Sports
Why Buster Posey, Giants will be patient with manager search
In this episode of Giants Talk, hosts Cole Kiper and Alex Bavolich discuss the San Francisco Giants' managerial search, the latest postseason updates, and revisit bold predictions from earlier in...
Why Buster Posey, Giants will be patient with manager search
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Interactive Transcript
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Give a RECZE Promise only at Vancini Sleepworld. Visit sleepworld.com.
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Welcome to the Giants Talk podcast. Here's Alex Bavolich and co-paper by Noloska.
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What's up Giants fans? Welcome to another episode of Giants Talk. I'm Cole Kiper here with Giants
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Insetter Alex Bavolich. We've got postseason updates for you today. Plus we're revisiting
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our bold predictions and some bold predictions from listeners from way back at the start of
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the season. It feels like a lifetime ago. Plus a handful of mailbag questions to get this
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off season going. Before we get started, Giants Talk is presented by Nancini Sleepworld.
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At Nancini Sleepworld, every mattress is backed by our rest easy promise of a 365 night comfort guarantee
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with the lowest prices and next day delivery. Visit sleepworld.com.
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Alex at Nancini's, you can get terror free savings and get 40% off top brands like Beauty Rest and Seely.
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Those are some big names in the mattress world Alex. That's like the I would wear a hat with a
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seely logo just because they're a big deal, even though not a fan.
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It is the, who's the top free agent? Zach Galen, Kyle Tucker.
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Exactly. The mattresses.
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Exactly. I'm not ready for free agent talk yet, Alex, but I'm ready to look around the league.
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Obviously the Giants might not be in the postseason, but a lot of other teams are.
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And we're here watching from the outside before we're going to get into postseason talk though.
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Any big updates you want to do?
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What has happened in the last, it's a weird time of like this is supposed to be nothing.
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Like nothing. I think, you know, we're just waiting for a more managerial clarity.
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We know it won't be Skipshoe, Mocker, as expected. He got that Rangers job.
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He got the Rangers job. So one off the board already.
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Yeah, he would have been, I know some people who've known him for a long time, and they just rave about him.
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So, but good for the Rangers go from Bochi to him.
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We'll see what Bochi wants to decide in terms of where he wants to be a special assistant.
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But I think this is going to be, it's going to be pretty quiet for a couple of weeks.
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I mean, these, there'll be interviews and.
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But I would expect Buster to do a lot of interviews. I think it's part of this is just getting to know some people.
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Maybe some people who you might remember one thing I think we, we didn't totally covered just because so much else has been going on is.
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He did make it pretty clear that this time he will have some say on the staff.
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Yeah, like it's not a lot, but some, which is more than before like he was always like the staff is Bob's the line of his Bob's all that stuff.
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So I think part of this is getting to know some people who maybe you want in here in different roles.
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They certainly could use some fresh blood in a lot of ways and.
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Yeah, just getting people's opinions too on like it doesn't hurt to get someone to come in here and give their opinion on what's wrong.
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So I think this will take a bit and I would expect him to even though I do think he has people in mind.
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I would expect him to talk to a lot of different voices.
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All right, well, yeah, no big news in the manager search. We already said no Bruce Bochi that got clarity.
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So no, we have no skip Schumacher and can I throw another no in there just to silence a handful of the DMs I've been getting.
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The Guardians are not going to give permission to interview Stephen vote.
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Yeah, there's got like I keep getting like why don't the giants just write a blank check to Stephen vote.
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Why don't they progressively pursue Stephen vote.
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That's not happening man.
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These things are very rare.
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Like it's usually older managers or it's somebody like in Bochi's case a long time ago the podries wanted him out anyway.
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Yeah, so it was like yeah, if you Kevin towers called Brian Sabian and was like if you want to vote, here's your shot.
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A little similar to Bob Melvin right like they wanted to move on anyway.
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The Guardians love Stephen vote.
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Yeah, and if you read any stories about the way like it's gone there the last couple years and his relationship with people there.
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He's filled the organization with with Albi and Alyssa Nackin and people who have known each other Kai Karea like he's built this group.
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They just won the division went to the playoffs.
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Yeah, because there's no reason for the guardians to so yeah, you could stop sending us those male bad questions.
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Yeah, it would and if by some weird chance they were like okay, this is I don't know what say he wanted to go back to California.
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He's like I need to be in the Bay Area for family reasons for something like that.
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It would be great.
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It would also like probably cost a fair amount like it's not free.
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Yeah, it's a trade.
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So for a team that doesn't have a whole lot of trade assets right now.
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Like that's anyway, just in a lot of ways doesn't doesn't doesn't make sense, but I guess that's a perfect segue to kind of check in on the playoffs.
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See what teams are still in it.
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Guardians are out Stephen vote is out right now.
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We're looking at Phillies Dodgers Cubs Brewers, Mariners Tigers and Yankees Blue Jays.
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I know for Giants fans and just I guess general NL West fans the series everyone's keeping an eye on is Phillies Dodgers.
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Dodgers made short work of the wild card series that deep starting rotation acting on a bull pin or acting as a bull pin really seems like it's going to do damage this off season.
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Yeah, we're recording before they play game two.
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So we don't know where that series is currently, but I think it's one thing we talked about after we saw them a couple times in September was like if they put their relievers on ice, they'll be in pretty good shape.
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And it seems like they're planning to do that.
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And the other the game changer here for I think the entire postseason is Roki Sasaki who was anyone who's followed his journey this year.
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Like he was lost in triple.
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Like I'd be reading updates from Dodgers beat writers and Dodgers bloggers and they're like, yeah, Roki hit 96.
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Like it's, but he gave up like three runs.
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It was they're just grasping for any signs of of this working out for him.
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And it was pretty late. I mean, it was so late that we didn't even see him wait in the year when when the Giants went down there and when they came up that he became a reliever like kind of a game changer for him that all certain they have this closer who's thrown 101.
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And as an nasty secondary pitch and like looks kind of fearless too.
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So that that's been the biggest thing for me and also like a good you know every year we do our like what are the lessons from post seasons that like the Giants can take.
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I think this is a good reminder of how much how much development goes on in season and how important it is to he was so lost for the entire summer.
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And there were injury concerns and there were stuff concerns and his fastball was getting hit everywhere he was.
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And somebody somewhere along the way whether it was him or whether it was somebody in triple A or whether it was their organizational like pitching lab someone figured something out.
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And I've been thinking a lot every time I watch him of Hayden bird song and how he just disappeared.
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And the Giants just never felt he was even an option in September when they're running out like everybody else.
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And it was and it's it's like a reminder of how important it is with guys like that to be able to find the solution because Hayden super talented.
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And so yeah I think the Giants know this but that's it's a really underrated thing and it's something teams like the Dodgers do really well is just finding value in that guy.
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And I hope the Giants find a way to turn birdsong around because I hope somebody has the right answer for him just like somebody had the right answer for Sasaki.
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Yeah it seemed like that was the Giants for the past few years being able to be the team that figured out something in a picture that didn't.
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Yeah wasn't having it at the time and if they can't kind of reclaim that that reputation it's going to be a much harder to to sign some of the players they want to get.
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I don't know to get the juice they need out of players like Hayden bird song so yeah someone's got to go wiretap what's going on in LA because Sasaki's looking great.
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Or just straight up higher someone yeah there we go yeah but it's it's a great point make I mean there was a there was a couple years where all we talked about was like.
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Look what they did with discophony look what they did with osman look at Dom Leone look it.
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And I don't is there anybody really you can make that case for on this year's team because that.
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No in fact it feels like it's been the opposite.
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Yeah it feels like the guys who you come into the season expecting to be lights out can't even keep it going let alone the guys that have low expectations.
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I mean the guys who are good are web and Ray and Verlander who are established and in the group he's been.
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It's it's it's a normal trajectory for land in Roup they did a nice job with him but still it's not like.
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He came out of nowhere yeah yeah they didn't hit on that starter that I think the real thing you know Pagaro maybe you could look at and say.
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But also like he throws a hundred anyway like it's not like it's it's and yeah we saw him weaken a little bit at the end like yeah I think that's a huge thing going in next year and another thing I've thought just watching this post.
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And it's like you're watching these guys come out of like the Mariners bullpen and you're like who's that guy any but he throws 98 to 100 and.
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Is nasty and that's where it's like can can somebody turn Carson seem more into one of those yeah like you know so it's.
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It's a good reminder of how important it and yeah I think you nailed it like they haven't really.
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They haven't up their pitch and they haven't helped pitchers much in the last of the years it seems like.
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Yeah yeah alright so we're keeping an eye on that obviously go fillies maybe later on at the end of this debrief we'll talk about what teams still in the playoffs giant spans should be rooting for.
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But yeah it's it's going to be a it's going to be a tough series I mean the Dodgers finish the season below the fillies in record but this playout this Dodgers team feels like it's built for the playoffs there.
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There guys just come through clutch on offense we already talked about their pitching so despite them being the what the three seed in the going into the playoffs they feel like the one right now.
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Yeah and I think the important thing is that wild card series didn't impact them at all.
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I'd from like just moving the rotation around but not even too much so yeah they look tough I thought the fillies were my pick in the national way going into the post season.
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But yeah that was a tough game one.
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Yeah the other thing a few giants talk listeners sent me was did you see the fillies did a 999 challenge box at the playoff game.
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Who got who got the scent to the more mirror you.
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I would be even.
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Alright Alex is that me you're going to do it with me next season.
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I would do this one.
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I'll give mini beers and mini dogs yeah I do this I do yeah this what I would do the nine hot man that's like running a half marathon nine hot dogs just sound like nine actual hot dogs and I love food but I just am like a rather rather burn those calories on something else that's fair.
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That's fair that's.
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That's doable in people people asked if the giants are going to roll that out probably not.
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Yeah probably not this everybody should steal it yeah it was great and it's it's one of those things like part of the original thing with Alex seats was you'd see these things and you're like well I got to try it.
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So I mean the hamburger in Atlanta that was like a hamburger in a hot dog with chicken strips and like eight other things in it like got me vibing we ill.
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But it was one of those like I got to try it like it so I think if the giants were to do nine nine nine at Oracle like it'd be really successful because people would want to people want to do it.
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Alright I got to pull up the schedule right now to see when they're in Philly so you can do this challenge.
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I think if I feel it feels like a playoff thing.
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Well they're they're in Philly in April you could start the season off and April with this but yeah I very much doubt this makes it to the regular season.
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Yeah you can't encourage this type of alcohol consumption from Philly's fans all year round.
