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The Giants have been a lot of things this season - they’ve been winners, they’ve been losers, they’ve been fun, they’ve been un-fun. In theory, this team is “well-rounded” in every department but I realized as I’ve been watching this team there are things I’m missing from season’s past that I would love to see in this 2018 team. I’m here to discuss a few thing
A lovable giant goofball
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There are certainly goofballs on the team (Derek Holland, Hunter Pence, etc) but I really miss the Michael Morse-type energy that came from a lumbering giant who acts like a St. Bernard puppy who is not completely in control of it’s limbs yet.
Seriously, who else is gonna bring a total kid-like energy combined with brut strength that can only be described as Thor-like? Hopefully we find a replacement for someone like this soon.
A phenom
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I love rookies and I love the rookies we are getting to watch develop this season but I miss the days of young Tim Lincecum in 2007 when you just KNEW this kid was something different. It’s definitely been awhile since the Giants have debuted a guy who breezed through the minors and came up and just looked major league ready. I’m ready for it. Maybe it’s Joey Bart?
A lights-out LOOGY
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This is my way of saying I miss Javier Lopez and Jeremy Affedlt. While the Giants certainly have guys who are considered left-handed specialists in Tony Watson and Will Smith, we’ve seen that they can be exposed when used to frequently and I’m not sure I would consider either of them completely “lights out” the way Lopez and Affeldt were. With those two pieces as part of the Core Four, it really was a total shut-down situation when left-handed batters came up to the plate.
An Energizer Bunny
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Honestly, when Brian Wilson was on the Giants, I was kinda meh about him at times. The “look-at-me” stuff got old, especially when his pitching declined. Now looking back on everything, I honestly wouldn’t mind a guy who brought absolutely unhinged energy to the clubhouse. According to KNBR callers, the Giants can look lackluster at times, especially during losses. With guys like The Beard on staff, you can hardly categorize a team as emotionless.
A comeback story
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I think the closest we probably have to this is Will Smith returning from his Tommy John’s surgery (which is pretty dang incredible) but I’m talking stories like Travis Ishikawa, who was a journeyman near retirement before walking off in 2014 to win the Giants the pennant. Or Ryan Vogelsong, who was playing baseball in Japan before coming back and becoming an All-Star with the fourth lowest ERA (2.71) in the National League in 2011.
I want to feel like every time a player steps on the field that someone is cutting onions next to me. Is that too much to ask?