What If...? The SF Giants were in the Marvel Universe?

1. What If.... we take the 2021 SF Giants and compare them to our beloved Marvel Characters?

After an emotionally draining post-season, 107 win season, and the retirement of SF Giants legend Buster Posey (miss you Buster <3), it's been a whirlwind of emotions for many of us Giants fans. What nice way to distract ourselves from that incorrect check swing call than to combine two of my favorite fandoms as a love letter to this 2021 SF Giants roster. With Farhan Zaidi playing Nick Fury, assembling the ultimate baseball avengers, let's build the Giants-MCU multiverse and compare who from this season took on heroic roles similar to the ageless Marvel heroes!

What If...? The SF Giants were in the Marvel Universe?

2. Captain Buster

The First Avenger, the Beginning and End of a Giant Era: no player exhibits the gravitas, the silent strength and timeless persistence of Captain America than our own Gerald Dempsey Posey III. I know we've had Captain Brandon Belt thrown out there, but when we really think about it, no other player has shaped this era of SF Giants baseball and the legacy of this franchise since 2010 than Buster Posey. His catcher's mask and gear serve as his Captain America mask and suit, his catcher's glove serves as his shield, and like Captain America post frozen in an iceberg, Posey returned from the 2020 season hiatus a stronger and even more prolific face of the franchise. Now as the sun sets on Posey's tenure as a player, the transition of this All-Star's "shield" serves to represent the franchise's transformation into an evolved team. Just as the captain passed on the shield to Sam Wilson, we will see in 2022 who takes up the mantle of team leader.

3. Crawford, Winter Soldier

The Metallic Arm, the long flowing hair, the aura of actions over words, no Giant represents the cool and collected presence of Bucky the Winter Soldier like our Gold Glove shortstop Brandon Crawford. Just as Bucky reworked his lost arm through Wakandan vibranium and transformed his outlook on life, we saw Crawford similarly transform his hitting approach and shift from a glove-first shortstop to a multitalented star earning him fourth place on the 2021 NL MVP race. Like Buster Posey, Crawford has been in the Orange and Black for his professional career and has in a way taken a leadership role within the clubhouse.

4. Lamonte Wade Jr. FOREVER!

From his prolific crossarm "Wakanda Forever" celebration around the bases, LaMonte Wade Jr. has won the hearts of fans in his breakout season with the Orange and Black. Our 2021 Willie Mac Award Winner has definitely turned some heads with his power, his maturity, and his growth as a cornerstone of this Giants offense. Everyone loves a good story. Wade's journey from late bloomer obtained in a trade with the Minnesota Twins for Shaun Anderson to earning the beloved moniker "Late Night Lamonte" for his clutch hitting is a narrative made for movies. As T'Challa honors his deep connections to his family, Giants fandom fell in love with Wade's supportive Mom hyping her son up from McCovey Cove as his homerun ball sailed above her head. Wade's fandom and story continue to grow just as quickly as the Black Panther's debut film in 2018. I am definitely a fan of LWJ and his continued success in Orange and Black. Dare I say it: Wade-kanda forever. (Sorry, I'll see myself out.....)

What If...? The SF Giants were in the Marvel Universe?

5. Wood... SMASH

Someone gets on base, Alex Wood gets angry, he smashes strikes, he has a mean streak. Nuff said. Like Bruce Banner's bout with radioactivity, Wood persisted through his own miraculous challenge - Tommy John surgery - to rehabilitate his form and pitching prowess. Then there's the anger. If there was someone on the team I'd like to not be in a bar fight with, it would be Alex. I mean, let's remember his little spat with Muncy and tell me you want to call time before his next heater up and in. Let's hope Wood keeps entering his mean green mode and continues smashing the strike zone for San Francisco.

