Did The SF Giants Mess Up Trading JOEY BART??? The BART Trade 3 WEEKS LATER.

Before getting too deep into this blog, I have to admit, it’s only April 25th and there’s still a long way to to go in the 2024 season, but so far, it’s looking the San Francisco Giants might’ve made one of the dumbest trades in a long, long, long, long, mother f***in’ long time. Before discussing this trade and the reason its looking so terrible, we should do a quick recap on the player the Giants gave away, Joey Bart. In 2018, the Giants had an opportunity to pick second overall in the MLB Draft, their highest pick since 1985 when they took Will Clark second overall as well. They’ve never had a first overall pick. So, with that pick, they took a power hitting catcher out of Georgia Tech named Joey Bart. The General Manager at the time was named Bobby Evans, who would be out by the following season when the Giants signed new Presidential of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi after the 2018 season.

Tom Murphy

Bart produced at every level of the minors and also tore it up every year during Spring Training. His introduction to the big leagues came suddenly in the weird Covid-shortened 2020 season after Buster Posey decided to opt out of the season. With no fans in the stands and a sudden unanticipated pressure to produce, Bart hit just .233 in 33 games without a homer and a .288 on-base-percentage. He spent most of 2021 in the minors, continuing to hit well there. Then in 2022, he got an extended opportunity but struggled with a high strikeout rate and low batting average, causing him to get sent down. When he came back up, though, Bart looked much better, reducing his strikeouts dramatically, although he still wasn’t exactly tearing it up. He spent most of 2023 in Triple-A, where he hit just .248 with 6 homers. By this point, even I was about ready to give up on Bart, who was clearly looking like a bust.

However, since he was a 2nd overall pick, the Giants obviously weren’t just going to get rid of him for nothing – or so I thought. Bart was invited to 2024 Spring Training and absolutely raked, hitting .414 with a .975 OPS, one of his best Spring Training performances ever. But, the Giants, still with Farhan Zaidi as the Presidential of Baseball Operations and now Pete Putila as the GM, decided to sign Tom Murphy to a 2-year contract. Murphy was actually with the Giants during 2019 Spring Training, but they decided to cut him. He went to Seattle and hit .273 with 18 home runs that year. That was when the Giants could’ve used him. He continued hit well with the Mariners despite some injury issues that kept him off the field. In 2022, he played in just 14 games and in 2023, 47 games. But the Giants decided to sign him anyway, effectively admitting that they had given up on Joey Bart, since Joey Bart was out of Minor League options and Patrick Bailey was already in line to be the starting catcher. Furthermore, the Giants also had catcher Blake Sabol now in the system since he stayed with the Giants during the entirety of the 2023 season as a Rule 5 pick.

Austin Strickland

Still, after Joey Bart’s Spring Training, the Giants had no choice but him to put him on the roster since they were apparently unable to find an acceptable trade. At this point in time, it looked like he would get the chance to show once and for all if he was capable at the big league level. By giving Joey Bart some at bats, he could hit well, which would improve his trade stock or possibly convince the Giants to hang on him after all. Alternatively, if he hit poorly, well the Giants could say they gave him every opportunity to prove himself. Instead, the Giants gave him precisely zero at bats before trading him to the Pittsburgh Pirates for a relief pitcher named Austin Strickland, an 8th round pick who had yet to appear in a minor league game. Strickland had a 5.28 ERA in 3 seasons at Kentucky.

So, in the end, the Giants basically traded Bart for nothing, because, with all due respect to Strickland, the odds of an 8th round pick making it the big leagues are very slim, and in this case, he hasn’t even pitched in the professional ranks, so there’s no evidence to suggest he is a realistic prospect at this time. Meanwhile, the backup catcher the Giants stuck with, Tom Murphy, is 1 for 18 with 9 strikeouts, zero home runs and a single RBI. The season is still young and he should absolutely improve those numbers. But Joey Bart, who tore up Spring Training as a second overall pick, went to Pittsburgh and gave them an instant jolt with a home run in first at bat. He followed it up with more big hits and at this point in time, is hitting .350 with 3 bombs, 8 RBIs and an OPS of 1.308. He’s also walked 4 times compared to 2 walks for Murphy. I expect Bart’s numbers to slow down a bit and Murphy’s to improve, but so far, this is looking like an absolutely terrible signing and even worse trade.

Joey Bart with the PIttsburgh Pirates

I wonder if Farhan Zaidi was in the front office in 2018 and was part of the Bart draft, would he have traded him for a pitcher who has yet to make his minor league debut? Would he have signed Tom Murphy, or given Bart one more chance to prove himself? Even if they were ready to give up on Bart, wouldn’t you give him a shot to improve his trade value if you’re going to trade him for next to nothing anyway? Imagine what the Giants could’ve gotten for Bart if he had 3 home runs in 20 at bats with a .350 average after tearing it up in Spring Training. Of course, at that point, they might’ve just held on to him and used a killer duo behind the dish of Patrick Bailey and Joey Bart – two first round picks that could’ve created a major threat every day in the lineup at the catching position, and with the DH now in the NL, they could’ve both played on some days.

Maybe I’m dreaming and maybe Bart will go into a huge slump and end up being a complete bust after all, but even if so, the Giants really messed up by letting him go for almost nothing and going all-in on an older often-injured backup catcher instead. I hope in a few months a complete regret making his video and that Tom Murphy starts to really produce and maybe Austin Strickland ends up being a nice prospect. However, at this point in time, there’s no doubt that the way the Bart situation was handled was absolutely terrible. But let me know your thoughts...

SF Giants TOP 10 PROSPECTS That Can Make A HUGE Impact In 2022!!

As we ramp up for OPENING DAY, it’s time to start considering which prospects will make an impact in 2022 as the injuries mount and re-enforcements are needed! Here is my TOP 10 list of San Francisco Giants prospects who could make an impact in 2022…

10. IF Jason Krizan

At #10, I wanted to give a shout to a prospect who has been floating around the Minor Leagues for about 10 years and is yet to make his big league debut. At 32 years old, he’s not really a typical prospect anymore, but Krizan has an incredible eye at the plate, makes solid contact and puts up impressive numbers. In 480 plate appearances in Triple A last year, he hit .316 with 16 home runs, driving in 73 runs and striking out just 70 times. Back in 2019 in Triple A, he struck out just 45 times in 386 at bats. This is a guy who can be relied upon to put the ball in play, he has some pop and is a solid defender with a great arm. How he has never gotten a promotion is beyond me and as of now, he’s not even on the 40-man roster. However, if he continues to hit well in Sacramento, the Giants should definitely consider promoting him when the injuries start piling up.

9. RP Gregory Santos

Next up is relief pitcher Gregory Santos, whose stats from last season do not look pretty. He gave up a lot of runs in Triple A and the Big Leagues and then was suspended for 80 games for PED’s. However, there were small samples of absolutely devastating stuff that has kept him on the radar for the Giants as a legitimate prospect. He is only 22 years old, has a fastball in the High 90’s and analytical websites and analysists love the guy. The downside is he hasn’t proven much on the field, his strikeout ratio hasn’t been as high as you’d like in the minors and that was with the help of PED’s apparently. Nevertheless, if he pitches well in Triple A this year, the Giants will likely give him another shot as the season wears on and the bullpen needs re-enforcements.

