[Mick]

Since Chapman, Snell and Bellinger are represented by Boros, it may be late January before they sign.  I like Imanaga over Snell.  I have a feeling that Snell (regardless who signs him) will be this year’s “what were they thinking” signee. 

Signing Chapman and Imanaga (along with Lee) would be a solid off-season (Bellinger would be a bonus).  Having said that, the key to 2024 is the development of the young guys, especially Luciano, Winn, Harrison, and Schmitt (Matt Williams may be able to help him get on track).  And, it would be nice to have a breakout year from a player like Black or Whisenhunt.

I think the Giants have some serious young pitching talent. Hopefully Bryan Price (local out of Mt. Tam High and UC Berkeley) can develop the talent. This is his fifth pitching coach role. He was USA Today's Pitching coach of the year in 2001 with the Mariners, he was the Major League Coach of the year in 2007 after the Diamondbacks pitched well. This is his second time following a Gabe Kapler firing...Girardi named him pitching coach for the Phillies in 2020 after Kapler went 81-81 in 2019. The Phils went 28-32 the next season and their ERA ballooned from 4.53 to 5.14 when the Phillies finished 27th of 30 MLB teams. Price then retired, and came back as a senior advisor to the Padres for the last two years. They improved marginally from 14th to 11th in MLB from 4.37 to 3.81 ERA, then improved slightly to 3.73, which was 2nd in MLB. Pretty impressive. Hopefully Price will crush it with the young talent.

As for Pat Burrell, the new co-hitting coach, who was responsible for minor league hitting...SFG's minor league affiliates improved their hitting considerably from 2022 to 2023, from a .733 OPS to .754. The other co-hitting coach, Justin Viele, joined in 2020. The Giants went from 28th in runs scored to 8th, 6th, 11th and then dumped to 24th. As much as I'd like to see an SCU alum succeed, I'm very concerned that the 24th finish is what this team is capable of versus the 8th or 6th.

I think Matt WIlliams went through similar tribulations as did Casey Schmitt. Maybe he can unlock greatness there.

[Mick]

Since Chapman, Snell and Bellinger are represented by Boros, it may be late January before they sign.  I like Imanaga over Snell.  I have a feeling that Snell (regardless who signs him) will be this year’s “what were they thinking” signee. 

Signing Chapman and Imanaga (along with Lee) would be a solid off-season (Bellinger would be a bonus).  Having said that, the key to 2024 is the development of the young guys, especially Luciano, Winn, Harrison, and Schmitt (Matt Williams may be able to help him get on track).  And, it would be nice to have a breakout year from a player like Black or Whisenhunt.

I think the Giants have some serious young pitching talent. Hopefully Bryan Price (local out of Mt. Tam High and UC Berkeley) can develop the talent. This is his fifth pitching coach role. He was USA Today's Pitching coach of the year in 2001 with the Mariners, he was the Major League Coach of the year in 2007 after the Diamondbacks pitched well. This is his second time following a Gabe Kapler firing...Girardi named him pitching coach for the Phillies in 2020 after Kapler went 81-81 in 2019. The Phils went 28-32 the next season and their ERA ballooned from 4.53 to 5.14 when the Phillies finished 27th of 30 MLB teams. Price then retired, and came back as a senior advisor to the Padres for the last two years. They improved marginally from 14th to 11th in MLB from 4.37 to 3.81 ERA, then improved slightly to 3.73, which was 2nd in MLB. Pretty impressive. Hopefully Price will crush it with the young talent.

As for Pat Burrell, the new co-hitting coach, who was responsible for minor league hitting...SFG's minor league affiliates improved their hitting considerably from 2022 to 2023, from a .733 OPS to .754. The other co-hitting coach, Justin Viele, joined in 2020. The Giants went from 28th in runs scored to 8th, 6th, 11th and then dumped to 24th. As much as I'd like to see an SCU alum succeed, I'm very concerned that the 24th finish is what this team is capable of versus the 8th or 6th.

I think Matt WIlliams went through similar tribulations as did Casey Schmitt. Maybe he can unlock greatness there.