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Yeah I love that they're they're you know something different and you and I were very complimentary of the pop ups at Oracle and which they were more of it.
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It felt a little at the end when they were like we have all these fan appreciation specials didn't really like nothing like this like nothing where you're like that's that's the move so hope there's some brain brainstorming going on totally totally.
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Alright any other series we want to check in on Cubs Brewers Brewers were the one seed in the in the national league.
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Not much to talk about there Cubs got out to an early lead in game one and then had no nothing left in the tank after that.
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Yeah I that game was over after like five minutes so I yeah I didn't watch me that Mariners Tigers I feel like is going to be an awesome series and nobody's going to watch it because it was like it was the last thing on at night last night.
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One text earnings and then I but I people should watch it that was actually a great game game one and then you know we've talked about this 8000 times but every single time you watch Kevin Gosman it's just like why it was it was so easy it was right there it was right there why do you offer him such a small short term deal just yeah he was the guy so yeah but I'm I really like Kevin and I'm happy for him and that's a fun team.
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So alright well with that mind I'm going to say the rankings for who the Giants fans should be rooting for at this point starting off with the Phillies because we need them to take the Dodgers down just so that Braggen writes are lost in the NL West after that I think it's kind of neck and neck between Tigers and Mariners.
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I think you could argue putting the blue jays in there because of the Gosman connection but I think the Mariners have this inter-ella story that they're my runner up for who you should be rooting for it's a chance.
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Scott Harris running the Tigers. Yeah so there's that connection run and successful so yeah I think it's there's there's a this is more of an obvious who you're rooting against in multiple series.
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100% like we kind of lost some of the teams I would have been like Cole's gonna buy Guardians at if they absolutely. Oh I have.
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So yeah so we lost some of those but this is a who are you rooting against round. Yeah speaking of teams that are out Guardians bounced they got short work made of them and the Padres.
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Padres just looked flat in the post season.
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Yeah it's I think that teams a lot different I mean we've seen them at home there's it's such a good home field of energy and that was obviously not a great setup for them to go on the road but their stars just disappeared.
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Yeah and Mason Miller was awesome and the other guys just disappeared so you're not going to win a series doing that and I think they have a lot of free agents they have a lot I mean we know what they'll do they'll somehow they'll have the
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number seven prospect in baseball that we've never heard of in their freedom but for starter but yeah this was there.
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At some point they're gonna even though I and we've talked about a lot how I especially am very appreciative of their go for go for it every year.
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At some point this train is going to hit the end of the road.
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Exactly I think that train ends before the meds train ends but if they don't strike gold eventually with big post season success.
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Yeah it's not a sustainable way to run a franchise.
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Yeah I mean Tatees is young, Meryl is young.
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You know they have Miller now for a while we'll see what they do with him but I wonder next year it's going to be interesting for them like they've.
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They have some guys coming back but they've they've kind of maybe run out of track here with this with this group and maybe.
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It's tough because they're also so committed to older guys so they might be better off taking a year off from like trading every every opportunity you have but but they're committed to this roster so much I appreciate but they've they keep coming up short in October.
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You can tell frustrations intentions were high in San Diego I don't know if you saw the video of them going after the ups the Machado interview in post game after that game.
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I know that if nothing else they're making an impact on the league by the rigley is going to have to build a third tunnel for umpires only.
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I didn't have a problem with the Machado interview.
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No I mean obviously you're super frustrated coming out of that game there's no sound bite that's going to work there but the umpire thing was rough.
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Yeah but somebody asked him like how I don't something like about the full season.
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Yeah how do you what's your takeaway from this season it's like that we failed like we lost it's like yeah no you you failed it is.
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Yeah umpire thing was not great look on the other hand horrible call.
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Yeah horrible horrible how do you take that pitch in that situation now.
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Yeah I know it was a back all and it was it was a reminder and I think I'm 100% like I'm sticking my claim just like I was 100% pro 10th inning rules.
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Um I'm 100% pro ABS like could not be further in favor of this and that was a reminder of like what's coming next year.
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They would have burned their ABS is already in the controversy would have stood somebody Bryce Johnson would have burned it early.
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Yeah yeah it's um that's why you save it too for the next inning so yeah ABS in the post season is going to be fun.
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It's going to be really interesting.
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All right that's what we got for the post season elsewhere in baseball before we move on to our giant's exclusive topics.
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Um what Alex and I have touted as maybe the most exciting job in baseball the Rockies are looking for a new GM.
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Giant no yeah so we put this here because it's I think this actually does have an impact on the giants in one very important way which is.
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That they have to steal a phrase from social media they've been Rockies merchants for the last five years yeah like loading up on Rockies wins.
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And especially like really bad against the rest of the vision this year but the Rockies kept them afloat.
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If the Rockies ever do it is going to take some time but it seems like the Rockies are finally committed to like going external.
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And bringing in someone who knows how to do the do the job and just not being the worst team ever so it is like a little it's a small thing but the giants have been able to count on like.
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10 going 10 and two or whatever 10 and three every year so if they ever figured out and at least figure out how to be tough at home again.
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Like that's a small thing but not great for the giants make the NL West get even uglier.
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Yeah I mean I think the tough thing about the division is supposed to be it's tough to go into course and for the giants in the last few years it hasn't been so.
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I still I've said this here many times I still think they should just hire far on.
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Exactly you look at the differential that you could build around home games having a field like course you just have to get someone very creative super analytics heavy and that could be a really really interesting team in color.
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Yeah just do something weird in long term I actually think that's I was talking to someone recently about the giants manager search and we circled around to that Rockies thing.
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And he was like that's actually a sneaky like a really good job because they it's a good fan base like if there were some highlights earlier this year of them like walking someone off on like a Friday night and it was packed like it's a good fan base there and they've shown in the past like they'll spend some money they're not the Marlins or the A's.
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So I think it's actually like a decent job and Denver is dialed in to be the new San Diego.
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Yeah maybe it's so it could be like this is way down the line but like they could be a problem at some point but I just think short term like them not being that like just not being able to walk over them is it's going to be just a tiny thing for the rest of the division.
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It'll be inconvenient yeah inconvenient is the you can explain those we were we've been on with year two of must sweep every Rocky series every series every day.
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At some point that'll change yeah yeah all right I want to take a look at our bold predictions from the beginning of the season and some predictions from listeners plus mail back questions but first John stock is presented by Mancini sleep world at Mancini sleep world every mattress is backed by our rest easy promise of a 365 night.
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I want to rewind our mental state back to March.
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I think when we made these bold predictions here on Giants talk you and I dropped three each I have updates on those we can see how we did plus I selected a handful of our listeners talk listeners mail bag responses we got 100 200 of those that I've been keeping an eye on checking off what hit.
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Double checking off what dramatically failed to hit you have been very diligent about this.
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When I saw the list in spring training.
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Yep.
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Yep.
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All right well let's start with the I'll start with my first one.
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My first bold prediction was the Giants are the number one wild card team.
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Obviously we know that did not happen Giants missed it by 11 games with what the Cubs 92 wins.
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Cubs yeah they were the yeah not even close didn't even get the three the number three spot.
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They're you were you were not very close on your.
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I've never been close but this is probably my worst showing of any year here on this.
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They didn't have a great year.
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No what was your number one.
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My first was Hayden bird song makes 20 starts he made time and then completely lost his command.
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You couldn't have seen that one coming.
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Well I guess yeah in a way you could.
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Yeah I think the math behind this was right that they were going to need him and once he got in he was going to just be in the rotation.
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And then in July was June July July.
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He's way out of the job yeah.
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Yeah so that's a tough one in wool.
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Yeah well rest of October I think we'll do some looking back and looking ahead and he's like very high on my list of.
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Kind of swing pieces for next year.
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They need something out of him.
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Remember how good he was out of the bullpen.
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Incredible.
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Remember that road trip.
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Yeah so they need something out of him.
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Yeah yeah.
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Yeah all right my next one and this was what I put in because I like to have a single game prediction that even when the season goes sideways you can hope for one thing.
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Jungly pokes a splash hit did not happen failed number two.
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No you you need to have a body of water in New York.
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Yeah there we go.
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So he's it was funny we talked him at the end of the year and asked what his favorite moment was.
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Yeah he was kind of like New York.
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Yeah easy.
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So yep good weekend.
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Yeah.
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Yeah I nailed my number two Casey Schmidt hits double digit homers.
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All right.
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Make does that are you like patting yourself on the back about that or are you feeling it wasn't bold enough.
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I don't think it was the boldest but I also would say like.
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Remember the first road trip of the year like it was like month the first Monday of the season Casey Schmidt started taking ground balls at first base.
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That was his only avenue to playing time.
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Yes.
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So it is a reminder of like how far you come over 162 that he was just completely out of the mix like it was like hey maybe this guy can play some first base against lefties because weight struggling.
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And then by the end of the year it's like.
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Do they have their second baseman.
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He's in there every day.
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That's solid year for Casey I talked to him the last weekend he's he's going to.
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Get in different shape he bulked out last off season because he thought it'd be around the corners a little bit more.
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Now second base get some range back I think.
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Swim down a little.
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Yeah maybe some hot yoga.
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Whatever it takes.
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But I'm on record here I've said it before I think I'll say it all off season like that's one spot where I'd kind of just leave it.
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Okay.
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I think he's a good player and can be a good player and.
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Shode flashes so and he made me look right here so yeah.
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That we will have second base discussion later in the off season I know I've been asked about the Korean kid who the giants have been I don't know looking at thinking about but a topic for another day Alex my number three.
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I think the whole prediction the giants improve their city connect record of all of mine I think this was a this was a long shot anyways the record they would have had to have played at to improve from 30 and 16 was potentially intenable but they went far under 500 and their city connects five and nine I believe based on a
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spreadsheet I found online that I think someone on the giant subreddit had made with every uniforms record.
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I think that's what I I added up at the end of the year I think that's where I ended up as well.
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Yeah so not great hashtag bring back the creamsicles.
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They did wear them on the Patrick Bailey walk off.
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That's real right.
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That's true they they did get a big moment but there were plenty of big moments in the other ones too.
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I would I would bring back the creamsicles in a second I would you know it's you sold me on those.
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Plus land is so strong if you have the creamsicles and you go nine and five you're in the playoffs boom that was the difference maker that was the difference.
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All right what was your final bull prediction before we move on to our listeners.
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My last one was the giants have four all stars and they had three.
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I think I got screwed here because looking back it's even more ridiculous that that Mizorowski kid got the final spot.
