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The Team Spirit Extra Innings website begins where the Team Spirit books end.
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Updates
2023 Season
Season Recap: The Giants had an “all-hands-on-deck” season, with more than a dozen different hitters stepping up to play leading roles at various times. Unfortunately, it was not enough to boost the club into the playoffs. San Francisco’s pitching staff simply did not produce. Only Logan Webb managed to stay in the rotation for all of his starts. Reliever Camilo Doval had an All-Star year with 39 saves, but the bullpen wasn’t as good as in years past. Eight Giants hit more than a dozen home runs, but so single player truly stood out. Wilmer Flores led the Giants with 23 home runs and a .284 average, while JD Davis topped the team with 69 RBIs.
July 11, 2023: Relief ace Camilo Duval was the winning pitcher in the 2023 All-Star Game.
Season Preview: From 107 wins just two years ago, the Giants have become a .500 team thanks to age, injuries and improvements made by their NL West rivals. That is not to say San Francisco fans are expecting a disappointing summer. Their team should be competitive thanks to new outfielders Mitch Haniger and Michael Conforto, a starting staff fronted by Logan Webb, and a bullpen led by Camilo Doval. Veterans Mike Yastrzemski, Brandon Crawford, Thairo Estrada, and Joc Pederson round out a solid lineup. If the Giants are within reach of a playoff spot in July, they have the depth to make a big trade for a superstar who can put them over the top.
2022 Season
Season Recap: No one thought the 2022 Giants would match their 107 wins from the year before, but most fans hoped they would make the playoffs and be a thorn in the side of their great rivals, the LA Dodgers. The Giants missed the playoffs and lost 15 times to Los Angeles—the most in their history. There were some highlights during the year for San Francisco, including a breakout year from infielder Thairo Estrada and sensational pitching by Carlos Rodon, Logan Webb, and Camilo Doval. That was just enough to get the Giants to .500, as they finished 81–81.
April 13, 2022: Alyssa Nakken became the first woman in big-league history to coach on the field when she replaced regular first-base coach Antoan Richardson in a game against the Padres. The helmet she wore was sent immediately to the Hall of Fame.
Season Preview: It is almost impossible to improve on a 107-win season, especially after an all-time great player like Buster Posey decides to retire. But the Giants have fooled the experts before and they may do it again. Atlanta’s playoff hero, Joc Pederson, has joined the team, and top prospect Joey Bart looks ready to take over at catcher for Posey. Although there are no superstars on this club, the Giants might be the deepest team in the NL West, and that comes in handy during a long season. If solid stars like Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt, and Logan Webb can put up the same numbers they did in 2021, then anything is possible in 2022.
2021 Season
Season Recap: The Giants were the surprise story of baseball, winning 107 games. There seemed to be a new hero every day, and they led the NL in home runs without having a true slugger. An experienced lineup was led by Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford, two of the oldest players on the club. Kevin Gausman, Logan Webb, Alex Wood, and Anthony DeSclafani made up a terrific starting rotation, while Jake McGee, Tyler Rogers, and Camilo Doval closed out games for the Giants. San Francisco’s dream season ended with a loss to the Dodgers in the Division Series.
Season Preview: A new generation of stars is emerging in San Francisco just in time to help aging veterans Brandon Belt, Buster Posey, and Brandon Crawford. They will pass their championship experience along to the up-and-coming players who should play their way into the lineup during the year. If outfielders Mike Yastrzemski and Alex Dickerson continue to hit the way they did in 2020, the Giants could sneak into the Wild Card race in 2021.
2020 Season
Season Recap: Not much was expected of the Giants in 2020 and yet they nearly snuck into the playoffs. Brandon Belt, Donovan Solano, Alex Dickerson, and Mike Yastrzemski were sensational at the plate. Had the team’s pitching been better, San Francisco might have won 40 games.
September 1, 2020: Alex Dickerson had five extra-base hits, including three home runs, in a 23–5 victory over the Rockies. One of his homers traveled 480 feet and he just missed a fourth home run in the 9th inning. Dickerson’s 16 total bases tied the team record set by Hall of Famer Willie Mays in 1961.
August 21, 2020: Even Longoria blasted the 300th home run of his career. He became the 150th player in history to reach this mark.
Season Preview: The Giants may not scare anyone on paper, but on the field they are going to be a scrappy team that could be tough to beat. Mike Yastrzemski—grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski—powers an offense that is missing Buster Posey (who is sitting out during the COVID-19 pandemic) but has other solid bats in Alex Dickerson, Donovan Solano, Brandon Belt and Mauricio Dubon. Johnny Cueto leads an experienced pitching staff.
2019 Season
Season Recap: The Giants finished four games under .500, but it could have been much, much worse. The team gave a bunch of young players a chance during the season and often they came through. New names in the San Francisco lineup included Mike Yastrzemski, Mauricio Dubon, Shaun Anderson, and Tyler Beede. Will Smith was sensational in his first full year as the team’s closer, and Giants fans got to enjoy Madison Bumgarner all year long despite rumors the club might trade him.
August 17, 2019: The Giants defeated the Diamondbacks 10–9 in a game that saw each team hit six home runs. It marked the first time in league history that two teams hit that many homers in the same game.
May 6, 2019: Pablo Sandoval hit a homer, stole a base and pitched a scoreless inning in a game against the Reds. The last player to do this was Christy Mathewson, in 1905.
Season Preview: The Giants looked old and tired in 2018. In 2019, they are giving a trio of young outfielders a chance to shine: Steve Duggar, Mac Williamson, and Austin Slater. If they live up to their promise, it might be enough to produce a winning season. If not, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, and Buster Posey won’t be the difference-makers they have been in the past.
2018 Season
Season Recap: Age and injuries slowed the Giants, who finished 73–89 in 2018. Only one regular, Buster Posey, hit better than .260 and no one even came close to 20 home runs. Only one starting pitcher won 10 games and only a good performance by the bullpen saved San Francisco from a total disaster. Among the bright spots during the year were prospects Dereck Rodriguez and Steven Duggar, who performed well when given a chance.
Season Preview: Nothing went right for the Giants in 2017, so 2018 will be a season to prove they are still competitive in a tough division. They added Andrew McCutchen, Evan Longoria, and Austin Jackson to an offense that did not scare anyone last year. The pitching staff is the same, but hopefully much healthier. If Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and Mark Melancon bounce back, and Buster Posey puts up MVP numbers, San Francisco could be in the mix for a Wild Card slot this September.
2017 Season
Season Recap: Madison Bumgarner’s April dirt-bike accident was the beginning of the end for the Giants, who had their worst season since the 1980s. Every position player was injured, had an off-year, or both. The starting staff gave up too many hits and runs, and the bullpen collapsed after Mark Melancon went on the DL. With one of baseball’s oldest lineups, the Giants will have some tough decisions to make after winning three World Series in five years between 2010 and 2014.
April 4, 2017: Madison Bumgarner became the first pitcher in history to smash two home runs on Opening Day.
2016 Season
November 1, 2016: The Giants finished four games out in the NL West but their 87 wins were good enough to earn a spot in the Wild Card game against the Mets. Utility man Conor Gillaspie broke up a scoreless game in the 9th inning with a three-run homer against Jeurys Familiar to send San Francisco into the Division Series. That is where the season ended for San Francisco, as the Giants lost to Chicago in four exciting games.
August 8, 2016: Brandon Crawford collected 7 hits in an extra-inning game against the Marlins. It was the first 7-hit game in baseball since 1975.
2015 Season
October 14, 2015: The Giants played almost the entire season in second place, and San Francisco fans kept waiting for their big run into first. That never happened, despite fine years from Buster Posey, Matt Duffy, Brandon Crawford, and Madison Bumgarner. The team’s aging starting rotation will need improving in 2016.
June 9, 2015: Chris Heston no-hit the Mets in just the 13th start of his big-league career.
April 5, 2015: The Giants came together at just the right time to win a championship. Most experts doubt they can do it again. Don’t tell that to Buster Posey or Madison Bumgarner. They lead a club with experienced hitters and pitchers that knows how to win close games.
2014 Season
November 1, 2014: The Giants captured their third World Series championship in five seasons with a thrilling seven-game victory over the Kansas City Royals. After making the playoffs as a Wild Card with 88 wins, San Francisco defeated the Pirates, Nationals and Cardinals to win the pennant. In the World Series, Madison Bumgarner won Game 2 and Game 5, and then returned to the mound on two days rest to pitched the final five innings of Game 7 to preserve a 3–2 victory. He was named MVO of the series.
September 13, 2014: Madison Bumgarner broke the record for strikeouts by a San Francisco lefty. Ray Sadecki held the old record with 206 K’s in 1968.
July 14, 2014: Pitcher Madison Bumgarner and catcher Buster Posey hit grand slams in a game against the Diamondbacks. It was the firs time in history that battery-mates each hit bases-loaded homers in the same game.
March 31, 2014: As always, the key to the Giants’ season is pitching. Madison Baumgarner appears ready to join the game’s elite pitchers, but Tim Lincecum, Tim Hudson and Matt Cain could be losing steam. The team’s bullpen is very deep, and the hitting is good with Buster Posey, Hunter Pence, Brandon Belt and Pedro Sandoval in the middle of the lineup.
2013 Season
October 1, 2013: The Giants were expected to pitch well and struggle on offense in 2013. Just the opposite was true. They got solid years from Hunter Pence, Brandon Belt, Buster Posey, Marco Scutaro and Pablo Sandoval—but Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, and Ryan Vogelsong went a combined 22–30. As a result, San Francisco finished just two games out of the NL West cellar.
September 18, 2013: Matt Cain struck out his 150th batter of the year. He tied a team record shared by Hall of Famers Gaylord Perry and Juan Marichal with 8 years in a row of 150-plus strikeouts.
July 13, 2013: It took 148 pitches, but Tim Lincecum pitched the first no-hitter of his career, against the Padres in their home ballpark. It was the first no-hitter ever pitched in San Diego’s stadium.
March 30, 2013: Can the Giants win two championships in a row? They have the pitching and defense to do so. Do they have the hitting? Last year the experts said no—and look what happened! Once again, San Francisco will rely on the bats of Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Belt, and Hunter Pence.
2012 Season
October 28, 2012: The Giants won their second championship in three seasons, but success didn¹t come easily. The team had to make do without its star reliever, Brian Wilson, and survived a terrible year from pitching ace Tim Lincecum. Buster Posey returned from a broken leg to have a super season, and the team won the NL West easily. The Giants battled back from the brink against the Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals in the playoffs, and went into the World Series red hot. Pablo Sandoval hit three home runs in the opening game to tie a postseason recordand San Francisco¹s pitching provided the edge in the nest three gamesas the Giants defeated the Detroit Tigers in four straight games.
July 1, 2012: Melky Cabrera was named MVP of the 2012 All-Star Game after his two-run homer broke open the game and led the NL to victory. The Giants were Cabrera’s fourth team in four years; it was his first trip to the All-Star Game.
June 13, 2012: Matt Cain pitched a perfect game against the Astros. It was the first perfect game in team history and the 22nd in big-league history.
April, 2012: New York baseball fans will see some familiar faces in the Giants outfield in 2012. Ex-Yankee Melky Cabrera and ex-Met Angel Pagan will be playing left and center for San Francisco. Aubrey Huff may see some time in the outfield, too. The Giants probably want to give Brandon Belt lots of starts at first base.
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League Leaders
Playing for the Championship
YEAR | OPPONENT | RESULT |
---|---|---|
1905 | Philadelphia A’s | Won 4–1 |
1911 | Philadelphia A’s | Lost 4–2 |
1912 | Boston Red Sox | Lost 4–3 |
1913 | Philadelphia A’s | Lost 4–1 |
1921 | New York Yankees | Won 5–3* |
1922 | New York Yankees | Won 4–0 |
1923 | New York Yankees | Lost 4–2 |
1924 | Washington Senators | Lost 4–3 |
1933 | Washington Senators | Won 4–1 |
1936 | New York Yankees | Lost 4–2 |
1937 | New York Yankees | Lost 4–1 |
1951 | New York Yankees | Lost 4–2 |
1954 | Cleveland Indians | Won 4–0 |
1963 | New York Yankees | Lost 4–3 |
1989 | Oakland A’s | Lost 4–0 |
2002 | Anaheim Angels | Lost 4–3 |
2010 | Texas Rangers | Won 4–1 |
2014 | Kansas City Royals | Won 4–3 |
* The 1921 World Series was a best-of-9 format.