Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Get Ready, Giants Fans. Youth Movement Is Here.
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 years ago on
September 4, 2018

Share

The Giants’ championship window is now closed.
After winning three World Series titles between 2010-2014, and optimism to compete the other years (even if the record didn’t reflect that), it’s over now. And whether Giants Manager Bruce Bochy will admit it or not, the team is in a youth movement.

GV Wire Reporter David Taub
Opinion
David Taub
In 2018, the Giants added veterans Andrew McCutchen, Austin Jackson and Evan Longoria to the lineup. Neither of them panned out. Longoria leads the team with 15 homers, but is batting only .244 and missed 34 games with injury.

Veterans Sputter


Bruce Bochy
Jackson never panned out, with the Giants trading him in July. McCutchen provided some productivity (relative to his teammates), with a.772 OPS and 15 homers. But signaling that qualifying for the playoffs is a goal out of reach, the Giants dealt him to the Yankees on Aug. 31 at the trade deadline.
Optimism on the pitching front crash landed. The Giants hoped veterans Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija would return to form. They’ve spent more time on the disabled list than they have on the mound.
Even Madison Bumgarner seems off. He began the year with a broken hand, the second year in a row he missed time because of a freak injury. Since his return, he’s shown flashes of his old self, but there is something missing.
Take a look at the box scores. It’s filled with youth: Dereck Rodriguez, Andrew Suarez, Austin Slater and Steven Duggar. They are the future, and there are even more youngsters the Giants will see in September. This is a glimpse of the Giants in years to come, even if Bochy won’t outright say so.
“These are things we’ll talk about when the season is over. It’s what we do, take a look and evaluate and make decisions on what we think is best to do,” Bochy said recently.

Is Shaw the Future?


Chris Shaw
Take the example of Chris Shaw. Albeit a small sample size, he has one hit — a home run Monday against Colorado — in seven at-bats, with five strikeouts. At Triple-A Sacramento, Shaw hit 24 HR, with .813 OPS.
Bochy says that Shaw needs time to adjust.
“When McCutchen was traded, this opened up a spot for (Shaw) to get some playing time. We wanted him to be himself. It’s hard to hit Major League pitching, trust me. When you start telling a lot of things at a hitter right away, you’re going to confuse him a little bit. Just be yourself go out there and let it go,” the Giants manager said.
The Giants already improved on 2017’s dismal 64 win season this year. But, fans and the front office never fully threw in the towel.
But now, the Giants are in an era of rebuilding. Seemingly, the only untouchables are Posey and Bumgarner. As evidenced by the McCutchen trade, minor league prospects are a better alternative than aging  veterans.
Giants fans, beware! It may take a while to return to the championship glory days.

DON'T MISS

City of Fresno Buys Half of Eldorado Park in Strategic Maxwell-Led Move

DON'T MISS

GOP Picks up Key House Seats While Democrats Say They Still Have a Path to a Majority

DON'T MISS

Costa Expands Lead Over Maher, Richardson Holds Narrow Edge on Bonakdar

DON'T MISS

Clovis’ Measure A and Sanger’s Measure M Get Good News with Thursday Vote Update

DON'T MISS

President-Elect Trump Has Sweeping Plans. Here’s What He’s Proposed.

DON'T MISS

New Look Basketball Bulldogs Open at Home. How Will They Fare Under Walberg?

DON'T MISS

Americans Seek Fresh Start Abroad as Election Sparks Expat Interest

DON'T MISS

President-Elect Trump Names Susie Wiles as Chief of Staff

DON'T MISS

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Foe of Drugmakers and Regulators, Is Poised to Wield New Power

DON'T MISS

California Beat Trump in Court His First Term. It’s Preparing New Cases for His Second.

UP NEXT

With Mountain West Title Out of Reach, What Is Fresno State Playing For?

UP NEXT

In Deep Blue California, Voters Don’t Always March to Dem Drums

UP NEXT

Cowboys’ Playoff Hopes in Jeopardy as Dak Prescott Faces Potential Season-Ending Surgery

UP NEXT

Stephen Curry Scores 27 Points to Lead Hot Warriors Past Celtics

UP NEXT

49ers Hope Return of Injured Players Makes up for Lack of Big Deadline Addition

UP NEXT

Morant, Wells, Jackson Jr. Score 20 Apiece as Grizzlies Beat Lakers

UP NEXT

Dodgers Cautious on Ohtani’s Return, Eye Infield Shift for Betts

UP NEXT

How Harris Lost Will Be Her Legacy

UP NEXT

Shohei Ohtani Undergoes Shoulder Surgery, Expected to Return for Spring Training

UP NEXT

Which Move Is Better When Down 1 Late? Kick the Extra Point or Go for 2?

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Clovis’ Measure A and Sanger’s Measure M Get Good News with Thursday Vote Update

12 hours ago

President-Elect Trump Has Sweeping Plans. Here’s What He’s Proposed.

13 hours ago

New Look Basketball Bulldogs Open at Home. How Will They Fare Under Walberg?

13 hours ago

Americans Seek Fresh Start Abroad as Election Sparks Expat Interest

13 hours ago

President-Elect Trump Names Susie Wiles as Chief of Staff

14 hours ago

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Foe of Drugmakers and Regulators, Is Poised to Wield New Power

14 hours ago

California Beat Trump in Court His First Term. It’s Preparing New Cases for His Second.

14 hours ago

With Mountain West Title Out of Reach, What Is Fresno State Playing For?

15 hours ago

Former Fresno State Bull Rider, a Vietnam Vet, Calls Central Valley Honor Flight ‘Life-Changing’

16 hours ago

Don’t Expect Kamala Harris’ Loss to Boost Gavin Newsom’s Presidential Prospects

16 hours ago

City of Fresno Buys Half of Eldorado Park in Strategic Maxwell-Led Move

The city of Fresno now owns a new park. Or at least half of it. Technically, the city of Fresno did not own El Dorado Park, at Barstow Avenu...

11 hours ago

11 hours ago

City of Fresno Buys Half of Eldorado Park in Strategic Maxwell-Led Move

The U.S. Capitol is seen from Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)
12 hours ago

GOP Picks up Key House Seats While Democrats Say They Still Have a Path to a Majority

12 hours ago

Costa Expands Lead Over Maher, Richardson Holds Narrow Edge on Bonakdar

12 hours ago

Clovis’ Measure A and Sanger’s Measure M Get Good News with Thursday Vote Update

13 hours ago

President-Elect Trump Has Sweeping Plans. Here’s What He’s Proposed.

13 hours ago

New Look Basketball Bulldogs Open at Home. How Will They Fare Under Walberg?

13 hours ago

Americans Seek Fresh Start Abroad as Election Sparks Expat Interest

Trump co-campaign manager Susie Wiles is seen at Nashville International Airport as Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives, July 27, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP File)
14 hours ago

President-Elect Trump Names Susie Wiles as Chief of Staff

Search

Send this to a friend