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Yeah over a tie bar Rogers among others.
spk_0
That's going to be like an all time maybe he's going to have a great career at who knows but he has good stuff certainly finishes with a 4.36.
spk_0
So I'm going to be a big six year.
spk_0
So nice job Moby.
spk_0
Yeah you jammed him in there over a bunch of other guys after like a week.
spk_0
They heard your bull prediction there like we can't let this stand.
spk_0
Tire I feel bad for and just anybody else anybody else who was deserving.
spk_0
Yeah totally.
spk_0
All right let's move on to our predictions from listeners.
spk_0
The first one I decided to include is from David.
spk_0
Giant swing 100 games.
spk_0
We got a lot of record based bold predictions some bolder than others.
spk_0
I think this one's good representation of all them.
spk_0
Obviously a 500 season did not put them even close.
spk_0
Not close.
spk_0
Not close from Derek Tyler Fitzgerald will have the highest f war on the team.
spk_0
We went into this season really high on Tyler Fitzgerald.
spk_0
We joked about a graphic that put him as like was it the number three or four second baseman in the national league.
spk_0
Number six or something like that.
spk_0
Yeah and he ended with point one F.
spk_0
You actually we've talked about this a lot of us off season if you actually looked at second base who is like you know he doesn't actually have to do much to be the sixth best second baseman.
spk_0
Yeah in baseball.
spk_0
You got to hit though.
spk_0
He is you know he's the weird thing about the season there's certain guys who are huge parts of it and they just disappeared.
spk_0
Him birdsong Matos Luciano we didn't see all year.
spk_0
So there were certain guys who like we talk about a ton in the spring and are still young and they just weren't.
spk_0
We're out of the mix.
spk_0
I've been made a set.
spk_0
Andrew Bagley wrote a really good piece recently and he included something where he was critical of the front office for lack of action and some of the you know if you look at like.
spk_0
Catcher backup catcher.
spk_0
You look around the infield you look around the bullpen and I think that's it.
spk_0
If you're Bob that's a good defense of the job you did is we made a lot of how patient they were in April especially and then you kind of look back and you go like.
spk_0
They probably could have made some waiver claims along the way like I actually think that I asked buster this on the last podcast like actually it a pretty good batting average when they did make a move.
spk_0
They just didn't make a whole lot of moves.
spk_0
So this is one spot where you ultimately end up okay because a Casey but it's like.
spk_0
They had a lot of faith and internal options and didn't really bring in a whole lot else.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Alright from Michael Lamontway Jr has a killer first half and goes to the all star game.
spk_0
Just a quick recap on Lamontway Jr season.
spk_0
Stuggled the first half traded in June released from an a highman August and ended tied for the lowest batting war in the league.
spk_0
Do we ever see him again.
spk_0
I don't think so.
spk_0
Maybe we see him in spring training with someone like three job.
spk_0
Someone's like nobody I better strike someone.
spk_0
Oh that's a good call.
spk_0
No I think he'll do the spring training thing.
spk_0
I I wonder if this ends up being like.
spk_0
You know ends up overseas.
spk_0
Yeah I definitely see that.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
But Michael we're going to miss their reminiscent of Lamontway Jr.
spk_0
What else we got our next one from Joel Joel says in September Giants talk will be discussing if Ryan Walker should be in consideration for side young.
spk_0
If I remember correctly in September Giants talk was.
spk_0
I think I was like apologizing for defending him so wholeheartedly throughout the second half.
spk_0
And we were having discussions of where his space is on the team next year.
spk_0
Yeah this relievers up and down.
spk_0
That's right.
spk_0
It's a thankless tough job.
spk_0
It is Dylan Justin Verlander turns back the clock and finishes top five in NL Si Young voting.
spk_0
Recap on Verlander season first half was absolutely brutal partially in no fault of his own.
spk_0
The end of the season going four into 11 and will wins are not the most important thing in the world.
spk_0
For side young voting for 11's not going to cut it.
spk_0
Yeah I will give Dylan some credit he did turn back the clock the last six weeks.
spk_0
Eventually yeah he eventually did.
spk_0
Yeah and I'm going to end with two wins for our listeners the first from Josh Josh says Casey Schmidt will be the starting second basement by July 15th.
spk_0
And Josh was right by one week Casey took over July 7th and pretty much didn't give it up since then.
spk_0
All right what's the second one second one Cameron says the Giants trade for an all star player at deadline.
spk_0
He didn't make the all 13 this year he wasn't right at the deadline but having been at three time all star I'm saying Rafi Devers counts for this one.
spk_0
Shout out to Cameron.
spk_0
That's that's that's about all the success we had in our bold predictions other than the people who are not nearly bold enough.
spk_0
We'll run it back next year.
spk_0
There's always next year Alex. All right.
spk_0
Well let's get a handful of male back questions from listeners as always it's going to be a long off season.
spk_0
If you have questions for us feel free to send them wherever you can find Alex or myself on social media.
spk_0
Maybe without this off season I'll give you guys some prompts what I want to hear you ask about.
spk_0
But for now hit us with your topics the first one we have Michael says what about Randy win for Giants manager he was one of busters first hire is he played under Bochi.
spk_0
He's younger for a manager and he's currently me organization as player development.
spk_0
I obviously love Randy worked with him for a long time.
spk_0
I think this is a they put a pretty big job on his shoulders so I think there's a job to finish there.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Although you know this one thing that's been kind of circling around my head is a couple times buster has circled back to he's done this big search and circle back to someone who is right next to him.
