The Core Four: A Retrospective

The San Francisco Giants have won three World Series since moving to the city in 1958. Each and every championship included four relief pitchers better known as “The Core Four.” Jeremy Affeldt, Sergio Romo, Santiago Casilla and Javier Lopez. With Affeldt’s retirement at the end of the 2015 season and the pending free agency of Romo, Casilla and Lopez, we may have seen the last of the strongest bullpen in Giants history.



Since the 2010 trade deadline, when the San Francisco Giants acquired Lopez from the Pittsburgh Pirates, these four pitchers have been literal Giants. They have been the core of a bullpen that consistently stopped some of the best lineups in baseball. Affeldt’s scoreless inning streak of 23 innings was recently passed by starter Madison Bumgarner. Only future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera has a longer streak than Bumgarner.

Romo, Casilla and Lopez all had scoreless inning streaks heading into the 2016 post-season as well. When it came to Bruce Bochy‘s bullpen, it seemed he could always count on these four men in October. Many fans became frustrated with the group in the last two seasons, and it was understandable.

When the expectation is dominance and you have seen these pitchers perform at an elite level for so long, you take it for granted how hard it is to replicate. The Giants have made a Wall of Fame outside AT&T Park, and soon all four members of “The Core Four” will have their own plaque. As the years pass, fans will remember more fondly with how strong the group was and how rare it really is for a team to have so much talent in one bullpen.

With the current post-season showcasing relief pitchers being used in the middle innings, we can see that Major League bullpens are being redefined before our eyes. Pitchers such as American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Andrew Miller of the Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen and the Chicago Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman, pitchers are being asked to pitch in the innings with the highest stress instead of just save situations. The Baltimore Orioles Zach Britton was infamously left out of the American League wild card game that went extra innings because the Orioles never put their team in the position to have a save situation. Meanwhile, the best groundball pitcher in the game wasn’t used in situations that needed a double play from their best relief pitcher.



However, this phenomenon isn’t new in San Francisco. The Giants have been doing this for the last seven seasons. Even though they have used a traditional closer, they have always known spending on their bullpen was vital. Keeping each member of their core when other teams would have used the money elsewhere allowed for them to have great pitchers for those high stress middle innings. They never had to overuse just one pitcher when they had four.

When the Giants needed an out in the middle innings, Affeldt and Casilla were often used to get out both right handed and left handed batters. When the team needed to get out an elite right handed bat, Romo was often called. And if the team needed to take the bat out of the hands of a team’s best left handed batters, Javier Lopez was the “LOOGY” that was called upon.

Lopez was used in so many key moments in 2010 to get out powerful left handed hitters like Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Josh Hamilton. In 2012, Romo struck out one of the best right handed hitters in the game in Miguel Cabrera. It was easy to overlook how important these core members were when they were so consistent but would be used in such short bursts.



It’s so much easier for fans to remember Pablo Sandoval hitting three home runs in Game 1 of the 2012 World Series or a Bumgarner complete game shutout. But without “The Core Four,” there might not be any championships in San Francisco.

Looking back on what the Giants had from 2010 to 2016, it was clear that the Giants had pitchers with closer “stuff” they could use in those high stress situations. Affeldt famously pitched in the second inning of Game seven of the World Series in 2014, and he became the first pitcher in baseball history to be brought in from the second through the ninth inning in the post-season during his career.



2016 was rough for the remaining members of the core four and there might be thought that the legacy of the group might even be impacted with the way the season ended for Romo, Casilla and Lopez. However, if you look at the entirety of the last seven seasons, it it clear that the success outweighs the failures.

Aubrey Huff Talks Anxiety and Depression

The San Francisco Giants never won a World Series in their 52 year history on the West Coast until Aubrey Huff came to the Bay Area. Huff, and his band of castoffs and misfits won the 2010 World Series and Huff led the team in nearly every offensive category. He would win a second ring in 2012 before retiring in January of 2014.

Despite all the success Aubrey Huff had with the San Francisco Giants, fans don’t know that he was battling anxiety and depression behind the scenes. While fans were cheering to see his “rally thong,” Huff was in pain. While fans were wondering why the success of the 2010 season didn’t translate into the next three years with the Giants, Aubrey’s struggles off the field were kept secret.

The San Francisco Giants were Huff’s fifth and final team during his 13 year career. He had also played with the Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers. It wasn’t until the 2015 Off-season where Aubrey Huff revealed that he had been struggling with anxiety and depression. When he spoke to reporters in 2015, he was attempting a comeback to the big leagues at age 39.

“My career didn’t really end the way I wanted it to,” Huff said at the time. “I was 35 years old and I still had a lot of baseball in my bones, but I was going through so much anxiety that right then was a good time to quit.”

In his 13 seasons in the big leagues, Huff hit .278/.342/.464 with 242 home runs and 904 RBI in 1,681 games. In 2010 for the San Francisco Giants, Huff led the team in Games, At Bats, Hits, Runs, Home Runs, Runs Batted In, On Base Percentage and OPS.



“The biggest thing for me is to inspire people because millions and millions of people live with anxiety and depression throughout their life,” he said. “If they can see a guy that’s went through it publicly and go out there in front of 40,000 people a night and know that it can be beat, it’s going to give them a lot of hope.”

Huff has now written a book, titled Baseball Junkie, which he is currently funding through Kickstarter. As he states on the book’s Kickstarter page, “Baseball Junkie is the story of a man who seemingly has everything—a place in Major League Baseball history, success, fame, money, a beautiful family—and yet, finds himself staring straight at a loaded .375 Magnum, contemplating suicide.”

“Baseball Junkie follows Huff through a rollercoaster ride from humble beginnings as a quiet, shy kid growing up in a trailer park in a small Texas town, to an Adderall-infused egomaniac standing in front of a million-plus Giants fans, proudly displaying women’s underwear, his ‘rally thong,’ for the world to see.”
“The book is a portrayal of the internal struggles Aubrey experienced playing in the Big Show. It takes the reader inside the complex life and mind of a man as he balances victories with internal struggles: addiction, divorce, anxiety, depression, and feelings of inferiority.”
“It inspires the reader to seek more than what this world has to offer. To rise above mediocrity, achieving his or her true potential while staying focused on what really matters when the fame and excitement of the game fade with the sunset.”

I had the opportunity to interview Aubrey Huff about his journey in baseball and why he decided to share his story.

MS: “Explain the process you went through before deciding to publish your story of struggling with anxiety and depression?”

AH: “I felt a nagging feeling for a year, telling me “Aubrey, you’ve got to write a book. You have to share your story.” To be honest, a little voice inside my head kept telling me my story would not be interesting enough. That no-one really cares about some washed up junkie ex-ball player. I feel that even today. I mean what if the book tanks and we sell 100 copies? But I felt I had to get it down on paper… to just vomit on the page… once I got started writing, I found it pretty therapeutic.”