8. RP R.J. Dabovich

In the 4th round of the 2020 MLB Draft, the Giants took R.J. Dabovich out of Arizona State. He's a 6’3” 215 lb hurler with plenty of arm strength, a strong breaking ball and a change-up. In High A Ball last season, he dominated batters to the tune of a 1.42 ERA in 11 appearances, earning a promotion to Double A, where he continued to pitch well. In 20 appearances in Richmond, Dabovich struck out 34 batters in 19 innings, giving up just 13 hits. He also pitched in the Arizona Fall League during the offseason and struck out 15 batters in 10 innings with a 1.69 ERA. If Dabovich continues this type of domination in Triple A, he will definitely be an arm that Giants will want to bring up to provide some strong innings out of the bullpen. His walk rate isn’t the best and there is a likelihood he won’t be a fully effective big league reliever until 2023, but he could still help out this year if the Giants bullpen needs it.

7. SP Sean Hjelle

At 6’11”, Sean Hjelle will tie an MLB record for the tallest player ever when he makes his debut. Hjelle won Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year at Kentucky in 2017, was drafted by the Giants in the second round, and mostly dominated the minors until a rough stretch in Triple-A last year resulted in a 5.74 ERA. Nevertheless, he is still one of the Giants best looking pitching prospects and has a nice toolbox of pitches including an impressive knuckle-curve, a sharp curve and a mid-nineties fastball that looks a lot faster with his the incredible extension and unusual angle he can create due to his height. He also has a sinking changeup he will occasionally throw but his command of this pitch isn’t the best.

Although the Giants have established some strong depth in the rotation, injuries will be a major concern and during the later months of the season, some one will likely have to make the trip from Sacramento to start some very important games. Sean Hjelle could very well be that guy.

6. OF Jairo Pomares

One prospect who was taken at the same time as Marco Luciano and Luis Matos is often forgotten about and it’s outfielder Jairo Pomares. He is a left-handed hitter with incredible bat speed. In 224 plate appearances with the San Jose Giants, Pomares hit an astonishing .372 with 14 bombs and 44 RBI. He was promoted to High A Eugene where he settled down a little but continued to hit well, finishing his season with a .334 batting average at 20 home runs in just 302 at bats. Pomares has incredible potential, along with Matos who I will get to shortly, to become the first homegrown superstar outfielder for the San Francisco Giants in decades. If he continues to rake at the higher Minor League levels this year, it’s not out of the question that he could make his Major League Debut in 2022 although it probably more likely we see him in 2023.

5. RP Kervin Castro

There is one player on this list who has already impressed at the big league level and it’s Kervin Castro. Camilo Doval is not going to be included as a prospect since he exceeded his rookie requirements last season. As for Castro, he pitched well enough in Triple-A to earn a September callup, and allowed zero earned run in 13 1/3 innings of work before making a couple of scoreless Division Series appearances. He struck out 13 in 13 with a fastball that can 98 MPH and a low 80’s curveball. The Giants love how he attacks the zone and he will definitely be a huge bullpen piece for them in 2022.

4. OF Luis Matos

Next up is outfielder Luis Matos, who owns the best bat-to-ball skills in the entire system. He has incredible hand-eye coordination, recognizes most pitches immediately and has an advanced knowledge of the strike zone. Matos has the potential to be a regular .300 hitter who can smash at least 20 home runs per season. In other words, he has All Star potential. His career minor league numbers are impressive. In 702 at bats, he has a .332 batting average with 22 home runs and a .908 OPS. If Matos keeps destroying Minor League pitching in Double A and then Triple A, he may get a late season call up.

3. SS Marco Luciano

Next up is one of the biggest names in the Giants prospect pool - Mr. Marco Luciano. Although the triple threat of Luciano, Matos and Pomares may not see big league action until 2023, all 3 have a chance to get promoted this year. Luciano has a vicious swing that generates incredible power with a natural home-run launch angle. He also has a high baseball IQ, an incredible throwing arm and the athletic ability to play other positions besides shortstop if needed included third base or outfield. In 574 Minor League at bats, he has 29 home runs. That home run ratio should be even better in the future as he does get overly aggressive at times and is improving on his patience at the plate. Luciano is electric, though, and could see his big league debut in September. If not, look for him in 2023.

2. OF Heliot Ramos

The biggest prospect on this list who hasn’t seen big league time yet but certainly will this year is Heliot Ramos. He is still extremely young and will start the season in Triple A to gain more experience, but Ramos has extreme natural power and the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark to all fields. He also has speed and strong instincts in the field. His minor league stats haven’t been as impressive as some of the other prospects, but the Giants are hoping once everything clicks, he can be a big contributor. He was recently cut from big league camp at Spring Training but he was 4 for 10 with 2 doubles and should make his Major League Debut later this year.

1.C Joey Bart

Without a doubt, the prospect that the Giants will most heavily be relying on in 2022 is none other than Joey Bart, the second overall pick of the 2018 MLB Draft. He already got a sample of replacing Buster Posey when Posey sat out the 2020 season and he wasn’t great, hitting just .233 without a home run in 103 at bats. With that experience behind him, hopefully Bart will be a more appropriate replacement - although of course no one can completely replace the legend of Gerald Posey. He will also have to work with the pitchers and play strong defense behind the plate - something that has at times been a question mark. Bart has incredible bat speed and raw power and has torn in it up at every single level including Triple A and Big League Spring Training. This could be the season Bart will answer the question every one is asking - is he the real deal or a first round bust?

SF Giants Ultimate ONE-AND-DONE 26-Man Roster

For today’s fun lockout experiment, I’m going to try to put together a 26-man roster of the best former San Francisco Giants who only played ONE YEAR with the Giants! Let me know in the comments section if I missed any obvious choices and if I agree, I will update the list with your correction. The rules are simple - the player must have appeared in only ONE season with the San Francisco Giants during his career. However, that particular season doesn’t have to be great - I am judging these players based on their entire careers. This does NOT include the New York era, BUT shout out to Tony Lazzeri and Rogers Hornsby, who are both Hall of Famers who spent just one season with the New York Giants. Here we go!

Starting Lineup

Duke Snider & Willie Mays

1. LF Andrew McCutchen: This 5-time All Star and former MVP and Gold Glover appeared in a Giants uniform 130 times in 2018, bringing some exciting moments such as a walk-off home run against the rival Dodgers. Unfortunately, the Giants were not contenders that year and he was shipped off to New York.

2. 3B Kris Bryant: While it’s still possible he could play again for the Giants, for now I will include Bryant. He his .262 with 7 home runs down the 2021 stretch for the Giants, helping them win a franchise record 107 games. As for his career, Bryant is already a 4-time All Star with an MVP and Rookie of the Year trophy on his shelf.

3. CF Duke Snider: The FIRST name to come to my mind for this experiment. The Hall of Fame outfielder was an 8-time All Star with the Dodgers but played in 91 games for the Giants in his farewell season, hitting just .210 with 4 home runs.

4. 1B Joe Carter: The great Joe Carter will start at first base for this team in order to make room for more outfielders. He’s a 5-time All-Star and 2-time World Series Champion who finished his career in the City By The Bay, hitting .295 with 7 home runs in 1998

5. DH Carlos Beltran: In 2011, the Giants were trying to repeat as World Champions and picked up Beltran at the trade deadline. Beltran hit .323 with 7 bombs, but the Giants fell apart otherwise and failed to make the playoffs. Beltran is a Rookie of the Year with 9 All Star Selections and 3 Gold Gloves.

