Locked On Giants – Daily Podcast On The San Francisco Giants
1,343 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 282 ratingsLocked On Giants podcast is your daily ticket to stay ahead of the game and the first to know the latest news, analysis, and insider info for the San Francisco Giants and Major League Baseball. Hosted by Ben Kaspick, a lifelong Giants fan and former RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score contributor, the Locked On Giants podcast provides your daily Giants fix with expert, local analysis, and coverage of all aspects of the Giants franchise, including game breakdowns and transactions in a data-driven way that’s rational but simple, passionate and accessible. Locked On Giants takes you beyond the scoreboard for the inside scoops on the biggest stories from within the Giants locker room and all over MLB. The Locked On Giants podcast is part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.
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Episodes
Trading Ha-Seong Kim: A Win-Win Move for SF Giants & Padres?
December 21, 2023 19:16 - 40 minutes - 32.2 MBHa-Seong Kim to the San Francisco Giants? For the Giants, Kim is just about the perfect player for a number of reasons. He's great defensively. He's good friends with new SF Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee. Kim loved played under new Giants manager Bob Melvin. He plays shortstop, second, and third. Marco Luciano is unproven at shortstop and it would be great for the SF Giants to have a premium insurance plan like Kim in case Luciano doesn't take the job and run with it. But what about fr...
Tom Murphy to SF Giants: The Ideal Lefty-Mashing Catcher to Complement Patrick Bailey
December 20, 2023 01:19 - 29 minutes - 23.7 MBThe San Francisco Giants' new backup catcher has been one of the best hitters in baseball against left-handed pitching since 2019. Tom Murphy, who has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $8.25M deal with the SF Giants with a club option for a third year, is a lefty masher who's a perfect complement to Giants primary catcher Patrick Bailey. Murphy's main issue has been staying on the field. But when he's been out there, he's been a forced to be reckoned with against southpaws. The ramifications...
Why SF Giants fans instantly fell in love with Jung Hoo Lee
December 16, 2023 04:47 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBSan Francisco Giants fans who watched Jung Hoo Lee's introductory press conference today by and large seemed to fall in love with the 25-year-old center fielder from Korea. Jung Hoo Lee made several opening remarks in English, including an excited "Let's go Giants!" at the end. Lee later coyly asked, "Handsome?" after he donned an SF Giants jersey and hat for the first time. The Giants signed Lee to a 6-year, $113 million contract with an opt-out after four years, and only time will tell if ...
Jung Hoo Lee passes physical, officially joins SF Giants on $113M deal
December 15, 2023 03:57 - 32 minutes - 26.1 MBSan Francisco Giants fans can finally take a deep breath. Jung Hoo Lee has passed his physical, and he is officially a member of the SF Giants. It's by far the largest free-agent contract finalized in the Farhan Zaidi era, (though Correa's $350M deal that ultimately fell through would've been more than three times as large). Lee is unproven at the major league level, of course, but brings a tantalizing blend of youth and a skill set that the Giants have been sorely lacking to the lineup. He ...
SF Giants, Jung Hoo Lee Agree to 6-Year, $113M Deal (report)
December 13, 2023 03:16 - 34 minutes - 27.4 MBThe San Francisco Giants desperately needed to sign some players, especially in the wake of Shohei Ohtani electing to sign with the Dodgers on a ridiculous 10-year, $700 million contract. Per reports, they've done just that, inking 25-year-old Korean star Jung Hoo Lee to a six-year deal worth $113 million. Lee is exactly the kind of offensive and defensive player the Giants need. He's young, he's athletic. He has incredible bat-to-ball skills. He's a plus runner with above-average range and...
SF Giants nightmare: Shohei Ohtani to sign with Dodgers for $700 million
December 10, 2023 00:13 - 8 minutes - 6.5 MBThe San Francisco Giants have missed out on yet another superstar in free agency. And it's an absolute nightmare scenario for SF Giants fans everywhere. Today, Shohei Ohtani announced on his personal Instagram that he would be joining the Giants' greatest rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was quickly reported that the deal with Ohtani was for a stunning 10 years and $700 million—albeit with "unprecedented" deferrals that lessen the present day value by an unknown amount, while simultaneous...
For SF Giants, how big of a loss is pitching coach Andrew Bailey to Boston?
December 08, 2023 22:57 - 20 minutes - 16.8 MBThe San Francisco Giants enjoyed a solid run of success on the pitching side of their team ever since Gabe Kapler was hired prior to the 2020 season. Kevin Gausman, Logan Webb, Camilo Doval, Carlos Rodón are a few examples of success, and they're far from the only ones. With that in mind, how big of a loss is the departure of pitching coach Andrew Bailey to the Boston Red Sox? Not to mention the loss of director of pitching Brian Bannister to the White Sox. Locked On Giants and Locked On Re...
SF Giants, Boston Red Sox have huge, similar offseason goals (with Gabby Hurlbut)
December 08, 2023 01:18 - 34 minutes - 27.4 MBThere are a ton of similarities between the San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox. The SF Giants find themselves big-game hunting once again, with Shohei Ohtani at the top of their list. The Red Sox may be out on Ohtani, but pitching is their biggest need and Yoshinobu Yamamoto tops the Sox's wishlist. Locked On Giants and Locked On Red Sox discuss the similarities between their two historic franchises, and what each must do to achieve their similar offseason goals. Both the SF Giants and...
Should the SF Giants have traded for Juan Soto?
December 07, 2023 04:02 - 33 minutes - 26.6 MBJuan Soto is on a trajectory to be one of the greatest hitters of all time. He's a generational offensive talent. And yet, he wasn't a fit for the San Francisco Giants. At least not right now. Not with one year of team control remaining. Not when the SF Giants have spent years building up their farm system to the point where it actually looks ready to produce impact MLB talent for the first time in a decade. Imagine blowing all of that up for one year of a great player. Yes, the present matt...
Did LA's manager just increase SF Giants' odds of signing Shohei Ohtani?
December 06, 2023 03:03 - 32 minutes - 26 MBThe Winter Meetings have been a dud so far, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sure spiced things up in the middle of the afternoon. In a meeting with reporters, Roberts spoke freely and openly about the team's pursuit of Shohei Ohtani, was was surprising considering it was reported weeks ago that Ohtani wanted talks to be private and that any leaks of information would be held against teams. At first it seemed that Roberts must have been cleared to speak so openly about the pursuit, but then ...
Slusser: Rival teams believe SF Giants "have the edge" with Yoshinobu Yamamoto
December 05, 2023 01:38 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBThe San Francisco Giants may find themselves at the forefront of the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes. The San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser, as trustworthy a beat reporter as there is, reported yesterday that two rival teams that have had interest in Yamamoto believe the SF Giants "have the edge" for his services. Yamamoto, who's just 25 years old, has three plus pitches and would be a major get for the Giants. Yamamoto is expected to land a deal in the $200-300 million range. But the ...
Three major teams OUT on Shohei Ohtani; SF Giants' standing "unknown" (report)
December 01, 2023 19:36 - 33 minutes - 26.7 MBAccording to ESPN's Jeff Passan, three major teams seem to have shifted their attention away from Shohei Ohtani, and indication that they have perhaps been told they're out of the running. Per Passan, the Mets, Red Sox, and Rangers are seemingly out on Ohtani. Those are three teams that were legitimate threats to land the megastar, which only increases the SF Giants' odds of landing Ohtani. Passan adds that the Dodgers, Cubs, Blue Jays, and Angels are known to still be in the running for Oht...
Report: SF Giants "set" on signing one of Shohei Ohtani or Yoshinobu Yamamoto
November 29, 2023 21:15 - 31 minutes - 25.2 MBAccording to MLB Network's John Paul Morosi, the San Francisco Giants "are set, they are devoting their whole heart and finances to landing one of Shohei Ohtani or Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the coming weeks." Talk about a juicy, tantalizing sequence of words! Morosi is a well-respected writer in the industry, not someone to be ignored. So his report about the Giants essentially pulling out all the stops to sign Ohtani or Yamamoto is fascinating and exciting. Yes, SF Giants fans have heard this ...