“Stephen Cassar got involved and helped me piece it together. But there was so much material to work through. The toughest part was to tell it in a way that made sense. Making something out of my ramblings. The end result is not bad.”

MS: “What positive feedback have you received for taking on this challenge? Have you heard from others and/or their families who have dealt with the same struggles?”

“Yes! This started right after I started talking about my anxiety and depression publicly. People were coming out of the woodworks saying I gave them courage to speak about their own struggles.”

“That also played a role in me wanting to write Baseball Junkie. I would be asked to speak at high schools, and church groups and what have you, and so many people would come up to me afterwards and say ‘Man, I could really relate to your story.’ They identified with my struggles with Adderall, and the anxiety and depression that sunk in once I stopped taking the stuff.”



MS: “What is something you’d like fans to know about your struggles with anxiety and depression during your career?”

AH: “The grind of the game really gets to you after a while. There is a lot of pressure to perform each and every day. You are on the road nonstop. And it’s hard for a non-player to understand that. For an outsider, I am sure it looks easy. I mean, if someone is getting paid millions to play a game he loves, how can that even be work right? And what right does he have to complain?”

“But at the level of the game the Giants and other pros play at, the pressure is insane. The guys really all want to play well, and give it their all. They don’t want to disappoint the fans. They don’t want to disappoint their families. But it’s hard for any guy to keep it all together. And some fans can get a little weird. You have to learn to stay off social media. People sniping at you from their mom’s basement. Those comments can really get to you.”

“I am reminded every time I watch a game on TV. You have guys throwing 100 mph fastballs now, like it’s no big deal. Even back 5 years ago, the 100mph club… you could count that on one hand. You have to understand. When someone is pitching at 100 mph plus, you have to start swinging before the ball even leaves the pitcher’s hand. You are basically guessing. Hoping for the best.”

“As far as anxiety and depression is concerned… that really didn’t kick in for me until I stopped using Adderall. But I had to. Adderall made me feel invincible, but pretty much destroyed my marriage. It’s a miracle Baubi is still with me to this day. The book talks about that in depth.”

MS: “How difficult is it for you to open up like this so publicly? Or is it difficult? Is there any sense of freedom being honest with people about what you’ve been through?”

AH: “I hate talking about the actual anxiety part of it. Until recently, I couldn’t even talk about it at meetings or on camera. But I know that I have to. To help others out there. I know how bad it got for me. And if I can stop just one guy from blowing his brains out, then I have done my job.”

MS: “What are your fondest memories of the fans in San Francisco?”

“Giants fans are just amazing. I felt right at home the moment I set foot in San Fran. I still feel like part of a huge, loving family. The fans in San Francisco are truly world class and back their team 100%. It feels like you win as a team and lose as a team. It’s an experience you don’t get anywhere else in the country. I miss the game. But I miss the fans the most.”



MS: “It is well documented about your relationship with Pat Burrell that dates back to Miami. What should fans know about Pat the Bat that we don’t?”

AH: “Ha ha! You are gonna have to read the book for that! Specifically CHAPTER 9: Pat’s Johnson. Enough said. I played a role in bringing him to San Fran… that’s in the book as well.”

MS: “Do you see yourself getting back into the game in some capacity? Front Office? Coach? Analyst?”

AH: “I tried coaching high school baseball when I first retired and I absolutely hated it. But that was partly because I was so messed up, and equated baseball with pain. Maybe it would be different today, I don’t know. I tried several things. Just this week, I actually crossed over to the dark side. I just signed up to be an agent! My hope is to be a mentor for some of the kids that are trying to break through. Hopefully I can help them avoid a few of the mistakes I made. Not sure if I will love it yet, but it’s hard to sit on the sidelines and do nothing.”

MS: “What is something about the 2010 season that fans do not know about that would help them appreciate how difficult it is to win a championship?”

AH “Clawing our way back into the title race was so hard. The guys were a true band of brothers. A band of misfits that just clicked and worked as a team. Every single guy on the team that year gave 110%. It was like a real rollercoaster ride with so many downs and a few ups.”

MS: “Do you feel like you are in a better place today personally than you were at the end of your playing career when you were struggling?”

AH: “I am in such a great place now, it’s night and day. I still have a day here or there where I struggle, but I have the tools now to navigate through them."



MS: “What would you tell someone who is battling with the same struggles that you’ve faced and feels like there is no hope? What has helped you the most in this journey through recovery?”

AH: “There is hope. I am living proof of that. But you can’t give up. I spend a little bit of time talking about how I made it out of the pit in my book, but it all comes down to having a plan, and creating a routine for yourself. You have to believe in something, and give yourself a sense of purpose.”

MS: “What would you tell a young kid who is playing little league and is dreaming of one day playing in the big leagues?”

“Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t make it. Don’t have a plan B. Chase after your dream with all your might. When you fall down, get back up, and fight back, twice as hard. I was told by so many people that I would never make it. There were so many times when I should have given up. And my story is not unique. I know dozens of guys in the bigs that have a similar story. But if you don’t chase after your dream with everything you have, you will get to be my age, and always wonder: ‘What if?'”

For more information about Aubrey Huff’s new book, Baseball Junkie, go to Kickstarter to learn how you can help.

Barry Bonds Should Be in Cooperstown

The San Francisco Giants have not had a player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame since Orlando Cepeda in 1999. Barry Bonds, who retired in 2007, has been eligible for Cooperstown since 2013. At the time he received only 36% of the vote. In the most recent Hall of Fame balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America, he received 44%. A player needs 75% of the vote to be enshrined.

Bonds finished his career with the second highest Wins Above Replacement (162.4) in history behind Babe Ruth (163.1). To put that number into perspective: Ken Griffey Jr. (83.4) and Brooks Robinson (78.4) are both first ballot hall of famers and their combined WAR doesn’t equal Bonds.

The Giants slugger is the all-time leader in Home Runs (762), Walks (2558), Intentional Walks (688), and fourth in OPS (1.051.) However, there is also plenty of evidence that shows Bonds took performance enhancing drugs while playing for the San Francisco Giants. Despite never being found guilty in court, between grand jury testimony, books written and the court of public opinion, Bonds has become the poster boy for PED’s.

Barry Bonds in 2004:

373 at-bats
376 times safely on base

Not a typo.

He turned 40 that season.

Neither is that. pic.twitter.com/XFDHAAYWmF

— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) November 26, 2015

This is why the greatest hitter in most voter’s lifetimes is not in the Hall of Fame. Despite the numbers that are clear and without flaw, there is clearly flaws in the perception and reality of how Bonds earned those numbers. Before anyone suspected Bonds of using anything illegal substance, the former Pittsburgh Pirate was winning Most Valuable Player awards, going to All-Star games and winning Gold Gloves routinely.

After signing as a free agent in 1993 with the Giants, Bonds continued to win MVP’s and go to All-Star games. Bonds retired with seven MVP’s 14 All-Star games, 12 Silver Sluggers and eight Gold Gloves. Despite all the on the field success, his attitude towards the same media that votes for him as well as his suspected drug use has led nearly 60% of the BBWAA to keep him out of the Hall of Fame.

Barry Bonds had 334 HR & 380 SB through 1996.

No other player in baseball history eclipsed both of those totals in their entire career.

— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) June 19, 2016

But it’s not just Bonds that is being kept out. Part of the problem with the current system is you have to get 75% of nearly 600 voters to agree on anyone. On top of that, you have a maximum of 10 players you can include on your ballot. Those two factors have led some voters to leave players off they feel are deserving for others they feel may not get enough votes.

Tim Raines and Edgar Martinez are two players eligible for the Hall of Fame this year. Raines is in his final year of eligibility and Martinez is getting closer to reaching the end as well. Both players are not only deserving of the Hall, but should have been added years ago. The fact they are still on the ballot creates an unnecessary logjam.

The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) was created by Howard Cole to swat the vote and create a Hall of Fame where more writers have a voice. One of the rule differences is allowing for 15 on the ballot instead of 10. That becomes important as players are added to the ballot each year. For example, heading into the 2017 election, Vladimir Guerrero, Jorge Posada, Manny Ramirez and Ivan Rodriguez are leading the list of first time eligibles. Here are the players I plan on voting for in 2017.

2017 HOF Ballot: Bonds, Clemens, Vlad, Hoffman, Kent, McGriff, Mussina, Posada, Manny, Pudge, Schilling, Shef, Smith, Wagner & Walker @IBWAA

— Candlestick Will (@CandlestickWill) January 8, 2016

Jeff Bagwell, Raines and Martinez are already in their Hall of Fame, which is why they aren’t on my ballot, but the other 15 that are could all be at risk of being bumped from the ballot altogether. One of the BBWAA rules is that a player must earn a minimum of 5% of the vote. Theoretically, if every voter voted for the 10 most deserving players, at least five of the players I voted for would be removed from the ballot. I wrote about how the Hall of Fame is a museum, not a shrine last January because we have made it far too difficult for a player who doesn’t gain entrance on the first ballot to ever get in.

One of the main reasons is the misconception we have about who should be voted in on the first ballot. We have made first ballot Hall of Famers an even more exclusive club than any in sports and the fact we have made an elite list of players even more elite has blurred the lines of who is and isn’t a Hall of Famer.

In 1936, five legendary players were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson. Many voters have referenced this group as a Mount Rushmore of sorts for baseball, and because none of them were unanimous, nobody should ever be unanimous. The major flaw in this logic is that this was the first ever ballot for the Hall of Fame. There were literally hundreds of names to choose from on the ballot. Legendary players like Cy Young and Tris Speaker and legendary managers like Connie Mack and John McGraw weren’t elected in 1936, and neither were so many other deserving candidates. There was also no set ballot initially. For quite some time, writers simply submitted their own list of names.

As we wait to see how Barry Bonds does in his fifth year of eligibility, we can expect more of the same from the establishment. Instead of just simply looking at who is best, we seem to want to try to make a statement about what the Hall of Fame should be.

Buster Posey is Staying at Catcher

The San Francisco Giants and Buster Posey seem to go over this every year with reporters and the fanbase. The question is posed every year without fail: Will Buster Posey change positions this year?  It's not a bad question. Catchers historically change positions as they approach the end of their careers. But Posey is a historically great catcher who isn't going anywhere.

Not only do the San Francisco Giants continue to say that Buster Posey is their catcher, but he also just received the Gold Glove after being named the best catcher in the National League. Not only did he win the award, but we looked at how he has clearly established himself as the best catcher in the Senior Circuit.

Very rarely do we see a catcher continue to catch every day year after year as they approach their mid to late 30's. Yet, as Posey enters his age-29 season, we enter year six of fans asking when he will change positions.

Dear @SFGiants fans,

Our Gold Glove catcher is not changing positions in 2017. Or 2018. Or 2019. Ok thanks. — Candlestick Will (@CandlestickWill) November 20, 2016

Recently, FanSided looked at moving Posey to third base. It's the most recent in a yearly suggestion of where to put Posey so that his bat is possibly more effective in the middle of the Giants lineup and he is at a safer position physically.

It's understandable. The Giants have won three World Series rings, but Posey's bat has been less impactful in October. When he has to start catching every game, his bat does become less dangerous. This rationale for a position change, however, undercuts two major points that fans and experts tend to forget.

1. Buster Posey behind the plate is one of the main reasons the San Francisco Giants pitching staff is elite in September and October.
2. Elite pitching in October makes it harder on all hitters, not just catchers.

The other factor that Giants fans seem to brush aside is that the team won three World Series championships with Buster Posey catching. What he means to the pitching staff, the locker room and the lineup cannot be measured simply by his batting average as a first baseman versus playing catcher. Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Will Clark, Matt Williams and Barry Bonds combined for zero World Series trophies in San Francisco. Posey has three.

Last off-season, I looked at whether or not Buster Posey was already an all-time great catcher. The short answer at the time was not yet. The fact that he was already in the conversation after less than six full seasons says everything about how truly special Posey is.

Regardless of his success, year after year, fans and reporters continually ask if this is the year Posey finally stops catching. In 2012, Bleacher Report looked at players who needed a position change and Posey was one of their choices. This was in the off-season after he was coming off a season ending injury that ended his 2011 season on May 25. The next day, the question was posed to manager Bruce Bochy.

As of now, no plans for position change for Posey according to Bochy.

— Jaymee Sire (@jaymee) May 26, 2011

In August of 2014, Bay Area Sports Guy looked at how Buster Posey's position change could be delayed because of Hector Sanchez and his uncertain future. In 2015, Posey was asked if he had heard radio hosts talk of him changing positions.

Posey doesn't listen to talk radio conversations about position change. "I have twin 3-year-olds. I listen to nothing. I enjoy the silence."

— Alex Pavlovic (@AlexPavlovic) July 12, 2015

Take the case of Johnny Cueto, the Giants free agent pitcher this past off-season. Cueto turned in a tremendous year for San Francisco, finishing sixth in the Cy Young voting, and much of his success can be attributed to the early bond he made with Buster Posey. Posey spoke in February about working with new pitchers.

"As much as anything, just have them become comfortable with me, in the clubhouse as well," Posey said of what he aims to do when pitchers first join the team. "Let them see I want to help them any way I can to be successful, because if they’re successful, there’s a good chance we’re going to win some ballgames."

Then in March, with regular season days away, Posey took a day off and worked with Cueto to make sure they were on the same page heading into the season.

