Free Buster Hugs for all new FA acquisitions: San Francisco Giants 2024 onward

Let's start the Buster Posey POBO era with a new thread

This is going to be an interesting ride

Yeah it will - it coincides with the exit of the A's from the bay as well. There was a quote a month or two ago from an anonymous agent stating SF will be a huge market in the next 10 years.

“In 10 years, the Giants are going to generate more revenue than the New York Yankees,” the agent said. “They’ll have all the Bay Area, and half of the state. They’ll have their Triple-A team in Sacramento, their (Low)-A team in San Jose. They own their stadium, they’re developing around it. San Francisco, Oakland, Silicon Valley, Sacramento — the Giants are about to become the monsters of Major League Baseball.”

Quote came from a Chronicle article about the A's leaving for Sacramento, and was quoted again as part of a Brisbee article detailing how the Giants could back to contention and realize that vision.

The thing I was wondering about with that quote was the vision of the agent - was that Boras? I do wonder if he's bullish and along with Posey betting on "buying low" in the Bay. Usually you'd hear the opposite, of players or agents either using the Giants as a team to drive a price up and be non-committal.

Regardless, I do hope to see a revamped farm program. There's solid talent finally coming up, and as Grant emphasizes in his article above, it really is the way to build a sustainable winning program, and teams with those programs (along with nice locales to live in) are the ones that truly attract free agents.

I would love to know what Posey said to Chapman to get him to sign. That’s got to be their best free agent signing in ages.

Posey Press conference:
https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/buster-posey-president-baseball-operations-2/1788583/?os=0&ref=app

Posey, who was given a three-year contract, will be tasked with finding a new general manager after he announced that Pete Putila won't continue in that role.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsEuXnuU4AAgyvu?format=jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GY1E73ubQAEKFXP?format=jpg&name=large

Actually shocking when you remember how young he was in his rookie season. He went out there with ice in his veins!

The dude could probably still play if he wanted to. Looking good!

I vividly remember game 4 of the 2010 World Series where we had this rookie battery shutting out the Rangers. Just felt like electricity and inevitability; a magical moment with the potential for an even more magical future (that actually came to fruition). Probably how Niner fans felt in '81...

Here's to Buster bringing that vibe back. We really need it

Posey hired Zack Minasian as GM, their VP of Scouting. TIL he's actually Tommy Lasorda's godson?

FWIW I hear good things, though. Knows talent, is a people person, etc. Will be interesting how he pans out.

Adames press conference now.

He’s tight with Matt Duffy (“that’s my guy” he said twice in a row <3)

Looks like things are panning out quite well

https://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/sf-giants-broadcasters-multiyear-extensions-20230466.php

The San Francisco Giants’ beloved broadcasting team of Dave Flemming, Mike Krukow, Duane Kuiper and Jon Miller have signed new multiyear contracts this offseason, Giants president and CEO Larry Baer and Krukow confirmed to SFGATE on Wednesday.

"We signed a new deal, and we’re pretty damned excited about the whole thing,” Krukow told SFGATE.

Hell yeah that's a bad minimum necessary to sustain some fan goodwill at least

Bad -> base

Wilmer Flores home run in the Ninth inning Thursday was eerily familiar.

https://media.tenor.com/Lky-6V3ux_oAAAAC/sfgiants-posey.gif

https://media.tenor.com/Lky-6V3ux_oAAAAC/sfgiants-posey.gif

I was thinking about that while watching the game. Are the vibes back with this team?

Posey energy ~~~~~~~~~~

still riding hard for Schmidt, hope he breaks out this year

I’m really excited for Ramos, what a cool insanely strong man

Pretty incredible start to the year by going 5-1 on the road and winning with the long ball, pitching and defense. Vibing pretty hard with this team, and Adames is still ice cold.

Wilmer!!!!

Worried about Bailey a bit.

I have to talk about today's Opening Day

Verlander was horrible
11 innings
ghost runner still sick
Sloppy play
Giants made more then one error
Pass ball in the 11th should have cost them the game
19 runs, 32 hits combined
W

Posey era just feels different

Yeah Adames had like 3 errors, very generous scoring today lol

And yeah, Posey era is amazing. xVibe is like hitting 200+ rn

I have to talk about today's Opening Day

we call this a "home opener" in SF...

(i'm still all the road but will be back in SF today!)

on... oof, sorry it's early

Pass ball in the 11th should have cost them the game

All you want to do is win series, putting these wins in the bank is going to payoff later.

Sorry about my post on Friday night, ILX came back and was a bit too excited.

* Sorry about my errors in my post rather, sick = suck, calling it opening day ect...

Yeah this is super promising. Last time they started 7-1 was 2003 and they won 100 games

Matt Chapman going oppo to that big right field more is a game changer (literally)

8 - 1

Now in first place

Walk off

that was so badass, first pitch, straight off the bench. I think I heard Dave Fleming say it was Flores’13th career walk off rbi

If you would have told me the Giants would be in 1st by Sunday after the Dodgers started 7-0 and the Giants were 4-1 I'd have been shocked, but here we are.

We got a squad!

🚨 JUNG HOO LEE GOES YARD 🚨 pic.twitter.com/cDFjX3ut88

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) April 11, 2025

This team got something brewing or is it just an early season heater? Liking what I’m seeing regardless

The improvements in defense, baserunning and situational hitting is very real and were public goals stated by Posey when he joined.

The fact that the focus on these aspects of their play style have started off so successfully has been massive. The other unsung aspect of this team's early success so far is the bullpen, which has been absolutely stellar outside of Camilo Doval, who should probably be optioned at this point.

Overall, it's a pretty quick return to the style of play and clubhouse vibe/belief they had during the WS years, and to a lesser extent 2021 (that year was an anomaly in that like 5 dudes had career years at the same time).

Posey has the rizz

Nice look at Jung Hoo Lee's improved swing and his results so far via FanGraphs:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/jung-hoo-lee-is-starting-to-look-like-a-star/

https://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/umpire-tracks-down-sf-giants-player-after-game-20283189.php

To quote others on the internet, Cuzzi is indeed Charmin Ultra Soft

Going to today's game, they're in Anaheim. Verlander pitching.

Hell yeah! Enjoy! Weather looks gorgeous

Seeing "Huff" on the scorecard is triggering me.

I need to watch more Giants games so I can work out why Ramos is hitting leadoff

I need to watch more Giants games so I can work out why Ramos is hitting leadoff

Damn Walker, way to do your best Doval imitation

Had seats on the second deck, third base side out of the sun. When I originally bought tickets I didn’t realize it was on Easter Sunday. My cousin and I had a great time.

Verlander finally pitched a good game this year but in the end, didn’t matter. We got something from the catching position, hitting wise, but was from Huff and not. Should have won but sometimes the closer doesn't have it. I blame it on the human body.

There were tons of Giants fans there

This team is driving me crazy but a better crazy than these last few years.

The curse of the Rally Monkey strikes again.

Your right, they just can't beat the 😇

Going to a game is way too expensive. 24 oz of premium beer was $17, so that was not bad. Paid $15 for a burrito. I also bought 24 oz or maybe even just 16.9 oz of Dasani water and it was $9.70.

- $100 just for me.

Are you allowed to bring in outside food?

Yes, you can at Anaheim stadium. I did hear the Dodgers parking rates were twice what we paid $20.

Damn Doval, way to do your best Walker imitation

Is he back?

He looked good with that save. Still would trust Walker more with their respective track records but it's a good sign.

Tonight we brought in our closer, for the first time since Sunday's blown save game. Four run lead, Ryan Walker does the same thing and loads the bases with one out. This time he was replaced after giving up two...Giants win.

Yup. He's got the yips. Thankfully Doval does not at the moment and bailed him out.

Imagine if they're both on at the same time!

Giants have a long tradition of tortuous closers who'd load the bases and then try to strike out the side: Rod Beck, Robb Nen, Dave Righetti...

https://i.imgur.com/QJ0EHSj.png

honor et virtus post morte florest...

oof

https://i.imgur.com/QJ0EHSj.png

Crazy game going on. With the sloppiness the Giants deserve to lose but here we are.

