The available games, dates and number of tickets will be shown at the end of the blog before the rules. Remember when you email me back to identify the game, the date, and the number of tickets you want. Please whitelist my email so you get the blog posts and ticket offers all season long.
It’s Been a Traumatic Off-Season for the G-Men
A lot has happened since the G-Men closed out 2023 on a whimper. The last of the veterans from the world series winning Giants stepped through the cornfield in center field and landed elsewhere. Brandon Crawford was shipped out (reportedly not happy) and replaced by another senior shortstop – Nick Ahmed from the Snakes. This follows Belt being shipped out the year before. The only veteran from those glory years with the team now is Pablo Sandoval, signed as a DH during spring training. Go figure that the Panda would be the last man standing.
There has been some tone-deafness to the moves made by Giants management. Renel, the original PA announcer for the G-Men who has been the voice of the Giants since the ballpark opened 24 years ago, is gone because of a contract dispute. Really? Then JD Davis was let go after winning his arbitration when the Giants signed Matt Chapman to play 3rd base; the result was Davis losing his salary deal because of the timing. On the one hand you could say “that’s baseball and like life is unfair” and on the other management and ownership could have been more sensitive. Maybe Charles Johnson or Farhan (or both) spent too much time with George Steinbrenner.
Regardless, the other off-season moves have been dynamite and bode well for the G-Men to be competitive in the National League West, starting with the signing of Jorge Solar (a HR hitting machine) as DH, Jung Hoo Lee, a 25 year old from the Korean leagues who tore up his league (and is hitting .414 in spring training) for the outfield, Matt Chapman, a stud 3rd baseman that came up with the A’s and Blake Snell, who won the NL Cy Young award last year to pitch behind our ace, Logan Webb.
On the management side of the equation, signing Bob Melvin (from the A’s by way of the Padres) as the Manager brings a good baseball look to the new coaching staff (including Giant for life Matt Williams as 3rd base coach). The word is that the club is already looser and more traditional than they were in the Gabe Kapler “analytics is the name of the game” era. We will see as the season progresses but I, for one, am looking forward to a guy who is hitting well not being replaced for a pinch hitter in the late innings because of an opposing pitcher change.
How do the 2024 Giants Look?
Starting Pitchers: Webb, Snell, Cobb, Hicks, Harrison, and Winn. The battle here continues. Webb and Snell are set, Cobb has been hurt, Hicks and Harrison are question marks and one of them will go down when Robbie Ray (also signed in the off-season) gets off the DL early this summer. There is a lot of youth here and Melvin’s patience is likely to be tested early, especially against the big bopping teams like LA and San Diego (both teams which the G-Men see early in the season before the home opener in San Francisco). We will know a lot more about our starting pitching in about 2 weeks.
Relief Pitchers: you know this group from last year. The Rogers Brothers, followed by Camilo Doval at the end of every game, with Beck, Walker, Hjelle and Jackson in long relief. Expect to see the long relievers also pick up starts. It’s too early to tell about long relief but we should feel confident in the late innings of games where the G-Men are ahead.
Catchers: I wish we had seen more from Patrick Bailey during spring training because he sure finished hot last season and, as a result, has been put at the top of the catching depth chart by consensus. Behind him is Tom Murphy, an experienced catcher for the Rockies and Seattle, with a strong arm, good bat, and a career .244 BA. Behind him is Blake Sobel (an all-around player) but the real question mark is Joey Bart, who was just sent to the River Cats, but was batting over .400 in the spring and looks good. Will Bart continue to perform and drive a trade or be ready if Bailey falters? Watch this corner.
Infield: First base will likely be a platoon of Late Night Lamont Wade and Flores (expect to hear the “Friends” theme regularly), both good defenders, dependable bats and known quantities. Second base will be a contest between Estrada and Luciano (improving all the time) with the edge to Estrada. Behind them on the depth chart is Fitzgerald, who is young and hungry and is backing up the infield and half the outfield. Third base belongs to Matt Chapman with Flores and Fitzgerald as backups. In the unlikely event that the Panda makes the team he is listed at 3rd. Shortstop belongs to Ahmed, who showed both a glove and a bat during the spring (which is why Casey Schmitt got sent down to Sacramento). Too bad. We all loved Casey’s defense and when we saw him in Scottsdale for spring training, he was nails. If anyone falters, he will be back.
Outfield: Here is where it gets interesting. The new guy (Lee) is slated for center field with Yaz and Slater right behind him and Matos in the wings. Right field is Yaz, Conforto and Solar (who will be the DH). Left field is Conforto and Slater. As is clear from this unclear description, expect Melvin to mix and match outfielders depending on the opposition and the pitching matchups. Conforto, Yaz and Lee will probably get the most starts as Slater is still not completely healthy. The player to watch (if he makes the team – and he should) is Matos. He has been hot in spring training and is ready.
Coming up next, the A’s Pre-Season Game on March 26th and the Opening Home Series Against the Padres and the Nationals. It is too early in the season to handicap the opponents. Rather, watch the first away series against the Padres and the Dodgers, see how the new look Giants perform and then come out and enjoy the rites of spring (and a Giants dog) at Pac Bell (I meant Oracle) park!
On the board ready to be picked up are:
TUES 3/26 – A’s Pre-season [5:05] – 4
SAT 4/6 – Padres [6:05] – 4 – Camillo Dovel Bobblehead
MON 4/8 – Nationals [6:45] – 4
TUES 4/9 - Nationals [6:45] – 3 [I’m going]
WED 4/10 – Nationals [12:45] – 4
Let the torture continue!
Ciao, and GO GIANTS!
The Czar
We use mail chimp so give permission for the blog to arrive in your mailbox if you want to receive the blog and participate in the fun. Past blogs can be found at www.beveragelaw.com at the Czar’s blog archive.
THE PROTOCOL: The firm has four seats in Section 118 (Premium Lower Boxes), Rows 25 and 26. These are awesome seats directly below the press box and 25 rows behind home plate on the left side behind the screen. It is foul ball territory for left-handed batters so bring your glove – I have collected 22 foul balls myself over 23 years and am looking for more. If we don’t use all the tickets ourselves (or clients and friends of the firm don't claim them by calling me and reserving a game), then my next step is to give the tickets TO THE FIRST PERSON WHO GETS BACK TO ME PROVIDED THAT THEY ARE SERIOUS. If you ask for the tickets and don't use them, you will be taken off the list unless there is a seriously good reason. There will be a wait list.
When there are four seats available (we split up a lot of games) we will allocate the tickets two and two if the first people back just want two tickets. You can also go for four and might get them. I'm the Czar, my call.
Oh, and BTW, The Czar found the original Hinman & Carmichael brick from 2000 (after looking for it every year since 2000) and found H&C’s Gotham Club Founders Bat! If you are on the patio, or in the Club, look for the symbols of baseball!
