The Giants are just not a good team. They take turns playing poorly, starting pitching, bullpen, hitters, defense, managing. It's going to be interesting to see how it plays out. I'll be at the game Thursday night anyway - $9 tickets. Cheaper than the Giants AAA affiliate Sacramento Rivercats - cheapest seat is $12. The June Swoon came early this year!
Do MLB player contracts contain any language that prevent them from participating in off field activities that could result in injury?
Funny how the Giants "glory years," 2010-2014, occurred when they completely severed ties with Barry Bonds. Now that they've brought him back on board as an "ambassador/hitting coach," his prima donna-steroid bad juju vibe is taking its toll. I guess you could say, the Giants have been Barryed.
2
Giants management has failed to realize that in today's game with free agency, contract op outs, etc. that rebuilding is a constantly on-going issue. There is no standing pat, no matter how good a team was last year...
4
There isn't a big difference between top- and middle-of-the-pack in major league sports these days, and something like Bumgarner's dumb move can have a big impact. Take your top starter out of the game and you put all sorts of added stress on the bullpen and the position players.
7
Giant situation-circumstances point to the issue of leadership. When things get tough you rely on leaders to take charge! Problem is there are few leaders taking charge and lots of "waiting around " for something to happen. It is going to get worse unless Pence or Posey or Cain etc step up leadership. the Giants are still in too comfortable a state and playing as individuals not as team. Management HAS to do something to shake them up! Soon it will be academic and the season will be lost. the big question going forward will be to reenergize competitiveness which has been lost.
7
What they need is another sermon by The Preacher, Hunter Pence. If these guys get galvanized, they will start winning games.
2
In addition to the things mentioned in this article, another portent of doom occurred during the Giants home opener when, in his first at bat, Buster Posey got beaned and had to leave the game and miss about week due to a concussion. I am sure that Giants fans are still believing that the team can turn it around, but, when a teams hitting and pitching is far below average, a lot of things need to change in order for it to become truly competitive.
5
Given how poorly the Giants are doing this year, and how they fell apart after the All-Star game last year, and how crucial Bumgarner is to whatever chances the Giants have left, you'd think Bumgarner would have more sense than to risk injury on a day off. That's just dumb - a dirt bike? What was he thinking? What's more important to him anyway - a successful team, or playing on a dirt bike?
And you'd think Giants management would prohibit their players from such dangerous self-indulgences during the season. Their day-off risk taking should be limited to video games.
And you'd think Giants management would prohibit their players from such dangerous self-indulgences during the season. Their day-off risk taking should be limited to video games.
5
Protecting a multi-year, multi-million dollar job or playing on a dirt bike? Hmmm...we know what a grown-up would do. But these are children who have been pampered and protected most, if not, all of their lives. Now they have the money to buy all the toys they want without having to ask for their parents permission. What should we expect to have happen? C'mon! These are children who grow beards as a group activity!
1
The worst Giants April in over three decades ... and AT&T Park still sold out every night!
9
That's because it's one of the loveliest, coolest ballparks in the USA, if my Giants are stinkin' up the place! The food is great even if it is overpriced. Plus it's a good place to do some networking. I suspect it would 2 or more seasons like this one so far before us fans start even begin entertaining thoughts of abandoning our team. Unlike most Dodger fans, whose thoughts turn to desertion by no later than the 7th inning, we Giant fans tend to stay by our team for the entire game or season. (For those still awake in Dodger Stadium at the time of the traditional 7th inning stretch, it serves as a reminder to get up and out of the park before the traffic forms its obligatory game-related jam; for the others the playing over the Dodger Stadium loudspeakers of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" serves as a wake-up call.)
5
2010-14 the Giants got many career-year / never to be repeated performances. + "out-of-his-mind" playoffs from "he's out of baseball now". It's a long list. This is not 100% luck. Maybe *mystique* not exact word, but. Yanks & Cards have done this for decades. Having foundation and good chance for WS, you get guys playing over their heads.
Like a rocket, if you don't reach Escape Velocity, you come back to Earth.