into the seventh. Jake McGee relieved him, and got two critical outs. Brandon Crawford saved the day with a leaping catch on a Mookie Betts line drive. Then, rookie Camilo Doval got the final six outs in order to close out the 1-0 shutout. Gavin Lux thought he tied the game with two outs in the ninth, but strong wind at Dodger Stadium may have kept the ball in the yard. Regardless, both teams dealt with the wind all night. Longoria hit his home run through it, and Mike Yastrzemski was similarly robbed in the sixth. The win sets the Giants up to potentially clinch the series on Tuesday night. Anthony DeSclafani will start for San Francisco, with the Dodgers yet to announce a starter. It may very well be Walker Buehler on short rest, which could set up a potential Logan Webb vs. Julio Urias matchup in a decisive Game 5, if it comes to that. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' two NLDS games against the Dodgers over the weekend. Logan Webb was absolutely dominant in Game 1, and the Giants hammered three home runs en route to a 4-0 win. However, pretty much nothing went right in Game 2. Kevin Gausman was shaky early on, and the bullpen allowed the Dodgers to blow the game open late. There were a series of decisions that manager Gabe Kapler had to make, none of which worked out favorably. Most importantly, in Ben's eyes, was the decision not to pinch hit for Gausman in the bottom of the 5th. The Giants were trailing 2-1, and there was one out with nobody on base. Allowing Gausman to hit for himself was essentially punting on the inning, which wasn't ideal given that the Giants were trailing. Gausman predictably made an out and the inning amounted to nothing, and then he allowed two of the first three batters to reach in the top of the 6th, which wasn't too surprising given it was the middle of the batting order facing Gausman for a third time. Dominic Leone came on and allowed several runs to score, and later Zack Littell had a poor outing and the game got out of hand. At the end of the day, it's a brand new series as we shift our attention to Game 3 in Los Angeles. It'll be Max Scherzer on the mound for the Dodgers, and Alex Wood for the Giants. Scherzer is as good as it gets, but Wood is no slouch himself. In best-of-five series, the "momentum" of the series shifts with each and every game, so the Giants will look to swing it back in their favor tonight. If they falter, they still have a chance in Game 4, and Game 5 would be back in San Francisco with Webb on the mound. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' upcoming NLDS matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants announced their playoff roster this morning, and there were a few surprises. Most notably, Johnny Cueto was left off. It's a move that makes sense, but is bound to make Cueto unhappy. Leaving Cueto off the roster gives the Giants another position player to work with, however. Steven Duggar and Alex Dickerson both made it, which will allow Gabe Kapler maximum maneuverability with platoons and pinch-hitting. That's clearly a bigger need and advantage than having an extra long reliever, a role Cueto would have filled. After discussing the Giants' official roster, Ben goes position by position, breaking down whether the Giants or Dodgers have the edge. Finally, he gives his prediction for how this series is going to end up. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' upcoming heavyweight matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series. These two storied franchises have never met in the postseason—until now. The Dodgers won 106 games in the regular season, one fewer than the 107-win Giants. As a result, LA was subjected to the single-elimination Wild Card Game on Wednesday, which they won on a walk-off home run by Chris Taylor. Ben discusses the unfair national media coverage of the Giants, with many expects still unconvinced that the Giants can hang tough with LA. New Locked On insider Gordon Beckham makes an appearance on today's show to discuss the Giants vs. Dodgers NLDS. He makes a prediction that Giants fans are bound to like. Ben discusses why Beckham's takes are fair, and that the Giants deserve huge amounts of credit for holding off LA. Finally, Ben discusses how the Giants and Dodgers stack up statistically. They were unbelievably close from an offensive standpoint, with the Dodgers having a slight edge in on-base percentage and the Giants having a slight edge in power. The Dodgers' starters have an advantage of the Giants, but it's close. The bullpen edge goes to the Giants for being more complete, but LA is a close second. These two teams were neck-and-neck in most categories all season long, so it's only fitting that they're now meeting in the playoffs. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick attempts to predict the San Francisco Giants' 26-man Division Series roster. The NLDS opens up on Friday, and the Giants will either be facing the Dodgers or Cardinals. Ben discusses who he thinks are locks among position players, starters, and relievers, and then attempts to figure out the remaining additions. Clearly, there will be some difficult decisions to make. Among the players on the bubble: Steven Duggar, Alex Dickerson, Thairo Estrada, Johnny Cueto, Zack Littell, Kervin Castro, and Sammy Long. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the stats behind the San Francisco Giants' 107-win season in 2021. They excelled in just about every way, as you would expect from the team that led the majors in wins. Their non-pitcher offense ranked among the very best in the game. Their pitchers prevented runs very well, and a lot of it had to do with keeping the ball in the park and throwing strikes. Their defense was questioned entering the season, but ended up being a strength. Baserunning might be the one area where the team was below average. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants just did the impossible. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants winning their 107th game, and with it the 2021 NL West crown. It's a truly unbelievable accomplishment for this resilient and relentless Giants team. They were expected to win in the neighborhood of 75 games, yet they were the best team in baseball pretty much all season long. The Dodgers tied a franchise record with 106 wins, but it wasn't enough. The Giants set their own franchise record with 107 victories, and they needed each and every one. No matter how the season ends, this is an accomplishment that will live on in franchise history. It wasn't easy at the end. The Dodgers had an all-time great second half, and they refused to lose down the stretch. The Giants played meaningful games right down to the end, including Game 162. Logan Webb started for the Giants, and he was fantastic from the very first pitch. He strcuk out the side in the 1st inning, and retired the first nine batters he faced. He got a rally started in the third inning with a single, and later walked and homered. Buster Posey delivered a huge two-run single with two outs that opened the scoring. Tommy La Stella, Wilmer Flores, and many others also contributed to the win. The Giants will get to sit back and relax as the Dodgers play a do-or-die elimination game on Wednesday against the Cardinals. The Giants will play the winning of that game in the Division Series, which starts on Friday at Oracle Park. The 107-win Giants have secured home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Ben discusses how the Giants match up against the four other playoff teams in the National League. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On this special Locked On MLB teaser episode, Sully and Jeff Carr (Locked On Reds) take you through the Locked On MLB Playoff Power Rankings as voted on by Locked On’s local roster of MLB hosts. They make their predictions for the postseason and who will square off in the World Series, and offer thoughts on where they agree and disagree with consensus. Then, they’re joined by Lucas Smith (Locked On Cardinals) and Jeff Snider (Locked On Dodgers) to preview the National League Wild Card Game.
For full previews of the rest of the NL and AL series, tune into the full-length Locked On MLB Preview Special, free on all your favourite podcast platforms.
You can also watch the show on YouTube! Be sure to subscribe to the Locked On MLB channel so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3pXfOB_4vc&t=4116s
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Put the champagne on ice. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the San Francisco Giants' tense win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, which reduced the Giants' magic number to clinch the NL West to two. It was an extremely ugly first inning for the Giants, but they rebounded to sweep the D-backs with a walk-off single by Late Night LaMonte Wade Jr. in the bottom of the 9th. Scott Kazmir started, and only lasted 1/3 of an inning. He walked two, there was sloppy defense by Austin Slater, and he ended up straining his hamstring covering first base. But the Giants' offense, led by Slater, Darin Ruf, Buster Posey, and Brandon Crawford, got to Madison Bumgarner, who was making his first start back in San Francisco in front of fans. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' record-setting 104th win of the year, the most the franchise has had in the San Francisco era. Despite the historic accomplishment, the Giants still don't have the NL West division crown wrapped up with just four games remaining. The Dodgers, on paper one of the greatest teams ever assembled, have 102 wins and are right on the Giants' heels. They trailed 9-5 in the 7th last night but stormed back with five home runs in the final two frames to defeat the Padres 11-9. The Giants' magic number to clinch the West is three, setting up a critical matchup tonight against former Giants legend Madison Bumgarner. Last night's win was tense, and unusual for this Giants club. Alex Wood was the star, firing six more shutout innings. Since coming off the COVID IL, Wood has been absolutely brilliant, striking out 17 and walking zero. That bodes very well for a potentially long run in the playoffs, as the Giants have four healthy and effective starters they can rely on for the time being. But the Giants struggled to score on Wednesday, ultimately scoring their one and only run on a single, stolen base, sacrifice bunt, and sacrifice fly. It was a manufactured run for the Giants, who normally out-slug their opponents. This sparked the debate about whether the Giants are "too reliant on home runs," which Ben argues is a flawed and incorrect argument. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Best team in San Francisco Giants history? On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Giants' 103rd win of the season, which matches their San Francisco-era best. The win was important, as it allowed the Giants to maintain their two-game lead over the Dodgers, who won in San Diego. It was a start for Logan Webb, who was solid but inefficient. The defense was not always great behind him, as LaMonte Wade Jr. whiffed on a pickoff throw that led to a run early in the game. Wade Jr. was the first to man first base in Brandon Belt's absence, but the true replacement for Belt on the field was Steven Duggar in center field. Earlier in the day, it was reported that Belt's fractured thumb will take approximately four weeks to heal, and he's going to be re-evaluated in two weeks. The Giants' bullpen was up and down in the critical win. Tyler Rogers had another rough outing in the eighth inning, but Camilo Doval was absolutely electric in the ninth. Save opportunities are there for the taking with Jake McGee on the injured list, and Doval was up to the task on Tuesday night. He featured a wipe-out slider and a fastball that topped out at 102 mph. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Brandon Belt has a fractured thumb. On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers listeners' questions about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: With Brandon Belt possibly out for the rest of the year, what is first base going to look like? LaMonte Wade Jr.? Darin Ruf? Kris Bryant? Will Darin Ruf play every day in Belt’s absence once Ruf’s back? Is the Giants' bullpen set without McGee as the closer? Who fills that role most often? Camilo Doval and Kervin Castro on the postseason roster? Doval in the 9th? With the structure of the playoffs, will the Giants build in any off days for Buster Posey, or can we expect to see him catch every game in the postseason? Any reason the Brewers will try at all this weekend against the Dodgers? Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the San Francisco Giants' dominant sweep in Denver, as they blew past the 100-win mark, set the franchise's all-time home run record, and reduced their magic number to win the NL West to five. Any combination of Giants wins and Dodgers losses that sums to five means the Giants win the NL West. The Giants dominanted in Denver in part thanks to excellent pitching. In 27 innings, Giants pitchers struck out 34 and walked one. Kevin Gausman was back to his dominant self, striking out 11 and walking none in six excellent innings. Gausman finding himself just before the playoffs would be a huge development for the Giants. However, the club is also dealing with a major injury scare. Self-declared "Captain" Brandon Belt was hit by a pitch in the thumb while squaring to bunt on Sunday. Initial scans were inconclusive, so Belt is going to have x-rays in the Bay Area on Monday. The Giants absolutely need Belt right now, as he has been carrying the team offensively. Belt is in elite company with his power and on-base skills over the last couple of seasons, and his defense is a huge asset as well. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick joins Locked On Rockies host Paul Holden to discuss the San Francisco Giants' critical upcoming series in Denver. The Giants seemed poised to perhaps take a three-game lead in the NL West yesterday, but then everything took a turn for the worse. The Dodgers came back to defeat Colorado, and the Giants let a lead slip away and lost to the Padres in extra innings. Ben and Paul break down the state of these two teams, and discuss the upcoming series. Alex Wood starts for the Giants today, and the Giants are dealing with a banged up and tired bullpen. Closer, and former Rockie, Jake McGee is on the injured list, and Tyler Rogers hasn't done a great job so far in his place. On the Rockies side of things, Peter Lambert makes his first start since 2019. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON. NetSuite NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind financing program only for those ready to switch today! Head to NetSuite.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' thrilling 8-6 win over the San Diego Padres, and how the Giants gained a game on the Dodgers. San Francisco's lead in the NL West increased to two games with 10 to play, and their magic number was reduced to nine. Any combination of Giants wins and Dodgers losses that sums to nine would mean the Giants clinch the NL West. Ben discusses what his reaction would have been had you described this scenario to him at the beginning of the year. He talks about Scott Kazmir making the start for the Giants, Camilo Doval's extremely impressive outing and September as a whole, Tyler Rogers' blowup in the 9th, and a great night for the offense, led by Buster Posey and Kris Bryant. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON. NetSuite NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind financing program only for those ready to switch today! Head to NetSuite.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' clutch, thrilling win over the San Diego Padres. LaMonte Wade Jr. delivered another huge hit in the 9th inning, this time to give the Giants a one-run lead that they would hold onto in a dicey bottom of the 9th. Tyler Rogers got the save in place of an injured Jake McGee, but things were not exactly smooth. Brandon Crawford started the inning with a leadoff error, then Rogers fell behind Fernando Tatis Jr. 3-1. Rogers came back to strike out Tatis, and then got Manny Machado to ground into a 112-mph double play, from Brandon Belt to Crawford to Rogers covering the bag. When all was said and done, it was an enormous victory, especially after the Giants fell behind early due to Kevin Gausman having a shaky outing. He allowed three home runs, all on hanging splitters. But with the win, the Giants were able to remain alone in first place, clinging to a one-game lead over the Dodgers with 11 games remaining. Scott Kazmir will start for the Giants tonight, making his first appearance with the team in a number of months. Chadwick Tromp was claimed off waivers by the Braves prior to last night's game. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON. NetSuite NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind financing program only for those ready to switch today! Head to NetSuite.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers listeners' questions about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Do you think Kris Bryant will ultimately re-sign with the Giants? Is he worth a $200M+ contract? With lots of one-year deals, some with options and others without them, how much roster turnover do you think we’ll have next season? Specifically which players do you think will come back? Which players do you think may choose to sign elsewhere? Do you see Johnny Cueto making the fourth starter spot and Alex Wood taking the long relief spot for the playoffs? Seems like there is one spot available for Jay Jackson, Jose Quintana, Sammy Long and Cueto with Logan Webb, Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, Jake McGee, Tyler Rogers Jarlin García, Dominic Leone, Tony Watson Zack Littell, José Álvarez, Camilo Doval seeming like locks. Rank the following from most likely to least likely as to the way Joey Bart ultimately departs from the San Francisco Giants organization: a. Release/DFA'd b. Free agency (major league, minor league, other league, i.e. KBO) c. Trade of any form d. Retirement from baseball Does Steven Duggar beat out Alex Dickerson for a postseason spot? Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON. NetSuite NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind financing program only for those ready to switch today! Head to NetSuite.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. Kevin Gausman and Donovan Solano provided what may have been the Giants' most magical moments of the season to date. Solano tied the game with a pinch-hit homer with two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the 9th. Gausman was forced to pinch hit with the bases loaded and one out in the 11th, and he delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly. The Giants won two of three against the Braves, keeping pace with the Dodgers, who won two of three in Cincinnati. Alex Wood came off the COVID-19 IL to make a start on Saturday, and he was brilliant in three innings of work. Johnny Cueto is progressing well and may make a rehab start this week. The Giants have had multiple bullpen games each week for a while, so Wood and Cueto's returns should help a tired 'pen. The Giants have a one-game lead in the NL West with 12 games to play. Ben discusses the Giants' and Dodgers' remaining schedule, and why a wild card game against the Cardinals should not be what the Giants want to see. Don't give Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt a chance to end your season in a one-game playoff. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON. NetSuite NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind financing program only for those ready to switch today! Head to NetSuite.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers listeners' questions about the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: What do you think the Giants' playoff rotation will look like? What would be the ideal postseason lineup vs a LHP? RHP? What do you think will the Giants' playoff 26 man roster? Or more specifically, what player that has contributed will not be on the 26-man roster? Contending team you least want to face/toughest potential opponent for: 1. NL Wild Card 2. NLDS 3. NLCS 4. World Series? Contending team you most want to face/easiest potential opponent for: 1. NL Wild Card 2. NLDS 3. NLCS 4. World Series? With Kris Bryant struggling of late, and his likely massive impending price in the offseason, do you think Giants will be interested in re-signing him? What do you think they’ll offer vs. what he’ll end up signing? Wouldn't it be beneficial to the overall bullpen health down the stretch to call up the hottest Triple-A starting pitcher for a spot start or two instead of expecting 8-10 relievers to all be on their game on the same day? Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON. NetSuite NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind financing program only for those ready to switch today! Head to NetSuite.com/LockedOn StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' lead in the NL West slipping down to one game after back-to-back losses to the Padres. Ben discusses the two teams' remaining schedules and breaks down what went wrong for the Giants in the last two games. Alex Wood's COVID-19 illness has hurt the Giants, as they've had to cover two different spots in the rotation with bullpen games. He should be back on Saturday, and Donovan Solano and Alex Dickerson are also making progress toward a return. Kevin Gausman struggled on Thursday, and Giants pitching allowed 16 runs and 30 hits over the last two games combined. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON. NetSuite NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind financing program only for those ready to switch today! Head to NetSuite.com/LockedOn StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick is joined by Locked On Padres host Javier Reyes to talk about the state of the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres. The duo discuss the Padres' collapse, Yu Darvish's home run problems, and how everyone was wrong about what these two teams would be. The Giants made under-the-radar moves in the offseason and stockpiled a ton of depth, and it has worked out beautifully. Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani, and others were great pitching additions (while the Padres' acquisitions of Darvish and Blake Snell haven't gone so great). And the Giants have had star production from veterans like Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt, Evan Longoria, and more. Their depth has been a hallmark of their resounding success. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON. NetSuite NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind financing program only for those ready to switch today! Head to NetSuite.com/LockedOn StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants clinching a spot in the 2021 postseason. They're the first team to do so, and it's the earliest clinch for the Giants in franchise history. They routed the Padres, who were supposed to be the team that made their road to the playoffs nearly impossible. Instead, the Padres have crumbled and the Giants have challenged the Dodgers all season long. Winning the division remains the goal for Gabe Kapler's club, but the accomplishment is absolutely worth celebrating. Buster Posey had a memorable line after the game about how this group has adapted to how the game has to be played now, and he, the other veterans, new players, the coaches, Kapler, and Farnan Zaidi and Scott Harris deserve so much praise. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON. NetSuite NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind financing program only for those ready to switch today! Head to NetSuite.com/LockedOn StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants being one win away from clinching their first postseason berth since 2016. Yes, winning the NL West remains the regular-season goal, but clinching a postseason berth in baseball is always worth celebrating. Not to mention the fact that it would be the first playoff appearance for a number of Giants, including Mike Yastrzemski and manager Gabe Kapler. Ben also discusses the outstanding success of unlikely players like Darin Ruf, Tyler Rogers, and Jarlin García, all of whom can be found on some seriously impressive top-10 and top-5 lists. Finally, Ben discusses the specifics of the Giants' sweep of the Cubs over the weekend. Austin Slater and Wilmer Flores came off the IL, and Flores made an immediate impact. However, Ben adds outfield communication to the short list of flaws for the 2021 Giants. Baserunning has also not been their strong suit. Over the weekend, there was another collision in the outfield, between Slater and Kris Bryant, and that just can't happen. Fixing the issue is simply a matter of having better communication, and that must happen to avoid potentially disastrous situations in the postseason. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON. NetSuite NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind financing program only for those ready to switch today! Head to NetSuite.com/LockedOn StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' win over the Cubs on Friday afternoon. Brandon Belt wore a captain's C on his chest made out of electrical tape, and he went out and delivered one of his best games of the season. Evan Longoria had put the C on Belt's jersey, not expecting him to wear it on the field. Longoria and Belt both hit two-run homers in the 7th inning. It was another successful bullpen game for the Giants, started by Dominic Leone. The strategy has worked pretty well for the Giants of late, and today the 'pen was able to hold the Cubs to one run on two hits all day. Coming up this weekend, the Giants will go with Kevin Gausman and Logan Webb, putting them in great position to potentially clinch a playoff berth and perhaps expand their division lead over the Dodgers, which grew to five games after Friday's win. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON. NetSuite NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind financing program only for those ready to switch today! Head to NetSuite.com/LockedOn StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about what's to come after the season for the 90-50 San Francisco Giants. It's been a magical season in 2021, but what will happen when it ends? The team has several key potential free agents, including Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Kevin Gausman, Kris Bryant, Anthony DeSclafani, Donovan Solano, Alex Wood, Johnny Cueto, and others. Ben discusses who he thinks will be back, and some potential free agents from outside the organization who might be fits. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON. NetSuite NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind financing program only for those ready to switch today! Head to NetSuite.com/LockedOn StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' series sweep in Denver. LaMonte Wade Jr. had a huge, go-ahead hit in the Giants' 9th-inning comeback, and Evan Longoria delivered a knockout punch. Earlier in the game, Brandon Crawford's three-run homer tied the game after the Giants had been shut out through five. The night prior, Logan Webb's streak of 14 straight starts allowing two runs or fewer came to an end, but he went seven strong and allowed just three earned runs, a great start at altitude. The Giants' bats erupted in this game as well, and they ended up scoring over 10 runs per game on average in the sweep. Steven Duggar was the hero with two triples and a double. Watch Daily on YouTube http://bit.ly/LOGYouTube Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON. NetSuite NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind financing program only for those ready to switch today! Head to NetSuite.com/LockedOn StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the San Francisco Giants' dominant win in Denver. Kevin Gausman was highly effective with a mid-90s fastball, and the offense exploded for four home runs. Darin Ruf, Buster Posey, and Thairo Estrada (twice) went deep in the win. The Giants' bullpen, the subject of much conversation after two bullpen games over the weekend, appears well rested after Gausman went seven, and Caleb Baragar, John Brebbia, and Dominic Leone closed out the win. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON. NetSuite NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind financing program only for those ready to switch today! Head to NetSuite.com/LockedOn StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' weekend series win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants entered this critical season series finale with first place on the line, and they left town back in first place after winning two of three. Anthony DeSclafani was fantastic on Friday, bucking the trend of getting beat up by the Dodgers. Jake McGee blew a 9th-inning save chance, but the Giants won the grinding game on an extra-innings error by Trea Turner. The Giants went with bullpen games on Saturday and Sunday. The first one didn't go well, but on Sunday the 'pen out-piched Walker Buehler on Sunday Night Baseball. Steven Duggar, recalled prior to the game and in the starting lineup, had a huge two-run triple early on, and the Giants never looked back. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON. NetSuite NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind financing program only for those ready to switch today! Head to NetSuite.com/LockedOn StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers listeners' questions about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Are we pretty certain at this point that Logan Webb would be the Wild Card game starter if we ended up in the Wild Card slot? What would the Giants need to do to give Darin Ruf more at-bats? Would they have to move LaMonte Wade to center and take away ABs from Mike Yastrzemski even vs righties, or take away ABs from Alex Dickerson who has been decent at the plate for about a month now? Is the home run ball sustainable come October? Are we watching Buster Posey’s final season as a baseball player? And more. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the San Francisco Giants' much-needed win against the Brewers in the series finale on Thursday afternoon. Logan Webb delivered his 14th straight start allowing two runs or fewer, a remarkable achievement. Darin Ruf had a huge hit after an enormous replay review on Kris Bryant went the Giants' way. Thairo Estrada capped the rally with a three-run homer against one of the game's best relievers, Devin Williams. Ben also talks about Wednesday night's loss, including the injury to Wilmer Flores, Johnny Cueto going on the IL prior to the game, and LaMonte Wade Jr. being robbed by Oracle Park of what would have been a game-tying home run. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' difficult finish to the month of August, yet their surprisingly great overall numbers in the month. Despite the rough finish, the Giants enter the month of September in first place in a division almost everyone thought would be dominated by the Dodgers and Padres, and they're tied with the Rays for the majors' best record. Johnny Cueto struggled in his return from the IL, the defense was sloppy, and some key offensive contributors continued to scuffle, but the Giants are in an enviable position entering the season's stretch run. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the latest with the San Francisco Giants. Prior to Monday's series opener with the Milwaukee Brewers, Alex Wood was placed on the COVID-19 IL, and Johnny Cueto was placed on the COVID-19 protocol list. Cueto is ill but has tested negative for COVID-19. The Giants cannot afford to lose both starters for an extended period. Their rotation has been wobbly lately anyway, and losing 40% of their starting staff as September rolls in does not bode well. However, the team claimed Jose Quintana off waivers yesterday, and he could spot start. The Giants lost the game against Corbin Burnes and the Brewers, a team that nobody would want to face in October. Burnes completely shut the Giants down, and he's one of three aces on their staff. The Giants had some chances, but they hit into some very bad luck throughout the course of the game, including at some critical moments. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. The Giants' magic number was reduced to 17, and the playoffs are very much in sight. Logan Webb continued to look like an ace, but Kevin Gausman continued his inconsistent second half and Anthony DeSclafani was hit hard in his first game off the injured list. The Giants' upcoming schedule is a bit daunting, but they've been able to keep winning lately despite playing good teams. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the San Francisco Giants' crushing win over the New York Mets. Brandon Belt homered twice after losing his grandmother earlier that day. The Giants added four home runs to their MLB lead and are on pace to shatter their franchise record. The Giants also guaranteed they would not have five losing seasons for the first time in franchise history with win No. 81 last night. On the mound, Sammy Long was brilliant over 5.1 innings, filling in for the injured Anthony DeSclafani. It was a gutsy, much-needed outing for the young lefty, who could play an important role down the stretch and for seasons to come with the Giants. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the key performers on the MLB-best San Francisco Giants. Last week he talked about the team numbers that have led to the team's success, and today he describes the individual players who have made such an impact. Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford have had monster seasons worthy of MVP consideration, but what about lesser known players like LaMonte Wade Jr.? What about Mike Yastrzemski? On the pitching side, he discusses Kevin Gausman, Logan Webb, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, Johnny Cueto, and more. He also talks about Jake McGee, Tyler Rogers, and others who have made up an extremely underrated Giants bullpen. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. The first thing we learned was that the Giants set pinch-hit history with late, dramatic pinch homers by LaMonte Wade Jr. and Donovan Solano. The second thing we learned was that Logan Webb continued his stretch of dominance and has emerged as a front-line starter, and that Kevin Gausman continued to struggle. Finally, we learned that Evan Longoria and Anthony DeSclafani were placed on the IL (Longoria with vaccine side effects), and that the Giants' projected rotation in New York looks shaky. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Molecule Mattress Visit OnMolecule.com and save twenty percent with promo code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' key statistics at the season's 3/4 mark. Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford have fueled a potent offense, and their defense hasn't hurt either. On the pitching side, the Giants put the ball on the ground and limit free passes, which makes them a top-10 unit in the league overall. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Mike Yastrzemski really hasn't hit at all. are they concerned about him? Is there any discussion about Yastrzemski and his struggles? Sure seems like he can’t catch up to hard stuff, especially up in the zone. He consistently fouls off good pitches to hit, swings through hard stuff up, and soft stuff in the dirt. Looks like he could use an IL stint. Why Tyler Chatwood over Jay Jackson? Simply a matter of Jackson having pitched recently so they needed a fresh arm? Or, is this a long-term move? Might be blasphemy to say, but doesn’t it seem like LaMonte Wade Jr. watches a lot of strike three calls? Sorry, very minor critique of a very productive player. Was Farhan Zaidi punking other GM's when he said publicly that starting pitching was his priority at the trade deadline? Are there any starting pitching options that could potentially be called up? Especially given some of the recent injuries to our current staff. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the San Francisco Giants' last two games against the New York Mets. Logan Webb was brilliant again on Tuesday, continuing his breakout season and leading the Giants to a win. Webb has a 1.64 ERA in his last 11 starts, and has allowed two runs or fewer in in all of them, tying a franchise record. Tommy La Stella and Evan Longoria homered in support of Webb. On Wednesday, Anthony DeSclafani had to exit in the second inning with right ankle discomfort. The bullpen put up a valliant effort, but Jake McGee allowed the Mets to tie the game with one run in the 9th, and the newest Giant Tyler Chatwood imploded in extras. The middle of the Giants lineup was not at all productive in the loss. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' win over the Mets, and Kris Bryant's stated desire to stay with the Giants. Bryant said that being with the Giants "feels right," and hinted at his desire to sign an extension, even before he reaches free agency at the end of the season. Ben explores what a Bryant extension might look like, and adds it onto potential deals for Buster Posey, Kevin Gausman, and Brandon Belt. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. The first thing we learned is that Brandon Crawford signed a two-year, $32M extension to stay in San Francisco. Crawford is enjoying a career year at age 34, and the deal is a win for both sides. The second thing we learned was that the Crawford extension gives the Giants roster flexibility, particularly regarding what they'll do this winter with an all-time shortstop free agent class. Finally, the third thing we learned was that the Giants activated Evan Longoria off the 60-day IL, Sammy Long was recalled to start Saturday's game (and then optioned after the game), and Anthony DeSclafani was activated off the IL to start on Friday. The Giants ended up taking three out of four from the Rockies this weekend, and next will welcome the New York Mets into town. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francsico Giants' 7-0 win over the Rockies on Thursday night at Oracle Park. Logan Webb was fantastic again, firing six shutout innings and nearly hitting a grand slam. LaMonte Wade Jr. hit another home run, raising his season total to 15. When the Giants acquired Wade Jr., people wondered if he'd ever hit for power, and he has put those questions to rest. Finally, Ben discusses the Giants opening up a five-game lead in the NL West, leading to betting sites and projection systems believing the Giants may finally be favored to win the division. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the San Francisco Giants' 7-2 win and series sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night. Kevin Gausman started off great, but ended up losing his command in what amounted to another shaky outing. Buster Posey, LaMonte Wade Jr., Brandon Crawford, and Alex Dickerson hit home runs. Prior to the game Johnny Cueto was placed on the IL and Thairo Estrada was recalled. The bullpen tossed four scoreless innings to close out the Giants' league-leading 73rd victory. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' resilient 8-7 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night. Kris Bryant delivered the walk-off in the 9th, Buster Posey wasn't retired in five plate appearances, Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt, and Mike Yastrzemski scorched the ball. Alex Wood was brilliant early but fell apart in the 6th. Jake McGee blew a save, allowing his first earned run(s) since May 30th. But the resilient Giants shrugged it all off and won anyway. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Am I right to have given up on Alex Dickerson and Austin Slater? Do you think poor outfield play (Slater/Dickerson) will result in a call up from Triple-A? Heliot Ramos is the obvious OF we all think of, but Joe McCarthy’s OPS is almost 1.000. What pending free agents are returning next season? Sean Hjelle just got promoted to Triple-A yesterday. What do you think is the likelihood we see him make an appearance or even a start in the majors this season, particularly given all the question marks around our rotation right now? The September roster expansion is inexplicably limited to just two additional players this season. Barring injuries, Steven Duggar and Thairo Estrada would seem to be the likely candidates. Do you see them going with a third catcher though? If so, Joey Bart or Chadwick Tromp? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. The Giants proved they can contend with anyone, winning another series against a top team. Brandon Belt and Tommy La Stella returned to the lineup and made an immediate impact. Kevin Gausman was placed on paternity leave and then reinstated, leading to Aaron Sanchez being DFA'd. Steven Duggar and Thairo Estrada were optioned so the Giants could add pitching depth to the major league roster. The Giants signed Tyler Chatwood, Matt Shoemaker, and Logan Ondrusek to minor league deals. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick looks back on the trade deadline from the San Francisco Giants' perspective. Along with Locked On Diamondbacks' Millard Thomas, he talks about the Giants landing Kris Bryant, and the impact of Max Scherzer heading to the second-place Dodgers. Both the Giants and Padres were rumored to be interested in Scherzer, and Ben and Millard discuss what it means that both teams missed and that Scherzer—and Trea Turner—landed with the reigning World Series champs. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Wild Alaskan Right now you can get $15 off your 1st box of premium seafood when you visit WildAlaskanCompany.com/MLB. Freshly Right now, Freshly is offering our listeners $40 off your first two orders when you go to Freshly.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks with Locked On D-backs host Millard Thomas about the San Francisco Giants' miraculous comeback win in Arizona on Thursday afternoon. Kris Bryant and LaMonte Wade Jr. came through with huge hits as the Giants erased a four-run 9th-inning deficit. The Giants' bullpen also came through with six scoreless innings after starter Alex Wood was only able to go four innings. Merrill Kelly was great for Arizona through eight innings, but the D-backs bullpen, which has been bad all year, allowed the Giants to come back and eventually win the game. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Wild Alaskan Right now you can get $15 off your 1st box of premium seafood when you visit WildAlaskanCompany.com/MLB. Freshly Right now, Freshly is offering our listeners $40 off your first two orders when you go to Freshly.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about what the San Francisco Giants' acquisition of Kris Bryant, and the Dodgers' acquisition of Max Scherzer, means for the NL West in 2021 and beyond. He's joined by Javier Reyes from Locked On Padres, and the two talk about each team's deadline, including the Padres' heartbreak over thinking they were getting Scherzer, only to see him go to their biggest rival. They also discuss the deadline as a whole, and some interesting new trends that emerged, including teams' newfound willingness to part with top prospects in deals. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Wild Alaskan Right now you can get $15 off your 1st box of premium seafood when you visit WildAlaskanCompany.com/MLB. Freshly Right now, Freshly is offering our listeners $40 off your first two orders when you go to Freshly.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' resilient 11-8 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night in Phoenix. In the second game of the Kris Bryant era, the Giants jumped out to a 7-1 lead behind a breakout game from struggling outfielder Alex Dickerson, who hit a grand slam. Jay Jackson struggled in relief, but José Álvarez, Tony Watson, and Jarlín García had clutch outings. Ben also discusses the Giants' impending roster crunch. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Wild Alaskan Right now you can get $15 off your 1st box of premium seafood when you visit WildAlaskanCompany.com/MLB. Freshly Right now, Freshly is offering our listeners $40 off your first two orders when you go to Freshly.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. Kris Bryant made his Giants debut and it was a lovefest all the way around. He was immediately embraced by the fans, and he gushed about his experience so far and how he grew up a Giants fan and always saw himself playing here at some point. Bryant homered in his debut and helped the Giants win their series against the Astros. Logan Webb was fantastic on Sunday, and earlier in the series the Giants wrapped up another successful month. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Wild Alaskan Right now you can get $15 off your 1st box of premium seafood when you visit WildAlaskanCompany.com/MLB. Freshly Right now, Freshly is offering our listeners $40 off your first two orders when you go to Freshly.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' acquisition of star INF/OF Kris Bryant from the Chicago Cubs. In the biggest move of the Farhan Zaidi Era, the Giants landed Bryant in exchange for minor league prospects Alexander Canario and Caleb Killian. Bryant is under club control for the remainder of the 2021 season, after which he will become a free agent. Bryant can play third and first base while Evan Longoria and Brandon Belt work their way back from injuries, and he can play the outfield as well. It's a major move for a Giants team that leads the NL West and has the best record in baseball as we enter August. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' series win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Prior to the game, Brandon Crawford and Aaron Sanchez were activated off the injured list, and John Brebbia was optioned, and Mike Tauchman was designated for assignment. Johnny Cueto and pitched beautifully. He was helped out by Jarlín García striking out Cody Bellinger in a dicey situation in the sixth. Dominic Leone, Tyler Rogers, and Jake McGee shut the door and ensured the Giants of the series win.\ Meanwhile, the trade deadline is fast approaching (Friday at 1 p.m. PT). Max Scherzer's name has been swirling around in rumors. There were reports today that the Nationals were close to a deal that would send Mad Max to the Padres, but then there were other reports that no deal was done and other teams, including the Giants, were still involved. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' exhilarating win over the Dodgers on Tuesday night at Oracle Park. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants and the upcoming trade deadline. Among the questions asked and answered are: Tom Verducci said he thinks the Giants are primed to make a major move, similar to when the Astros traded for Zack Grienke. Who do you think that could be? Craig Kimbrel and/or Kris Bryant? Joey Bart for Max Scherzer or Kimbrel? Realistic or no way? How important is it for any addition at the deadline to fit into the vibe or mentality in clubhouse at the moment? And who fits that mold best? Who is most likely to be traded or released that is on the 26- or 40-man roster? Big time roster crunch imminent already not including any potential trade additions. Do you think the Giants win the West if they stand pat at the trade deadline, with just the addition of their returning injured vets, and promoted minor leaguers? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. The first thing we learned is that LaMonte Wade Jr. is having a breakout season. He hit two more home runs and a double on Sunday, bringing his isolated power up to an elite level. He appears to be the Giants' latest diamond in the rough finding. The second thing we learned is that Kevin Gausman had another bad start, and the Pirates gave the Giants all kinds of problems in this series. Gausman didn't have a feel for his splitter, and this followed a bad start against the Dodgers in his last outing. He'll look to get back on track this week against either Los Angeles or Houston. The third thing we learned was about the health status of a number of Giants. Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper returned after a lengthy absence to call Saturday and Sunday's games. He surprised best friend and fellow broadcaster Mike Krukow in a heartwarming moment that was captured on camera. We also received health updates of Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt, Tommy La Stella, Evan Longoria, and Aaron Sanchez, all of whom are relatively close to returning. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the San Francisco Giants' insane and drama-filled comeback win against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night in LA. Darin Ruf's check swing no call will forever live in infamy. LaMonte Wade Jr's two-out single was probably the biggest hit of his young career. Jason Vosler's great plate appearance and even better secondary lead was essential. When all was said and done, the Dodgers were left kicking and screaming and the Giants left LA with a series win and three-game lead in the NL West. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wild Alaskan Right now you can get $15 off your 1st box of premium seafood when you visit WildAlaskanCompany.com/MLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' thrilling comeback win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wilmer Flores delivered a clutch two-run home run off Kenley Jansen in the 9th inning, and Tyler Rogers shut the door in the bottom of the 9th, one day after blowing a save and suffering a walk-off loss. Manager Gabe Kapler said he couldn't wait to get Rogers back out there, and he wasn't kidding. Buster Posey got things started with a pinch-hit single in the 9th, Mike Yastrzemski opened the scoring with a first-inning homer, and Logan Webb, Jay Jackson, and others pitched well in route to the victory in LA. The Giants now have a two-game lead over their rivals in the NL West, so they're guaranteed to leave town with first place intact. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wild Alaskan Right now you can get $15 off your 1st box of premium seafood when you visit WildAlaskanCompany.com/MLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' crushing walk-off loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tyler Rogers and John Brebbia coughed up runs, and the Giants blew a 6-1 lead. Alex Dickerson, Mike Yastrzemski, LaMonte Wade Jr, and Thairo Estrada homered, and Alex Wood pitched pretty well, but the bullpen could not hold back LA's bats, and Will Smith hit a walk-off three-run homer in the 9th. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wild Alaskan Right now you can get $15 off your 1st box of premium seafood when you visit WildAlaskanCompany.com/MLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the latest with the San Francisco Giants. Prior to the game, Brandon Crawford was placed on the 10-day IL with an oblique strain. Thairo Estrada figures to get everyday playing time at shortstop. Buster Posey and Kevin Gausman returned, and Posey made his presence felt right away with a first-inning two-run homer. Gausman was not sharp, lasting only three innings, but the bullpen picked him up with six shutout frames. The Giants' bats broke through in the seventh, and they went on to beat their rivals and increase their lead in the NL West to two games. They have an 11.5-game lead over a playoff spot. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wild Alaskan Right now you can get $15 off your 1st box of premium seafood when you visit WildAlaskanCompany.com/MLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. The first thing we learned is that the Giants' bats went quiet in St. Louis, and the outfield is becoming an area of concern. Austin Slater, Alex Dickerson, Mike Tauchman, and Steven Duggar are all going through rough patches. Only Mike Yastrzemski has been productive lately. The second thing we learned is that Kevin Gausman was placed on the family medical emergency leave list, as his wife Taylor was hospitalized due to pregnancy complications. Thankfully, Taylor is doing well and Gausman is scheduled to start Monday in Los Angeles. Logan Webb made Gausman's start on Friday, and he continued to throw the ball really well. The final thing we learned was that Tauchman was activated off the IL, Jay Jackson's contract was selected, Jason Vosler was optioned, and Evan Longoria was placed on the 60-day IL. We also received updates on Aaron Sanchez, Reyes Moronta, and Tommy La Stella, all of whom shouldn't be that far off from returning. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wild Alaskan Right now you can get $15 off your 1st box of premium seafood when you visit WildAlaskanCompany.com/MLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks with Locked On Cardinals host Lucas Smith about the San Francisco Giants and Cardinals' upcoming series. The two discuss the pitching matchups, which will feature Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani, and either Johnny Cueto or Alex Wood for the Giants, and Adam Wainwright, Kwang Hyun Kim, and Wade LeBlanc for the Cardinals. They also discuss the keys to the Giants' success so far, what each team's biggest needs are at the trade deadline, and much more. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Freshly Right now, Freshly is offering our listeners $40 off your first two orders when you go to Freshly.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: The Giants are a couple weeks out from when the roster will officially “crunch." Who on the active roster do you see gone by trade, option, or DFA? BABIP is a an indicator of lucky or unlucky hitting. Is there an equivalent for indicator for left-on-base ? Is seems like the Giants have left a ton on base, and maybe it’s all just evening out because they’ve typically been scoring those guys. What role will Tyler Beede play post-All-Star break? Starter? Reliever? Neither? Why are the Giants so attached to Beede? His numbers are terrible. He still has control problems. Jake McGee throws a lot of pitches down the middle. When I heard he was a one pitch guy, I figured he had plus command. Strikes, yes; corners, no. Is this how he has historically pitched, or is he getting lucky this year? Does the fastball carry that much that this is expected to continue? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Freshly Right now, Freshly is offering our listeners $40 off your first two orders when you go to Freshly.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' statistical rankings in key categories at the All-Star break. The Giants have been one of baseball's best offensive teams, lead by strong seasons from veterans Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, Evan Longoria, and Brandon Belt. But they've also had help, as the likes of Mike Yastrzemski, Darin Ruf, and Steven Duggar have been very good as well. The Giants have also been a great defensive team, with Mike Tauchman, Crawford, and others leading the way, and they've also had surprisingly good defensive performances from Donovan Solano, Wilmer Flores, and pretty much everyone else, with the possible exception of Alex Dickerson in left field. Darin Ruf and LaMonte Wade Jr. have provided positive defensive value filling in for an injured Belt. On the pitching side, the Giants have been very good overall, led by Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, Tyler Rogers, Jake McGee, and Dominic Leone. One area of weakness has been baserunning, but they've more than made up for it by getting on base, hitting for power (the Giants lead the majors in home runs, isolated power, and slugging percentage), defense, and pitching. Given all of the data, it's no surprise that this team has the best record in baseball at the All-Star break. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Freshly Right now, Freshly is offering our listeners $40 off your first two orders when you go to Freshly.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick hands out Giants midseason awards. The MVP award realistically could have gone to three different Giants. Brandon Crawford, Kevin Gausman, and Buster Posey all had phenomenal first halves, but only one can win! Ben also talks about the Giants' Cy Young, which could go to Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani, Tyler Rogers, or Jake McGee. Most surprising player comes down to LaMonte Wade Jr, Evan Longoria, Steven Duggar, and Curt Casali. Finally, the best and worst moment of the year are considered. The Opening Night loss to the Mariners is up there, as is a stunning loss in Colorado. Among the best moments under consideration are the Mike Tauchman catch in LA, Casali's walk-off against the A's that made the Giants the first team to 50 wins, and Mike Yastrzemski's splash-hit grand slam that completed a comeback from being down 7-0. What a first half it was for the 57-32 Giants. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Freshly Right now, Freshly is offering our listeners $40 off your first two orders when you go to Freshly.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francsico Giants. Club president Farhan Zaidi met with the media on Friday, and talked about how he is prioritizing starting pitching at the trade deadline. The Giants have several outstanding starters, including Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, and Logan Webb, who returned to action on Friday and pitched very well on a pitch limit, but Zaidi is concerned about depth at the position given the rigors of a 162-game season. The Giants also made several roster moves over the weekend, activating Webb, promoting Joey Bart (then sending him back down), and sending Tommy La Stella and Mike Tauchman on rehab assignments. The Giants will have a serious roster crunch upcoming when these players, along with the likes of Evan Longoria, are ready to return from injury. Potential trades will also add to the crunch. Finally, Ben discusses the Giants selecting RHP Will Bednar with the 14th overall pick last night. Bednar is a physical righty with a plus fastball and slider capable of missing bats in the zone. He also has a bulldog mentality and seems destined to be at least a solid starting pitcher for the Giants in the not-too-distant future. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Freshly Right now, Freshly is offering our listeners $40 off your first two orders when you go to Freshly.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Who are the best and most realistic trade targets, and who would we have to give up? Are we willing to sell the farm for Max Scherzer or Jose Berrios? Are we going to go get Joey Gallo or another elite bat? Gallo and Kyle Gibson seem to make a ton of sense for the Giants. Would the Giants be able to swing a trade for both, and should they really look to make that big a move? What would a guy in the Gallo tier (and by that I mean Gallo) cost at the deadline? Marco Luciano has to be the one untouchable; would this regime be willing to give up a Joey Bart or a Hunter Bishop? Would a deal centered around Bart, Alexander Canario, and Seth Corry be a strong enough start for Sandy Alcantara? He seems to be the guy with the most control/upside that may be available, now that German Marquez may be staying. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants salvaging a game in the series finale against the Cardinals. Alex Wood tossed seven brilliant innings, Mike Yastrzemski got in the Cardinals' starting pitcher's head, and the Giants offense broke through for five runs after setting the table seemingly every inning. Yastrzemski, Donovan Solano, and Darin Ruf had big hits, and Tyler Rogers got Nolan Arenado to ground into a huge double play in the 8th inning. With the win, the Giants gained a game on the Dodgers and Padres, who both lost last night. Also discussed on today's show: are the Giants too reliant on home runs? Why Ben think that's a silly question. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick breaks down the San Francisco Giants' second consecutive loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. As he has seemingly done a hundred times, Nolan Arenado delivered a big blow that put the Giants on their heels right away. He and Paul Goldschmidt have continued to haunt the Giants even after leaving the NL West. Johnny Cueto didn't have his best start, and the Giants offense could not battle all the way back despite numerous chances. Ben also talks about two questionable decisions by Gabe Kapler on today's show. John Brebbia was left in for a second inning after giving up a run in his first, and Steven Duggar tried to bunt with two on and nobody out in the 9th inning with the Giants trailing by just a run. A flurry of roster moves are also discussed. Prior to the game, the Giants activated Tyler Beede, recalled Jason Vosler, placed Jaylin Davis on the 10-day injured list, and designated Jimmie Sherfy for assignment. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick breaks down the San Francisco Giants' disappointing loss to the Cardinals, and takes a look at what to make of the upcoming schedule. Kevin Gausman took a no-hitter into the 7th, but Kwang Hyun Kim ultimately outdueled him as the Giants offense couldn't get anything going against the Cardinals' left-handed starter. Alex Dickerson homered in the 8th, which bodes well for the next two games against right-handed starters. Johnny Cueto starts against Adam Wainwright tonight in a battle of veterans, and Alex Wood takes on a young righty on Wednesday night. The Giants play the Cardinals, Nationals, and Cardinals again in their next three series, and they really ought to take advantage considering they then play the Dodgers and Astros 10 times in 13 games. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. Austin Slater had been slumping mightily, but he picked the perfect time to break through. His clutch hitting helped the Giants win three of four in Arizona. Meanwhile, Kevin Gausman and Brandon Crawford were named National League All-Stars. It's Crawford's third selection and the first for Gausman. Finally, we learned that Buster Posey narrowly escaped disaster, with x-rays coming back negative on his left thumb. He came out of Sunday's game after taking a foul tip off the thumb, which seemed to leave him in a ton of pain. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants losing their fourth straight game last night, this one to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Johnny Cueto was ill and did not pitch well, allowing five runs in five innings. Alex Dickerson continued to struggle hitting in the middle of the lineup. LaMonte Wade Jr. went hitless again at the top of the order. Is it time to panic about the Giants' first four-game losing streak of the season? Things won't get any easier tonight as they face Zac Gallen, one of the best pitchers in the league. What are the Giants' biggest needs as the trade deadline approaches? Is an upgrade in left field a necessity? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wild Alaskan Right now you can get $15 off your 1st box of premium seafood when you visit WildAlaskanCompany.com/MLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers listener questions about the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Considering big bats like Mike Yastrzemski and Alex Dickerson still haven’t gotten it going at the plate, could the Giants pursue a big bat at the deadline? Maybe someone like Joey Gallo. He fits the Farhan profile. Will Farhan Zaidi trade for proven commodities, or for his usual potentially hidden gems? Will team control be a primary consideration for the players he targets? What is your take on these ridiculous home run dugout celebrations? I just watched the Padres put a Flava Flav size SD medallion on Wil Myers for hitting a solo shot...don't get me wrong I'm all for celebration, but can we all just take a page from the giants and keep it classy? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wild Alaskan Right now you can get $15 off your 1st box of premium seafood when you visit WildAlaskanCompany.com/MLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the ramifications of the Giants getting swept by the Dodgers in this two-game series. The Giants held the Dodgers to six runs in two games, but Dodgers pitching was better. San Francisco couldn't get a big hit with runners on base. Despite the losses, the Giants have an 8.5-game lead on a playoff spot. Before the game, Thairo Estrada was recalled from Triple-A and Mauricio Dubón was optioned for the first time since joining the team in 2019. Dubón had struggled mightily this year, and Estrada was tearing it up in Sacramento. Mike Tauchman injured his knee while making a fabulous catch in the outfield. After striking out in eight straight plate appearances, he has reached base in four of his last five dating back to his extra-inning home run in Anaheim. He's been a man of extremes this season, playing elite defense and having superb discipline, but his bat has been ice cold for the most part. Hopefully his knee is okay, because it seemed like he was starting to break through offensively. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wild Alaskan Right now you can get $15 off your 1st box of premium seafood when you visit WildAlaskanCompany.com/MLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' disappointing 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night. The game was decided exclusively by five solo home runs, with three being hit by the Dodgers and the other two coming courtesy of LaMonte Wade Jr. and Brandon Crawford. Austin Slater and Mauricio Dubón were not used in big spots, including against a left-handed pitcher, prompting Ben to wonder whether the team has lost confidence in the duo. Curt Casali was also called upon to pinch hit in another big spot against, which was an unusual decision by Giants manager Gabe Kapler. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wild Alaskan Right now you can get $15 off your 1st box of premium seafood when you visit WildAlaskanCompany.com/MLB.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. They had another great weekend, winning two of three against a good Oakland A's team. LaMonte Wade Jr., Johnny Cueto, Steven Duggar, and Curt Casali played starring roles. The Giants reached the top of the MLB and FanGraphs Power Rankings. Their playoff odds are up near 90%. We also learned about injuries to Brandon Belt and Tommy La Stella, and that Brandon Crawford, Buster Posey, and Mike Yastrzemski are All-Star finalists who need our support to start the All-Star game! Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wild Alaskan Right now you can get $15 off your 1st box of premium seafood when you visit WildAlaskanCompany.com/MLB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks with Jason Burke from Locked On A's about the San Francisco Giants' weekend series against their Bay Area rivals. The duo discuss the Giants' fast start, the possibility of relocation for the A's, the the weekend's pitching matchups. Tonight it's Johnny Cueto (apparently an A's killer) against Sean Manaea, who's having a great season. Tomorrow it's Alex Wood against Frankie Montas, then on Sunday it's Sammy Long vs. Cole Irvin. Ben and Jason also talk about the Giants' improved bullpen. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Freshly Right now, Freshly is offering our listeners $40 off your first two orders when you go to Freshly.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick provides updates about the state of the San Francisco Giants' minor league system. He discusses, Joey Bart, Heliot Ramos, Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, Patrick Bailey, Seth Corry, Kyle Harrison, Sean Hjelle, and more. He also answers some mailbag questions about the upcoming trade deadline, and whether the Giants will be players for some big names in the relief pitcher market. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Freshly Right now, Freshly is offering our listeners $40 off your first two orders when you go to Freshly.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the Giants' two-game series sweep against the Angels in Anaheim. In the second game, the Kevin Gausman vs. Shohei Ohtani matchup lived up to the hype, then things got truly wacky in a 9-3, 13-inning win. Mike Tauchman was one pitch away from an 0 for 6 with six-strikeouts, but he delivered a knockout three-run home run that might have saved his spot on the roster. Brandon Belt also got injured in this game, meaning LaMonte Wade Jr. could be recalled again. In the first game, Anthony DeSclafani pitched another gem, and the offense erupted for four runs in the first inning. The Giants' offense is not built on "timely hitting." They're built on power and plate discipline. They're leading the majors in home runs. They don't follow conventional wisdom like "expand the zone with two strikes," and they're much better off for it. It's not a coincidence that Gabe Kapler's Giants are now 4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: How does a team with so much depth incorporate prospects and give them a real chance? How can the Giants get Joey Bart some playing time this year without a Buster Posey injury? I can’t see them keeping him down all year hitting the way he is. Who are the next two guys to go down when Tommy La Stella and eventually Evan Longoria make their way back? Would Ketel Marte be the ideal position player to trade for? Low K%, solid BB%, young, super versatile, and has a very team friendly contract with 3 and a half seasons of control. Seems like the type of player Farhan might consider trading real prospects for. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Freshly Right now, Freshly is offering our listeners $40 off your first two orders when you go to Freshly.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. The first thing we learned is that the Giants are legitimately one of the best teams in baseball. Gabe Kapler's Giants stuck it to his old team again, as they improved to an MLB-best 46-26. The second thing we learned is that Sammy Long has earned a continued look in the Giants' rotation, which is a great development with Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, Aaron Sanchez, and Johnny Cueto set to reach free agency after the season. The final thing we learned is that John Brebbia joined the Giants' re-made bullpen, which has seen Dominic Leone, Zack Littell, and Jimmie Sherfy added in recent weeks. Quietly, the Giants' bullpen, with Tyler Rogers and Jake McGee still anchoring the back end, has been very effective over the last couple of months. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Freshly Right now, Freshly is offering our listeners $40 off your first two orders when you go to Freshly.com/LockedOn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks in this four-game series. Kevin Gausman and Anthony DeSclafani were great again, and the offense stayed red hot. The Giants have the majors' best record, and manager Gabe Kapler continues to look like the NL Manager of the Year. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick joins Locked On D-backs host Millard Thomas to discuss their picks for NL All Stars. Do the Giants' Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford make the cut? Listen to find out. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' thrilling 9-8 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, in which Mike Yastrzemski's splash-hit grand slam completed the Giants' comeback from down 7-0. Zack Littell and Sammy Long combined to put the Giants in an early hole, but the offense, led by Steven Duggar, Brandon Belt, and Donovan Solano, chipped away and put Yastrzemski in position in the bottom of the 8th. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francsico Giants' much-needed win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night. Alex Wood pitched great, and Dominc Leone, Tyler Rogers, and Jake McGee shut the door. Brandon Crawford had a big night at the plate, as did Brandon Belt, Donovan Solano, and Mike Yastrzemski. Also discussed on today's show is MLB's memo on its new policies regarding the use of foreign substances on the baseball. This is a huge ongoing story that will affect the Giants in many ways. It could also affect the action on the field in a very meaningful way moving forward. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. The number one thing we learned is that the Giants' bats went ice cold in DC. Brandon Belt and Steven Duggar struck out almost every time they came to the plate, and mainstays like Buster Posey, Mike Yastrzemski, and Brandon Crawford didn't do much either (although Posey's solo homer was enough to secure a 1-0 win in the first game). We also learned that Anthony DeSclafani is a very good starter for the Giants, something that was in doubt after he allowed 10 earned runs to the Dodgers recently. Mike Tauchman continued to scuffle at the plate, but made another game-saving catch, robbing Juan Soto of a homer in the Giants' 1-0 win on Friday. Finally, we learned that Tauchman's spot on the roster continues to be safe because he doesn't have minor league options, and that Duggar could be optioned to get Darin Ruf back onto the roster as early as today. Also, Curt Casali came off the IL, with Chadwick Tromp headed back to Triple-A; Caleb Baragar was also optioned to add Yastrzemski off the IL. John Brebbia, signed in the offseason and recovering from Tommy John surgery, is also close to returning off the IL. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' trade of Matt Wisler to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for left-handed pitcher Michael Plassmeyer. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Lucy.Co Go to Lucy.co and use Promo Code LOCKEDONMLB to get 20% off all products on your first order, including gum or lozenges! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details what to expect as the San Francsico Giants begin a four-game series against Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals. Anthony DeSclafani will take on Scherzer tonight, then Kevin Gausman, Johnny Cueto, and Alex Wood go up against TBD, Joe Ross, and Jon Lester. The Giants should have the advantage in three of the four games. Their offense is superior, even though Juan Soto and Trea Turner are terrifying, and the bullpens are relatively evenly matched. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Lucy.Co Go to Lucy.co and use Promo Code LOCKEDONMLB to get 20% off all products on your first order, including gum or lozenges! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' polar opposite two games in Texas. In the first game, Mike Tauchman and Brandon Crawford played hero in the Giants' thrilling come-from-behind win. In the second game, Sammy Long was brilliant in his MLB debut, but Tyler Rogers and Jake McGee could not hold off the Rangers' bats as the Giants lost late leads and ultimately the game. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Lucy.Co Go to Lucy.co and use Promo Code LOCKEDONMLB to get 20% off all products on your first order, including gum or lozenges! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers listeners questions about the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: At what point do the injuries become too much? So far we haven’t skipped a beat with guys like Steven Duggar, LaMonte Wade Jr., and Jason Vosler playing so well. The Giants have a 10 game stretch coming up against last place teams. What would you consider a successful record during that stretch? Do you have any thoughts on the idea that the Mike Tauchman acquisition was made with an eye to the future? Working with the hitting coaches to forge a swing change could unlock more contact and power and make him a dangerous hitter with the eye he has, but would need to wait a season? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Lucy.Co Go to Lucy.co and use Promo Code LOCKEDONMLB to get 20% off all products on your first order, including gum or lozenges! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. The first thing we learned is that Evan Longoria is going to miss 4-6 weeks with a left shoulder sprain, an injury he sustained after colliding with Brandon Crawford in the 9th inning of Saturday's win against the Cubs. The Giants have been ravaged by injuries in 2021, and losing Longoria is among their biggest blows. They're also currently missing Tommy La Stella, Brandon Belt, Mike Yastrzemski, Logan Webb, and several others. Players like LaMonte Wade Jr., Jason Vosler, and Steven Duggar have filled in admirably in their absence. The second thing we learned is that the Giants may call up a young starter for Wednesday's game. Webb is on the IL, and Scott Kazmir and Nick Tropeano were recently DFA'd, so it may be Sam Long or Matt Frisbee to start Wednesday against the Rangers. The third thing we learned is some unfortunate news about Giants play-by-play announcer Duane Kuiper. Kuiper announced via the Giants on Monday that he has a medical condition that will require immediate chemotherapy treatment, and that he may miss broadcasts. Obviously, our hearts go out to Kuiper and we wish him nothing but the best and a full and speedy recovery from his condition. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Lucy.Co Go to Lucy.co and use Promo Code LOCKEDONMLB to get 20% off all products on your first order, including gum or lozenges! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants defeating the Chicago Cubs last night despite a mounting number of injuries. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” StatHero StatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: If Brandon Crawford keeps up his play for the duration of the season, what kind of contract is he looking at? Would the Giants bring him back over Corey Seager/Trevor Story? What’s going to happen when Darin Ruf and Brandon Belt come off the IL? Steven Duggar and LaMonte Wade Jr. are both playing well, but they can’t keep too many left handed outfielders and they won’t cut loose on Mike Tauchman due to him being under team control for the next couple years. Has a team ever signed one of its longest contracts for a player who is a defensive liability and plays the same position as guy who hit .326 & won the Silver Slugger Award? Donovan Solano's track record against RHP is not as strong as Tommy La Stella's but if Crawford's everyday player, isn't Solano? How much longer do the giants keep Tauchman on the roster? He’s had a rough month and besides the amazing catch, has done nothing. What should we make of Curt Casali's struggles, and at what point do you think the Giants will consider cutting him, assuming the performance at the plate remains the same? Some national media still see the Giants as sellers this year with many veterans in the last year of their deal. Do you see the Giants selling for future pieces if they are still in contention for a playoff spot? What's your read on the Cubs in this post-Theo Epstein era? What or who should we be looking out for with them heading into this series tonight? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about numerous San Francisco Giants topics. Kevin Gausman was named the NL's top pitcher for the month of May. The Giants made a trade, acquiring intriguing right-handed reliever Sam Delaplane, who recently had Tommy John surgery. Mike Yastrzmeksi has an injured thumb, but thankfully X-rays were negative. Evan Longoria has a right side injury. The Giants added reliever Dominic Leone to the roster and optioned Nick Tropeano. All that and more on today's podcast. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' sizzling month of May. Brandon Crawford led the offense, and Kevin Gausman looked like a Cy Young contender. Steven Duggar and LaMonte Wade Jr. broke out with strong months, and some of the relievers, like Jarlin García and Matt Wisler, were quietly much better than they were in April. The schedule was tough, but the Giants went 18-10 in May and have the best record in the NL entering June. Ben also looks ahead to the June schedule and discusses what to expect. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' thrilling series win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in LA. Mike Tauchman played hero as he robbed a would-be walk-off home run off the bat of Albert Pujols. Buster Posey flashed his former MVP form as he delivered a clutch three-run home run. Logan Webb and Kevin Gausman turned in brilliant performances on the mound. Tyler Rogers and Jake McGee were shaky in late-inning relief, but the Giants won anyway. With each day that goes by, the Giants are proving that their #ResilientSF is the perfect tagline for the 2021 team. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Fully Loaded Chew Fully Loaded Chew is offering LOCKED ON “TEAM” listeners a special offer – Right now you can try a can for just $1. Go to www.fullyloadedchew.com and use promo code: “LockedOn” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' rash of injuries. Their lineup in last night's loss to the Dodgers was one of the most inefficient of the Gabe Kapler era. Alex Dickerson started against a lefty, which is very unusual. Jason Vosler, the fifth-string first baseman and another lefty, also started. Things should look a little better tonight with a right-hander on the mound, but unfortunately for the Giants, that right-hander is one of baseball's best pitchers in Walker Buehler. Wilmer Flores should be able to come back on Saturday, which is actually huge for the Giants with two lefties in Julio Urias and Clayton Kershaw finishing out the series for the Dodgers. Ben looks through the upcoming schedule and attempts to address how the Giants will deal with all of their injuries, and whether he thinks they can survive them. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Lucy.Co Go to Lucy.co and use Promo Code LOCKEDONMLB to get 20% off all products on your first order, including gum or lozenges! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' invigorating, come-from-behind win over the D-backs on Wednesday night. Austin Slater and Jason Vosler hit clutch home runs, and Tyler Rogers escaped major trouble in the 9th. Speaking of trouble, the Giants lost Darin Ruf, who was filling in for an injured Brandon Belt, to a hamstring injury. Vosler appears to be the next man up for a banged up Giants team. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Lucy.Co Go to Lucy.co and use Promo Code LOCKEDONMLB to get 20% off all products on your first order, including gum or lozenges! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' 8-0 win against the D-backs on Tuesday night. Kevin Gausman, Brandon Crawford, Evan Longoria, and Buster Posey led the way. The Giants are getting great production out of veteran players, many of whom appeared to be in serious decline. Gausman becoming an ace, and veteran hitters turning back the clock, is not normal. The Giants are changing the way we think about the impact coaches can make. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Lucy.Co Go to Lucy.co and use Promo Code LOCKEDONMLB to get 20% off all products on your first order, including gum or lozenges! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks with Locked On D-backs' Millard Thomas about the state of the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks coming into their upcoming two-game series. The duo discuss Kevin Gausman's continued breakout, and whether he has become a legitimate number one starter, Madison Bumgarner's rollercoaster tenure with Arizona, the Giants' hot start to the season, and much more. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Lucy.Co Go to Lucy.co and use Promo Code LOCKEDONMLB to get 20% off all products on your first order, including gum or lozenges! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants being swept at home by the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend, and why fans shouldn't worry too much about it. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Lucy.Co Go to Lucy.co and use Promo Code LOCKEDONMLB to get 20% off all products on your first order, including gum or lozenges! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks an unexpected strength of the 2021 San Francisco Giants so far: defense. A lot of people expected the Giants to be a bad defensive team, but they have exceeded expectations. Mauricio Dubón has been among the best defensive players in baseball, adding value at second base, shortstop, and in center field. Ben also gets you set for the Giants' big upcoming series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants and Dodgers have been the two best teams in the NL in non-pitcher wRC+ (meaning they've been the two best offensive teams in the league), and their starting pitching also ranks first and second. The Giants have the edge on defense, but the Dodgers have the edge in the bullpen. It's a heavyweight matchup, and Ben gets you set for it. San Francisco will face Trevor Bauer, Walker Buehler, and Julio Urías. They'll counter with Alex Wood, TBD on Saturday, and Anthony DeSclafani. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the San Francisco Giants' 19-4 drubbing of the Cincinnati Reds, and MLB-best 28-16 start to the 2021 season. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' 6-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night. Anthony DeSclafani gave up a leadoff home run to Jesse Winker, but that would be the only run the Reds scored against him in seven otherwise superb innings. At the plate, the Giants struck out 17 times, but they grinded against Reds starter Luis Castillo, and Alex Dickerson connected for a clutch three-run home run against him. Brandon Crawford homered in the late innings as well. The Giants' offense as a whole has been thriving the last couple of years with patience and power, and that is nothing but a good thing. As Ben stresses, don't worry so much about the strikeouts. Last night's high total was an outlier, anyway. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick breaks down the San Francisco Giants' 6-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night. Logan Webb delivered an excellent start, one of his very best of the season. He held down a potent offense by mixing his pitches and attacking the strike zone, which is a big key for him. Webb came out earlier than expected, and manager Gabe Kapler later revealed that it was because Webb had right shoulder soreness. On offense, the Giants continue to hit for power. Wilmer Flores, Mike Yastrzemski, and Mauricio Dubón each homered in this game. The Giants are among the league leaders in home runs and isolated power, which bodes very well for their offense this season. Despite jumping out to a big 5-0 lead, the Giants' bullpen once again made things too interesting. Jarlin Garcia, Matt Wisler, and Caleb Baragar had shaky outings, but thankfully Tyler Rogers provided some calm in the 9th inning. He allowed a leadoff single, and Brandon Crawford made a throwing error with two outs in the 9th, but Rogers pitched through it all to deliver another save. Finally, Ben breaks down the Giants claiming outfielder Braden Bishop off waivers from the Seattle Mariners. Bishop is the older brother of Giants top prospect Hunter Bishop, who was selected 10th overall by the Giants in 2019. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' numbers after 100 games in the Gabe Kapler Era. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Wealthfront To get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnMLB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' business like win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night. Anthony DeSclafani recovered from a shaky first inning to retire the final 13 batters he faced, and the offense did just enough to get the job done. Steven Duggar hit a solo home run, and Mike Tauchman, Buster Posey, and Mike Yastrzemski did the rest of the damage. DeSclafnai was pinch hit for a little sooner than people expected considering how well he was throwing, but manager Gabe Kapler later revealed that DeSclafani wasn't feeling great and that was why he was removed. The bullpen was mostly good, with Caleb Baragar, Zack Littell, and Tyler Rogers pitching clean innings, but Camilo Doval allowed another home run. The Giants have four relievers in the bottom 25 in the NL in win probability added this season, out of a sample of 200+. Thankfully, WPA is not a predictive statistic, but it does tell a story about a bullpen that has been pretty shaky all season long. The Giants' starting pitchers rank as the best in the game, by far, in WPA. Ben also discusses the Giants' upcoming schedule, and what he expects for the remainder of this series, road trip, and month. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sportstrade Sign up TODAY at SportsTrade.com and discover the fun, exciting and profitable new world of Sports Trading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Farhan Zaidi said prospects will be coming up in the next few weeks if they keep playing well. Who are those guys, and who gets removed from the 26-man roster to make room for them? When will Heliot Ramos be playing every day at Oracle Park? Can the Giants make the postseason with a team batting average that is 22nd in the league? My concern is that four of our five starting pitchers are free agents after this year. Do we have any in the minors that look ready for the majors next year? I finally got on Statcast and noticed some cool stuff that I’d like to hear your take on. The Giants pitchers have caused opposing batters to hit an average launch angle that is lowest in the majors. Is that their secret sauce? Pitch for ground balls? Your thoughts? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sportstrade Sign up TODAY at SportsTrade.com and discover the fun, exciting and profitable new world of Sports Trading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants sweeping the Texas Rangers in a two-game series, and improving upon their MLB-best numbers. They have the best home record in the majors, they're tied for the best record in MLB, and they have the second-best run differential in the NL. Logan Webb struck out a career-best 10 in Tuesday's win, Mike Tauchman was on base three times, and Mike Yastrzemski had a big run-scoring double in the first inning. Ben analyzes how the Giants are heating up at the plate, and how, combined with their excellent starting pitching thus far, the Giants look like a legitimately good team. Ben also discusses the Giants' minor league affiliates beginning their seasons recently. He talks about where top Giants prospects were initially placed, and how they're performing thus far. Top Giants prospects Heliot Ramos, Joey Bart, Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, Seth Corry, Hunter Bishop, and Patrick Bailey are among those discussed. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sportstrade Sign up TODAY at SportsTrade.com and discover the fun, exciting and profitable new world of Sports Trading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' 3-1 win over the Texas Rangers on Monday night. Alex Wood was brilliant again, Brandon Belt homered, and manager Gabe Kapler pulled the right strings in the late innings with pinch-hit decisions. Austin Slater, Darin Ruf, and Mauricio Dubón were used consecutively as pinch hitters with two outs and nobody on base in the seventh inning, and all three reached base safely. Dubón's single drove in Slater as the go-ahead run. Ben takes a look at some pinch hitting numbers for the Giants since Kapler took over prior to the 2020 season. Since that time, the Giants are first by a mile in plate appearances by pinch hitters, and they're first in wRC+ by their pinch hitters. That's a winning combination, and it's an intentional strategy. Kapler, his coaches, and the Giants' front office led by Farhan Zaidi, deserves a lot of credit for how they've built and managed this team. The Giants improved to 21-14 with the win, and they remain in first place in the NL West. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sportstrade Sign up TODAY at SportsTrade.com and discover the fun, exciting and profitable new world of Sports Trading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. The first thing we learned is that the Giants' offense is back. Despite a sluggish start, the Giants are now near the top of the MLB leaderboards in several key categories, including wRC+, isolated power, fWAR, BB/K, and Chase%. Buster Posey, who's leading the major leagues in wRC+, has been a huge reason why the offense has posted overall strong numbers. The second thing we learned is that the Giants' predicted struggles against the Padres were overstated. They've played nine games against a team that was supposed to dominate them, and the Giants are 5-4 in those games. The Giants are also in first place, ahead of the Padres and Dodgers. The third thing we learned is that the Giants made a lot of roster moves. Mike Yastrzemski, Johnny Cueto, Kevin Gausman, and Jarlin Garcia were activated off the injured list. Alex Dickerson and Aaron Sanchez went on the IL. Jason Vosler was optioned to Sacramento. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sportstrade Sign up TODAY at SportsTrade.com and discover the fun, exciting and profitable new world of Sports Trading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick is joined by Locked On Padres host Javier Reyes, and the two discuss the upcoming series between the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres. The Giants' offense has been off to a somewhat sluggish start, and it doesn't help that star outfielder Mike Yastrzemski started slow and then laded on the injured list, although he will likely be activated at some point during this series. The Padres' offense hasn't hit its stride yet either, but the pitching, led by Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, Mark Melancon, Drew Pomeranz, and several others, has been as advertised. First place is on the line in this series, so it promises to be a good one. Anthony DeSclafani, Kevin Gausman, and Johnny Cueto will start for the Giants, while Blake Snell, Musgrove, and Dinelson Lamet are scheduled to start for San Diego. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sportstrade Sign up TODAY at SportsTrade.com and discover the fun, exciting and profitable new world of Sports Trading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: What can the Giants do to improve this bullpen quickly? Is it too early to make a move for an established bullpen arm? Zack Littel is looking pretty good so far. Who could be the next non-roster guy to get a shot? And what would be the likely roster move to accommodate? Time to panic about Matt Wisler? Time to send Camilo Doval back to the minors? Was the Mike Tauchman trade as worth it as it seems so far? Is Steven Duggar doing a good enough job to potentially keep himself on the team? What’s your take on managers getting tossed when a call doesn’t go their way? I’ve seen a lot of decries of Gabe Kapler, claiming that he doesn’t support his guys because he hasn’t ever gotten fired up and ejected. Does Logan Webb lose his spot in the rotation with Cueto coming back? Barring any starting pitcher injuries, where will Webb fit into the pen when Johnny Cueto returns? Is there a way he could eventually become a late inning guy if no Farhan Zaidi move is made to bolster the back end? Would a move to the bullpen really help Webb? His stats with a runner on vs. bases empty are wildly different, so I can't imagine a bullpen assignment helps him too much (.646 OPS with bases empty; .876 OPS with men on base). Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sportstrade Sign up TODAY at SportsTrade.com and discover the fun, exciting and profitable new world of Sports Trading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about all three games the San Francisco Giants played against the Rockies in Denver over the last couple days. Things started out well, with the Giants scoring 10 first-inning runs in the first game, but things completely unraveled in the second game. The Giants had a four-run lead with two outs in the final inning, but the Rockies scored six times, winning on a Charlie Blackmon walk-off home run with two outs and two strikes. Camilo Doval served up the home run, but Jake McGee put the Giants in a precarious position with another poor performance. In the finale, Logan Webb had one bad inning, and the offense couldn't overcome it. Brandon Crawford had a great series, homering on both days, but it wasn't enough in the finale. Brandon Belt also had a great series, as did Buster Posey, but Posey exited on Wednesday with an injury. The Giants are banged up, and this was a really tough road trip. Today's episode plays out kind of like a Giants therapy session. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sportstrade Sign up TODAY at SportsTrade.com and discover the fun, exciting and profitable new world of Sports Trading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Has Buster Posey shown enough to this point to start talks about extending him past this year? Renegotiate around the $22 million club option and lock him in for another couple years to help with the transition into the future at the catcher position? I’d love to see Posey and Bart working together. What does Matt Wisler have to do to pitch himself off the roster? Will Jake McGee get back to how good he was early on in the season? He hasn't been quite the same lately. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sportstrade Sign up TODAY at SportsTrade.com and discover the fun, exciting and profitable new world of Sports Trading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. The first thing we learned is that the Giants did what they needed to do in San Diego: win at least one game. While they obviously would have liked to do more, winning a series on the road against a team of the Padres' caliber should be more of a goal rather than the expectation. Behind Kevin Gausman and Mike Tauchman, the Giants won the finale, 7-1, which actually meant they outscored San Diego in the series. The Giants are now 3-3 against the Padres this season, with all six games coming on the road. That shouldn't be viewed as anything other than a win for the Giants. The second thing we learned is that Tommy La Stella is hurt. La Stella pulled his left hamstring on Sunday, and it's a big loss for the Giants, who are already without Donovan Solano at second base, and other key players like Mike Yastrzemski. La Stella will likely head to the IL, further testing the Giants' depth. Ben thinks Jason Vosler will likely be called up and will start at second base against right-handed pitchers. The third thing we learned was that the Giants made some roster moves. Zack Littell was added to the 40-man and active rosters, and Steven Duggar was called up. In corresponding moves, Vosler was optioned and Skye Bolt was DFA'd. We also learned that Buster Posey continues to be a force at the plate, with a refined pre-pitch setup. Now he gets to hit in Colorado, as the Giants will look to win a road series against an inferior Rockies team. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Sportstrade Sign up TODAY at SportsTrade.com and discover the fun, exciting and profitable new world of Sports Trading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: How sustainable do you think our chances of the playoffs are at this point? Of course being the best team in the NL about a month in enhances the chances, but it is only one month at the end of the day. You still see about an 86-76 finish? How will the acquisition of Mike Tauchman change the outfield mix? Could someone get DFA’d once Mike Yastrzemski comes back? It seems like if there’s one thing this team needs it’s a right-handed reliever. Do you think the Giants brass may be regretting the Sam Coonrod trade? Listen to The Ultimate Mock Draft 2021 presented by Audacy and the Locked On Podcast Network. April 19th-26th. Follow the feed today!Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francsico Giants' 7-3 win over the Rockies on Wednesday night. Listen to The Ultimate Mock Draft 2021 presented by Audacy and the Locked On Podcast Network. April 19th-26th. Follow the feed today!Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' trade for Mike Tauchman, and their disappointing loss to the Rockies on Tuesday night. Tauchman was acquired for left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta and a player to be named later. He figures to play every day against right-handed pitching, and his presence should be a boost to the Giants' lineup and bench. Austin Slater has been starting in center against righties, and he has not done well in that role. Now that Tauchman is in the fold, the Giants can start Alex Dickerson, Tauchman, and Mike Yastrzemski in the outfield against right-handed starters. This also makes their bench deeper because Slater gets added to it, and he can be utilized as a pinch hitter against lefties. The Giants will miss Peralta, but he is replaceable on the roster considering the Giants have three other lefty relievers (Jake McGee, Caleb Baragar, and José Álvarez) on the active roster, one more (Jarlin García) on the 10-day IL, and two others (Sam Selman, Conner Menez) on the 40-man roster. Ben also discusses the Giants' tough loss last night, in which Gregory Santos was a questionable reliever that Gabe Kapler went to in a tie game in the 10th, and he surrendered two home runs that sunk the Giants' chances of winning. Brandon Crawford homered in the 9th to tie the game, but the Giants could not overcome several mistakes and general poor performance by the bullpen. Listen to The Ultimate Mock Draft 2021 presented by Audacy and the Locked On Podcast Network. April 19th-26th. Follow the feed today!Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick breaks down the San Francisco Giants' 12-0 drubbing of the Colorado Rockies, a win that vaulted them into a first-place tie with the Dodgers in the NL West. Anthony DeSclafani pitched a complete game shutout, lowering his ERA on the season to 1.50. The Giants' starting staff as a whole now has an MLB-best 2.11 ERA. DeSclafani seems to be the latest among a growing list of pitchers who have revitalized their careers since coming to the Giants. A ton of credit needs to go to the Giants' coaching staff, and Gabe Kapler for hiring them, and Farhan Zaidi for targeting the right players and hiring Kapler. On the offensive side, the Giants improved their non-pitcher wRC+ to 101, meaning they've actually been above average on the season. Buster Posey busted out with four hits last night, including a double and a towering home run to dead center field. Evan Longoria was able to play, as was Brandon Belt. Both have minor leg injuries. Mike Yastrzemski was out of the lineup with oblique tightness, but Kapler said he was hopeful Yaz would be able to avoid a trip to the injured list. Listen to The Ultimate Mock Draft 2021 presented by Audacy and the Locked On Podcast Network. April 19th-26th. Follow the feed today! Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. The first thing we learned is that the Giants are playing like one of the premier teams in the National League. They got three more excellent starts over the weekend, from Alex Wood, Kevin Gausman, and Logan Webb. Their starters now have the second-lowest ERA in the NL. The second thing we learned is that Mike Yastrzemski is hurt, and that's a big blow. He has left oblique tightness, which is a pretty serious baseball injury. The third thing we learned is that there are four banged up infielders, and that the Giants may need to make some roster moves. Brandon Belt (quad), Brandon Crawford (side/ribs), Evan Longoria (hamstring), and Donovan Solano (calf) are dealing with injuries. Does anyone need to go on the IL? If it's Yaz, will Steven Duggar, LaMonte Wade Jr., or even Heliot Ramos get called up? Is there a scenario where it's Thairo Estrada who gets the call? Listen to The Ultimate Mock Draft 2021 presented by Audacy and the Locked On Podcast Network. April 19th-26th. Follow the feed today!Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' 3-0 win against the Marlins, in which Curt Casali collected his fifth straight shutout when he was the starting catcher. Casali also had a big two-run single in the first inning. The Giants improved to 12-7 with the win, and Casali became just the fifth catcher in MLB history to accomplish the feat. Aaron Sanchez pitched beautifully despite diminished velocity, and Gregory Santos made his major league debut out of the bullpen and was electric. He was added to the roster after Donovan Solano was placed on the IL. Matt Wisler, Tyler Rogers, and Jake McGee pitched scoreless frames as the Giants completed the shutout. Evan Longoria exited this game with left hamstring tightness. Listen to The Ultimate Mock Draft 2021 presented by Audacy and the Locked On Podcast Network. April 19th-26th. Follow the feed today!Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers listeners' questions about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Should Mike Yastrzemski be dropped in the order or given some days off? I see a lot of fans suggesting Gabe Kapler should give some of the struggling hitters like Yastrzemski or Mauricio Dubón a couple days rest as sort of a mental reset. What do you think of this strategy with hitters, or is it better to stay in nearly every day like those two players are now? Is there anything specific you see with Yastrzemski’s swing or approach at the plate that’s different from last year that might be leading to his continued struggles? Any bullpen guys that you think are on a short leash as in getting sent down? Do they have the bullpen depth they thought they did to start the season? I'm excited about Camilo Doval just based on his results and personality — but are there also specific quantitative reasons to be excited about him, like velocity, spin rate, etc.? What did the front office see in him that caused him to get promoted so aggressively? What is Tyler Beede's impact this year? Who would be your choice to replace Donovan Solano on the active roster if he is put on the IL? Jason Vosler, Thairo Estrada, another outfielder? Listen to The Ultimate Mock Draft 2021 presented by Audacy and the Locked On Podcast Network. April 19th-26th. Follow the feed today!Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick breaks down the last two games of the San Francisco Giants' 3-3 road trip through Miami and Philadelphia. The Giants got shaky starts by Logan Webb and Anthony DeSclafani in their latest two games, but the offense showed resilience and stormed back both times. In the first game, a six-run eighth inning propelled the Giants to victory. Buster Posey homered twice in the game, Alex Dickerson and Wilmer Flores each hit three-run homers in the inning, and Tommy La Stella hit a home run of his own. In the series finale, with the Giants going for a sweep, they fell behind early but then stormed back on a three-run home by Darin Ruf against his former team, and an Alex Dickerson single against a lefty. The Giants bullpen couldn't hold the lead, however, as Camilo Doval gave up a solo home run to Bryce Harper and Wandy Peralta allowed a run in the bottom of the ninth as the Phillies walked off the Giants. Donovan Solano injured his calf in the game and will likely head to the injured list, and Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford both had minor injuries and had to come out of the game on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Listen to The Ultimate Mock Draft 2021 presented by Audacy and the Locked On Podcast Network. April 19th-26th. Follow the feed today!Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' 2-0 win over the Phillies in Philadelphia. It was the 200th win in Gabe Kapler's managerial career, which had to feel extra sweet coming against the Phillies. The Giants' manager was fired by the Phillies and treated poorly by Phillies fans and media. He's now 200-200 as a manager, and the man the Phillies hired to replace him is just 36-40. Kapler was 161-163 as Phillies manager—a superior winning percentage. Kevin Gausman started for the Giants, and he delivered another six shutout innings. The Giants' starting staff continues to carry the team, and they're now second in all of baseball in earned run average. Brandon Belt delivered a key two-run home run that was the extent of the offense for the night. The bats still need to wake up, but the Giants' pitching has helped the team get off to a nice 10-6 start. Matt Wisler, Camilo Doval, and Wandy Peralta each notched a scoreless inning to complete the shutout and Kap's 200th career win. Listen to The Ultimate Mock Draft 2021 presented by Audacy and the Locked On Podcast Network. April 19th-26th. Follow the feed today!Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. The first thing we learned is that the Giants' starting pitchers have carried the team to its 9-6 start. Alex Wood made his Giants debut on Sunday, and he kept the line moving with five shutout innings. Kevin Gausman, Johnny Cueto, Anthony DeSclafani, and Aaron Sanchez have also pitched well in all of their starts. The second thing we learned is that the Giants made several roster moves over the weekend. Jake McGee, who blew his first save of the year on Saturday, was placed on the Covid-IL, along with Logan Webb, due to side effects from the vaccine. Chadwick Tromp was also called up because Posey is dealing with elbow discomfort after a HBP. Camilo Doval was also added to the roster, and he had a dominant first appearance on Sunday. Finally, we learned that the Giants offense is officially off to a slow start. Mike Yastrzemski continues to scuffle, and the Giants were fortunate to escape with a win on Sunday despite scoring only one run. Several key underlying metrics suggest that the Giants should be on the verge of breaking out at the plate, but that just hasn't yet materialized. Circling back to the first thing we learned, the starting pitchers have carried the load for a struggling offense and sometimes shaky bullpen. Listen to The Ultimate Mock Draft 2021 presented by Audacy and the Locked On Podcast Network. April 19th-26th. Follow the feed today!Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Are the Giants actually . . . good? Where do you think the Giants will end their playoff run? Even if they make it, since the NL west is so stacked. If Johnny Cueto ends up missing time with an injury, who do you think should be called into the rotation? Also, do you think a lengthy injury to a starter so soon in the season could derail the momentum that the team seems to be building? Is Evan Longoria due for a bounce back year? His batted ball data from 2020 was really promising (reminded me of pre-2020 Marcell Ozuna) and so far he’s looked really good, which we love to see. Who’s due for a hot streak? Do the Giants see Heliot Ramos as a CF option, or strictly as a corner OF? Are the Giants considering sending Mauricio Dubón down and bringing Ramos up? Should we be worried about how much Gabe Kapler and the Giants are relying on Tyler Rogers and Jake McGee early on? They clearly don’t trust other relievers in high leverage situations, but how big of a concern is workload management this early in the season? Nitpicking, but why not bat Brandon Belt low in the order until he catches up from his missed spring training at bats? He’s lost at the plate for obvious reasons. Perfect player to take a walk in front of the nine hole. When he gets hot, you move him back to the three hole. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick breaks down the San Francisco Giants' 3-0 win against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday afternoon, and recaps their 5-1 homestand and 8-4 overall start to the season. Johnny Cueto provided the Giants with yet another strong start, but he had to leave the game in the sixth inning with a lat injury. Austin Slater collected another big hit, and the bullpen, headlined by Jake McGee in the ninth, shut down the Reds offense. McGee now has an MLB-leading six saves in six chances. He has yet to allow a run. Ben also discusses some roster moves the Giants have made in recent days and will make in the coming days. Logan Webb was moved to the bullpen as Alex Wood gets ready to join the Giants' rotation on Sunday in Miami. LaMonte Wade Jr. was placed on the IL with an oblique injury, and Steven Duggar was recalled in his place. Lastly, the Giants made a minor trade earlier this week, acquiring shortstop Thairo Estrada from the New York Yankees in exchange for cash. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' dramatic comeback win against the Cincinnati Reds. Kevin Gausman surrendered a pair of two-run home runs in the first inning, but the Giants offense responded with a pair of two-run bombs in the bottom half of the inning. Tommy La Stella led off with his first of three hits, and Mike Yastrzemski hit one over the wall at 109 mph, the hardest hit ball of his major league career. Brandon Crawford later homered in the inning with Evan Longoria on base. Overall, the Giants are looking as advertised. They have quality players up and down the 26-man roster, and their platooning and pinch hitting is starting to pay dividends again, as it did last year. The starting pitching has exceeded expectations thus far, and the bullpen has been pretty good after their Opening Day meltdown. Jake McGee collected his fifth save in Tuesday's win, and he has still yet to allow a hit or a run. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick analyzes the San Francisco Giants' starting pitching, position players, and bullen after 10 games and a 6-4 start. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. We learned that they're off to their best start since 2016, at 6-3. The Giants swept the Rockies over the weekend, with Johnny Cueto and Anthony DeSclafani pitching gems, and Brandon Crawford fueling an emerging offense. We learned that the starting pitching has been among the very best in baseball through nine games, and they've given the Giants a chance to win each and every game thus far. Finally, the third thing we learned this weekend is that the offense is ready to break out. There are encouraging signs all over the place, none more so than Statcast suggesting that their wOBA should be .348, when their actual wOBA is just .340. A breakout is likely coming on offense. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today on the Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants as the 2021 season gets underway. Among the questions asked and answered are: If the offense keeps struggling, when do you think is a good time to start worrying about it? Should we be concerned about some of the struggling hitters (Brandon Belt, Mike Yastrzemski, etc.)? Small sample size but they’ve struck out a lot and haven’t hit it hard. Are we going to start to see an outfield shuffle if things don’t start going as planned? Yastrzemski, Alex Dickerson, and Mauricio Dubón’s bats haven’t woken up). Do you think part of the problem with Dickerson’s poor numbers has to do with his sporadic playing time so far? How long can the Giants survive with three current righties (Matt Wisler, Tyler Rogers, and Reyes Moronta) they have in the bullpen? It's a bit too early to tell I guess, but I wonder what the timeline is to get Moronta back into higher leveraged opportunities. Right-handed pitchers out the 'pen have come out the gates struggling. How long of a leash will Farhan Zaidi/Gabe Kapler have with them before Camilo Doval and others get a shot? How concerning is it that Moronta doesn't have a strikeout to start the season? He's inducing a lot of weak contact at the moment, but I'm not sure how sustainable that is when hitters start to figure out he doesn't have the same fastball he used to have. How aggressive do you think the Giants will be about extending players during the season, given how many roster spots will be open at the end of the season? And who is most likely to get an extension? I’d like to see the Giants extend Kevin Gausman during the season considering they have a lot of money coming off the payroll. Do you think they can, and how much do you think it would be? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today on the Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick breaks down the San Francisco Giants' series-winning victory against the San Diego Padres. Kevin Gausman was on the mound for the Giants, and once against he pitched like an ace. Darin Ruf homered against Blake Snell—his second decicisive home run in the series—as the Giants continued their theme of hitting home runs but not scoring a lot of runs. Tyler Rogers gave up a game-tying solo home run in the eighth inning against Giants killer Wil Myers, but a couple of sacrifice hits pushed across a run in the 10th inning for the Giants, and Wandy Peralta was able to shut the door in the bottom half. Also on today's podcast, Ben discusses Tuesday night's loss. There weren't a lot of positives for the offense and the bullpen, but Aaron Sanchez made his first start since undergoing shoulder surgery in 2019, and he gave the Giants five innings of one-run baseball. To say it was an encouraging outing for Sanchez personally and for the Giants as a team would be an understatement. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' nail-biting 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday night. Anthony DeSclafani made his Giants debut, and held the potent Padres to one run in five innings. The bullpen held strong, with Matt Wisler, Reyes Moronta, Tyler Rogers, and Jake McGee combining to pitch four innings with just one run allowed. Things got dicey in the ninth, but McGee got Tommy Pham to fly out with the tying and winning runs on base. Mike Yastrzemski was a late scratch from the lineup due to lingering effects from a hit-by-pitch on the hand in the team's final spring game, but he hit a pinch-hit home run to dead center field that gave the Giants a late lead. Their other runs also came on solo homers by Darin Ruf and Evan Longoria. The Giants are tied with the Astros for the major league lead in home runs with nine, but the Astros have played one more game. So far, the Giants' offense has been powerful and the starting staff has held its own. There was a rocky bullpen game mixed in, but overall the Giants have played pretty well on the young season. Fernando Tatis Jr. went down in a heap after striking out, and had to be removed from the game. The Padres later announced that Tatis had a left shoulder subluxation. We at Locked On Giants are wishing Tatis the best, and a full and speedy recover. The game is much better when he's on the field. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. First and foremost, we learned that the Giants missed a big opportunity. They held a five-run lead in the eighth inning on Opening Day, and the bullpen collapsed. Johnny Cueto and Logan Webb pitched okay over the next two games, and the Giants were able to win Cueto's start, but the Giants came away with a series loss when they undoubtedly felt like they should've won two out of three. The next thing we learned was a bunch of stats. Evan Longoria and Buster Posey impressed with power, Cueto amassed 17 swings and misses for the first time since 2017, and Webb had a good expected ERA despite surface numbers that appeared similar to his first couple of seasons. Thanks to strong performances from Kevin Gausman, Jake McGee, Posey, Longoria, and others, the Giants played well in all aspects of the game over the weekend—just not at the same time. The third thing we learned is that it's extremely early and there are lots of fluky stats right now. It takes about 45 games before we can really judge a team, so three games is simply way too few to draw sweeping conclusions. The bullpen's walk rate is unsustainably high. The Giants' offense and fWAR has been above average. Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Slater, and others are struggling with numbers that are unsustainably bad. It's a long season, and this was just one of dozens of series' the Giants will play this year. Now, onto San Diego to face one of the best teams in baseball... Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick reacts to the San Francisco Giants' crushing Opening Night loss to the Seattle Mariners. Kevin Gausman pitched like an ace and gave the team a great chance to win, but the bullpen couldn't hold a five-run eighth-inning lead. Evan Longoria, Buster Posey, and Austin Slater hit home runs for the Giants, as the offense exploded for seven runs. But relievers Matt Wisler, Jarlín García, and José Álvarez just could not find the strike zone as the Mariners came storming back in the late innings, helped in large part by numerous free passes. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Host Ben Kaspick gets you set for Opening Day on today's Locked On Giants podcast. The San Francisco Giants enter the 2021 season with a sense of cautious optimism, following a 2020 season in which they exceeded expectations by scoring the eight-most runs in baseball and falling just one win short of a playoff berth. Ben breaks down the recently announced 26-man roster and makes predictions about what's in store for the Giants in 2021. He follows that up by discussing the opening series in Seattle against the Mariners. The M's will feature three left-handed starters in this series, meaning the Giants will have guys like Austin Slater, Donovan Solano, Wilmer Flores, and Darin Ruf in their starting lineups, and others like Tommy La Stella, Alex Dickerson, and perhaps Brandon Belt may not be in there to start the game. Kevin Gausman will take the mound for the Giants tonight following a very strong 2020, and he's looking to lead this staff and perhaps pitch his way to a big new contract. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick is joined by special guest Jeff Snider from the Locked On Dodgers podcast. They discuss the rivalry, and the very different overall states of the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers. Their first topic of conversation is about the fact that the Giants have played the Dodgers tougher than anyone over their stretch of dominance in the NL West beginning in 2013. The Dodgers have been about a .500 team against the Giants over that span, while the they're more than 200 games over .500 against everybody else. Ben and Jeff also discuss the Dodgers winning the World Series in a very strange year, and how Padres fans think they're huge rivals with the Dodgers when they're not. Each discusses the impending free agencies of three major players: Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, and Brandon Crawford for the Giants, and Clayton Kershaw, Corey Seager, and Kenley Jansen for the Dodgers. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the latest with the San Francisco Giants, as Spring Training has finally concluded for the club. In an extremely scary moment yesterday, Mike Yastrzemski was hit by a pitch on the left hand and went down in a heap. It was likely to be Yastrzemski's last at-bat of the spring. He came out of the game and went in for x-rays, but thankfully they came back negative and he is day-to-day. The injury scare immediately reminded fans of Madison Bumgarner breaking a bone in his hand in his final spring training start in 2018. Ben also talks about the Giants' ATC projections. ATC has been found to be one of the most accurate baseball projections in recent seasons, and they're more optimistic on the Giants than most. Ben also reveals his latest hot take on this Hot Take Tuesday. Today's hot take is particularly spicy, as it involves Gabe Kapler and a certain set of odds on BetOnline.ag. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the latest with the San Francisco Giants, as Opening Day approaches. The Giants optioned LaMonte Wade Jr. on Sunday, which appeared to set their 13-man position player group. Notably, it would appear that Evan Longoria and Brandon Belt should be good to go for the opener. Their status was in doubt after dealing with injuries and illnesses for much of spring. Logan Webb earned the third spot in the Giants' rotation with his stellar spring. Webb struck out 17 and walked one through his first 11 innings in camp, with one final tuneup scheduled for today against the Oakland A's. Webb will pitch ahead of Anthony DeSclafani, which Ben thinks could be to get the best possible matchups against the Padres, whom the Giants play in their second series of the year. Heliot Ramos won the Barney Nugent Award, which is voted on by players, coaches, and staff as the Giants' best first-year player in major league spring training. Ramos was impressive all the way through camp, hitting for power and showcasing him impressive mix of tools. Ramos figures to start the season in Double-A, but could make his way to the majors this year. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick takes a stab at predicting the San Francisco Giants' 26-man Opening Day roster. First, he dives into the position player mix. As Farhan Zaidi said when he met with the media on Thursday, there isn't very much drama on the position player side if Brandon Belt and Evan Longoria are healthy enough to make the team. Up and down the roster, the Giants have quality depth, and they even have some really good options in the upper minors. One area where they're thin, however, is at shortstop. Zaidi said the team expects to add upper minors shortstop depth in the coming days. On the pitcher side, there are a lot more question marks. And unlike in years past, the questions do not stem from a lack of depth; in fact, the opposite is true. In the rotation, the club has Kevin Gausman, Johnny Cueto, and Anthony DeSclafani as locks, with Logan Webb seemingly in line to make the Opening Day rotation after his dominant spring. Alex Wood and Aaron Sanchez should make the roster if they're healthy, but that may not be the case. In the bullpen, there are four locks, and then a number of ways things could go. They have lots of optionable relievers, and lots of qualified non-roster invitees. It's anyone's guess how it will all shake out. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick catches you up on all the latest with the San Francisco Giants. Manager Gabe Kapler finally named an opening day starter, and it was the right choice. Kevin Gausman will take the mound next Thursday night against the Mariners, one week from today. Johnny Cueto will start the second game. Ben also dives into last night's televised game against the San Diego Padres. Anthony DeSclafani was on the mound for the Giants, and he pitched beautifully. He ended up with eight strikeouts in four-plus innings, featuring three really good pitches: a firm fastball, a breaking ball, and a changeup. Could DeSclafani become a breakout performer in 2021 like Gausman did in 2020? Also in this game, Mike Yastrzemski, Donovan Solano, and Austin Slater hit home runs. Ben talks about how the Giants' offense is one of the most underrated in the game. Finally, Ben discusses the Giants' flurry of roster moves yesterday, with the optioning of Jason Vosler being the most surprising. We typically read too much into opening day rosters, however, and Giants fans should be aware that Vosler is very likely to get a real opportunity at some point this year. It could even be in the opening series if the Giants have to place Brandon Belt, who's been behind all spring as he recovered from mono, on the injured list. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the latest with the San Francisco Giants. Logan Webb continued his stellar spring, pitching another five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. On the whole this camp, Webb has pitched 11 innings and has 17 strikeouts against just one walk, and he has yet to allow a run. He's making a very strong case to open the year in the Giants' starting rotation, and his development is another testament to the team's newfound ability under Gabe Kapler and his staff to get the most out of their players. Another example of that is Mauricio Dubón, who has transformed from a wild free swinger into a much more disciplined hitter in the past year. The trend was evident in the middle of last season, and he's carried it over into spring with a stellar strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Giants' prospects have also been impressive this camp. It's exciting that the Giants can feature a pretty good major league lineup in spring games, followed up by a deep group of top prospects like Joey Bart, Heliot Ramos, Marco Luciano, Hunter Bishop, Will Wilson, Patrick Bailey, and Logan Wyatt. In fact, yesterday MLB Pipeline named the Giants' position player prospect group as the second best in all of baseball. The Giants' future is starting to look very bright. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: I know we think Farhan Zaidi is a brilliant President of Baseball Operations here on this podcast. But surely there’s a move he did that you didn’t like as much, or a move that you thought should have happened that did not (free agent signing, etc). What would you say is one criticism that you have of Farhan as of right now? Your odds for the Giants going over .500? What do you think about the strength of the Giants' schedule this year (besides having to play the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres a lot)? Are there stretches that stand out as particularly unlucky/brutal, or "must win" months? Who are we moving at the trade deadline? Could it be Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, or Aaron Sanchez? Are any of the veteran players on expiring contracts (Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Buster Posey, Johnny Cueto) candidates for trades to contenders near the deadline? What would you say are the Dodgers' and Padres' biggest weaknesses, and do any of the Giants' offseason acquisitions stand out as particularly good fits to match up against/exploit them? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the latest with the San Francisco Giants. On Saturday, Steven Duggar was optioned and Heliot Ramos was among four who were reassigned to minor league camp. Duggar's future with the organization has to be in doubt, as he once again won't be given a major league opportunity to start the season. This is Duggar's last year with minor league options. Ramos was never going to make the opening day roster, so it's not surprising that he was reassigned to minor league camp. Also, the bullpen competition heated up over the weekend. The Giants have plenty of choices for their 'pen, with only four players essentially guaranteed a spot. They have many solid relievers with minor league options on their 40-man roster, and they also have numerous non-roster invitees in camp who have been impressive. Zack Littell, Jimmie Sherfy, and Nick Tropeano were very impressive in a televised game on Sunday. It remains to be seen if any non-roster invitees will break camp with the club. Unfortunately, we learned over the weekend that the Giants' Rule 5 pick Dedniel Nuñez will have Tommy John surgery. We also learned this weekend that manager Gabe Kapler is close to naming an opening day starter. Ben passionately asserts that the assignment should go to Kevin Gausman, who is clearly the team's best pitcher. Some have speculated that it could be Johnny Cueto, but that simply wouldn't make sense. Cueto had the worst ERA of any qualified starter in 2020, and his best days are clearly behind him. Expect an announcement from Kapler this week. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. In a special bonus, he shares an audio clip from his Q&A session from Thursday on the Locker Room app. Among the questions asked and answered on today's show are: How concerned are you about the Giants' defense? What is the identity and direction of this team? Are they a possible underdog for the last NL Wild Card spot? Looking ahead to next offseason, is the expected number of "holes to fill" a legit concern? What is your personal power ranking of next year's shortstop free agent class (assuming market value)? Does Jason Vosler make the Opening Day roster? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Join our Bracket Challenge https://fantasy.espn.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2021/en/group?groupID=3624947 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick is joined by special guest Millard Thomas in Part Two of their conversation about the state of the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks. On today's show, Millard asks Ben questions about the Giants. He asks Ben to grade the Giants' offseason, tell the backstory of Giants breakout star Mike Yastrzemski, and dive into Kevin Gausman's dominant 2020 season. The two also discuss how both the Giants and the D-backs could be better than people expect, and that these two teams look like they're in a battle for third place in a loaded National League West, which also features the juggernaut Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Join our Bracket Challenge https://fantasy.espn.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2021/en/group?groupID=3624947 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick is joined by special guest Millard Thomas of Locked On Diamondbacks in the latest Division Day. Ben and Millard discuss Madison Bumgarner's alarming first year in Arizona, what went wrong for a D-backs team that entered 2020 with high expectations, and what to expect from Bumgarner and the team in 2021. They also discuss the division as a whole, including weighing in on whether the San Diego Padres' stellar offseason was enough to perhaps unseat the Los Angeles Dodgers atop the NL West. Finally, they discuss which of their two teams is better, and how they seeing the final standings playing out. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Join our Bracket Challenge https://fantasy.espn.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2021/en/group?groupID=3624947 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the latest with the San Francisco Giants. Starter Alex Wood is going to see a spine specialist to evaluate his injured back. While not entirely surprising, this is not good news for the Giants, whose starting rotation consists of a number of high injury risk players. However, the Giants are deep enough to withstand multiple injuries, and first in line appears to be Logan Webb, who has pitched beautifully this spring. Gabe Kapler said Webb and Aaron Sanchez are on track to be in the Giants rotation to start the season. Yesterday was also cut day at Giants camp. The team optioned or reassigned 25 players out of the approximately 75 in camp. Despite being demoted, these players were still around major league camp because there is no minor league camp right now due to Covid-19. One notable omission from the cut list was Heliot Ramos, who has had a spectacular spring. There's almost zero chance Ramos opens the season on the major league roster, so this appears to be a symbolic move more than anything. Ben also introduces Hot Take Tuesday. In the very first edition of the new segment, Ben explains why he thinks the Giants are an 86-win team—much better than most projection systems think they are. He references his major "hot takes" from last year, when he predicted that the Giants would be much better than expected, and that Kevin Gausman would out-pitch Madison Bumgarner. Both of those predictions proved to be very much correct, but only time will tell if this year's prediction comes true. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Join our Bracket Challenge https://fantasy.espn.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2021/en/group?groupID=3624947 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. The first thing we learned is that Logan Webb is making a very strong case that he belongs in a major league rotation. In his outing on Saturday, he struck out six Cleveland Indians in three innings of work, allowing just one hit, one walk, and zero runs. He's struck out 10 and walked one in six innings of work this spring. Webb looks to be on the outside looking in to the Giants' starting rotation, but Alex Wood is dealing with a stiff back and Webb could be first in line if a starter goes down with an injury or underperforms. The second thing we learned is that Brandon Belt had Covid in January and mononucleosis in recent weeks. Belt was absent from spring workouts for weeks, and we finally learned the extent of his illnesses. Thankfully, Belt is feeling better and even got up to 17 mph on a treadmill in recent days. Finally, the third thing we learned this weekend is that Aaron Sanchez wants to pitch in a spring game. He said he expected to appear in his first game on Sunday, but the Giants had him pitch in a simulated game instead. There seemed to be some communication issues, but nothing major. Sanchez was reportedly throwing the ball well in the sim game, and he hopes to get into a real spring game sometime this week. Ben sneaks in one more thing we learned this weekend: not that it necessarily means anything, but the Giants lead all teams with a .383 on-base percentage this spring. They've drawn the most walks (69) and have the second-most hits (116) through 14 games. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKED15 for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Join our Bracket Challenge https://fantasy.espn.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2021/en/group?groupID=3624947 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants as the 2021 season approaches. Among the questions asked and answered are: Is Steven Duggar making the team? He's making a strong case. Out of LaMonte Wade Jr., Jason Krizan, Jason Vosler and Steven Duggar, who do you think makes the biggest impact this year? Will Heliot Ramos be up this year? Does Ramos' timeline get moved up at all by his good showing so far this spring? Do you think acquiring Will Wilson for cash was a steal? Even though spring training games don’t matter, what are some stats that can be actual indicators of success in the regular season? For your money, who is the current Giant most likely to break out of a platoon assignment? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON20,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick provides status updates on several San Francisco Giants players who are either injured or have yet to appear in a Spring Training game. Among the Giants in that category are Brandon Belt, Kevin Gausman, Austin Slater, and Aaron Sanchez, all of whom are vital to the team's success in 2021. Belt is the most likely of all to miss Opening Day, as he has been sidelined with a non-COVID illness all spring. Fortunately for San Francisco, their first opponent of the year, the Seattle Mariners, figure to start three consecutive left-handed starters. That should allow the Giants to withstand the loss of Belt for a short period of time. Gausman is arguably more indispensible. He emerged as a front-line starter in 2020, and he should start on Opening Day if he's available. Although Gausman has yet to appear in a spring game, manager Gabe Kapler hasn't indicated that there's anything wrong with his health, and he has been throwing bullpens and live batting practice. Slater is an important player for the Giants as well, and he should be starting all three opening series games if he's available, but he is nursing a sore hamstring. Sanchez's status is similar to Gausman's. He's apparently healthy, but he hasn't pitched in a spring game. He has a checkered injury history, so it's worth monitoring his progress. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON20,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants, it's another Division Day! Host Ben Kaspick is joined by Locked On Padres host Javier Reyes to discuss the state of the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants. The Padres had one of baseball's all-time offseasons, signing Fernando Tatis Jr. to a 14-year, $340 million extension and trading for ace pitchers Blake Snell and Yu Darvish. Javier talks about all the activity, and also some of the smaller moves the Padres made to make them legitimate contenders to challenge the Dodgers in the NL West and perhaps win a World Series. Ben talks about the Giants' sneakily busy offseason, in which they brought back Kevin Gausman and signed a ton of major league players including Tommy La Stella, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, Aaron Sanchez, Jake McGee, Matt Wisler, Curt Casali, and more. The Giants were quietly competitive and a great offensive team in 2020, and Ben thinks they got better this offseason and should continue to surprise people in 2021. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON20,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers listeners' questions about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: How many wins do you think the Giants will finish with? And what are your own odds on them getting into the playoffs? For your money, who is likely to have the most wins out of Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, and Aaron Sanchez? Who do you think gets a surprise roster spot out of camp this year? If LaMonte Wade Jr. were only able to a) play center field at a serviceable or better level, or b) hit for more power, but not both, is he still worthy of a roster spot with his on-base skills? If the Giants were to see Patrick Bailey killing it in the early spring/minor league season, and Joey Bart not doing so well, would they consider moving Bart? If they do, what type of player could be expected in return? Do you have shares of any SF players in Fantasy this year? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON20,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. The first thing we learned is that the Giants' future is very bright. That was on display during Sunday's Cactus League win over the Cincinnati Reds. Giants top prospects Heliot Ramos and Joey Bart went deep—Ramos twice—and Hunter Bishop (the Giants' 2019 first-round draft pick) and Marco Luciano (considered by many to be San Francisco's best prospect) also collected hits. In the near future, the Giants figure to have a pipeline of exciting talent coming up from the minors on a regular basis. The second thing we learned this weekend is that a limited number of fans are likely going to be allowed at Oracle Park beginning on April 9th for the Giants' home opener. The fans were greatly missed by players and coaches alike last year, and in turn, the fans greatly missed going to games and experiencing the team in person. The Giants have a great relationship with the fans, so the fact that fans will likely return to Oracle Park this year is extremely encouraging news. The third thing we learned this weekend is that the Giants' bullpen is insanely deep. The club officially announced the signing of left-handed reliever José Álvarez to a one-year deal with a team option for 2022. Álvarez, Jake McGee, Matt Wisler, and Jarlin Garcia are the only relievers on the Giants' 40-man roster who cannot be optioned to the minor leagues. The Giants have scores of relievers who are deserving of a major league opportunity who may be optioned to the minors because of the club's bullpen depth, especially with left-handed relievers. Guys like Caleb Baragar and Wandy Peralta may spend extended periods of time in the minors this year. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON20,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick is joined by special guest Marc Delucchi, who discusses the state of the San Francisco Giants' farm system. Marc is a contributor and co-site expert at Around the Foghorn, and this week is the site's very first ever Giants Prospect Week. Today Marc unveils his Top 31 Giants Prospects list at Around the Foghorn. Ben and Marc discuss a wide range of topics, from a big surprise at No. 2 on Marc's list, to Joey Bart's 2020 struggles, and so much more. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON20,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the latest with the San Francisco Giants and Major League Baseball. Following the Giants' televised spring game on Tuesday, Ben breaks down the game's key takeaways. Two lefty bats with aspirations of making the Giants' roster at some point this season were in the lineup and had impressive games. Outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. could play a prominent role this year, as he seems to fit the Giants' needs perfectly. In the infield, Jason Vosler could get a real opportunity at some point, and he made a good impression by lining a pair of opposite field doubles against Dodgers ace Walker Buehler and the flame throwing righty Dustin May. In the second segment, Ben discusses a couple of major stories that have broken in the last few days. The Athletic reported yesterday that expanded postseason and the universal DH are "dead issues," which could dramatically affect the Giants' 2021 playoff chances. Additionally, we learned this week that the Triple-A season, which was originally slated to start in early April, will be delayed until May. Finally, Ben discusses Jon Heyman's report that the Giants are close to signing veteran relief pitcher José Álvarez. It's probably a minor league contract, but could be a major league deal given Álvarez's track record of being a consistently good left-handed reliever. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON20,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick joins Ryan Ladika of Locked On Rockies to talk about the latest with the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies. In talking about the Giants, Ben addresses their busy offseason and goes in depth on the Tommy La Stella signing and the state of the Giants' catchers. The catching situation is a bit complicated, as Buster Posey returns from opting out of the 2020 season and top prospect Joey Bart remains in the wings. In discussing the Rockies, Ryan talks about the Nolan Arenado trade, and owner Dick Monfort's comment that he hasn't even considered firing general manager Jeff Bridich, despite him being personally responsible for the Arenado trade and making a number of high profile free agent signings that fell completely flat. To wrap up the show, Ben and Ryan discuss the challenges these two franchises face existing in a division with the loaded Dodgers and Padres, and they mull over the pros and cons of an expanded postseason in MLB. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick breaks down the latest from spring training for the San Francisco Giants. First, Ben talks about yesterday's Giants lineup which featured newcomer Tommy La Stella at the top, followed by 2020 breakout star Mike Yastrzemski. Those two figure to be a pesky and formidable 1-2 punch at the top of San Francisco's order this year against right-handed pitchers, and they could be followed by the equally dangerous Brandon Belt and Alex Dickerson. Next, Ben breaks down tonight's starting lineup against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a game which will be televised on NBC Sports Bay Area. The highlight of this lineup is Marco Luciano batting ninth and playing shortstop. Luciano is considered by many to be the Giants' best prospect, and a top-10 prospect in all of baseball. He's just 19 years old and could be just a year or two away from the major leagues. Finally, Ben talks about what to look for overall from the Giants this spring training. The team has several of its top prospects in camp, so it will be fascinating to follow their performance. However, Ben advises that spring training stats, and the team's win-loss record, should not be read into too much. It's a wiser approach to look out for statements from manager Gabe Kapler or front office leaders Farhan Zaidi and Scott Harris when looking for insights about who's standing out in camp. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses three things we learned this weekend about the San Francisco Giants. The first thing we learned is that Buster Posey is back, and that that's a big deal. The Giants sorely missed Posey last year as Joey Bart, Chadwick Tromp, and Tyler Heineman struggled to produce. Posey is healthy, motivated, and could be in line for a resurgent season after working with the Giants' savvy new hitting coaches. The second thing we learned is that the Giants may have a problem at the backup shortstop position. Mauricio Dubón started at short in yesterday's first spring training game, and he looked extremely shaky. He let a ball go through his legs, and failed to get a single out on what should have been a double play grounder. Brandon Crawford will need some days off, so backup shortstop is going to be an area to watch moving forward. Finally, the third thing we learned is that Sam Long looks legit. Long is in camp as a non-roster invitee, and Gabe Kapler, Posey, and Joey Bart are among the prominent Giants who have raved about Long's bullpens so far. Long's stuff was on display on Sunday, and he looked awesome. The Giants have 20 non-roster pitchers in camp, so Long, Jimmie Sherfy, and others could be dark horses to make the Giants' opening day roster. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: I’m getting a little concerned that we might not see Austin Slater make the roster. Is too much depth ever a problem? If so, what does that look like? How do you see Farhan Zaidi addressing that issue? Who are the players that are out of minor league options? If the Giants are hunting free agents in 2022, what position do you think they should target (assuming Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford are gone). The team talks a lot about stretching out pitchers. Would it be a health consideration for ‘starters’/multiple inning pitchers like Shun Yamaguchi or Nick Tropeano to have normal bullpen duties and also be able to make spot starts? I guess more clarity on the idea of stretching out players. Did the fact that the Giants had to protect four players from the Rule 5 Draft hinder their attempt to sign more major league contracts? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers listeners' questions about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: If LaMonte Wade Jr. makes the team, who would be on the chopping block (better to DFA Darin Ruf or send down Austin Slater)? How does this stockpiling pitching depth work with roster spots since veterans often opt out if they don’t make the MLB club? Would Shun Yamaguchi consider starting in Triple-A? With the rosters back to 26, it seems like either Ruf or Donovan Solano may be expendable. If they do get dealt, what would they bring back? I can’t wait for this wave of prospects to be ready. Who do you think will be the first to make an impact on the big club? Where do you see Tyler Beede fitting into the rotation and how do you think he’ll do? Adding to that, might Beede make a home in the bullpen? You brought up Jaylin Davis on the podcast yesterday. He only got 12 at-bats last year before getting the hook and was kind of forgotten about. Any word on him, and who would be the favorite to make the roster between him and Steven Duggar? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants signing pitchers Shun Yamaguchi and Scott Kazmir to minor league deals with invitations to spring training. Yamaguchi signed a two-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays last offseason, and did not have a good 2020 season. Toronto cut him loose this winter, and the Giants picked him up on a minor league deal that will pay him the league minimum if he makes the major league roster. Yamaguchi was a star closer and starter in Japan, and could be used as a starter or reliever with the Giants if he makes the team. Kazmir is 37 years old and hasn't pitched in the majors since 2016, but he's still throwing in the low 90s and has always had a really good changeup. It's a no-risk move for a guy who still has potential. In Kazmir and Yamaguchi, the Giants have added two more pitchers capable of making starts. The Giants now go at least nine deep with intriguing arms to fill out the starting rotation. They're likely going to need that depth to cover 162 games, a year after pitchers' workloads were severely shortened due to the 60-game season. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about a number of hot topics related to the San Francisco Giants. Aaron Sanchez, whose one-year, $4M deal with incentives that could take it up with $6.5M was announced on Sunday, raved about the organization he's set to join. He said that he "heard nothing but great things, both [from an] organizational standpoint and a pitching and analytical standpoint." That last part, about the "analytical standpoint," should not be overlooked. Sanchez is the latest in a growing line of Giants pitchers and hitters who have praised the team's use of analytics. This is in stark contrast to many fans' and analysts' negative views of "analytics," despite that word being a blatant over-generalization used to describe something that is wide ranging and complex. Ben also discusses the Giants' decision to DFA Trevor Gott, and their signing of former Japanese ace Shun Yamaguchi to a minor league deal. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants signing right-handed pitchers Aaron Sanchez and Nick Tropeano. Sanchez was one of the more intriguing starting pitchers available this offseason, because of the stuff and success he had early in his career with the Blue Jays. Injuries held him back in recent years, however, and he missed all of 2020 after undergoing shoulder surgery in 2019. Sanchez seems to be healthy now, as just a few days ago he hit 98 mph in a bullpen session in front of scouts, which seemingly caused the Giants to pounce. Sanchez figures to round out the Giants' starting rotation, which is full of upside and risk. Fascinatingly, all five of the top projected starters are set to reach free agency at the end of the year. Nick Tropeano comes over on a minor league deal, but he reportedly has a good shot of making the opening day roster. He has experience as a starter, but his stuff played up in the bullpen last year for Pittsburgh. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Giants' stated goal of adding more starting pitching depth. Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi met with the media on Friday, and he said that the team is still looking at adding starting pitchers. Notably, he also mentioned that the position player group and bullpen mix are pretty much set. Ben discusses which free-agent starting pitchers remain unsigned, and talks about how the Giants could benefit from locking one of them up to a multi-year deal. He also talks about Zaidi's comment that a trade for an experienced starting pitcher is possible. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the fact that MLB and the MLBPA agreed to health and safety protocols this week, and spring training is set to begin on time next week. As part of the health and safety protocols, MLB will re-instate the extra-inning rule from last season, as well as seven-inning double headers. There will be a 162-game season, with no DH in the National League and no expanded postseason. Also on today's show, Ben answers the following questions from listeners: Would you care to expand on why we should buy into certain 60-game season stats (like offense) and why we shouldn’t for others? I think you’ve mentioned that the offense didn’t look flukey; what would a flukey offense look like? Who's the player you think is most likely to be traded or DFA'd on the current 40-man? Are there any prospects that have a legitimate chance of making the Opening Day roster? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The latest from Atlanta where they are getting ready to host an NBA All-Star game that players don't want and fans are confused over. LeBron James sends the Lakers into overtime against the Thunder. The Suns ended the Milwaukee Bucks win streak. Karl-Anthony Towns returned for the first time since contracting COVID-19. A 5-team trade in the WNBA. Are the Jets the most interesting NFL team this offseason? Plus, Can the Vikings pull off what the Buccaneers did? It's the Q of the day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants signing left-handed reliever Jake McGee to a two-year, $7M contract. The deal has not been announced by the club, but has been reported by multiple reputable sources. McGee was cut loose by the Rockies prior to the start of the 2020 season, but quickly signed on with the Dodgers, where he went on to have a huge rebound season for the eventual World Series champions. McGee's fastball regained its old dominant form, and he threw the pitch a whopping 97% of the time, the most frequently any pitcher threw any pitch in 2020. Third on that list was Matt Wisler with his slider, and the Giants signed Wisler to a one-year deal earlier this offseason. With the addition of McGee, the Giants continue to build quality depth throughout their 40-man and major league roster. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' acquisition of LaMonte Wade Jr. in a trade with the Minnesota Twins. The Giants sent right-handed reliever Shaun Anderson to Minnesota to complete the swap. In Wade Jr., the Giants add an optionable young left-handed outfielder with athleticism and a rare combination of plate discipline and contact skills. It's an ideal foundation for the Giants' savvy hitting coaches to work with. Wade Jr. figures to surpass Steven Duggar on the Giants' outfield depth chart, and should compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster. Also discussed on today's show is the Dodgers' acquisition of ace right-hander Trevor Bauer, a move that, as Ben explains, doesn't change much for the San Francisco Giants. The 2021 PECOTA projections are also analyzed. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers listeners' questions about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: You explain very well how Farhan's moves in SF have tracked similarly to the way he built LA and before. Curious what stands out to you as the biggest difference in how Farhan Zaidi has approached running the Dodgers vs. running the Giants? Other than Michael Conforto, whom the Mets are likely to re-sign, I don’t see a 2022 free-agent outfielder who is a comparable run producer to Marcell Ozuna. Why can’t the Giants make a play for him right now? He recently turned 30. A 3 or 4 yr deal would guarantee a big bat in the middle of future line-ups. Whats the advantage to having almost zero commitments vs. knocking out some signings early and still having a ton of room? Would Jonathan Villar be an ideal last position player? It seems as though Jackie Bradley Jr. wants more years than the giants would be willing to offer. Villar could could spell the infield spots, CF, switch hit, and become the speed threat for the team. And likely for reasonably cheap. You could ask 28 other teams this, but even now still perplexed by not signing Brad Hand for 1-2 years, since they could use bullpen stability and if needed flip him at the deadline, worst case eating a little of the contract. Almost makes me think collusion is still alive? Mauricio Dubon has put on muscle this offseason, possibly per team request (which wouldn’t be surprising). Do you think the Giants have faith in his ability to be the backup SS, and possibly everyday SS vs LHP, especially now with his improved conditioning? With new field dimensions/bullpens, was there any significant batting/fielding data in the short season? Also, will the Giants keep the batters eye wall higher or change the garden to keep a shorter center field wall which they originally planned? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about Donovan Solano, Alex Dickerson, and very likely Mike Yastrzemski being named among the top 10 players at their respective positions on MLB Network's Top 10 Right Now lists. Solano, Dickerson, and Yastrzemski were all Farhan Zaidi acquisitions at very little cost, and all three have been major bright spots for the Giants. Ben discusses why Zaidi's ability to identify talent bodes very well for the Giants' future, and how Giants fans are extremely lucky that the team is as active and committed to winning as they are, especially when compared to a lot of other teams around the league right now, including the Rockies, who just essentially paid the Cardinals to take star third baseman Nolan Arenado off their hands. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about which players remaining in the free agent pool fit the Giants, with reported targets Joc Pederson and Eddie Rosario signing one-year deals elsewhere. Ben also discusses the status of the league's "negotiations" with the players' union regarding rules and protocols for the 2021 season. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Giants' reported interest in left-handed outfielder Joc Pederson. Even after adding Tommy La Stella on a three-year deal, which is not yet official, the Giants are reportedly still pursuing left-handed outfielders. It was reported over the weekend that the Giants were talking to Eddie Rosario and Jackie Bradley Jr., but Pederson may be the best of the three. He's from Palo Alto, California, and grew up a Giants fan, so there could be mutual interest. Adding him would make for a questionable defensive outfield against righties, but it would be an outfield that would surely mash. Additionally, it would force the Giants to make some tough roster decisions, potentially forcing them to cut or trade someone they think highly of, like Darin Ruf. Any acquisition will also force the Giants to remove someone from the 40-man roster. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants reportedly being close to a three-year deal with veteran infielder Tommy La Stella. As a left-handed infielder capable of playing third and second, La Stella fits the Giants' roster perfectly. Evan Longoria probably needs to be platooned, so third base could be La Stella's primary position when there's a right-handed pitching on the mound. But it should benefit the Giants that La Stella can also play second base, where they have two right-handed options in Donovan Solano and Wilmer Flores. La Stella should also serve as insurance at first base, where Brandon Belt has a history of injuries, including heel surgery in 2020. If in fact La Stella is added on a three-year deal, it will be just the second multi-year deal handed out by Farhan Zaidi in three offseasons. La Stella is known for his elite contact skills, modest power, and ability to get on base at a high level, especially against right-handed pitchers. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francsico Giants' interest in free-agent outfielders Eddie Rosario and Jackie Bradley Jr. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Sunday that the Giants were interested in the very different lefty outfielders. Rosario is a bat-first corner outfielder with a unique combination of skills, while Bradley Jr. is a defense-first center fielder whose main contributions come from his legs. Both would likely be platooned, facing mostly right-handed pitching. Ben talks about which would be a better fit, and if there are even better potential fits in free agency. He also opines that a lefty infielder may make more sense than a lefty outfielder. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses USA Today's report that MLB has proposed implementing the universal DH again in 2021 in exchange for a 14-team playoff field. Ben breaks down why the league must reach a resolution soon, because teams and players need to know what to prepare for with the season fast approaching. Ben also provides his personal opinions on the universal DH—something he used to hate but has warmed up to in recent years—and an expanded postseason field. If there's going to be so much emphasis on the divisions, an expanded playoff field may be necessary for the sake of fairness, especially for a team like the Giants, who are in a division with what appear to be two superteams. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about MLB telling teams to expect spring training to start on time, and to expect a 162-game season. According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the league is also advocating for a continuation of the rule changes implemented last year, including seven-inning double headers, the runner on second extra-inning rule, the universal DH, and expanded playoffs. Ben talks about why we shouldn't necessarily take the league at its word regarding spring training and a 162-game season, and he also goes in depth on his feelings about seven-inning double headers and last year's new extra innings rule. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants signing left-handed pitcher Alex Wood to a one-year, $3M contract that includes up to an additional $3M in performance bonuses. Giants GM Scott Harris said last week on MLB Network Radio that the club was hopeful it would add a lefty starter in the coming weeks, and only a couple of days later, they announced the signing of Wood. Wood has been a good and underrated pitcher in his career, but the last couple of seasons have been poor and injury ravaged for the 30-year-old southpaw. However, Giants President of Baseball Operations said that he believed Wood was on track to be healthy and productive again in 2021. The Giants have pieced together a decent rotation, but would be wise to continue adding. A large number of the top free agents are still unsigned this offseason. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Andrew Benintendi would appear to be a perfect fit for the Giants present and future needs. Lots of talk about the Red Sox now listening to potential deals for him. Any chance the Giants are talking to them and who might they have to give up in return? Do you think the Giants will stay the course on roster management? Look for cheap diamonds in the rough while waiting until the vets’ big contracts expire and young talent comes up through the system? Today, MLB social media predicted the Giants make and lose the World Series in 2027 and 2029. Based off the data and trends of our farm system, payroll, management and ownership when do you think the Giants become a serious World Series contender once again? Who's your least favorite player on the 40-man roster? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about Giants General Manager Scott Harris saying on Tuesday that the club is targeting left-handed starters and hopes to add one in the coming weeks. This contradicts something Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi said a few weeks ago, that the club was not specifically targeting left-handed pitchers. The news should not come as a surprise, as the Giants currently project to have an all-righty starting rotation, and they lack sufficient starting pitching depth regardless of handedness. Ben discusses which lefty starters are out there in free agency, and which are the most likely fits for the Giants. Cole Hamels, James Paxton, Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodón, Rich Hill, Jon Lester, and others are discussed in detail. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' trade of right-handed reliever Sam Coonrod to the Phillies in exchange for 2020 fourth-round draft pick Carson Ragsdale, a 6-foot-8 right-handed pitcher. Coonrod had become unpopular among Giants fans after he refused to kneel in a show of solidarity in objection to racial injustice on Opening Day, and he also blew a couple of critical games down the stretch that directly contributed to the Giants missing the postseason. Coonrod had explosive stuff and certainly has upside, but the Giants had built up a lot of right-handed relief depth on their 40-man roster, making Coonrod expendable. In Ragsdale, the Giants add an intriguing right-handed pitching prospect who was a fourth-round pick of the Phillies in 2020. Also on today's show, Ben looks at how the Giants' bullpen currently stacks up as the 2021 season nears. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Mets' acquisition of Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco from the Indians, and why, despite Lindor being a great player, trading for him at this point in time didn't make sense for the Giants. Brandon Crawford is still on this team for one more season and is owed north of $15 million. Lindor is only under team control for one year, and the Giants would have likely had to part with MLB talent in addition to prospects in order to acquire his services. Even with Lindor, the Giants would be fringe contenders at best in 2021. Why pay a premium for one year of Lindor now when the team will have virtually unlimited money to spend next offseason, when there's an all-time great free agent class? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about why bargain contracts help teams win, and why overpriced deals hold teams back. The San Francisco Giants of the late 2010s are a perfect illustration of how overpriced contracts can stop a team from being competitive, assuming ownership groups are not willing to spend unlimited money. Also discussed on today's show is the status of Japanese right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano, whose 30-day posting window to sign with an MLB team expires today at 2 PM PT. The Giants are believed to be interested, but Sugano has a four-year offer with three opt-outs in hand to return to Japan. That's probably the most likely outcome at this point. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick breaks down the San Francsico Giants' signing of free-agent catcher Curt Casali to a one-year, $1.5M deal. Casali has been significantly above average against left-handed pitching in his major league career, and has been below-average against righties. He's considered a likeable guy and a strong clubhouse presence. He rates as an average or above-average pitch framer, and his poptimes are below average. With Casali now in the fold, the Giants now figure to boast enviable depth and flexibility at the catcher position as we enter the 2021 season. Buster Posey is still one of the best catchers in the game, Casali is a solid backup with an exploitable skill, Chadwick Tromp is young, intriguing, and has minor league options, and Joey Bart, the fourth catcher on the 40-man, is one of the top prospects in the game. Also discussed on today's show is the Giants' potential pursuit of Japanese star pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, who must choose an MLB team to sign with or return to Japan, by this Thursday. A decision, however, is expected as soon as today, and the Giants are reportedly among the interested teams. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' New Year's resolutions. While 2020 was a pretty terrible year for humanity and baseball as a whole, the Giants actually had a fairly encouraging season. Their offense was among the best in the game and they were in contention for a playoff berth until the season's final day. Looking ahead to the new year, Ben goes through and sets some goals for the Giants. He hopes for a far more normal season, including being able to go to a game. He reiterates the Giants' goal of making the postseason, or at least being contenders deep into the season again. He also hopes for aggressive minor league development, for the team to finally spend some money, and for Farhan Zaidi to find the next Mike Yastrzemski, Alex Dickerson, or Donovan Solano. One last thing: this time can it please be a starting pitcher? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, Ben Kaspick talks about the 2021-22 free agent class, and how it might affect the San Francisco Giants this offseason. The Giants certainly have some areas of need this year, namely starting pitcher, and they figure to go into the 2022 offseason in an even more dire situation. Kevin Gausman, Johnny Cueto, and Anthony DeSclafani are all set to be free agents after the 2021 season, which will leave the Giants with just Logan Webb, Tyler Beede, and any other inexperienced players as the only starting pitchers under team control for 2022 and beyond. In that case, should the Giants be looking to lock up starting pitchers to multiyear deals now? Trevor Bauer seems like a strong fit. Next year's free agent class has some intriguing names, but do the Giants want to face such enormous uncertainty? That question becomes especially pressing when it is considered that Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, and Brandon Crawford are also set to reach free agency after the 2021 season. The Giants have just about $23M committed for 2022, so it remains an extremely open and pressing question as to when, or if, they're going to spend real money. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about what it means for the San Francisco Giants that the San Diego Padres just traded for aces Blake Snell and Yu Darvish. The Giants already had an uphill battle in the NL West having to contend with the Dodgers, winners of eight straight division titles. The Padres proved this year that they're ready to seriously content as well, but now they've added two of the better starting pitchers in baseball. On paper, the Padres may be close to on par with the Dodgers. To make matters worse for the Giants, Snell and Darvish are signed through 2023. Listen to find out what it all means for the Giants, and why Giants fans should be hoping for a permanently expanded postseason field. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the state of the San Francsico Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: What should the Giants' payroll be? As a big revenue team, at what point do we open our wallets to elite talent and compete dollar for dollar with the Yankees, Dodgers, Mets and Angels? I’m all for not wasting payroll. But I’m also for spending a lot of payroll wisely. With the Giants' 40 man roster now full with John Brebbia on board, who are the likely DFA/Release candidates in the event of a free agent signing? How can acquiring a left-handed starting pitcher not be the absolute top priority for Zaidi? Bellinger/Seager/Muncy 18 times with no LH SP? Who do you think is the best fit for the Giants? Tyler Anderson, James Paxton, Brett Anderson, or Gio Gonzalez? What kind of impact will Posey have on pitching in 2021? With the Cubs trying to shed salary, is there any particular reason you think that Craig Kimbrel’s name hasn’t come up in trade talks? He wasn’t effective in 2020 but has still put up solid strikeout rates in Chicago. If he were available would the Giants be interested? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' signing of free-agent relief pitcher John Brebbia to a one-year, $800K deal. Brebbia had Tommy John surgery in June, but owns a lifetime 3.14 ERA in 175 innings. He should be able to join the Giants' bullpen sometime in the summer, and he can be retained through the arbitration process for two additional seasons beyond 2021. He joins Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani, Matt Wisler, and Jason Vosler as significant free-agent additions the Giants have made this offseason. Despite the Giants' additions of two starting pitchers, two veteran right-handed relievers, and a left-handed bat, the Giants still have work to do in all of those areas. The players they've added are all quality pieces, but the Giants need even more major league depth and talent in those areas if they hope to compete for the postseason in 2021. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick looks at the 2021 ZiPS projections for the San Francisco Giants, which were released Monday on FanGraphs by Dan Szymborski. Examined today are the projections for starting pitchers Kevin Gausman, Logan Webb, Anthony DeSclafani, and Sean Hjelle. Starting pitching currently projects to be a weakness for the Giants in 2021, but might the projections for these pitchers change that narrative? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants signing right-handed starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani to a one-year, $6M deal with $250,000 available in performance bonuses. DeSclafani has spent most of his career with the Cincinnati Reds, where he was inconsistent but very good at times. His 2020 season was a disaster, but he still had really good stuff despite the poor results. In 2019, DeSclafani was solidly above average over 160+ innings. His electric stuff suggests he should be able to improve upon his career results, and he should be helped by moving from an extremely tough pitching environment in Cincinnati to one of the friendliest in the game in San Francisco. In a meeting with the press following the DeSclafani signing, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi talked about what's next this offseason for the Giants. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick looks at some 2021 ZiPS projections for the San Francisco Giants, which were released Monday on FanGraphs by Dan Szymborski. Examined today are the projections for Alex Dickerson, Jason Vosler, Joey Bart, and Darin Ruf. Ben talked at length last year about how projections systems were overly pessimistic about the Giants, and that they were likely to outperform them because of their commitment to platoons and innovative new hitting coaches. And indeed, the Giants massively outperformed their pessimistic 2020 projections almost to a man. Now, the 2021 ZiPS projections are out, and Ben examines whether or not the computer is buying into what the Giants were able to do in the small sample of 2020. As we'll see, the projections are buying into the improvements to an extent, but they're not all-in just yet. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick looks at some 2021 ZiPS projections for the San Francisco Giants, which were released yesterday on FanGraphs by Dan Szymborski. Examined today are the projections for Mauricio Dubón, Brandon Crawford, Evan Longoria, and Donovan Solano. Ben talked at length last year about how projections systems were overly pessimistic about the Giants, and that they were likely to outperform them because of their commitment to platoons and innovative new hitting coaches. And indeed, the Giants massively overperformed their pessimistic 2020 projections almost to a man. Now, the 2021 ZiPS projections are out, and Ben examines whether or not the computer is buying into what the Giants were able to do in the small sample of 2020. As we'll see, the projections are buying into the improvements to an extent, but they're not necessarily all-in just yet. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick looks at the 2021 ZiPS projections for the San Francisco Giants, which were released today on FanGraphs by Dan Szymborski. Ben talked at length last year about how projections systems were probably being overly pessimistic about the Giants, because of the team's commitment to platoons and the impact the new hitting coaches could make. Indeed, the Giants massively overperformed pessimistic 2020 projections almost across the board. Now, the 2021 ZiPS projections are out, and Ben examines whether or not the computer is buying into what the Giants were able to do in a small sample in 2020. As we'll see, the projections are slowly buying into the improvements, but they're not all-in just yet. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: What are the chances the Giants sign a “big-time” free agent this offseason? Do you think the front office will target a high risk, high reward starting pitcher? Or more of a solid but more expensive starter? Thoughts on adding Yasiel Puig? Will new Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombroski attempt to move Bryce Harper? Could the Giants be a landing spot? With the pandemic still going on, is it a lock Buster Posey is even back this coming season? Will the Giants ever hit on a Rule 5 pick? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants taking right-handed pitcher Dedniel Núñez from the New York Mets in the Major League portion of Thursday morning's Rule 5 Draft. Núñez has a fastball with characteristics that the Giants like, particularly after he displayed a jump in velocity in the Fall Instructional League. Núñez will be added to the Giants' 40-man roster and must be on the major league roster all season or else they must offer him back to the Mets. No Giants prospects were selected in the MLB portion of the Rule 5 Draft. Ben also talks about the results of the All-MLB Team voting. Mike Yastrzemski was named a finalist in the outfield, along with nine peers. Three were to be selected as First Team All-MLB outfielders, and three more were to be selected as Second Team All-MLB outfielders. Did Yastrzemski make either cut? Was he a snub? Tune in for details and reaction. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' announcement that they have extended invitations to four teams to be affiliates under a new agreement with Major League Baseball. Triple-A Sacramento and Double-A Richmond are set to remain affiliates, but the Giants plan to ditch their affiliation with Augusta Green Jackets in favor of a High-A affiliation with the Eugene Emeralds. San Jose would move from High-A to Low-A under the new agreement. The Giants also announced that they signed catcher Chadwick Tromp to a major league deal, and they signed several others to minor league pacts. Tromp was non-tendered by the Giants last Wednesday. Ben also talks about tomorrow's Rule 5 Draft, and about how Mike Yastrzemski is a finalist for the All-MLB Team, which will be revealed today. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants inking veteran right-handed reliever Matt Wisler to a one-year, $1.15M deal. Wisler is coming off a breakout season of sorts with the Twins, although he was non-tendered last Wednesday. Wisler rode a wipeout slider to a career-best strikeout rate and pristine ERA, but the Twins evidently didn't believe in the sustainability of Wisler's success and non-tendered him ahead of Wednesday's tender deadline. The Giants hope that the Twins' loss is their gain, as Wisler joins a bullpen that is short on experience, and figures to be one of Gabe Kapler's top right-handed options out of the 'pen. As the Winter Meetings roll on, the Giants are still seeking numerous starting pitchers, a versatile left-handed bat, and possibly more right-handed relief help as well, despite the addition of Wisler today. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the virtual 2020 Winter Meetings, which get started today and last all week. The San Francisco Giants enter the Winter Meetings with several items on their wish list, some of which they may seek to address this week. It was at last year's Winter Meetings that the Giants signed Kevin Gausman to a one-year, $9M deal, and they also made the Will Wilson trade. This year, what the the Giants' biggest needs? As Ben describes, it's clearly starting pitching, first and foremost. They also need a versatile left-handed hitter capable of playing third and second, someone who can platoon with Evan Longoria, whose struggles against righties are longstanding enough that it's time to limit his exposure against them. Right-handed veteran relief pitching is also a need, after Trevor Gott and Sam Coonrod failed to take on high leverage roles in 2020, a development that may have cost them a spot in the postseason. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks more about the fallout from Wednesday's non-tender deadline. Some notable non-tenders around the game were David Dahl, Archie Bradley, Kyle Schwarber, Eddie Rosario, Nomar Mazara, Carlos Rodón, and Matt Wisler. Among them, Dahl was probably the most surprising, and he actually fits one of the Giants' biggest needs. He's a young, left-handed-hitting outfielder who's capable of playing center. He has impressive tools, including power, speed, and an ability to play solid defense. He was a former first-round draft pick by the Rockies. The Giants will almost certainly be interested in signing Dahl, among with several other players who were non-tendered on Wednesday. The Winter Meetings kick off next week, in virtual fashion, and that may hopefully kickstart what has been a slow offseason around the league to date. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about what the San Francisco Giants did at last night's non-tender deadline. It was predicted to be a non-tender bloodbath across baseball, but it was mostly business as usual, outside of a few surprises. The Giants were among the majors' most active team, non-tendering five players off their 40-man roster, agreeing to one-year deals to avoid arbitration with six, and tendering contracts to two arbitration eligible players. Tyler Anderson, Daniel Robertson, Melvin Adon, Chadwick Tromp, and Rico Garcia were non-tender by the Giants. Donovan Solano and Reyes Moronta were tendered contracts but not yet signed, and the Giants reached one-year deals with Alex Dickerson, Darin Ruf, Austin Slater, Jarlin Garcia, Wandy Peralta, and Trevor Gott. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the decisions the Giants face ahead of tonight's non-tender deadline. The Giants have 10 players who are eligible for arbitration to whom them must decide whether or not to tender contracts. The players are: Donovan Solano, Alex Dickerson, Austin Slater, Darin Ruf, Tyler Anderson, Wandy Peralta, Jarlin Garcia, Reyes Moronta, Trevor Gott, and Daniel Robertson. Ben discusses the ins and outs of which players are the locks to be tendered contracts, which are borderline cases, and which are likely to be non-tendered. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the upcoming non-tender deadline. Teams must decide whether to tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players by Wednesday at 5 PM PT. The San Francisco Giants have 10 arbitration-eligible players. Under Farhan Zaidi, the Giants have either agreed to "pre-tender" contracts with their arb-eligible players, or they've non-tendered them. This year, the non-tender deadline may be the most important in baseball history. Teams claim to have lost a collective $3 billion this year due to having no fans in the stands, and that may lead to an unprecedented number of non-tenders. What happens tomorrow could shape the entire offseason, and could have a ripple effect for years to come. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers listeners' questions about the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered on today's show are: Do you think the Giants will be in play for Blake Snell? He's signed through 2023 and has elite strikeout stuff. If they are in on Snell what pieces/prospects would you give up? Or do you think going after free agent options would be more beneficial for the rebuild? Two years ago, Marwin Gonzalez was a mid-tier free agent name who was the premier utility player on the market. Do you think he is the type of player who could possibly sign with the Giants to rebuild his value? His positional versatility is certainly a plus although his bat has declined playing in Minnesota. With Wilmer Flores and Donovan Solano being so similar at least defensively, trading one of them would seem to make sense to make a more balanced roster. Which one would be most likely to go and what kind of return would either get? What do you think about the KBO's Eric Jokisch as a target? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick continues to look at hitters on the MLB Trade Rumors Top 50 Free Agents list and talk about which are possible fits for the Giants—and which are not. Today he focuses on catcher Yadier Molina, infielder/outfielder Jurickson Profar, second baseman Cesar Hernandez, and first baseman Carlos Santana. Molina is a likely Hall of Famer and an all-time great leader, but is he a fit on team that has Buster Posey and Joey Bart? Profar has a lot going for him, but are his platoon splits and lack of great defense in the infield an issue? Is Hernandez one of the most boring players in baseball? Santana had a down year but still managed a great on-base percentage, and he's brimming with upside. Could the Giants fit another first baseman on the roster if the price is right? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick continues his look through MLB Trade Rumors' Top 50 Free Agents list, talking about which free agent hitters are fits for the San Francisco Giants—and which are not. On today's show, he explores free agents Nelson Cruz, Jackie Bradley Jr., Tommy La Stella, and Kolten Wong. Cruz is a total long shot, but could be an option if there's a DH in the NL in 2021. Bradley Jr. makes some sense as a platoon partner in center field with Mauricio Dubón. La Stella and Wong may be the strongest fits of all, as the Giants are searching for left-handed complements to their right-handed infielders Evan Longoria, Donovan Solano, and Wilmer Flores. Discover Ben's full thoughts by listening to today's show! Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick looks at MLB Trade Rumors' Top 50 Free Agents list and discusses which free-agent hitters are fits for the Giants—and which are not. Last week, Ben looked at all of the starting pitchers on MLB Trade Rumors' list, and he continues that conversation this week by looking at the hitters on the list. Last Thursday, Ben looked at the very top free-agent hitters and discussed who was a fit and who wasn't. Today, he looks at Didi Gregorius, Michael Brantley, Justin Turner, Marcus Semien, James McCann, Andrelton Simmons, and Joc Pederson. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' decision on Friday to add four prospects to their 40-man roster in order to protect them from this December's Rule 5 Draft. In corresponding moves, the Giants DFA'd Chris Shaw, Aramis Garcia, and Jordan Humphreys. Added to the 40-man were outfielder Alexander Canario and right-handed pitchers Gregory Santos, Camilo Doval, and Kervin Castro. Canario is considered by most to be one of the Giants' Top 10 prospects, although he dislocated his left shoulder a few weeks ago and required surgery. Santos, Doval, and Castro are seemingly going to be high upside bullpen options for the Giants as soon as next year. Shaw, a former first-round pick by the Giants, never caught on with the new regime. Garcia was behind Buster Posey, Joey Bart, and arguably Chadwick Tromp on the Giants' catcher depth chart. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: What would you say are the Giants’ plans at first base or shortstop with Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford, respectively? If you had to say, are any or both these guys on the Opening Day roster in 2022? With 451 plate appearances in 2019 and 2020, do we still think that Donovan Solano is due for regression? What are your thoughts on a Jackie Bradley Jr. signing or a possible Kevin Kiermaier trade? Do you see the Giants trying to sign starting pitcher free agents who they target as reclamation projects, like Gausman Smyly, to two- or three-year deals instead of one-year deals? Do you think last year without a minor league season will slow down the Giants' improvements towards a pennant or World Series? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick wraps up his discussion about which free-agent starting pitchers from MLB Trade Rumors' Top 50 Free Agents list fit the San Francisco Giants—and which do not. He also starts from the top and looks at which free-agent hitters could be fits. On the pitching side, Cole Hamels, Anthony Desclafani, and Chris Archer are discussed. One seems like a solid fit, one has a major injury concern, and one seems to be a middling fit. On the position player side, J.T. Realmuto, George Springer, Marcel Ozuna, DJ LeMahieu, and Ha-Seong Kim are discussed at length. Which two does Ben consider solid fits? Which hitters are brushed off immediately because they don't fit? Listen to find out. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about which free-agent starting pitchers from MLB Trade Rumors' Top 50 Free Agents list are fits for the San Francisco Giants—and which aren't. Ben discusses whether Taijuan Walker, Garrett Richards, Corey Kluber, and Charlie Morton could be targets for the Giants, and why some pitchers do not fit even though they might seem to from afar. He also discusses the starting pitchers toward the bottom of MLBTR's list, including Adam Wainwright, Mike Minor, J.A. Happ, Jon Lester, and Rick Porcello. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about which free-agent starting pitchers fit the San Francisco Giants—and which don't. He discusses how Trevor Bauer, Masahiro Tanaka, Jake Odorizzi, José Quintana, and James Paxton fit, or don't fit, the Giants' plans. One is downright dominant, but likely to be expensive. A couple are intriguing, but have major injury concerns. Who stands out as someone who fits the Giants? One thing is certain: the Giants will be tapping into this market, as they're in somewhat desperate need of starting pitching help. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants losing free agent Drew Smyly to a one-year, $11M deal with the Atlanta Braves. While it's disappointing to lose Smyly, the huge silver lining is that the Giants are proving to be very successful at rebuilding pitchers' values. First it was Drew Pomeranz, who joined the Giants on a one-year, $1.5M deal in 2019, only to sign for 4/$34M the following offseason. Next it was Kevin Gausman, who signed for 1/$9M and then got 1/$18.9M the following year. Smyly is yet another example of a low-cost Giants signing cashing in for a much higher payday the following year. This trend figures to help the Giants lure in upside pitchers in need of a rebound season. Also discussed on today's show is a rumor that the Giants are interested in free-agent starter Jake Odorizzi, and an update on the health of Giants prospect Alexander Canario. Canario dislocated his left shoulder in Fall Instructional League, and underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum. The Giants must add Canario to their 40-man roster by Friday or else they risk losing him in this December's Rule 5 Draft. Canario's injury complicates that calculus. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: How do you think the Giants will fill out starters 3-5 for 2021? Will they go outside the organization? If so, who would they most likely target? Who do you think could be DFA'd with the roster crunch approaching? Any thoughts on this list: Aramis Garcia, Chris Shaw, Jordan Humphreys, Trevor Gott, Darin Ruf? With so many teams seemingly trying to save money, would now be the ideal time for the Giants to try some more Will Wilson-like trades? How big an issue is losing Ethan Katz? Will Marcus Semien get a nine-figure deal, and what’s that suggest about Trevor Bauer's potential contract? Did winning the Cy Young affect Bauer’s price? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses Kevin Gausman accepting the San Francisco Giants' $18.9M qualifying offer. Bringing back Gausman was a top priority for president of Giants baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and general manager Scott Harris, and on Wednesday, they got their man. Gausman was reportedly weighing multiyear offers as the qualifying offer deadline neared, but he ultimately decided to accept the one-year, $18.9M QO and return to the Giants in 2021. Gausman accepting the QO does not rule out the two sides agreeing to a multiyear deal. Also on today's show, Ben talks about the Giants' estimated payroll in 2021, and how much they may be able to add this offseason. He also discusses the news that Giants assistant pitching coach Ethan Katz has been hired as the pitching coach for the Chicago White Sox. Katz's hiring reflects positively on Gabe Kapler and his ability to put together a strong coaching staff. Katz likely won't be the last of Kapler's coaches to be hired away in the coming months and years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' signing of minor league free agent Jason Vosler to a major league contract. It's a peculiar move, and one that doesn't have a ton of recent precedent in San Francisco. Many Giants' media members speculated that the signing of Vosler indicates that he will be on the major league team, but Ben believes that Vosler will simply be an option, rather than a sure thing to platoon with Evan Longoria at third base. Vosler primarily plays third and first base, but he's also played second and shortstop in his minor league career. He was previously in the Cubs' and Padres' organizations, where he was blocked at his primary position by Kris Bryant and then Manny Machaco. Giants' president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has a track record of fidning diamonds in the rough, and Vosler could be next in line. Also on today's show, Ben talks about Kevin Gausman's impending qualifying offer decision, which is due this afternoon, as he reportedly weighs multiyear offers, including from the Giants. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about former San Francisco Giants outfielder Mac Williamson suing the club over a concussion that 'ended my career.' Ben also talks about Donovan Solano winning the N.L. Silver Slugger Award at second base, and Kevin Gausman's impending qualifying offer decision, which is due on Wednesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers San Francisco Giants questions submitted by listeners on Twitter. Among the questions asked and answered are: Would the Giants consider trading from their position player prospect depth to get a stud pitching prospect? Of the Giants' top prospects, which one(s) are most likely to be traded? It has to be Alexander Canario, right? With Buster Posey coming back and Joey Bart playing for the back half of last year what do you think will happen at catcher? What can we expect to see from Marco Luciano next year? Any chance he’s a sept call up? Which prospects do you think will get a chance to play at the major league level next year? Do you think there is any way that Evan Longoria finishes his massive contract on a different team? If so, is there any possibility Longoria is shipped in 2021, 2022, or is it still too early to tell? And then if you had to make a guess, does he finish that contract with the Giants? All that and more on today's Locked On Giants. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers San Francisco Giants questions submitted by listeners on Twitter. Among the questions asked and answered are: Do you see the Giants trying to make a move to get Francisco Lindor? What do you think about Trevor Bauer? Do you think he'd be a good fit? Should we expect anything out of Tyler Beede in 2021? Who's the odd-man out in our current rotation if we sign a free agent starting pitcher? If the Giants fall out of contention but Brandon Belt is healthy and performing well, do you think he waives his no-trade clause to build up value for free agency? Should the Giants be looking to trade Mike Yastrzemski in the next couple years? More years of control will net a better trade and he isn’t getting younger. All that and more on today's Locked On Giants! Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick casts his ballot for the 2020 All-MLB team, in honor of the still-undetermined U.S. Presidential Election. Fans are allowed to vote once every 24 hours through next Friday, and there are three Giants who made the cut. Not all players are eligible to receive votes; only those who had great years appear on the ballot. Are any Giants likely to win the award? Will Ben be a homer and cast a vote for every Giant who's a finalist? Find out who he thinks is deserving of winning the prestigious honor of being named to the All-MLB team in 2020. Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick reacts to MLB Trade Rumors' Top 50 Free Agents with Predictions. It's always fun to see this annual list from MLBTR, and this year was no different. Ben looks through each of the top 50 to see who MLBTR thinks is a good fit for the orange and black. Kevin Gausman was ranked as a top-10 free agent, and MLBTR expects him to return to the Giants by accepting the qualifying offer. Relatedly, they expect the Giants to be suitors for pretty much all of the top starting pitchers available to sign. The Giants are also linked to numerous top relief pitchers, which also makes sense, but they're not listed as suitors for any left-handed infielders, which Ben thinks is a mistake. Tommy La Stella, specifically, is a great and obvious fit for the Giants because he crushes right-handed pitching and is capable of playing third and second base. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' decision to extend the $18.9 million qualifying offer to Kevin Gausman. Gausman was always a borderline case to receive the offer, and the fact that the team decided to do so is a good sign for Giants fans. It means several things. First, it means that the Giants have serious interest in bringing back Gausman in 2021 at the very least. Gausman is a candidate to accept the offer, which would bring him back for one year at an $18.9M salary. But we've also heard reports that the Giants are working on a multiyear deal with Gausman, and the qualifying offer is just a contingency. If Gausman rejects the offer and signs with another team, the Giants will receive draft compensation. The second thing that this decision indicates is that the Giants might not be afraid of spending money this offseason, at a time when people around the game suspect that teams are going to be very careful with spending this winter in the wake of the ongoing pandemic that has hurt teams financially. Because Gausman is a candidate to accept the lofty one-year qualifying offer, this signifies that the Giants will not be afraid to spend in order to improve their team this offseason. Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Do you think the front office is confident the offensive success the Giants had in a 60 game season will translate over a 162 game season? Which current minor league Giant will be the first to make their debut in 2021? Could Jake Lamb or Alex Wood be free agent options? When will we hear if anyone claimed Brad Hand? What are the chances we have both Posey and Bart on the big league roster full time this upcoming season considering Bart's 2020 performance? Do you think the 2021 Giants’ best offensive player will be on the roster by the end of this year? All that and more in the latest installment of the Giants mailbag on the Locked On Giants podcast. Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, Ben Kaspick talks about a couple of surprising decisions made by the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians. The Cardinals declined Kolten Wong's $12.5M club option, opting instead for the $1M buyout. Wong had been a mainstay in St. Louis ever since his rookie year in 2014. He's an excellent defender and base-running, and solid against right-handed pitching. Wong becomes a free agent, and should be someone of interest to the Giants. Moving on to the Indians' decision, they placed elite relief pitcher Brad Hand on outright waivers, despite him being controllable for 2021 for just $10M. The Indians are hoping to save $1M by not having to pay for his buyout. The Giants, in need of veteran relief help, should absolutely claim Hand, but they could face stiff competition and they are not high on the waiver priority list, which is based off league and record. These two cost-cutting moves involving quality players hint at greatly decreased spending this offseason. Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Los Angeles Dodgers winning the World Series amidst Justin Turner's positive COVID test and subsequent reckless behavior. The game itself was quite compelling, with Rays starter Blake Snell dominating into the sixth inning. Rays manager Kevin Cash pulled Snell while he still appeared to be cruising, and immediately reliever Nick Anderson gave up the tying and go-ahead runs. Cash's decision to pull Snell was highly controversial and reignited talk among analysts like Alex Rodriguez about how "cybermetrics" are ruining the game. After the Dodgers won, it came out that Turner was removed late in the game due to a positive Covid-19 test. This was shocking in and of itself, but what made matters far worse was that Turner came onto the field during the Dodgers' celebration and even took off his mask to pose for pictures. He also embraced several teammates. Turner's reckless behavior put a stain on the Dodgers' first title in 32 years. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners submitted on Twitter. Among the questions asked and answered on this edition of the mailbag: Is Tyler Anderson really worth going to arbitration with? Somewhere around $3.5M for a 4.36 FIP and 5.93 xFIP seems inefficient. Could that money be spent elsewhere for more production? Should the Giants pursue Joc Pederson? With how well the giants outfield played last year, would a left-handed-hitting infielder who could play the outfield like Jurickson Profar be a better fit than Pederson? Any ideas on some viable paths for improving the bullpen? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the three World Series games over the weekend between the Dodgers and the Rays. Game 3 was an easy win for the Dodgers behind ace Walker Buehler. Justin Turner set the tone with a first-inning home run, and it was all LA from there. Game 4 was a wild back-and-forth affair, with runs being scored in eight consecutive half innings, a World Series record. The Dodgers held a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, but Kenley Jansen surrendered a two-out single to Brett Phillips with runners on first and second that was destined to tie the game. But two runs scored after Chris Taylor, Max Muncy, and Will Smith combined to botch the play and allow Randy Arozarena to score from first despite falling down between third and home. Having tied the World Series at 2-2, the Rays seemed destined to carry the momentum of their wild win in Game 4 into Game 5, but the Dodgers again set the tone early, scoring two in the top of the first, and they held on to win a tight 4-2 game. They're now one win away from their first World Series title since 1988. Built Bar- Today's episode is brought to you by Built Bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, Ben Kaspick answers San Francsico Giants questions submitted by listeners on Twitter. Among the questions asked and answered are: Which Giants player is most likely to win the "Kevin Pillar Award" this coming year - a player non-tendered, traded, or outright released that objectively helps the Giants but fans are up in arms about? Even though Even Longoria didn’t have a great offensive season, would you expect him to do better in a larger sample next when the analytics suggest he had a solid offensive year and may have been unlucky? What are your thoughts and the stats on Brandon Belt being up for a Gold Glove Award? Could Joey Bart be moved to first base or DH permanently? With Farhan trading and drafting catchers left and right I don’t see why we would need to have Bart back there when he looks like a liability defensively. Do you think the fans had any influence on Farhan Zaidi ultimately promoting Joey Bart this season? Do you think Bart would have been promoted this season if the fans were more knowledgeable about minor league development and not rushing prospects? Built Bar- Today's episode is brought to you by Built Bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, Ben Kaspick talks about the Tampa Bay Rays' win in World Series Game 2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers dominated and looked like the superior team in Game 1, but the Rays answered back emphatically in Game 2. Brandon Lowe set the tone early with a booming solo home run to the opposite field gap in the first inning. Lowe has struggled mightily this postseason, despite being the Rays' top offensive performer in the regular season. Lowe later hit his second home run of the game. If he gets hot, it could spell big trouble for the Dodgers. On the pitching side, Blake Snell rebounded after a shaky postseason thus far. He struck out nine in 4.2 innings, although he did allow a two-run homer to Chris Taylor in the fifth. Tony Gonsolin started for the Dodgers, and he was used in somewhat of an opener role. He only went 1.1 innings, and three of the six Dodgers relievers who followed Gonsolin allowed runs, including three earned runs allowed by Dustin May. Looking ahead to Game 3, the Dodgers have the advantage with their ace Walker Buehler against Charlie Morton, although Morton is excellent in his own right and could easily give the Dodgers some trouble. Rock Auto Today's episode is brought to you by RockAuto.com. Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, Ben Kaspick talks about the World Series and high praise for the Giants from a high ranking member of the Atlanta Braves. Alex Anthopoulos, the Braves' president of baseball operations, used to work for the Dodgers under Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi. In a recent profile on Friedman in the LA Times, Anthopoulos spoke about what makes Friedman successful, and he mentioned Zaidi as well. He said that both executives come from organizations that don't have the luxury of discarding underperforming players, and so they have a commitment to making do with what they have and making their own players better. Anthopoulos said that's a big reason why the Dodgers have been so successful, and he said that he's seeing it with Zaidi's Giants now, too. Other organizations discard certain players (think Mike Yastrzemski and Alex Dickerson as examples), and the Giants have made those players better. Ben also discusses World Series Game 1, and he previews tonight's Game 2. Rock Auto Today's episode is brought to you by RockAuto.com. Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, Ben Kaspick predicts the next contracts for Kevin Gausman, Drew Smyly, and Tommy La Stella. The Giants would like to bring Gausman and Smyly back next year, but what will it cost? Ben discusses the possibility that Gausman and/or Smyly will be extended the one-year, $18.9M qualifying offer. It seems likely in Gausman's case, but unlikely for Smyly. He also talks about why contract statuses are important, and not just about owners' bank accounts. It's important for teams to have players with trade value, and only players signed at or below market value for the life of their contract have trade value. Ben predicts what Gausman and Smyly will ultimately command in free agency, factoring in the changes to the sport's economics due to Covid-19, and he also talks about what La Stella is likely to command. La Stella is a possible fit as a left-handed complementary player in the infield—a big need for the Giants in 2021 and beyond. Rock Auto Today's episode is brought to you by RockAuto.com. Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Dodgers winning NLCS Game 7 and going to their third World Series in four years. It's a tremendous accomplishment for this Dodgers team that has won eight consecutive division titles (and showed no sign of slowing down), but the pressure is on for LA to finally bring home its first title since 1988. The Dodgers were arguably cheated out of the 2017 championship by the Houston Astros, but there's no doubt that there is pressure on them to win this year. Each year the Dodgers have failed to win a title, it becomes even more amazing that the Giants were able to win three championships in a five-year period from 2010 to 2014. This Dodgers team is one of the most talented teams ever assembled. They came back from 2-0 and 3-1 series deficits against the Braves. They have a ton of momentum entering the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, who beat the Astros in seven games to reach their second Fall Classic in franchise history. Their only other trip was in 2008, when they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies. The 2020 World Series promises to be a good one as it is a very compelling matchup. Both teams are excellent defensively, they can pitch, and they are just loaded with good baseball players. Will the Dodgers finally get over the hump? Or will the Rays shock the baseball world and stand as world championships for the first time in their history? Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, Ben Kaspick continues to break down the Giants' preseason FanGraphs projections and compares them to what actually transpired in 2020. Over the last few days, Ben has looked at the FanGraphs projections for the Giants at every position on the diamond and compared them to San Francisco's actual results. At almost every single position, the projections ended up selling the Giants short. Ben warned prior to the season that the projections seemed overly pessimistic for various reasons and that the Giants could easily outperform them, and that's exactly what came to pass. On today's episode, he looks at the preseason projections for Giants starting pitchers and relief pitchers and compares them to actual results. Will the theme of the projections underestimating the Giants continue? Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants, Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' FanGraphs preseason projections at catcher, left field, center field, and right field and compares them to what actually transpired. On yesterday's show, Ben looked at the projections and actual performance at first base, second base, third base, and shortstop. The theme that has emerged thus far is that the Giants exceeded expectations by a mile. The FanGraphs projections were often wrong about who would receive playing time, and they also proved to be inaccurate at projection individual performances. Pessimistic preseason projections for Alex Dickerson, Darin Ruf, Mike Yastrzemski, and Austin Slater fueled underwhelming overall projections in the outfield. However, those players vastly exceeded their projections and the Giants ended up with some of the better outfield performance in the game. Yastrzemski emerged as a legitimate MVP candidate and Dickerson, Ruf, and Slater were superb in mostly platoon roles. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants, Ben Kaspick looks back on FanGraphs preseason positional power rankings, which included projections for every team at every position, and how those compared to what actually happened. Prior to the start of the 2020 season, FanGraphs went position by position projecting performance for every team. Pretty much across the board, those projections were pessimistic about the Giants. Ben actually went through these position by position as they were released prior to the 2020 season, and he frequently said that the projections were overly pessimistic about Giants position players. Today, Ben goes back to look at these projections for 1B, 2B, 3B, and SS, and compares them to the actual performance the Giants got at those positions. Over and over, Giants position players were projected to be bad but ended up being either average or well above average. Built Bar- Today's episode is brought to you by Built Bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, Ben Kaspick talks about the 2020 MLB postseason. He goes back and reviews the predictions he made prior to the postseason and sees where things went right and where things went wrong. His National League bracket is still perfectly intact, but things fell apart to an extent on the American League side. He's correctly predicted every outcome in the NL thus far, and ultimately has the Dodgers going to and winning the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays are very much still alive in the AL, but the rest of Ben's bracket in the Junior Circuit is a mess. He incorrectly had the Indians beating the Yankees, the Twins beating the Astros, and the White Sox beating the A's. Rock Auto Today's episode is brought to you by RockAuto.com. Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, Ben Kaspick discusses the Giants' upcoming offseason and its key dates and deadlines. For five days after the World Series ends, the Giants will have exclusive negotiating rights with their own free agents: Kevin Gausman, Drew Smyly, Tony Watson, and Trevor Cahill. Once five days are up, they must have decided whether or not to extend any of their free agents the qualifying offer, valued at one year and $18.9 million. Gausman and Smyly are possibilities to be extended the offer. The player(s) then have 15 days to decide whether or not to accept the offer. Also five days after the World Series ends, the Giants must add six players back to their 40-man roster who were either on the 60-day injured list or the restricted list. That could cause a roster crunch and may force the Giants to make some DFAs. They will have five catchers on the 40-man at that point in time, so a catcher may be designated. As we move into late November, the Giants must also choose which prospects to add to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft in early December. They have a few prospects in their Top 30 who are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft and will need to be added to the 40-man roster in order to be protected. They'll also have to decide which players eligible for arbitration to be tendered contracts. The Giants have several arbitration eligible players, and a few seem to be non-tender candidates. Those decisions need to be made by December 2nd. Built Bar- Today's episode is brought to you by Built Bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about a range of topics related to the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: What’s your dream offseason for the Giants? What kind of moves (or lack thereof) would they have to make for you to feel like they’ve kept on track to make the postseason next year given their current trajectory? What potential moves could hold them back? What do you think of the KBO's Ha-Seong Kim? In a normal year, a player like George Springer might command 4-5 years, upwards of $100 million. How do you think the pandemic will affect contract expectations for these free agents, and do you think the Giants are in a position to take advantage of that? Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get $10 off your first order. Postmates For a limited time, Postmates is giving our listeners ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS of free delivery credit for your first SEVEN days. To start your free deliveries, download the app and use code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about what to expect from the Giants this offseason and next year. He talks about the fit of free agents Didi Gregorius, Tommy LaStella, Cesar Hernandez, and Blake Treinen. The next question answered is: Do you see Farhan/Harris going after Bauer/Stroman or Ozuna/Springer or LeMahieu/Semien or do you see them bargain basement hunting like they have been the last two years? Do they bring back Gausman/Smyly/Cahill or do they go find three cheaper versions? The next question asked and answered is: What would you consider a successful 2021 season for the Giants? Better than .500 record? A postseason appearance? And finally, Ben answers the question: Which giants hitters are most likely to regress next season? Which hitters are likely to build on this season (like Yaz)? Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Postmates For a limited time, Postmates is giving our listeners ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS of free delivery credit for your first SEVEN days. To start your free deliveries, download the app and use code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick hands out grades for the 2020 Giants. He looks at how Gabe Kapler fared in his first season as Giants manager. Kapler, replacing the legendary Bruce Bochy, had an uphill battle to win over fans, but for the most part he came through with flying colors. He made some highly publicized questionable moves, but it's hard to look past the fact the the Giants were the majors' most improved offensive team under his watch, and they exceeded expectations to miss the postseason by just one game. Speaking of the team's offensive improvement, Ben grades the performance of the new coaching staff, who should be credited with the hitters' dramatic turnarounds. Finally, Ben grades the outfielders, infielders, defense, starting pitchers, relievers, trade deadline, and offseason moves. Postmates For a limited time, Postmates is giving our listeners ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS of free delivery credit for your first SEVEN days. To start your free deliveries, download the app and use code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about how no team improved more offensively than the 2020 Giants. He also talks about how their pitchers fared from a numbers perspective in 2020, after looking at the offense on yesterday's show. But first he follows up on yesterday's discussion in which he speculated that the Giants were probably MLB's most improved offensive team in 2020, and that turned out to be the case. The Giants ranked first in non-pitcher wRC+ improvement from 2019 to 2020 by a significant margin. Going even further, the Giants were a dramatic 50% better at home in 2020 than they were in 2019, which was by far the biggest jump of any team. Notably, their opponents only improved by 6% at Oracle Park, meaning that the Giants' improvements cannot be explained by changes to Oracle Park, as some have said. In looking at how Giants pitchers fared in 2020 from a numbers perspective, Ben notes that overall, they were a below average pitching team. Their starters were better than their relievers by fWAR relative to the rest of the league, although the starters had a worse ERA than the relievers. It looks like the Giants' starters were a bit unlucky, and they were in fact a solid group, headlined by excellent performances by Kevin Gausman and Drew Smyly, and solid performance by Tyler Anderson. In the bullpen, several members had fine seasons, but a few blow ups seemingly cost the Giants a shot at the postseason. Trevor Gott and Sam Coonrod did not have great years, when the dust settled. Postmates For a limited time, Postmates is giving our listeners ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS of free delivery credit for your first SEVEN days. To start your free deliveries, download the app and use code LOCKEDON. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Giants' dramatic offensive improvement in 2020. While some had attributed their improvements to changes to their home ballpark, that conclusion has holes since Giants' opponents did not significantly improve from last year to this year at Oracle Park. Across the board, the Giants' hitters showed improvement from last year to this year. The players they brought in had tremendous offensive success as well. It's easy to see that their new hitting coaches, who are known to utilize the latest tech and tools, had a profound impact. The Giants were a bottom-two offensive team in the National League last year in several major categories like on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and weighted runs created plus, but this year they became a top team in all of baseball in those fundamental categories. They also scored the eighth-most runs in all of baseball. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get $10 off your first order. Postmates For a limited time, Postmates is giving our listeners ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS of free delivery credit for your first SEVEN days. To start your free deliveries, download the app and use code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants prospects headed to the fall Instructional League in Arizona. There was no minor league season in 2020, so the development these players will be able to undergo in the roughly one-month league will be vital. The Giants have more players heading to the Instructional League than any other team, with 66. They have so many players, in fact, that they will be the only club fielding two separate teams. There are eight teams in total that will compete in the east Phoenix area, with two of those teams being comprised of Giants prospects. So their players with play games against six other teams from rival organizations. This will be very different than what some Giants prospects experienced at the Alternate Site in Sacramanto this year, when they only played intrasquad games against each other. Many of the Giants' top prospects will attend the Instructional League, including several who were not at the Alternate Site in Sacramento. The Giants used the Alternate Site, which was limited in size, mainly for players who could contribute to the 2020 major league team, with a few prospects sprinkled in. The Instructional League, however, is littered with most of the Giants' best prospects, with the exception of Joey Bart, who cannot attend because he is on the club's 40-man roster. The Instructional League should be hugely important since there was no minor league season this year. It will be the best available opportunity for Giants prospects to face real competition that will somewhat resemble what they would have seen in a minor league season. Built Bar Today's episode is brought to you by Built Bar. Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get $10 off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' postmortem press conference involving President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi, Manager Gabe Kapler, and President and CEO Larry Baer. Zaidi said that the Giants' 2020 season was a "sign of progress," in that the hitting was clearly improved dramatically and the team took the playoff hunt down to the final pitch on the final day of the regular season. Baer gave a positive review of the job Zaidi and Kapler have done, stating that the future of the organization is looking bright. Looking ahead to 2021, Zaidi said that it will be a goal to make the postseason, and they will continue to stick to their mantra of fielding a competitive team every year, all while prioritizing the development of young players. That's what the Giants did in 2019 and 2020, and there's no reason to expect anything different in '21. Zaidi said that the team will be shopping for starting pitching, with Kevin Gausman and Drew Smyly being at the top of their priority list. Both pitchers have expressed a desire to return to San Francisco. Zaidi also said that the team is open to adding a veteran or two to a young bullpen, and that he believes the team was one left-handed bat short this year, and adding one is a priority. He also said that they may look outside the organization to find catching help to support Buster Posey, with Joey Bart potentially needing more reps in the minor leagues. Rock Auto Today's episode is brought to you by RockAuto.com. Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the status of the Giants' roster. Who are their impending free agents? Who's already signed for next year? Who's arbitration eligible? Who's pre-arbitration eligible? Kevin Gasman and Drew Smyly headline the list of Giants free agents. Both were signed on one-year deals and both delivered huge performances. The Giants' starting rotation was shaky even with those two, so there's little doubt that the club is interested in re-signing both. The two players have expressed a desire to stay in San Francisco, so there appears to be mutual interest. Ben explores the possibility that one or both could be extended the qualifying offer. Rock Auto Today's episode is brought to you by RockAuto.com. Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' disappointing season-ending series loss to the San Diego Padres. The Giants ended up missing the postseason by one game, and it's easy to point to a number of games they should have won throughout the year. That lists includes the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Padres, in which Sam Coonrod blew a two-run seventh-inning lead (the final inning), issuing a walk-off three-run home run to Trent Grisham at Oracle Park. The Padres were able to walk the Giants off the field because it was a makeup game from one that was postponed where the Padres were the home team. It was among the most crushing losses in recent Giants history. If the Giants had been able to win that game, they would have been in the postseason and faced the Dodgers in the first round of the playoffs. Despite the bitter disappointment, the Giants' 2020 season was ultimately a success. Their offense came alive and became one of the best in all of baseball. They finished the year eighth in runs scored, after being one of the worst offensive teams in MLB for the past several seasons. Much of the credit goes to the new coaching staff, who prepared hitters in an entirely new fashion. Credit also goes to Farhan Zaidi and Scott Harris for assembling this group, and signing players like Wilmer Flores, Darin Ruf, Kevin Gausman, and Drew Smyly in the offseason, all of whom had great seasons. Several Giants veterans, like Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford, also had strong rebound seasons. The bullpen was shaky at times and it cost the Giants several games. First-year manager Gabe Kapler was a net positive, making some questionable bullpen decisions but ultimately making lots of good ones, and being one of the best managers of an offense in the sport. Built Bar Today's episode is brought to you by Built Bar. Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get $10 off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' devastating loss to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday afternoon. The Giants had the Rockies' starter on the ropes early, with a 3-0 lead and runners on second and third with less than two outs, but they could not add on and let the Rockies creep back into the game. Kevin Gausman started for San Francisco, and he pitched extremely well once again. He struck out nine and walked one in six innings, allowing just two earned runs. But Sam Coonrod gave up two runs in relief in the seventh, giving the Rockies a 4-3 lead. The Giants tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on Brandon Belt's solo home run, and the game remained tied going to extra innings. The Giants had a chance to win by just scoring a run in the bottom of the 10th, but Trevor Story made an unbelievable play throwing out the winning run at home on a forceout. Earlier in the inning, Wilmer Flores nearly won the game with a home run, but it was caught at the wall. In the 11th, the Rockies took the lead on a ground ball and sacrifice fly, and the Giants could not answer in the bottom of the frame, as Austin Slater grounded into a double play with the tying run on third and winning run on first with one out. It was a devastating, gut-punching loss for the Giants, who fell to 28-28 with four games remaining in the season. They're still clinging to a playoff spot, but they begin a very tough four-game series with the Padres tonight, which begins with a doubleheader. The Padres will throw extremely tough righty Dinelson Lamet in game one, so the Giants will have their hands full. Chris Paddack will start game two for San Diego. The Giants have not announced starters for either game. The Giants will be scoreboard watching this weekend. They'll be rooting for the Phillies and Brewers to lose. The Phillies play a tough road series in Tampa Bay, and the Brewers play four against the Cardinals, including a doubleheader today. The Giants' playoff odds entering the final weekend are 47%, per FanGraphs. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get $10 off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' 7-2 win over the Colorado Rockies last night. Caleb Baragar started the game as an opener, and had a 1-2-3 first inning. Logan Webb came in after Baragar allowed a leadoff double to Charlie Blackmon in the second inning, and Webb got out of the inning without allowing a run. Webb ended up going 5.1 innings in "relief," and allowed just two runs. He was much better than he's been recently, and he found success by attacking the strike zone with his fastball. The Giants fell behind 1-0 and 2-1, but they came back with a huge bottom of the fifth inning. Alex Dickerson led off the fifth with a double down the right field line, and Donovan Solano advanced him to third with a deep fly out to left. Brandon Belt walked, setting up a first-and-third with one out for Brandon Crawford, who hit a sacrifice fly to center field to tie the game. Evan Longoria walked, which brought up Mauricio Dubón with two on and two out, and he crushed a season changing three-run home run to left field on a down-and-in slider. It was the biggest hit in Dubón's career, and it gave the Giants a lead they would not relinquish. With the win, the Giants moved into the NL's first wild card position, where they have a one game lead with five games remaining. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' much-needed win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. Drew Smyly was on the mound for the Giants and he pitched great once again. Smyly and Kevin Gausman, the two major-league free agent signings by Farhan Zaidi last offseason, have been excellent. They've given the Giants a good chance to win each and every game they pitch. Especially considering how well the offense has performed this year. Austin Slater hit a leadoff home run, and Gabe Kapler pushed all of the right buttons once Luis Basabe had the leave the game with a hamstring injury. Crawford replaced Basabe and moved to shortstop. Daniel Robertson, who started as shortstop, moved to left field. Darin Ruf, who started in left, moved to right. The moves by Kapler paid off in two ways. Robertson made a great play in left field, throwing out the potential tying run at second base to lead off the seventh inning. In the bottom of the seventh, with the score tied, Kapler pinch hit for the righty Robertson against a right-handed reliever with the lefty Alex Dickerson. Kapler still had Dickerson available to pinch hit because he did not make the obvious substitution with Dickerson for Basabe when Basabe was injured. Dickerson rewarded Kapler with a go-ahead pinch-hit home run. Later in the inning, Brandon Belt pinch hit for Wilmer Flores with two runners on, and Belt hit a two-run double. Kapler's moves have worked beautifully this year for the most part, and the Giants moved closer to playoff position with the win. With a win tonight, the Giants will move back into playoff position with five games remaining. FanGrpahs lists their playoff odds at 51% entering play tonight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' 7-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies and what it means for the Giants' postseason chances. Johnny Cueto started for the Giants and struggled out of the chute. He allowed two runs in the first inning, and ended up allowing seven earned runs in 5.1 innings, the most runs he has ever allowed in his Giants career. Despite the loss, the Giants were fortunate that pretty much all of the teams they're competing with for the wild card spots also lost, with the exception of the Cincinnati Reds. The Giants are just 0.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the eighth and final NL wild card spot. The Phillies play a double header today against the Washington Nationals that could swing the race dramatically one way or the other. Also on today's show, Ben talks about Joey Bart's struggles as a major leaguer so far. He wasn't supposed to start last night's game, but Chadwick Tromp aggravated his shoulder in Sunday's win against the A's and wasn't able to start on Monday. Bart has struggled mightily at the plate, consistently swinging at pitches out of the strike zone, and he has also struggled defensively, routinely dropping catchable pitches and often failing to get on the same page as his pitchers. His rapport with Cueto has been especially poor. If Tromp is healthy enough to start tonight, expect him to be in the lineup against the lefty Kyle Freeland. Ben also previews tonight's matchup between Drew Smyly, who is one of the Giants' best pitchers right now, and Freeland, whom the Giants match up well against because they hit lefties well. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' weekend series against the A's, and how they enter the season's final week on the cusp of playoff position. The Giants were dominated in the first two games of the series, but they bounced back on Sunday with a resounding 14-2 victory. After losing two out of three and seeing some of their rivals in the NL wild card race have good weekends, the Giants fell out of playoff position but have the same .500 winning percentage as the Reds and Brewers. The Reds, however, have captured the final NL playoff spot because they have the best intradivision record of the three teams, and that is the first tiebreaker. All eight of the Giants' remaining games will be against intradivision foes, and so the Giants have a chance to improve that record and increase their chances of winning a tiebreaker. On today's show, Ben breaks down each rival's remaining schedule, and how it compares to the Giants' four games against the Rockies and four against the Padres. The Rockies come into town with one of the worst offenses in MLB (contrary to popular opinion), and they're missing their best player in Nolan Arenado, who has a shoulder injury. Arenado may not play in the series. The Rockies do have a couple of good starting pitchers going on Monday and Tuesday, so the Giants could have their hands full with those two. Ben forecasts that the Giants will need to finish at least 30-30 to make the postseason, so they'll need to go 4-4 or better in these final eight games. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get $10 off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' come-from-behind "road" win over the Mariners in San Francisco. This was supposed to be a two-game series in Seattle, but it was moved to SF because of poor air quality in the Seattle region. The Giants seemed to take advantage, winning both games in the short series. San Francisco overcame an early 4-1 deficit with runs in the 6th and 7th innings to win 6-4. Mike Yastrzemski had to leave the game in the early innings due to calf tightness. In his place, rookie Luis Basabe ended up playing a huge role in the Giants' comeback. Basabe singled for his first major league hit and scored a run in the 6th. In the 7th, he drew a two-out walk that preceded Wilmer Flores' huge two-run triple that gave the Giants the lead. Giants starter Tyler Anderson was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the third inning. Wandy Peralta stepped up with three scoreless innings in relief to keep the Giants in the game, and the bullpen battled through some dicey moments to hold on the rest of the way. In the aftermath of this win, the Giants find themselves in strong playoff position, taking over the No. 7 seed. They have a tough road ahead, with three games against the A's and four games against the Padres remaining on the schedule. They will also await the results of Yastrzemski's MRI on his calf. They can't afford to lose their MVP for too many games, as he's been a force all season long and the options to take his place would be a huge downgrade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' 9-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. This was a make-up game from Tuesday's postponement in Seattle. The two-game series was moved to San Francisco due to poor air quality in the Seattle area. The Giants took advantage of their home ballpark, scoring runs in each of the first four innings. Brandon Belt, Evan Longoria, and Brandon Crawford crushed home runs, and Donovan Solano and Alex Dickerson contributed with multiple hits of their own. On the mound, Drew Smyly was as dominant as he's been all season. He had to miss over a month with an index finger strain, but when he's been on the mound for the Giants this year he has been nearly unhittable. Last night he struck out eight batters in 3.2 innings, featuring a wicked curveball that the Mariners could do nothing with. At one point Smyly had seven strikeouts, all on curveballs, and all swinging. He was just bouncing the pitch in the dirt with two strikes and the M's just could not lay off. The win brought the Giants back to .500 at 24-24. They're holding onto the NL's No. 8 seed, the final postseason spot, by the slimmest of margins. They have a 1/2 game lead over the Cardinals, with many other teams not far behind. The Giants control their own destiny down the stretch, but they must take advantage of teams like the Mariners and Rockies in their final 12 games, because they also have to face two of the best teams in baseball in the A's and Padres. The Giants play the last of this two-game series with the Mariners this afternoon. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Giants' two-game series in Seattle being shifted to San Francisco because of poor air quality in the Seattle area. Tuesday's game against the Mariners was postponed a few hours before it was scheduled to begin because of air quality concerns, and it was quickly announced that the teams would travel to San Francisco to make up the game. Both teams had a scheduled off day on Thursday, so instead of playing on Tuesday and Wednesday, they'll now play on Wednesday and Thursday in San Francisco, with the Mariners being the home team. Air quality in the Bay Area had been poor all week prior to the last few days, but thankfully it's gotten better recently, and on Wednesday the air quality was pristine for the first time in almost a month. Hopefully it stays that way, because the Giants are scheduled to play the remainder of their season (13 games) in the Bay Area, both at home and against the Oakland A's. In other news, the MRI on Kevin Gausman's elbow came back clean, which is huge for the Giants' postseason aspirations. The team's playoff odds have slipped in recent days as their opponents put together key victories, so the Giants need all the help they can get down the stretch. Gausman has been one of the Giants' best starters this season, so having him for two or three games in the season's final week and a half could have a big impact. Also discussed on today's show is Madison Bumgarner's season in Arizona. Many Giants fans were furious when the team did not re-sign the San Francisco legend, but Bumgarner has had a disastrous season in the desert and has been by most metrics the worst starting pitcher in baseball. He allowed eight runs on 12 hits and two home runs in his start last night. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get $10 off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick provides updates about the San Francisco Giants' place in the National League wild card standings, and answers questions from listeners. Among the questions asked and answered are: Do you believe Zaidi can identify potentially top tier pitching talent eventually? Part of me worries that he is just significantly better at identifying talent in position players; What do you imagine is the front office's long term strategy for improving our farm system's pitching depth? Do you think they believe they currently have an ace-in-the-making in the farm, or do they plan to buy pitching like the 2015/2016 Cubs? If the Giants could control who they play against in the playoffs, what do you think is their most likely path to the World Series? Is Brandon Crawford back to being a good fielder? All that and more on today's Locked On Giants. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Giants' wild weekend in San Diego. Alex Dickerson tested positive for Covid-19 prior to Friday's game, and the game was postponed minutes before it started. In the following days, however, it became clear that Dickerson's positive test was a false positive. Once the league was confident that no members of the Giants had the virus, a doubleheader was scheduled for Sunday. Prior to the doubleheader, Kevin Gausman was scratched from his start due to elbow discomfort. He received an MRI and the results are not yet known. The Giants fell completely flat in Sunday's doubleheader. They were dominated by the newly acquired Mike Clevinger in the first game, and then Garrett Richards and the Padres bullpen held the Giants to just one run in the second game. Logan Webb pitched pretty well besides allowing a solo home run to Wil Myers. Sam Selman entered a tie game in the sixth inning and issues two walks to start the frame. Both runners ended up scoring after Evan Longoria booted a ground ball that could have been a double play. It's easy to say the Giants offense looked flat in this series, but the Padres pitching deserves most of the credit. It's now scoreboard watching season for the Giants. The Brewers and Rockies trail San Francisco by just 1.5 games in the standings for the NL's final playoff spot, and the Reds and Mets are just two games back. The Brewers play a doubleheader with the Cardinals today, and the Reds play a doubleheader today with the Pirates. Those games could have a big impact on the standings. The Giants' remaining schedule features some winnable games and some tough series. Four of their remaining 13 games are against these extremely tough Padres. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get $10 off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants releasing the beloved Pablo Sandoval, adding Justin Smoak and Drew Smyly to the roster, and losing 6-1 to the San Diego Padres. Before the game, the Giants announced that they had placed Sandoval on unconditional release waivers and activated the recently signed Smoak. They also activated Drew Smyly off the injured list and optioned Rico Garcia to the Alternate Site in Sacramento. It's the end of an era with Sandoval being released. Sandoval left on not the greatest of terms following the 2014 championship season. He returned with his proverbial tail between his legs in 2017 after being released from the Red Sox, and reestablished his legacy and his relationship with the fans over the next few years. In Smoak, the Giants are gaining a player who struggled this year before being released by the Brewers, but has a strong track record of patience and power. He will represent a threat to draw a walk or hit a home run every time he steps to the plate. The Giants were dominated by the Padres in last night's loss. Despite the loss, the Giants maintained a two-game lead over the Rockies for the NL's final playoff spot. Trevor Cahill was shaky in the start and the Giants' offense couldn't muster much against Padres pitching, but Smyly came out of the bullpen and was absolutely dominant over four innings. He struck out eight and walked one, and got a ton of swinging strikes. Smyly was dominant for the Giants before going on the injured list, so last night was just a continuation of how great Smyly has looked all year. The Giants figure to use him out of the rotation down the stretch, but could use him as a super reliever instead. Either way, the Giants are probably interested in keeping Smyly in their organization beyond 2020 based on how he's pitching. If he keeps this up, he could be in high demand in the offseason. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get $10 off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants, host Ben Kaspick converses with Locked On Padres host Javier Reyes about their two teams' upcoming four-game series in San Diego. The Padres are playing like one of the best teams in baseball, and very quietly the Giants have been a good team in their own right this year, despite low expectations from observers on the outside. Ben talks about what's driven the Giants' unexpected success, discusses the Giants' inactive trade deadline, and gives an assessment of the job new manager Gabe Kapler has done so far in San Francisco. On the flip side, Javier talks about the Padres' excellent start to the season, their extremely busy trade deadline in which they acquired quality players like Mike Clevinger, Austin Nola, Mitch Moreland, and Trevor Rosenthal, all without giving up any of their top prospects, and what it would be like for the Padres to make the playoffs for the first time in a long time, and how he'd like their chances in a possible playoff matchup. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' come-from-behind win against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night. Logan Webb started for the Giants, and he very clearly did not have his best stuff. He struggled as he gave up five runs in the first few innings, but the Giants chipped and clawed their way back into the game with multiple two-out rallies. Brandon Belt had two clutch singles that drove in runs, and Alex Dickerson, Mauricion Dubón and Darin Ruf hit huge home runs. The comeback win was just one of many the Giants have had this year. It's come to define their season. After the game, Webb and Dickerson praised Giants manager Gabe Kapler for giving them positive reinforcement at exactly the right moments. They also praised his game management, as his moves for pinch hitting for Dickerson with Ruf and using Alexander Basabe as a defensive replacement all paid off in big ways. The Giants' bullpen also played a big role in the win, holding the Mariners scoreless across four innings of work. The Giants (22-21) improved to one game over .500 for the first time since Aug. 1 when they were 5-4. They currently hold the No. 8 seed in the NL wild card race, with a 1.5 game lead over the Colorado Rockies for the NL's final playoff spot. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get $10 off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night. Kevin Gausman was on the mound for the Giants, and he continued to do what he's done all season, and that's rack up strikeouts. On the other side, Zac Gallen was on the mound for the D-backs, and he brought with him his record streak of consecutive games to start a career allowing three runs or fewer. Gallen was cruising through the first five innings, but the Giants got to him in a big way in the sixth. The Giants loaded the bases with nobody out, and Mike Yastrzemski hit a single that tied the game. Next up was Darin Ruf, who entered the game after Alex Dickerson fouled a ball off his knee and had to leave the game. Run delivered a clutch, two-run single that gave the Giants a 3-1 lead. After a Donovan Solano single forced Gallen out of the game, Brandon Belt drew a bases-loaded walk that became the fourth earned run against Gallen, the first time he's ever allowed four runs in a major league game. The Giants held on to win 4-2, bringing them back to .500 for the first time since they were 5-5. They also remained in playoff position, currently the No. 7 seed, and a half game ahead of the ninth-seeded Rockies. The Giants' remaining schedule is a mixed bag. They have four games against the Mariners (including a two-game home series that begins tonight) and four against the Rockies, but seven against the Padres and three against the A's. It figures to be a tough race to the finish, but the Giants are in pretty good position to nab one of the eight postseason spots up for grabs in the National League. FanGraphs lists the Giants' postseason chances at about 58%. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants winning two of three over the weekend against the Arizona Diamondbacks, with one game remaining in the series on Monday evening. The Giants lost a heart breaker on Friday, after failing to score despite having the bases loaded and no outs in the 8th inning when trailing by just one run. Mauricio Dubón tagged up from second base on a shallow fly ball by Alex Dickerson, and Steven Duggar on third base bluffed the tag. Dubón didn't notice in time that Duggar wasn't going, and Dubón was doubled off. The Giants' odds of winning was up to 71% when they had the bases loaded and no outs, and those odds fell to 30% after the double play. The Giants did not score again and lost the game by one run. On Saturday, the Giants took care of their former ace Madison Bumgarner. Evan Longoria and Darin Ruf hit back-to-back homers in the second inning, and the Giants added two more runs against the D-backs bullpen in the late innings on back-to-back triples by Joey Bart and Dubón. Those were the first triples in each player's major league career. On Sunday, the starting pitcher Johnny Cueto and the Giants gave up two runs in the top of the first, but answered back with a solo home run by Chadwick Tromp in the third, and escaped bases loaded, two out, full count situations in both the fifth and sixth, the latter being inherited and handled by Caleb Baragar. Ruf made a nice catch to save the day, and WIlmer Flores and Alex Dickerson also made really nice defensive plays that were important in the game. Donovan Solano hit a huge go-ahead home run in the sixth inning, and Brandon Belt continued his torrid stretch by hitting a pinch hit homer in the late innings. The Giants bullpen pitched a shutout, as Baragar, Jarlin Garcia, Tony Watson, and Tyler Rogers closed out the win. The Giants are now just one game under .500 and currently hold the No. 8 postseason seed in the National League. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers listeners' questions about the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: Are there any pitchers in Sacramento now that have a chance to help the Giants in the bullpen? Looking to the offseason, do you see Farhan signing a player to a multi-year contract or should we expect more of the same quiet, under-the-radar pickups? And at what point will the Giants next make a big splash in free agency? What, if any, free agents should the Giants be looking into during the winter meetings? Which world series team was your favorite and why? Could you break down the Giants' offensive production so far and what you expect of guys rest of season?. Especially Longoria, Belt, Solano, Crawford, Dickerson. All of that and more on today's Locked On Giants.
