Locked On Giants – Daily Podcast On The San Francisco Giants

Who doesn't love a little nostalgia? In what's sure to be a widely popular move, the San Francisco Giants are reportedly signing legendary reliever Sergio Romo to a non-roster deal and will give him the chance to pitch in front of the home fans one more time. The SF Giants play the Oakland A's in an exhibition game on March 27 at Oracle Park, and Romo is expected to appear one last time in the orange and black.

Romo was legitimately one of the best relievers in baseball during his Giants career. Thanks to a devastating slider that hitters simply couldn't recognize out of his hand, Romo boasted a superb 2.58 ERA in 515 games with the San Francisco Giants from 2008 through 2016.

From a former great reliever to a current great reliever: Camilo Doval made an awesome appearance in the WBC yesterday. His development is discussed, particularly how the sinker he started throwing in July completely unlocked his arsenal. Just 25 years old and under club control through 2027, Doval is a huge bright spot for the SF Giants now and moving forward. The Mets weren't so fortunate with their excellent closer, as Edwin Diaz was injured while celebrating Puerto Rico's win over the Dominican Republic. He will likely miss the season.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Ultimate Pro Baseball GM

To download the game just visit probaseballgm.com or look it up on the app stores. Our listeners get a 100% free boost to their franchise when using the promo LOCKEDON (ALL CAPS) in the game store.

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.

LinkedIn

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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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The San Francisco Giants' decision to let Kevin Gausman depart in free agency wasn't particularly popular, and didn't look great in hindsight after Gausman had another really good season in 2022 and the Giants stumbled to a .500 season. That didn't stop them, however, from letting the same thing happen with Carlos Rodón after the lefty pitched like a Cy Young candidate for the SF Giants in 2022.

Is the Giants' strategy the right one? Should they make more of an effort to retain these pitchers long term? The simple fact is that long-term deals for starting pitchers often age poorly. There are countless examples across the sport. And the Giants have had a lot of success in finding talents like Gausman and Rodón before they achieve peak value in a Giants uniform. So they trust their ability to keep doing this, and it's hard to argue with them. It's not like locking these guys in for the long haul will necessarily yield positive results. History suggests that such a move has a somewhat high chance of backfiring in a major way.

Which Giants pitcher is most expendable should Kyle Harrison prove he's ready for the majors? The SF Giants have so many starting pitchers; how would they create room if Harrison is ready and no one is injured? If the San Francisco Giants are in contention at the trading deadline, will they be more aggressive in bringing in impact talent after the way last offseason unfolded and the fan frustration that followed? Shohei Ohtani very well might be available...

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Ultimate Pro Baseball GM

To download the game just visit probaseballgm.com or look it up on the app stores. Our listeners get a 100% free boost to their franchise when using the promo LOCKEDON (ALL CAPS) in the game store.

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.

LinkedIn

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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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In just over two weeks, the San Francisco Giants will send Logan Webb to the Yankee Stadium mound to make his second straight Opening Day start. It's been quite the rise for the 26-year-old Webb, who put up an ERA over 5.00 in his first two big league seasons. Over the last two years, Webb has established himself as a Top 20 starter in the game. Alex Cobb, who's FIP ranks in the top 10 over the last two years as well, will make the Giants' second start.

In other news, Casey Schmitt continued his hot spring with a homer and a triple yesterday. He needs more upper minors seasoning (he's only played 33 games above A-ball), but if he hits well in Triple-A, he could be a major factor in the big leagues in 2023. Blake Sabol started in the outfield for the first time all spring, which is significant given the oblique injury to Mitch Haniger. Other Giants who've been impressive lately: Michael Conforto, Thairo Estrada, and Bryce Johnson.

Luis González, who was a bright spot in the early part of 2022, was derailed by a nagging back issue and will undergo surgery today. The SF Giants are hopeful that he can finally put the issue behind him after the 16-week recovery time. Sam Long, who was a longshot candidate to make the Opening Day bullpen, was optioned yesterday, and R.J. Dabovich was reassigned to Minor League camp. The Giants have 12 pitchers essentially set in stone, so one spot is up for grabs. It could go to Sean Hjelle, who's been impressive in camp, or the San Francisco Giants might opt for an extra position player on the initial roster.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Ultimate Pro Baseball GM

To download the game just visit probaseballgm.com or look it up on the app stores. Our listeners get a 100% free boost to their franchise when using the promo LOCKEDON (ALL CAPS) in the game store.