6. RF Darryl Strawberry: He was a rookie of the year, 8 time All Star and 3 time World Series Champion. Darryl Strawberry had a polarizing yet amazing career and did play for the Giants in 1994, but struggled, hitting just .239 with 4 bombs.

7. C Gary Carter: The 11-time All Star and Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter had an amazing career, mostly with the Mets and Expos. However, he stopped by San Francisco in 1990, hitting .254 with 9 homers.

8. SS Miguel Tejada: Tejada played 16 years in the big leagues, accumulating 2,407 hits and 307 home runs. He made 6 All Star Teams and won an MVP in 2002. His time with the Giants occurred in 2011, when he hit .270 with 4 bombs. (Credit: Stoops)

9. 2B Dan Uggla: No list of one-and-done Giants could be complete with the famous - rather infamous - Dan Uggla, who was a massive slugger from the mid-2000’s to early 2010’s for the Marlins and Braves, constantly crushing over 30 homers per year. The Giants picked him up in 2014, hoping to enjoy some of that amazing power. Instead, he couldn’t manage a single hit with San Francisco, going 0 for 11 with 6 strikeouts. He also made multiple errors, booting the most routine of groundballs. He was so bad.. that he was good.

Jose Vizcaino & Barry Bonds

Starting Rotation

Orel Hershiser

1. Randy Johnson: The Big Unit, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, spent most of his years dominating batters with the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks. However, he finished his career in a San Francisco Giants uniform, going 8-6 in 2009 while winning his 300th career game.

2. Warren Spahn: This 17-time All Star is one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the game and he did wear a Giants uniform. It was 1965, his final year in the big leagues (This is becoming a pattern). Spahn went 3-4 with a 3.39 ERA for San Francisco.

3. Steve Carlton: That’s three Hall of Fame lefties! This 10-time All Star won FOUR CY YOUNGS! In 1986, he wasn’t so fantastic for the Giants, however, going 1-3 with a 5.10 ERA.

4. Orel Hershiser: This all-time Dodgers pitcher ended up in the orange and black for one season in 1998, going 11-10 with a 4.41 ERA. He had an amazing career that I believe is Hall-of-Fame worthy.

5. LaTroy Hawkins: Amazingly, LaTroy Hawkins put together a 21-year career. Although he didn’t make an All Star Teams or win any major awards, that’s still impressive! He went 1-4 for the Giants in 2005.

Bullpen

Goose Gossage

• Rich “Goose” Goosage (Closer): Goose Gossage was one of the most intimidating closers in baseball history, finishing off his career with 310 saves and 9 All Star Selections. Of those 310 saves, just 4 came with San Francisco in 1989, when he made 31 appearances out of the bullpen for the Giants. He ended the year with a respectable 2.68 ERA with San Francisco.

• Dan Quisenberry (Setup): From around 1980 to 1985, Dan Quisenberry was one of the most dominant closers in baseball. He even made the top 5 in Cy Young voting 5 times, including two second place finishes. Unfortunately, his career went downhill after that and he ended up with the Giants during his last big league career, 1990. He was 0-1 with 13.5 ERA.

• Mike Stanton: Mike Stanton had an impressive 19 year career during which time he made a name for himself with the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees. He saved 27 games for the 1993 Braves, a team that ended up winning 104 games to take the West over the Giants, who had won 103. He would go on to play for those Giants during the twighlight of his career in 2006. He had a decent year, going 4-2 with a 3.09 ERA and 8 saves.

• Jamey Wright: Jamey Wright was selected in the first round of the 1993 draft by the Colorado Rockies. He ended up pitching for 19 years in the big leagues as both a starter and reliever. He ended up throwing over 2,000 innings with a 4.81 ERA. He wasn’t too great in 2006 for the Giants, though. He made 34 appearances, starting 21 games and went 6-10 with a 5.19 ERA.

• Juan Berenguer: One of the most memorable relief pitchers of the 80’s was El Gasolino - Juan Berenguer, who could light up the radar gun before a time when nearly every relief pitcher could. He is most remembered as Minnesota Twin, helping them win a World Series in 1987. His time with the Giants came just prior - in 1986, when he was 2-3 with a 2.7 ERA.

Bench

• C A.J. Pierzynski: A.J. found a ton of success during his 19-year career, especially with the Chicago White Sox. He ended up with an impressive .280 career batting average and 180 home runs. However, his time in San Francisco was difficult as he seemed to butt heads with the front office and teammates. Also, fans didn’t appreciate his ability to consistently ground into double plays. Nevertheless, he had a great career and deserves to be on this roster as a San Francisco Giant one-and-done who had a fantastic career.

• 3B David Bell: David Bell had a fantastic 12 year career accumulating 123 home runs. He was a key player on the National League Champion 2002 Giants, hitting .261 with 20 home runs. (Credit: Michael Baucom)

• IF/2B Scooter Gennett: Gennett will always be remembered for one amazing day when he crushed 4 home runs in a single game in 2017, tying an MLB record. He smashed 27 home runs that year in total, but never really maintained such excellence. The Giants picked him up at the trade deadline in 2019, and he hit just .234 before being designated for assignment.

• OF Eric Davis: Many people like forgot that slugger Eric Davis wore a Giants uniform, hitting .205 with 4 bombs in his final big league season. The rest of his career was much more impressive as he hit .269 with 282 home runs and 3 Gold Gloves.

• OF Deion Sanders: Prime Time Deion Sanders was a huge pick up for the Giants in 1995, and he helped put a charge into the team with an RBI double in his debut. He ended up hitting .285 in his only year in the orange and black.

• OF Dusty Baker: It feels strange to put Dusty Baker on a list of one-and-done San Francisco Giants, but as far his playing career goes, that’s exactly what happened. The 2-time All Star and Gold Glover played for the Giants only in 1984, when he hit .292 with 3 homers. He’s certainly remembered more for his time as a Giants manager from 1993 to 2002.

• OF Kenny Lofton: Kenny Lofted had over 2,400 hits in his 17 year career along with 622 Stolen Bases and should’ve been more highly considered for the Hall of Fame in my opinion. He played with the Giants in 2002, hitting .267 but also contributing in the playoffs and World Series.

Honorable Mentions

• SS Jose Vizcaino: The Giants have been very steady at shortstop, with not many great one-and-dones that I could find. However, the always solid Jose Vizcaino, who spent 18 years in the big leagues, played 64 games for the Giants in 2006, his final season.

• C Damon Berryhill: I’ll always remember Damon Berryhill from watching the Chicago Cubs on WGN. He actually had a nice 10-year career mostly as a backup catcher. He also hit a game-winning three-run homer for the Braves in Game 1 of the ‘92 World Series. As a Giant, he hit .257 with 3 homers in his final big league career in 1997.

• RHP Mike Leake: Mike Leake was a Giant for part of 2015, when he came over in exchange for a young Adam Duvall, who would go onto do big things for the Reds and Braves. Leake didn’t do much in 2015, going 2-5 with a decent 4.07 ERA. However, he has had a solid 10 year career, compiling 105 wins and a Gold Glove.

