Why You Should Believe in the 2023 Giants

A highly optimistic outlook on one of the most intriguing teams in Major League Baseball.

 

Spring Training is in full swing. The sweet aroma of freshly cut grass and assorted ballgame fare (exclusively garlic fries) wafts through the air. And you know what that means: we get to fall in love all over again with a team of pretty solid dudes who are incredibly decent at baseball.

There’s excitement…and dare I say hope in the air once again.

Just don’t let any major sports outlets or baseball analysts know. Even before the Correa debacle, pundits were keen to relegate Giants to MLB purgatory: 3rd or 4th place in the NL West.

But hey. Remember how jazzed people were about the 2021/2016/2014/2012/2010 Giants going into Spring Training? Not very.

So let’s throw pessimism out the window for a hot sec – and take an optimistic view into why you should believe in the 2023 Giants.

1. Gape Kapler

Like him, love him, hate him, he’s the right man for the job. He managed the 2021 Giants to 107 wins, a team that analysts were very quick to dismiss early in the season. A former NL Manager of the Year, Kapler is now in his fourth year at the helm – and has an impressive track record so far. In three seasons, the Hollywood-native has managed the team to a 217-167 record (.565 W/L%)…that’s not bad considering how stacked the NL West is. Still not convinced?

Let’s compare Gabe Kapler’s first three years with the Giants to Bruce Bochy’s: 231-255 (.475 W/L%)

While we won’t truly know how the Giants would’ve faired in a full 2020 season, the numbers don’t lie. It’s difficult, nay impossible, to truly compare the two skippers. But…if Kapler has found more statistical success during this tri-annual challenge, Giants fans can quietly anticipate great things for the man with the shiny Aviators in his fourth year.

Oh also, does anyone remember how Bochy did in his fourth year (2010)? Perhaps 2023 is the new 2010. Either way, it’ll be exciting to see how Kapler positions this new group of scrappy ballplayers.

Bonus points for the unparalleled drip.

2. Arso-, er, Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa

Aaron Judge

Before you screech in horror, just hear me out. Perhaps, just perhaps, the fallout of not being able to secure Judge, galvanizes the squad to perform. Should we be upset that the front office wasn’t able to secure him? Sure. I may or may not have doom-scrolled on Twitter a tad bit and lamented on the future of the franchise (not the first nor last time, he said, in a foreshadowing manner).

But should we write off the Giants outfield way before the gates at Scottsdale Stadium are even opened? Absolutely not.

While they lost out on the Aaron Judge sweepstakes, the Giants were able to bolster their outfield with a few talented athletes – both of whom have been consistent contributors to their previous employers. Skip down to reasons 5 & 6 for the full rundown.

Carlos Correa

Okay, you can scream at this one. The silver lining is almost microscopic. There’s no denying how fundamentally awful this fiasco was. I even tried calling into Tolbert & Copes at KNBR to verbally grieve like the rest of the Giants faithful…I’ve never even thought about doing that until then.

But…perhaps…giving the full-time shortstop gig to Crawford awakens the BCraw of old (I mean, he was an all-star recently). Lest we forget, the Giants still have Thairo Estrada, a young middle-infielder coming off a career year.

Yes, I realize I just compared Estrada to Correa. Sue me. However, not only do the Giants have slightly more money to play with, they can rely on core fixtures in their infield who have long settled into their roles.

3. The Taylor-Tyler Tandem of Terror

Brennan Huff and Dale Doback are back together in the form of one of the most unique one-two punches in the entire MLB. Righty-Submarine + Lefty-Sidewinder = The Ultimate Rogers Brother.

Imagine the terror in batters’ eyes when they’re forced to dial in Tyler’s UFO-esque slider, followed by Taylor’s bat-sawing, mid-90s sinker. Realistically, Taylor allows the Giants something they’ve been desperately looking for since last year: another consistent left-handed reliever.

He’s not the end all be all, but Taylor ultimately diversifies the bullpen to the point where Kapler doesn’t have to rely only on Long and Alexander. Rather, the southpaw offers proven experience and performance.

4. Get Confy, Giants Fans

Watch out, this man’s got something to prove. A former first-round draft pick, Conforto certainly has the chops to be an everyday outfielder…something the Giants have been looking for more of in recent years.

While his 2021 and 2022 campaigns were hampered by injuries, something tells me this former Beaver is looking to make a dam big splash in the Cove.

5. Mitchy Mitch and the Giants Gang

Mariner Mitch has sailed his way into the Bay, again! One of the top performers on a semi-Cinderella Story Mariners team last year, Haniger brings fortified experience and power to a Giants lineup desperately looking for it.

While he isn’t quite Rickey Henderson with his speed in the outfield (who really is anymore?), his defense has steadily improved over the past couple of years.

And yes, I might be biased because we both played for the same high school…Go Monarchs.

6. Sean Manaea: Monster Slayer

He’d be the first to admit it: Manaea dropped off in recent years after leaving the A’s. But guess what: self-awareness and vulnerability is the first step in building your way back to excellence.

Lest we forget, this man threw a no-hitter not that long ago and bolstered a talented A’s rotation with postseason aspirations.

My prediction? Manaea slays the Monster with the help of the Giants’ pitching staff, and puts forth a solid 2023 campaign. It’s time to say “Yes-Yes” to the “No-No” man.

7. Go with the Flo

He’s everybody’s favorite Giant. But Wil he deliver? Survey says: DING(ers)! There’s no replacing the Captain, but Flores brings a charismatic energy to a clubhouse in need of leadership support.

Oh, did I mention he’s a reliable corner infielder and DH option? Takes a little pressure off Joc, Villar, Davis, and Wade Jr. in their respective positions – a valuable commodity in every 162-game season.

8. Luke, You Are a Bullpen Legend

Say what you want about the Giants’ offseason…this is a steal. Yes I know, Jackson just had Tommy John surgery and pitched a total of zero innings last year.

But imagine how lucrative the Giants bullpen will be once Jackson is thrown in the mix. A power righty with electric stuff to support, dare I say, set up Camilo Doval and/or Taylor Rogers? Not a bad deal.

 

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Will the Giants win 107 games again? Eh, probably not. But one thing’s for sure, this group of seasoned veterans and hungry greenhorns is ready to climb out of the cellar of mediocrity and into the balmy sunshine of superiority.

From the squat! Trivia #1 (3/4/23):

Since 1933, twelve Giants catchers have been selected for the All-Star Game. Who was the last Giants catcher to start an All-Star Game since Buster Posey’s first Summer Classic appearance (2012)?

A) Benito Santiago

B) Ed Bailey

C) Walker Cooper

D) Bob Brenly

Check back into the squat on Monday for today’s trivia answer!