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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There are two sides to every coin. The San Francisco Giants are suddenly dealing with an injury bug—which happens to every team every year in some form or another. Mitch Haniger has a Grade 1 oblique strain; Brandon Crawford has left knee discomfort; David Villar has a mild hip flexor strain. None of these injuries necessarily mean those players will miss the Giants' Opening Day game in New York, but they certainly could. In that case, is it time for SF Giants fans to panic? Or do the Giants have the depth to cover these injuries?

Rule 5 pick Blake Sabol might stand to benefit the most if there's an injury to an outfielder. He might make the team regardless considering how well he's performed in spring, but the current catcher has spent most of his career in the outfield. If Haniger has to start the season on the IL, it seems likely that the San Francisco Giants would use the opportunity to keep Sabol on the roster. Regarding Brandon Crawford, an injury to the veteran could create some problematic defensive alignments, with Thairo Estrada moving to short, David Villar (if he's healthy) moving to second, and J.D. Davis (or Wilmer Flores) moving to third.

Alternatively, the SF Giants could give an opportunity to young players like Brett Wisely or Isan Díaz, both of whom are on the 40-man roster and play middle infield. More so than in recent years, the Giants have some interesting young talent that appears ready to step in in the event of these injuries. The SF Giants also have Casey Schmitt, the star defender, close to MLB ready. Schmitt will almost certainly start the season in Triple-A, but if he dominates offensively, he could quickly become an answer at either third base or shortstop.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Ultimate Pro Baseball GM

To download the game just visit probaseballgm.com or look it up on the app stores. Our listeners get a 100% free boost to their franchise when using the promo LOCKEDON (ALL CAPS) in the game store.

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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The regular season is just over three weeks away, and there are some burning questions surrounding the San Francisco Giants. The first question is all about the corners. In the outfield, can Michael Conforto and/or Mitch Haniger return to All-Star form? For the SF Giants to have a successful season, one or both of these players probably has to get back to being a really good major league player. In the infield, can the Giants' David Villar and LaMonte Wade Jr. handle the job? Villar is still relatively unproven, and Wade regressed heavily in 2022 after a terrific 2021.

Next question: Is the Giants' defense improved enough to avoid sinking their season? Defense was such a huge problem last year, but when you look at the players who hurt the San Francisco Giants the most, it's a lot of guys who are no longer on the team. Either that or they don't figure to play as much, or they are moving to less important positions. Joc Pederson comes out of the outfield. Darin Ruf is gone. Luis González is depth as opposed to a starter. No more Tommy La Stella or Brandon Belt, who wasn't moving well at all last year.

Will this be the year that young SF Giants finally start to demonstrate that the team has a good pipeline? Kyle Harrison and Casey Schmitt have big seasons ahead of them. Can Villar and/or Joey Bart make the leap? How about Vaun Brown and Marco Luciano? And finally, is the SF Giants' rotation, which lost the huge upside of Carlos Rodón, be able to perform well with depth being its greatest strength?

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. 

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Baseball is a crazy game. The San Francisco Giants were 3-9 in Spring Training, and facing one of the greatest lineups ever assembled. But in the end, the SF Giants took down Team USA rather easily, cruising to a 5-1 victory at Scottsdale Stadium. Anthony DeSclafani and Sean Manaea worked three effective innings apiece, both exhibiting mid-90s velocity that bodes well for the regular season.

On offense, LaMonte Wade Jr. continues to demonstrate that his knee is doing much better. He's sitting in his legs more in his swing and it showed with a ringing leadoff double against Miles Mikolas. Mitch Haniger, one of the Giants' biggest additions of the offseason, also added two doubles. David Villar collected his first hit of the spring and then launched and impressive opposite-field homer. Luis Matos hit a loud oppo double as well.

In other news, Carlos Rodón is injured. The newest Yankees starter will start the season on the injured list after it was revealed today that he has a mild forearm strain. The SF Giants made headlines again by failing (or choosing not to) re-sign a starting pitcher coming off an ace-caliber season for San Francisco. Pitchers routinely break down and/or become ineffective, and it often happens quickly. Hopefully Rodón is alright, but it's not what Yankees fans want to see after one spring start in his first year of a six-year contract.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. 

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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The 2023 World Baseball Classic promises to be riveting. Team USA is stacked with talent, and the San Francisco Giants will scrimmage against them in a televised game tonight. Logan Webb was supposed to be on Team USA but withdrew, but that doesn't mean SF Giants fans have nothing to look forward to in this year's installment of the WBC.

After catching the Giants vs. Team USA game tonight, Giants fans can check out another of other teams to find past and present players and coaches. The Netherlands team, which won its first game last night, features Hensley Muelens as its manager, Chadwick Tromp as its catcher, and Franklin Van Gurp as one of its relievers.

Camilo Doval is on an absolutely stacked Dominican team, and Joc Pederson will suit up for Team Israel. Former Giant Alex Dickerson is also on that team with Joc. Mark DeRosa will manage Team USA, and there are several other SF Giants farmhands littered throughout the tournament. It's going to be a fun two weeks with daily games.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. 

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Mike Yastrzemski is an underrated defender. According to pretty much all defensive metrics—and the "eye test"—the SF Giants' outfielder is above average in both the corners and in center field. The Giants went into the offseason targeting strong defensive center fielders, hoping to move Yastrzemski back to right, where he profiles best, but ultimately the ended up with two corner guys in Michael Conforto and Mitch Haniger. However, Yaz should be able to handle center field just fine. Slater, however, graded out rather poorly in center in 2022, so it'll be worthwhile to follow his progress there in the upcoming season.

It's time to talk attendance again. In 2022, the Giants had their lowest attendance numbers since Oracle Park opened in 2000. What will get fans back out to the park? One thing that's important to keep in mind is that league-wide attendance has been down. Compared to 2019, the last full season without attendance restrictions, league attendance was down 6%. And the Giants were down 8%. So not much more than normal.

Can Patrick Bailey raise his stock this spring and even surpass Joey Bart on the depth chart? He's probably not there yet, given that he's only made it as far as High-A Eugene, but eventually Bailey could certainly emerge as the SF Giants' catcher of the future. This front office didn't draft Bart, and may not have if given the opportunity. Bailey, on the other hand, fits their preferred offensive profile better, and won a Minor League Gold Glove behind the plate in 2022. The 2020 first-round pick is definitely someone to monitor in 2023 and beyond.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. 

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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For every Carlos Rodón, there's often a Tommy La Stella. The San Francisco Giants got a career year out of Rodón in 2022, but they also suffered through injuries and underperformance from like likes of La Stella and others. Who on the 2023 SF Giants are the candidates to have a career year? And who will underperform? By definition, it's a hard question to answer, but the Giants have a lot of candidates to have big seasons and not many who are likely to play poorly. Youngsters Joey Bart and David Villar still have a lot to prove, however.

What are the rules for Rule 5 picks? Specifically, what is going to happen with Blake Sabol? Sabol was a Rule 5 pick by the Reds, and the SF Giants traded for him minutes later. Sabol must make the Giants' 26-man roster—and stay there all season—or be offered back to the Pirates. He's part of the catcher competition with Bart, Roberto Pérez, and Austin Wynns.

Will the SF Giants be buyers or sellers at the deadline? Unless they're totally out of the race, which is unlikely, expect them to be either buyers or somewhere in between. Even when they've "sold" under Farhan Zaidi, the moves have been relatively minor. He famously held onto Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith in 2019, and Rodón last year. When they've been in their best buying position, the Giants acquired Kris Bryant. Expect those trends to continue depending on where the Giants are in late July.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

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San Francisco Giants fans already have to worry about the Dodgers and Padres in a tough NL West, but don't sleep on the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-backs are brimming with young talent, giving them the potential to exceed expectations in 2023 and perhaps become a problem for the foreseeable future. Evan Longoria is switching sides, and his status is the first topic discussed on today's crossover between Locked On Giants and Locked On D-backs.

The SF Giants were clearly big game hunting this winter, but came away empty handed when it comes to superstars. But what should we expect from them next winter? Clearly, when elite talent is out there, the Giants are interested. They pursued Bryce Harper in 2018-19. They went after Aaron Judge and had an agreement with Carlos Correa this past offseason. Will they be the team that comes away with Shohei Ohtani next winter?

Finally, the Giants and D-backs are directly compared. Which team has the higher floor? Which team has the higher ceiling? Neither host will back down from the belief that their team is better, but both respect that the D-backs are underrated and have the potential to be much better than people seem to think. The Giants, meanwhile, might not have the highest ceiling in the world (although 2021 should teach us never to assume we know a team's ceiling), but they seem to have one of the highest floors in the league.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices