Uncustomed Heroes of 2020: Giants (Part Two)

Continuing the reminiscence of the Giants' 2020 season...the Giants started the season with Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval, and they were both gone before September 27th. Earth-shattering for longtime fans, but necessary.

Pablo Sandoval didn't have much left in the tank in 2020, sad to say. .220 in 33 games, 18 hits and 6 RBIs. And then he's released and Atlanta picks him up.

Austin Slater fared a bit better, I suppose. His season this year was similar to last year's, in that he wasn't relied upon immediately, but once he was he was trusted in killer situations. Slater hit .282 in 32 games, led the team in stolen bases and had 7 RBIs and 5 games. Hopefully he'll be able to start the year in the majors next year.

2021 Prediction: A full year, moving Dickerson to the bench, with 20 homers and some good number of steals. The breakout year is nearly upon us.

Logan Webb was an early standout for the rotation, moved from the bullpen on a whim. Eventually he bottomed to a 5.47 ERA with a 3-4 record and 46 Ks.

2021 Prediction: Predominantly bullpen work.

 And Trevor Cahill had an opposite year, starting the year in the bullpen but making the best of a rotation audition, with a 4.05 ERA and 23 Ks in 6 starts, not bad at all. 

2021 Prediction: Similar split between the bullpen and rotation for whoever picks him up.

I don't exaggerate- when I first saw Darin Ruf's name appear in the stats for the Giants, I did a double take. THAT Darin Ruf? The guy who used to be a killed Philly prospect then got traded for Chase Utley and bottomed out in LA? We speaking the same language here? But yes, it was Darin Ruf making a comeback in SF, hitting .276 with 18 RBIs off the bench, and being a generally great fringe presence despite the occasional outfield error. The fans seem to love him, and it seems fitting that Gabe Kapler has inherited him.

2021 Prediction: Perhaps some of the magic wears off, but I expect a few more big moments from the big guy.

And then there's Joey Bart. The man all of San Francisco were waiting to debut once Posey opted out, the catcher heir apparent whose seat was just being filled by Tyler Heineman and Chadwick Tromp. And once he got to the majors...he was okay. He hit .233 in 33 games yet had more strikeouts than Brandon Belt had in 51. Whatever the Giants fans were expecting to happen evidently won't happen immediately.

2021 Prediction: Once Posey gets back, probably either more time in the majors or backup duty. Whatever it is, hopefully it'll help him be majors-ready when the time comes. 

Coming Tomorrow- The Cleveland Indians made it back to the playoffs, and had the Yankees on the ropes for a second. Here's how they did it.