NFL
By: Nicholas Mukhar
Who are the San Francisco Giants? Seriously, who are they? They’re certainly not the dynastic Giants of a decade past who won three World Series titles from 2010- 2014. They’re not the Giants that were known for their pitching and defense formula to winning, ranking in the bottom third of the league in 2022 in overall defense. They’re not even the Giants of 2021, who set a franchise record for regular season wins with 107. These Giants have no single star. Instead, they’re depending on depth, an outfield platoon and solid starting pitching to keep them competitive in 2023.
The Giants finished Spring Training right around .500 (14-15), which is what many experts expect out of the club this season. But Gabe Kapler’s crew has a chance to write their own narrative and surprise critics right off the bat, as the Giants take on several elite MLB squads to start the year. Translation? We won’t have to wait long to determine if the 2023 Giants are contenders or pretenders.
Five of the Giants’ nine April opponents rank in the top 10 of clubs with the best odds to win the World Series this year. The first of those clubs on San Francisco’s schedule? The New York Yankees and superstar outfielder Aaron Judge; who the Giants aggressively pursued during free agency only to see him resign with New York. The Yankees won the three-game series against the Giants to open the season, exposing San Francisco’s lineup and shutting them out twice in a three-game series in the Bronx en route to taking two out of three games. Judge homered twice in the series, including in his first at-bat of the season.
San Francisco switches off-season strategy
The failed pursuit of the Yankees slugger came during a free agent signing period that the Giants began by searching for a face-of-the-franchise, cornerstone player and ended with building a roster with depth and versatility rather than superstar power. After missing out on signing Judge San Francisco turned its attention to Minnesota Twins star shortstop Carlos Correa, nearly signing Correa to a monster 13-year, $350 million contract before injury concerns during his physical with the Giants killed the deal. Correa resigned with the Twins. Then Giants General Manager Farhan Zaidi- known for finding affordable journeymen and veterans and putting together winning squads – went to work.
Giants off-season signings
- Right-Fielder Michael Conforto: Two-year contract
- Right-Fielder Mitch Haniger: Three-year contract
- Center-fielder Brett Wisely: Acquired via trade from the Tampa Bay Rays
- Left-Fielder Blake Sabol: Acquired via trade from the Cincinnati Reds
- Starting Pitcher Sean Manaea: Two-year contract
- Starting Pitcher Ross Stripling: Two-year contract
- Relief Pitcher Luke Jackson: Two-year contract
- Catcher Don Nunez: Acquired off waivers from the Colorado Rockies
The Giants biggest off-season loss was first baseman Brandon Belt who signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. The longtime Giant played a pivotal role in two out of three San Francisco championships (2012 and 2014). To offset that blow the Giants resigned a flurry of versatile pieces of a 2022 squad that finished the year strong: Thairo Estrada, Lamont Wade, J.D. Davis, and Austin Slater to name a few. They also resigned key members of their pitch staff including Logan Webb, Jake Junis, and John Brebbia.
The Giants were adding to that depth right up until Opening Day, trading for veteran Kansas City Outfielder Matt Beaty in exchange for cash on the eve before the season began. The Giants are looking at Beaty as a platoon outfielder and another much-needed left-handed-hitting option at the bottom of the lineup.
Did San Francisco do enough this off-season to compete?
The key for San Francisco will be taking advantage against lesser teams in between their juggernaut April schedule and Giants Manager Gabe Kapler’s mixing and matching his lineups to keep hot hitters on the field. So far Kapler has trotted out three different lineups in the first three games of the season.
If the series against the Yankees is any indication, the Giants will have their hands full during the first month of the season against the likes of the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals.
That makes pouncing on the softer part of their April schedule all the more critical. They can’t afford any offensive droughts against the likes of the Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers, or Miami Marlins. And they certainly can’t waste any more strong starting pitching performances, as they did when losing 5-0 to New York while Logan Webb struck out 12 Yankees.
The ultimate wild card for all Major League Clubs this year is the pitch clock, which comes with a host of other rules intended to speed up the game and create more offense. These rules could help the Giants – whose team’s strengths are starting pitching and more speed than a year ago – level the playing field and remain competitive in 2023. Make sure you show who you cheer for with the latest Giants gear.
