Latest news with #GiantsTalkPodcast
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Posey sends two-word message to Giants fans about Adames' struggles
Posey sends two-word message to Giants fans about Adames' struggles originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area 'Be patient.' That was Buster Posey's message to fans when asked about Willy Adames' early-season struggles in his first season with the Giants on KNBR's 'Murph and Markus.' Advertisement Adames signed a seven-year, $182 million contract with San Francisco this offseason and has batted just .208 in 56 games this season. 'It's not uncommon when superstar players sign a big deal and struggle out the gate,' Posey said Thursday. What also hasn't helped the cause is that Adames' defense has struggled this season, too. Adames currently has a .961 fielding percentage, which is fifth-worst among 30 qualified shortstops this season. 'I've gone through it as a player when you struggle,' Posey said. 'It's rough. I mean, I didn't, you don't sleep well, it's on your mind all the time.' Advertisement Still, just over a third of the way through the season, Posey isn't wavering in his belief in the 29-year-old and says that through it all, Adames has shown a positive attitude and been a mentor to the younger players. 'For this guy to show up and be the same each and every day, it's pretty remarkable,' Posey said. 'He's truly a leader, and I've got belief that offensively he's going to find his groove here. He's always been a bit of a streaky hitter, so hoping that hot stretch is right around the corner.' Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Birdsong, Harrison impress Posey; Hicks ‘disappointed' by bullpen move
Birdsong, Harrison impress Posey; Hicks 'disappointed' by bullpen move originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area This season's Giants pitching rotation has been a bit of a carousel with players shifting from bullpen to starter and vice versa. Advertisement Buster Posey, president of baseball operations, spoke with KNBR 680 on Thursday regarding the staff changes and said that through the process, he has enjoyed seeing young players such as Hayden Birdsong and Kyle Harrison find their way as the season has gone on. 'I don't think that it's anything earth-shattering, but I do think the health of an organization is largely dependent on your young pitching and to have those guys, 23 years old, pitching with the confidence and stuff that they have is exciting,' said Posey. Birdsong has found himself in the starting rotation as of late and boasts a more than respectable 2.48 ERA on the year, while Harrison, who just made his first start of the season on May 24 has also really impressed Posey. 'He looks like a different guy to me than what we saw this spring,' Posey said when speaking on Harrison's conviction in his stuff. Advertisement While that pair has nestled themselves into the starting rotation, Jordan Hicks once again has shifted to the bullpen. It's a move Posey says Hicks wasn't thrilled about, but one he says the 28-year-old has been a true pro throughout. 'He was disappointed,' Posey said. 'He's been very clear that he wants to be a starter, but again, I think between myself, Zach [Minasian], Bob [Melvin] felt like we were putting the team in the best position to have him pitch out of the pen right now.' Hicks posted a 6.55 ERA as a starter for the club this season but has only given up one run in three appearances out of the bullpen since making the move last week. Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Giants' offense silenced by Chris Paddack in tough series-opening loss to Twins
Giants' offense silenced by Chris Paddack in tough series-opening loss to Twins originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area It took the Giants 18 batters Friday night before they picked up their first baserunner — a Christian Koss single — and that perfectly summed up their 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Advertisement Twins starter Chris Paddack dominated the Giants, taking a perfect game into the sixth inning before Koss lined a solid base hit to center field with two outs in the frame. The Giants' only run of the game came when Matt Chapman connected for his eighth homer of the season in the seventh inning, taking Paddack deep to left. Paddack, who hadn't pitched beyond the fifth inning this season, allowed three hits and one earned run in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out six Giants batters. Jordan Hicks made his eighth start of the season and he pitched well overall, but his first-inning struggles bit him again. Advertisement Hicks found himself in immediate trouble, giving up a leadoff triple to Byron Buxton to begin the game and the next batter, Trevor Larnach, brought the center fielder home with an RBI single. Hicks settled down, giving up runs in the fourth and fifth, but the Giants' offense couldn't figure out Paddack, making any comeback attempt futile. In six innings, Hicks allowed seven hits, three earned runs, while striking out six. He didn't walk any batters, a positive sign for the 28-year-old. But Hicks and the Giants will have to figure out how to address his first-inning woes. He entered Friday's game with a 12.86 ERA in seven starts. He lowered that number to 12.38 after his latest outing, but he still put San Francisco in an early hole. Advertisement Overall, Hicks has a 5.82 ERA this season, and while the Giants are committed to let him start games, they might have to consider a rotation change as they compete for an NL playoff spot. Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chapman, Giants continue resilient theme in comeback win vs. Rockies
