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5 key SF Giants takeaways after a strong month of April

By Nathan Smith |
SF Giants, Camilo Doval
SF Giants, Camilo Doval / Thearon W. Henderson/GettyImages
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The SF Giants had a very eventful start to the 2022 campaign, as they currently sit atop the NL West, despite plenty of injuries and Covid absences, but it’s been nothing but entertaining so far.

5 key SF Giants takeaways after a strong month of April

With a mix of veterans and plenty of new faces, the Giants have played fantastic for the majority of the season so far, and while it may be hard to sustain this play for an entire season, getting healthy may make that entirely possible.

The Dodgers and Padres, like in April will be hot on the Giants tail for the rest of the way, but as we are one month down for the 2022 season, it’s time to take a look back on April with five takeaways for this San Francisco team.

1. This SF Giants bullpen is legit, despite concerns with Jake McGee

The Giants bullpen was nothing short of astonishing in 2021, and through one month in 2022, they seem to be getting better, with Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval cementing themselves among the elite relievers in the game.

Jake McGee has been another story as of late though, as he has blown several important spots, and while it’s unlikely the Giants move on from him, they may need to look at a new role for the lefty.

His hot start in 2021 slowed down towards the playoffs, eventually seeing him replaced as closer by Doval, and while he may bounce back, it’s something for Giants fans to keep an eye on.

Outside of this, and the injuries, this unit looks even better than 2021, and through one month of the season, there’s no reason to expect that the Giants bullpen can’t be the best bullpen in baseball the rest of the way.

SF Giants, Carlos Rodon
SF Giants, Carlos Rodon / Thearon W. Henderson/GettyImages

5 key SF Giants takeaways after a strong month of April

2. Carlos Rodon and Logan Webb form the best 1-2 punch in baseball

Carlos Rodon was a shock free agency signing for the Giants, and for any that were concerned, Rodon has certainly alleviated those fears, as he has been absolutely stellar every time he has taken the mound.

Logan Webb hasn’t been quite as sharp, but despite this, he is still putting together a solid start to the season. The rest of the Giants rotation has been a mixed bag, but at the top, San Francisco can match any team in baseball.

It’s only early, but the returns on the Giants 1-2 so far has been great, and if Webb can grow as the season rolls on, we may be looking at two very, very strong candidates for the Cy Young Award.

3. The SF Giants have fantastic depth, and will need it all season

Thus far in 2022, the Giants have yet to field a full strength lineup, and with the recent COVID outbreak within the team, that’s not likely to change anytime soon. Thankfully, Farhan Zaidi has given this entire organization plenty of great depth.

We’ve seen plenty of players who no one would expect to see contribute at the major league level, and with a few names (Hjelle, Ramos, Castro, Dabovich) waiting in the wings, we will see plenty more before the end of season.

It’s unlikely that any will retain roster spots when the likes of LaStella, Longoria and Wade return to this squad, but for now, it’s great to see glimpses of the future, and the great insurance that this team has to offer.

SF Giants, Thairo Estrada
SF Giants, Thairo Estrada / Jason O. Watson/GettyImages

5 key SF Giants takeaways after a strong month of April

4. The SF Giants have one of the most versatile lineups in all of baseball

One of the biggest strengths this team has had under manager Gabe Kapler has been the versatility the team has shown, and in 2022, it’s been on full display.

We’ve seen so many players in uncomfortable situations, but Kapler instils such confidence in his players that they are more than up for the task, and it’s a credit to how this organization is run from top to bottom.

We’ve seen the likes of Joc Pederson batting anywhere up and down the lineup and players such as Thairo Estrada all over the field, and while it may not be needed when the team gets healthy, it sure is key at this point in time.

5. The SF Giants will again fight the NL West down to the wire

The Giants were a huge surprise in 2021, and while many are counting them out in 2022 up against the might of the Dodgers and Padres, everyone within this team is confident they can repeat the success of 2021.

Those teams may have the star players that attract plenty of attention, but the Giants have a great manager, a fantastic roster and they play the game the right way, and so far in 2021, there’s been no indication that the Giants aren’t ready to compete.

Making noise in the playoffs is the next step for this team, but anyone who doubts the Giants and overlooks them isn’t paying attention, and the Giants will certainly be in the race all the way down to the final day of the season.

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