SF Giants Mailbag: Pete Alonso, Marcus Stroman, Jung Hoo Lee—How Realistic?
November 28, 2023 21:53 - 30 minutes - 24.3 MBHow realistic would a Marcus Stroman, Pete Alonso, and Jung Hoo Lee offseason be for the San Francisco Giants? While it's obviously not exactly what fans want—namely, one Shohei Ohtani or potentially Yoshinobu Yamamoto—those three players would certainly be an intriguing mix of upgrades for the Giants. And each player seems easy enough to acquire and therefore it could be a realistic offseason for the SF Giants if they miss out on the top names available. Among the other questions asked and...
Why the SF Giants are Primed for an Explosive, Expensive Offseason
November 27, 2023 21:49 - 32 minutes - 25.9 MBThe Giants are primed to go big. We've heard that before, and been let down time and time again. But it doesn't change the fact that they are, in fact, primed to go big. This very offseason. Despite SF Giants chairman Greg Johnson stating on numerous occasions the unpopular phrase that "the goal is to break even," even that is not a deterrent for the San Francisco Giants going huge this winter. The reason? Payroll flexibility. There's often a lot of strong feelings evoked when terms like "f...
Who's the Perfect Match for SF Giants Besides Shohei Ohtani?
November 25, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes - 26.2 MBThe San Francisco Giants have absolutely no business putting all of their eggs in the Shohei Ohtani basket. Ohtani is by far the most impactful player in this year's free-agent class (although arguably not for 2024, when he'll be limited to DH duties), but who's next? Which player, in terms of regular season wins added, would help the SF Giants the most? That player could be Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a young, coveted ace from Japan. Or it could come the trade market with a player like Juan Soto or...
SF Giants' Quest for Shohei Ohtani: Time for an Upgrade Now?
November 24, 2023 20:00 - 32 minutes - 26 MBLast year, once the SF Giants' deal with Carlos Correa fell apart over medical concerns, the Giants were essentially left with a barren free-agent market because most of the best players had already signed. This year, the San Francisco Giants are reportedly going to put a full-court press on Shohei Ohtani. Both situations seem to suggest that this winter, the Giants should be aggressive in trying to make upgrades before Ohtani makes a decision, because it's hard to imagine him being too intr...
SF Giants Trade Talk: Offensive Player Targets
November 22, 2023 20:00 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBThe San Francisco Giants are in desperate need of offensive upgrades. The problem? Besides Shohei Ohtani (and a few others a significant tier below), there aren't many attractive bats for the SF Giants to target in free agency. As such, the Giants may need to go the trade route in order to upgrade their lineup. Defense is also a need and a focus, not just ability at the plate. MLB Trade Rumors' Top 25 Offseason Trade Candidates list is parsed through. Which players are potential fits for th...
How can the SF Giants improve? A position-by-position breakdown
November 21, 2023 21:54 - 31 minutes - 25 MBIt's clear and obvious that the San Francisco Giants need to improve their roster after two straight extremely disappointing seasons in which they had designs on contending. But where, specifically, should the Giants improve? A position-by-position deep dive is made in an attempt to find spots on the diamond where the SF Giants ought to improve, with this year's free-agent class in mind. The Giants are set at a few positions, such as catcher with Patrick Bailey and second base with Thairo E...
SF Giants avoid arbitration with Yaz, Slater; Aaron Nola megadeal sets strong starting pitcher market
November 20, 2023 21:00 - 30 minutes - 24.3 MBThe San Francisco Giants were transparent about their intent to tender contracts to all six of their arbitration-eligible players, and by Friday's deadline, they had done just that. In addition, the SF Giants avoided arbitration with Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater, agreeing to modest one-year deals for the 2024 season. Yaz has two years of team control remaining, whereas Slater is entering his final year under Giants control before reaching the free agent market. Speaking of the free ag...
SF Giants mailbag: Serious upgrades besides Shohei Ohtani?
