SF Giants: 4 Best Moments from the first half of the season

The SF Giants find themselves at 48-43 at the All-Star break. There have been plenty of ups and downs so far in the season, but this article will take at look at the 4 best moments from a roller coaster first half.

SF Giants: 4 Best Moments from the first half of the season

Many SF Giants fans would likely consider the first half of the season something of a disappointment. The team is well behind both the Dodgers and Padres in the NL West standings just a year after shocking the baseball world by dethroning the Dodgers from the top of the NL West.

But with injuries to go all around and underperformance from some of the key contributors last year, the Giants find themselves where they are. They are far from out of the playoff picture, but it will take a strong second half if they are going to make the postseason.

As we wait for the second half of the season to begin, let's reflect on some of the most positive moments from the first half of the season that the Giants can build upon going into the second half.

Moment #1: Yaz's grand slam

This has to be the best moment from the first half of the Giants season. Really, any time a team has a walk-off grand slam that is going to be one of the most memorable things that happens during the year.

Mike Yastrzemski's grand slam was all the more meaningful because it came during the last series of the first half when it appeared the Giants were going to limp into the All-Star break.

Instead, Yaz did something that had not been done by the Giants since Bobby Bonds did it back in 1973 and in so doing he gave the Giants the momentum they needed to win the last three games of the first half and go into the break feeling better about how they were playing.

Additionally, Giants fans can hope that this gets Yaz turned around at the plate as he struggled mightily for a good chunk of the first half.

If the Giants are able to make the postseason this year, many will remember this incredible comeback victory as a key turning point.

SF Giants: 4 Best Moments from the first half of the season

Moment #3: Carlos Rodon's Complete Game

There was a time in baseball when complete games were not a huge deal. In 2022, they are a rarity. that is why Carlos Rodon's complete game against the San Diego Padres was so huge.

This was in the middle of the Giants struggles during the first half. They had dropped the first two games of a four game series versus the Padres and were in need of a strong outing from their co-ace during the first half.

Carlos Rodon delivered, allowing only one run on three hits while recording 12 strikeouts total. It was a clutch performance when the Giants needed it most against a division foe.

Rodon was excellent for the Giants in the first half which earned him, eventually, the All-Star nod that he deserved. The Giants will need both Rodon and Logan Webb to continue their ace-like ways if they are to compete in the second half.

SF Giants: 4 Best Moments from the first half of the season

Moment #4: Giants Sweep the Dodgers

It always feels good when the Giants are able to sweep the Dodgers, especially when it comes at home. It was the first time the Giants had swept them since 2016 and it was on the ten year anniversary of Matt Cain's perfect game.

At the time, it felt like a turning point for the Giants. Unfortunately, the Giants followed it up with very inconsistent play and were unable to fully capitalize on the sweep.

However, it is a reminder that even though the Giants are well behind the Dodgers in the standings, they still play the evil Empire down south tough every time they see them.

The Giants will start the second half against the Dodgers on Thursday, so they will need to draw on the success they had the last time the two teams faced to set the tone for the second half of the season.