The San Francisco Giants are enduring one of the most challenging seasons in their nearly seven-decade West Coast history, with players and management acknowledging a significant performance gap compared to preseason expectations. As of early July, the team's record of 36-50 places them among the worst starts in the franchise's San Francisco era, averaging a projected 68-94 finish.
"It's been a rough start to the season — I guess we're past the start of the season. It's been a rough first half of the season," said third baseman Matt Chapman. "It just hasn't gone the way we envisioned it. I didn't see us being here at this point in the season."
Several key factors are cited for the team's struggles. Among them are the early returns on executive Buster Posey's major personnel decisions. The reported efforts to offload the contracts of newly acquired shortstop Willy Adames and third baseman Rafael Devers, just one season into their tenures, suggest these moves have not yielded the desired results.
Adames has particularly struggled defensively at shortstop, ranking as the worst in the sport by Outs Above Average. His offensive performance has also declined, marked by an increased rate of swinging at pitches outside the strike zone and a corresponding drop in his walk rate. Devers has shown flashes of power but has struggled with on-base percentage, falling below his career average.
The pitching staff, particularly the bullpen, has been a consistent problem. The Giants have operated without a defined closer for much of the season, leading to relievers frequently walking or hitting the first batter they face. This has contributed to a high number of inherited runners scoring, hindering the team's ability to secure wins.
Strategic decisions regarding the pitching rotation have also come under scrutiny. The acquisition of Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser, both on shorter-term deals, has resulted in a combined high ERA and a poor team record in games they've appeared. Furthermore, trading catcher Patrick Bailey early in the season, despite his offensive limitations, has left a void. The subsequent catchers have struggled offensively and in their understanding of the pitching staff, reportedly leading to starters calling their own pitches.
Manager Tony Vitello, in his first season managing an MLB team after success at the collegiate level, faces challenges managing the roster. The team's fundamentals have been called into question, evidenced by a high number of errors and a poor baserunning game. Attention to detail, from player communication surrounding events to managerial challenges, has also been a point of concern.
The organization's leadership, with both the roster architect and manager new to their roles, faces significant questions as the season progresses.