2026 San Francisco Giants Season Thread

Originally posted by Ninerjohn:

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
I hope there isn't a lockout this year. I keep hearing that the owners are in favor of having one.

I pray that there is a lockout after this season. Locking the players out and getting a cap is the only way keep a team like LA from spending their way every year to division champs with a great chance to win it all. I couldnt care less if there is a season without baseball if it results in a cap.

It may happen but you have to acknowledge that spending the most on players doesn't always pay off. It's only been the last two years that the Dodgers have made it work. They've been spending for years without any real results. Same for the Mets and and Yankees.

The problem right now is the Dodgers have become the go to destination for players wanting a ring. They don't care about the cost of living or high taxes. Not when they're getting paid such huge salaries. The lure of a ring and the lifestyle in LA with all the celebs is hard to overcome. They also might get a chance for more outside money from endorsements.

Harrison Bader 2 years

Originally posted by FredFlintstone:
Harrison Bader 2 years

Bader hopefully improves the OF defense and offers some speed. Seeing he hit last year: .277, 17 HR, 54 RBI.

Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:

Originally posted by FredFlintstone:
Harrison Bader 2 years

Bader hopefully improves the OF defense and offers some speed. Seeing he hit last year: .277, 17 HR, 54 RBI.

I wonder if he'll play CF or if they'll ask him to play right. That's the tougher field in SF. Lee isn't a great defensive player and he might have trouble if they move him to right.

We just signed a right handed Yaz.

Originally posted by SteveWallacesHelmet:
We just signed a right handed Yaz.

But Bader hits better and has more speed, no? It may be a wash defensively as they're both good OFs.

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
It may happen but you have to acknowledge that spending the most on players doesn't always pay off. It's only been the last two years that the Dodgers have made it work. They've been spending for years without any real results. Same for the Mets and and Yankees.

The problem right now is the Dodgers have become the go to destination for players wanting a ring. They don't care about the cost of living or high taxes. Not when they're getting paid such huge salaries. The lure of a ring and the lifestyle in LA with all the celebs is hard to overcome. They also might get a chance for more outside money from endorsements.

The best analogy I ever heard (and I wish I could remember who said it), is think of this as a 5 card draw Poker hand.

Both the Giants and Dodgers get dealt their 5 cards.

The Giants can discard the cards from their hand that they want, and draw from the deck to replace the discarded cards one time.

The Dodgers can discard the cards from their hand that they want, and draw from the deck to replace the discarded cards as many times as they want to.

Sure, the Dodgers hand will not always win. But to claim that it isnt a MASSIVE advantage to be able to draw from the deck as many times as they want is being disingenious.

Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:

Originally posted by SteveWallacesHelmet:
We just signed a right handed Yaz.

But Bader hits better and has more speed, no? It may be a wash defensively as they're both good OFs.

Hits better is debatable. More speed? He steals more bases so I guess so.

Originally posted by SteveWallacesHelmet:

Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:

Originally posted by SteveWallacesHelmet:
We just signed a right handed Yaz.

But Bader hits better and has more speed, no? It may be a wash defensively as they're both good OFs.

Hits better is debatable. More speed? He steals more bases so I guess so.

Nothing against Yaz as he did some good things and was a good teammate during his time here. Don't know much about Bader TBH as have only seen him play here and there. Really just hoping Bader turns out to be a much better all-around player for the Giants than Yaz was.

Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:

Originally posted by SteveWallacesHelmet:

Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:

Originally posted by SteveWallacesHelmet:
We just signed a right handed Yaz.

But Bader hits better and has more speed, no? It may be a wash defensively as they're both good OFs.

Hits better is debatable. More speed? He steals more bases so I guess so.

Nothing against Yaz as he did some good things and was a good teammate during his time here. Don't know much about Bader TBH as have only seen him play here and there. Really just hoping Bader turns out to be a much better all-around player for the Giants than Yaz was.

I just looked at Bader's sats. Last year was his best year average wise and for HRs but he played in Philly and Minnesota. Both are really hitter friendly. We'll see how he does in SF . His SOs were way up last year so he may have adjusted his swing to try and hit more HRs. In SF with the big right center field he may be more of a line drive hitter and use his speed to get triples.

Oh nice we did something.

Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:
Bader hopefully improves the OF defense and offers some speed. Seeing he hit last year: .277, 17 HR, 54 RBI.

Well, considering that is the upper echelon of Giants spending this year, not really bad signing. In the least it should shore up outfield D and a little more speed on the bases. And if he comes close to his last year offensive numbers (which I don't expect in SF but would be an unexpected boost), then this signing would be a bonanza.
But the large picture is this is not the great team that needed 1 piece to get them over the top and Bader is that piece. The team will go as far as the pitching and the top contracts will take them. On paper they are the WC contender, but they need that offensive team from the last August over much of the year.

Originally posted by tl57:

Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:
Bader hopefully improves the OF defense and offers some speed. Seeing he hit last year: .277, 17 HR, 54 RBI.

Well, considering that is the upper echelon of Giants spending this year, not really bad signing. In the least it should shore up outfield D and a little more speed on the bases. And if he comes close to his last year offensive numbers (which I don't expect in SF but would be an unexpected boost), then this signing would be a bonanza.
But the large picture is this is not the great team that needed 1 piece to get them over the top and Bader is that piece. The team will go as far as the pitching and the top contracts will take them. On paper they are the WC contender, but they need that offensive team from the last August over much of the year.

The Giants best hope for an offensive jump this season is if Eldridge makes a big jump and can stay in the majors. We know he has the power but will he be able to hit in the big leagues. His SO numbers weren't great in AAA.

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
The Giants best hope for an offensive jump this season is if Eldridge makes a big jump and can stay in the majors. We know he has the power but will he be able to hit in the big leagues. His SO numbers weren't great in AAA.

Yes sure, he is too. But if Devers, Adames, Chapman, Lee, Ramos don't hit a lick, as it happened over prolong periods like last year, he alone won't change much. For the Giants, it's a collective effort.