The San Francisco Giants haven’t had the greatest of seasons. That was to be expected as the Bay Area franchise is in the middle of a rebuilding process. What wasn’t expected is to see them just two and a half games away off the National League Wild Card. With the postseason getting closer as days go by, one must ask the question: Are the Giants contenders or pretenders?
How Did They Get There?
July is a crucial month on the baseball schedule. It can either make or break teams en route to the playoffs. San Francisco is no exception to the rule. The Giants were still at the bottom of the NL West by the start of the month. Two weeks later, they look like an entirely different team. A streak of four straight series wins now sees them climb to the third spot in the West.
San Francisco ripped a page off their 2015 yearbook in their recent run. Veterans like Jeff Samardzija, Evan Longoria, and Pablo Sandoval have stood up for the team. Despite their recent good form, there are still a couple of things that could spoil their postseason run if they make it there.
Lack Of Consistency
We’ve seen this before come postseason. It is a common theme during the playoffs for teams like the Oakland Athletics and the Colorado Rockies. Having a good run to close out the season doesn’t necessarily translate into a good postseason performance. This is where the Giants are in trouble. They are doing well right now but, playing consistent baseball has not been their strong suit this year. Let’s not forget this team is the same that lost seven straight games back in May.
They Will Be Sellers
San Francisco shows no signs of wanting to trade for a superstar this trade season. In fact, they’re still trying to get rid of theirs despite their recent good fortune. This would mean losing one of the greatest postseason pitchers of all time: Madison Bumgarner. What’s more, reliever Will Smith is also for sale. Even if they do make it into the postseason, they will be shorthanded. Not in quantity but in quality.
L.A. Is Too Tough To Tame
Giants fans might argue that they have done it before. They’ve clashed with the Dodgers as the NL Wild Card before and have come out with the win most of the time. Those were different times. Back then, Bruce Bochy’s boys were healthy and players like Buster Posey and Brandon Belt were in their prime.
Los Angeles has also changed quite a bit since the last time both teams met during the playoffs. With the likes of Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner, Joc Pederson, and Walker Buehler, the Dodgers have become a tougher rival for the rest of the NL. If they fall on their way to another World Series, it won’t be the Giants who beat them.
Contenders Or Pretenders?
San Francisco is playing well, there is no doubt about that. They do have a legitimate shot at getting into the postseason if they manage to turn things around. If they manage to bottle up their recent performances for the rest of the season, they can make it. However, when looking at the many problems that lie ahead in the upcoming weeks and months, it’s hard to imagine they can keep this up. They are no more than pretenders.
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