November 17, 2023 04:18 - 32 minutes - 26.2 MBShohei Ohtani is far and away the best free agent available in this class. Ohtani may be the best free agent ever. The San Francisco Giants are undoubtedly extremely interested in signing the face of the game, but the competition for his services will be extremely fierce. So, outside of Ohtani, who are some players that would represent a serious upgrade other than Ohtani? Most of the best players on the market after Ohtani are starting pitchers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Aaron Nola, S...
Logan Webb's Remarkable Rise: SF Giants' Homegrown Ace Finishes 2nd in NL Cy Young Race
November 16, 2023 02:45 - 31 minutes - 25.4 MBThe San Francisco Giants have a true homegrown ace in Logan Webb. Nothing better demonstrates that fact than Webb finishing second in the 2023 Cy Young Award voting. Webb finished behind Blake Snell, someone who's actually been linked to the Giants. Webb has been consistently excellent for three seasons, beginning with a breakout 2021. This year, Webb led the NL in innings and had a sparkling 3.25 ERA. Webb's five-year extension, which begins next year, looked like a great move for the SF Gi...
SF Giants coaching clarity: Bryan Price, Garvin Alston complete Bob Melvin's staff
November 15, 2023 06:10 - 32 minutes - 26.1 MBThe San Francisco Giants' coaching staff under new manager Bob Melvin has finally been finalized. When the Giants announced most of their staff late last week, there were some notable omissions: they didn't having a pitching coach nor a bullpen coach. Today, those positions were officially filled. Bryan Price, longtime MLB pitching coach and former Reds manager, will be the SF Giants' new pitching coach, and Garvin Alston will be promoted from Triple-A to be the Giants' bullpen coach. In ot...
Inbox: Top five free agents the SF Giants should pursue?
November 14, 2023 04:51 - 31 minutes - 25.3 MBFree agency is here, and once again, the San Francisco Giants find themselves in a position where they're looking to make a big splash to not only improve their team, but also invigorate a justifiably frustrated fanbase. Coming off two straight disappointing seasons, Giants fans want more excitement, more star power, and more winning. With that in mind, who are the top five free agents the SF Giants should pursue? It all starts with Shohei Ohtani, who figures to sign a record contract and re...
SF Giants' Big Reveal: Bob Melvin's New Coaching Staff - Intriguing Hires & Unexpected Surprises Uncovered
November 11, 2023 04:35 - 32 minutes - 25.9 MBThe San Francisco Giants finally announced their new coaching staff under new manager Bob Melvin tonight. At least most of it, anyway. The big ticket additions: Ryan Christenson will be Melvin's bench coach, leaving former bench coach and interim manager Kai Correa's status in question. Matt Williams returns to the Giants and will be the third base coach, which pushes Mark Hallberg from third base to first base. This leaves Antoan Richardson's status in question. And finally, Pat "The Bat" B...
SF Giants Offseason Insights: Who Will They Realistically Sign?
November 10, 2023 06:41 - 31 minutes - 25.5 MBFree agency officially begun, and San Francisco Giants fans have questions. Realistically, who will the Giants land this offseason? We know that they're very likely to be in on the biggest names in free agency. That includes Shohei Ohtani. It includes all of the top starting pitchers—the strength of this class—including Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Aaron Nola, and several others. Matt Chapman and Jung-Hoo Lee also stand out as realistic fits for the SF Giants. Other questions asked and ...
SF Giants' Offseason Outlook: Farhan Zaidi at the GM Meetings
November 09, 2023 06:20 - 31 minutes - 25.4 MBAt last year's General Managers Meetings, Farhan Zaidi was a popular interviewee as the industry anticipated the San Francisco Giants' president of baseball operations to make a serious run at reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge in free agency. The Giants did in fact pursue Judge and other marquee players last winter, but once again came home empty handed. Well, those meetings are back underway, and Zaidi did share some of the SF Giants' plans for the winter. Once again, like last offseason, Zaidi ...
SF Giants in the Mix for Bellinger, Yamamoto? Dive into MLBTR's Top 50 Free Agent Predictions
November 08, 2023 02:58 - 31 minutes - 25.5 MBThe release of MLB Trade Rumors' annual Top 50 Free Agents with Predictions is always a very exciting time of year. It's usually our first look at concrete contract predictions for the top free agents—this year headlined by an unprecedented talent in Shohei Ohtani—and it's also fun to look at which players are "linked" (by virtue of the three MLBTR writers making predictions) to the San Francisco Giants. The contract prediction for Ohtani is huge, but still likely a lot less than many peopl...
Michael Conforto exercises $18M player option, will return to SF Giants in 2024
November 07, 2023 02:24 - 32 minutes - 25.8 MBIt was a big day in baseball as option and qualifying decisions were due, and it was the official start of full free agency. For the San Francisco Giants, on account of them giving out so many short-term deals with options in recent seasons, were among the most interesting teams to watch today. When all and said and done, the final tally was that Michael Conforto opted to return for one year and $18M, Sean Manaea opted out of 1/$12.5M, Ross Stripling opted to return for 1/$12.5M, and the Gia...
Ohtani or bust? Evaluating hypothetical SF Giants offseason moves
November 04, 2023 05:05 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBShohei Ohtani is perhaps the greatest free agent of all time, and the San Francisco Giants figure to be in the mix for his services. The Giants have been big-game hunting for years, consistently coming up empty. So are there other offseason permutations the SF Giants can muster that will be sufficient? Other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of Locked On Giants: If the Giants somehow, someway sign Ohtani, how much money will they have left to spend on other pieces? Th...
SF Giants Offseason Essentials: Must-Know Dates & Deadlines for Fans
November 03, 2023 04:50 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBAnother critical offseason for the San Francisco Giants has officially begun. The Texas Rangers are World Series champions, and now the Giants will get to work to turn their fortunes around. The SF Giants have made the playoffs only once in the last seven seasons, which is an unacceptable fate for a team of this market size and stature in the game. The Giants must significantly improve their roster this offseason, and they appear poised to at the very least make their best effort to do so. ...
SF Giants lessons after Bruce Bochy wins another ring with Texas Rangers
November 02, 2023 04:54 - 33 minutes - 26.5 MBBruce Bochy is a World Series champion again. Bochy left the San Francisco Giants following the 2019 season, and came out of retirement a few years later and won his fourth ring in his first season with the Texas Rangers. What lessons can the Giants take away from Bochy and this Rangers team? There are multiple potential lessons, but not all have to do with the manager. In fact, most perhaps do not. But Bochy's legacy is undeniable and incredible. Finally, some details on the rift between ...
Win or Break Even? Unpacking SF Giants Chairman Greg Johnson's Goals
October 31, 2023 05:23 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBThe goal should be to win. San Francisco Giants fans have endured two straight disappointing seasons and a lack of making the postseason in six out of the last seven years. SF Giants chairman Greg Johnson should be saying things like "the goal is to win at all costs," but instead he keeps saying "the goal is to break even." It's not what Giants fans want to hear, but upon closer examination, Johnson's comments shouldn't be too offensive to Giants fans. Johnson is speaking from a merely fina...
SF Giants Targeting 'Pure' CF Talents Like Jung-Hoo Lee, Cody Bellinger?
October 28, 2023 03:37 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBThe first phase of the San Francisco Giants' offseason is complete, as the team officially introduced new manager Bob Melvin, who seems like the right person at the right time. The coaching staff is an important next step, but more important will be the Giants' player acquisitions over the winter. Farhan Zaidi recently indicated that the SF Giants would be seeking a "pure" center fielder. Who could that player be? Young Korean star Jung-Hoo Lee? What about the resurgent Cody Bellinger? Eith...
SF Giants Welcome Bob Melvin, Extend Him and Farhan Zaidi Through 2026
October 25, 2023 21:57 - 32 minutes - 25.9 MBBob Melvin is officially the San Francisco Giants' manager. Melvin got out of the last year of his contract with the Padres, and agreed to a new three-year deal as manager of the Giants. Bob Melvin seems to be the right person at the right time for this Giants organization that's in need of stability and credibility after four polarizing years under former manager Gabe Kapler. Melvin brings instant credibility and strong local ties to the role and is widely regarded as one of the best manage...
