Uncustomed Heroes of 2021: Giants

 

The San Francisco Giants finished the 2021 season with the best record of anybody, with 107 wins and 55 losses. With a regular season that good, the Giants were unfortunately doomed for a steep fall. Which is exactly what happened when they went against the Dodgers in the NLDS. 

But before then, they took a mostly-aging core and added a lot of youth and cheap statistical forces to the team in order to make it great. It was a triumph Gabe Kapler had been waiting for since getting the job with the Phillies. And it was a worthy triumph, considering the franchise piece that would leave at the end of the season.

But first, one of the other pillars of the team, Brandon Belt, had a great year in between injuries. Over 97 games he hit .274 with a team-leading 29 homers, and 59 RBIs. Belt also had the largest OPS on the team with 160, and notched a 2.7 WAR despite missing time. If that's how good he was without 50 games, it proves that Belt still has some life in him, even at 33.

2022 Prediction: A fuller year, though maybe not as power-heavy. Expect some big moments from the guy, though. I don't quite see 1st base going to Darin Ruf quite yet.

Rounding out the 6-year contract he signed in 2016, Johnny Cueto found himself bringing up the rear of a rotation that featured Kevin Gausman, Anthony Desclafani, Logan Webb and Alex Wood. In 21 games, the former Cincinnati ace went 7-7 with a 4.08 ERA and only 98 Ks. It's sad to see someone who looked so powerful in 2015 and 2016 seeming this blah, but he did still have some moments of dominance before being left off the postseason roster. 

2022 Prediction: A lower-price signing for a team needing rotation help. Washington? Baltimore? Hell, the Mets?

One of the biggest surprises for the Giants was the arrival of former Twins utility piece LaMonte Wade Jr.,  who was a very useful bench piece that made his way to starting in June and July. In July he had a 1.027 OPS with 16 RBIs and 7 homers, owing to his season .243 average. Wade, like Darin Ruf, is an outfield-1B type who can just rake and hit it where they ain't at crucial moments. No wonder Kapler likes him.

2021 Prediction: A bigger case to start, and maybe bigger contact numbers.

Two relievers split the closing spot in SF this year. Technically the most successful of the two was Jake McGee, who had 31 saves, a 2.72 ERA and 58 Ks. Clearly his best season closing since Tampa, and I'm glad he's come into his own as a ninth man. 

2022 Prediction: A few more blown saves will leave the door open for their other closer.

The other closing piece the Giants used this year was Tyler Rogers. While his brother Taylor was injured for a great deal of the year, Tyler the sidearmer had the stronger overall season, with a 2.22 ERA, 55 Ks, and 14 saves in 80 appearances. Rogers may be 30, but he's reaching his peak, and has been a nasty relief piece for the Giants over the last few seasons.

2022 Prediction: Takes the ninth full time, with great results.

Meanwhile, the middle relief piece that raised the most eyebrows this year was Camilo Doval, who premiered as a rookie, became a trusted relief piece, had a 3.00 era in 29 appearances, notched his first postseason save and gave up a run to the Dodgers in the NLDS. Doval is 23, and is doing so much already. While people like Jarlin Garcia and Dominic Leone had bigger overall seasons, Camilo Doval had the biggest second half, and made the Giants more of a force going into the postseason.

2022 Prediction: Levels a bit behind some aforementioned talents, but begins to hone things for a prime season coming in a year or so.

Finally, 2021 was the final one for Buster Posey, a team hero I saw in his rookie year at Oracle Park, and who always seemed to excel both behind the plate and at it. I respect his decision to bow out now, as he's certainly on top, with an ASG season, a .300 average and 120 hits. Very respectable numbers to go out on. I hope that either Joey Bart or Curt Casali will fill the void strongly enough without him.

Tomorrow- Some results of the soon-to-be-Guardians' decision to make for a lower-budget 2021.

2020 Topps Final Edition: Cards #145-153

 What is undoubtedly one of the bigger rookie cards in 2021 Topps appears in this batch of 2020 Topps Final Edition cards, along with some odds and ends of veteran careers, a few potential All Stars, and some guys who could factor into the 2021 season.

Card #145- Luis Guillorme, New York Mets

After a decent come-up in 2019, Luis Guillorme still needed the right moment to convince the Mets that he'd be a successful infield choice for the coming years. He got 29 games in 2020 to do so along with Andres Gimenez covering short, and the two melded immediately. Guillorme had the slightly less showy season of the two, but he still hit .333 with 9 RBIs in that time. So far he's been used as a backup for the Mets in 2021, but his contact abilities seem to be retained.

Card #146- Jose Ramirez ASG, Cleveland Indians

It should not shock you that if the 2020 season had been played in full, and there had been an All Star Game in LA, Jose Ramirez would have been starting at 3rd base for the AL. Ramirez was the best third baseman in the AL last year, the best position player in Cleveland, and the runner-up to the MVP voting. It's that simple. 

Card #147- Jake McGee, Los Angeles Dodgers

Jake McGee is one of those relievers that doesn't exactly make the news, but does solid work and is rewarded for it. He's been with the Rockies for the last 4 seasons, so 2020 was his first year out of there, and he made camp with the Dodgers in the nick of time. McGee had a 2.66 ERA in 24 games with 33 Ks, and managed one scoreless inning in the World Series to account for his shakier stuff in the NLCS. McGee is now closing games for the San Fransisco Giants, and is already off to a fantastic start.

Card #148- Kyle Tucker ASG, Houston Astros

Yeah, here's an All Star shocker- if things has gone statistically by position rather than '3 wrangled outfielders at the top of the heap', Kyle Tucker would have been the starting left fielder for the AL. May not look like much from a name brand standpoint, but Tucker had an excellent breakout season last year, with 42 RBIs and a league-leading 6 triples. Looks to be off to a decent start this year as well.

Card #149- Matt Adams, Atlanta Braves

Matt Adams had a weird career, man. He only played for 3 teams over the course of a 9-year career...but he just played for them multiple times. It just goes...Cardinals-Braves-Nationals-Cardinals-Nationals-Braves. It's like remembering how Henry VIII's wives died. Still, 2020 was Adams' return to Atlanta after impressively filling in for Freddie Freeman in 2017, and it was...far less good. In 16 games, he hit .184 with 9 RBIs and 18 strikeouts. It looks like the end of Adams' career, although he did sign a minor league deal with Colorado last month, and he could potentially still make the Rox at some point. Which would be odd. A fourth team? 

Card #150- Joey Bart, San Francisco Giants

From the beginning of the season, when it became clear that Buster Posey would not be playing at all in 2020, and as the catching options became Tyler Heineman and Chadwick Tromp, the chorus of Giants fans bellowing 'PROMOTE BART' gradually built over time. Eventually the Giants had no choice, and brought up the much-touted catching prospect Joey Bart, and gave him 33 games in the majors. And he did...alright in that time. He hit .233 with 7 RBIs and a 0.4 WAR, which wasn't BAD, but it also wasn't the heir apparent stuff Giants fans were hoping for. So, the Giants are giving him a bit more time in the minors as Posey reclaims his spot, which isn't a bad idea.

Card #151- Hector Rondon, Arizona Diamondbacks

Hector Rondon won a ring with the Cubs and chased glory with the Astros, so he's been on ferocious, competitive teams before, but his greatest struggle as a relief specialist may have come last year in Arizona. Brought in to give the D-Backs an expert force in a mostly youth-driven bullpen, Rondon hit a 7.65 ERA in 23 games. Not a great showing at all. Rondon missed camp with the Phillies this year but is still employed by the Red Sox organization.

Card #152- Jeimer Candelario ASG, Detroit Tigers

Jeimer Candelario would have been the Tigers' only ASG representative had the game happened last year. A relief as well, as Candelario's better numbers appeared for the Tigers when all hope was lost, and when Cron and Schoop both were injured. The third baseman surprised many by hitting for average, .297, with 29 RBIs and 7 home runs, a solid run for a 60 game season. He's taking a similar slow approach this season so far, but hopefully he'll come along as we go.

Card #153- Tyler Webb, St. Louis Cardinals

A season after pleading for stationary growth after bopping around the leagues like a supernal, Tyler Webb took the Cardinals' trust in him as a means to coast for a little while. In 21 games, Webb had a 2.01 ERA and 19 Ks, and was a trusted arm in a season of slight disarray for that pitching squad. So far he's not having as smooth of a time of things in St. Louis, but hopefully things turn around.

And in the next 9 cards on Friday, we get another highly-touted rookie, plus some neglected relief stars of last year.