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We are past the middle of May and still trying to figure out this team.
The positives are Luis Arraez's hot bat (.333 BA), a feeling that Devers is finding his swing, and strong defense. The negatives: a lackluster offense beyond Arraez and a lower team batting average.
The pitching staff has some bright spots, but the team ERA sits around 4.10, with a WHIP of about 1.32, with Logan Webb on the DL and Robbie Ray being uncharacteristically wild. On Tuesday night in AZ, Kilian gave up a 3-run 9th inning HR to lose a game the G-Men were winning. Ouch.
The one big positive for the 2026 Giants pitching staff is Landen Roupp’s breakout—he’s got a solid 3.49 ERA and a great strikeout rate, showing real ace potential and leading the team. The starting rotation has flashes of dominance, and when the bullpen is on, they can keep games close, offering glimpses of upside. Plus, their team ERA—though not elite—sits around 4.10, which, for a team looking to rebuild, is a decent platform to build on.
The Giants' bullpen has been impressive so far in 2026, with a season ERA of about 2.93, ranking in the top three in the league. They had a dominant stretch starting April 7, posting a 1.51 ERA, and standout relievers include Keaton Winn with a 2.93 ERA and Caleb Kilian with a 1.13 ERA. While their early success is promising, the bullpen's long-term consistency in high-leverage situations will be crucial. We still miss Camilo.
The defense so far in 2026 has been solid but not exceptional. The G-Men have converted 1,445 fielding chances into 1,424 outs, with 21 errors, giving them a .985 fielding percentage. That ranks 21st out of 30 MLB teams—so they’re basically average, with a few minor trouble spots in range and outfield coordination (although with Ramos also on the DL maybe Casey Schmitt -I’ve always liked Casey and he is now the best hitter on the team with a .294 BA- will step up in the outfield).
The hitting has been a struggle. The G-Men have a team batting average of .238, which ranks 18th in the league, and their on-base percentage is just .282, while their slugging percentage is .355—both near the bottom, ranking 29th and 30th in MLB. They’ve hit only 23 home runs which is the lowest in the league, meaning while they make contact, they’re lacking power and getting on base.
Rafael Devers has had a tough 2026 season with the Giants. His batting average is .246, he’s hit 6 home runs, and has 19 RBIs, with an OPS of .691—well below his usual elite levels. He’s struggled, especially against right-handed pitchers, and has also dealt with hamstring issues. Despite this, the Giants remain committed to him long-term, hoping he’ll regain his form, which, given the long balls he hit in the AZ series, seems to be happening.
Bryce Eldridge, our top prospect, has faced inconsistent playing time since his promotion to the major leagues on May 4th. Despite being called up to bolster the team's offense, Eldridge has started only six of the ten games since his arrival, often being sidelined in favor of other players so he is not getting at-bats. After hitting his first MLB home run on May 9, he was out of the lineup for two consecutive games. This lack of consistent at-bats is concerning (“a massive blunder” says one writer). Either get him in (which, with the infield logjam seems unlikely) or send him back to the River Cats. I put this quandary on Buster (who brought him up) and Tony Vitalli.
How is the management doing? It still feels like an experiment in process.
Tony Vitello, hired in October 2025 after a successful college career at Tennessee, is off to a rocky start in his first MLB season. Despite some early clubhouse incidents and a slow start, Vitello has brought energy and fresh approaches, and the team and the fans are still looking to see if he can adjust to the demands of a full MLB season. You can’t help but to like Tony – now I want to see him ejected from more games for standing up for his players.
In his first year as President of Baseball Operations, Buster has focused on reshaping the team’s culture and structure. He made bold moves like hiring Tony Vitello and trading Patrick Bailey, but on-field results have lagged, with the team starting 2026 at 16 wins and 24 losses. While his front-office vision is clear, the team still needs better results to match expectations.
The Giants' coaching staff has been advised to focus (lots of press criticism) on a few key improvements: first, reinforcing a clear offensive identity by emphasizing on-base percentage and plate discipline; second, improving alignment between coaches and players by holding more in-depth performance reviews (where are JT Snow and Barry Bonds when we need them?) This is a new staff all around and we could use more critical thinking; and finally, we should tighten defensive fundamentals. If they can implement these, we should see steady improvement.
The G-Men, the White Sox and the Snakes – who will struggle more?
The White Sox (24 and 23) and Snakes (23 and 23) are both struggling. For the White Sox, the positives are Murakami’s power and clutch RBIs. Negatives: a struggling lineup, with a team average hovering around .226. For the Diamondbacks, Corbin Carroll’s consistency is a plus, but the downside is a lack of offensive spark, with a low team batting average. Regardless, the Giants have been snake-bitten in the AZ series in AZ. The Tuesday night walk off especially sucked. The two upcoming series may be (I hope not) a clash of who can have the more mediocre statistics, depending on how the 20 and 28 Giants come home from the current road trip. On the White Sox side, Munetaka Murakami is driving in RBIs left and right, but Chicago’s collective batting average still lingers at .226. The Sox also have a middling staff, with a 4.83 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP, though they’ve struck out more batters than they’ve walked. And the Snakes? Corbin Carroll is their stud, hitting .298, but the rest of Arizona’s lineup is relatively pedestrian at .237. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks have the best pitching numbers, with a 3.85 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP, giving them a clear edge heading into the series.
So, the weekend will hinge on which star rises—or which slump turns around.
Here are the games available:
Saturday 5/23: White Sox [1:05 – 4] – Chain Hat Day (yes, that’s a thing, I’m just not sure what it really is)
Sunday 5/24: White Sox [1:05 -3] – Grogu Bobblehead and the Czar is going.
Tues 5/26: Snakes [6:45 -4]
Wed 5/27: Snakes [12:45 -4]
Let the torture commence.
Ciao, and GO GIANTS!
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THE PROTOCOL: The firm has four seats in Section 118 (Premium Lower Boxes), Rows 25 and 26. These are awesome seats directly below the press box and 25 rows behind the home plate on the left side behind the screen. It is foul ball territory for left-handed batters, so bring your glove – I have collected 22 foul balls myself over 23 years and am looking for more. If we don’t use all the tickets ourselves (or clients and friends of the firm don't claim them by calling me and reserving a game), then my next step is to give the tickets TO THE FIRST PERSON WHO GETS BACK TO ME PROVIDED THAT THEY ARE SERIOUS. If you ask for the tickets and don't use them, you will be taken off the list unless there is a seriously good reason. There will be a waitlist.
When there are four seats available (we split up a lot of games) we will allocate the tickets two and two if the first people back just want two tickets. You can also go for four and might get them. I'm the Czar, my call.
Oh, and BTW, The Czar found the original Hinman & Carmichael brick from 2000 (after looking for it every year since 2000) and found H&C’s Gotham Club Founders Bat! If you are on the patio or in the Club, look for the symbols of baseball!
