TortureCast (SF Giants Podcast)

Be honest, you don't really care about the Bay Bridge Series, but now that it's gone, you pine for it. The Giants made their last visit to the Oakland Coliseum over the weekend for the final Bay Bridge Series, splitting the two games with their soon-not-to-be cross-bay rivals. Next year, the Giants will travel to their OWN AAA ballpark to play the A's...wtf? Chad is joined by special guest Ryan Leong (@ryanleong) from Bay Area Sports Wrap to discuss his 25+ years of covering pro Bay Area sports and of course, Giants baseball. We take a historical look into the Giants' franchise and how the near-move in 1993 compares with the A's move today. We also chat about his Starter jacket collection, favorite memories at the Coliseum, Blake Snell, Logan Webb, Matt Chapman, the Giants' playoff chances (now officially on life support), and frankly, criticize both Melvin and Zaidi. Ok, we are two grumpy 50-year old men shaking our fists at the Giant clouds in the sky.@torturecast (Twitter and Instagram)facebook.com/torturecasttorturecast.com

The Giants have been slowly creeping up in the standings and suddenly find themselves 2 games above .500 and only 1.5 games back of the wild card with 42 to play. We discuss their playoff chances, their recent trades, the demotion of Doval, Snell's resurgence and no-hitter, the all-important 4-game series with the Braves this week and much, much more. www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecasttwitter.com/torturecast

Well, they are. At the All Star break, the Giants stand at 3 games under .500, and while they are only 3 games back of the final wildcard spot, they have 5 teams ahead of them. That's a tough assignment. Should they sell, buy, or stand pat? Eric and Chad discuss the Giants prospects of making the playoffs with 67 games remaining. We also had an All-Star game, where the two Giants didn't do so well in another NL loss. And...we talk about the MLB draft with the Giants going outfield heavy in the early rounds.www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

Willie Mays, a legendary figure in baseball history, forged an incomparable legacy throughout his illustrious career. Born in 1931, Mays made his Major League Baseball debut with the New York Giants in 1951, quickly capturing attention with his exceptional athleticism and prowess both at bat and in the outfield. Known for his remarkable catches and powerful hitting, Mays became a symbol of excellence and determination on the field. His tenure with the Giants, which continued when they moved to San Francisco in 1958, solidified his status as an icon for both the franchise and its fans. Mays' impact transcended statistics; he embodied the spirit of the game, inspiring generations with his charisma, sportsmanship, and unwavering dedication. His contributions to the Giants' success and his influence on the sport as a whole remain unparalleled, making Willie Mays a revered figure in baseball and a beloved hero to Giants fans everywhere. Chad, Eric, and Willie reflect upon Mays' life and career after his passing earlier this week. Mays' was Eric and Willie's favorite Giant, and Eric wouldn't even be a fan of the Giants if it weren't for Willie Mays. Willie Dills' always wears 24 and heck, his NAME is Willie. It's not sad, but it is somber that Mays passed away two days before the game at Rickwood Field was to honor him. We spend the majority of this episode talking about his career and impact on our lives, review the experience and game at Rickwood Field, then wrap up with where the Giants stand at almost the halfway point in the season.Willie Dills also recorded a few minutes of audio while standing at Mays' statue at Oracle Park the day after his passing. That audio can be found separately or at the end of this podcast.www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

Our own Willie Dills went down to Oracle Park and the Willie Mays statue on the day after Mays' death and shared a few thoughts while standing in front of the "Say Hey Kid." RIP to the GOAT. We'll miss you.