SF Giants to Hire Bob Melvin as Manager (report)
October 24, 2023 21:46 - 39 minutes - 31.5 MBThe Gabe Kapler Era is officially over, and the Bob Melvin Era has officially begun. The San Francisco Giants are making major waves in the baseball world today as they are reportedly poised to announce Bob Melvin as the Giants' next manager tomorrow. Melvin is one of the most respected and longest tenured managers in baseball, and he brings many qualities to the role that Kapler simply didn't possess. Qualities that proved to be too much for Kapler to overcome and that cost him his job. Me...
Bob Melvin: Inevitable Choice for SF Giants Manager?
October 23, 2023 21:12 - 33 minutes - 26.6 MBAfter the San Francisco Giants fired manager Gabe Kapler with three games left in the 2023 season, Padres manager Bob Melvin's name immediately came to many peoples' minds as a potential replacement. There was skepticism by some; after all, Melvin had just led the Padres to one of the most disappointing and underachieving seasons in MLB history. Why should he manage the SF Giants? Turns out there are more reasons than can even be counted. Melvin is a Bay Area native and has had a long, succ...
Farhan Zaidi visits Japan as SF Giants prepare to pursue ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto (report)
October 21, 2023 01:17 - 32 minutes - 26 MBSan Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi is in the midst of an intense and important search for a new manager. But in the last few days, he reportedly too a break from the search. He traveled east. Far east. But Zaidi's travels weren't for vacation. He was in attendance to watch Japanese ace superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto, per The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly. According to Baggarly, "there’s a sense within the industry that the Giants won’t allow another team to outbid ...
Not All Gloomy: SF Giants' Shining Moments in 2023
October 19, 2023 22:22 - 32 minutes - 25.8 MBWhen all was said and done, the San Francisco Giants' season was a major disappointment. Things went so poorly in the end that Giants manager Gabe Kapler was fired. But for much of the season, the SF Giants were actually among the best stories in the sport, and often had one of the best records in the NL. The top moments from 2023 are relived on today's Locked On Giants. Kyle Harrison put on a show in his Giants home debut, striking out 11 Reds and showing his ace potential. Another rookie,...
How will the SF Giants finally get the star(s) they—and their fans—desperately need?
October 18, 2023 21:33 - 30 minutes - 24.6 MBEverybody and their pet knows that the San Francisco Giants are in desperate need of star power. Giants fans are tired of a team that doesn't have enough big-name players, and the team's performance on the field also reflects the SF Giants' lack of impact talent. Looking ahead to this offseason, what are some ways the Giants can finally acquire a star (or two or three)? Other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of Locked On Giants: What do you think is the ideal balance...
What does Bruce Bochy, Bryce Harper success say about the SF Giants?
October 17, 2023 20:37 - 30 minutes - 24.8 MBIt's hard to be a San Francisco Giants fan this postseason. On the American League side, former Giants manager Bruce Bochy has his Texas Rangers up 2-0 in the ALCS while the SF Giants sit at home after recently firing manager Gabe Kapler. On the National League side, Bryce Harper, whom the Giants tried to sign in 2018-19, is carrying the Phillies much like he did last October. How much of the Rangers' success is attributable to Bochy is up for debate, but there's no doubt it's a bad look for...
Alyssa Nakken makes history again, interviews for SF Giants' managerial opening (report)
October 16, 2023 21:16 - 32 minutes - 26.4 MBAlyssa Nakken keeps making history with the San Francisco Giants. In 2020, Nakken became the first full-time, in-uniform female coach in MLB history. Last week, according to a report by The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly, Nakken is believed to have become the first woman to interview for an MLB managerial position. Nakken would bring several qualifications to the job, including her experience playing high-level collegiate softball, being in the SF Giants organization since 2014 (first as a baseb...
Donnie Ecker "expected to be among the potential front-runners" for SF Giants' managerial opening (report)
October 14, 2023 00:43 - 31 minutes - 25.5 MBLosing Donnie Ecker may have been one of the most significant moments in recent San Francisco Giants history. Ecker was hired as part of the Giants' large new coaching staff under then-new manager Gabe Kapler entering the 2020 season. Ecker was part of a three-person hitting group, that included Justin Viele and Dustin Lind. Those two remain in the organization, but Ecker left for the Texas Rangers after the Giants shocked with world with a 107-win season in 2021. Now that Kapler has been f...
SF Giants' Offseason Blueprint: Priorities & Predictions
October 12, 2023 22:20 - 31 minutes - 25.5 MBThe San Francisco Giants fell flat after their 107-win 2021 season with an 81-81 record in 2022. Hoping to prove '22 was just an anomaly, the Giants were actually even worse in 2023, finishing with a 79-83 record. The SF Giants' failures resulted in manager Gabe Kapler being fired. President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi is firmly on the hot seat. So what does the offseason have in store for this team that's in such an unstable position? The Giants' biggest need is simply to have more...
SF Giants Analysis 2023: The Year in Pitchers
October 11, 2023 21:54 - 29 minutes - 24 MBLogan Webb is one of the best pitchers in baseball. Camilo Doval is one of the best closers in baseball. Outside of those two, for the most part, the San Francisco Giants' pitching staff was a major mixed bag in 2023. But Webb and Doval, both 26 years old and under team control for five and four years, respectively, are a great foundation for the SF Giants. Webb led the majors in innings and was as effective as ever at run prevention. He had the NL's best walk rate and led the majors in grou...
SF Giants Analysis 2023: The Year in Position Players
October 10, 2023 22:08 - 33 minutes - 27 MBThe San Francisco Giants' position players were really good ... until they weren't. For the first half of the season, the SF Giants were a good offensive team, and their defense and baserunning combined with solid offense gave them one of the top fWAR rankings in MLB. However, a second-half collapse that affected everyone outside of Wilmer Flores, for whatever reason, cost them a winning record and a spot in the playoffs. The Giants' position player MVP was probably Thairo Estrada once defe...
SF Giants' Pockets: Deep as Zaidi Says?
October 09, 2023 21:15 - 32 minutes - 26.5 MBThe San Francisco Giants' payroll has been a hot topic ever since new president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi took over following the 2018 season. Since that time, the Giants' payroll steadily decreased until is eventually stabilized at around $162 million—until this year it shot up by $30 million. The theory that's been discussed on Locked On Giants numerous times is that this $30M increase is likely explained by MLB's sale of BAMTech to Disney for $900 million, which was evenly split...
SF Giants Mailbag: Is Zaidi's Contract a Hurdle in the Manager Hunt?
October 06, 2023 23:40 - 33 minutes - 26.6 MBGabe Kapler was fired a week ago today, and the San Francisco Giants have begun the process of looking for a new manager. But is Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi's expiring contract a potential problem? Will a new SF Giants manager want to walk into such an unstable situation, knowing that Zaidi could be fired at the end of 2024 if things don't work out—again—as was the case in 2022 and 2023? Speaking of which, should Zaidi be fired if the Giants fail to make the playoffs...
Is Ron Right? Decoding Wotus' SF Giants Managerial Candidacy
October 05, 2023 21:07 - 33 minutes - 27.2 MBThe San Francisco Giants have a managerial vacancy. That is a white-hot topic after the team fired Gabe Kapler late last week. The Giants' managerial search will dominate local headlines in the month of October, as it should. And one name that comes up time and time again is Ron Wotus. Wotus is beloved, respected, loyal, and a Giant through and through. But there is a large philosophical gap between him and Farhan Zaidi. A gap that may be too wide to bridge. In 2019, Bruce Bochy and Zaidi w...
Voting Vogt: Why Stephen Vogt should be next SF Giants manager
October 04, 2023 20:49 - 33 minutes - 26.9 MBI believe in Stephen Vogt! I believe in Stephen Vogt! It's a chant that Bay Area fans are very familiar with, a ringing endorsement of the ultra-popular former A's and Giants catcher. The San Francisco Giants have a managerial opening after they fired Gabe Kapler, and Vogt may just be the perfect fit to replace him. Vogt grew up a huge Giants fan. His favorite players were Will Clark and Barry Bonds. Perhaps most importantly, Vogt possesses personality traits that are somewhat the polar opp...