Category: San Francisco Giants

Insomniac Lunatic Fringe Postgame 7-22-2025 Giants @ Braves

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San Francisco Giants Wilmer Flores rounds the bases after hitting a three run home run against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Field in Cumberland, Cobb County GA on Tue Jul 22, 2025 (AP News photo)

Tuesday night the Giants came in three games over .500 and it’s the first time that the Giants have the smallest gap over .500 since April 1st. Willie Adames said after Monday night’s game, “I feel like in the first half we were grinders. It feel like lately the energy is not there. That’s not our identity, it feels like we’ve fallen off the bus.”

Adames continued saying, “It’s not us we have to figure a way out of it as soon as possible. I was saying after Monday night’s loss they need to get hot and they need to get hot fast. At first I thought it was a meltdown in the clubhouse but 95.7 The Game’s Sam Lubman said it was Adames way of calling out the team.

Stephen Ruderman is a San Francisco Giants beat writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

What A Difference A Day Makes – Giants Square Series Beating Atlanta In Shutout 9-0, end six game skid

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Relief in sight as the San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman (26) is congratulated by first baseman Rafael Devers (right) after beating the Atlanta Braves and snapping their six game losing streak at Truist Field in Cumberland Cobb County GA on Tue Jul 22, 2025 (AP news photo)

By Barbara Mason

After losing to the Atlanta Braves day, the San Francisco Giants (53-49 ) tied up the series beating Atlanta (44-56) in a shut-out 9-0. After playing what was probably their worst showing this season the Giants turned it all around.

Gone was the brain fog in the outfield, gone were the errors and the effort on the mound was stellar. San Francisco starter Landen Roupp went five innings allowing four hits, no runs, one walk and six strikeouts getting this shut-out well underway.

San Francisco broke this game wide open in the second inning taking a 4-0 lead and never looked back. Matt Chapman tripled driving Willy Adames home for the early 1-0 lead. They went on to score three more runs in the inning.

Wilmer Flores sacrificed Chapman home followed by a Casey Schmitt solo home run. The Giants scored one more run in the inning when Heliot Ramos sacrificed Patrick Bailey home and San Francisco had jumped to a 4-0 lead.

The Giants held the 4-0 lead going into the fifth inning when they scored another run. Heliot Adames singled Rafael Devers home taking a 5-0 lead. Mid-way through the game San Francisco had taken total command and in fact looked unbeatable.

Hanging onto the 5-0 lead going into the seventh inning they tacked four more runs on leaving the Braves in the dust. Devers singled Ramos home. Flores had another hit, a three run home run with Devers and Adames on base extending their lead to 9-0.

The Giants totally dominated from the start of the game to the finish. Outfield play was spotless. Work on the mound was lights out and the Giants had ten hits in this game. Ten hits with nine runs scored; San Francisco had pulled out all the stops and after losing six games in a row the streak was broken.

Devers had an outstanding game going error free in his first career start at first base and offensively he was pretty darn good with two hits and two runs. Chapman and Patrick Bailey each had two hits, Chapman with one RBI and Bailey with two.

Starting pitcher Roupp was hot throwing the shut-out. San Francisco has now won five of his last six outings. His ERA has now improved to 3.11.

San Francisco relief pitching gave up no runs and collectively they struck out eight batters. Only two Atlanta at bats walked in the game. The Braves Matt Olson had three hits in the game and the Giants came away with eight hits but could not put together a single run in the contest.

Wednesday the two teams will meet in the rubber game with first pitch scheduled for 9:15 AM. San Francisco will start Justin Verlander who continues his search for his first season win. He is 0-8 and his ERA is 4.99.

The Braves plan on sending Spencer Strider to the mound with a 4-7 win/loss record and a 3.59 ERA. The Giants will be looking for a second win in a row, hopefully just the start of stringing multiple wins and working their way up in the standings.

Insomniac Lunatic Fringe Postgame 7-21-2025 Giants @ Braves

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San Francisco Giants Patrick Bailey sprints around third heading home for a three run inside the park homer in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Jul 8, 2025. The Giants since then are on a six game losing streak (AP News photo)

Insomniac Lunatic Fringe Postgame 7-21-2025 Giants @ Braves

The San Francisco Giants got off to an 8-1 start and this was going to be a 95 to 100 win team. Sam Lubman host of the Orange and Black weekend wrap Saturdays 9AM to noon on 95.7FM the Game in San Francisco. Sam said their a 85-95 win team.

Sam was so right throughout some of the Giants toughest stretches this year I got a little concerned but I always believe they would come back. That the Giants would get their act together get hot and go on a run at some point. For the most part I still believe that.

One thing I’ll say about the 2025 Giants they’re really good at toying with your emotions. I have to honest here on Monday was rock bottom. The Giants have now lost six in a row and seven in a row since Patrick Bailey’s magical walk off inside the park home run against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Stephen describes the rest of the struggles of the Giants on his podcast heard at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Insomniac Lunatic Fringe Postgame with Stephen Ruderman 7-19-2025 Giants @ Blue Jays

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre Toronto on Sat July 19, 2025 (Canadian Press via AP)

Insomniac Lunatic Fringe Postgame with Stephen Ruderman 7-19-2025 (this show was pre recorded)

Stephen last Saturday talks about the San Francisco Giants who have lost four straight games and lost on Saturday. The Giants didn’t get shutout but lost with the Blue Jays scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning with Giants pitcher Logan Webb getting the call. Eric Lauer made the start for the Blue Jays to get 13 up and 13 down.

The Giants were fouling off a lot of pitches. They were working the count but they just couldn’t get on base. Webb on the other hand was having to work in and out of trouble with runners at first and second with nobody in the bottom of the first with the Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero first pitched turned out to be a chopper to Willy Adames that turned out to be a 6-3 double play.

The Jays had a big inning with four runs scored in the bottom of the sixth inning and added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth for the final touches in their 6-3 win. The Jays would later wind up sweeping the Giants in the three game series on Sunday.

Stephen Ruderman is a San Francisco Giants beat writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Lose Opener to the Braves 9-5 Via Ugly Defense and Pitching

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The Atlanta Braves Drake Baldwin (30) slugs a first inning two RBI single against the San Francisco Giants at Truist Field in Cumberland Cobb County GA on Mon Jul 21, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Horrible pitching from Hayden Birdsong lasting only one inning started the downward slide for the San Francisco Giants (52-48) losing to the Atlanta Braves (43-55) 9-5 in game one of their three game series.

Top it off with some very sloppy defense and the Giants outfield was awful. Willy Adames is in fifth place with the most errors in the majors and San Francisco has a lot to clean up going forward.

Mistakes from Jung Hoo Lee which we don’t expect to see was just another factor. Put it all together and you have a string of losses.

Game recap: The Giants had a productive start in the top of the first inning scoring a run taking an early 1-0 lead, Matt Chapman hit an infield single and Heliot Ramos was able to cross home plate.
The San Francisco lead was short-lived in the bottom of the first inning. The Braves scored five runs taking a 5-1 lead. A huge hit for Atlanta came off the bat of Drake Baldwin who doubled driving in three runners, Ronald Acuna Jr., Jurickson Profar, Matt Olsen and just like that the score was 3-0. The Braves would score two more runs off a Nick Allen single. Ozzie Albies and Drake Baldwin both scored on the Allen hit and Atlanta had a 5-1 lead after the opening inning.

It was a disastrous start for Birdsong in the first inning. He walked the first three at bats, gave up a double followed by another walk and then hit Sean Murphy. The Braves had scored three runs off one hit.

Birdsong was relieved by Matt Gage who struck out a couple of Braves but gave up the Nick Allen single for two more runs. This was not an outing that Birdsong will want to remember any time soon and this was not the way San Francisco wanted to start this game but it was still very early with a lot of ball still to be played.

The Giants got something cooking in the second and third innings but was only able to score in the second inning. Patrick Bailey sacrificed and Wilmer Flores scored. San Francisco trailed by three runs 5-2 but it was still manageable.

In the bottom of the fourth inning the Braves had another scoring frenzy taking an 8-2 lead. Drake Baldwin who was having a great game singled Matt Olsen and Ronald Ocuna Jr home. Another run would score off an Ozzie Albies single and the Braves were really humming.

The Giants would score one run in the top of the fifth inning but more than half-way through the game they would need more while putting the skids on the offensive effort from Atlanta which had been very productive.

Willy Adames doubled Rafael Devers home for the single run. The Giants Tristin Beck took over on the mound coming away with the Giants first three and out inning in the game.

The Braves scored again in the bottom of the sixth inning when both Ronald Acuna Jr and Drake Baldwin hit doubles. The Baldwin double drove in Acuna Jr. taking a 9-3 lead.

Willy Adames hit his 15th home run of the season in the seventh inning, a solo shot and the score was 9-4 in favor of Atlanta. San Francisco already had ten hits through seven innings but it was the first inning that put them behind the eight ball. The Giants had some work to do with two innings left in the game.

The score was 9-4 going into the ninth inning. San Francisco got a run in the ninth but it was too little too late. They have now lost six games in a row. They had 12 hits in the game but ugly defense and trouble on the mound was the deciding factor in the 9-5 loss. Mental errors cost San Francisco dearly.

Game notes: After losing a series to the red-hot Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend, the San Francisco Giants (52-48) dropped the first game of the three game series on Monday night in steamy Atlanta (43-55). At first pitch the temperature was an uncomfortable 86 degrees and dry but rain is called for Tuesday, in fact eight days of rain in a row. Hopefully they will be able to work in games two and three without delays.

Birdsong didn’t pitch long relieved without retiring one batter in the first inning allowing one hit and five earned runs and walking four. For the Braves starter Bryce Elder five innings pitched, eight hits, three earned runs, and one strike out.

Tuesday the Giants will try to break the six game losing streak and come away with a win. It can’t get much worse than what was seen Monday. Landen Roupp will take the mound for the Giants with a 6-6 win/loss record and a 3.27 ERA. The Braves plan on starting Davis Daniel (0-0 ERA 1.80). First pitch for this game is scheduled for 4:15 PM PT.

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic: Talking Giants Birdsong and the other Bird the Blue Jays

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Hayden Birdsong (60) pitches against the Kansas City Royals on Tue May 20, 2025 at Oracle Park in San Francisco and will start against the Atlanta Braves Mon Jul 21, 2025 at Truist Field in Cumberland Cobb County GA (AP file photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic:

#1 Addison Barger of the Toronto Blue Jays hit a two run homer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr and George Springer slugged home runs as the Jays beat the Giants in a two run decision 8-6 last Sunday.

#2 The Giants were swept in the three game set with the Jays and the sweep for the Jays matches a franchise record for their tenth straight home win.

#3 The Giants starter Robbie Ray struggled in this one allowing five hits, five earned runs, five walks and three strike outs in 4.1 innings of work.

#4 The Giants Justin Verlander didn’t last long on Friday night he got shelled by the Jays line up with nine hits and four earned runs in 2.2 innings of work. Verlander dropped his record to 0-8. Marko do you think Verlander should move to middle relief from the starting role?

#5 Staring pitchers for Monday’s game in Atlanta for the Giants RHP Hayden Birdsong (4-3, ERA 4.11) for the Braves RHP Bryce Elder (3-6, ERA 5.65) first pitch is 4:00pm PT at Truist Field in Cobb County.

#6 The White House said they want the Washington Football Team to immediately return the name to Redskins and their is talk that the Cleveland Indians name will be ordered to return. The Braves name has been offensive for some Native American tribes do you see the Redskins and Indians returning back to their old names by order of the White House which many find offensive?

Join Marko for the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Red-Hot Blue Jays Sweep San Francisco Winning Game Three 8-6

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Toronto Blue Jays Addison Barger watches his two run home run sail in the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sun Jul 20, 2025 (Canadian Press via AP photo)

By Barbara Mason

This was another tough loss for the San Francisco Giants (52-48) getting swept by the hottest team in baseball right now the Toronto Blue Jays (58-41). The final score was 8-6. San Francisco made it close in the sixth inning pulling to within one run in the top of inning.

The Giants did have 12 hits in the game outhitting the Blue Jays who had nine. Robbie Ray had a rough outing only going 4 1/3 innings so it is back to the drawing board for the team as they continue their road trip.

Game recap: The Giants got a good start in the first inning taking a 1-0 lead. Heliot Ramos singled Jung Hoo Lee home but as we have seen all week, the Blue Jays came surging back tying up the game 1-1 off a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. solo home run.

The Blue Jays continued their surge scoring two runs in the third inning extending their lead 3-1. Bo Bichette doubled driving both Vladimir Guerrero and Ernie Clement home. There was no holding the red-hot Blue Jays down. They are on a mission right now whether it be pitching, defense or offense It is pure magic in Toronto right now.

In the fifth inning the Giants did score a run when Andrew Knizner singled Matt Chapman home. Every time the Giants challenged Toronto came roaring back and the fifth inning was no exception scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning taking a 7-2 lead.

George Springer had a solo home run, Alejandro Kirk singled Bo Bichette home and they finished off the inning with a two run home run courtesy of Addison Barger with Bichette on base.

