SF Giants’ Promising Start Crumbles: 'Terrible' Situational ABs and Birdsong’s Bad Day

Locked On Giants – Daily Podcast On The San Francisco Giants

In this episode, we dive deep into the San Francisco Giants’ ongoing struggles with situational hitting, which were painfully evident in their recent loss to the Washington Nationals. Despite having an above-average offense overall, as indicated by their 104 wRC+ this season, the Giants continue to falter in crucial moments. We analyze how their poor performance with runners in scoring position has been a recurring issue throughout the season and how it contributed to their latest defeat against the Nats.

Next, we shift focus to Hayden Birdsong’s rough outing, which sparked questions about the SF Giants’ decision to trade away veteran right-hander Alex Cobb at the trade deadline. Birdsong, who had shown high upside in previous starts, struggled badly against the Nationals, raising questions about the Giants’ pitching depth as they aim for a postseason spot. We’ll discuss whether trading Cobb was a mistake and how this decision could impact the Giants’ rotation down the stretch.

Finally, we cover the unfortunate news that Wilmer Flores will miss the remainder of the season due to a procedure on his right knee, which has affected his performance throughout the year. Flores, a crucial part of the Giants’ lineup in seasons past, may be back next season as he holds a $3.5 million player option for 2025. We’ll explore what his absence means for the Giants’ playoff push and how the team plans to navigate the rest of the season without him.

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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

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