The SF Giants latest hot streak might be saving Bob Melvin's job

The SF Giants have turned the corner since Matt Chapman returned from the injured list on August 23. Not only have they snuck back into the playoff picture after winning 14 of the last 18 games, but Bob Melvin's job might have been saved with the recent hot streak.

The SF Giants might be saving Bob Melvin's job with latest hot streak

On August 23, the Giants started the day with a 61-68 record. That was well below expectations for a roster that has built up quite a built of talent.

The Giants have invested a lot of money into this roster, and the front office was not necessarily getting the return on investment. That is usually not a great reflection of the manager and his coaching staff.

San Francisco went through a prolonged slump that started as soon as Chapman landed on the injured list for the first time in June. This slump was characterized by defensive miscues, baserunning gaffes, and players just not living up to expectations.

It is up to the players to perform, but when a team struggles, it is fair to wonder if the manager's voice has grown stale. The Giants' season entered a nosedive phase in August, leading to the possible outcome that there could be sweeping changes to the coaching staff.

Buster Posey and Zack Minasian have not done much to quell those concerns lately, as both have been mum on the topic. Like Posey did at the end of August, Minasian evaded a question about Melvin's status in a recent interview with Tim Kawakami.

For what it is worth, the Giants have already exercised Melvin's team option for 2026. The timing of it was odd, as it coincided with the team going through a slump. Perhaps, this is part of the reason why the Giants have evaded the question. They do not want to send mixed signals again.

Perhaps, the front office is waiting until the end of the year to make its final decision. Even when the team was struggling, the players were vocal about their support for the veteran manager. Plus, players like Matt Chapman and Logan Webb were supportive of the Giants' decision to pick up Melvin's option in the first place.

It is clear from this that Melvin has a grasp on the clubhouse. It was never lost. That type of support from the leaders in the clubhouse will go a long way in the evaluation of Melvin's job thus far.

Of course, another part of that evaluation is how the team performs on the field. The baseball season is a long one, and teams go through ups and downs. The front office could be waiting to see how the team finishes the year relative to expectations. If they go through another nosedive in the final two weeks, that would be a pretty tough reflection of Melvin.

However, if they finish the year with a winning record, that should help build a case to keep Melvin beyond this year. If Minasian and Posey's words are to be taken at face value, they are focused on finishing the year on a positive note. The decision on Melvin could come relatively early in the offseason. That said, his chances of remaining in his role have only improved with the Giants' recent hot streak.

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