The Giants had a good two weeks going, winning 10 of 12 games and getting 2 games north of .500. Until they faced the Yankees. Aaron Judge went off at Oracle, something Giants fans dreamt of a couple of years ago. Except, he did it in Yankee road grey going 6-10 with 3 bombs and even 2 stolen bases. It didn't help that Camilo Doval blew a 2 run lead in the 9th to complete the Yankee sweep. We look into some of Doval's metrics, and let's just say his barrel and hard hit percentage are near the bottom of the league, where it's traditionally near the top. Perhaps his stuff isn't moving as much, because the velocity is there. After recording, the Giants went out and lost another heartbreaker to Arizona in walk-off fashion. They have lost 5 in a row and are 3 games below water. Not great, but still within 1.5 games of the wild card. Chad, Eric, and Willie are actually pretty positive about this team. They ran into the Yankee buzzsaw, but also took 2 of 3 from the best team in the NL, so there's that. Still, it's going to be an uphill climb with the piling injuries (Lee out for the year, Wade out for 4 weeks, etc.) and young guys trying to find their place. www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

Ok. Full transparency. I started the podcast by opening with a clip of Russel Crowe bellowing, "Are you not entertained?!" to honor our 300th episode. I forgot that clip is not from the movie "300." It's Gladiator. Eric, Willie, and I talk about the milestone that is our 300th episode, how the podcast got started, and a few interesting podcasting stats. Then we came to visit the hospital that is the current SF Giants clubhouse. Lee, Soler, Conforto, Winn, Slater, Ahmed, Murphy...all injured. There are 7 players on the current roster that were playing for Sacramento less than two weeks ago. And they have to compete with the All Star Dodgers? But hey, they just signed Curt Casali and an outfielder from the Mexican league! This team is certainly not performing the way we expected, and things could get much worse with all of these injuries. The good news is they are only 2.5 games out of the third wild card spot. On to the next 100 episodes!www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

Well, that didn't take long. Blake Snell gets rocked in his first three outings then goes on the IL with an adductor strain. The boys chat about our biggest surprises and biggest disappointments in the first 26 games of the season, which finds the Giants just under .500. At least they haven't lost the division in the month of April. Our surprises include Conforto and Hicks, but aside from Snell, our biggest disappointments so far are the bullpen and Austin Slater. Also, the Giants welcome in the Pirates and Joey Bart this weekend after they traded Bart to the Bucs in early April. He's off to a hot start with 3 bombs in 26 ABs. He hit only 11 homers with the Giants in 5 years. Go figure. www.torturecast.com@torturecast

The season is officially underway, and Chad and Eric review the first five games of the Giants' 2024 season. Despite the 2-3 start, there are a lot of positives to take away with the hitting of Lee, Conforto, Chapman, and Wade, and the starts by Webb, Harrison, Hicks, and Winn. However, the bullpen has been the worst in the majors to start the young season, having given up 20 earned runs in just 18 innings. Although there will be a correction to the mean, if the pen doesn't smooth things out quickly, it could lead to some Pepto nights for Giants fans. www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

It's one of our favorite episodes to do every year: the season preview episode! This also begins our FOURTEENTH season of covering Giants' baseball.Everything is fresh as a daisy. Everyone has a 0-0 record (well, except the Dodgers and Padres), and you can just smell the scent of fresh-cut grass in the office. Eric and Chad review what's happened in Giants' baseball over the last three weeks, including the bombshell of landing last year's Cy Young winner, Blake Snell. Then, we get to our picks and prognostications. How many wins? Who will lead the team in ERA? Wins? HR? facial hair rearrangement? (strike that last one). We also solicited win predictions from YOU, our listeners, and we read every single one on air. Vegas has the over/under at 83.5 wins. Where do we land? We also give our divisional and wild card picks, and who will be victorious in the World Series.Also, don't forget to check out Chad's Oracle Park food review video!Go Giants!www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

The Giants "said" they were done signing free agents, but it was a ruse, just as we thought. News broke late Friday night that the Giants signed prized third baseman Matt Chapman to a 3 year, $54 million contract, with opt-outs after years 1 and 2. The Giants have significantly upgraded their lineup with the additions of Soler and Chapman, and now questions linger about J.D. Davis' or Wilmer Flores' fate. There was also just no room for Brandon Crawford, who signed a $2 million, 1 year MLB deal with the Cardinals. Sad to see him go, but he had a -1.5 WAR last year, and he just doesn't have the positional flexibility required of a 26th man. Normally, we are less concerned about the rotation, but with Tristan Beck out indefinitely after today's surgery to correct an aneurysm in his upper right arm, the top four are Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, and Keaton Winn. Hicks and Winn are already questionable, and Harrison doesn't even have a full year under his belt. The fifth spot could go to Hjelle, or perhaps Kai-Wei Teng, but spring training will sort that all out. They will be getting Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray back during the year, and Cobb reportedly is ahead of schedule.www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