Buster Posey is a unicorn among horses. Rarely do we ever see an elite catcher who can win a gold glove and a silver slugger award. When a team is blessed with a unicorn, you don't ask it to be a regular horse. What the Giants may gain in Posey at the plate they will lose putting anyone else behind the plate. The move would not make the Giants better overall. Even if Posey's bat became more dangerous, the team's defense would be hurt at two positions.

No matter how well Posey does at catcher in 2017 and beyond, fans will continue to ask and even insist he move to another place on the diamond. It is what fans do when it comes to their favorite players and their favorite team. They want to see Buster Posey get the most out of his potential. The Giants have already been blessed with more success than any franchise could possibly hope for. And I expect fans will continue to see their favorite player shine for years to come, calling games behind the plate, for the San Francisco Giants.

Even Year Magic Secrets Finally Revealed

The San Francisco Giants were eliminated from the 2016 post-season despite this being an even year. Despite fans claiming there was "Even Year Magic" and that the Giants were destined to win every other year, the Giants magic was finally revealed as just another magic trick.

This isn't new. In 2002, Anaheim Angels fans believed in the "Rally Monkey." For 86 years, the Boston Red Sox fans believed in "The Curse of the Bambino" and for the last 71 years, Chicago Cubs fans have heard about "The Curse of the Billy Goat." On a side note, Bill Murray, a lifelong Cubs fan, is one of many who don't believe in that curse anymore as was made clear at Wrigley Field during the National League Division Series in the form of a classic T-Shirt.

Bill Murray "ain't afraid of no goats" -- https://t.co/8cYAvIkJJo#Cubs #CubsTalk pic.twitter.com/piswBGKtFw

— CSN Chicago (@CSNChicago) October 8, 2016

So why do fans torture themselves with these superstitions? Because as die hard fans, we need to justify why things are happening. It is easier to think that a team is cursed or that a team is destined for their success. It is much harder to face reality that a fan's team just isn't good enough or that their team made too many mistakes to win.

No matter what we believe, no matter what the players on the field believe and no matter what anyone thinks, sports isn't pre-written. There is no Hollywood script that has pre-determined the outcome. Regardless of the decision a manager makes or the pitch a pitcher decides to throw or the approach a hitter takes to the plate, anything can happen.

You hear cliches all the time for why a team wins or loses. "It just wasn't our night" or "they just seem to catch all the breaks" or "it just wasn't meant to be."

These cliches are cliches in the first place because of how often players use them as excuses for coming up short in big games. More importantly, they are coping mechanisms in the heat of the moment to deal with an unfair reality. That reality is that no matter how hard you've worked and no matter how badly you want something, in life, you still might come up short.

That is what makes sports so great and also what makes sports so heart wrenching. We love sports for it's unpredictability and for it's excitement. However, that comes at a price of pain and suffering for teams and for fans that come up short.

Yes, the Giants won World Series championships in 2010, 2012 and 2014. Yes, they made the post-season once again in 2016. Yes, a man with 31 career home runs who would not have started had the Giants everyday third baseman been healthy became just the next post-season hero in a long line of post-season heroes for the Giants. Every even year, a relative unknown seems to have all their best games in Octobers for the Giants and none of them had the same level of success in any other year of their career. As he tripled in Game 3, it seemed a foregone conclusion that Conor Gillaspie was just the next October legend for the Giants. And yet, despite another unlikely hot bat in yet another even year, the even year magic became just an illusion like we all knew it was.

The Chicago Cubs had different plans and outplayed the Giants in the best of five series. The Cubs are moving on to the National League Championship Series and many Giants fans woke up this morning confused as to how their team could lose in an even year. The number one reason is they were facing a 103 win Cubs team that was better than they were. They had a better lineup with a better defense and a pitching staff that was up to the challenge. They were better in all three phases of the game. And yet, instead of a sweep like in each of the American League Division Series, the Giants lost by a single run in two of the three games and the last of which saw them have a 5-2 lead in the ninth inning. The Giants could have easily forced a deciding fifth game, and for Cubs fans who have seen heartbreak for 108 straight seasons, that would have been just more cruel and unusual punishment. They even would have some personal context as the 1984 Cubs had the same thing happen to them in the playoffs.

The Cubs were the better team and when you play in a five or seven game series, the better team usually wins. It doesn't always happen, and the even year Giants had made a habit of beating the better teams. They had made such a habit of it that they set a Major League Record for winning 10 games in a row in elimination games. Since 2012, the Giants had not lost in an elimination game and Game 4 of the NLDS seemed like 11.

But now, the even year narrative is gone and the Giants head into an off-season with holes to fill and what-ifs to ponder over. Fans knew the even year thing wasn't real. They knew it wasn't real because the team didn't make the playoffs in 2008, 2006 or 2004 and lost in the World Series in 2002. For 52 years, no San Francisco Giants team had ever won a championship and during the 2010 World Series parade in the streets of San Francisco, nobody mentioned anything about it being an even year.

As fans, we get invested in our favorite teams and we figuratively live and die with the results. Now that the Giants and Red Sox have been eliminated, we are guaranteed to see a fan base see a World Series drought finally end. The Toronto Blue Jays have had the most recent success, winning back to back titles in 1992 and 1993. The Los Angeles Dodgers last won in 1988. The Cleveland Indians last won in 1948. The Washington Nationals have never won a World Series in their history in Washington or Montreal and the Cubs drought has been well documented.

As we see the next champion crowned, we might here fans talk about a superstition that worked or something the players did all year and that will bleed into next season as a rallying cry for the next pursuit of a championship. It is only natural. As fans, we prefer to justify our anger and our passions to try and make sense of our love for our teams. And when we finally win after decades or even a century of torture, we want to try and do all the same things we did last time to repeat that success. Unfortunately, for 29 teams every season, the last game usually ends in disappointment.

But I think it cam be summed up best by Noah Syndergaard, who's message after a gut wrenching Wild Card game loss says everything about why we love the game and why losing on the biggest stages hurts so much.

Baseball has a way of ripping your ❤️ out, stabbing it, putting it back in your chest, then healing itself just in time for Spring Training.

— Noah Syndergaard (@Noahsyndergaard) October 6, 2016

The San Francisco Giants are Even Year-ing Again

It is hard to explain what to make of the 2016 San Francisco Giants. They were the best team in the game at the All-Star break, as I wrote about here. They were also one of the worst in the game in the second half of the season, as I wrote about here. Yet, here we are in October, in 2016, and the Giants are back in the playoffs. Is it their pitching? Is it their defense? Is it their timely hitting? Or is it that the year on the calendar can be divided by two.

The Giants have done this before. In 2010 and 2014, they waited until the final day of the regular season to clinch a playoff berth. They won the National League West in 2010 on the final day of the season, beating the San Diego Padres in a thriller, and in 2014, they made it in as a Wild Card team, having to travel to Pittsburgh for a one game playoff. Two years later, they are back in the same spot all over again, except this time they were in New York.

After an absolute thriller that saw two titans going head to head, the Giants and another unlikely hero joined the history books of Giant lore. This time, his name was Conor Gillaspie. Meanwhile, the Paul Bunyan figure that masquerades as a starting pitcher shone brightest, and Madison Bumgarner sent the Giants to a National League Division Series match-up with the best team in baseball.

The Chicago Cubs won 103 games. The Giants won 87. On paper, this shouldn't even be a series. On paper, the Giants are severe underdogs. But, the Giants have seen this script before. There was more talent on rosters in Philadelphia, Texas, Detroit, St. Louis, Washington and Kansas City. The Giants weren't favored in any of those series, and yet somehow, someway, found a way to win.

How do the Giants keep doing this? Did they make a deal with the Baseball Gods for all the breaks to go there way in October? Do they have some secret formula no other team has quite mastered the ingredients of?

One thing is crystal clear: When the brightest of lights are on the Giants, they play their best baseball.

In the off-season, I wrote a piece on the Giants winning in 2016 because of the "Even Year Magic" and how the reason they could win the World Series this year was the "Magic Wondoo" of 2016 and more importantly, talent.

That talent shown through in the first half of the season yet seemed missing in action the second half of the season. However, the Giants are on a five game win streak that included wins over the top pitchers in all of baseball, including Clayton Kershaw and most recently Noah Syndergaard. They have been beating playoff caliber pitchers all week and they head to Chicago with more Cy Young candidates on the menu, starting with Jon Lester.

Johnny Cueto goes tonight in Game 1 on the NLDS vs the Cubs

Will the Giants have what it takes to continue to defy the odds? I wouldn't bet against them in an even year.

The Giants are in the Post Season Because...Even Year

It is hard to explain what to make of the 2016 San Francisco Giants. They were the best team in the game at the All-Star break, and one of the worst in the game since. Yet, here we are in October, in 2016, and the Giants are back in the playoffs. Is it their pitching? Is it their defense? Is it their timely hitting? Or is it the year on the calendar.

The Giants have done this before. In 2010 and 2014, they waited until the final day of the regular season to clinch a playoff berth. They won the National League West in 2010 on the final day of the season, beating the San Diego Padres in a thriller, and in 2014, they made it in as a Wild Card team, having to travel to Pittsburgh for a one game playoff. Two years later, they are back in the same spot all over again, except this time they are in New York.

The Giants experience is clear. They have several players with multiple World Series rings and heading into tonight's game, there should be confidence in the visitor locker room. However, momentum is only as good as the next day's starting pitcher and the Mets have Noah Syndergaard going tonight. The Giants have their own mythical figure in Madison Bumgarner, but Thor, as he's known in Gotham City, has become God-like in his own right this season. Winning Game 3 of the World Series last year proved that Syndergaard can succeed in October. Bumgarner's track record has become the book of legend.

So do the defending NL Pennant winning Mets dethrone the inevitability of "Even Year Magic?" That will be the question.

Why the Cubs Should be Scared of the Giants and Why They Should Not

The San Francisco Giants have had two seasons in 2016. The 1st half was borderline dominant with elite pitching, superb defense and timely hitting. The Giants finished off the first half with the best record in baseball and had me declaring they were the best team in baseball.

As the Giants headed into the second half of the season, the playoffs seemed a certainty.

Then came the second half of the season, and after being swept in San Diego, the roller coaster never seemed to stop going down. After a 26-42 record in the 2nd half, the Giants needed to win four straight to make the second wild card game. After starting the season 57-33, nobody anticipated having to scratch and claw for 30 more wins.

But the Giants are in the dance, which is what they have been preaching the entire second half. "If we can just get in, we can make some noise." That has been the mantra. But, by losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West, they are now forced to face the New York Mets in New York for the right to play beyond a one game playoff.

So why should the Cubs be scared of this Giants team? Well, it always starts with pitching. Pitching and defense has been the Giants calling card since their 2010 World Series run and it is no different this year. Both Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto will get Cy Young votes and deservedly so. They have both been aces for a team that has lost multiple aces to injury and performance since 2010. With Tim Lincecum gone and Matt Cain struggling to stay healthy, the Giants have rallied around Bumgarner and free agent acquisition Cueto to lead this team. The additions of Jeff Samardzija and Matt Moore have also given the Giants innings eaters with strikeout stuff to lead them into the post-season. The Giants have proven in their previous playoff runs that powerful lineups like the Cubs have can become nearly obsolete by elite pitching. The Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers and others found that out in recent Octobers.

So why should the Cubs remain confident? Well it starts with the rest of the Giants pitching. The Giants blew more leads than any team in baseball and their bullpen was at the heart of their problems all season. Santiago Casilla is now their former closer after blowing nine saves himself. Former closer, Sergio Romo has returned to the ninth inning and performed well, but the majority of the Giants bullpen has struggled. Veterans Javier Lopez, Casilla and Romo have had their ups and downs and young pitchers like Derek Law, Hunter Strickland and Josh Osich have shown their inexperience at times.

Winning or losing in the National League Divisional Series will come down to pitching and who throws the ball better. Can Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks and Jake Arrieta outpitch the Giants staff, and will Aroldis Chapman be the difference in the late innings? October is all about pitching and the Giants will scare any team in baseball if their pitching at a championship level.

The San Francisco Giants are the Best Team in Baseball

We are at the halfway point of the season, and heading into the All-Star break, no team in baseball has a better record than the San Francisco Giants. At 57-33, they have a better record than any of the championship teams in recent years. It is certainly starting to look like that "Even Year Magic" has some merit to it after all.

The #SFGiants are 57-33 (.633). It is their best start through 90 games played since 1993, 60-30 (.667). They finished 103-59 (.636).

— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) July 11, 2016

The Giants are wining with pitching. They are led by All-Stars Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto. Bumgarner has the numbers to back up being the team's ace, but Cueto has actually been statistically better. Cueto is 13-1 with a 2.47 earned run average and 115 strikeouts. "Johnny Beisbol" might already be the best free agent signing by the Giants since Barry Bonds.

The Giants have eight complete games (Cueto has 4, Bumgarner has 3). No other NL team has more than 3. — Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) July 11, 2016

The Giants are winning despite only 50 games so far from Hunter Pence, who has been out with an oblique injury as well as a hamstring injury and 58 games from Angel Pagan, who has also been out with various injuries. Pence and Pagan have been a huge part of what has made the Giants offense work the last several years, and yet the Giants have had to rely on young players from their system to help fill the void. Rookies Mac Williamson and Jarrett Parker have been called up this season to play the outfield and their contributions have helped continue the team's winning ways.

The infield is just as unhealthy, with Joe Panik and Matt Duffy each playing only 70 games so far this season. Both are still out as the team heads to the All-Star break. "The Brandons," Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford, have picked up the offensive slack, along with the team's best hitter Buster Posey. Posey, who is starting at catcher once again in the All-Star game for the National League, is expected to be the best bat in the Giants lineup. What might be more surprising is that Belt has actually had the better year so far. He leads the team in batting average, on base percentage and slugging percentage. He has certainly earned his first trip to the Midsummer Classic.