• OF Adam Duvall: This was a young and talented kid with power who the Giants decided to ship off to Cincinnati in 2015 in exchange for Mike Leake, who pitched in San Francisco long enough to also make this roster. Duvall immediately impressed in Cincinnati by crushing 33 bombs in 2016 and being selected to the All Star Team along with an invitation to perform in the Home Run Derby. Just last season in 2021, he drove in over 100 runs and smashed 38 home runs for the Braves and Marlins. He now has 151 home runs - only 3 with the Giants.

10 Free Agents The SF Giants Can Target After The Lockout

At the moment the MLB owners decided to lock out the players and freeze all MLB transactions, the San Francisco Giants hadn’t had the most excited offseason up to that point, but had signed a few significant players for 2022. Both Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood were signed to multi-year deals and in an extremely important and somewhat surprising move, Brandon Belt accepted the qualifying offer and will be back in a Giants uniform in 2022. Another addition to the rotation was also made with the signing of Alex Cobb, who had a fantastic 2021 with the Orioles.

However, there are still some holes to fill as the Giants could still use at least one more solid arm for their rotation and another outfielder to replace the recently released Alex Dickerson. Furthermore, a solid bullpen are or two couldn’t hurt. So let’s take a look at 10 potential free agent targets after the lockout for the San Francisco Giants.

Michael Pineda

While the Giants have already brought back Alex Wood Anthony Desclafani and signed Alex Cobb, they still have a hole in their rotation left by Johnny Cueto. Michael Pineda is an available righty who is also from the Dominican Republic but is 3 years younger than Cueto. In three years with Minnesota, he’s made 51 appearances — 50 starts — and posted a solid 3.85 ERA. In 2019, he was 11-5 with a 4.01 ERA. However, he can be injury prone and was suspended at one point for taking a PED masking agent. Nevertheless, if the price is right, Pineda could be a solid option for the back end of the Giants rotation in 2021.

Yusei Kikuchi

Three years ago, the Giants were extremely high on a pitcher being posted out of Japan. His name was Yusei Kikuchi. He ended up signing with the Seattle Mariners and has improved every year since joining the big leagues. This year Kikuchi made the All Star Team and had a fantastic season although he struggled some in the second half. He has strikeout stuff with a powerful fastball, a cutter, slider and great changeup. The reason this might not be the best match up is because Kikuchi turned down a player option to return to Seattle and is likely seeking a very lucrative multi-year deal. if the Giants are going to spend huge on a starting pitcher, they may look elsewhere, such as…

Clatyon Kershaw

Kershaw is still a top quality starter even with all the mileage on his arm over his 14 year career. He may be a lifelong Dodger, but the Giants have snagged legendary Dodger starting pitchers before, such as the 1988 World Series MVP Orel Hershiser, who pitched in San Francisco in 1998. Kershaw struck out 10.7 batters per 9 innings in 2021 and allowed just 103 hits in over 120 innings of work. He would immediately jump to the top of the Giants rotation along with Logan Webb, creating an unlikely 1-2 punch for the 2022 Giants. It would be weird to see him in a Giants uniform, but also amazing, especially during the crucial rivalry games as both teams battle for the division championship.

Kris Bryant

At this point, I find it unlikely that Bryant returns to San Francisco, but since he is an absolute superstar, extremely versatile, and still a free agent who was last seen in a Giants uniform, he is still some one to keep an eye on. Although there are some reports that the Giants were underwhelmed with his performance, he did hit .471 in the playoffs, going 8 for 17 with a home run. The Giants have every infield position covered, but with Bryant’s versatility, ability to play outfield, and the fact that the Giants infield tends to get injured, this would seem like a logial re-signing. Nevertheless, some tweets by Greg Zumach and Andrew Baggerly seem to doubt he will return in 2022.

Sergio Romo

The Giants bullpen is one area that looks to be a strength going into 2022 with Jarlin Garcia, Camilo Doval, Jake McGee, Tyler Rogers and Jose Alvarez all returning. However, extra depth and options never hurt and old friend Sergio Romo is actually a free agent. Last season with the Oakland A's he had an ERA of 4.67 with 60 strikeouts in 61+ nnings pitched. His slider is still strong and with Romo possibly near the end of his career, the Giants may be willing to give him a one year contract where he could finish his career in San Francisco and bring back one of the few remaining active players who was part of all three World Championships. In fact, with the retirement of Posey, the Giants now have no one left from the 2010 team.

Richard Rodriguez

Perhaps a more likely signing could be Richard Rodriguez, who is only 27 years old and was a solid closer for the Pirates before being traded to the Braves. Rodriguez ended 2021 with a 2.82 ERA and was non-tendered by Atlanta. He was projected to make about $3.1 million in arbitration and could be an affordable asset for the bullpen and could compete with McGee and Doval for closing duties. Even if Doval continues to dominate, Rodriguez would make for a solid setup man. He should be more affordable than other free agent relivers like Kenley Jansen and Brad Hand but still fit right in with the Giants to fortify and add depth to an already quality pen.

Jorge Soler

Now, moving on to the outfielders to target, we start with Jorge Soler, who put on quite a show during the 2021 World Series. Soler has mainly been a DH in his career but it is expected that the new CBA, whenever it finally gets negotiated, will bring the DH to the National League. Soler was struggling early in 2021 but figured out something with his swing later in the year and entered Beast Mode by the playoffs, crushing 3 home runs in the World Series alone. Soler is only 29 years and would fit nicely in the Giants outfielder as a right-handed bat to compliment lefties Yastrzemski and Wade Jr.

3. Nick Castellanos

Another possible right-handed power option is Nick Castellanos, who can also DH should the DH be adopted by the National League. Castellanos had a career year, hitting .309 with 34 bombs and 100 RBI. He had an on-base-percentage of .362, made the All Star Team and won the Silver Slugger Award. The Giants have already been reported as having an interest in signing the 29 year old slugger, but in my opinion, this is quite unlikely and there’s actually a couple outfielders I would rather have as there's a drive into deep left field by Castellanos and that'll be a home run. And so that'll make it a 4-0 ballgame. I don't know if I'm going to be putting on this headset again.

Joc Pederson

Although I’ve said the Giants could use a right-handed power bat in the outfield to compliment the lefty bats, there is one exception and that is Joc Pederson. This is a Bay Area native who would fit in nicely in San Francisco, crushing bombs into McCovey Cove regularly. He is a solid veteran yet only 29 years old and also brings a plethora of playoff experience. Pederson his 36 home runs as recently as 2019 and he is an impact player despite the down year he had in 2021. The Giants need to add a star bat to that outfield as the current names are solid but worrisome. Yastrzemski really struggled, especially in the second half and Austin Slater looks great at times but also slumps often. Darin Ruf is more of a platoon player who can fill in at first base and pinch hit. Wade Jr. was of course amazing and looks to be a star in the making, especially in the clutch, but he doesn’t have the track record of success that Pederson does. Also, just imagine playing the Dodgers in 2022 with Joc Pederson in the lineup and Alex Wood & Clayton Kershaw in the rotation.. okay, that’s a bit weird.

Seiya Suzuki

However, there is one player I prefer over all of the ones this article has mentioned. It is Seiya Suzuki, the powerful outfielder from the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the NPB. Last year, Suzuki hit .319 with 38 home runs to go along with 87 walks and a fantastic .433 on-base-percentage. He will be available for only a short time after the lockout and the Giants should do everything they can to swoop him. His contract is predicted to be somewhere in the 4 years/$40 million range and the Giants can certainly afford him. He is only 27 years old and with a .309 career average in Japan and 189 career home runs and 524 career walks, this guy is a no-brainer. It is well worth the risk to outbid every other team interested such as the Mariners and Rangers and lock Suzuki up as soon as possible. It is true that he has never had an at bat in Major League Baseball and there is a chance his skills don’t translate as well as hoped but based on his analytics and highlights, I find it unlikely that he is a bust. At his age and talent level, this could be the superstar power hitting outfielder the Giants have been looking for since Barry Bonds. Make it happen, Giants!

The Historic And Sometimes Violent Giants/Dodgers Rivalry On Center Stage In The 2021 NLDS

The Los Angeles Dodgers will take on the San Francisco Giants in what could be the most epic playoff battle in postseason history. The rivalry dates back to 1889 when the Dodgers played in Brooklyn while the Giants were at the Polo Grounds in Manhatten.

The two teams were bitter against each other not only because of location but because the Giants fans were upper-class elite. In contrast, the Dodgers fans were often blue-collar and working-class atmosphere.

A personal feud between Dodgers owner Charles Ebbets and Giants manager John McGraw heated the battle, causing incidents on both sides in the early 1900s. Players on either team were involved in on and off-the-field situations, which inflamed fans to despise each other.

Fatal cases have occurred between fans in 1938 and 2003. A Giants fan Mark Antenorcruz was shot and killed in the Los Angeles Dodgers parking lot following a dispute over the teams.

In 2011, Bryan Stow was left handicapped after fighting with Dodgers fans in a Los Angeles parking lot. Stow has shown some improvement but will never be the same.

San Francisco Giants fan, Bryan Stow, who was attacked at Dodger Stadium.

In 2013, Dodgers fan Jonathan Denver was stabbed to death six blocks from Oracle Park. He was found wearing Dodgers gear after a night game. Nobody was charged as it was unknown if the attacker (Michael Montgomery) was using self-defense. Also, there was insufficient evidence to criminally charge Montgomery.

Once, Dodgers manager Joe Torre described how he felt threatened as a fan growing up in Brooklyn and wasn't a fan of the Giants.

"As a kid growing up, you didn't like them," Torre said on WFAN radio in New York before the hiring was announced. "As a player, to me, the Dodgers were the Yankees of the National League because ... you either loved them or you hated them."

The two teams moved after the 1957 season when Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley decided to move to Los Angeles. O'Malley convinced Giants owner Horace Stoneham to do the same to keep the teams embroiled in competition.

The move didn't end the disdain for each other. In 1965, Juan Marichal hit Dodgers catcher John Roseboro in the head with a bat.

The entanglement all started when Marichal buzzed hitter Maury Wills with a pitch. Sandy Koufax retaliated with a fastball over Willie Mays' head. Marichal went after Ron Fairly with an inside fastball that sent him sprawling. Home plate umpire Shag Crawford then issued a warning to both teams.

In response, Roseboro didn't want Marichal to get away with being the last player to retaliate. When Marichal was up in the bottom of the third, an inside pitch from Koufax was dropped by Roseboro. He got behind Marichal to pick the ball up and threw it hard behind Marichal's ear and close to his face.

Marichal then turned to Roseboro as expletives were exchanged. As Roseboro stepped toward Marichal, who raised his bat and slammed it into Roseboro's head. Marichal explained what transpired and why he hit Roseboro in the head.

Roseboro-Marichal Incident

"I was afraid he was going to hit me with his mask, so I hit him with my bat," Marichal said in an apology issued the next day.

Each team's bench cleared, and fights ensued. In the end, Marichal was ejected and suspended for eight games. He missed ten in total due to double-headers and was fined $1,750 ($15,00 today). Roseboro left the game to get stitched up (14 stitches) and miss the next two contests.

In 2014, Madison Bumgarner and Yasiel Puig got in an exchange after Puig flipped his bat when he hit a home run off Bumgarner. Then, Max Muncy hit a homer off Bumgarner that landed in McCovey Cove. Muncy watched it fly off the bat, and Bumgarner yelled insults. Muncy retorted: "If you don't like it, you can go get it out of the ocean!".

Iconic players have retired instead of continuing to play baseball on the other team. Jackie Robinson retired after being traded in 1956 to the Giants. Willie Mays refused to sign with the Dodgers after the 1972 season and was traded to the Mets.

As for the team series and its, 131 year history will be the first time the Giants and Dodgers meet in the postseason. The overall head-to-head battle while in New York lent itself to the Giants 721-670-17 throughout 68-years. However, the tables have turned since the move to California. The Dodgers have a 675-647 lead. Since 2010, the series has been very close as the Giants have a 109-106 victory edge. This season, San Francisco leads 10-9 in games played.

There have many playoff races decided by the fortunate or misfortunate events by either team. In 1951, Bobby Thompson hit the pennant-winning home run off Ralph Branca in the 'Shot Heard Round the World'.

In 1982, Joe Morgan hit a three-run homer knocking out the Dodgers from playoff contention after eliminating the Giants just a few games prior.

Los Angeles returned the favor when Mike Piazza and crew destroyed San Francisco 12-1 on the season's final day. The loss allowed the Braves to enter the playoffs and eliminated the 103-win Giants.

In 2001, San Francisco finished two games behind Arizona even though Barry Bonds hit 73 home runs. This is mainly due to Los Angeles taking two of three games against the Giants in the season's final series.

Looking at both teams heading into the playoffs, more than wins and losses barely keep these teams apart. For instance, the graph below demonstrates how close they are, courtesy of MLB.com.

The first game between these two historic teams begins on Friday at Oracle Park at 6:37 p.m. Game 2 will start at 6:07 p.m. on Saturday. Monday, the series will resume in Los Angeles.

Logan Webb will receive the start, while Kevin Gausman will start in the second game. Walker Buehler will battle Webb and face the Giants for the seventh time this season.

SF Giants Maintain Lead in The West - WEEK IN REVIEW

Overall, the San Francisco Giants did just above average in their seven-game homestand. San Francisco won just four of those contests. They split against the Padres after taking the first two and beating the Braves in three matchups. It is disappointing for a team in a heated battle for the top spot in the NL West and a 49-26 record at home.  

Another game and another blowout victory for the Giants. This one also came with a clinch of a playoff spot as the Giants won 9-1 over the San Diego Padres. Brandon Belt got into the celebration and remembered exactly how it felt from five years ago.

"I forgot how much this burns to get in your eyes, but it burns so good,'' a beaming Belt said. "We absolutely love it.''

San Francisco became the first team to clinch a playoff opportunity. They did so by hitting four home runs on their way for an eighth consecutive victory. Tommy La Stella homered, and Evan Longoria hit a three-run shot off of Yu Darvish. Mike Yastrzemski added to the barrage of dingers, as did Belt.

This season has been a surprise, as many experts predicted, a third or fourth-place finish. The team came together as the final out was recorded and took to a celebration inside the dugout.

"Just like most years that we won it or went to the playoffs, I don't think most people believed that we'd be in this position,'' Belt said. "It's pretty satisfying to get back here after a while of not being very good. People just kept stepping up.''

