On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' disappointing season-ending series loss to the San Diego Padres. The Giants ended up missing the postseason by one game, and it's easy to point to a number of games they should have won throughout the year. That lists includes the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Padres, in which Sam Coonrod blew a two-run seventh-inning lead (the final inning), issuing a walk-off three-run home run to Trent Grisham at Oracle Park. The Padres were able to walk the Giants off the field because it was a makeup game from one that was postponed where the Padres were the home team. It was among the most crushing losses in recent Giants history. If the Giants had been able to win that game, they would have been in the postseason and faced the Dodgers in the first round of the playoffs.
Despite the bitter disappointment, the Giants' 2020 season was ultimately a success. Their offense came alive and became one of the best in all of baseball. They finished the year eighth in runs scored, after being one of the worst offensive teams in MLB for the past several seasons. Much of the credit goes to the new coaching staff, who prepared hitters in an entirely new fashion. Credit also goes to Farhan Zaidi and Scott Harris for assembling this group, and signing players like Wilmer Flores, Darin Ruf, Kevin Gausman, and Drew Smyly in the offseason, all of whom had great seasons. Several Giants veterans, like Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford, also had strong rebound seasons. The bullpen was shaky at times and it cost the Giants several games. First-year manager Gabe Kapler was a net positive, making some questionable bullpen decisions but ultimately making lots of good ones, and being one of the best managers of an offense in the sport.
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