It’s the last story I submitted since spring education on March 12, before the pandemic shut down world sport.
It was never published because of the occasions surrounding the pandemic.
Well, six and a half months later, with the San Francisco Giants (26-27) hanging from the image of the playoffs, part of a game behind the Philadelphia Phillies of Philadelphia for the last place for the wild card on Tuesday, who would believe their thought of it, would spring day still be relevant?
There are players in the column who haven’t been there this season, adding all-Star receiver Buster Posey who chose not his newborn twins in a row, however, there is a direct link between the Giants’ March mentality and their resistance in September.
This is a team that pretended to be one of the worst in franchise history, to have the opportunity to be one of the most proud.
The columnArray . .
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – They despise the word.
I hate to even say it.
Rebuild.
San Francisco, winner of three World Series champions since 2010, has been the antithesis of reconstruction.
They recharge, in a position to exchange perspectives.
Until now.
It’s a season in which you can lose a hundred games for a moment in the 138-year history of this proud franchise.
There’s no major league executive, headhunter or propeller head who thinks he can fight.
Person.
And yet, stop by the Giants club, contact your veterans, those with World Series rings, All-Star Game appearances on their gum cards, and refuse to listen.
“I mean, the purpose is not to have that mindset,” Giants third baseman Evan Longoria told USA TODAY Sports. “You can’t come here with the mindset that it’s a one-year reconstruction, a year of abandonment, mediocrity, low external expectations, or whatever you need to call.
“As soon as you start joining as a player, it depresses you. You’re starting to lower your expectations. You’re starting to lower your teammates’ expectations. It’s just some kind of snowball effect. a lot more kids who give up, either they’re just there or just what they’ve done.
“Everyone here has succeeded, and no one has to be a loser again. Therefore, our mindset will have to be that of not paying attention to critics. Don’t settle for being a doormat. If you do that, man, it’s going to be a long season. ‘
The Giants have just had three consecutive loss seasons, won only 77 games last year, and is the most productive since their last place in the playoffs in 2016.
However, at no point in this drought were they entering a season without pretending to be candidates. They’ve had hope. They thought it might be their year, hiring one-year-old rookies Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto, exchanging for Longoria the next day and still blocking their stars.
It’s those noble contracts that prevented the Giants from completely disassembling their tacos, and advertising clauses that ensure that all-Star Buster Posey receiver and All-Star Brandon Crawford shortstop can’t get anywhere without their permission, and with only 8 groups allowed to the industry. for Samardzija without his approval.
The Giants are expected to have a payroll of approximately $ 160 million on opening day and still have another $ 92. 077 million similar to Brandon Belt, Posey, Crawford, Cueto and Samardzija, all Longoria and Cueto who do not have a no-trade clause. .
However, if some of their star players start strongly and attract the interest of the contenders, any player can simply be on the move. Who wouldn’t need to play for a candidate in the last years of his career?
“We’re idiots, we know the situation,” Samardzija says. We know we have to play well and score well this early season to give them something to think about in July. “
Still, giant veterans insist they refuse to give up until a bachelor pitch is launched. Well, with the exception of the Los Angeles Dodgers, no team will win more than a hundred games.
The Giants didn’t give up their wildcard position last July when they had far shots, clinging to As Madison Bumgarner and nearest All-Star Will Smith, so why surrender before April?
“In none of the three years of the championship,” Crawford said, “I don’t think we were chosen to win the World Series after spring practice. I mean, were those groups different? Yes, however, I don’t think we’ve been the favorites. to win it all.
“Anyone can say what they need from us, a rebuilding year or whatever, but we don’t go into the season thinking it’s a rebuilding year. Getting to the playoffs and winning the World Series is our pass. That’s our status. “. We still have a lot of guys here with a winning delight that can help shape the clubhouse culture. ”
Of course, they let Bumgarner move to Arizona, Smith to Atlanta and Kevin Pillar to Boston, still bringing the band together, making Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval their glory days.
“Here’s the trick,” says Belt, who owes $16 million each of the next two seasons. “If we get a little resurgence from veterans, which we think will happen, we’ll stay healthy and young players get up, it can actually win a lot of baseball games.
“So we’re really involved in what everyone thinks we’re doing. “
In any case, Posey suggests, there are some new perspectives in the camp with new manager Gabe Kapler and a young, eco-friendly training team. Former manager Bruce Bochy, who led the team to its greatest fortune in franchise history, will one day advance to the Hall of Fame, but a new messenger, with other ideas, can generate energy.
“Personally, the intensity of the camp right now is higher than last,” Posey says, six times All-Star and former MVP who still owes $45. 8 million over the next two seasons. “This workout brings other tactics of doing things, and it’s smart for kids who’ve been doing the same things for a while, it’s a lovely feeling. ‘
Then the obituaries.
Cancel the sympathy flowers.
Let the season unfold, the Giants plead, and don’t hesitate to shoot.
“Expectations are built through you,” says veteran reliever Jerry Blevins (now a lazy agent). “You say we’re rebuilding. The front might think so. But as a player, we feel like we have a champion team here. And if you don’t think you can win, you have all your priorities combined.
“You have to write a story, that’s your job.
“But we can write the genuine story, and that’s what makes it so beautiful. “
Now you know the rest of the story, with the Giants writing the situation that no idea is possible.
Follow Nightengale on Twitter: @Bnightengale