6. Yastrzemski Soars as the Falcon

Let's be honest, aside from the 25 dingers, it's been somewhat a tough offensive season for Mike Yastrzemski. With that being said, fans have stayed faithful cheering for one of their favorite underdog storylines. Grandson of Boston Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, traded away from Baltimore for pitching prospect Tyler Herb, and breaking out as a fan-favorite in his first two seasons in orange and black. Unfortunately, 2021 was a different story batting only .224 and having some struggles making contact at the plate. The reasoning behind his connection to the Falcon is simple: He, like ex giant and now free agent Joe Panik, were touted as one of the "Posey Clones". A clean-cut hitter of few words that swung the bat and played great defense. In 2019 and 2020, many saw Yaz as the up-and-coming face of the new age, post-Posey Giants. Another cinderella story ala Farhan Magic (See Wade, Solano, Flores, etc.) Yastrzemski had a similar image and energy on the field that somewhat mimicked Posey's leader-of-few-words vibe. Like Falcon's transition to Captain America, Yastrzemski was in prime position pre-2021 to carry Posey's shield. But just like the Falcon and Winter Soldier series portrayed, this transition of the Captain mantle is one full of challenges and struggles. We're hoping Yastrzemski bounces back and fulfills this role in 2022 and beyond.

7. Size up, Ant-Man Darin Ruf

Big country bat, a behemoth of a man, Darin Ruf easily fits the size transforming Ant-Man. The giant among Giants sized up against left-handed pitching throughout the season and found himself in an everyday role near the end of 2021. Just picture my guy turning 30 feet tall and belly-flopping for third base. Majestic!

8. Brandon Belt as Thor

Our captain's back and hopefully will heal quickly. With his witty interview segments and his bat dropping power, Brandon Belt figures to be a close to perfect comparison to the God of Thunder himself, Thor. Both are stoic, yet comedic in their own way, they have massive control over their respective equipment, and both have bounced back from major injuries. Albeit, Thor losing an eye and going through the traumatic experiences of losing his brother pales in comparison to Belt being beaned in the hand by a fastball. Here's to hoping Captain Belt has his own version of Thor's triumphant return in Avengers: Endgame.

What If...? The SF Giants were in the Marvel Universe?

13. Evan Longoria suits up as War Machine

Aside from that moonshot that stole Game 3 of the NLDS in Los Angeles, Evan Longoria's 2021 campaign has been plagued by injury and lack of consistent contact. Just as Don Cheadle's War Machine stumbled across the sky in Captain America: Civil War, ultimately damaging his ability to walk, it seems Longoria's list of injuries and set backs have led to many a struggles at the plate. Still, Longoria provides veteran leadership, calm and collected defense, and experienced perspective that can be compared to War Machine's calm demeanor. Let's hope like War Machine, Longo regains his ability to wage battle at the plate.

14. Kevin Gausman as Ironman

Fancy suit to the Oscar's? Check. Quick witted pop culture references and tweets? Check. Ability to turn on the GAUS and get through some of the most stressful of situations? Check. Kevin Gausman's clearly our Ironman. Whether it be his workhorse mentality or his persistence to strand runners on base, Kevin's got that Tony Stark-type confidence and charisma that's forced his way into many a fans' hearts as our season opener and veteran Ace. Hoping we resign him, it would be pretty cool to see him walk out to the mound to Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" in game 1 of the 2022 season. I already have chills picturing it!

15. Logan Webb as... you guessed it, Spiderman!

Please forgive me for the spider name puns, but this one made too much sense. The young ace from Rocklin busted through the NLDS scene, making his presence known. The youth, the tenacity, the webslinging king of sinkers, it all connects our rising ace to Peter Parker aka Spiderman. It also fits well with Gausman's Ironman comparison. Tony Stark mentored and guided Peter Parker just as Gausman's served the role of big brother and mentor for Logan Webb. As much as we miss Tony Stark as Peter Parker's pseudo father figure, I'd be even more devastated with Gausman and Webb fail to reunite in 2022. Two aces are better than one. Please make it happen Farhan!

16. Doval as The Scarlet Witch

We all had a feeling Camilo Doval would be able to throw controlled fire eventually, but many of us were surprised he'd rise as the go-to 9th inning arm as early as 2021. Similar to Wanda Maximoff's immensive power and growth in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Camilo Doval has developed just as quickly into a powerhouse closer. This match also helps given they both sport reddish-orange glowing hair. Though things didn't go his way during his last outing in Game 5 of the NLDS, there is plenty of potential and optimism for Camilo's magic on the late-game mound. Wanda lost her "sons" and Vision in Wandavision, Doval unfortunately gave up the winning runs in game 5. But just as Wanda introduced us to the unfathomable reality changing powers of the Scarlet Witch, many believe Doval can deliver similarly as our lights out closer of the future.