spk_0
I mean Randy originally he's obviously here and then also Zach Manassian so maybe does that again but I don't think he would change the you know Randy has a arguably like almost as important a job.
spk_0
Just try to get some of these kids up here and make sure they're ready.
spk_0
So I also don't imagine a first time manager being who fills this spot.
spk_0
It could be I just think if it was it would be someone who's like probably a former catcher.
spk_0
Yeah well that's basically managed before exactly is that a first time manager.
spk_0
Yeah true.
spk_0
All right from Ted Ted says Ted asks when I hear that a manager has quote lost the clubhouse.
spk_0
How does that manifest itself?
spk_0
What does it look like on a daily basis?
spk_0
As someone who's not in the weeds and the trenches as often as you my understanding is losing the clubhouse means your players find a card game they like and play that a lot.
spk_0
What was the card game?
spk_0
Pusoie.
spk_0
Yeah it's a great question it's not really like a I think it's not anywhere near as cut and dry as you think like on social media.
spk_0
There's not like a light that turns on that's like clubhouse husband.
spk_0
Well I mean look there's it's a couple years of some grumbling about Gabe and Farhan before they get let go.
spk_0
I think at the end the main thing I would say is like at the end you could kind of see in stories a lot of off the record quotes and things that were coming from people in the clubhouse who were feeding stuff out there because they were not happy with what was going on.
spk_0
And then really that the end with with Gabe was on the record stuff with players kind of open we just saying.
spk_0
Things that were wrong like so that that is my I've been doing this in 2012 that's the only time I could really experience that is the last few months with with Gabe in the last couple weeks especially which was like Logan I think yes.
spk_0
Swayer maybe we heard it from players who left the team as well to bond was pretty.
spk_0
Yeah there were some very pointed quotes from guys the at the end there which I think is about as far as you go in terms of losing the clubhouse and yeah and I'll say again like I don't think Bob lost the clubhouse so I think he.
spk_0
I talked to a lot of people the last weekend just chatting with them and they're like nope still like him so yeah this isn't as dramatic like it's no one's I don't think like throwing food around or anything.
spk_0
You just kind of lose the faith to your players and they kind of make it clear they want somebody else somebody else in charge.
spk_0
Mo asks you keep mentioning dumb might have a better opportunity elsewhere do you think someone will make him their starting first basement.
spk_0
It's we do talk about that a lot I should say the key here is not whether someone makes him the starting first basement the thing here is he would be third.
spk_0
Yeah they're in the same place as go behind two very strong options.
spk_0
Yeah and whatever you feel about and I don't think it's out of the question that Bryce starts the year back in triple A but that's going to be short term like it's going to be.
spk_0
So yeah I think that's the issue with him is if he signed up here he'd be knowing that he's probably at some point the number three option there behind a 21 year old and who in theory should be ready to go every day.
spk_0
And a guy who just played 163 games so that that's my thing it's not a starter it's like you can probably find somewhere else where you're at least in a platoon or like the solid backup.
spk_0
Can I float you an interesting comp that not exactly because it was for the starting role but then she made a free agent after 2019 or 20 2009.
spk_0
Unexpected re-sign even though Buster Posey was waiting in the wings and then eventually did swoop it and take his job and take the team the world series.
spk_0
But it's a great example too because what happened then you got traded so you got traded so yeah we'll see what happens I mean I I just think he's going to and I'm hopeful for him that somebody saw what he did the last two months.
spk_0
Yeah it was like that guy can be part of the solution here exactly I think he's earned himself a bigger payday than the giants are going to be able to give him.
spk_0
Same.
spk_0
Will asks.
spk_0
Giants have only gone to the playoffs in back to back seasons one time since 1958.
spk_0
Is Buster's legacy as an exec less about championships and more about just making them competitive year over year.
spk_0
A lot of good questions today.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
I think Buster would tell you it's about championships.
spk_0
I think he would he would tell you that's like that's what it's here to do.
spk_0
I would say if he did this for five years and let's say next year they make the playoffs and after that they're like right there in the year after that they make the playoffs again something like that I think that would be.
spk_0
He viewed as a huge win if he if he got him back to like.
spk_0
You know even like where the Padres were this year where you're more competing for a division title as opposed to going to 81 and 81 so I would view that as successful if he if he got them back into the postseason a couple times.
spk_0
I think that's the best way to win this.
spk_0
But he's he's here to win championships.
spk_0
I also I've seen this you know Giants haven't made the playoffs in back to back years thing.
spk_0
And it's it's crazy just thinking about how much making the playoffs have changed.
spk_0
Like we have the 90 win Giants in 2001 didn't make the playoffs.
spk_0
that we're looking at it 82 win team that could make the playoffs.
spk_0
You know, even before that, going back to the early 90s
spk_0
and a huge chunk of this swath of times is 58.
spk_0
What, like one team, three teams made the playoffs?
spk_0
Yeah, it's, I think any of that stuff,
spk_0
I've seen that some places too, and I'm also like,
spk_0
well, they also won three titles in five years.
spk_0
So, and part of the reason they were not making the postseason
spk_0
in the year afterward was, I mean, there's a lot of things
spk_0
that Buster gets hurt in 11,
spk_0
but part of it those years was like, guys were gas from postseason runs,
spk_0
which is why we don't have repeat champions for the most part.
spk_0
Exactly. The hangovers are real.