13 - 4 >.500 teams

Yeah it's an amazing sign how well they're playing against quality teams. Last few years they would get swept or lose significant games to winning teams

btw, they're doing this with Chapman, LWJ, Adames, Ramos and Bailey hitting > .250 (and LWJ is below .100 now). We'll see if they can keep this up for another month or two though.

Team W L Diff >.500
SF  18 10 ÷27 14-7
SD 17 10 +25 8-7
La 17 10 +5 9-7
AZ 14 13 +10 5-5

The reason I posted that, in the middle of a series, is because the Giants are in first place for the first time this year.

Go Giants

2nd best record in baseball! Would be first if it weren't for the Mets going Nuclear the last couple weeks

The reason I posted that, in the middle of a series, is because the Giants are in first place for the first time this year.

Go Giants

― Bee OK, Saturday, April 26, 2025 9:11 PM (yesterday)

perhaps you mean for the first time since 3 weeks ago when they were also in first:

https://i.imgur.com/2XRGKgG.png

What is even going on?

I don’t know, they seem to be a 500 team but they're playing good teams and winning. Pitching is outstanding. Posey magic too.

Such a great way to win lol

Something to be said about that Posey magic. And having a lights out bullpen and amazing defense.

Tyler Fitzgerald got two torpedo bats and gave one to Patrick Bailey. Both bats broke in back to back at bats last night. On the telecast last night Kruk and Kuip said they cost about $220 each, about $40 more than a regular bat.

This team has no offense, very frustrating

Then they go and hit two solo home runs. Maybe I should bitch more often.

Giants had their first major injury, second overall and comes May 1. Tyler Fitzgerald is a huge blow because he and Jung Hoo Lee are the only ones hitting right now.

Embarrassing loss to an embarrassing team last night. Officially now feeling some concerns. Hope they right the ship and take the next three games

Playing the Rockies is just what the doctor ordered. Up next is the Cubs and taking two out of three would be huge.

They needed to go 3-1 at minimum against them. Happy to see they did exactly that.

1/4 of the year report card:

How is this team seven games above. 500?

Willy Adames has been a complete bust. I can understand that his bat should come around but it's the defense at short that really irritates me.

Wade has lost it and might have to say goodbye.

Tyler Fitzgerald was doing fine at second but is now hurt and gone from the lineup .

Chapman is a fun third base man, love watching his defense.

Ramos has finally turning a corner, a week ago i wouldn't have been playing him.

Jung Hoo Lee is like the only guy who can constantly hit on this team.

Mike Yastrzemski is having a decent year, he's like the heart and soul of the Giants these last few years.

Patrick Bailey can't hit major league hitting, the Giants are going to have to make a change eventually.

The Giants have seven starters and are wasting Bidsong and Harrison in the bullpen. Going to be interesting to see who gets booted first.

Bullpen has been amazing except for the closer, bring back Camilo Doval to be the closer, problem solved.

Have been incredibly healthy this year. Only lost Tyler Fitzgerald, so far, that doesn't happen in modern baseball.

Verlander lost again today but no fault of his own. No offense and win less in his first nine starts. Wow.

Going to the game tonight for Korean heritage night! Also joined the Hoo Lee Gans and will root on JHL there! Gonna be fun

On my way home, I saw my neighbor (former district 5 supe, very unpopular with crypto right wing technofash y-combinator bros) and wife were on their way over wearing Hoo Lee Gan shirseys.

Yup, Dean Preston was sitting about two rows in front of us

The Hoo Lee Gans were definitely a non-tech crowd, a lot of locals, and certainly not fashy crypto types. Solid peeps, the lot of them. The vibe really brought me back to the 2010s

BTW it was quite the night - Jung Hoo Lee hit his first home run in SF that night and we went nuts! Great game overall. Going to 100% claim our group was responsible in helping stop the losing streak

good game to go to! just got tix for my youngest and me to see them here in phx in 6 weeks or so

Hayden Birdsong will start on Tuesday. Jordan Hicks is moving to the bullpen!