Chapman, Giants continue resilient theme in comeback win vs. Rockies originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area The Giants were three innings away from yet another inexcusable loss against the historically bad Colorado Rockies on Saturday afternoon. Advertisement But San Francisco values momentum like no other major league club. Luis Ramos' solo homer in the third inning was the only run scored by either team through five innings. That changed in the sixth. Colorado took advantage of a worn out Jordan Hicks, who was solid through five innings. The Rockies scored three runs and took a 3-1 lead as the Oracle Park crowd grew angst. But the Giants didn't. With bases loaded and one out for the Giants, Jung Hoo Lee stepped to the plate. He singled to center, bringing Matos home and shrinking the deficit to one with still just one out. Matt Chapman, who entered Saturday's game hitting just .149 over the past two weeks, approached the bag next with the same opportunity. On the second pitch, Chapman took a 94 mph sinker to center for a go-ahead grand slam. 'Obviously, it was the hit of the game,' Giants manager Bob Melvin told reporters postgame. 'But this is something we've been doing for a while now. When we do get down, we don't really fret. We continue to push and grind on it. And [against] their best reliever.' Advertisement It was Chapman's third career grand slam and first for the Giants this season. He joined 'Giants Postgame Live' and explained that he wasn't sure if the ball was going to go over the fence. 'I think I was in suspense. You never quite know here,' Chapman said. 'There's not too many cheap home runs here. I knew I hit it hard. I knew it was going to be close. But I've hit a few balls here that I thought were out and weren't, so I definitely don't want to count on them going until I see it going over the fence. So I was excited.' Chapman also explained what he saw during the at-bat as he exceeded his expectations. Advertisement 'With [Lee] hitting in front of me, getting that base hit, and then having the bases loaded, I just wanted to make sure I could get that run across to tie the game,' he said. 'I fouled off that first pitch slider. Thought he might come back with a sinker to try and get me into a double play. So I was really just trying to get something out there to centerfield. 'Luckily, I was able to drive it a little further than just centerfield. So that was a big swing for us. I was glad to get the runs in and help us win the game.' After breaking out of a bit of a funk, Chapman now is tied with Wilmer Flores for the team lead in home runs (seven) after going yard in back-to-back games. That, combined with a big hit from Matos, certainly are encouraging signs for the Giants as they enter Sunday's series finale against the Rockies with at least a tie, but will look for more. Advertisement Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Giants encouraged by Harrison's progression after intriguing start
Giants encouraged by Harrison's progression after intriguing start originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area SAN FRANCISCO — You never can have too much depth in the starting rotation, and that's a good problem the Giants have right now. Advertisement Two of San Francisco's intriguing, young arms, righty Hayden Birdsong and lefty Kyle Harrison, both are hoping their early 2025 season success eventually leads to rotation spots that don't exist at the current moment. The 23-year-old Birdsong has been a revelation for the Giants out of the bullpen this season, posting a 1.13 ERA with 18 strikeouts to six walks in 16 innings pitched. Harrison on the other hand, also 23, began the season in Triple-A Sacramento after his slow start to spring training due to offseason shoulder rehab preceded a bout with the flu that led to him losing between 10 and 15 pounds as he began to make strides in camp. In six starts with the River Cats, Harrison has a 3.46 ERA with 38 strikeouts to eight walks in 26 innings pitched. The numbers are decent, but perhaps the most impressive development has been the velocity he's shown in recent outings, including his start (5 IP, 6 H, ER, 0 BB, 7 Ks) against the Reno Aces on Wednesday where his fastball almost touched 98 mph. For context, he averaged 92.5 mph on his fastball in 24 starts with the Giants in 2024. Advertisement The uptick in velocity certainly caught many people's attention on Wednesday night, including Giants manager Bob Melvin, who was asked before Thursday's game against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park if the young lefty soon could be an option at the major-league level. 'I think he could be an option at any point in time, but what we have here is what we have,' Melvin said. 'We've played pretty well, we're trying to create an environment of some stability. Now obviously you're going to want to get the best possible complement that you can here. But it's good to see that the velocity is picking up, because for a guy like him that's important. More swings and misses. So it's probably his best performance and we'll see where we go from here.' While there might not be a path back to the majors for Harrison at this current moment, Melvin is encouraged by his early season development and believes he can provide the pitching staff with key depth throughout the summer. 'Seems like it now,' Melvin said when asked if Harrison is back to where the team wants him physically. 'And even when he started down there, it was more like four, five innings [and April 24 vs. El Paso was six]. It just feels like the stuff is getting better and better. He's trending in the right direction, and that's a good sign for us.' Advertisement Both Harrison and Birdsong will have to wait their turns for their next shot in the rotation, and while the latter might get the first crack, the former should be the next man up afterward should the Giants need it. Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast
