The San Francisco Giants deserve a seat at the table of modern sports dynasties. In the age of the salary cap and luxury tax there are not many franchises, in any sport, capable of winning three championships in five years. Maybe it is the way they work or maybe it is the declining interest in baseball; but whatever the reason, the sports world is sleeping on the Giants’ accomplishment.
The San Francisco Giants Dynasty
It is a shame. Major League Baseball should not be embarrassed by being crushed in the ratings by the NFL leviathan, or its lack of NBA megastar power. MLB should celebrate the virtues of the game that the Giants espouse. Before the steroid era swooned a fatuous, fleeting national audience; winning baseball, on all levels, was executed by an unglamorous attention to detail – pitch by pitch.
The Giants are an exemplary organization on all counts. Their majority owner, practically invisible, is a billionaire named Charles Johnson. He has stepped back and allowed minority owner Larry Baer to oversee baseball operations. After their 2012 championship Baer wisely extended the contracts of General Manager Brian Sabean and Manager Bruce Bochy. Baer said at the time in a feature for MLB.com:
“The glory days of the franchise are now,” Baer said. “It’s important to acknowledge that and pay tribute to the people who have done it from the general manager’s office and the manager’s office to get us to where we are now. It’s hard to measure — when you take the entire longevity of the franchise, 131 years — you probably haven’t had a better stretch, no matter how you want to measure it, the last three or four years.”
Little would he know. In the same article Sabean commented on his relationship with Bochy and the cement that forms the foundation for the Giants’ success:
“A lot of continuity, I think that’s what defines this organization,” Sabean said, “Whether it’s my relationship with Boch or in the front office or with ownership. It was a unique type of contract for both of us and I really appreciate the diligence, because they did some things that they didn’t have to do.”
All baseball dynasties in the modern-modern era have forged their legacy with the personalities of managers and players. The Oakland A’s of the 70s were led by the mercurial and brilliant Dick Williams, who resigned before their 1974 championship. Their colorful roster carried on. (Sort of like the Dallas Cowboys after Jimmy Johnson.) The 75-76 Reds were led by the homespun wisdom of Sparky Anderson, the brashness of Johnny Bench, and the steely ferocity of Joe Morgan. The 77-78 Bronx Zoo needs no explanation. The Joe Torre Yankees were a nice counterweight to George Steinbrenner.
The Bochy Giants are a real fun group in their own right. The magical brilliance of 25-year old Madison Bumgarner is history; but it took Bochy to deploy the nuclear option and pitch him in Game 7. Pablo Sandoval is flat-out amusing, and brilliant in the post-season. Buster Posey is humble and steady. And Hunter Pence is the spaz to keep it all loose. Although he struggled at the plate, Brandon Crawford provided the brilliance at shortstop so necessary for a title. Rookie Joe Panik, did anything but as he made the play of the series.
Bruce Bochy summed up the majesty of the Giants’ accomplishments over the past five years with the humility and respect that is so representative of his team:
“You know, I’m numb, really through all of this. You’re so blessed or fortunate to get in the World Series and to get one, it just doesn’t happen that often. To look at this and see that we won three times, I mean, I’m amazed with what these guys did and the fact that we have won three times in five years. It’s not that easy. But when you have a group of warriors like we have, I mean, they continue to just amaze you. They were relentless.”
The formula is on paper for the rest of Major League Baseball. Ownership stays out of baseball operations, and exercises prudent fiscal responsibility. The franchise hires a general manager that can instill a philosophy that acquires and develops young talent. The GM hires a coach that he trusts will implement that philosophy and work with the lower tiers of the organization. Finally, management mixes homegrown talent with shrewd free-agent acquisitions.
Here’s to the Giants – baseball royalty. The baseball community should not sleep on their accomplishment. The Giants did not go cheap in 2014 with a $149,089,475 payroll; but six teams went down spending more money with their archrival Dodgers on top spending $229,335,934. Baseball fans should celebrate. The game has adjusted to financial and steroid inflation. The Giants are a solid representative of the game in the 21st Century. And good luck to any franchise in any of the four major American sports to achieve the same results any time soon.
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