ESPN’s Jeff Passan calls SF Giants a “burgeoning monster”

Jeff Passan had some interesting comments on the future of the SF Giants in his monthly column for ESPN on the latest happenings around Major League Baseball. Perhaps the leading MLB writer read our own Nathan Bannerman’s column on the lack of media attention heading the Orange and Black’s way. With the best record in the National League, it was a well-deserved discussion of one of the best teams to start the season.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan called the SF Giants a “burgeoning monster.”

With little in the way of expectations heading into the regular season, the Giants quickly asserted themselves at the top of MLB standings. More than a month into the schedule, San Francisco has the best record in the National League and remains just a half-game behind the Boston Red Sox for the best record in MLB.

In his monthly column, Passan tried to address the question posed to many throughout baseball, will the Giants sustain their early-season success. While he clearly stated “They are not better than the Dodgers or the Padres,” he heaped major praise onto the organization, suggesting another dynastic run could be in their future:

"They are not better than the Dodgers or the Padres. Let’s get that out of the way. But have they done a phenomenal job of building a rotation essentially from scratch? Yup. Have their hitters underperformed, leaving them room to improve? Indeed. Have they got a phenomenally deep farm system the industry believes might be among the game’s five best? Yes. Are they a place where pitchers want to go…? Absolutely. So while the Giants might be outplaying their talent level and won’t end up winning the NL West, are they a burgeoning monster, with excellent management, development and a boatload of money to spend? Oh yeah."

The SF Giants hope to prove Jeff Passan right over the long haul, but the team surely has their eyes on a bigger prize this season. No matter what anyone says, for now, the Giants are 18-13, Padres are 18-14, and Dodgers are 17-15. The Giants will play their next three games against San Diego with a chance to give themselves some early-season breathing room in the standings.