[lex24]

Jacob DeGrom

67 IP. 26 hits. 4 Earned runs. 8 walks. 111 k’s. 0.54 ERA. O.57 Whip.

Offensively he’s hitting .423 with 6 RBI’s. Yes, he’s driven in two more runs than earned runs he’s given up.

Last outing he left with some shoulder tightness. 3 innings pitched. Retired all 9. With 8 strikeouts.

He is phenomenal.  If he stays healthy, he has a good chance to have the greatest year any pitcher has had.

---

44-25.  In 2016 as this point they were 43-26.  Hopefully no more parallels!

2010, Giants were 39-30.
2012, 38-31
2014, also 44-25

Could be fun.  As long as they fix their bullpen.  Through 65 games, the Giants’ bullpen ranked sixth in the majors with a 3.38 ERA, their 24 saves led all teams and their 2.84 strikeout-to-walk ratio was the seventh-best mark of any MLB bullpen, but their 14 blown saves trailed only the Marlins (16) and Dodgers (15) at that time.

The issue is that there was no team in the NL close to the quality of the 2021 Dodgers in ‘10, ‘12 or ‘14.  The Giants are playing good ball but I just can’t see them finishing ahead of LA.  I have no problem with that.  Heck, right now, SF is a year or two ahead schedule.  They are playing with house money this season.

Zaidi has done a terrific job. His biggest challenges, however, await. First, the deadline. If the Giants are still contending, they become buyers. Needs are a right handed outfield bat and a power bullpen arm. What prospects is he willing to deal? Who is “untouchable”. (One of the things that made the Dodgers so strong is they pulled off trades for stars while not parting with their most coveted prospects, a testament to their minor league depth) 

Then he has the 2021 offseason. Which will be fascinating. Crawford, Belt, Cueto all “coming off the books”. Posey a team option. Conventional wisdom pre season was Cueto Crawford and Belt would not be resigned. And they would not exercise the option on Posey. Now, except for Cueto, it’s not as clear. 

Also Gausman, Wood, DeSclafani are all on one year deals. Assuming none sign multi year extensions during the season (and with a new CBA to be negotiated that is even more unlikely than usual) resigning them may be a challenge. 

And there is an attractive free agent market.

Giants will have loads of money to spend. How they do it will be, I think, Farhan biggest challenge.

He has proven he can build farm system depth, find diamonds in the rough and put a competitive team on the field while taking essentially a bottom up approach. Impressive to say the least.

Now he will have the opportunity to show if he can leverage that into an organization that can challenge the Dodgers and Padres, two teams that have parlayed minor league talent and the willingness to spend like drunken sailors into powerhouse rosters. 

I suspect he’s up to the task, assuming the checkbook is open (and it better be). It’s going to be fascinating to watch.

[lex24]

Jacob DeGrom

67 IP. 26 hits. 4 Earned runs. 8 walks. 111 k’s. 0.54 ERA. O.57 Whip.

Offensively he’s hitting .423 with 6 RBI’s. Yes, he’s driven in two more runs than earned runs he’s given up.

Last outing he left with some shoulder tightness. 3 innings pitched. Retired all 9. With 8 strikeouts.

He is phenomenal.  If he stays healthy, he has a good chance to have the greatest year any pitcher has had.

---

44-25.  In 2016 as this point they were 43-26.  Hopefully no more parallels!

2010, Giants were 39-30.
2012, 38-31
2014, also 44-25

Could be fun.  As long as they fix their bullpen.  Through 65 games, the Giants’ bullpen ranked sixth in the majors with a 3.38 ERA, their 24 saves led all teams and their 2.84 strikeout-to-walk ratio was the seventh-best mark of any MLB bullpen, but their 14 blown saves trailed only the Marlins (16) and Dodgers (15) at that time.

The issue is that there was no team in the NL close to the quality of the 2021 Dodgers in ‘10, ‘12 or ‘14.  The Giants are playing good ball but I just can’t see them finishing ahead of LA.  I have no problem with that.  Heck, right now, SF is a year or two ahead schedule.  They are playing with house money this season.

Zaidi has done a terrific job. His biggest challenges, however, await. First, the deadline. If the Giants are still contending, they become buyers. Needs are a right handed outfield bat and a power bullpen arm. What prospects is he willing to deal? Who is “untouchable”. (One of the things that made the Dodgers so strong is they pulled off trades for stars while not parting with their most coveted prospects, a testament to their minor league depth) 

Then he has the 2021 offseason. Which will be fascinating. Crawford, Belt, Cueto all “coming off the books”. Posey a team option. Conventional wisdom pre season was Cueto Crawford and Belt would not be resigned. And they would not exercise the option on Posey. Now, except for Cueto, it’s not as clear. 

Also Gausman, Wood, DeSclafani are all on one year deals. Assuming none sign multi year extensions during the season (and with a new CBA to be negotiated that is even more unlikely than usual) resigning them may be a challenge. 

And there is an attractive free agent market.

Giants will have loads of money to spend. How they do it will be, I think, Farhan biggest challenge.

He has proven he can build farm system depth, find diamonds in the rough and put a competitive team on the field while taking essentially a bottom up approach. Impressive to say the least.

Now he will have the opportunity to show if he can leverage that into an organization that can challenge the Dodgers and Padres, two teams that have parlayed minor league talent and the willingness to spend like drunken sailors into powerhouse rosters. 

I suspect he’s up to the task, assuming the checkbook is open (and it better be). It’s going to be fascinating to watch.