Game two should go to the play of Buster Posey and the pitching of Anthony DeSclafani. Posey hit a homer run in the first, which was his 18th on the season. The last time he had 18 or more was in 2015, when he hit 19. The most were 24 in 2012. Posey also beat out an infield single and scored the go-ahead run on an error at third.

DeSclafani won for the first time in five starts when he defeated the Colorado Rockies on August 13th. He pitched 6.2 innings allowing just one earned run and striking out three. The Giants now have won nine straight, and it's their most since they won ten in 2004.

Belt and Darin Ruf got into the action as they hit run-scoring doubles while La Stella added an RBI. The Giants have scored at least six runs in nine straight contests – most in San Francisco history going back to 1958.

In-game three, the Giants couldn't continue their winning streak in a bullpen session. To make matters worse, the loss allowed the Dodgers to gain a game in the standings. Los Angeles is now just 1.5 games back of San Francisco. Fernando Tatis got into the action with four hits. Jurickson Profar hit a homer to end the Padres five-game losing streak. However, the Giants continued to score six or more runs.

The Giants hit four solo home runs, which limited their output. Thairo Estrada, Kris Bryant, Steven Duggar, and Belt all put one in the bleachers. Longoria got his 45th RBI with a double, and Posey singled in Belt in the ninth.

"We kept fighting till the very end; that's all you can ask for," Belt said.

It was a chance to add a half-game lead on the Dodgers in game four, but ultimately, it was a second consecutive loss for the Giants. San Francisco dropped the half-game and led by just one game.

Fernando Tatis Jr. went deep for his 39th home run, and San Diego split the series with the Giants. The victory moves the Padres closer to the Wild Card spot behind the Cardinals. Longoria homered for the Giants, but Kevin Gausman lost for the first time since July 30th. Gausman allowed four earned runs on eight hits. San Francisco scored their first run when Bryant scored on a wild pitch from third. Wade doubled home La Stella in the seventh, the Longoria hit his homer in the eighth. Wade would score the final run on a wild pitch in the ninth.

San Francisco still has six games with the Padres and will battle the Braves for a three-game set at home starting on the 17th. Logan Webb (10-3) will face Ian Anderson (7-5) to kick off the series.

Orange Friday was an exciting contest, but it should never have been. The Giants led 4-2 when Rodgers took the mound to earn the save. With one out and two men on, Travis D'Arnaud hit his seventh homer, putting Atlanta up 5-4.

However, Donovan Solano, with two outs, tied the game with his pinch-hit homer and added to the three homers on the night for the Giants. Crawford, Belt, and Wade all joined in the barrage of home runs. In the bottom of the 11th, with the game still tied, the night got more exciting.

Crawford went to third on a pickoff error, Longoria then was intentionally walked, and Solano was also walked after Duggar flew out to left. With the bases loaded and no pinch hitters available, Gusman was sent up to bat. On a 3-2 account, Gausman hit a sacrifice fly to right and brought Crawford for the game-winning run.

"Oh man, that was the coolest thing I've ever done in my entire career," Gausman said. "When it was 3-2, and everybody stood up, it was probably one of the coolest moments of my life. ... Just crazy." He went on to say. "More than anything, I was trying to not look ridiculous, just take good swings, swing at strikes."

Webb had another excellent outing by striking out nine and not walking a batter. He only allowed two runs on six hits.

Game two was a complete shutdown by the Giants. Alex Wood was dominant in his limited outing coming off an injury. Pitching only three innings and 59 total pitches, Wood struck out four and did not allow a run. He also didn't walk any batters. The bullpen did the rest as San Francisco won 2-0 to keep their two-game lead on the Dodgers.

Backup catcher Curt Casali drove in both runs in the fourth inning. His single to right field brought in Wade and Crawford. Dominic Leone was called upon to shut the door, and he did by earning his second save while Zack Littell earned his fourth victory.

Atlanta returned the favor in the final game between the two teams and shut out the Giants 3-0. Braves left fielder Eddie Rosario hit for the cycle, and pitcher Max Fried pitched seven innings for the victory.

To make matters worse, former Giants reliever Will Smith got the save, and San Francisco lost a game on the Dodgers as they beat the Reds 8-5. The Giants now lead Los Angeles by just one game going into the week and only 12 games left in the season.

DeSclafani pitched well in his six complete innings. He only allowed two earned runs and struck out six while walking none. All of DeSclafani's runs came on a two-run homer by Eddie Rosario. Littell gave up the other run on a home run by Adam Duvall.

The Giants have Monday off and then travel to San Diego to take on the Padres for three games. They will then travel to Colorado for another three games against the Rockies.

Transactions:

Per ESPN

September 18, 2021       

Reinstated LHP Alex Wood from the IL. Optioned LHP Sammy Long to Sacramento (Triple-A West). Designated C Chadwick Tromp for assignment.

September 17, 2021       

Recalled RHP Jay Jackson from Sacramento (Triple-A West). Reinstated INF Donovan Solano from the 10-day IL. Placed LHP Jake McGee on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Sept. 14. Optioned INF/OF Thairo Estrada to Sacramento.

September 16, 2021       

Recalled LHP Sammy Long from Sacramento (Triple-A West). Optioned RHP Jay Jackson to Sacramento.

September 13, 2021       

Optioned SS Mauricio Dubon to Sacramento (Triple-A West). Reinstated LHP Jose Quintana from the paternity list.

Mike is an avid San Francisco Giants fan since the late 1970s. In his first game, he saw live Jack Clark hit a home run. He has seen the Giants lose 100 games and also win three World Series rings. Great/Unfortunate memories have been watching Joe Morgan hit a homer to knock the Dodgers out of the playoffs. Seeing the Giants win 104 games and still not make the playoffs. Most painfully watch the Giants lose a 5-0 lead to the Angels in the seventh inning in Game 6. However, he saw Barry Bonds hit his 73rd and become the greatest hitter of all time.

Follow me @RFLRedZone.

SF Giants SWEEP Road Trip - Clinch Playoff Berth in San Francisco!!

After the Giants faced the top three teams in the National League (Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers), they traveled to Denver to play the Colorado Rockies (63-75). San Francisco then traveled to Chicago to battle the Cubs (64-76).

In game one against the Rockies, the Giants could have had a letdown after a tough series against the Dodgers. Still, on the game's third pitch, Darin Ruf hit a home run to put San Francisco up 1-0. After a Kris Bryant strikeout, Buster Posey put the Giants up 2-0 with his 17th homer of the season.

The runs kept coming, and so did the homers (4). San Francisco put a considerable number of runs (10) on the scoreboard. Thairo Estrada jacked two of his own as both went to the left field bleachers. Kevin Gausman pitched seven strong innings by striking out nine and allowing just three runs for his 13th victory of the season, keeping the Giants in first place.

"This group came ready to play today. Late flight last night, get in at 1:30 in the morning," manager Gabe Kapler said. "The whole crew has a very, very quick turnaround and tired eyes this morning. These guys got ramped up well, got prepared and ready to hit, obviously, from the first pitch."

In game two, the Giants went bigger. San Francisco scored 12 runs, and that is plenty for Logan Webb. Webb pitched seven innings allowing three earned runs and striking out six. It was Webb's ninth victory of the season compared to only three defeats. He had 13 straight starts of only allowing two runs or fewer. Webb mentioned his start:

"I was trying to stay away from the big inning and really not walk anybody," Webb said. "Because when you start walking these guys and give them free bases, that's when you get in trouble. Luckily, I was able to execute that. I kind of went with the game plan, and it worked out."

Interestingly, even though the Giants scored 12 runs, they only hit one home run. Mike Yastrzemski hit a solo shot, his 22nd of the year. He would join Steven Duggar in driving in three total runs. Those also getting RBI were Evan Longoria, Posey, Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt, Tommy La Stella, and even Webb got into the action with a double to left field.

The Giants have an NL league-leading 207 home runs; the former highest was 235 in 2001.

Game three was much closer. However, Wade and Longoria contributed two RBI in the ninth. The crucial hits put the Giants in the winning seat after either being tied or down the entire game. Anthony DeSclafani was dominant for four innings but struggled in the fifth. Elias Diaz led off with a double, and pitcher Jon Gray drove him in with a single. After both Raimel Tapia and Brendan Rodgers singled, DeSclafani left the game with the bases loaded. Jarlin Garcia was asked to get the Giants out of the jam.

He got Charlie Blackmon to ground into a fielder's choice, but he drove in another run. Then, Trevor Story doubled, and he scored Tapia. The threat ended when Garcia struck out Ryan McMahon. San Francisco bounced right back at the top of the sixth.

Belt led off with a single, and Wade followed with a single, bringing up Crawford. Crawford hit a home run to left field on the first pitch that barely got over the wall tying the game. Unfortunately, Diaz led off the bottom of the inning with a home run of his own off of Zack Littell to put the Rockies back up 4-3.

It was the top of the ninth that made all the difference for the Giants. Posey walked to lead off the inning, Estrada singled, moving pinch-runner Mauricio Dubon to second. Belt reached safely on a single infield, loading the bases with no outs bringing up late-game hero Lamonte Wade.

Wade would single and drive in both Dubon and Estrada and once again come through for the Giants. Longoria would double with two outs scoring in both Belt and Wade while extending the lead by three runs (7-4). Crawford talked about Wade's big hit.

"He's had so many big hits for us this year," Crawford said of Wade. "Down to our last strike a couple of times and then so many tiebreaker, go-ahead base hits for us. He's been a huge for us."

Jake McGee would close out the game and earn his 30th save on the season, and Tyler Rodgers would earn the victory his sixth. The Giants became the first team to win 90 games and sweep the Rockies in Colorado with the victory.

After sweeping the Rockies, San Francisco traveled to Ohio and took on the Chicago Cubs. The three-game set began on September 12th.

Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the fourth in the first game, but the Giants responded with six total runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth. San Francisco got on the board when Wade drove in Belt on a single. At the top of the seventh, Longoria hit his 11th and drove in Crawford for their first game lead. Belt with two outs would duplicate Longoria and go deep with a two-run home run of his own, and putting up the Giants 5-1.

Longoria would drive in his third RBI when he hit a sacrifice fly to right field and scoring Bryant. Jay Jackson would come into the ninth and close the door. Overall, San Francisco pitched well in a bullpen game. Eight pitchers entered the game, and Camilo Doval came away with the victory.

In game two, the Giants blasted the Cubs 15-4. Both La Stella and Belt hit three-run home runs. La Stella was laser-focused as he had three hits, including a double and five RBI, while scoring three times. The big innings for San Francisco came in the second and fifth, where they scored 11 total runs.

"I just want to make sure I'm getting something in the zone," La Stella said. "I think I was little more focused on that today."

Belt continued to hit the ball well. On top of his home run, he doubled for the second straight game and has hit 23 homers, including 12 in his last 28 contests. He also has 10 hits in his previous 21 plate appearances. Longoria added to the mix with three RBI, and Yastrzemski drove in two runs.

Kevin Gausman had another solid outing. He allowed just three runs on eight hits and struck out nine. Gausman now has 200 strikeouts on the season and won his fifth straight outing.

"I knew I was getting close," Gausman said. "Obviously a cool think to accomplish. something I've been trying to do for a long time." He also mentioned the success of the Giants. "We believe we're the best team in baseball right now, and we're a dangerous team."

Caleb Baragar came in and pitched three strong innings. After giving up two earned runs on a home run after being called back up from Sacramento, it was a good sign. He earned a save in his appearance, which was second.

In the third game, it was a much closer situation. After scoring 21 runs in two games against Chicago, the Giants were battling for most of the contest. In the end, San Francisco went on to win for their seventh straight victory.

Wilmer Flores flew out to Chicago for just one game before returning to San Francisco, and he made it count. Flores hit a home run and drove in three runs. He has been dealing with a strained left hamstring since September 1st.

"We're on a run here. Any little thing counts. I always want to play. If I have to fly in for one game, I'll do it again."

Flores matched his career-high 18th home run, and Logan Webb (10-3) won his matchup for his seventh straight. However, it wasn't his best outing. Webb allowed four earned runs in six innings while striking out five. Both Rodgers and Tony Watson earned holds, and McGee got his 31st save on the season.

As for Bryant's return to Chicago, he went for 4 for 12 with five runs. He just needs to stay away from colliding with Austin Slater in the outfield. However, manager Gabe Kapler said it was more due to the lack of communication from Slater.

"We definitely have to tighten up our communication," Kapler said. "That play didn't stop us from winning the game, but it may have stopped us from being at our best throughout that game."

The Giants are back home in a four-game set with the San Diego Padres and a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves before hitting the road again.

Edit: The San Francisco Giants won Game 1 of the series versus San Diego, officially clinching a playoff spot for 2021. This series will be recapped in further detail in next week’s Week in Review Article.

Transactions:

Per ESPN

September 12, 2021

Reinstated OF Austin Slater from the 7-day IL and 2B Wilmer Flores from the 10-day IL. Optioned RHP John Brebbia and LHP Caleb Baragar to Sacramento (Triple-A West).

September 11, 2021

Sent 2B Donovan Solano to Sacramento (Triple-A West) on a rehab assignment. Sent RHP Jake Jewell outright to Sacramento.

September 10, 2021

Placed LHP Jose Quintana on the paternity list. Recalled RHP Jay Jackson from Sacramento (Triple-A West).

September 7, 2021

Claimed RHP Jake Jewell off waivers from Los Angeles Dodgers and optioned him to Sacramento (Triple-A West).

September 6, 2021 Recalled RHP Kevin Castro from Sacramento (Triple-A West). Optioned RHP Jay Jackson to Sacramento.

SF Giants RECLAIM First Place - WEEK IN REVIEW

It was an ugly start for the San Francisco Giants this week. However, they made it all the sweeter when they reclaimed first place by Sunday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Giants arrived back in San Francisco after they lost two of three against Atlanta. The change of scenery didn't make much of a difference against the Milwaukee Brewers. A four-game series turned into three losses.

Corbin Burnes owned the San Francisco hitters in-game one with nine strikeouts, and just one earned run through six innings. Jose Alvarez got the start and allowed two runs in 1.2 innings, all earned. The Giants used seven pitchers, and their only RBI was a single by Brandon Crawford, which plated Brandon Belt.

Game two was worse as the Brewers scored six runs in just four innings. Johnny Cueto allowed ten hits, six earned runs, and walked two in 3.2 innings. In the sixth, Belt would get the Giants on the board with his 20th home run, and then Wilmer Flores would homer in the ninth. However, Brandon Woodruff went six solid innings and struck out while only giving up the one run to Belt's dinger.