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' disappointing loss to the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday afternoon in Denver. Despite the loss, the Giants remain in the thick of a tight wild card race in the National League. The Giants held onto the eighth and final postseason spot entering the game, a half game up on the Rockies, but with the loss the two teams swapped places in the standings. Now the Giants are on the outside looking in, but they're just half a game out of a playoff spot with 22 games remaining. The Rockies' next series is against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. The Dodgers, of course, have the best record in baseball. The team that currently holds the No. 7 seed in the wild card race is the Miami Marlins, and the Giants are just one game behind them in the standings. The Marlins' next series is against the Tampa Bay Rays in Tampa, and the Rays have the second-best record in baseball. Therefore, the Giants have a good opportunity this weekend when they play the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks to vault themselves forward in the standings. They'll face a familiar face on Saturday, when Madison Bumgarner will oppose his former team for the first time. The Giants have hit lefties well all season long, and Bumgarner is just another lefty at this point. Bumgarner had an awful start to the season with his new team, and was placed on the injured list with a back issue after a handful of starts. The Giants expect Austin Slater to come off the injured list this weekend, and he's a key cog in their lineup against lefties. Postmates For a limited time, Postmates is giving our listeners ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS of free delivery credit for your first SEVEN days. To start your free deliveries, download the app and use code LOCKEDON. Indeed RIGHT NOW, Indeed is offering our listeners a FREE SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLAR CREDIT to boost your job post - which means more quality candidates will see it, fast. Try Indeed out with a FREE SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLAR CREDIT at indeed.com/lockedonmlb. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' historic 23-5 win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday. Alex Dickerson homered three times—and very nearly hit a fourth—as the Giants pounded the Rockies and scored in every inning but the 9th. The 23 runs and 27 hits tied a San Francisco Giants record. The Giants got production up and down the lineup. They had three players with six runs batted in, which is the first time that's ever happened since RBI became an official stat in 1920. After the game, Brandon Crawford, who had hree hits including a three-run homer, credited the new hitting coaches for the team's offensive success this year. The new staff was much maligned by fans and even some members on the media coming into the year, but they've clearly had a big impact on a team that's now leading the majors in hits and is third in runs scored. The Giants are now in playoff position, half a game ahead of the Rockies for the eighth and final postseason spot. With a win today, the Giants can gain some separation and would be at least a game ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers. Postmates For a limited time, Postmates is giving our listeners ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS of free delivery credit for your first SEVEN days. To start your free deliveries, download the app and use code LOCKEDON. Indeed RIGHT NOW, Indeed is offering our listeners a FREE SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLAR CREDIT to boost your job post - which means more quality candidates will see it, fast. Try Indeed out with a FREE SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLAR CREDIT at indeed.com/lockedonmlb. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get $10 off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers wide-ranging questions from listeners about the San Francisco Giants. Does the team's inactivity at yesterday's trade deadline suggest an ownership mandate not to take on salary? What would that mean for next year? Who are the players on the current 28-man roster that won't be on the team at the start of the 2021 season? With Joey Rickard out for the year and Austin Slater due back soon, do the Giants call up Heliot Ramos or Jaylin Davis? Which Giants player needs to get hot for the team to make the playoffs? What happens to Buster Posey's contract given that he opted out of the season? All of that and more on today's Locked On Giants. Postmates For a limited time, Postmates is giving our listeners ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS of free delivery credit for your first SEVEN days. To start your free deliveries, download the app and use code LOCKEDON. Indeed RIGHT NOW, Indeed is offering our listeners a FREE SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLAR CREDIT to boost your job post - which means more quality candidates will see it, fast. Try Indeed out with a FREE SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLAR CREDIT at indeed.com/lockedonmlb. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Giants not making any major moves at the 2020 MLB Trade Deadline. After the Giants made five trades on deadline day last year, fans may have expected another flurry of activity for the retooling Giants. But there was no such flurry this year, as the Giants' only trade involved the recently DFA'd left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda, who will report to Sacramento. The Giants' inactivity made a lot of sense, however, for many reasons. First of all, this is an extremely weird season caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Giants figured to be involved in the rental market, potentially trading away short-term assets and seeking to also acquire short-term assets. But the rental market seemed particularly slow this year, with several players who seemed like candidates to be traded staying put. This was likely because teams were simply not willing to give up much of consequence for a player who would only be with them for one month (there's usually two months left after the deadline). Playoff teams also have to make it through a new best-of-three postseason round before advancing to a best-of-five, and there's always the threat that the virus could shut down the season. What's more, some may view this season's champion as illegitimate because of the shortened season. So, at the end of the day, the Giants, who are close to playoff position thanks to the expanded postseason, did not have any reason to "sell" short-term assets like Kevin Gausman and Tony Watson, unless they received substantial offers that likely just did not exist. Likewise, the Giants figured to be active in the short-term buying market (e.g., for players like Jackie Bradley Jr.), but they probably weren't willing to give up much of consequence for 24 games of a simply decent player. All that led to a deadline that had some excitement but was much slower than usual. Ultimately, this was to be expected and that's exactly how it played out. Now the Giants, who won two of three against the D-backs over the weekend, will continue the season with their roster intact, chasing an unlikely spot in the playoffs. Per FanGraphs, their odds of making the postseason stand at 39%. Postmates For a limited time, Postmates is giving our listeners ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS of free delivery credit for your first SEVEN days. To start your free deliveries, download the app and use code LOCKEDON. Indeed RIGHT NOW, Indeed is offering our listeners a FREE SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLAR CREDIT to boost your job post - which means more quality candidates will see it, fast. Try Indeed out with a FREE SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLAR CREDIT at indeed.com/lockedonmlb. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get $10 off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' double-header losses to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. The Giants' seven-game winning streak was snapped in Game 1, and then they lost in Game 2 as well. Clayton Kershaw was dominant after his defense bailed him out in the first inning, and Logan Webb had a lot of bad luck in his outing, with several soft-hit balls finding holes. In Game 2, the Giants caught a break with Walker Buehler being placed on the injured list, but the Giants couldn't get anything going against the Dodgers' bullpen. Kevin Gausman made the start for San Francisco, and he pitched pretty well but had no run support. Gausman has emerged as perhaps the Giants' most likely trade candidate. His contract expires after the season, and his strikeout and walk numbers are those of a dominant pitcher. Any contending team should be eyeing Gausman as a pitcher of interest for their team down the stretch and into the postseason. After the game, when reporters asked Gausman about the possibility of being traded, he said that he didn't want to leave this team, but he understands it's part of the business. He said that even if he was traded, it would have no bearing on where he signs after the year, and that he would like to come back to the Giants because he "really like[s] this team." Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about last night's postponement of the Giants-Dodgers game. The teams decided not to play in protest of the shooting of Jacob Blake. Mookie Betts apparently was a big reason that the Dodgers decided not to play. Betts told his teammates that he wasn't going to play no matter what, and other Dodgers leaders like Clayton Kershaw said Betts' powerful message resonated with the team and they decided that the best way they could stand with their respected teammate was to decide not to play as well. It's less clear how Giants players felt about postponing the game, but manager Gabe Kapler and president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi were crystal clear that they stood by the decision to postpone the game in protest of police brutality and systemic racism. The Giants will play a double header today, with each game being only seven innings. It will be the first time the Giants experience the new seven-inning double header rule, which is in place this season in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. On today's show, Ben also takes some more questions from listeners left over from last week's mailbag. He discusses a hypothetical trade involving the Giants and Indians. He talks about whether the Giants should target relief pitching at the upcoming trading deadline. And he talks about all the new rule changes this year and which, if any, are likely to stick. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get $10 off your first order. Manscaped Go to Manscaped.com and use code LOCKED to get 20% Off and Free Shipping. Manscaped is #1 in men’s below the belt grooming and offers precision-engineered tools for your family jewels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Giants' dramatic and exciting walk-off win against the Dodgers. Donovan Solano crushed a two-run home run in the bottom of the 11th inning that sealed the win for the Giants. Earlier in the game Brandon Belt hit a game-tying three-run home run in the bottom of the 1st, and he hit a game-tying solo shot in the bottom of the 9th against Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen. They also came back from a 10th-inning deficit. The Giants can seemingly do no wrong right now, as the win was their seventh straight and it came against a Dodgers team that came into the game with a 22-8 record. With the loss they're now 4-4 against the Giants this year, and 18-5 against everybody else. If the season ended today, the Giants would face the Dodgers in LA for a best-of-three postseason series. Not everything was sunshine and roses in this win. Johnny Cueto struggled through four innings, allowing six earned runs. Giants rookie catcher Joey Bart had an awful game, both at the plate and behind it. He could not get on the same page as Cueto and relief pitch Jarlin García. His difficulties with García were very costly, and he eventually got crossed up, which caused the ball to trickle away and the baserunner on second to advance to third, then the runner scored on Bart's errant throw into left field. If the Giants had not come back in the bottom of the frame, Bart's defensive issues would have been the story of the game. Other Giants who made huge contributions included Even Longoria, who had four hits and a walk (as did Belt) and Brandon Crawford, who had three hits. Mauricio Dubón also hit a game-tying single with two outs in the 10th. The much-maligned bullpen also pitched very well and kept the Giants in the game after Cueto departed. Freshly Join almost ONE AND A HALF MILLION Satisfied Customers and skip the shopping, prepping, cooking, and clean up. Freshly is offering our listeners FORTY DOLLARS OFF FOR THEIR FIRST TWO ORDERS at freshly.com/lockedon. Manscaped Go to Manscaped.com and use code LOCKED to get 20% Off and Free Shipping. Manscaped is #1 in men’s below the belt grooming and offers precision-engineered tools for your family jewels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from fans about the San Francisco Giants' plans for the trading deadline, what they'll do with Mike Yastrzemski long term, Kapler's decision to use Trevor Gott in a one-run game on Monday, and much more. Most questions were understandably about the upcoming trading deadline, which is next Monday, August 31st. Just like last year, the Giants find themselves playing great and in playoff contention as the deadline approaches. Contrary to popular opinion among fans, the Giants navigated last year's deadline beautifully. Ben believes the Giants will take a similar approach this year, balancing the present and the future. They won't sacrifice much in the way of future value for purely present value, but they will look to upgrade the 2020 team while acquiring pieces for the future. It remains unclear how the unique circumstances will affect trade activity. The season could be cancelled at any minute due to the virus; there will only be one month left in the season after the deadline; and the postseason now includes more teams and has a different structure. Nevertheless, Giants president of baseball operations likes to be active with his roster, and he has a strong history in trades, so next week's deadline should be exciting for Giants fans. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get $10 off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Giants' sweep of the Diamondbacks over the weekend. The Giants' win on Sunday was their sixth straight, and they are now just two games under .500 and in one of the eight National Leauge playoff positions. The postseason was expanded to 16 teams in this pandemic-shortened season, and the Giants may be poised to take advantage. Despite people writing them off from day one, the Giants have performed much better than most expected. The offense and the starting pitcher has been a real strength. If it weren't for some extremely unlikely 9th-inning collapses, the Giants would be a winning team, perhaps even as good as 17-13. President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and manager Gabe Kapler deserve much of the credit. Zaidi has built a roster that is flexible and able to generate consistent favorable matchups. Kapler and his coaching staff have gotten the most out of their position player mix. Zaidi also built a starting staff that has exceeded expectations despite the highly criticized loss of Madison Bumgarner in free agency. Bumgarner has not pitched well for the D-backs and is on the injured list. In his place, free agent signings Kevin Gausman, Tyler Anderson (who was claimed off waivers, non-tendered, then signed), Trevor Cahill, and Drew Smyly have pitched very well. Logan Webb has taken a step forward and pitched beautifully on Friday. Anderson threw a complete-game on Saturday. Cahill was excellent on Sunday. All the while, Mike Yastrzemski has continued to play like an MVP. He homered on his 30th birthday yesterday, and made a sensational, run-saving catch in a tie game on Saturday. And the youth is coming. Joey Bart continued to play well over the weekend, and the Giants have a stable of young prospects waiting to come up in the coming years ahead. Despite all the criticism this team has taken under Zaidi and now Kapler, fans and media alike are finally seeing the new positive direction of this team. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' 10-5 thumping of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Joey Bart's debut. Bart was a calming presence behind the plate, and he seemed to frame pitches well and made some nice blocks. He also collected his first major-league hit, a ringing double down the left field line that was hit 109.5 mph. It was the fastest extra-base hit for the Giants all season. As exciting as it was for Bart to make his debut, some of his teammates stole the show. The Giants continued to pound left-handed hitters with a right-handed-heavy lineup penciled in by manager Gabe Kapler, and put together by president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and general manager Scott Harris. Those three, along with the new hitting coaches, deserve a lot of the credit for the Giants' offensive resurgence this season. Wilmer Flores, signed by Zaidi and Harris in the offseason to the first multi-year deal handed out under the new regime, continued to stay red hot with a two-run home run in the first inning. It was a down and in mid-90s fastball and Flores hit it out to left-center. Austin Slater also stayed hot, collecting two hits including a leadoff double in the first inning. Brandon Crawford hit his 100th career home run in this game, and opposite field shot against right-hander Julio Teheran. Believe it or not, Crawford has now been an above-average hitter on the season by FanGraphs' wRC+. Kevin Gausman started on the mound for the Giants. He wasn't as dominant as he's been at times, allowing nine hits and four runs in 5.1 innings, but he did continue to show swing and miss stuff and collected eight strikeouts. Kapler let him pitch through the Angels' order a third time, and Gausman allowed four hits including a home run that turn through the order. It was another example of a starting pitcher performing worse the deeper he pitches in a game, even when he was strong the first two times through. The Giants' bullpen made things too interesting in the seventh inning. Shaun Anderson again threw up and in to Mike Trout, which caused the Angels dugout to erupt in anger. Both benches were warned by the umpires, and Trout ended up tripling to left field later in the at-bat. Anderson then walked two more batters, and Wandy Peralta was summoned and walked in a run. He ended up getting out of it and throwing a 1-2-3 8th, but Anderson and Peralta made things too interesting in the 7th. Jarlin Garcia pitched a clean inning to wrap things up in the 9th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about Joey Bart being promoted to the Giants. Bart, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft, is considered by many to be the top prospect in the Giants' minor league system and one of the top 15 prospects in all of baseball. Many fans were hoping to see Bart earlier this season, but the wait is finally over. Bart, a catcher with prodigious power who also plays strong defense, is in the lineup tonight. He joins a group that has been hitting well for the most part all season, and an offense that has been red hot against the Angels. The Giants won last night's game, 7-2. Johnny Cueto was on the mound last night, and once against he put the Giants in position to win. He held the Angels to zero runs over the first five innings, but he did end up surrendering two earned runs in the 6th. Gabe Kapler allowed Cueto to face Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon the third time through the order, something they talked about on the mound during a mound visit in the frame. Cueto threw 112 pitches on the night and said after the game that he and Kapler share mutual respect for one another. The offense led the Giants to victory just as much as Cueto. Austin Slater stayed red hot out of the leadoff spot against left-handed pitching. He crushed a long home run and also singled and walked. After the game, he credited the new hitting coaches for his and the team's success at the plate. Wilmer Flores got the start at first base, and he crushed a three-run home run that put the Giants ahead in the early innings. Flores, signed to a cheap two-year deal with a third year club option in the winter, has been a consistent offense performer for the Giants this year, especially against left-handed pitching. The Giants' platoon-heavy offense has worked so far, and now Bart adds to a mix that has been surprisingly effective all year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' much-needed win over the Angels on Tuesday afternoon. Coming into this game, the Giants had lost their last three games in which they had a 9th-inning lead. They blew a five-run 9th-inning lead on Friday, a three-run 9th-inning lead on Saturday, and a one-run 9th-inning lead on Monday. So the Giants hoped for a nice, easy win on Tuesday, and that's exactly what they got. Mike Yastrzemski hit a leadoff home run and made a game-altering catch that saved two runs. He's looked like a National League MVP frontrunner all season. He may not have the star power to hold off the likes of Fernando Tatis Jr. or Mookie Betts, but Yaz's MVP-like season should be recognized. He enters Monday leading the majors in FanGraphs WAR. Trevor Cahill started the game for the Giants. It was Cahill's second appearance with the Giants. His first start came on the road against the Astros, and he pitched okay but struggled with command and walked four in two innings. This time around, Cahill was sharp. He went four strong innings, allowing just one run and striking out four. Cahill joins a Giants rotation that is surprisingly decent. Kevin Gausman, Johnny Cueto, Logan Webb, Tyler Anderson, and Cahill give the Giants a chance every night. Drew Smyly should help, too, whenever he's able to come back from his index finger strain. The only Giants starter who has struggled mightily is Jeff Samardzija, who's on the IL with a shoulder injury. Giants veterans helped fuel the offense in this 8-2 win. Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run homer on a neck-high fastball, Brandon Crawford pitched in with a couple of doubles, and Brandon Belt and Evan Longoria also got in on the action. The Giants led 8-1 going into the bottom of the 9th, which still didn't feel totally comfortable given how their last three 9th-inning leads had gone. Shaun Anderson was brought in after Caleb Baragar, Sam Selman, Wandy Peralta, and Jarlin Garicia pitched clean innings in support of Cahill. Anderson, however, threw two pitches near the head of Mike Trout. It was immediately questioned whether the throws were on purpose, after Longoria was drilled in the back by a fastball earlier in the game. If intentional, Anderson should be punished and reprimanded. However, it's entirely possible that the up-and-in pitches were unintentional. Manager Gabe Kapler said after the game, "We don't throw at people. It's not who we are." Anderson ended up walking Trout and allowing a run, but ultimately he got the final three outs of the game. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' devastating loss to the Angels. Once again, the Giants had a 9th-inning lead. Once again, Gabe Kapler elected to use Trevor Gott. And once again, Gott gave up a big home run that stunned the Giants. It was the third straight game in which the Giants lost after having a lead in the 9th inning. On Friday they blew a five-run 9th-inning lead; on Saturday they blew a three-run 9th-inning lead; and yesterday, it was a one-run 9th-inning lead. All three times, Trevor Gott was on the mound. Kapler's decision to use Gott on Monday was deservedly criticized. On the one hand, he was showing faith and confidence in a struggling reliever. On the other, he entrusted a one-run lead to someone who was likely struggling with confidence and the ability to get hitters out. Gott has now allowed 11 earned runs and five home runs over his last 1.1 innings pitched. On the bright side, the Giants keep having late leads. Once again, the offense was strong as it tallied six runs. Mike Yastrzemski continued his MVP-like season with a big two-out, two-strike, two-run double in the 6th inning that gave the Giants a 6-5 lead. Earlier in the game Brandon Belt hit a two-run home run in the first inning. Tyler Anderson started for the Giants and pitched better than his final line. He struck out eight batters in five innings and issued just one walk, but he did allow a home run to Mike Trout and ultimately allowed five earned runs in those five innings. Regardless, the Giants' rotation has been pretty good as of late, and the offense has been solid all season. The Giants' bullpen has been extremely bad and has cost them numerous victories. If Gott hadn't blown leads in his last three appearances, the Giants would be 11-13. The Giants have had leads in 11 of their 16 losses. They could easily be a .500 team or even better. Instead, they're 8-16 and could be done and buried in pandemic-shortened 60-game season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' historic collapses on Friday and Saturday against the Oakland Athletics. On Friday, the Giants took a 7-2 lead into the 9th inning. Trevor Gott, who has become the team's closer over the season's first month, starting the inning. He got an out against the first batter he faced, Matt Chapman, but things quickly went down hill from there. After allowing a home run and a walk, Robbie Grossman hit a ground ball to first baseman Wilmer Flores. The ground ball took Flores' momentum towards the first base bag. He fielded it cleanly and took a step or two towards first base, where he could have easily recorded the second out of the inning. Instead, he inexplicably decided to throw towards second base, where Brandon Crawford caught the ball but took his foot off the base and tried to tag the runner. No out was recorded on the play. Instead of two outs and a runner on second with a 7-3 lead, it was two on, one out, and a 7-3 lead. Gott then hit Khris Davis, which brought up Stephen Piscotty representing the tying run with just one out. Piscotty then proceeded to hit a game-tying grand slam on a hanging curveball. Gott got into more trouble, but Tyler Rogers got out of it. The Giants then proceeded to lose by a run in the 10th inning. It was the first time since the 1920s that the Giants blew a five-plus run 9th-inning lead. The next day, the Giants took a 6-3 lead into the 9th and Trevor Gott was summoned once again. Gott allowed a home run to the first batter he faced, but then settled down and recorded the first out. The next batter, Tony Kemp, hit a soft line drive out to right field, and Hunter Pence completely misjudged it. He ran in a couple steps, then veered back and to his right before the ball landed safely over his head. It was a ball that should have been caught. Gott then got the next batter on a line out. Matt Olson then came up representing the tying run. Left-handed pitcher Sam Selman, who has been very good this year, was loose in the 'pen and seemed like a solid option to replace Gott against the lefty Olson. But manager Gabe Kapler elected to leave Gott in the game, and he walked Olson to bring up the go-ahead run in Mark Canha. In a full count, Canha hit a go-ahead three-run homer. The Giants did not score in the bottom of the 9th and lost the game, 7-6. It was the first time in franchise history that the Giants lost back-to-back games in which they had three-plus run 9th-inning leads. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers listeners' questions about the San Francisco Giants. The first question asked and answered is about Joey Bart, and why he hasn't been called up by Farhan Zaidi and the Giants. Ben discusses Zaidi's recent interview with the San Francisco Chronicle's John Shea, in which Zaidi stated plainly that they do not think Bart is ready for the major leagues. When Zaidi was with the Dodgers, they were extremely deliberate with when they promoted prospects like Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger. Both, notably, had much more upper minors experience than Bart, who has just 80-something plate appearances above A-ball. Also discussed is a question about who the most likely Giants are to be dealt at this year's trading deadline, and Donovan Solano's trade value. Ben answers that veterans on one-year deals, such as Kevin Gausman and Drew Smyly, are the most likely to be traded by Aug. 31. Jeff Samardzija, whose contract expires after this season as well, is another candidate, although he'll have to prove he can be healthy and effective if any teams are going to be interested. In terms of Solano's trade value, Ben notes that the 32-year-old who's under team control through 2021 does have some trade value, but teams are unlikely to give up a premium return for an overperforming veteran with a track record of mediocrity. Other topics discussed include the Giants' questionable defensive lineups at times, like Steven Duggar in a corner with Mike Yastrzemski in center, and whether Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford will make it through the life of their contracts, which expire after the 2021 season. cbdMD Our friends at cbdMD have an amazing duo that can help you relax, regroup, and recharge when life gets chaotic. And to make it even easier cbdMD is offering all our listeners 25% OFF your next order when you use the promo code LOCKED ON MLB at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' 5-1 loss to the Houston Astros on Wednesday in Houston, and discusses the team's performance to date as we reach the shortened season's 1/3 mark. Trevor Cahill made his Giants debut and his stuff was good, but he struggled with command in the second inning in which he walked three and threw a lot of pitches. It became a bullpen game, and Dereck Rodriguez made his season debut and pitched decently as well. His velocity was up from where it's been the last couple of years, but he still sat in the low-90s, which is only average. Lefty Caleb Baragar allowed four consecutive singles in the fourth inning, including a three-run home run by Martin Maldonado. Baragar's numbers on the season have been awful, and really the bullpen as a whole has been awful. Ben discusses all aspects of the Giants on today's show. Mike Yastrzemski, Donovan Solano, and Austin Slater have been huge bright spots, and several players like Wilmer Flores, Alex Dickerson, Darin Ruf, Chadwick Tromp, and Tyler Heineman have been decent, but the Giants have gotten poor production out of several younger players and multiple veterans. Mauricio Dubón, Jaylin Davis, Joe McCarthy, and Steven Duggar have done little to nothing. Veterans Evan Longoria, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Pablo Sandoval, and Hunter Pence have been well below replacement level on the whole. At some point, the Giants will need to move on from their struggling veterans. Longoria's defense has been an asset, but Crawford's has continued to deteriorate as he moves late into his career. Crawford does not have an extra-base hit this season. The starting pitching has been decent. Johnny Cueto, Kevin Gausman, Logan Webb, Drew Smyly, and Trevor Cahill could form a solid starting five. Jeff Samardzija is dealing with a shoulder injury and is results were terrible when he pitched this year. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. cbdMD Our friends at cbdMD have an amazing duo that can help you relax, regroup, and recharge when life gets chaotic. And to make it even easier cbdMD is offering all our listeners 25% OFF your next order when you use the promo code LOCKED ON MLB at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' 7-6 road win in 10 innings against the Houston Astros. Hunter Pence hit a huge three-run home run in the 7th inning that brought the Giants to within one run, and the Giants scored a run in the 9th to tie the game. The game went extra innings, and the Giants scored a run under the new rules with a runner on second to start the inning. In the bottom of the frame, with a runner on second to start the inning, Tyler Rogers induced a weak ground out, and then struck out two consecutive batters with the tying run on third base. It was a huge moment of redemption for Rogers, and his manager who put him in that spot, after Rogers gave up a late lead against the Dodgers just a few games ago. Gabe Kapler was heavily criticized by fans and media alike for the decision to pull starting pitcher Kevin Gausman in favor of Rogers, perhaps unfairly. Rogers showed why Kapler has shown confidence in him with his performance last night, his first career save. Tyler Anderson got the start for the Giants, and he pitched better than his final line would suggest. He allowed a cheap home run to Alex Bregman that found its way into the Crawford boxes in left. Wilmer Flores homered, Evan Longoria turned a great double play with the bases loaded and no outs, stepping on third and throwing home and getting an out there as well. Pence was hitting for Alex Dickerson with a left-handed pitcher on the mound, so Kapler deserves credit for sticking with his struggling veteran in that spot. Austin Slater had two big hits, both against right-handed pitchers. He's continued to make the case that he should be playing everyday, and sure enough, he's in the lineup and batting third today against right-handed pitcher Zack Greinke. cbdMD Our friends at cbdMD have an amazing duo that can help you relax, regroup, and recharge when life gets chaotic. And to make it even easier cbdMD is offering all our listeners 25% OFF your next order when you use the promo code LOCKED ON MLB at checkout. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' 6-4 loss to the Houston Astros on Monday night. Logan Webb was on the mound for the Giants, and he pitched much better than his final line would suggest. As has been a recurring theme this season, the Giants' defense collapsed in the third inning and cost Webb several runs that probably should not have scored. With one out and nobody on base, Jose Altuve hit a ground ball single that Donovan Solano probably should have handled. The next batter, Josh Reddick, hit what should have been a ground ball out, but catcher Chadwick Tromp was called for catcher's interference, the fourth one for the Giants this year. After a walk loaded the bases, Michael Brantley hit a bloop ground rule double, then with the infield in Solano fielded a ground ball and threw home, but his throw hit Alex Bregman in the back and the Giants did not record an out. Later in the inning, the Giants failed to turn a double play on a ground ball to Mauricio Dubón. By the time the inning was over, it was 5-0 Astros and the game was all but over. Lance McCullers Jr. started for the Astros and was dominant over seven innings. Finally, in the 8th, the Giants got on the board with an Austin Slater solo home run against a right-handed pitcher. Slater has been playing great as of late, including against righties, and he's making a case to be an everyday player. He's now tied for 18th in all of baseball among position players with 0.8 FanGraphs WAR. The Giants staged a rally in the top of the 9th, which included big hits by Solano and Brandon Crawford. Solano had two doubles in the game, and he currently ranks fourth among position players in fWAR. Solano's excellence with the bat cannot be overstated and is a continuation of what he did last year. His projections now call for him to hit .310/.342/.419, which is an above-average line and one that's dramatically better than his projections entering the season. Ultimately, the Giants stranded the tying run on base as pinch-hitter Evan Longoria flew out to end the game. It was notable that Pablo Sandoval did not start against a right-handed pitcher, and was not selected to pinch hit in a big spot against a righty. If neither of those roles belong to him, he doesn't appear to have one on this team. cbdMD Our friends at cbdMD have an amazing duo that can help you relax, regroup, and recharge when life gets chaotic. And to make it even easier cbdMD is offering all our listeners 25% OFF your next order when you use the promo code LOCKED ON MLB at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, in which the Giants lose two out of three. There was more controversy surrounding manager Gabe Kapler, as he made a couple of decisions regarding his starting pitchers that were heavily criticized in the media. On Sunday, Kapler elected to remove starting pitcher Kevin Gausman from the game in the 7th inning after he allowed a one-out single to Cody Bellinger. Up to that point, Gausman had shut down the Dodgers with a lethal combination of a high-90s fastball and a devastating splitter. Gausman had only thrown 80 pitches, and said after the game that he had "more in the tank." However, it's easy to justify Kapler's decision. Gausman had allowed consecutive line drives to Mookie Betts (who lined out) and Bellinger (who singled). Also, the numbers could not be clearer that outcomes for pitchers get worse the deeper they pitch in games. In Gausman's career, his numbers get sharply worse each time through the batting order. Last season, starting pitchers got sharply worse against the Dodgers each time through the batting order. However, Kapler's decision to use Tyler Rogers for the second straight game, after he had thrown two innings the previous night, was questionable. It makes more sense in the context that the Giants do not have a lot of right-handed relievers they can trust right now. Rogers surrendered a single and a three-run home run that gave the Dodgers a lead they would not relinquish. The previous night, Johnny Cueto carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Hunter Pence lost a ball in the twilight that went down as a triple. Cueto later issued a couple of walks in the inning, but also got two weakly hit outs. He was visited by trainers because he was hobbling a bit when going a after a popup. He clearly indicated to the trainers that he was fine to pitch, and he was allowed to face an additional hitter. Justin Turner hit a three-run home run that made the score 5-4 Giants. Kapler was heavily criticized for leaving Cueto in the game. This decision, and the one to pull Gausman, were pretty much opposite calls, and both were perfectly defensible, especially given that the score was close in the Gausman scenario and not close in the Cueto scenario. At the end of the day, the players play the game and not everything should be blamed on the manager. Also in Saturday's game the Giants hit three home runs against Clayton Kershaw, including two by Austin Slater and one by Mike Yastrzemski—another one against a left-handed pitcher. The Giants now head to Houston to play the Astros, who have surprisingly struggled so far this year. They're just 6-9 on the young season and have lost five in a row. They were involved in a benches-clearing incident yesterday with the Oakland A's, and suspensions could be handed down to their players in this series as close contact is strictly prohibited this season because of the coronavirus pandemic. cbdMD Our friends at cbdMD have an amazing duo that can help you relax, regroup, and recharge when life gets chaotic. And to make it even easier cbdMD is offering all our listeners 25% OFF your next order when you use the promo code LOCKED ON MLB at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' 6-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday afternoon. Tyler Anderson was on the mound for the Giants, opposed by Kyle Freeland on the other side, and both lefty starters pitched beautifully. In a game that was very uncharacteristic of Coors Field, the score was 0-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. Familiar critics questioned manager Gabe Kapler's decision to remove Anderson after five innings, as Wandy Peralta entered the game and allowed a home run that gave the Rockies a 1-0 lead. But Anderson may have been on a pitch count considering he hadn't been stretched out much in his previous outing this year. In the top of the 7th, the Giants looked like they were going to go down quietly against Freeland again after two quick outs were recorded, but Pablo Sandoval dumped a single into the outfield and Chadwick Tromp singled up the middle. Rockies manager Bud Black came out to the mound, presumably to remove the starter Freeland, but he elected to leave in his starter to face Mauricio Dubón. On the very first pitch of the at-bat, Dubón launched an impressive three-run home run into the left field bleachers. He dropped the bat, started at the ball for a moment, and turned and yelled towards the Giants dugout. Then, after he rounded the bases, he put his index finger up to his mouth in a shushing motion. The Rockies evidently took offense to Dubón's actions, because when Daniel Murphy hit a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the inning, he glared at Dubón in center field as he rounded second. In this instance, the Rockies were acting as the "fun police," even though Dubón may have broken baseball's archaic unwritten rules. In reality, Dubón's home run and exuberance was extremely refreshing on a Giants team that has been known for players who "keep their head down," "go about their business," and "play the game the right way." The game, however, is better when the players have fun, and Dubón is making a case to be in the lineup on a more consistent basis. He also made an incredible catch in center field, a position he hasn't played much at all in his professional career. That type of athleticism and passion Dubón showed on Thursday is exactly what the Giants will need in a brighter future. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Postmates For a limited time, Postmates is giving our listeners ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS of free delivery credit for your first SEVEN days. To start your free deliveries, download the app and use code LOCKEDON Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night. Logan Webb started for the Giants, and he pitched beautifully in five-plus innings. The game started off on a bad note, with Donovan Solano making a fielding error that would later come around to score. The Rockies took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, but the Giants answered in a big way in the top of the fourth. Mike Yastrzemski led off with a ground ball to shortstop Trevor Story, and he made an error that would prove to be costly. With Yastrzemski on first and one out, Donovan Solano singled to set it up for Brandon Belt, who launched a three-run home run to right field that would give the Giants a lead they would not relinquish. Apparently there was some controversy about Gabe Kapler taking out Logan Webb when he did. Webb had only thrown 60-something pitches through five-plus, but he allowed a leadoff single to Tony Wolters in the bottom of the 6th, which flipped the lineup over for the third time. There is clear evidence that starting pitchers fare worse against lineups the third time through the order, and Webb had just given up a hit to one of the worst hitters in baseball. What's more, a lefty-heavy part of the Rockies lineup was due up. It was absolutely the right call to remove Webb at that point, considering the ballpark, the hit by Wolters, the fact that it was the third time through, and the fact that it was a lefty-heavy part of the lineup. Lefty Caleb Baragar came in and got the Rockies to go down in order. Another non-controversy is also discussed on the show: Kapler's correct decision to go to Tony Watson in the bottom of the 7th even though righty Nolan Arenado was up first. Overall, the Giants' pitching was great last night and the offense, led by Belt, gave them just enough to win by one. Trevor Gott showed great stuff while shutting down the Rockies in the 9th to notch the save. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Postmates For a limited time, Postmates is giving our listeners ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS of free delivery credit for your first SEVEN days. To start your free deliveries, download the app and use code LOCKEDON
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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' 5-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. Starter Kevin Gausman had great stuff, routinely touching 97 mph, but the Giants' bats went quietly against Rockies starter German Marquez. The Giants committed three more errors in this game, including catcher Tyler Heineman's third catcher's interference of the season, and an errant pickoff attempt by Conner Menez. Both of those errors directly contributed to runs scoring, which has been an all-too-familiar theme for the Giants this season. Additionally, Brandon Crawford made a fielding error on a routine ground ball. Ben talks on today's show about how veterans like Crawford should have to earn their playing time moving forward. The Giants have several veterans on this team like Crawford, Brandon Belt, Evan Longoria, Hunter Pence, and Pablo Sandoval, who are not likely to be around on the next good Giants team. Therefore, they're only playing to try to help the Giants win in the present. So if they're not producing in the present, there's no reason for them to continue to take at-bats away from other players who might be a part of the future. In cases where there's not an obvious long-term replacement, it makes sense to keep playing the veterans, and it makes sense when they're helping the team win. But for someone like Crawford, a case could be made that the Giants could try to get at-bats for Mauricio Dubón or Donovan Solano at Crawford's expense. He should be feeling the pressure, as his defense has appeared to decline in recent seasons and he hasn't been able to get it going at the plate. Crawford and Sandoval are two of 10 hitters with at least 30 plate appearances who have yet to record an extra-base hit. There are 177 hitters with at least 30 plate appearances. Postmates For a limited time, Postmates is giving our listeners ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS of free delivery credit for your first SEVEN days. To start your free deliveries, download the app and use code LOCKEDON Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Giants' disappointing 7-6 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Monday night. Johnny Cueto was on the mound for the Giants, and he pitched well the first two times through the order. In the sixth inning, however, when he was facing the top of the Rockies lineup for the third time, he allowed a leadoff single to Charlie Blackmon and a two-run home run to Nolan Arenado. After the game, Cueto blamed the coaches in charge of defensive shifts for Blackmon's single, but it was hit over 104 mph, and similar batted balls are hits 54% of the time. It was a bad look for Cueto to blame his own poor results on his coaches. The Giants' defense then fell apart later in the inning. Alex Dickerson dropped a deep fly ball as he was running back and to his right, and it was ruled a triple. That runner scored on a single, and later in the inning Dickerson made a bad throw after another single gave the Rockies a 5-4 lead. Dickerson's throw airmailed shortstop Brandon Crawford and went all the way towards the Giants dugout. Catcher Chadwick Tromp vacated home plate even though pitcher Wandy Peralta was backing up the throw, and this allowed another runner to score, making it 6-4 Rockies. They added another run in the bottom of the 8th on a Chris Ownings solo home run. The Giants battled back for two runs in the top of the 9th, but Dickerson flew out to end the game with the tying run on third base. Earlier in the game, Dickerson, Yastrzemski, and Tromp blasted home runs that had given the Giants' a 4-1 lead. So the offense stayed hot, but the Giants' sloppy defense, which has been a theme so far this year, ultimately let them down. Postmates For a limited time, Postmates is giving our listeners ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS of free delivery credit for your first SEVEN days. To start your free deliveries, download the app and use code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants Podcast, host Ben Kaspick discusses the San Francisco Giants' series win against the Texas Rangers over the weekend. The Giants pounded the Rangers on Friday with their right-handed lineup. Donovan Solano continued to stay hot, and Wilmer Flores hit a big three-run home run with two outs. Logan Webb had a bit of a shaky start, but the bullpen was almost perfect the rest of the way and the Giants won 9-2. On Saturday, the Giants got a great start out of Drew Smyly, and the offense carried the load once again. The Giants drew 11 walks in this game, and came through with some big hits in key situations. Smyly had to leave the game in the 5th inning even though he was pitching well. He had struck out seven Rangers in four innings, but exited the game because of an index finger sprain on his pitching hand. On Sunday, Jeff Samardzija got the start and got hit hard. His fastball velocity was down again, and he continued a troubling trend of not striking anybody out. On the season he has as many strikeouts (2) as home runs allowed. Samardzija became the first Giants starter to pitch at least five innings, but that accomplishment didn't mean great results. The Giants fell behind 5-1, but managed to come back in the 6th and 7th. Even Longoria hit a long home run to lead off the 7th, then Chadwick Tromp hit his first career homer, a two-run shot that tied the game. In the bottom of the 7th Andrew Triggs, called up after Smyly was placed on the 10-day injured list, couldn't find the strike zone. He threw just two strikes as he walked the bases loaded. Tyler Anderson came in to face a couple of lefties and ended up serving up a three-run homer to Joey Gallo after a run had already scored. The Rangers took a 9-5 lead that would be the final score. Also discussed today was the Giants' trade of Billy Hamilton to the New York Mets for right-handed pitching prospect Jordan Humphreys. Humphreys was designated for assignment by the Mets a few days prior to the trade. On the surface, it looks like another solid trade for Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, who turned a one-year minor league signing who wasn't even on the team into a decent prospect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Giants' disappointing extra-innings loss to the Padres on Thursday. Mike Yastrzemski and Donovan Solano once again fueled a big comeback late in the game, but the Giants surrendered six runs in the top of the 10th inning and ultimately lost 12-7. Yastrzemski now leads all position players in fWAR, essentially meaning that he has been the most productive position player in baseball thus far in 2020. Donovan Solano, despite not starting a few games, is 11th in baseball in fWAR. The numbers these two are putting up right now may not be sustainable, but they are starting to prove that their 2019 breakouts were not flukes. Especially in the case of Yastrzemski, who's now been 31% above average offensively in his major league career and has been one of baseball's best players since the 2019 All-Star break. Solano's batting average on balls in play looks clearly unsustainable, but the Statcast data backs up his strong production over the past two seasons. Kevin Gausman got the start against Dinelson Lamet, and he pitched better than the results. He now has an ERA in the fives, but his strikeout and walk numbers indicate that he's in store for much better results moving forward. The Giants were behind 6-1 in the 7th before tying it up in the 8th, after which they brought in Tyler Rogers to get them to the bottom of the 9th. Rogers did his job with a clean inning, but the Giants failed to score in the bottom of the 9th and the Giants got their first look at the new extra innings rule. The Padres started the 10th with a runner on second, and Rogers, out for a second inning, could not record an out. He allowed three hits, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch in the inning. Gabe Kapler tried to remove Rogers after pitching coach Andrew Bailey had just visited the mound. The umpires overruled the pitching change, and Rogers was forced to throw to an additional hitter, who reached on a sacrifice bunt. The gaffe was inconsequential, as the Giants were already trailing 10-6 at the time, but local media reacted strongly with heavy criticism of Kapler. Ben explains why he thinks this is confirmation bias and a blatant overreaction. cbdMD Our friends at cbdMD have an amazing duo that can help you relax, regroup, and recharge when life gets chaotic. And to make it even easier cbdMD is offering all our listeners 25% OFF your next order when you use the promo code LOCKED ON MLB at checkout. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Giants' thrilling 7-6 win over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday. Donovan Solano hit a three-run home run with two outs in the 8th inning that tied the game, and Mike Yastrzemski hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the 9th to walk off the Padres. In both at-bats, the pitcher had the platoon advantage. This was a big theme in this game, as manager Gabe Kapler elected not to go with his normal platoon-heavy lineup at a few positions to start the game. Austin Slater started in right field instead of Joe McCarthy, and Donovan Solano started at third base instead of having Mauricio Dubón or Jaylin Davis in the lineup. Those moves proved to be instrumental in the Giants' comeback, as Slater and Solano had key performances in the win. Johnny Cueto started on the mound for the Giants, and he wasn't particularly sharp. He issued three walks and allowed four hits, and he wasn't able to escape the 4th inning. Shaun Anderson allowed a three-run home after Cueto departed in the 4th, but Tyler Anderson tossed 3.2 scoreless innings in relief after that. Tyler Rogers pitched a scoreless top of the 9th against the heart of the Padres lineup before Yastrzemski hit his walkoff shot in the bottom of the inning. It was Yastrzemski's second home run of the game. Left fielder Alex Dickerson also hit a triple and a home run earlier, and he drew a key walk in the 8th inning that helped set up the game-tying home run by Solano. The Giants will get reinforcements today, as first baseman Brandon Belt and third baseman Evan Longoria are expected to be activated from the injured list. McCarthy will likely be sent back to the alternate site, and the Giants must take someone else off the active roster as well. Additionally, according to The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly, those around the Giants organization expect top catching prospect Joey Bart to be added to the major league roster in the near future, possibly as soon as Friday. The additions of Bart, Belt, and Longoria could give the Giants lineup a real boost, when paired with upstart performers like Yastrzemski, Dickerson, Solano, Slater, and Wilmer Flores. cbdMD Our friends at cbdMD have an amazing duo that can help you relax, regroup, and recharge when life gets chaotic. And to make it even easier cbdMD is offering all our listeners 25% OFF your next order when you use the promo code LOCKED ON MLB at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about last night's 5-3 loss against the Padres. After there was some controversy about why Jeff Samardzija didn't appear in the opening series against the Dodgers, he finally made his season debut last night and it was easy to see why the Giants held him back. From the very first pitch, Samardzija lacked stuff and command, and eventually the Padres got the best of him. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a three-run, opposite-field home run early in the game, and it prompted many to wonder whether Oracle Park is playing differently because the Giants have closed off the openings in the right field wall to prevent fans from gathering on the boardwalk in right to catch a glimpse of the game. Shortly afterward Wil Myers, who has played extremely well at Oracle Park in his Padres career, launched an impressive two-run homer to center field against Samardzija, which gave the Padres a lead they would not relinquish. The Giants got an impressive three-inning relief appearance from Conner Menez, who retired every batter he faced, but the could not capitalize on some late rallies. Former Giant Drew Pomeranz shut the door in the 9th for the Padres. Ben discusses the fact that the Giants could call up Joey Bart today, but that remains unlikely for a number of reasons. Among them is the fact that Tyler Heineman has been one of the Giants' lone offensive bright spots, so production at the catcher positions has not been one of the Giants' many early season issues. Also, catcher Chadwick Tromp was called up yesterday and the Giants would like to see what they have in the 24-year-old Arubian. He'll likely play mostly in a platoon with Heineman for the time being, but it's worth monitoring the organization's position on the readiness of Bart, who's arguably their best prospect. cbdMD Our friends at cbdMD have an amazing duo that can help you relax, regroup, and recharge when life gets chaotic. And to make it even easier cbdMD is offering all our listeners 25% OFF your next order when you use the promo code LOCKED ON MLB at checkout. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks with Javier Reyes from Locked On Padres. The two discuss the teams' upcoming three-game series. The conversation is wide ranging, from MLB in general to the pitching matchups in the series. Ben discusses why the Giants are a confident team after splitting a tough four-game road series against the Dodgers to open the season, and Javier talks about how the Padres' pitching and a new lineup has propelled them to a 3-1 start. The two also talk about how both teams have new managers. Ben details the way Giants fans reacted when Gabe Kapler was hired as the new manager. All that and more on today's episode of Locked On Giants. cbdMD Our friends at cbdMD have an amazing duo that can help you relax, regroup, and recharge when life gets chaotic. And to make it even easier cbdMD is offering all our listeners 25% OFF your next order when you use the promo code LOCKED ON MLB at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Giants' unlikely series split against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. After losing the first two games by a combined score of 17-2, the Giants were looking like a team that was already unraveling. But against two lefty starters on Saturday and Sunday, the Giants were able to put out a more competitive lineup that was heavy on right-handed hitters. Despite all the criticism this team has taken from pundits and fans, the righty lineup is competitive, and the Giants' pitching proved to be instrumental in two big wins against the Dodgers. On Saturday, Logan Webb made is season debut and pitched great. He was filling up the strike zone with all of his pitches, and he proved to be tough on Dodgers hitters. The Giants' offense put consistent pressure on lefty Alex Wood, and they were able to jump ahead to a 5-1 lead in the early innings. This got a bit dicey for the Giants in the late innings. Donovan Solano committed a two-out error that directly led to two runs, and Trevor Gott allowed a leadoff home run to Will Smith in the bottom of the 9th, but the Giants held on for a 5-4 victory. It was their first of the year and the first for new manager Gabe Kapler in a Giants uniform. On Sunday, a nationally televised ESPN game, the Giants again put consistent pressure on left-handed starter Julio Urias. They weren't able to put too many runs on the board though, and it was a tight game throughout. Starting pitcher Drew Smyly pitched well through 3.1 innings, mixing in a mid-90s fastball, a big curveball, and a cutter. All three pitches were competitive and kept the Dodgers in check. He got into and out of trouble in a long third inning. Shaun Anderson looked dominant again in relief (as he did on Saturday), and the rest of the Giants' bullpen again held tough against a potent Dodgers lineup. Mauricio Dubón and Donovan Solano delivered clutch two-out hits, which ultimately gave the Giants a 3-1 lead that would be the final score. Trevor Gott earned his second save in as many days, pitching through a leadoff double and a 3-1 count on the next hitter. He retired Mookie Betts on a fly ball and blew a fastball past Max Muncy to finish out the game. Next the Giants come home for a six-game homestand against the Padres and Rangers. All eyes, however, are on the situation with the Miami Marlins, who have had an outbreak of Covid-19 on their team. Fourteen players and coaches have reportedly tested positive in the last two days. Their game against the Orioles and the Yankees-Phillies game (the Marlins were in Philadelphia when the outbreak occurred) have been postponed. cbdMD Our friends at cbdMD have an amazing duo that can help you relax, regroup, and recharge when life gets chaotic. And to make it even easier cbdMD is offering all our listeners 25% OFF your next order when you use the promo code LOCKED ON MLB at checkout. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants Podcast, host Ben Kaspick analyzes the San Francisco Giants' Opening Day loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants had a couple of big opportunities early in the game, including bases loaded no outs and a first and third no outs, and came away with just one run total. The Dodgers announced just hours before the game that expected starter Clayton Kershaw was being placed on the injured list, and the young flame thrower Dustin May would start in his place. The Giants figured to have a totally different lineup against Kershaw, one that was in a pretty good position to give him trouble. The Giants' lineup against the righty May, however, was different, and included several right-handed hitters by necessity. Johnny Cueto got the start for the Giants and was impressive through four innings. He escaped a bases loaded jam in the 4th, and was pulled before he could face the top of the Dodgers' order for a third time with Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, and Cody Bellinger due up. It was clearly an appropriate time to pull Cueto from the game, but he didn't seem happy about it in his postgame interview. That being said, Drew Smyly pitched a scoreless fifth and Rico Garcia pitched a scoreless sixth, so it's not like the Giants' pitching unraveled immediately after Cueto left the game. On the contrary, the Giants did very well to hold the Dodgers to one run in six innings. But things came unraveled in the 7th. Tyler Rogers, who figures to have a high leverage role this season, opened the inning with a quick out against Muncy, but Betts single and Bellinger doubled to make it second and third with one out. With the infield drawn in, Justin Turner hit a ground ball to Donovan Solano at second base, and Mookie Betts beat the throw home. There wasn't much more that Solano and the Giants could do; it was just a great display of athleticism by Betts. Kiké Hernandez ended up delivering a back breaking two-run single with two outs, and Dany Jiminez and Conner Menez each allowed a couple of runs once the game was essentially out of reach. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. cbdMD Our friends at cbdMD have an amazing duo that can help you relax, regroup, and recharge when life gets chaotic. And to make it even easier cbdMD is offering all our listeners 25% OFF your next order when you use the promo code LOCKED ON MLB at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants Podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from fans on Twitter. Among the questions answered, Ben talks about when the Giants may (or may not) call up top prospect Joey Bart. The team must wait until July 29 if they want to ensure that Bart won't gain a full year of service time in 2020, which could allow him to reach free agency after the 2025 season as opposed to the 2026 season. However, even if the Giants call up Bart on July 29 or later, if the 2020 season ends up getting cancelled afterwards, it is possible that Bart would be granted a year of service time anyway. Another question asked and answered is about Jeff Samardzija. While his ERA was good in 2019, his peripheral numbers suggest that massive regression could be coming, and this could be an issue as "The Shark" hopes to work as a traditional starter who pitches deep into games. This could cause conflict with new manager Gabe Kapler, who probably won't let a struggling starter eat innings that could be more effectively managed with relief pitcher alternatives. Kapler has expressed a willingness to respect his players' wishes, while balancing an analytical approach. It will be fascinating to watch how it plays out in Samardzija's case. Ben also answers a question about what the Giants are likely to do at this year's trading deadline, which is August 31. Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi was extremely active at last year's deadline, and fans should expect the same in 2020, assuming the season is still being played. The Giants could have desirable trade pieces in Kevin Gausman and Drew Smyly, in addition to under-the-radar, controllable bullpen arms like Trevor Gott and Tyler Rogers. As Ben explains, bullpen pieces on a retooling team are non-essential, and if those players can be flipped for starting caliber position players or starting pitchers, that may benefit the Giants in the long run. In essence, bullpen arms can help contending teams win in the postseason, but they don't necessarily lead teams to the postseason. Also discussed is the bullpen hierarchy. Although many annointed Tony Watson the heir apparent to Will Smith when he departed in free agency, the Giants may have more talented relievers in Trevor Gott and Tyler Rogers. Rogers's 2019 season was spectacular, and he was looking sharp again in spring training and summer camp. He "opened" a game against the Oakland A's on Tuesday, and it's possible he could do the same on occasion during the regular season. The Giants are likely to go with a bullpen by committee approach at least to start the year, as they don't necessarily have a bunch of established guys in the 'pen. However, that doesn't mean they can't match up and make things difficult on their opponents. cbdMD Our friends at cbdMD have an amazing duo that can help you relax, regroup, and recharge when life gets chaotic. And to make it even easier cbdMD is offering all our listeners 25% OFF your next order when you use the promo code LOCKED ON MLB at checkout. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Giants' exhibition win over the Oakland Athletics. It was the Giants' second straight victory over Oakland, and they played very well in both games. The Giants used nine pitchers for one inning apiece in both games, and almost everyone was sharp. On Tuesday, submarine pitcher Tyler Rogers started the game and overmatched the top of the A's lineup. The fact that the Giants used a so-called "opener" is probably a sign of things to come this year under manager Gabe Kapler and president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi. Both are known for their innovative and forward thinking baseball minds. On the offensive side, Mike Yastrzemski led off the bottom of the first with a booming home run to right-center, and Alex Dickerson led off the second with a home run to the opposite field gap. Both Yastrzemski and Dickerson figure to be key players this season, especially against right-handed pitching. Ben also speculates about how the Giants will finalize their 30-man roster ahead of Thursday's season opener in Los Angeles. The Giants have quite a few decisions to make, including deciding which catchers will make the roster. As it stands now, the Giants don't have any active catchers on the 40-man roster. They'll also have to decide the fate of non-roster invitees like Yolmer Sánchez, Darin Ruf, and Pablo Sandoval, all of whom are likely, but not guaranteed, to make the team. Another player who's probably under strong consideration to make the roster is Joe McCarthy, who had good at-bats last night despite not having any hits to show for it. McCarthy, Ben argues, is likely to make the team because of the injury to Brandon Belt, who's dealing with heel pain. Also of note, several Giants players and coaches kneels again during the nation anthem played before the game. Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval joined those who had kneeled the night before in Oakland. cbdMD Our friends at cbdMD have an amazing duo that can help you relax, regroup, and recharge when life gets chaotic. And to make it even easier cbdMD is offering all our listeners 25% OFF your next order when you use the promo code LOCKED ON MLB at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants Podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about yesterday's historic game for the San Francisco Giants. This game was significant enough already, being the Giants' first non-instrasquad game in a major league stadium since last September, but something else entirely ended up stealing the show. Manager Gabe Kapler, two staff members, and several Giants players, including their only African American player Jaylin Davis, knelt for the national anthem. Kapler became the first manager of any major North American sport to kneel for the anthem, a peaceful protest against police brutality and discrimination against Black Americans. Kapler and the Giants had conversations with other teams around the league about how to approach the issue in a way that promoted inclusiveness and unity instead of divisiveness. Giants players were invited to have open conversations about these issues and were encouraged to speak their minds and do what they thought was best. They were encouraged to listen to their teammates and support their decisions. The Giants' peaceful protest caught national attention and was retweeted with a supportive message by Major League Baseball's official Twitter account, which is significant. Beyond the historic protest, the Giants also made history when Alyssa Nakken, the first female coach in MLB history, coached first base during the game. It was a proud and special moment for Nakken, who will hopefully be the first of many female coaches in the game. Moving onto the game itself, the Giants went with an almost exclusively right-handed lineup against lefty starter Sean Manaea, and they were tough on him from the first inning on. Batting in the leadoff spot, Austin Slater, who has been above average against lefties but below average against righties in his career, had three hits and drove in five runs. The Giants' use of platoons figures to give them an edge that they've lacked in recent seasons. Prior to the game, the Giants announced that Evan Longoria and Brandon Belt will start the season on the injured list. In their place, Wilmer Flores started at third base and Pablo Sandoval was at first base last night. It seems likely that, when the season gets going, Darin Ruf may be at first base against lefties with Hunter Pence as the designated hitter. Several questions remain about how the Giants will finalize their 30-man roster. We still don't know which players will make the team as catchers, and it could go a number of different ways. Significantly, Chadwick Tromp got the start last night against the lefty Manaea, and he had two hits. Tromp may very well be on the Giants' roster, and be the starter against left-handed pitchers. cbdMD Our friends at cbdMD have an amazing duo that can help you relax, regroup, and recharge when life gets chaotic. And to make it even easier cbdMD is offering all our listeners 25% OFF your next order when you use the promo code LOCKED ON MLB at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick takes a stab at predicting the San Francisco Giants' 30-man Opening Day roster. There are several non-roster invitees who are likely to make the team, which will force the Giants to shake up their 40-man roster. Catching prospect Joey Bart is unlikely to make the team, which will come as a big disappointment to a lot of Giants fans, but the team is justified in its rationale that Bart needs more time to develop. Darin Ruf, Yomer Sánchez, Pablo Sandoval, and two catchers (probably Tyler Heineman and Rob Brantly) will need to be added to the Giants' 40-man roster, which currently has 37 players on it. The Giants can probably get away with carrying only 40-man pitchers, although non-roster pitcher Trevor Cahill may be added at some point after he recovers from a fingernail issue on his pitching hand. Outfielder Billy Hamilton is another non-roster player who will likely be added to the major league roster as soon as he's ready (he reported late to camp beause of "medical reasons"). All this to say the Giants' 40-man roster is going to be shaken up this year, and that's probably not a bad thing. The 40-man roster has been transformed under Farhan Zaidi, and that trend will continue in 2020 as new players and prospects arrive on the scene. cbdMD Our friends at cbdMD have an amazing duo that can help you relax, regroup, and recharge when life gets chaotic. And to make it even easier cbdMD is offering all our listeners 25% OFF your next order when you use the promo code LOCKED ON MLB at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick covers numerous topics, including Evan Longoria being diagnosed with a moderate oblique strain. All offseason, Ben has talked about how the Giants have better depth than in previous years, and it will be tested if Longoria and first baseman Brandon Belt, who's dealing with a heel issue, have to miss time to start the season. Behind Longoria and Belt on the depth chart at first and third base, the Giants have Wilmer Flores, Darin Ruf, Pablo Sandoval, Donovan Solano, Yolmer Sánchez, and others capable of filling in at the corners. Also discussed on today's show is the Giants' intrasquad game from yesterday. Left-handed pitcher Tyler Anderson looked healthy and sharp, and figures to be a key member of the pitching staff this year and next, as he is controllable through the 2021 season. Lefty reliever Caleb Baragar also had a standout performance, exhibiting a fluid delivery with good life and carry on his fastball. After the game, manager Gabe Kapler and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski heaped praise on Baragar, who could quietly be a contender to make the Giants' opening day roster. Finally, Ben discusses the Giants' position on the FanGraphs Positional Power Rankings at third base. It's a timely conversation given the recent injury to Longoria. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about why Joey Bart should not be thrust into the major leagues to start the 2020 season. Bart's only played 22 games above A-ball, and questions remain about his hit tool and plate discipline. The Giants are not in a position to risk harming the development of their top prospects for short-term gains. And while they're not allowed to say it, service time absolutely should be a consideration. Players called up after just about a week of MLB games this year will leave teams an extra year of control over their prospects. The advantage of having Bart for a week on the MLB roster (which may not even be an advantage if they believe he needs more developmental time) is not worth losing an entire year of club control. And what if the 2020 season gets cancelled midway through? It's another example of a lose-lose for Farhan Zaidi and the Giants: If they don't start the season with Bart, fans are frustrated. If they do start the season with Bart, some fans will be frustrated by the loss of team control. Thus, they should do what they think is the right call, which is having Bart start the season on the alternate site squad. Which is exactly what they'll do. Also discussed on today's show is the FanGraphs positional power rankings at second base. Headlined by Mauricio Dubón, who made an impressive catch in center field on Wednesday and is being viewed by management as a utility player who will see time at premium positions like short and center, the Giants rank 27th in MLB at the keystone according to the rankings. However, Ben argues, a young player with upside like Dubón has the potential to outperform the rankings. Ben also notes the impressive major league-caliber depth behind Dubón, including Yolmer Sánchez, Donovan Solano, and Wilmer Flores. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants Podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants adding former Reds top prospect Jose Siri to their 60-man player pool. Outfielder Billy Hamilton was expected to make the Giants' Opening Day roster as someone who could impact the game in the outfield and on the basepaths, but he has yet to report to Summer Camp and the season is just over a week away. Hamilton's status remains somewhat of a mystery, as the Giants have given no official updates. Enter Jose Siri, who possesses several of the same skillsets as Hamilton's, like blistering speed and base stealing ability. Unlike Hamilton, Siri is considered to have high upside and plus raw power offensively. Siri was already on the Giants' 40-man roster, so his addition to the 60-player pool makes sense. His chances of making the Opening Day roster is probably a lot higher than people think at this point. Ben also discusses why projection systems may be inaccurate for a team like the Giants in 2020. Under normal circumstances, projections are among the best tools we have for predicting player performance. But they typically have a few weak spots. Among them: breakout performances and swing changes. And the Giants just so happen to have numerous players who fall into both categories. Mike Yastrzemski is not projected to have a good season, but Giants fans saw what he was capable of last year. Projection systems typically take a long time to "buy in" to the type of late-career breakout Yastrzemski exhibited last year. In addition, some Giants have made tangible changes to their swings this year, thanks to the new development oriented coaching staff. For example, Brandon Crawford's stance and swing look dramatically different this year. Swing changes often lead to dramatically different outcomes for players (see Hunter Pence last season with the Texas Rangers), but there's no way for projections systems to see it coming, and they tend not to "believe" those results even once they happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
With Buster Posey opting out of the 2020 season and Joey Bart not quite ready for the majors, the Giants find themselves in catcher limbo. The current competition at the position—between Tyler Heineman, Rob Brantly, and Chadwick Tromp—is both strange and fascinating. Ben Kaspick breaks down the status of that competition, with quotes from Giants manager Gabe Kapler. Among the three, only Brantly has significant MLB experience, and it's limited experience at that. Heineman is an intriguing switch-hitting catcher who can handle velocity. The left-handed Brantly handles right-handed pitching fairly well, and controls the strike zone on both sides of the ball. Tromp is the wild card among the three, performing well in Summer Camp after lighting it up in the minor leagues following some swing changes, but he may not be ready to face big league pitching. Also discussed on today's show is that the Giants seem to be making a mistake by not broadcasting these Summer Camp games. In camp are many of the Giants' top prospects, including Joey Bart and Marco Luciano. Watching the team's top prospects take ABs at Oracle Park from normal camera angles would get fans excited about the future of the team. Those clips could also be posted on social media and YouTube. The Giants could use the footage in commercials. Why are they not doing this already, when several other teams are broadcasting their intrasquad games? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's Locked On Giants podcast, Ben Kaspick discusses Buster Posey's announcement on Friday that he's opting out of the 2020 season. Posey and his wife finalized the adoption yesterday of two premature twins who need to be in the NICU for an extended period of time. Posey has said that the twins are doing great. For Posey, it was an easy decision for his family, but a tough one from a baseball standpoint. His absence is a huge loss for the San Francisco Giants, both from a leadership standpoint and a baseball one. Behind him on the depth chart, the Giants have Tyler Heineman, Rob Brantly, Chadwick Tromp, and Joey Bart. Bart offers by far the most intrigue, but he barely reached Double-A last year and almost certainly isn't quite ready to handle big league pitching. Russell Martin is still a free agent, and he makes a lot of sense for the Giants if Farhan Zaidi and Scott Harris decide to look outside the organization to fill Posey's shoes in 2020. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's episode of the Locked On Giants podcast, Ben Kaspick covers all the latest happening with the San Francisco Giants. Their workouts on Tuesday were cancelled due to delays with Covid-19 tests that were administered on Saturday. Thankfully, they received their test results in time to hold Wednesday workouts, and all tests came back negative, another huge plus. Marco Luciano hit a mammoth home run in a sim game that the Giants posted on social media, reminding fans of his huge 40-home run potential. Luciano is just one of several top Giants prospects in camp. Ben also discusses injuries to Brandon Belt and Hunter Pence, continued Yasiel Puig rumors, Tyler Anderson as a breakout candidate, Jeff Samardzija and Madison Bumgarner as bust candidates, and the release of the 2021 schedule. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants' schedule was released on Monday, and it's brutal. They play 10 of their first 20 games against the Dodgers and Astros on the road. Fourteen of their first 20 games are on the road. Although the Giants (and every team) plays each division opponent 10 times, those 10 games are not necessarily balanced. For example, of the 10 games the Giants play against the Dodgers, seven are on the road. Host Ben Kaspick also talks about how, based on PECOTA and other projection models, the Giants have the fourth-toughest schedule in MLB and the second-toughest in the NL. If the Giants want to be surprise contenders this year, they're going to have to survive a brutal first month, there's just no getting around it. Also of note, Buster Posey expressed doubts about playing this season, as several other players around the league have opted out or tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days. On Monday the Giants announced that two more "individuals" in their organization have tested positive. Outfield prospect Hunter Bishop and right-handed pitching prospect Luis Madero have tested positive as well. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's episode of Locked On Giants, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from fans on Twitter. How do the Giants compare to their NL West opponents? Are the Giants better than the Rockies and Padres? Ben also answers questions about how Giants pitchers will share the load in a 60-game season, how the back end of the bullpen will take shape. Also: Who's primed for a breakout season? Jaylin Davis' name sure comes up a lot with the front office. Will Buster Posey play most of the games at catcher? How will the Giants trim their roster from 30 to 26? Will veterans get cut or will players with options get sent down? All of that and more on today's Locked On Giants podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Spring Training 2.0 is about to get underway. Players and coaches have descended upon their home parks, getting tested for Covid-19 over the past couple of days. Once those test results come in, players who test negative will be cleared to begin official workouts on Friday. The San Francisco Giants have done their best to make Oracle Park safe for players and staff to prepare for the upcoming 60-game season, which is set to begin on July 23. The Giants will use the concourses and the players' parking lot, in addition to the field itself, to prepare for the year. With gobs of pitching and infield depth, the Giants are better prepared than many think to do surprisingly well in a 60-game season. Host Ben Kaspick explains why depth and platoonability are key attributes for the modern team, and how the Giants will use it to their advantage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants released their 60-man player pool on Monday, and there were a few surprises. A handful of 40-man players were left off, indicating that those players could be at risk of being DFA'd to make room for the non-roster invitees who seem to be in good position to make an Opening Day roster. Pablo Sandoval, Billy Hamiltion, Trevor Cahill, and Yolmer Sánchez were all released then re-signed to minor league deals over the weekend. It was reported that all four were assured they would make the team. In order to add those players to the 40-man roster, San Francisco will have to remove others. On today's show, host Ben Kaspick speculates about which players might be at risk of being DFA'd. He also discusses Hunter Bishop, the Giants' 2019 first-round draft pick, testing positive for COVID-19 and consequently being left off the 60-man player pool for now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Farhan Zaidi had strong words for Scottsdale city council member Guy Phillips, who mocked George Floyd at an anti-mask rally. Among other things, Zaidi said "F--k that guy. You can quote me on that." These are strong words coming from someone with as much authority as Zaidi, who represents a team that has a huge financial and cultural influence in Scottsdale. Beyond Zaidi's comments, there are several new and relevant rules to digest for the upcoming 2020 season. Roster transactions were unfrozen on Friday morning, and teams must submit their 60-man player pools by this Sunday. Only players on the player pools are eligible to play in the majors this season, and they're also the only players who can be traded this year. This could dramatically influence the types of trades Zaidi ties to make this season, and he also is considering the ethics of roster transactions in a pandemic. In addition to ethical reasons, Zaidi foresees much less roster movement this year in part because he believes this year's team has much greater depth than last year's. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A 60-game MLB season has been announced, with Spring Training 2.0 set to begin on July 1 and the season slated to start July 23 and 24. This comes as the United States has failed to gain control of the novel coronavirus pandemic that has ravaged the United States and the world. Yesterday the US reported over 36,000 new cases, a new single-day record high for any country. Cases are surging in numerous states that are set to host baseball teams, and several players and staff have tested positive in recent days and weeks. How much risk is baseball willing to tolerate? How safe are older coaches and managers? Assuming baseball gets played—which may not be a fair assumption—the Giants have greater playoff odds with 60 games as opposed to 162. Whether the sport ultimately plays a season or not, rosters will be unfrozen tomorrow morning, and the Giants are reportedly serious players to sign Yasiel Puig. Are Giants fans ready to experience Puig the Giant facing Bumgarner the D-Back? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
After 88 grueling days, MLB and the MLBPA find themselves right back where they stared. Contentious and public negotiations dragged on, but the sides ultimately will move forward under the March agreement, which gave Commissioner Rob Manfred the right to implement a season without player approval with players receiving full pro-rated salaries. The lack of a new agreement probably means, among other things, no expanded postseason and no DH in 2021, but nevertheless the commissioner appears poised to implement a 60-game season beginning around July 24, as soon as players agree to health and safety protocols, which is expected to happen today. All the details, and how they affect the San Francisco Giants, are discussed on today's show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Five players and three staff members have tested positive for Covid-19 at Phillies camp in Florida. Their facility has been shut down, and the club is reportedly awaiting 32 additional test results of others who may have been exposed. Additionally, a Blue Jays pitcher on the 40-man roster reportedly has exhibited Covid-19 symptoms after spending time with players in Phillies camp, and the club has shut down its facility, which is also in Florida. The outbreak comes against the backdrop of continued futile negotiations between MLB and the MLBPA. On Tuesday, it was reported by Jon Heyman that an agreement was in place. However, it became clear in the coming hours and days that no agreement was reached, and in fact the two sides remained at odds after the players rejected the league's latest proposal and submitted a counterproposal that made owners "livid." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
One day after baseball appeared to be on the brink, the two leaders reportedly had a productive meeting in Arizona. Rob Manfred and Tony Clark met today in Arizona, and it appears that they were able to find common ground. Also discussed on today's show is an enlightening piece written by Matt Swartz on MLB Trade Rumors about the reason the players should be fundamentally opposed to assuming the downside risk associated with lower ticket revenues; they don't see any of the upside risk associated with television revenues. Jayson Stark's piece in The Athletic about, among other things, the 2020 offseason is also discussed. Could Mookie Betts and George Springer really be signed to one-year deals this Winter? If so, the Giants could have a golden opportunity to load up on talent and return to contention sooner than anticipated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the latest devastating development for Major League Baseball, five days after saying the season "unoquivically" would take place, Comissioner Rob Manfred said he's "not confident" it would happen. This comes after the MLBPA rejected the league's latest proposal to start the 2020 season, concluding that "It's time to get back to work. Tell us when and where." It looks as though they called the owners' bluff, because the commissioner acknowledged yesterday that he was not willing to unilaterally impose a season on the players, because the MLBPA is likely to file a grievance reportedly in excess of $1 billion in response. The fact that the commissioner won't implement a season if the players would file a grievance suggests that the league is concerned it would lose. It also suggests that they have not been negotiating in good faith to try to maximize the number of games in 2020. Now, the league will attempt to walk back to the negotiating table. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants added six prospects yesterday in rounds two through five of the five-round MLB Draft. Analyzing all six players, and looking at comments by Michael Holmes, the Giants' amateur scouting director. San Francisco selected third baseman Casey Schmitt with their second round pick, left-handed pitcher Nick Swiney and shortstop Jimmy Glowenke in Compensation Round B, left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison in the third round, right-handed pitcher R.J. Dabovich in round four, and right-handed pitcher Ryan Murphy in round five. Now we look ahead to Sunday, when teams can sign and unlimited number of undrafted players for a maximum of $20,000 each. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants drafted switching-hitting catcher Patrick Bailey with the 13th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. Many fans and analysts questioned the pick, because the Giants already have a stud catching prospect in their system in Joey Bart (not to mention they still have Buster Posey on the Major League roster). But round one of the MLB draft is all about taking the best player available, and the Giants, led by President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi and Amateur Scouting Director Michael Holmes, made it clear during media availability that Baily was the top player on their board at that point. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In an eye-opening discussion, Ross Jackson (Locked On Saints) Aaron Freeman (Locked on Falcons) Tony Wiggins (Locked On Jaguars) John Hickman (Locked On Texans) Chris Carter (Locked On Steelers) Keith Pompey (Locked On 76ers) Coty Davis (Locked On Texans) and Your Boy Q (Locked On Raiders) come together for a special Locked On Podcast Network Black Lives Matter Roundtable. These eight Locked On hosts share their first-hand experiences as black men in America. When was the first time they clocked racism in their lives? What are the pet peeves they experience as a black man? In the wake of George Floyd's killing, does this movement feel different than those of the past? What needs to happen for this moment in time to have a lasting impact on society and to result in real gains for social justice? And, will these experiences change the next generation? We take a momentary pause in our daily sports talk for this revealing and important special podcast episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's anyone's guess what the Giants will do with the 13th overall selection in round one of tomorrow night's MLB Draft. Experts have linked the Giants to high school catcher/third baseman Tyler Soderstrom, Oklahoma right-handed pitcher Cade Cavalli, as well as other wild card amateur prospects. On today's show, host Ben Kaspick analyzes the scouting reports on all the names connected to the Giants, and talks about how the draft is shaping up as a whole for San Francisco. The Giants farm system has improved greatly in recent years, and this year's MLB draft will provides the club with another opportunity to take a giant leap forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Taylor from Locked On Angels and Jeff from Locked On Indians discuss who they think the Giants will take with the 13th overall selection in next week's MLB draft. Ben then provides additional commentary, followed by a discussion about the latest on talks between MLB and the MLBPA on the start of the 2020 baseball season. The two sides remain at odds, and seems that the league may be seriously considering implementing a 48-game season, which would promise to be wild. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Amid reports that MLB would not even respond to the union's latest proposal, strong optimism from legitimate sources continues to surface. The Reds' and Brewers' presidents of baseball operations expressed optimism that baseball would be played in 2020, and that an agreement was possibly "very close." How would a shortened season, expanded postseason, and universal DH impact the San Francisco Giants? Considering the Giants are a team that was not expected to contend for a playoff berth in 2020, a shortened year with more postseason teams would only help. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Summarizing the latest on negotiations between MLB and the MLBPA regarding the start of a 2020 baseball season. The league submitted a proposal that was not well received by the union, and the union's counter-proposal was not well received by the league. Meanwhile, a worthy cause is being fought for in American cities, and we are witnessing constitutional rights violations on a daily basis. Discussing why these violations are unacceptable and needs to be called out, and how this moment impacts us all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Imagining an alternate reality in which the Giants didn't select Tim Lincecum, Madison Bumgarner, and Buster Posey with their first-round picks in the 2006-08 MLB draft. It's a scary alternate universe, but it's not that hard to imagine. Mock drafts had the Giants selecting Daniel Bard in '06, Casey Weathers in '07, and Justin Smoak in '08. It's clear that without any of Lincecum, Bumgarner, and Posey, the Giants don't win one championship, let alone three. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What if Bobby Evans hadn't been fired as the Giants' general manager? Things would look a whole lot different. Obviously, Farhan Zaidi never would have been brought into the organization. It's likely that a lot of supplemental players from the 2018 team would have been brought back, and several key future pieces like Mike Yastrzemski, Alex Dickerson, Mauricio Dubón, Donovan Solano, and Trevor Gott never would have been brought in. It's probably more likely that Madison Bumgarner would still be a Giant, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Examining what would have happened had the San Francisco Giants not traded Matt Duffy (and Lucius Fox and Michael Santos) to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Matt Moore. Moore pitched decently for the Giants down the stretch, and was dominant in his one postseason start, but fell apart in 2017 and was traded for salary relief. The Giants then used that relief to acquire Evan Longoria's contract from the Rays. Matt Duffy never ended up amounting to much in Tampa, although he did have one strong season in 2018. The jury is still out on Fox and Santos, who have yet to make their major league debuts. No matter how it all plays out, things could have been very different had the Giants elected to hold onto Duffy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the San Francisco Giants' ill-advised decisions to trade young talent for Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen after losing 98 games in 2017. What if the front office had acted differently? Longoria's deal with the Giants has been underwater from the beginning, but the silver lining is that the young talent the Giants gave up hasn't amounted to much. In McCutchen's case, however, Bryan Reynolds became the exact type of young, controllable player that the Giants wish they had. Since McCutchen only had one year left on his deal, he was quickly out of the organization and the Giants were left in a much worse situation than they were before those trades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's show, Ben provides updates about the possible resumption of MLB, the 2020 draft, and a Yasiel Puig rumor. Major League Baseball reportedly hopes to resume Spring Training sometime in June, and begin the regular season in early July. The plan would be dependent on data, health concerns, and testing availability. Regarding the 2020 draft, new reports suggest it will be held on June 10th and will be limited to just five rounds. Ben also discusses a report that Yasiel Puig is close to an agreement with the San Francisco Giants. Puig's reverse platoon splits are discussed, as is the fact that a deal with Puig makes more sense for the Giants now than earlier in the offseason, considering the unusual circumstances that would be in play should baseball resume in 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A new survey suggests that many Giants fans strongly believe in the current direction of the team. When San Francisco Giants fans responded to Andrew Baggarly's survey in The Athletic, the results aren't necessarily representative of Giants fans at large. But they were surprisingly positive. Giants fans who took the survey overwhelmingly supported Farhan Zaidi, expressed an open-mindedness about Gabe Kapler, and feel optimistic about the future of the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Describing the top six moments in San Francisco Giants history. Several would have a place among the best moments in baseball history.. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Two grand slams and three pennant clinchers are among the best moments in San Francisco Giants history since 2000. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Huge homers by Belt, Bonds, and Sandoval rank among the best moments in San Francisco Giants history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A good story needs conflict, and the Giants had their fair share of it in 2019. Derek Holland's negative comments about the front office, the negative reactions to Connor Joe and Michael Reed in the Opening Day lineup and Gabe Kapler being hired as manager are among the moments discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Recapping the Giants' best games and moments from the 2019 season. They include a huge comeback in Cincinnati, Alex Dickerson's grand debut, a blistering July, Mike Yastrzemski's magical moment, and Bruce Bochy's 2,000th win. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The key Giants storylines in 2019. In year one under Farhan Zaidi, they uncovered multiple future pieces, went on an unexpected hot streak, and made difficult deadline decisions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Revisiting the Giants' 2010 offseason. There was an epic parade, a Rookie of the Year Award, and a couple of ill-advised free agent deals that set the team up for future failure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reliving the 2010 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Texas Rangers. The Giants finally brought a World Series title to San Francisco, outscoring the Rangers 29-12 in five games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reliving the Giants' drama-filled NLDS against the Braves and NLCS against the Phillies in 2010. It was a bumpy ride, but somehow, someway the Giants got it done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The 2010 Giants were indeed a band of misfits, but they were also oozing with homegrown talent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reintroducing the 2010 Giants, who took us on a magical ride that could be considered the best season in franchise history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Know thine enemy. Discussing the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants with Javier Reyes in part two of a two-part conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Know thine enemy. Ben and Javier Reyes discuss the San Diego Padres in part one of a two-part conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Answering a variety of fun questions posed by Giants fans on Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mookie Betts to San Francisco? It's not as crazy as it sounds. Exploring the free agents fits for the 2021 Giants, even if the 2020 season is cancelled. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the new agreement between MLB and MLBPA. Among the key agreements: Players will receive a year of service time even if the season is cancelled. Also, there will still be a draft but it could be just five rounds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Win or lose, Opening Day is always special. In today's episode, Ben relives the Giants' Opening Days from 2009 to 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Correcting a flaw in logic from yesterday's show, and recapping yesterday's The Show livestream. Several savvy trades were made, but the Giants still lost two out of three to the Dodgers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Predicting what the Giants' finalized 26-man roster would have looked like had the season still started two days. Welcome to San Francisco, Billy Hamilton, Trevor Cahill, and Darin Ruf! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Attempting to answer some logistical questions about the Giants' roster in the midst of a lockdown. Additional questions from Friday's mailbag are also discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How will the delay in baseball affect the Giants' record, draft, and development? All that and more in the latest installment of the Giants mailbag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Digging deeper on some topics discussed with Jeff Snider from Locked On Dodgers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ben and Jeff resume their Giants-Dodgers discussion in part two of this in-depth conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ben and Jeff renew the Giants-Dodgers rivalry with level-headed discussion and analysis in part one of a two part conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It could be several months before baseball returns. How should we cope with it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Amidst uncertain times, at least we can still count on a weekly Giants mailbag! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
MLB announced today that it has suspended Spring Training effective today at 1 p.m. PT, and that the start of the regular season will be delayed by at least two weeks in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Trying to predict the Giants' Opening Day roster is difficult and complicated, but we did it anyway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
With just over two weeks until Opening Day, the Giants still have several roster spots that are up for grabs. Jaylin Davis looks destined to start the season in Triple-A, while Darin Ruf, Zach Green, Trevor Cahill, and others could make things difficult for Giants decision makers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Answering questions from fans in the latest edition of the Giants mailbag. Did Zaidi break his word about adding power? What are the chances of a late Yasiel Puig signing? Why is Posey still batting cleanup? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mike Yastrzemski and Dany Jimenez were standout performers in Wednesday night's televised game between the Giants and the Dodgers. An update to Tyler Beede's elbow injury is also discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tyler Beede underwent tests last night after he experienced elbow tightness in Tuesday's outing. Also discussed are Wilmer Flores's comments about wanting to hit the ball in the air more often.