spk_0
Your, your relief pitchers, your closers do not come back the next year the same.
spk_0
We'll give them a ton of crap for making the postseason twice
spk_0
since the last time they won a title for not winning a postseason series
spk_0
since 2014. Yeah, that's the one.
spk_0
Yeah, but not like back to back years thing.
spk_0
I don't really care about that.
spk_0
Yeah, they have three titles.
spk_0
So they figure, bigger, bigger droughts to worry about.
spk_0
Nick asks, what are the players coaching staff in front office
spk_0
do after the season's complete?
spk_0
Are there player meetings with the coaching staff
spk_0
or they go over where everyone needs to improve?
spk_0
Or is it essentially the day after 162 is complete?
spk_0
Everyone's on their way home.
spk_0
And I'm going to tie in very similar question from Los Monos.
spk_0
What is the end of the year look like to the players?
spk_0
Is it you get your stuff and leave?
spk_0
Did they all move out on the same day?
spk_0
Is there an end of your party at someone's house?
spk_0
What do they do?
spk_0
There's, I don't think there's a party.
spk_0
If there is, they keep a quiet.
spk_0
I guys leave that Sunday.
spk_0
Yeah, yes.
spk_0
And you know, part of this is you don't even need me for this.
spk_0
You can just see them on Instagram.
spk_0
I think Landon Rupa is hunting on Monday morning.
spk_0
Spencer Rivens is playing golf.
spk_0
You can just see guys leave right away.
spk_0
The thing that the reason I love this question
spk_0
and it's something I'm curious about next year is
spk_0
we have not had a normal end of season here for a while.
spk_0
spk_0
If you, in really like 20, I guess 22 would be the last one,
spk_0
but 21 and end so abruptly with the postseason
spk_0
and then you just kind of go, you go home.
spk_0
20 was a COVID year.
spk_0
22 was normal-ish, but 23, 24, 25,
spk_0
somebody really major got fired.
spk_0
So traditionally, yeah, they would meet with guys
spk_0
at the end of the year and you would see like the last week
spk_0
and see who's an example.
spk_0
The Pagaro get called in to the office with the pitching coach
spk_0
and the manager and some analytics people
spk_0
and they'd be like, this is kind of your offseason plan.
spk_0
I know there's some of that last week.
spk_0
I've heard some of that stuff, but there's also like,
spk_0
you're not going to have a meeting with Bob Melton that last week.
spk_0
So we're two weeks ago.
spk_0
So yeah, traditionally, there is like a,
spk_0
here's your offseason plan.
spk_0
I think a lot of it now is done digitally.
spk_0
It's done, you know, sending you things, I,
spk_0
I'm texting you things, but I also think the giants
spk_0
because of the weird position they've been in the last three years
spk_0
have not done the traditional like sit down with the manager
spk_0
and the, the president and the pitching coach
spk_0
and map out your offseason.
spk_0
And here's what we want to see because they just,
spk_0
that's part of the problem with not having continuity.
spk_0
Yeah, you don't get your annual performance reviews.
spk_0
Yeah, and look, whoever it is is going to call these guys
spk_0
right away and go meet with these guys individually
spk_0
and start mapping things out, but they have not had
spk_0
the traditional end of season meetings that,
spk_0
that guys used to have.
spk_0
All right, one more question from Noah.
spk_0
Noah says, you guys keep pushing back on people who want to move
spk_0
on from Walker.
spk_0
Why are you confident?
spk_0
You'll be better next year.
spk_0
It's like he knew we'd bring up Walker earlier this time.
spk_0
We just did it.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Um,
spk_0
I, first and foremost, because it.
spk_0
Relievers do this.
spk_0
Yes.
spk_0
And you look at what he did last year.
spk_0
I mean, one point nine year, right last year,
spk_0
he was one of the best relievers in baseball a year ago.
spk_0
And this year he had a rough year,
spk_0
but it also wasn't like a horrible year.
spk_0
Like it wasn't.
spk_0
That's a flashy blown saves that's digging your memory.
spk_0
But overall, that was it wasn't a horrible capital age here.
spk_0
Well, the funny thing about Walker too is like.
spk_0
So he pitches Friday night at the end of the season gets
spk_0
to save strikes out to 14 14 pitches.
spk_0
Um, the next day he blows it.
spk_0
So right or the next day he struggles and,
spk_0
and the river bivines came in.
spk_0
So he did still a lot of times do the job.
spk_0
Um, I just, my main thing with relievers is like,
spk_0
if a guy has a good arm and is healthy and is young and his,
spk_0
you know, he's going to end up, he's not arbitration eligible yet.
spk_0
Um, he missed super two, I think, but a few days.
spk_0
So it's a very cheap relief arm that you know if his right
spk_0
can be your eighth inning guy.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
And if he's somewhere in between 24 and 25,
spk_0
he's still a valuable reliever.
spk_0
So yeah, that's my thing.
spk_0
If the question is more about like moving on from Walker
spk_0
in the capital C closer spot.
spk_0
Yeah, I get it.
spk_0
But having him around,
spk_0
we've kind of talked about this on the podcast that if he was
spk_0
with a different team and he was moved on from,
spk_0
they would totally give him a call and,
spk_0
and he would be an option for this bullpen that needs arms.
spk_0
Yeah, relievers are so fluky.
spk_0
It's so up and down.
spk_0
And we know what he can get back to if that is attainable.