The Giants officially opened up spring training this week, and we had a lot to catch up on. First and foremost, the Giants plugged in some desperately needed power by signing Jorge Soler to a 3 year, $42 million contract. He's slotted to bat fourth and be the Giants' primary DH. Zaidi also said that they are essentially "done" with acquisitions and trades for now, although Blake Snell is still sitting out there as a prized free agent, not to mention Matt Chapman and Cody Bellinger. The Giants traded Ross Stripling to Oakland, but their opening day rotation looks a little light. Perhaps the Giants will stand pat with signing Jordan Hicks, who will become a starter after a long stint as a flame-throwing reliever, along with a trio of young starters, until Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray come off the injury shelf. Hey, the Panda is back! But, don't expect him to make the roster out of spring training. We also talk about numbers, jerseys, and a LOT of 49ers talk.www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

We break in the new year by reflecting on the signings of Jung Hoo Lee, Jordan Hicks, and the trade for Robbie Ray. Bye Disco and Haniger, we barely knew ya! The Giants avoid arbitration with three key players, but will probably face an arbiter in February with JD Davis. The need is obvious: at least a healthy starting pitcher and some power, but the Dodgers are apparently cornering the market on everyone! There is still hope with several key free agents still available. Let's just hope Farhan can actually make some of these happen or it's going to be a very long year.www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast.

Not that we're shocked, but the greatest unicorn player since Babe Ruth and most prized free agent in...well, maybe forever, decided that his services should stay in southern California but with the Bums. That's right, the ONE team we didn't want to see him go to was the Dodgers. $700 million over 10 years. The richest sports contract in history. The Giants were reportedly on the outside of the 3 finalists, which were Toronto, Anaheim, and LA, so they didn't really have a chance in the end. Where do the Giants pivot? There is still a lot of talent out there, and signing a few all-starts versus one unicorn can still be a better value deal, despite missing on the marketing opportunities (which, by the way, may pay for most of Ohtani's contract in LA).Chad and Eric try and point the ship in the right direction for the Giants to sail, but seeing Ohtani in Dodger blue for the next 10 years has us....concerned to say the least. We review the available free agents, whom the Giants have signed, yet-to-be-signed arbitration-eligible players, and review the 2023 baseball awards.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

Once we heard that the San Diego Padres gave the Giants permission to speak with Bob Melvin, we knew it was just a matter of days before Melvin was signed and announced as the 39th manager in franchise history. That was made official this morning with an introductory press conference. What a strange turn of events. On July 18, the Giants were 1.5 games back of the Dodgers for the NL West, and had a firm grip on the #1 wild card seed. A few months later, not only is Gabe Kapler fired, but the manager of the All-star-studded Padres bailed ship with a year left on his contract for the Giants. Sounds similar to another ex-catcher and Padres manager that came north, eh? Chad and Eric review the positives and the challenges of the Melvin signing, and the fact that Farhan Zaidi was extended through 2026. Also, Bruce Bochy did it again! After winning Game 7 of the ALCS against another former Giants manager in Dusty Baker, he is now 6-0 in winner-take-all games, and it was his 13th managerial victory in an elimination game. Of course, 6 of those came in the 2012 postseason alone! We preview the matchup between Bochy's Rangers and the speedy, 84-win Diamondbacks, who edged out Philly in 7 games. So much to talk about!@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecasttorturecast.com

The Championship Series are set, and we find two ex-Giants' managers against each other in the American League with Texas vs Houston, while the powerhouse Braves and Dodgers were eliminated in the division series, leaving the upstart Diamondbacks against the slugging Phillies in the National League. The teams with the best five best records in the regular season went 1-13 in the playoffs! Willie, Chad, and Eric review the first two rounds, but focus on the Dodgers' failures, and the matchup between Bochy and Dusty. We touch on the Giant's managerial search and offer our opinions of what they need to look for in a candidate, and we make our LCS and World Series picks.www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

The firing of manager Gabe Kapler wasn't unexpected, but his firing with three games left was. We speculate on why he was fired with three games left, and where the Giants go from here. This is a meaty, longer episode where we dive into the psychology of the firing, and whom they may hire as Kapler's replacement. The Giants finished below average in almost every category, yet finished just below .500. That in itself is a testament to squeezing blood out of a stone, but at the same time, the Giants were 13 games above .500 and only needed to finish with a barely sub-.500 record from that point to make the playoffs. Miami and Arizona made the playoffs with a mere 84 wins while the Giants had 79. That's only a 5 game differential. Just one extra win a month. Baseball is cruel. We also give our postseason picks, reminisce about Brandon Crawford's career, and we'll be back in a week or two to talk playoffs and free agency. This is gonna get weird!www.torturecast.com@torturecast

Welp, that's it. The Giants are all but mathematically eliminated from postseason contention after losing 3 of 4 in Colorado, both games in Arizona and the first game in LA. They are also under .500 with 9 games remaining against the Dodgers and Padres and have a very good chance at finishing the season with more losses than wins, something that seemed unlikely when they were 13 games above .500 and 2.5 games back of the Dodgers in July. This has been one of the biggest second half collapses by the Giants that we can remember. It was fueled by poor hitting, mediocre pitching, no speed, and poor defense. For some odd reason, it also manifested itself on the road, where the Giants have won only 5 of their last 31 games, their worst stretch since 1902. Yeah, that's historic. We talk about what went wrong, and how the Giants really had to TRY to not get into the postseason. Think about it. Even going 10-21 in those road games would have them in a spot right now. Heck 13-18 would have put them 5 games in the lead along with Philly right now. It's just incredible how this team has imploded. Even the national perspective has shunned the style of Giants ball (see Tom Verducci's article in SI.com). Also, Brandon Craword goes back on the IL for the fourth time, and is eligible to come off and play on October 1, their last game of the season. Let's all go to Oracle and send him off in a positive way, should this be the end of his Giants' career. Man, what this season could have been.www.torturecast.com@torturecast

The Giants are sabotaging their path to the playoffs that, 4 weeks ago, was still looking very likely. However, they have gone 9-23 since Aug 5, including a current 6-game losing streak, and now stand at an even .500 and 2.5 games back of the wild card with 22 games remaining. The big issue is not just the 2.5 games, but the fact that they'll have to leapfrog at least 3 teams to get that third spot, with Miami, Cincinnati, and Arizona all ahead of them. The Cubs are now solidly in the second wild card spot and only 1.5 games back of the division after sweeping the Giants. The Giants' playoff chance once stood at 75%, but have plummeted to just 13% on Baseball Reference, which is much lower than the other wild card teams. The reason for that is that the Giants face the Dodgers 7 times while Cincinnati gets to beat up on the weaker teams in baseball. The Giants will have to right the ship with a sweep of Colorado, there really is no way they can lose more series and hope to snag a playoff dance card. We also talk about Kyle Harrison's electric home debut, and Alex Cobbs near no-no. It's not all doom and gloom!www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecasttwitter.com/torturecast

After a break in recording, we come back to the mic to find the Giants buried in the NL West, but still firmly in the wild card race. With a 7-11 record in August, and the Dodgers going 17-2 during that same period, the Giants are now 11.5 games back with 38 to play, so they can kiss the division title goodbye. That said, the playoffs are still within reach, as they currently hold the second wild card. BUT, 5 teams are all within 1.5 games of each other for the second and third spots, and the Phillies are 2 ahead of that. Speaking of, the Giants have a huge series in Philly, as they try and take advantage of a wild card competitor. After losing 5 consecutive series, and going 2-14 over their last 16 road games, the Giants desperately need some road magic. Kyle Harrison finally gets the call up and will start in Philly on Tuesday...just don't walk half the lineup, kid.www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecasttwitter.com/torturecaston Threads and Instagram...sort of....