Thank fuck

I'm coming to San Francisco and happened to be going to a game on June 5th. I used to live there and will be my first time back since I moved away. Visiting my Brother and he asked if I wanted to go to the game. I told him I would love to go but know he can care less about sports. He said there is something going on that day and that he can get box seats...so were going!

Nice! Last of a 4 game series against the Padres, and a day game. Should be nice weather too.

Nice score, have fun! Hope they get the win (to split the series)

Amazing that they spent $185M for a SS who is putting up AAA replacement level #s.

It's like the reincarnation of Neifi Perez.

Aaron Rowand all over again except Willie seems like a cooler dude at least

We changed our mind, still going but bumping it up to Saturday's game.

Willy Adames has not been good but I was having more issues with his defense, he seems to have turned it around. His offense hasn't been good either as been stated but hoping that changes. He does have a record and hope he can hit like the back of his baseball card.

Patrick Bailey is my biggest concern, no offense at all. It's so bad I'm wondering if he will stick around in the Major Leagues because of that. He needs to hit a little bit, gold gloves are not enough.

LaMonte Wade Jr. Won't last much longer, sad to watch.

Yeah even if it's a down year for Willy I'm not concerned long term. Bailey is def a huge worry and LWJ just looks cooked and it's going to be going to move one once Encarnacion is healthy

Going to be time to move on I meant to say

Bryce Eldridge isn’t that far away iirc?

He's in AA and hitting fairly well, but I'm thinking he's a year out before he's a June call up if he keeps at it. Usually you need to see some time in Sacramento (though not always, Brandon Crawford came straight from AA). I think there's a decent chance we might see him in September this year though.

What a joke. Swept by the Twins, Royals and now the Tigers. This team can't hit, so frustrating.

I need a break.

That 8th inning lol. Could Melvin not have pinch bit for Bailey there?

pinch hit

Lol, he did, that was the pinch hitter. Bailey hit for Huff in the 8th he was the first out, then Koss couldn't get the bunt down. Second and third with no outs and no runs.

This was great

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6391014/2025/05/29/sf-giants-all-2000s-team/?source=user_shared_article

How many games would these players win if they were on the same team? Probably none. Galarraga is 63 years old, fer cryin’ out loud. Bonds is 60, and it would be hard to expect anything better than a .380 OBP and 25 homers out of him now.

Took a small break from live TV and will take another one this week while on vacation. On this nine game road trip lost two games not scoring a run and another three by only scoring two. 4-5 overall trip but man this offense is hard to watch. Not sure where you can add outside of first base. You can't replace Adames or Bailey. I guess Yaz is good enough. Feel for Posey.

Not sure where to put Justin Verlander when he comes back, as Birdsong needs to stay in this rotation. So does Harrison for that matter.

Hicks is the only weak spot in the bullpen, and boy what a weak spot.

Last thought for now. They got too much pitching, could be an interesting trade deadline.

We gave away Lou Trivino to the Dodgers for heaven's sake. Here take him.

The pitching gives me a lot more hope this year than the past 2-3. Having the top bullpen in the league by a bit of a margin now is a much better indicator of long term potential imo. Last year the bullpen was 21st in wOBA, and they lost a lot of games the bats and starting pitching should have won them. You can keep tighter leads, stay in close games, and survive hitting slumps. The 2011 team post Posey injury had these traits and only barely missed the post season because the pitching was so good. Their hitting was garbage all year, but they were still in it until the end.

As long as the arms keep doing what they're doing, the bats and wins will come around. I've seen my fair share of 1-0 losses during the dynasty era and it sucks, but if there's a "better" way to lose, that's the way to do it.

They really do need to DFA Hicks though (or send him down. Guy is clearly a dead weight right now.

Oh dear god I just found out what they're paying him. YIKES. Damn you Farhan.

Farhan was always the smartest person in the room but he always overthinking. No one else in MLB would have given Hicks four years to try and convert back into a starter.

Four games against the Padres and I'm filled with dread. When the Giants played them less than a month ago the Padres dominated. Made the Giants look like they don't belong in the same class. Padres have hit a rough patch and hopefully that continues...

Encarnation reinstated but Wade remains. Matos, who actually hit a home run and drove in three runs yesterday is optioned. So no backup outfielders? Smh

Umps are doing an amazing job of keeping SF in this game.