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Several Giants hitters (and pitchers) have implemented changes under the new coaching staff, and it could make a meaningful impact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants' starting pitchers have been excellent thus far in the Cactus League. Here's why it's not necessarily a fluke. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants have created competition for numerous roster spots this spring. What does Farhan Zaidi have to say about where those races stand? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
When it came to hitting the ball hard at an ideal launch angle, Mike Yastrzemski was in elite company in 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Discussing yesterday's spring game, and answering questions left over from Friday's mailbag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Drew Smyly and Jaylin Davis were standout performers in the Giants' 11-9 Cactus League win on Monday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Key Giants storylines to follow as Spring Training games commence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What's one bold prediction for the 2020 Giants? Answering that question and more in the latest installment of the Giants mailbag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Gabe Kapler made it clear that he's a fan of Brandon Belt, whose skill set and value has been perpetually underappreciated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants joined the Blue Jays as one of two teams to voluntarily increase salaries for their minor league players. Also discussed is more evidence that challenges the notion that ownership has placed spending limitations on the front office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
With full squad workouts underway, unity and open-mindedness have emerged as early themes for the 2020 Giants. Meanwhile, the Giants announced that Aubrey Huff will not be invited to this year's 2010 World Series championship reunion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Answering more questions from Friday's Giants mailbag. Will Buster Posey's power return? Are the Giants done making moves before Opening Day? Does Alex Dickerson have to prove himself? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Answering questions from fans in the latest installment of the Giants mailbag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants officially announced their deal with Wilmer Flores, while Joey Bart and Marco Luciano continued to climb in prospect rankings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants signed Trevor Cahill to a minor league deal, and Jeff Samardzija expressed support for his new manager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Spring Training is officially underway, and the 2020 season could be the beginning of a bright future for the Giants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
As many continue to write them off, the Giants' roster is looking deeper, more versatile, and more exciting than it has in years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ben answers questions from fans in the latest edition of the Giants mailbag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
With Spring Training right around the corner, how would the Giants' 26-man roster shake out if the season started today? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants handed out their first multiyear deal under Farhan Zaidi yesterday, but the Dodgers stole the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants signed Brandon Guyer, who has been excellent against lefties his entire career, to a minor league deal. Ben also argues against the idea presented in a new article that Giants ownership has placed financial restrictions on Farhan Zaidi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The offseason has been relatively quiet for the Giants, but that doesn't mean they've missed out on multiple great fits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ben answers questions from fans in the latest edition of the Giants mailbag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What year is it? The Giants reportedly signed Pablo Sandoval to a minor league deal, and are interested in a reunion with Hunter Pence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants have reportedly signed Yolmer Sánchez to a minor league deal, and he may be the starting second baseman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Headlined by Joey Bart and Marco Luciano, the Giants are well represented on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Giants' remaining options for upgrading the offense after Nicholas Castellanos signed a four-year deal with Cincinnati. San Francisco's 2020 ZiPS projections, which are better than people think, are also discussed at length. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ben answers questions from fans on this edition of the Giants mailbag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Marco Luciano—who's just 18 years old—comes in at No. 19 on Baseball America's top 100 prospects list. Also discussed on today's show are Farhan Zaidi's comments about his anticipation of being aggressive with prospects, and why Kevin Gausman and Drew Smyly were top targets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
With a rapidly improving farm and several bad contracts soon to come off the books, the Giants figure to be big players in free agency moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jerry Blevins has a good breaking ball. So did Will Smith. Somehow, this connection takes us on a trip down memory lane to the disastrous 2016 NLDS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Giants' historic hiring of Alyssa Nakken to Gabe Kapler's coaching staff, plus the Drew Smyly signing and the changing the payroll. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ben answers questions about Drew Smyly, the Giants' rotation, the 26-man roster, and whether the team will add offense this offseason. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Giants GM Scott Harris said yesterday that the team is "actively trying to add" starting pitching and bolster the offense. More fallout from the Astros cheating scandal is also discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
MLB's investigation found that the Astros continued to cheat to some degree in 2018, when Joe Espada was their bench coach. Revisiting his candidacy for the Giants' managerial opening in light of these findings. Alex Dickerson's health and potential impact in 2020 are also discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Zack Cozart's DFA does nothing to diminish the genius of the Giants' acquisition of Will Wilson. Fallout from the Astros cheating scandal is also discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Projecting the Giants' win-loss record in 2020, and making adjustments based on expected over- or under-performance from individual projections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Athletic's Jayson Stark looked into his crystal ball and discussed some big changes that could come to MLB sooner than you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From salary dump targets to the likelihood of an Evan Longoria/Jeff Samardzija trade, today's mailbag has your questions covered! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Baseball Savant released its new Infield Outs Above Average metric today, and the results for Brandon Crawford were eye opening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jeff Samardzija had an impressive bounceback season in 2019, but there were serious red flags. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants made another low-risk addition to their pitching staff, signing Tyson Ross to a minor league deal. Meanwhile, another young Giants player expressed excitement about the team's direction under new manager Gabe Kapler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Answering your questions about the Giants' biggest needs, how they can address them, Tyler Beede's future, and prospects who will make an impact in 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Although it had its ups and downs, the 2010s were undoubtedly the best decade in Giants franchise history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The new year is upon us, but the Giants still have work to do. Who are their most realistic free agent and targets? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Kevin Gausman is underrated, Tyler Anderson has upside, and the youngsters have talent. Despite the loss of Bumgarner, the Giants rotation may be better than people think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Madison Bumgarner signed with the Diamondbacks, but it's not as big of a loss as people think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants have a history of signing starting pitchers to long-term deals they live to regret. Also discussed are the new dimensions and netting at Oracle Park, with the bullpens being moved to center field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants announced Gabe Kapler's coaching staff, and it's an intriguing list of young and nontraditional individuals. The Giants' Winter Meetings moves, including the results of today's Rule 5 Draft, are also discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants pulled off an extremely savvy move yesterday, essentially paying cash for the Angels' 2019 first round draft pick.They also signed Keving Gausman, a right-handed pitcher with upside, to a $9M deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A rival executive views the Giants as the "top bidder" for Nicholas Castellanos, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. Analyzing Castellanos' potent bat, questionable defense, and how it would all fit at Oracle Park. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Winter Meetings have begun, and it could be an active week for the Giants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants are hiring coaches who embrace data and technology to hone their craft and help players perform at their best. The team has reportedly hired Donnie Ecker, who is credited with the breakout of Aristides Aquino, to be their new hitting coach, and they've also hired pitching guru Brian Bannister away from the Red Sox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Farhan Zaidi responded to several misguigded questions from season ticket holders on Tuesday night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Is Nicholas Castellanos a realistic fit? Are the Giants tanking? Should the front office ease tension with the fanbase? Answering your questions in another edition of the Giants mailbag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Examining the Giants' decision to non-tender popular outfielder Kevin Pillar, among three others, and sign Alex Dickerson, Donovan Solano, and Wandy Peralta to one-year deals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants must choose today whether to tender contracts to Kevin Pillar, Alex Dickerson, Tyler Anderson, Donovan Solano, Joey Rickard, and Wandy Peralta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From the stunning beauty of Oracle Park to the dramatically improved farm system, fans of the San Francisco Giants have a lot to be grateful for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Stephen Vogt and Drew Pomeranz signed lucrative free agent deals, demonstrating the Giants' ability to target and acquire underrated players. MLB's investigation into Sam Dyson, who's accused of domestic violence, is also discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
FanGraphs released its 2020 Giants prospects rankings, and it's hard not to get excited about the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The non-tender deadline is a week away, and the Giants have a tough decision to make on Kevin Pillar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Farhan Zaidi has discussed a willingness to take on other teams' bad contracts in order to buy young players. Who could he be talking about? All that and more in today's Giants mailbag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants didn't make any moves to protect their Rule 5-eligible players, but their farm system is on a meteoric rise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Farhan Zaidi discussed numerous topics on the TK Show with Tim Kawakami, including the Giants' improved financial flexibility this offseason. Also addressed on today's show is tonight's deadline to protect Rule 5-eligible players. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Discussing some free agent fits for the San Francisco Giants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Amidst a turbulent week for the San Francisco Giants, it's important to differentiate between facts and opinions. Also discussed on today's show is the likelihood that sweeping changes are coming to the coaching staff, and the qualifying offer decisions of Madison Bumgarner and WIll Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants had a rough week from a PR perspective. Will they act aggressively this offseason to get fans excited about the team again? Answering that question and more in today's edition of the Giants mailbag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Gabe Kapler was introduced as the new Giants manager in a tense press conference. What will he bring to the team? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Gabe Kapler is the new Giants manager, and a new era is upon us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Scott Harris was introduced as Giants GM, and conflicting reports emerged about whether Joe Espada or Gabe Kapler is the favorite to be the team's next manager.. Farhan Zaidi said a decision is expected this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants hired Redwood City native and Chicago Cubs Assistant GM Scott Harris to be their new general manager. A managerial decision is expected to follow shortly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
According to a source, the Giants are "focused on" Joe Espada becoming their next manager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The managerial search is reportedly down to three finalists, and we're finally hearing some updates about the Giants' GM search. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants announced a flurry of roster moves yesterday, including a claim of the intriguing Kean Wong. Also discussed are the details of Tyler Anderson's knee injury and the latest on the Giants' GM search. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The 2020 Steamer projections are here, and things are looking up for Tyler Anderson and a young Giants starting rotation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The qualifying offer deadline looms, and the Giants have at least one interesting decision to make. Meanwhile, Tony Watson exercised his 2020 option and there were new twists in the Giants' managerial search. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In an under-the-radar move, the Giants claimed the injured—but potentially effective—Tyler Anderson from the Rockies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Joe Espada, Pedro Grifol, and Gabe Kapler are reportedly the finalists to become the next Giants manager. Also, the Washington Nationals won the World Series last night for the first time in franchise history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Trea Turner was called out on a silly rule, but thankfully it didn't cost the Nationals. Now we get another Game 7. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Answering your questions about Gabe Kapler, the Giants' coaching staff, how to evaluate a manager, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants' manager search has reportedly entered round two, with Joe Espada and Gabe Kalper still in the running and Ron Wotus being informed that he no longer under consideration. Also discussed on today's show are trends that underscore the increasing influence of analytics in today's game, despite the constant complaints by some in the mainstream media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bruce Bochy made it clear that he intends to manage again, but it's important to understand that he was not forced out and it was time to move on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Joe Espada is flying to San Francisco for an in-person interview, and hirings around the league mean the Giants will have their choice when selecting a new manager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Nationals' surprising win in World Series Game 1 should have looked familiar to fans of the San Francisco Giants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Eight candidates reportedly have interviewed or will interview for the Giants' managerial vacancy. So...who's the favorite? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
With three World Series titles, the Giants were the team of the decade. Where do their championships rank among the decade's best? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Evan Longoria was not a fan of strike call made by a robotic umpire. Meanwhile, the Giants were linked to Astros bench coach Joe Espada and Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro in their search for a new manager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Brandon Crawford suffered through the worst season of his career in 2019. Will he have a diminished role in 2020? Also discussed is the probable plan for Mauricio Dubón, and the likelihood of the Giants bringing back Donovan Solano and Stephen Vogt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Who will be the 1B in 2021: Belt, Posey, Bart, or someone else? And hat's up with Steven Duggar's poor K/BB? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants will reportedly interview Gabe Kapler for their vacant managerial position. Is he a good fit? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It could take the Giants several years to challenge for a division crown. Who better than Gerrit Cole to help them win a wild card game in the meantime? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Joey Bart broke his thumb. MLBTR released its annual arbitration projections. The ball is dead...again. And the Dodgers were eliminated from the postseason. It was a busy day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Despite the assertions of a new article in The Nation, analytics are not used as a weapon against players. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing Andrew Baggarly's piece about the managerial candidacy of Ron Wotus, the longest tenured coach in Giants history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Farhan Zaidi admitted to being conflicted about the team's deadline approach. Meanwhile, his search for a GM is a "high priority." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Examining the Giants' 2019 season as a whole, Mark Melancon's bad night in Atlanta, and a Mark Kotsay rumor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Contrary to popular belief, modern front offices care a great deal about managers having productive and trusting relationships with players. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Farhan Zaidi discussed a number of fascinating topics, including his search for a new manager, in the Giants' postmortem press conference on Tuesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Capped by an unforgettable ceremony worthy of his legacy, Bruce Bochy managed his last game as a Giant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
There's a false rumor going around that sabermetricians only value players with strong OBPs and K/BB ratios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jeff Samardzija finished off a very strange season, and Tyler Rogers moved atop a very important list. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The ball was flying out of Oracle Park last night, which makes it hard to say whether or not Mad Bum pitched well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Answering your questions on Twitter about Bum's next deal, changes to Oracle Park in 2020, the next surprising departure, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bruce Bochy's emotional farewell tour is almost over, but there's bizarre new speculation that he could actually manage again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants lost a tough one in Boston, and now they're on the brink of elimination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Cooperstown-bound Bruce Bochy achieved a major milestone as the Giants beat the Red Sox 11-3. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mike Yastrzemski's debut and home run in Boston was magical and unforgettable. The Giants won a marathon game in 15 innings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Answering your questions on Twitter about offseason priorities, the next salary dump, and final 2019 evaluations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants and their Triple-A affiliate are more connected than ever before, and both teams are reaping the rewards. Meanwhile at the major league level, Tyler Beede, Madison Bumgarner, and Johnny Cueto pitched well as the Giants won two of three. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
With Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford leading the way, the Giants are falling flat at home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's easy to overlook, but the Giants outfield has been among the best in the NL since mid-June. Despite the criticism he endured early on, Farhan Zaidi's process has worked so far—and it's only the beginning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Johnny Cueto was brilliant in his return from Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile, the Giants fired 40% of their pro scouts with more sweeping changes likely to follow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants lost a tough one, and Buster Posey admitted that his confidence has taken a hit. Meanwhile, Madison Bumgarner's next contract will probably be for a lot less than people think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dubón got to Kershaw and Tyler Beede answered Bochy's challenge, but the Giants could not quite sweep LA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
With the Giants all but eliminated from postseason contention, their focus has shifted toward players for the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants finally called up intriguing outfield prospect Jaylin Davis, and the Giants won a crazy back and forth game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants claimed Corban Joseph, Johnny Cueto suffered a minor setback, and Dereck Rodríguez twirled a gem in a 1-0 loss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants have played their way out of contention, so it's time to start thinking about their next GM, manager, and wave of talent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A lot happened over the weekend, but wins were once again hard to come by. Logan Webb and Madison Bumgarner twirled gems, Kevin Pillar became the first Giant to hit 20 home runs since 2015, and Johnny Cueto breezed through his final rehab start. But Reyes Moronta sustained a season-ending shoulder injury and the Giants lost three of four to the Padres. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mauricio Dubón made his Giants debut and collected his first major league hit, but Dereck Rodríguez was roughed up again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Answering your questions about free agent pitchers, moving in the fences, a Brandon Belt trade, and Gerrit Cole rumors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants called up Mauricio Dubón, who figures to have a big role now and for seasons to come. In other news, Scooter Gennett was released, Trevor Gott was placed on the IL, Taylor Rogers and Joey Rickard were called up, and Abiatal Avelino was optioned to Triple-A. Meanwhile, the Giants lost another tough game to the Diamondbacks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants lost a sloppy game at home, and they'll need to right the ship in a hurry in order to stay in the wild card hunt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants refuse to give up and remain in the thick of the wild card race with just 32 games remaining. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants were swept by the Cubs as Jeff Samardzija continued his strangely great season and Brandon Crawford continued to exhibit a troubling trend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants offense was electric but D-Rod and several key relief pitchers faltered in a big loss to the Cubs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tyler Beede continued to scuffle and the Giants looked predictably overmatched against the Cubs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Will Scooter Gennett be back next year? When will Jaylin Davis be called up, and who will he replace? What should the Giants do in the back of their bullpen? Answering your questions on today's edition of Off-Day Q&A. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mike Yastrzemski blasted three home runs on Friday and Logan Webb pitched beautifully in his major league debut on Saturday. Despite losing on Sunday, the Giants took three of four from the D-Backs in Arizona and remain in the the thick of the wild card race with three huge road games against the Cubs upcoming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants got a much-needed strong start from Dereck Rodriguez, whose struggles this season should not be blamed on the front office. Meanwhile, the right-handed lineup was firing on all cylinders and led the team to an easy 7-0 win. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tyler Beede turned in another rough outing, and the Giants' young starters are officially leaking oil. Alex Dickerson was activated off the injured list and Pablo Sandoval was placed on the IL with an elbow injury. Meanwhile, Mike Yastrzemski stayed hot with the bat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Madison Bumgarner twirled a gem, the Giants ratcheted up their commitment to platoons, and things got dicey in a torturous 9th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What will the Giants do in the rotation? What's up with Brandon Belt? Which Giants minor leaguers are expendable? Answers to those questions and more in today's off-day Q&A. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Capped by their most entertaining game in years, the Giants took three of four from the Phillies and stayed in the thick wild card race. Will Smith had a big hit and laughed all the way up the line, Scooter Gennett had a splash hit, and Bruce Bochy managed like it was Game 7 of the World Series. Friday's loss and Saturday's win are also discussed, as is Steven Duggar's injury status. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Madison Bumgarner and Mike Yastrzemski stole the show in a dominant win over the Phillies, and Joey Bart, Heliot Ramos, and Sean Hjelle were promoted to Double-A Richmond. Other topics discussed include Joe Panik signing with the Mets and Logan Webb's promotion to Triple-A Sacramento. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants were swept by the Nationals and may have lost Steven Duggar to another significant shoulder injury. If Duggar has to go on the IL, who will be called up to take his place? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In a predicable yet jarring move, the Giants DFA'd their struggling second baseman Joe Panik. We look back on his iconic contributions to the franchise, and explain why the move was difficult but ultimately made sense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants have gone ice cold with the bats—is a roster shakeup needed? Connor Menez will be recalled from Triple-A to make his second major league start tonight, but do the Giants need to bring up some position players as well? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants have a -17 run differential since July 18, as their bats and starters have gone cold. Bruce Bochy made a questionable decision that loomed large on Friday, the Giants had a clutch comeback win on Saturday, and Tyler Beede and the offense (besides Donovan Solano, who homered twice) struggled on Sunday. The Giants' upcoming nine-game homestand comes at a good time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dereck Rodriguez was roughed up in three innings of work and was critical of how he's been handled. The offense continued to struggle. A flurry of moves could happen today; could Joe Panik's Giants tenure be over? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mere hours after striking five dizzying deals, the Giants won again thanks to a strong start by Samardzija and an offensive explosion in the 6th. Alex Dickerson was played on the IL and Sam Selman was recalled from Triple-A prior to Thursday's game. The Giants have a chance to win their eighth consecutive series with a victory over Philadelphia today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants didn't trade Madison Bumgarner or Will Smith, but they dealt from their bullpen depth in a big way, shipping out Sam Dyson, Mark Melancon, Drew Pomeranz, and Ray Black. They also acquired Scooter Gennett and Mauricio Dubon, in addition to several other prospects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants are involved in multiple significant discussions as the trade deadline is just hours away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Answering questions about Dickerson's BABIP, Bumgarner's next contract, Pillar and Panik's future with the Giants, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants won their seventh consecutive series, and the time for evaluation is almost over as the trade deadline looms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
You asked, we answered! Another episode devoted to your #SFGiants questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants have played their way into playoff contention, but Farhan Zaidi will still look to avoid this mistake at the trade deadline. An article in The Athletic that predicts Madison Bumgarner's next contract (and asserts that the Giants should be the team to give it to him) is also discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Another day, another Giants win. This was supposed to be Madison Bumgarner's final home start, but the script has flipped in a hurry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Austin Slater and Joe Panik had huge hits as the Giants overcame some questionable managerial decisions to win again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mike Yastrzemski, Connor Menez, Zach Green, and Tyler Beede came up huge as the Giants continued their winning ways over the weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Madison Bumgarner was brilliant over 9 innings, and the Giants won again despite a questionable decision in the 7th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants outscored the Rockies 40-15 in a dominant four-game sweep, and they suddenly find themselves playing meaningful baseball games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants are finding different ways to win baseball games, and their improved play has them in the thick of the wild card race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
After outscoring the Rockies 21-3 in yesterday's double header, the Giants are playing so well that their status as certain sellers has become murky. Since June 21, the day Alex Dickerson debuted, the Giants are 14-7 with a ridiculous run differential and they're leading MLB in all sorts of seemingly impossible offensive categories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Amid swirling trade rumors, the Giants offense stayed hot and the starting pitchers stepped up in Milwaukee. Evan Longoria and Alex Dickerson's injuries are also discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Answering your questions about Steven Duggar, whether entertainment value should play a role in whether or not to make trades, and how the Giants' rebuild has compared to that of other teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Giants' high points and low points from the first half of the 2019 season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the state of the Giants' pitching. Shaun Anderson and Tyler Beede have provided promise, but the starters have mostly struggled and figure to get worse if/when Madison Bumgarner is traded. Meanwhile, headlined by Will Smith, the Giants bullpen has been among the best in baseball—and they have depth in the minor leagues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Breaking down the state of the Giants' position players, one position at a time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants finished the first half with a flurry thanks to an improved process and contributions from some potential diamonds in the rough. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Answering your questions posed on Twitter about when and how Ben became a Giants fan, whether the Giants and A's are a good match in a trade this summer, and when Connor Menez will be called up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the latest Giants win and offensive explosion. The Giants actually have some functional platoons, and the mainstream media is finally catching onto Farhan Zaidi's plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Despite a false narrative about the Giants making an excessive amount of roster transactions and the front office having "no discernible plan," the Giants have made a relatively moderate amount of roster transactions this year and have been much improved since June. They also have several players who have a chance to be keepers next year. Meanwhile, Tyler Beede cruised through seven innings and the platoon-happy offense stayed red hot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing last night's 13-2 win over the Padres. Austin Slater was called up (and hit a triple and a HR), Dereck Rodriguez was optioned to Triple-A, Jeff Samardzija went eight strong, and the offense stayed hot thanks to a newfound commitment to platoons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the three games over the weekend against the Diamondbacks. The starting pitching was phenomenal, Mark Melancon struggled once again, and several Giants hitters had big weekends at the plate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Discussing Tyler Beede's latest outing, why it's a good thing that the Giants are finally embracing platoons, and whether they should claim or trade for the recently DFA'd Hernán Pérez. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Breaking down Jeff Samardzij'a rising ERA, and why it was easy to see coming. Pablo Sandoval's monster numbers against righties, another good game for Alex Dickerson, Mark Melancon's disappearing skillset, and the idea of a Vogt/Posey platoon are also discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Giants' inspiring 4-2 win over the Rockies. Alex Dickerson, Mike Yastrzemski, and Tyler Austin continued to inspire confidence, Madison Bumgarner struck out 11 (although he did allow another HR), and the bullpen shut it down again. Trade rumors involving Bumgarner and Smith are also discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mike Yastrzemski and Alex Dickerson provide intrigue every time they come up, but that can't be said about the veteran hitters Farhan Zaidi inherited. Analyzing how the Giants got to his point, and what they can do to come out of it. Also discussed is Drew Pomeranz's very strange outing amidst a very strange season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing Alex Dickerson's huge weekend in Arizona, and why the Giants front office deserves patience and the benefit of the doubt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing Madison Bumgarner's disastrous and emotional start, the spark provided by Mike Yastrzemski, and the Giants' 9th-inning comeback that was foiled in part by a controversial replay ruling in New York. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing Drew Pomeranz's latest stinker, why he was still a good signing, and the faint glimmer of hope provided by Tyler Austin and Mike Yastrzemski. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing Shaun Anderson's solid start (but rough first inning), and why the Giants should be using openers against the Dodgers. Also discussed is the disheartening demise of two franchise icons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing Tyler Beede's strong start, his continuing walk/command issue, and the rest of the game notes from last night's 3-2 win over the Dodgers in LA. Also discussed is MLB Trade Rumors' Top 50 Trade Candidates list. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing Drew Pomeranz's second consecutive strong start, Mike Yastrzemski's game-saving catch on Saturday, and Madison Bumgarner's slipping trade value. Mark Melancon and Jeff Samardzija are also discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ben answers questions from listeners about trades, the next Giants manager, what to expect in 2020, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing Shaun Anderson's strong start, as well as other relevant game notes from the Giants' 4-2 win over the Padres. Kevin Pillar showed that he can still play against lefties, and Mike Yastrezemski continued to scuffle. Alex Dickerson will probably join the team sooner rather than later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tyler Beede retired 11 straight with seven strikeouts at one point, and the Giants came back late to beat the Padres. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Alex Dickerson/Franklin Van Gurp trade, and why it was a worthwhile move for the Giants. A detailed analysis of Madison Bumgarner's trade value is also discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Pomeranz rebounded and Bumgarner pitched with an edge, but the Giants lost two of three to LA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Giants' 7-3 loss to the Mets in the series finale. Shaun Anderson recovered from a brutal 1st inning to pitch into the 7th, but he probably stayed in one batter too long. The bullpen allowed his leadoff walk to score, and Mark Melancon imploded in the 8th. A struggling Giants outfielder who should be on thin ice is also discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
News and notes from Wednesday's 7-0 loss to the Mets. Tyler Beede's lack of command plagued him once again, and the Giants were shut down for nine innings by Jason Vargas. Also of note, Aaron Altherr is on waivers once again and the Giants should probably claim him. Meanwhile, Mac Williamson signed a minor league deal with the Mariners and was called up prior to last night's game, in which he homered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bruce Bochy's 1,000th win as Giants manager was a memorable one. The Giants showed tremendous resilience as they downed the Mets 9-3 in extra innings. The game notes and Bochy's legacy are discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A deep dive on Giants draftees Hunter Bishop, a physically impressive left-handed outfielder with tremendous power and speed, and Logan Wyatt, who has arguably the best plate discipline in the class. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the offensive explosion in Baltimore, Shaun Anderson and Jeff Samardzija's strong starts, and who the Giants will take 10th overall as the MLB Draft gets underway tonight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing Tyler Beede's breakthrough performance against the Miami Marlins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Giants lost to the Marlins—again—and must now begin to look towards the future. Madison Bumgarner trade rumors are discussed in the second half of the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
After a blowout loss to the lowly Marlins, the Giants' underperforming veterans must look in the mirror and get better or risk losing their jobs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Giants' 2019 season thus far in terms of overall and individual performances by the position players and pitchers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Giants' ugly series against the Diamondbacks. Mac Williamson was DFA'd and Mike Yastrzemski debuted and collected three hits, but the Giants were outscored 34-8 in a demoralizing sweep. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Giants' 5-4 extra-inning loss to the Braves. Madison Bumgarner was sharp and Tyler Austin hit another HR against a lefty, but Tony Watson coughed up the lead and Mac Williamson went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Giants' 9-2 loss to the Braves. Jeff Samardzija struggled (but don't worry, the runs "didn't count"), Tyler Austin hit an opposite field homer, and Mac Williamson continued to scuffle. Madison Bumgarner's big start today is also discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Giants' thrilling 4-3 walk-off win against the Braves. Their three-run, 9th-inning rally capped by Joe Panik is discussed at length, as is the second consecutive strong start by Shaun Anderson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing Andy Suarez's (mostly) strong start against the Braves. The Giants are expected to add another hitter prior to tonight's game; who will lose their 25-man roster spot? Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Giants' big series win in Arizona, the savvy Aaron Altherr claim/DFA, and how Andrew Suarez will be added to the 25-man roster. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A closer look at how the coverage of the 2019 San Francisco Giants has been more confusing than the team's roster decisions. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Breaking down Shaun Anderson's solid debut in the Giants' 4-3 win over the Blue Jays. The fact that the team has a clearly discernible plan is also discussed. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Giants' 7-3 loss to the Blue Jays, and why the fact that the opener didn't work in one instance does not mean it was a bad idea. Shaun Anderson's promotion to the big leagues is also discussed. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Giants' revolutionary decision to start using openers, and an explanation as to why it's probably a good idea. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Breaking down Derek Holland's highly inflammatory (and inappropriate) comments about the front office, D-Rod's demotion, and the Aaron Altherr waiver claim. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Breaking down the Giants' strange road trip, in which they scored over eight runs per game but allowed more than nine per game. The state of the offense, defense, and starting pitching are discussed at length. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the dramatically different lineups the Giants are featuring vs. LHP and RHP, and why platoons are critical in the modern game. The injuries to Buster Posey and Drew Pomeranz, and the corresponding roster moves (Tyler Beede and Aramis Garcia called up), are also discussed. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Giants' 14-4 win against the Rockies. Mac Williamson's home run and Madison Bumgarner's improved performance are discussed, as is Nick Vincent's and Trevor Gott's underrated fastballs. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the reported news that the Giants will call up Mac Williamson, Donovan Solano, and Williams Jerez ahead of tonight's game. The team's (overrated?) starting rotation is also discussed. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Breaking down the Giants' unbelievable comeback win against the Reds on Friday, as well as the other two weekend games in Cincinnati. There continue to be positive signs for Buster Posey and Steven Duggar, but the news is not so rosy for starting pitchers Dereck Rodriguez and Jeff Samardzija. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Looking back at where the Giants stand about 20% of the way through the 2019 season. A bombshell article about Madison Bumgarner on MLB.com is also discussed. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Giants' exciting 2-1 win over the Dodgers. Madison Bumgarner was more dominant than he's been in years, and there were also positive signs from Duggar, Austin, Belt, Posey, and the bullpen. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Breaking down the Giants' 10-3 loss to the Dodgers, including why it's unlikely that Farhan Zaidi was confident about Ty Blach facing LA's top righties. Stephen Vogt's promotion and Logan Webb's PED suspension are also discussed. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Giants' big 3-2 win over the Dodgers, in which Evan Longoria had his biggest hit as a Giant and Bruce Bochy made a critical new-age decision. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Breaking down the ugly series sweep by the Yankees, in which the Giants continued to shoot themselves in the foot by failing to embrace modern strategies. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Breaking down the not-so-obvious parallels between the Yankees of the recent past and the current SF Giants. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Breaking down Drew Pomeranz's excellent start in Toronto, the Giants' less-talked-about first-inning struggles, and the perpetually underrated Brandon Belt. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Breaking down the Giants' wild 7-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. On Kevin Pillar's emotional return to Toronto, Mark Melancon's seemingly elevated role, and a good old fashioned slugfest in Canada. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A detailed discussion about the flaws of using batting average, home runs, and RBI to evaluate hitters, and the modern metrics that do a much better job. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Discussing the Giants' continued struggles in the first inning, the importance of sending runners home, and some troubling short- and long-term trends. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Amidst another series loss—this time to the Nationals—it's becoming clear that the Giants could benefit from starting games with their bullpen. All that and more on the latest edition of Locked On Giants! Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Using last night's 9-6 loss to the Nationals to address the issues with ERA—and the merits of xFIP—in small samples. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Analyzing the Giants' win over the Nationals. The offense broke out, the defense remained strong, and a couple of pitchers showed off their skill of inducing weak contact. Joey Bart's injury and some big news about Oracle Park are also discussed. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
An important correction of a prospect valuation error that was made on today's episode of Locked On Giants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A primer on how to think realistically about trades, as well as some specific trade possibilities for the 2019 San Francisco Giants. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Breaking down the series win against the Rockies, whether Sandoval should start over Longoria, and a sparkling bullpen and anemic offense. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Breaking down Jeff Samardzija's stellar start, the continued offensive onslaught from Kevin Pillar, and the Giants' strong defense so far this season. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Recapping the good, the bad, and the ugly from San Francisco's series loss to San Diego. Premature early-season statements are also revisited. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How the additions of Kevin Pillar and Tyler Austin have made the Giants better against left-handed pitching. An adjustment by Derek Holland that has led to improved results is also discussed. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Breaking down the Giants' acquisition of lefty killer Tyler Austin. The team's rough loss to the Padres is also discussed. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Breaking down the series loss to the Rays, which included a memorable Opening Day ovation and some innovate baseball by Tampa Bay. Ben also discusses the new stats on the new scoreboard, and why they are a bigger deal than people might think. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
With the innovate Rays in town for the home opener, Ben discusses the "opener" pitching strategy. He also examines whether the Giants' past success should really be attributed to pitching and defense. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Discussing the Giants' sluggish early offense, the (over)performance of their starting staff, and why they must platoon more in order to stay afloat in the National League. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ben looks closely at Madison Bumgarner's second start of the season and discusses why it's critical to think in terms of wins above replacement when analyzing modern baseball decisions. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis Link: https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ben discusses all the key points regarding Giants' acquisition of outfielder Kevin Pillar from the Toronto Blue Jays. He also talks about the team's 4-2 comeback win over the Dodgers. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis (https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ben discusses the key points from the Giants' last three games in San Diego, in which they pitched well (especially the bullpen) but struggled offensively. He also discusses why it's far too early to make definitive statements about specific players and the team as a whole. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis (https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A close examination of how Madison Bumgarner used his pitches on Opening Day compared to how he's used them in the past. Despite an overall excellent start, are there still reasons to be concerned about Bumgarner's fastball? Also, a close examination of Bruce Bochy's curious decision let Gerardo Parra hit against a lefty instead of Connor Joe against a righty late in the game. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis (https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Several key storylines are discussed, including that the team's primary focus will be to win in 2019. If winning isn't in the cards, however, there may be major trades, including a possible trade of Madison Bumgarner. Ben also analyzes the not-so-unlikely possibility that at least one of Farhan Zaidi's under-the-radar acquisitions will emerge and exceed expectations this season. Zaidi's rare combination of superior intellect and intense likability is examined. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis (https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A closer look at the reasons to be optimistic about Connor Joe and Michael Reed—both of whom will make the Giants' Opening Day roster despite being acquired within the last week. San Francisco's dismal 2019 projections are also discussed, including why it's important to look at them, but why it's also okay to file them away and just enjoy the season. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis (https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the second episode of the brand new Locked On Giants Baseball podcast, Ben Kaspick analyzes how the Giants' trade of Chris Stratton highlights key differences between the old front office and the new one, and how Larry Baer's suspension could affect Farhan Zaidi's autonomy. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis (https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
With the 2019 season about to get underway, new Locked On Giants Baseball host Ben Kaspick discusses why the modern Giants need to be analyzed in a modern way. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis (https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Introducing Locked On Giants Baseball, a daily podcast that's part of the Locked On Podcast Network. The show will be hosted by Ben Kaspick, who founded the Giants baseball podcast CoveCast in 2015 and has contributed to the popular baseball statistics and analysis websites FanGraphs and Beyond the Box Score. Ben will bring modern, thoughtful, and data-driven analysis to Locked On Giants Baseball. Music Credit: Released by Tasty Records Artist: TheFatRat Song: Xenogenesis (https://youtu.be/2Ax_EIb1zks) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices