San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants

Manager Mark Kotsay used a committee approach in the ninth inning after the A's traded Mason Miller at the deadline. Hogan Harris, Sean Newcomb, Michael Kelly and Tyler Ferguson each picked up at least one save. Osvaldo Bido got one as well, but that was of the 'three innings to finish a blowout' variety. The patchwork relief group pitched well. Only the Guardians had a lower bullpen ERA than the A's 2.99 mark over the final two months.

As former San Francisco Giants starter Blake Snell gets ready to start Game 1 of the World Series for the archrival Dodgers, one key figure around the Giants is saying the left-hander will have a serious impact on how much San Francisco can spend this offseason. Giants broadcaster Dave Flemming was a guest on the " TK Show" podcast from San Francisco Standard columnist Tim Kawakami.

Willy Adames became the first player in a Giants uniform to slug 30 home runs since Barry Bonds, and Rafael Devers anchored the lineup with a combined 35 homers between San Francisco and Boston, but neither player was the club's lone finalist for a Silver Slugger award. The honor belonged to Matt Chapman, who was passed over when Gold Glove finalists were announced earlier this month but is being recognized for his bat.

Of the two, Bailey likely has the better odds of taking home the hardware simply because he was the most valuable defender in baseball, according to Baseball Savant's Fielding Run Value metric. Bailey's Fielding Run Value of +31 was the most in a single season since the metric started being recorded in 2018. The previous record belonged to, coincidentally, Bailey and Nick Ahmed, who both had seasons where they had a Fielding Run Value of +28.

Cal Raleigh homered, Jorge Polanco drove in the go-ahead run with a sixth-inning single and the Seattle Mariners beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 Sunday night as they returned to the AL Championship Series for the first time in 24 years. George Springer homered on the first pitch from Bryce Miller, who then escaped a two-on jam in a 27-pitch first inning. Anthony Santander singled in the second for Toronto's only other hit, and Seattle pitchers retired 23 of the Blue Jays' final 24 batters.

Despite the early exit, the club is not looking to make major leadership changes on the field or in the front office. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that both manager Mike Shildt and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller are expected to maintain their roles heading into the 2026 season. Shildt has two years remaining on his contract after signing an extension last offseason.

too much pressure in this industry

The Rockies officially parted ways with general manager Bill Schmidt this morning, finalizing what had become an expected decision after one of the worst seasons in MLB history. The Rox have already announced they'll go outside the organization for their next baseball operations leader. That alone is a change for a franchise that has promoted from within for its past two GM hires. Jeff Bridich and Schmidt had each been longtime members of the Colorado front office before ascending to the top of the staff.

I remember in 2020 when we won it, it was 100% more of a relief. In 2024, it was 100% elation and joy.

For the second straight year, Duane Kuiper has been recognized as one of the top broadcasters in Major League Baseball. The National Baseball Hall of Fame announced its ballot for next year's Ford C. Frick Award, which is given to one baseball broadcaster each year at the hall's enshrinement weekend. Kuiper, who began calling Giants games in 1986 after retiring from his playing career, has been nominated five times now but has not yet won the award.