Why SF Giants fans should not care that Kyle Tucker is on the Dodgers

SF Giants fans, and baseball fans at large, have been lamenting the latest free agent signing as the Death Star that is the Los Angeles Dodgers have added yet another top player in their staggering offer to Kyle Tucker to be their new right fielder.

The frustration seems warranted as many fans see it as the Dodgers grossly violating the game of baseball and competitive balance, while others’ ire is geared toward their under-spending owners (Giants fans included in this). However, there are certain angles that Giants fans can look at the move by their hated rivals as a good thing; or at the very least something to focus on that will prevent them from throwing in the towel before the season even starts.

How SF Giants fans should view the Dodgers signing Kyle Tucker

Kyle Tucker is a sellout? Look in the mirror.

The popular vitriol against Tucker himself is the fact that he joined a juggernaut for the largest contract in baseball even though he reportedly had other huge offers on the table. While factually correct, the rage is misplaced. At the risk of being too psychological, often we are angry with others as a reflection of what we see in ourselves. Look in the mirror. Most fans are jealous. Most Giants fans, for all the talk of “where’s your pride?” would jump at the chance to earn $60 million for playing a game. Be honest. It’s a pretty awesome deal, regardless of the team offering it.

Baseball is broken, and the Tucker signing will push change.

There is no doubt and all fans can agree that baseball needs fixing. Topics of how to “fix” baseball have ranged from salary caps, floors, deferments, TV deals, blackouts, selfish owners, shortening the season, and even Hall of Fame voting (yes, the HOF is a private institution, but the election process still irks fans). It is all going to come to a head in the new CBA negotiations. The Kyle Tucker signing and the Dodgers in general will surely be a hot example used by both sides to argue for their own agendas. Hopefully, it will be a tipping point to see real change and improvement for the sport. Even though nobody wants a lockout, it may be what’s best to see real change that would benefit fans.

Focus on us.

Let’s be honest. Kyle Tucker was never coming to the Bay, so who cares? Giants fans are rightfully frustrated with the lack of spending/activity by the front office this offseason, but the Dodgers have nothing to do with that. Sign another front line starter, trade for Donovan/Hoerner, sign or trade for an outfielder that doesn’t require $60 million, get more bullpen help. These are all issues that have been raised and fans’ dissatisfaction should continue to be geared toward their own team.

Winning is still possible.

In the immortal words of J.P. from the film Angels in the Outfield, “It could happen.” It's easy to see the Dodgers in the same division and feel like "we have to compete." But, in actuality, no we don't. The goal of the game is championships. That means the Giants aren't competing with the Dodgers, they are competing with the schedule.

With the balance of the schedule, the team is shooting for maybe 90 wins (or maybe just 84 like last season). That's a playoff team. The old adage of in the playoffs, anything can happen is forever true. Sure, the Dodgers may win 120+ games during the season, but the postseason is always about who’s hot. The Giants teams of 2010, 2012, 2014 weren’t some dominant juggernauts, even if they did win their division two of those three years. They had some dudes (like they do now) and they won when it mattered and did enough to get to the next round, until they won the whole damn thing. Most, if not all, fans would admit that World Series trophies are better than division titles.

Take a breath.

Overall, it’s easy to let anger rule. Giants fans hate the Dodgers. It’s a tale almost as old as Major League Baseball itself. It’s deeply rooted and passed down generation after generation. But, while yet another top free agent heads to Los Angeles, and the division seems even more out of reach, maybe Giants fans just need to breathe and look at things a bit differently.