Giants that excel outside their comfort zone are the key to recovery in 2025 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN DIEGO — As Bob Melvin tried to make sense of another apartment Giants performance, Matt Chapman And Tyler Fitzgerald They sat in chairs in the corner of the clubhouse, chatting quietly. Maybe one of them was bragging about recruiting Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, but it didn’t seem like it.
The veteran third baseman did most of the talking and the rookie shortstop soaked it all up. That, as much as defense, power and surprising speed, is why the Giants were so comfortable giving Chapman signed a six-year contract earlier this weekIt seems like a good thing they did it early too.
Chapman is a good leader like most Giants have in recent years, and he’ll have his work cut out for him over the next three weeks. The freefall continues for a team that’s handing over to youth with a 2025 outlook and is willing to live with the mistakes that come with it.
The first two races of a 5-1 loss to the San Diego Padres came when Fitzgerald threw a pitch to right field after two Padres hit a fly ball with just three batters left in the game. There was no one within 100 feet of the fly ball and Luis Arraez And Fernando Tatis Jr. I came home. When Mason Black followed by a cursor without bite for Manny MachadoThe Giants were down 3-0 before most of their fans could even remember their Apple TV passwords.
“It’s just a kick in the balls for this club,” Black said of the first hole. “Excuse my language.”
In fairness to Fitzgerald, he was one of the few bright spots this season and mistakes will happen as he learns the nuances of playing shortstop at the major league level. In fairness to Black, he turned things around and showed good velocity while striking out 13 of 15 at one point.
They’re both part of the future, especially Fitzgerald, who is expected to start at shortstop or second in the upcoming opener. That’s how the Giants will play for the next 20 games, and that’s how they should play. Their focus is on 2025, which is why Chapman was signed before he could become a free agent and Kyle Harrison has been arrested when his slight shoulder inflammation wouldn’t go away.
But if the Giants are going to turn things around next year, they’ll have to find a way to excel outside their comfort zone. They’re 29-41 away from home this season and 32 games under the total over the last three seasons. Every team is better at home, but it’s too obvious. All six teams currently in playoff position in the National League are at least three games over .500 away from home. The Padres have one of the best home crowds in baseball and sold out Friday night, but they’re also 41-29 away from Petco Park. That’s why they lead the wild-card race.
The Giants’ away problems have been going on for three seasons, and this year it’s largely been the pitchers’ fault. They’ve only had one solo shot Michel Conforto Friday, but overall the offense has been about league average outside of Oracle Park. The staff does, however, have the fifth-worst earned run average.
“It’s easier to pitch at home,” Melvin said. “The stadium lends itself to tight games, low-scoring games, you can throw a few balls in the air in the middle of the stadium and get away with it. It just seems like they’re low-scoring games, maybe that’s why. We have a better record at home. We play better at home.”
Next year, the Giants won’t be able to rely on just playing well in a pitcher-friendly Oracle Park. That’s a sign you’re not as talented as you think you are — you’re just taking advantage of your cavernous stadium. They’ll have to win at Petco, Dodger Stadium and Chase Field, and they’ll have to pitch a lot better away from Triples Alley than they did this season.
Black came through pretty well after a rough first inning. His fastball was firm and he found a good rhythm, with 94 mph fastballs and a straighter swing. He learned what works and what doesn’t Friday night, and so did Fitzgerald.
“There’s going to be mistakes,” Melvin said of the play at second base.
This will be the motto for the month of September.