The Giants bullpen has struggled mightily all season, blowing 17 leads overall. Sergio Romo, who has been one of the best relief pitchers for the Giants in their championship years, was also hurt for most of the 1st half of the season. Romo has only seven appearances, where rookies Josh Osich and Hunter Strickland have 43 and 41 respectively. Relying on young, unproven arms has made things difficult for manager Bruce Bochy in the late innings. Closer Santiago Casilla has four blown saves, but he also has converted 21 saves with a 2.86 ERA. The team is still the hottest team in baseball heading into the break.

40-15 since May 11

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 — #SFGStats (@SFG_Stats) July 11, 2016

In 2011, 2013 and 2015, injuries were one of the reasons the Giants missed the playoffs. So how do the 2016 Giants have the best record in baseball despite missing so many key players? The Giants have had dominant pitching before, but the staff has been especially good this year. Bumgarner and Cueto have led the way, but the team's other big free agent signing, Jeff Samardzija, has also been excellent. I wrote earlier this season how strong Bumgarner, Cueto and Samardzija has been historically in Giants history. Jake Peavy has had a roller coaster first half. Peavy's first nine starts were rough and fans were clamoring for Peavy to be sent packing and the team was wondering what to do with the veteran. His next nine starts were excellent and has re-established Peavy as one of the team's most reliable pitchers. As I noted on Twitter Sunday, Peavy has had a tale of two seasons already in 2016.

Jake Peavy in 2016: 1st 9 starts: 41.2 IP, 38 ER, an 8.21 ERA & 1.917 WHIP Next 9 starts: 52 IP, 15 ER, a 2.60 ERA & 1.096 WHIP — Candlestick Will (@CandlestickWill) July 11, 2016

Matt Cain has also had a rough season so far, as well as multiple trips to the disabled list. I wrote more about Peavy and Cain's early struggles in an article earlier this season. Minor league free agent Albert Suarez has stepped in during Cain's absence and really helped solidify the rotation.

That's the other huge component to this year's steady play is the contribution made by several minor league call-ups. Conor Gillaspie, Ramiro Pena, Grant Green and Ruben Tejada have stepped up and helped the Giants find ways to win. Each has been let go by other organizations and are embracing this chance to be a part of a pennant race.

Ultimately, having the best record in the game means very little in July. It will only matter if the record at the end of the season is good enough for a playoff berth. If 2016 is going to be another magical even year for the Giants, they will have to keep this momentum into the Fall. Getting healthy could be as important as any trade they could make, but don't be surprised if the Giants front office looks to address their bullpen before the trade deadline. All things considered, there isn't much to complain about when you are the best team in baseball.

The Giants Big Three are Historically Good Already

The San Francisco Giants went into the off-season with a desire to improve their starting pitching. Bobby Evans went out and signed Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto to help shore up a staff that had trouble pitching deep into games. When asked about why the team signed the two right handed pitchers, both were labeled as "innings eaters."

Cueto and Samardzija have done much more than that. Along with Madison Bumgarner, all three have an ERA under three, and are a combined 20-5 in their 30 starts. These three pitchers are the main reason the Giants are in first place and have won 12 out of their last 13 games.

Through 10 starts …

Bumgarner: 6-2, 2.17 ERA, 66 1/3 innings Cueto: 7-1, 2.38 ERA, 75 2/3 innings Samardzija: 7-2, 2.54 ERA, 71 innings — Alex Pavlovic (@AlexPavlovic) May 25, 2016

If you look at a pitchers Game Score, anything over 57 is considered excellent. For more on what Game Score is, you can refer to Beyond the Box Score here. Using Game Score to look at Giants history, no pitching staff has pitched this well through 48 games since 1969. That staff included Hall of Famers Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry. Marichal, Perry and Mike McCormick combined for 18 starts of 60 or higher in 1969. The Giants top three pitchers in 2016 now have 22 starts with a Game Score of 60 or higher this season. In those starts, the staff is 17-2. In more recent history, the Giants championship staffs in 2010, 2012, and 2014 didn't have as many strong starts as this 2016 club has. The entire starting staff in 2016 so far has 25 games of 60 or more with Matt Cain pitching two and Jake Peavy pitching one. The 2010 staff had 23 games of 60 or higher to this point in the season, while the other two championship teams have less as a group than just Bumgarner, Cueto and Samardzija. The Giants top three pitchers are also in the top 10 in all of baseball for their total Game score.

May 25 GSc Leaderboard: 1. Kershaw 2. Arrieta 3. Sale 4. Cueto 5. Syndergaard 6. Strasburg 7. Pomeranz 8. Bumgarner 9. Samardzija 10. Nola — Pitcher Game Score (@SPGameScore) May 25, 2016

The Giants were expecting their two prized free agent signings to help take the pressure off of incumbent starters Bumgarner, Cain and Peavy. But it was also to take pressure off a bullpen that was overworked in 2015. Both Sergio Romo and George Kontos, who were used heavily last season, have already been to the disabled list this season. The team also has put added responsibility on young arms like Josh Osich and Hunter Strickland.

Regardless of the reasons the Giants brought them in, it is clear that Cueto and Samardzija have been as good as any free agent signing this season and that we are also witnessing one of the strongest staffs in San Francisco Giants history.

Jake Peavy, Matt Cain and the Giant Problem

Jake Peavy and Matt Cain are struggling. They have been bad enough in the first month of the season, that fans want them removed from the starting rotation. Trying to find two worthy replacements in May is hard enough, but trying to figure out what is wrong is even more difficult.

According to Jacob Fagan of Baseball Essential, Peavy and Cain have combined for an 8.10 ERA and a 5.15 FIP, which are brutal numbers for two veteran pitchers.

Bum, Cueto, Shark have a 3.34 ERA, 3.10 FIP

Cain, Peavy have an 8.10 ERA, 5.15 FIP

Overall, SFG SP have a 5.10 ERA, 3.79 FIP #misleading

— Jacob Fagan (@jacobfagan) May 6, 2016

With numbers like that, it is no wonder fans have been calling into the the local sports call in shows and demanding something be done. Peavy and Cain both struggled with injuries last season and came into 2016 healthy. Peavy, when healthy, was good last year and there was optimism that his numbers could be strong this season. Cain, who has been injured for parts of the last three seasons, had a setback during Spring Training and didn't return to the mound until right before the start of the season.

The Giants added free agent starting pitchers Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija in the off-season, so there was less concern about Peavy and Cain. Because they wouldn't be asked to be at the front end of the rotation, there would be pitchers to back them up if they struggled. Unfortunately for Peavy, Cain and the Giants, the struggles have been bad enough that the Giants are 1-9 in the last 10 starts between the two.

Surprisingly, the Giants are still in 1st place because of how well Madison Bumgarner, Cueto and Samardzija and because the rest of the National League West is also struggling. This is also another reason for concern because most of the games so far this season has been against the NL West and the road the rest of the way will be tougher.

To make matters more intriguing, Tim Lincecum is scheduled to pitch in front of scouts today. Lincecum, the former two time Cy Young award winner for the Giants, would be a savoir if he can be productive once again for the orange and black.

So who is already in the system that might help? According to Connor Penfold of Giant Potential, there are a few possible options in the minor league system. Former 1st round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays, Ricky Romero, is currently pitching in Triple-A along with Chris Heston and Clayton Blackburn. All three have struggled so far in Sacramento this season, so there is no clear cut answer.

In the case that Jake Peavy needs a "DL" stint, who can #SFGiants call on? Here are five viable options. https://t.co/Yl7wyCghY9

— GIANT Potential (@giant_potential) May 4, 2016

Brian Murphy, co-host of the Murph & Mac show on KNBR, brought up a good comparison to the Peavy and Cain problem from a decade earlier. In 2004, Kirk Rueter was 9-12 with a 4.73 ERA and 4.95 FIP. Rueter was not only a fan favorite since his arrival from the Montreal Expos in 1996, but he also was productive. Rueter ended his Giants career with the most wins by a left handed pitcher in team history. He never had ace "stuff" but he always seemed to keep the Giants in games, field his position and find ways to win. However, in 2004, the winning slowed. By 2005, Rueter stopped being effective. He went 2-7 with a 5.95 ERA and a 5.35 FIP. After 8 straight seasons of at least 27 starts and 7 of the those 8 with at least 32, he ended 2005 with only 18.

Rueter had been such an important part of those previous 8 seasons, that seeing his production fall so dramatically was tough. The team wanted to give him the chance to turn things around. Mike Krukow, a former Giants ace himself and current team broadcaster always points out that there are only so many innings in a pitcher's arm. 2005 was the final season for Rueter as a Giant in part because his arm ran out of innings. 

2005 wasn't a great year for the San Francisco Giants either, and one of the reasons that Rueter still started 18 times despite poor numbers might have been because of the entire team's lack of success. In Peavy and Cain's case, the team is still in first place and can't afford to fall out of the race. With so much talent on the roster, the Giants will either need Peavy and Cain to turn things around themselves or find replacements before it's too late. The question for Bruce Bochy, Bobby Evans, Brian Sabean and the rest of the Giants decision makers will be how many more starts for Peavy and Cain in 2016.

Of course, looking at things another way, Murphy did point out that winning 3 out of 5 is a great way to make the post season.

Here's my new radical #SFGiants theory.
Bum, Cueto, Samardzija = Win Day.
4/5 spots = Lose Day.
3-2 every 5 = .600 win pct. 97 wins.
Boom.

— Brian Murphy (@knbrmurph) May 6, 2016

Johnny Cueto Ya Es Un Favorito De Los Fans

Johnny Cueto Ya Es Un Favorito De Los Fans Por Michael Saltzman

Johnny Cueto fue un fichaje sorpresa por los Gigantes de San Francisco en la temporada baja. Después de entintado Jeff Samardzija a un contrato de $ 90 millones a principios de invierno, los aficionados no estaban seguros de lo que los Gigantes ver con su otro lugar abierto en la rotación.

Iban a dar el trabajo de Chris Heston, quien lanzó un juego sin hits el año pasado en un fuerte 1ª mitad de su temporada de novato? Iban a tratar de traer de vuelta a Tim Lincecum o Ryan Vogelsong por una temporada pasada? Iban a firmar un lanzador menos proclamada sea para poner en la parte final de la rotación, con la esperanza de un rayo en una botella? En cambio, los Gigantes no hizo ninguna de esas cosas y firmaron Cueto por $ 130 millones y lo colocaron justo detrás del as Madison Bumgarner en la rotación.

La medida ha dado sus frutos a principios de como los Gigantes están 3-0 en sus aperturas y sus 21 1/3 entradas lanzadas conducir el personal. Él ha lanzado al menos 7 entradas en cada inicio, incluyendo su primera apertura contra el rival de Los Ángeles Dodgers, donde se rindió 5 carreras en la primera entrada y todavía fue otro 6 entradas.

Vencer a los Dodgers dos veces, la segunda vez en el Dodger Stadium, es la manera más rápida al corazón de cualquier fan de los Gigantes. Pero es la forma en que ha ganado y cómo él va sobre su negocio que él en una estrella en los ojos de los aficionados ha hecho. Se niega a ser convencionales en el montículo, a partir de lanzadores rápida, a shimmying antes de que él lanza, para todo tipo de otras peculiaridades antes de que él lanza. Todos estos movimientos están diseñados para interrumpir el tiempo bateadores y hacer que el bateador incómodo. Se ha estado trabajando.

Cueto es el mejor amigo de un jugador defensivo como parece odiar a tomar cualquier tiempo entre lanzamientos. Su insistencia para quitarse el sombrero al segundo se le permite después de una entrada termina se darán cuenta real rápido en AT & T. Podía ver la multitud retirar sus gorras al final de un turno como un tributo a Cueto a medida que camina de nuevo en el banquillo.

En última instancia, la producción es siempre más larga que la espectacularidad y entretenimiento. Pero esto es un juego y esto es dólar de entretenimiento de un ventilador. En este momento, si le preguntas a un fan que estarían dispuestos a pagar para ver el lanzamiento, la mayoría podría decir aún Madison Bumgarner, no sólo por su habilidad en el montículo, pero para ver a oscilar la madera en el plato también.

Cueto, por el momento, ha producido más que cualquier otro lanzador en la rotación, y si se sigue produciendo, a su pitcheo solo se convertirá en la estrella del espectáculo en 24 Willie Mays Plaza.

Johnny Cueto is Already a Fan Favorite

 

Johnny Cueto was a surprise signing by the San Francisco Giants in the off-season. After inking Jeff Samardzija to a $90 million contract earlier in the winter, fans weren't sure what the Giants would do with their other open spot in the rotation.

Would they give the job to Chris Heston, who threw a no hitter last year in a strong 1st half of his rookie season? Would they try to bring back Tim Lincecum or Ryan Vogelsong for one last season? Would they sign a less heralded pitcher to put at the back end of the rotation, hoping for lightning in a bottle? Instead, the Giants did none of those things and signed Cueto for $130 million and placed him right behind ace Madison Bumgarner in the rotation.

The move has paid off early on as the Giants are 3-0 in his starts and his 21 1/3 innings pitched lead the staff. He has pitched at least 7 innings in every start, including his first start against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers where he gave up 5 runs in the first inning and still went another 6 innings.

Beating the Dodgers twice, the second time at Dodger Stadium, is the fastest way to any Giants fan's heart. But it's the way he's won and how he goes about his business that has made him an instant star in the eyes of the fans. He refuses to be conventional on the mound, from quick pitching, to shimmying before he throws, to all sorts of other quirks before he pitches. All of these motions are designed to disrupt the hitters timing and make the batter uncomfortable. It's been working.



Cueto is a defensive player's best friend as he seems to hate taking any time between pitches. His insistence to remove his hat the second he is allowed to after an inning ends will catch on real quick at AT&T. I could see the crowd removing their caps at the end of an inning as a tribute to Cueto as he walks back into the dugout.

Ultimately, production is always longer lasting than showmanship and entertainment. But this is a game and this is a fan's entertainment dollar. Right now, if you asked a fan who they would pay to see pitch, most might still say Madison Bumgarner, not only for his ability on the mound, but to see him swing the lumber at the plate as well.

Cueto, at the moment, has produced more than any other pitcher in the rotation, and if he continues to produce, his pitching alone will become the star of the show at 24 Willie Mays Plaza.

Happy Birthday West Coast Baseball

On April 15, 1958, West Coast baseball was born in the Major Leagues. The Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants had left New York and settled in Los Angeles and San Francisco respectively. For the last 58 years, one of the great baseball rivalries has become the greatest sports rivalry on the West Coast.

On April 15, 2016, reigning Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw took on three time World Series champion Madison Bumgarner. This was already their second time facing one another this season. Neither pitcher got a decision in the first matchup, with the Dodgers winning 3-2 at AT&T Park. Bumgarner homered off of Kershaw in the first meeting. It was the second time Bumgarner has done that against the three time Cy Young winner. The second matchup also ended with the same result as Kershaw outpitched Bumgarner for the second time this season.

This rivalry has always been one of the best in sports. From the days in New York to the nearly six decades in California, these two teams have constantly been battling for supremacy in the National League. In the 1,024 games the Giants and Dodgers have played since 1958, the Dodgers hold the slight edge at 522-502 for just a .510 winning percentage. That is also over 200 games more than they've played versus any other team in baseball in that time. The Dodgers also hold the edge in World Series at 5-3.

The Giants recent success is what has taken the rivalry to another level. With the World Series won by the Giants in 2010, 2012, and 2014, the Giants have made this rivalry even more competitive. Overall, the Giants lead the World Series count 8-6 with their wins in New York. The Dodgers only won one World Series in Brooklyn in 1955. The Giants also hold the overall lead in wins in the regular season when you go back to the beginning of the rivalry in 1884. The Giants also hold the National League record with 23 NL pennants and 20 World Series appearances.

However, on the birthday of the West Coast rivalry, it is important to note that for the first fifty years in California, the Dodgers took control of the rivalry. It is only because of the last six years in San Francisco that the rivalry truly has become great once again. No rivalry is great unless both organizations are strong.

For years, the Giants had Hall of Fame players but no post-season success. In 1962, they were one out away from a World Series, but lost and didn't make it back to the Series until 1989. They got there once again in 2002, but lost again. The Dodgers, who won in 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981 and 1988, had established clearly that they were the better team.

Now that the Giants franchise has turned around and success has come with it, the 2016 season has a great chance to be another great year for the rivalry. If Bumgarner and Kershaw have anything to say about it, it will be great for many more years to come.

As we celebrate Jackie Robinson Day to honor one of the bravest baseball players our game has ever known, don't forget that April 15th is also the birthday of the Giants in San Francisco and the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

2016 is Already Controversial

In a year where a certain Republican candidate for President of the United States is trying to "Make America Great Again" by making America hate again, baseball has already had it's fair share of controversy.

Whether it's comments from Baseball Hall of Famer Goose Gossage ripping slugger Jose Bautista and others for their bat flips and emotion, to Bryce Harper playing off of that presidential candidate's slogan with a "Make Baseball Fun Again" hat in his post game interviews, baseball is seeing people take sides.

Some people who embrace old school baseball and old school America want the game to be played the way it used to be when the times were simpler and the game was policed on the field. People that long for baseball the way it used to be played, forgot how it actually used to be played.

People that call the game soft with the new slide rules at home and at second forget how devastating it was for Ray Fosse when Pete Rose ran through his body to try and win an exhibition game.

People forget the collisions that were considered good hard baseball when breaking up a double play led to broken legs and concussions.

This is already a sport that can't control when 100 mile per hour baseballs travel towards players heads unintentionally. It is also a sport that sees 110 MPH comebackers hit pitchers in the head unintentionally. We can no longer accept policing on the field. We can't allow pitchers to try to hit batters intentionally for breaking unwritten rules. We can't allow baserunners to slide and run into defenseless players anymore.

Baseball now has MLB Extra Innings and 24/7 social media coverage and every game, every inning, and every pregame and post game interview is recorded and broadcasted. Beat writers don't protect players anymore from possible criticism and players can't get away with dirty slides or controversial comments anymore, just because the game was a day game in the middle of the week that nobody went to.

So when John Gibbons was furious about the new slide rule directly impacting his team losing a close game, his comments veered in the wrong direction quickly and the controversy was instant.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons is not a fan of MLB's new rule that cost his team a win. https://t.co/askEiaEq6F pic.twitter.com/SYInF00jE0

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 6, 2016

Regardless of Gibbons opinion on the new rule or whether Bautista violated the new rule on this particular slide, he is out of line to say "maybe we'll come out and wear dresses tomorrow."

We live in a world where the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities are being attacked and legislation is being written to discriminate against them. We live in a world where women make less money than men for the same job. We have made progress in several areas since the 1700's when we 1st became a country, but we are still marginalizing groups and treating people like less then what they are.

Gibbons comments, regardless of intent, imply that men are better than women and that dresses being worn signals a lesser, softer and gentler game that he doesn't want to be a part of.

He came out today and doubled down on his comments, saying his mom thought it was funny.

This is where the problem gets even more obvious. By finding a female who wasn't offended, he is admitting unintentionally that he knows some women must have been offended. Instead of accepting that publicly and apologizing for his insensitive remarks, he tried to defend his comments further.

Denial is unacceptable in 2016. Understanding that demeaning women is wrong is essential to anyone who is being asked to be a leader. As a manager, it is Gibbons responsibility to understand that his comments were offensive and that his frustration about the rule gets lost in his sexist comments.

Bautista did grab Logan Forsythe's leg. Was it blatant and dirty? No. But was it intentional? Yes. This is why the rule is in place. Players are going to make mistakes and in the heat of the moment and in the real time, are going to make split second decisions that are now illegal. To say the game is softer dismisses that the game is also safer. In a game where players have retired prematurely from multiple concussions, and in a sport that is more profitable than ever, we must continue to move in the right direction and continue to make this game safer and better for today's player and for the next generation.