spk_0
Yeah, I mean, just like a really good chance that he is like a two,
spk_0
three year right next year,
spk_0
because it's just the way these guys relievers go.
spk_0
So,
spk_0
and I also might,
spk_0
you know, Buster said this on the last podcast,
spk_0
main takeaway from the season is you can never have enough pitching.
spk_0
So anyone who is on the 40 man in cost controlled and has talent,
spk_0
like come to camp,
spk_0
let's see what you have in.
spk_0
And I think there's going to be certain guys in Walker probably fits
spk_0
in this boat.
spk_0
Like they'd love to be able to take some pressure off of them.
spk_0
And lesser roles.
spk_0
But they're going to need all these guys.
spk_0
I think it's, you know, yeah, I don't,
spk_0
my question to people at the end of the year,
spk_0
and like people would come up to me at the ballpark and be like,
spk_0
why aren't they doing late innings late in a different way?
spk_0
And I'm kind of like,
spk_0
who do you want to throw out there?
spk_0
The core force boiled this.
spk_0
Yeah, but even, you know, even those guys,
spk_0
I mean,
spk_0
you go through in there a years where they didn't like,
spk_0
they didn't have it.
spk_0
So where they lost,
spk_0
I think,
spk_0
well, at least the two right hinders both lost their closer job at some point.
spk_0
So, you know,
spk_0
we were doing this podcast then.
spk_0
You'd be getting this question from Noah or someone else.
spk_0
You keep pushing back on people who want to move on from Cassia.
spk_0
Yeah, I think it's just my main.
spk_0
It's just the thing I have with with anybody who's,
spk_0
who still has talent in this.
spk_0
Showing flashes of who they are.
spk_0
It's like,
spk_0
you just never know,
spk_0
and I'll go back to the way we started the podcast.
spk_0
Broke, he's a socky.
spk_0
Who knew?
spk_0
That was the dude.
spk_0
So.
spk_0
spk_0
spk_0
Yeah, that's where I go into the off season.
spk_0
Yeah, and I also, why are you confident he'll be back?
spk_0
He'll be better next year.
spk_0
It just seems like such a low stakes.
spk_0
Gamble, like, I don't need to be confident.
spk_0
Because I'm not confident he will be worse next year.
spk_0
Yeah, I, I think he'll be better.
spk_0
I think he'll,
spk_0
I think this was a really rough year for him.
spk_0
spk_0
I've seen so many relievers.
spk_0
And I just relievers are.
spk_0
I have no better way to say it than really relievers are weird.
spk_0
And I think you also don't want to like.
spk_0
You don't want to give up at the wrong time and don't want to sell low and look.
spk_0
The giants ultimately end up selling low on Camille de Valle.
spk_0
Who knows where his career goes,
spk_0
but like it,
spk_0
it's just.
spk_0
These guys have such such swings year to year.
spk_0
They also take a disproportionate amount of the blame.
spk_0
Yeah, where the offense.
spk_0
Completely failed to produce.
spk_0
We're talking about Ryan Walker.
spk_0
Yeah, I think that's where that's where I was kind of come at it too.
spk_0
You get so you can see the replies from people who are like,
spk_0
well, if he didn't blow this many games that be in the postseason.
spk_0
And I'm like, well, how about they score two rounds a game for two weeks in August instead of one run a game.
spk_0
Yes.
spk_0
So.
spk_0
And even like as much as I.
spk_0
I feel for Verlander because he.
spk_0
You know, he was a two or three of his starts that Walker was involved in.
spk_0
He also like Verlander did not pitch very well at the beginning of the year.
spk_0
So, you know, there's a ton of blame to go around and things like this.
spk_0
And to your point, certain guys get more of it than others.
spk_0
And that's where I think you and I sometimes push back like, hey,
spk_0
there's a lot of reasons that they finish 81 and 81.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
If Ryan Walker had a career year, maybe they sneak into that last spot.
spk_0
But there's a lot of other things that could have gone much more right.
spk_0
That would make them sneak into that last spot.
spk_0
You know what I respected a lot at the end of the year was Logan was kind of talking about a season and brought up that Saturday against the Dodgers.
spk_0
And how that's going to stick with him.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
And I'm like, yeah, no, that was a huge.
spk_0
If you want to look at where the season went wrong, like Logan Web and Robbie Ray being lined up that weekend.
spk_0
That's huge.
spk_0
And I think both of them are veterans and understand and Logan brought that up is a regret he has.
spk_0
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Everybody in that room can say it.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Well, it'll be a long off season, filled with fixing things, changing things, updating things.
spk_0
First thing to address, of course, will be the manager.
spk_0
So Alex and I will be here this off season ready to break down any rumors, any news, any thing that happens on that front and much more.
spk_0
In the meantime, subscribe wherever you listen to your podcast so you can hear Giant Stock as it comes out on its regularly scheduled episodes and any emergency podcasts that may be required.
spk_0
This off season, don't forget to leave this podcast a five star rating wherever you listen to your podcast and go get the franchise by Alex Palovich out now on paperback and sold out now on hardcover.
spk_0
I have some hard covers left.
spk_0
Oh, you got to go straight to you for those or can you are you stocking the shelves straight to the source.
spk_0
So, um,
spk_0
unfortunately for I have a lot of free time right now.
spk_0
Yes, sir.
spk_0
If anyone needs a book, send me a message.