Even the Giants broadcasters where what?!? On that call at second base. He was out

Lose in the tenth, bunt then a sac fly. 1-0, Wow!

Webb 8 IP 0 R 0 BB 7 K ND

He got Cained! That game brought back memories

Bryce Eldridge isn’t that far away iirc?

Oh boy, so ready but doesn't sound like he is ready because of the defense.

Robbie Ray was Pitcher of the Month, May 2025:

Over six starts, the 33-year-old went 4-1 with a 1.38 ERA (6 ER/39.0 IP) while allowing 23 hits with 11 walks, 45 strikeouts, a 0.87 WHIP, a .169 opponents’ batting average and 10.38 strikeouts per 9.0 innings.

Can only cry, two losses in a row in the 10th.

Doval cannot be the closer!

He only recently got moved back to closer and still has a sub two ERA? The walks were terrible, granted, but after getting Machado to chase a slider below the zone for a strike, I don’t think he should have anticipated Machado going down and managing to hit a slider almost at his ankles lol, like that wasn’t a meatball or something. In any case he’s out of the inning below that if Adames makes a decent throw to first on the second hitter in the inning.

Watching last night's game made me realize why he was demoted last year. It was like deer in the headlights bad. Couldn't find the strike zone either, surprised he only gave up two runs in the ninth. Rodriguez should be the closer imo.

I think he hit a batter and walked two...

He didn’t hit anyone

After watching the last two games I'm gonna take a bit of a break. Last night was particularly painful.

While Doval has been pretty flawless since his repeated early April hiccups he just doesn't inspire confidence with the fans, and his timing last night and the means in which it happened (walks as opposed to giving up knocks) is just bad optics.

Goodbye LaMonte Wade Jr. DFAed today. Thanks for the memories.

Randy Rodriguez gets his first save the day I asked for it.

6 runs, come back. Next game I will see will be live.

I went to the game in San Francisco last Saturday, first time. It was a beautiful day and a gorgeous ballpark. There was a group of six of us and had seats in back of the third base dugout, I should post some photos. I had such great seats that when I re-watch the game I'm all over the broadcast. We arrived in the second inning but it was a boring game, we only saw three hits but didn't matter as we had the time of our lives. We actually left and ran into Buster Posey, he looked right at me as we passed. We were in the dugout store when they walked it off. First game where I went and thay actually won. Anyways, had a blast!

We arrived in the second inning...

We were in the dugout store when they walked it off.

tell me you're from LA without telling me you're from LA

Lol, there were six of us and I wanted to stay but went with the flow. It was all because of drinking too.

Matt Chapman on IL with a hand sprang, bad news as he was getting hot.

*sprain

tell me you're from LA without telling me you're from LA

omg so true

Amazing win tonight - and absolutely necessary if you ask me. Any loss to the Rockies feels like throwing a game away. They should sweep the rest of the series against them for the remainder of the year after losing their first matchup back in April

https://i.imgur.com/ed6YvDy.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/Qb6tmy7.jpeg

Showing how good our seats were.

Of course I had to try the crab sandwich and garlic fries.

Love that crab sando. Worth the $$$ honestly. You can also get a pretty tasty bubble tea at the park now too

What a joke

I shouldn't complain when they win but two nail bitters in a row then today they just gave it away.

that Thairo Estrada kid is good, Giants should try to ship a package off for him.

Yeah today it was Rodriguez with the blown save, who is our best reliever. Yikes! Guess there was no getting around that. GG Rockies, sucks to lose one, but now we go up against the Dodgers, and if we win 2/3 or better we're in 1st!

Webb v Yamamoto

Dodgers (41-28)
Giants (40-29)

Webb has a lower ERA than Yamamoto now.

That grand slam by Schmitt was majestic af. Gonna remember that one for a while especially if they win this one

Roupp v Kershaw

Still not able to watch live however

probably a good thing for you

xp I found out MLB tv works without blackouts in the bay now so just bought the Giants package for like $20 a month. I had been using streaming sites before but now I can pause and skip commercials or go back and rewatch a fun inning if I walk in late.

