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Lack of Hitting, Lack of a Star Player, and Wearing Out the Rooks.
The last few series have been emblematic of the season. The Giants have not hit well, the defense has been spotty (including mental lapses against the Rockies, and meltdowns by Camillo, our All-Star closer) and the team looks tired. Perhaps the most glaring issue is that the Giants lack an impact player, and it shows.
The rookies (Bailey, Schmitt, Matos, Sobel, Luciano, Ramos, Meckler, Harrison, and as of last night, Fitzgerald) are starting well and showing off why they were promoted, but the league is figuring them out quickly and bringing their batting averages down to earth. Now, with 10 games left and a waning chance of making the playoffs, most are playing tired and making stupid mistakes.
They are still fun to watch but lowered expectations are in order.
Heading into the Off-Season – Will Farhan and the Brain Trust Get it Together for 2024?
One thing this season has given us is a good look at the future. The farm system has been better than expected and the rookies that have come up have proven that point. Regardless, and I repeat myself for any Giants management that may read this post, we need an impact player – a Barry Bonds type of player. Can Farhan find the guy, and sign him? Will they go after Otani who is half a player next year (he can’t pitch for at least a year after Tommy John surgery) but may rehab into the impact player the Giants need? That’s the missing piece. The pitching staff is looking much better than anticipated (especially Webb and Cobb, even though we lost him in the Arizona series) but something needs to be done about the Dovel meltdowns – either that or a new closer.
Closing Out the Season Against the Padres and the Dodgers
The Giants are in LA right now after having lost a series in Colorado and losing the first game in LA last night. Their increasingly small chances of making the wild card are in the hands of the two teams (the Padres and the Dodgers) who most enjoy making sure the G-Men are eliminated. Once they return home, again against the Padres and the Dodgers, to close out the season it will be about the Dodgers attempting to knock the Braves out of first place (they will play hard unless Atlanta clinches home field) and the Padres being angry they booted the season with one of the highest payrolls in baseball but still with an outside chance of getting into the wild card if they sweep the rest of their games. Because it will be all over, the young Giants should be loose and having fun.
This is most likely the last blog post of 2023. The odds of making the playoffs are low, and the focus should be on rebuilding the core of the team. It’s been a fun season with lots of ups and downs and unless something unusual happens the next post will be for spring training when we can hopefully report the signing of an impact player. Meanwhile encourage the Giants brain trust to get their act together and give more responsibility to Buster.
Finally, we all bid a fond farewell to Brandon Crawford, the last link to the glory years. He may be back for a final appearance at the last game of the season when he will be eligible to come off the DL. Craw, it’s been a good run and you have three rings. You can sleep well knowing that you are a Giants legend.
On the board and ready to be picked up are:
SAT 9/30 – Dodgers [6:05] – 2
SUN 10/1 – Dodgers [12:05] – 2 [Fan Appreciation Game]
Let the torture continue!
Ciao, and GO GIANTS!
The Czar
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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!
