It’s March 1. A knock interrupts your thoughts. Upon opening the door, you find a disheveled man in a white lab coat. “On August 11, the Giants will be just 1 1/2 games back from the wild-card spot. They’ll have the same number of wins as the Braves, one of the teams they are pursuing,” he states before dashing away and jumping into a DeLorean, which speeds off at 88 mph.
You have numerous burning questions. Is this the year a Giant hits 30 homers? Should I select Corbin Carroll with the second overall pick in my fantasy draft, or is it wiser to stick with Mookie Betts? What’s happening in the presidential race? Can you provide the exact number of three-pointers made in Game 3 of the NBA Finals? Maybe throw in a few other facts for my parlay?
However, you find yourself with only this singular piece of information. While a bit frustrated that the Giants are currently outside playoff contention, at least they are in the hunt. Being tied with the Braves in wins suggests they must be on a winning streak. You definitely need to draft Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr. in your fantasy league.
This revelation from the future is likely more than acceptable. It could be significantly worse. Just a few weeks ago, it felt like a dire situation. Yet, after a stretch of series victories and encouraging performances, the Giants have restored some of your faith. They may not clinch the World Series, but there’s a chance you’ll find yourself caring about games in September. If you can secure one end of the goalpost, I can help you carry it, and that outcome sounds wonderful to me.
Last week was quite beneficial. Here’s how it all unfolded.
Something about walk-offs goes here
The Giants recorded another walk-off victory last week, bringing their season total to nine, which ties them for the most in baseball. Let’s take a look at the leaderboard to understand where this team stands in franchise history.
Most walk-offs since moving to San Francisco
1. 1985 – 15
2. (t) 1958 – 13
2. (t) 2003 – 13
4. (t) 2011 – 12
4. (t) 2013 – 12
6. (t) 1961 – 11
6. (t) 1967 – 11
6. (t) 1973 – 11
6. (t) 1978 – 11
6. (t) 1987 – 11
6. (t) 1990 – 11
6. (t) 2002 – 11
13. (t) 1964 – 10
13. (t) 1982 – 10
13. (t) 1995 – 10
13. (t) 2018 – 10
The 2024 Giants still have a considerable journey ahead. With 22 home games remaining, if they maintain their current momentum, they could achieve three additional walk-offs, pushing them into the top five.
However, that list serves primarily to remind fans that walk-offs are exhilarating and one of baseball’s delightful offerings that occur with regularity, yet they provide no insight into the team’s overall skill level. The 1985 Giants, for instance, were the worst in franchise history, whereas the 1958 team was the first in San Francisco and performed decently. The 2003 squad totaled 100 wins, the highest in baseball that season, while the 2011 team scored around 100 runs, not a top-tier performance. Ultimately, walk-offs hinge on timing, not talent.
A typical Giants team averages about eight walk-offs per season, which means this year’s squad is already surpassing expectations. Yet, it carries little significance. Still, it’s undeniably enjoyable. My suggestion is for them to continue this trend.
That’s Chappy
On Friday night, a fan leaped onto the field and engaged Michael Conforto in an enthusiastic exchange before attempting to scale the left-field fence. His getaway plan did not unfold successfully. Here’s a still from the incident.
According to my assessment, this individual managed to lift approximately one box of cereal (1 BOC) off the ground. This was a distasteful exhibition of athleticism that undermined every one of the 126 medals won by the United States in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Now, due to his actions, the country stands medal-less. I hope he feels satisfied.
The Giants—and indeed, the nation—required a refreshing change. Matt Chapman, please come to our rescue.
Looking back, I realize I could have included a “Matt Chapman play of the week” segment in each of these articles. Each week, he performs something remarkable on defense. To illustrate his exceptional skills at third base in the most analytical manner, consider his batting average (.249) and on-base percentage (.338), followed by the top 10 National League players ranked by WAR, as per Baseball-Reference:
1. Ketel Marte, 6.1 WAR
2. Shohei Ohtani, 5.8
3. Matt Chapman, 5.5
4. Francisco Lindor, 4.7
5. Elly De La Cruz, 4.1
6. Freddie Freeman, 4.0
7. (t) Brice Turang, 3.9
7. (t) Mookie Betts, 3.9
9. (t) Masyn Winn, 3.8
9. (t) Marcell Ozuna, 3.8
When a player boasts a .249 batting average with a .338 on-base percentage yet ranks as the third-best in the NL (or the eighth-best, for FanGraphs followers), he’s either on track for 50 home runs or possesses extraordinary defensive skills. He’s an absolute phenomenon—someone you might recount tales of to a grandchild when you’re elderly and toothless. The grandchild may think you’re odd, but you know what? They’re the ones who are peculiar, because Chapman’s defense is simply phenomenal.
Another way to appreciate Chapman’s defensive prowess is by listening to the reactions from opposing announcers:
“Chapman! Maaaaan.”
Indeed, that sums it up well. If you’re enthusiastic about such commentary, Mike Krukow chimed in with a “My lord” during his analysis. Both expressions convey the essence perfectly.
Two strikes, two outs, too bad
With two outs and a two-strike count, one more strike could secure the victory for your team. It’s highly likely they will prevail. However, missteps can occur. Last week, the Giants’ closer made a pivotal mistake, altering the entire bullpen dynamic.
Currently, Camilo Doval finds himself in the minor leagues due to his failure to secure that final strike. The Giants had been ensnared in rain delays for over five hours when Doval took the mound for the save on Thursday.
The team was exhausted. The broadcasters were weary. Overweight, middle-aged sportswriters watching from home were also depleted. A lengthy flight home loomed ahead, with no scheduled day off in sight. This event stands out as one of the most disappointing blown saves I can recall, given the context and expectations. Oh, to have witnessed the Giants’ dugout when that ball soared over the fence.
Being somewhat of a masochist and a degenerate, I sought out other instances where the win was sooooo close, and all the pitcher needed to do was not throw that pitch.
The unfortunate reality is that pitch-by-pitch data prior to the ’90s isn’t particularly dependable, preventing us from delving back to 1958 or even earlier into the New York era. On the bright side, by focusing on more recent occurrences, I can recall all these blown saves, which still leave me feeling a bit nauseous. Hopefully, you share that same luck.
Two out, two strike blown saves
|
Date |
Pitcher |
Opp. |
Batter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/11/91 | Dave Righetti | SDP | Marty Barrett |
| 6/18/96 | Rod Beck | FLA | Gary Sheffield |
| 5/24/98 | Robb Nen | STL | Mark McGwire |
| 7/31/01 | Robb Nen | PIT | Aramis Ramírez |
| 8/17/03 | Tim Worrell | MON | Brad Wilkerson |
| 6/4/06 | Armando Benítez | NYM | Lastings Milledge |
| 5/2/08 | Brian Wilson | PHI | Pat Burrell |
| 9/26/08 | Brian Wilson | LAD | Russell Martin |
| 9/24/09 | Brian Wilson | CHC | Jeff Baker |
| 6/6/10 | Brian Wilson |
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PIT
Delwyn Young
6/24/12
Santiago Casilla
OAK
Derek Norris
4/18/16
Santiago Casilla
ARI
Jake Lamb
9/13/16
Steven Okert
SDP
Ryan Schimpf
8/15/20
Trevor Gott
OAK
Mark Canha
8/8/24
Camilo Doval
WAS
Luis García Jr
