A way-too-early preview of the San Francisco Giants’ 26-man roster [Mercury News]
Feb. 9 The San Francisco Giants aren’t expected to challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Diego Padres atop the National League West in 2021, but it’s easy to see why president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and manager Gabe Kapler are confident in the team’s chances of improving.
After posting a 29-31 record and missing the postseason by one game in an abbreviated 2020 season, the Giants return the vast majority of their key contributors and will enjoy plenty of continuity around the diamond.
Kapler’s 13-person coaching staff may have been light on major league experience a season ago, but his unconventional hires made immediate contributions as several veterans including Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford played at their highest level in years. With bargain acquisitions such as Mike Yastrzemski, Donovan Solano and Alex Dickerson enjoying their best seasons as a professional, the Gia
January 15, 2021
The Giants continued to remake their starting rotation this week, signing former Dodgers swingman Alex Wood to a one-year, $3 million contract. Wood’s low salary reflects the fact that he’s struggled over the last two seasons, accumulating -0.2 WAR in 48 1/3 innings, courtesy of a bleak 6.02 FIP. The catch is that he was not truly healthy in either campaign, missing much of 2019 with back issues and a chunk of ’20 with shoulder inflammation. While he’s never been the picture of perfect health he hasn’t qualified for an ERA title since 2015 he was a key contributor to the Braves and the Dodgers, and before his disappointing 2019, his worst FIP over a season was 3.69 in ’15, a number many pitchers would be delighted to hit.
The year 2020 brought unforeseen challenges for the Giants, who were forced to wade through constant streams of adversity over the course of the pandemic-shortened regular season. Like the world at large, San Francisco is hoping better things are in store for '21. Here are five questions facing the club
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The year 2020 brought unforeseen challenges for the Giants, who were forced to wade through constant streams of adversity over the course of the pandemic-shortened regular season. Like the world at large, San Francisco is hoping better things are in store for 21. Here are five questions facing the club as it looks ahead to the upcoming season:
Will the starting rotation hold up over a full season?
The Giants have prioritized patching holes in their starting rotation by bringing back Kevin Gausman on a one-year, $18.9 million qualifying offer and signing veteran Anthony DeSclafani to a one-year, $6 million deal, but there are still question marks surrounding an area of the roster that was a relative weakness in 2020.
How a die-hard A s fan is selling top pitchers intel not even MLB teams provide
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Michael Fisher, a former financial analyst, has turned his attention to baseball, creating detailed and personalized data for MLB pitchers, including Liam Hendriks, Blake Treinen, Sean Manaea and Jesús Luzardo.Photos by Brittany Hosea-Small / Special to The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less
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The Codify company sign sits on Michael Fisher’s desk along with an Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants hat at his home office in Vacaville on Dec. 15, 2020.Brittany Hosea-Small / Special to The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less
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The A s starting pitcher Dan Straily, (67) talks things over on the mound with pitching coach Curt Young and catcher John Jaso, (5) in the fifth inning after giving up 3 runs as the Oakland Athletics take on the Seattle Mariners at the O.co Coliseum on Saturday April 5, 2014, in Oakland, Calif.Michael Macor / The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less