Game three was devastating in multiple ways. First, the loss as the Brewers hammered the Giants for the third straight game (5-2). The Giants also matched their longest losing streak of the season while also losing control of first place. The team was on top of the NL West for a San Francisco-era best 108 days. They took control of first on May 30.

Gabe Kapler mentioned about the Giants losing control:

"We just have to try to go after it and get back into that position," San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler said.

Kevin Gausman gave the Giants a strong outing. He struck out seven over five innings and allowing two earned runs in the second inning. When Lorenzo Cain hit a one-out single with the bases loaded, scoring Avisail Garcia and Omar Narvaez. San Francisco tied the game in the fifth when Kris Bryant doubled to score Alex Dickerson. After an intentional walk to Belt, Buster Posey singled to right field, scoring Bryant. Unfortunately, the Giants would go on to lose the contest and continue their losing streak. Posey commented on the losing four in a row.

 "Any time you have a little losing streak, it's not fun," Posey said. "This group's shown an ability to bounce back throughout the year, and that's just what you have to believe you're going to do."

Game four gave the Giants a chance to bounce back and tie the Dodgers for first place as Los Angeles had the day off. It was precisely what San Francisco did, winning 5-1 with great pitching from their Ace Logan Webb.

Webb was magical, throwing seven complete innings and striking out ten while allowing just one earned run. Tyler Rodgers (5-1) got the victory as Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Eric Lauer was also dominant by allowing just one earned run in seven innings.

It was in the eighth inning that San Francisco took control against reliever Devin Williams. Second baseman Thairo Estrada hit a three-run homer after Darin Ruf doubled to left field, scoring Bryant. The four-run eight gave the Giants all the runs they needed, and Jake McGee came on to close out the ninth in a non-save appearance.

Devin Williams

Giants manager Gabe Kapler commented on the critical victory leading into the crucial three-game home series against the Dodgers.

"I think it was a much-needed victory for us," Kapler said. "It's a good boost of confidence going into the next series, but obviously, all of our attention and focus was on today's game."

Game one against the Los Angeles Dodgers was a wild one. In the third, the Giants took the lead when Austin Slater singled to left field and scored pitcher Anthony DeSclafani. The 1-0 lead remained until the top of the ninth when Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor singled to center field, scoring Josh Turner. The game remained tied after the ninth, and the contest went into extra innings.

Los Angeles scored first in the tenth as Trea Turner hit a sacrifice fly to center, which plated Walker Buehler. Crawford would tie the game in the bottom of the tenth when he hit a single to center field and scoring Posey. Crawford would come up big again in the top of the 11th. After a Corey Seager single putting runners on first and third. Will Smith hit a ground ball to Crawford, and he threw out Josh Turner at home. Jarlin Garcia would strike out the next two batters.

In the bottom of the 11th, after Ruf struck out and Belt intentionally walked, Bryant earned a seven-pitch walk and loading the bases. Dickerson then grounded out into a fielder's choice, and Mike Yastrzemski was thrown out at home. With two outs and the bases still loaded, Posey grounded the ball to second baseman Trea Turner. Still, Turner threw an errant ball to first base, pulling Smith off the bag and allowing Posey to reach safely, leading the Giants to victory.

DeSclafani was impressive as he allowed no runs through six innings pitched. McGee received the blown save (5), while Garcia got his sixth victory on the season.

The second game against Los Angeles was not nearly as close. The Giants turned to the bullpen to start the game, and from the start, Jay Jackson gave up three runs. San Francisco would use seven more pitchers in the 6-1 defeat.

Posey did drive in a run for his 43rd RBI. Still, Julio Urias was dominating for 5.2 innings allowing eight hits and striking out eight. The victory allowed a two-way tie for first place in the NL division with a rubber match on the line in game three.

The last game of the series would begin with another bullpen session for the Giants. Dominic Leone would start and face Cy Young contender Walker Buehler. Leone would only pitch the first inning, and the Giants would take advantage of an off-day from Buehler, and he admitted it after the game.

"The worst I've thrown in a long time," Buehler said.

In the first, Belt would homer for his 21st of the season. In the second, San Francisco would retake the lead after the Dodgers scored in the second. This time Steven Duggar would triple to right field and score Crawford and Yastrzemski. Ruf would hit a pinch-hit single and driving in Duggar, giving the Giants a 4-1 lead.

In the third, San Francisco would extend their three-run lead. Crawford doubled to right field, scoring LaMonte Wade. Then Curt Casali singled to left field, scoring Crawford giving San Francisco a 6-1 lead. It would remain until the ninth inning.

Steven Duggar reacts after hitting a triple Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers

McGee would take the mound, and Kris Bryant's untimely error allowed Austin Barnes to reach first safely. Albert Pujols would bat for Andrew Vasquez. Pujols would hit a home run to center field and pulling the Dodgers within two runs. It would be the last run allowed by the Giants.

McGee would get Trea Turner to pop out. Still, after Max Muncy got a lazy single that made it through the infield, Mookie Betts would strike out looking, and Justin Turner popped out to left-field for the final out.

Kapler talked about the back-to-back days of only bullpen pitching:

"Back-to-back bullpen days are tough," Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. "That's no secret. Sort of a hallmark of this team is being able to handle challenging situations and being good at handling challenging situations."

The Giants also avoided a three straight series defeat this season. Belt mentioned the pressure during the game.

"It really felt like a playoff atmosphere out there," Belt said, "... It's crunch time."

Transactions:

Per ESPN

September 5, 2021

Optioned LHP Sammy Long to Sacramento (Triple-A West). Placed CF Austin Slater on the 7-day IL. Recalled RHP Camilo Doval and CF Steven Duggar from Sacramento.

September 4, 2021          

Recalled IF/OF Mauricio Dubón from Sacramento (Triple-A West). Placed OF Alex Dickerson on the 10-day IL.

September 3, 2021          

Reinstated INF Evan Longoria from the 10-day IL. Optioned INF/OF Mauricio Dubon to Sacramento (Triple-A West).

September 2, 2021          

Placed 2B Wilmer Flores on the 10-day IL Recalled SS Maurico Dubon from Sacramento (Triple-A West).

August 31, 2021               

Announced 3B coach Ron Wotus stepping away from full-time coaching at the conclusion of the 2021 season. Added LHP Jose Quintana to the active roster. Reinstated RHP Johnny Cueto from the 10-day IL. Optioned RHP John Brebbia and INF Jason Vosler to Sacramento (Triple-A West).

August 30, 2021               

Placed RHP Johnny Cueto on the 10-day IL. Recalled LHP Caleb Baragar, RHP John Brebbia and INF/OF Thairo Estrada from Sacramento (Triple-A West).

Mike is an avid San Francisco Giants fan since the late 1970s. In his first game, he saw live Jack Clark hit a home run. He has seen the Giants lose 100 games and also win three World Series rings. Great/Unfortunate memories have been watching Joe Morgan hit a homer to knock the Dodgers out of the playoffs. Seeing the Giants win 104 games and still not make the playoffs. Most painfully watch the Giants lose a 5-0 lead to the Angels in the seventh inning in Game 6. However, he saw Barry Bonds hit his 73rd and become the greatest hitter of all time.

Follow me @RFLRedZone.