Giants are figuring out new ways to prove baseball is an inexplicable sport

While the SF Giants have one of the worst records in MLB this season and have struggled mightily at times, they really shouldn’t be this bad on paper. Slightly below .500? Sure. But this bad? It’s hard to understand how it’s happened especially based on some recent stats.

Heading into the series against the Atlanta Braves, the Giants had some of the best offensive stats as a team over the prior 30 days per Ben Kaspick on social media. They led MLB in batting average and slugging percentage and ranked fifth when it came to on-base percentage.

Yet, they had a 10-16 record over that span which shows just how infuriating baseball can be. Of course, they did have a couple outliers in that sample size when they scored 30 runs over the course of two games, 12 coming in the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers and 18 coming in the series opener the next day against the Chicago Cubs.

Still, the offense has been doing better. Guys have heated up and Bryce Eldridge and Jung Hoo Lee have done some really special things as of late. On paper the lineup seemed like it would be the strength of the team coming into the season and finally that vision is being realized.

Why isn’t it working? Well, to paraphrase James Carville, “It’s the pitching, stupid.” The Giants had a 5.38 team ERA over that stretch which was one of the worst marks in baseball. The pitching staff has been about as bad as many feared it would be which is why the front office deserves blame for not investing in pitching more seriously. 

The Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle additions have gone even worse than envisioned and expectations were already on the floor for those two. The bullpen has been just as inconsistent and disorderly as many feared.

Giants could have been so much better if they invested in pitching

Add it all up and it just makes one frustrated about what this team could have been. If the Giants had made some real investments on the pitching side perhaps they’d be closer to .500 right now and in a position where they could talk themselves into buying at the trade deadline.

Instead, they are 31-43 on the year and even though they give us hope at times like when they win a series against the Atlanta Braves, the team with the best record in MLB, it is hard to really believe in this team because we know they are just not strong enough on the pitching side to have sustained success.

For those who don’t want the team to blow everything up though, the offense is the thing to point to. If the Giants keep that nucleus intact and actually invest in pitching in the offseason then they could make a case for at least being a legitimate Wild Card team next season.

Yet, we know the Giants have not seriously invested in pitching in a long time so if they aren’t willing to do what it takes to win then they will continue to be an infuriating team to watch.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow