San Francisco Giants MLB Season Preview

San Francisco Giants Last Season Performance

After winning an astonishing 107 games in 2021 and beating the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL West title for the first time in eight years, expectations were high for the 2022 season. But, the Giants ended the regular season with a .500 record exactly at 81-81 and missed the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons.

One could assume that the 2021 season was a fluke and the Giants overachieved on a ridiculous level. They came crashing down to earth in 2022 and could continue down a losing path in 2023.

Off-Season Changes

Key Additions

The Giants tried to be active during the offseason but struck out on several high-profile names they were after. Among the misses were Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa. Both were “almost signed”, and both deals went up in flames.

Instead, the Giants had to settle for mediocre talents such as Mitch Haniger, Taylor Rodgers, Michael Conforto, Ross Stripling, Joc Pederson, Luke Jackson, and Sean Manaea.

Key Losses

Not only did the Giants fail to land a top-tier free agent, but they also lost their best pitcher, Carlos Rodon, to the New York Yankees. Other notable exits include Brandon Belt, Evan Longoria, Shelby Miller, Tommy La Stella, and Jarlin Garcia.

Manager: Gabe Kapler

Gabe Kapler could be given his walking papers if the Giants are deemed unsuccessful in 2023. San Francisco is a massive market for MLB, and the pressure is always there to finish with a winning record.

Since taking over in 2020, Kapler managed one winning season when the Giants came out of nowhere and won 107 games and the NL West. But San Francisco finished 81-81 last season and failed to make the playoffs for the fifth time in six years.

Strengths:

The top end of the Giants’ lineup is their biggest strength heading into opening day. With Logan Webb and Alex Cobb in the one-two spots, San Francisco’s rotation could be better than many expect. Webb has proven himself worthy of being called an ace, while Cobb is a rock-solid number two with consistency. The middle of their rotation isn’t bad either, with Sean Manaea and Ross Stripling acquired in the offseason.

Having said that, the Giants have no clear “best player” on the team. They are just above average across the board.

Weaknesses:

The biggest weakness the Giants have is a lack of firepower on offense. They don’t have a bad lineup, per se. But when it comes time to bang with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and New York Mets, where are the runs coming from? There is no Judge or Correa for the Giants.

The options in San Francisco may have been cost-effective, but they need more excitement or production to make the Giants contenders.

Predictions for the 2023 Season

I’m not a big fan of the Giants heading into 2023. They tried but failed to make a big splash in the free-agent market. San Francisco put all their eggs into the Correa and Judge deals that when both fell through, the Giants were left with their pants down.

It would be a real letdown, but there is a world where the Giants finish fourth behind the Dodgers, Padres, and Diamondbacks in 2023.

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