San Francisco was behind the eight ball going into the sixth inning. The Giants had a very productive inning scoring four runs and they were right back in this ball game trailing by a single run 7-6.

Matt Chapman got the rally going with a two run home run. Brett Wisely came to the plate singling Dominic Smith home followed by a Jung Hoo Lee single driving Wisely home. Unfortunately Lee was thrown out trying to reach second base.

With this game being so very close, Toronto was looking for some insurance runs and they did get one in the bottom of the sixth inning. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled George Springer home and they had an 8-6 lead which they took into the top of the ninth inning.

The Giants were three outs away from being swept in this series. Casey Schmitt and Jung Hoo Lee both grounded out, and Heliot Ramos lined out and that was the ball game and the hottest team in the American League had won the game 8-6 and swept the San Francisco Giants in their tenth win in a row at home.

It was a most disappointing game for San Francisco pitcher Robbie Ray. He did not have his best appearance allowing five hits, five runs, five walks with three strikeouts. He only lasted four 1/3 innings and Toronto had beaten two of the Giants best pitchers in Ray and yesterday Logan Webb.

Game notes: The Giants were swept on Sunday in game three of this series. San Francisco lost game one despite having 11 hits and their offense really stalled out in game two with only four hits. They did lead in game two going into the bottom of the sixth inning but the Blue Jays took the lead in that inning and never looked back. The Jays on Sunday scored four runs in the fifth inning that helped in their two run 8-6 win over the Giants.

The Giants will continue their road trip tomorrow heading into Atlanta for a three-game series with the Braves. Hayden Birdsong will take the mound for the Giants while the Braves will start Bryce Elder. First pitch for that game is scheduled for 4:15 PM.

Verlander gets lit up in second inning still looking for first win; Blue Jays Bassitt was dealing shutout Giants 4-0

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With two out in the bottom of the third that was all for San Francisco Giant starter Justin Verlander (35) who exited the mound against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Fri Jul 18, 2025 ( Canadian Press via AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (52-46) just could not get going despite 11 hits in game one of their series with the Toronto Blue Jays (56-41) losing 4-0 Friday night at Rogers Centre. The Giants consistently left runners stranded and Justin Verlander only lasted 2 2/3 innings giving up nine hits and four runs. It was not the way they wanted to get started after the All-Star Break. They will be back at it Saturday in game two looking to even the series.

Game recap: The Blue Jays got to work early taking a 4-0 lead in the second inning. San Francisco had opportunity to do some damage with six hits in the game but Toronto with nine hits was the team cashing in.

Joey Loperfido doubled to get the game going in the second and Addison Barger scored for a 1-0 lead. Will Wagner came to the plate and he also doubled driving in base runners Alejandro Kirk and Loperfido home for a 3-0 lead.

Nathan Lukes finished off the inning with a single and Wagner scored for a 4-0 lead. It was a brief showing for San Francisco starting pitcher Verlander who did not go very far into the game. He was relieved after 2 2/3 innings allowing nine hits, four runs, two walks with zero strikeouts. He was relieved by Tristan Beck.

San Francisco got a single out of Patrick Bailey in the fifth inning but that would be all they could manage. Dominic Smith flied out and both Mike Yastrzemski and Heliot Ramos struck out to end the top of the inning.

The game went into the sixth inning with the Blue Jays still holding onto the 4-0 lead. This was an important inning for the Giants to get something going. First at bat for the Giants was Rafael Devers who doubled deep into center field.

Matt Chapman grounded out and Devers advanced to third. With Jung Hoo Lee at the plate and two outs, San Francisco needed to bring Devers home. Lee grounded out and despite eight hits in the game the Giants still had not gotten up on the scoreboard.

San Francisco got a rally going in the sevent inning with Smith and Bailey both singling with one out and that was it for Toronto pitcher Chris Bassitt. He was relieved by lefty Brendon Little. Neither team was able to score in the seventh or eighth inning and the Blue Jays took the 4-0 lead into the ninth inning. San Francisco was down to their last three outs in the ninth.

Casey Schmitt struck out, Dominic Smith struck out and Bailey made it a threesome also striking out and that was the ball game 4-0 in favor of Toronto.

Game notes: The Giants have had a a four-day stretch during the All-Star break to rest and reset going into their series with the Jays. They now look forward to the remainder of the 2025 season as they battle to climb up in the standings of the National League West.

They are currently in third place one and a half games behind the second place San Diego Padres. The Blue Jays continue to hang onto first place in the American League East three games ahead of the New York Yankees in a loaded division.

Verlander got shelled early in the game and dropped his season record to a 0-8 win/loss record looking at another loss and still searching for that first win of the season. Bassett had an outing for the Jays in the starting role pitching 6.1 innings allowing ten hits but no runs and striking out five hitters.

San Francisco had numerous scoring opportunities but came up empty despite 11 hits in the game. Verlander got the game going in the wrong direction and it was all downhill from there.

Saturday at Roger Centre the Giants will be looking to even up the series in game two. First pitch is scheduled for 12:07 PM PT. The Giants will start RHP Logan Webb (9-6, 2.94 ERA). The Blue Jays probable pitcher will be Eric Lauer with a 4-2 win/loss record and a 2.78 ERA. The break that the Giants got over this week did not seem to help and they will hopefully have an improved effort in Saturday’s game.

San Francisco Giants Podcast with Michael Villanueva: Giants are back from All-Star break

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San Francisco Giants president Buster Posey was urging fans to be patient with Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers who is seen here hitting a two run home run against his former team the Boston Red Sox on Sat Jun 21, 2025 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

#1 Michael what are your first-half grades for the Giants in pitching, hitting, defense, and coaching? Then what would you grade the team overall, and expectations for the remainder of the season?

#2 On the recent Murph & Markus podcast on KNBR, Buster Posey urged fans to ‘be patient’ with Rafael Devers as he adjusts to life in the Bay Area — What gives you faith that Devers will live up to the expectations, and what should fans reasonably expect through the second half?

#3 The Giants selected Tennessee infielder Gavin Kilen 13th overall in the Draft. Michael what about his profile excites you the most: his bat-to-ball contact, defensive flexibility, or his baseball skills? How do you see him fitting into the system in the next 2-3 years?

#4 The 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta was the first to utilize the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system in a Midsummer Classic, with four out of five challenges overturned. NL manager Dave Roberts called it ‘excellent’ for player participation. Michael what were some of your thoughts on this and some other changes and how this can change the game in the future?

#5 The San Francisco Giants return to action today, opening a series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Justin Verlander takes the mound for San Francisco, still looking for his first win of the season despite a 0-7 record and a 4.70 ERA. He’ll face Toronto’s Chris Bassitt, who is 9-4 with a 4.12 ERA. This is the first match between the two clubs this season, with the first pitch set for 4:07 PM.

Join Michael Villanueva for the Giants podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Former Giants General Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer Bill Neukom passed away today at the age of 83

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Former San Francisco Giants managing partner Bill Neukom has passed away at 83 on Thu Jul 17, 2025 (San Francisco Chronicle photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

Bill Neukom first purchased a stake in the Giants in 1995, and then took over as Managing Partner and CEO for Peter Magowan following the 2008 season. Neukom was at the helm of the Giants’ organization for just three seasons, but they were far from uneventful for such a short stint.

Neukom took over after the Giants had suffered through four-consecutive losing seasons, and made a point to invest in the players and the team on the field. In Newukom’s first season as CEO in 2009, the Giants contended and had their first winning season in five years going 88-74, and missing the playoffs by just four games.

Of course in 2010, the Giants won their first world championship since moving out west to San Francisco in 1958. It was the franchise’s first title since 1954, which ended what was the third-longest championship drought in baseball at the time.

Unfortunately, as glorious as the magic of 2010 was, 2011 was the exact opposite for Neukom. The Giants had their third straight winning season, as they went 86-76, but they were marred by injuries, which caused them to miss the playoffs.

Throughout the 2011 season, tensions arose between Neukom and other owners about how to spend the championship revenue money. Neukom wanted to invest it in technology for the players, while other owners wanted to put it towards a rainy day fund.

On Sept. 14, 2011, it was announced that Neukom would step down from the team following the end of the season with Larry Baer taking his place as CEO. The Giants would win two more titles in 2012 and 2014 under Baer’s watch, but Neukom certainly planted the seeds for the Giants’ success from their entire run from 2009 to 2016.

Prior to becoming CEO of the Giants, Neukom enjoyed a long run with Microsoft, eventually becoming their Executive Vice President. In fact, Neukom started with Microsoft at the very beginning when they had just 12 employees.

Neukom was also a lawyer, and was even the President of the American Bar Association from August 2007 to August 2008. He also co-founded the World Justice Project in 2006, which works to advance the rule of law throughout the world.