The San Francisco Giants NL West division race didn’t start with any realistic hope of taking the crown for themselves. It was in 2021 when their fiery competition with the Los Angeles Dodgers was a neck-to-neck dogfight that lasted through October. It saw the Giants taking the title with a win over the San Diego Padres in which starting pitcher Logan Webb hit a home run.
But they lost the NLDS in five games to the Dodgers. Any chance for redemption did not come once in 2022. After that season, it seemed that the Giants chance to shine was past and that they had faded back into their usual subservience to the Dodgers in the NL West.
What it Would Take to Win a Division Title
Revisiting the Giants Meager Offseason
Last offseason, the Giants seemed ready to bolster their roster with top-level free agents. But their futile attempts to sign Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa, and others were to no avail. Still, their quantitative talent level seemed solid enough to keep them in Wild Card contention. When the 2023 season got underway, things did not look at all hopeful. There certainly was no reason to think they would come close to standing up to the Dodgers. If they ended up clinching a Wild Card spot, it would be by a hair.
The Gap is Contracting
The Giants worked hard to end their losing record. But every time they got close to tying it, they would fall back again, sometimes because of a shaky bullpen, although that wasn’t the only major issue. At last, their efforts paid off. They started winning games and pushed ahead. As of Friday, they were on a five-game winning streak after a marathon win against the Dodgers in 11 innings. What does this mean? The first impression of every win being a contribution to the Wild Card tank is certainly accurate. But do we stop there?
Look at the standings. In particular, look at the Giants and Dodgers records, respectively. They are, believe it or not, comparable. The Giant’s record looks much better than it did in the last few months. And the Dodgers record looks a little normal for what we’re used to. An idea that would have been unheard of two months ago is starting to look like it might not be the craziest thing in the world. The Giants may be able to overtake the Dodgers if they can keep up their intensity for a little bit longer. The race for the division title might be a contest rather than a massacre.
Right now, the Arizona Diamondbacks hold first place. And yet even they may find themselves fighting for dear life against the Giants. The exciting possibility of a Giants division title is very real. It will just take time to climb the ladder.
Conclusion
It’s remarkable how quickly things have turned around for the Giants. Before, it was a battle for survival. Now, it’s a battle for mastery of the NL West. While this year won’t be the 107-win season of 2021, it may still reflect some leftover greatness. If the Giants get to the postseason, even as a Wild Card team, fans should know the routine well enough now. All San Francisco has to do need to win 11 more games.
Photo Credit: © Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
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