Wait, what?

I like that Posey is doing something

It’s a huge huge get, he’s going to be the run producer they desperately need

Your right, I know nothing about Devers but the Giants are set at third and short stop. I'm sure a third baseman can play second. You're not taking Flores out of the lineup...

Bee OK are you trolling me, Wilmer Flores isn’t as good a hitter as Devers. Put Flores at second.

Flores can't play second, he can play first but that wore him out last year. I know Devers is better but the Giants need both. He will have to play second or a corner outfielder.

I know my team but only my .02

Brother you’ve got to be trolling lmao

My perspective is from watching only one team. It sounds like I'm living in a dream world but I know my team. Can he play first base, Giants have a hole there too. When Chapman comes back we'll see.

Bee Ok you might want to read up on the Devers saga of this season in the 2025 Red Sox thread lmao

The Roman Empire: Boston Red Sox 2025

TLDR: Devers is very much not interested in playing first. was not a fan of DH'ing. thinks of himself as a 3B and might find you and hurt you for even suggesting 2b!

tho, he might be willing to save face and move positions for a new team - who knows?! i still doubt 2b is going to be in the cards.

Devers seemed more bothered by the Sox yanking him around than specific positions. He’ll DH and maybe spell Chapman at third.

Still kinda digesting this whole trade. Given all the stuff that happened this weekend, I wasn't really paying attention Sunday when it went down. But... holy shit, Buster. What an amazing impact he's having both on the team and with deals. And WTF Boston? How are they now a poverty franchise? I can't imagine being a Sox fan right now.

I'm definitely going to watch the rest of that Netflix doc series showing the Red Sox season last year. Will focus Devers for sure.

Devers isn’t in it much. But there’s a telling scene in the first episode. I was listening to 310 to Left (a very good Sox podcast) earlier and they were interviewing Javier Lopez about it. He was glowing about the trade and Posey in general.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RGVLUZr1NI

"They're the men in charge. I'm here to play wherever they want me to play."

Brutal, just brutal

Bonds showing up was a surprise

Can't help but smile at that double. Great first hit for raffy

Very surprised that the Giants didn't have to give up Bryce Eldridge or Carson Whisenhunt.Happy that is was Harrison over Birdsong too. Doesn’t seem like Marco Luciano will amount to anything.

Buster is smart af and preyed on weakness is why

The germ for the Devers trade started with Posey. Giants GM Zack Minasian recalled that he had been in touch with the Red Sox about another player — someone of so little consequence that Minasian cannot remember who it was — and brought up the name in a text chain with Posey and assistant GM Jeremy Shelley.

They agreed that the player wasn’t worth pursuing. Then Posey, who had been monitoring the reportage from Boston, introduced a thought into the thread: “Do you think it’d be a good idea to ask about Devers?”

It took nearly four weeks of negotiations to agree on the player package. In the early stages, the Red Sox insisted upon 20-year-old first base prospect Bryce Eldridge but the Giants refused to consider including him in the deal. When the talks began to gain considerable momentum, Posey took the matter to Giants chairman Greg Johnson.

Last nights game was strange, 1-13 with runners in scoring position. Typical Giants game 2025. Just knew they weren't going to win. Devers first game and it already does felt different.

Fourth lose in a row, can't beat the AL Central. Verlander and Bailey came back tonight and actually provided offense. Devers second game.

Frustrated

Duane Kuiper birthday today, 75. They had a good cake ceremony as well.

The cake had his baseball cards on it.

You can't sit Flores, they need to figure something out.

Maybe he can’t play every day or needed a day

He's coming off the bench as a pench hitter and right now, just won the game. I was living the moment but still Flores needs to play. He can play first but not sure they want him to.

I don’t know how to explain to you that they didn’t trade for Devers to play Wilmer Flores over him. They’ll need to find another place for Flores if they really intend to give Devers time at 1B.

Flores can also DH while Devers plays first, but yeah, both really need to be in the lineup here on out

Last six games:

H-AB w/RISP 7-50
Ave w/RISP .140

This team continues to not hit. Two bases loaded, three total, with no out. Double play, one run scores.