Every year in the MLB, teams are put into categories based on their expected season outcomes, between the teams destined for success, the teams who are up-and-coming, and the teams who won’t have their best season. Entering the 2020 season, the San Francisco Giants took on a new category, as a growing team. With a new coaching staff, a roster full of new and old players, and an opportunity to reinvent themselves, the San Francisco Giants entered into their very own league this season.
In the 12 years Bruce Bochy acted as head coach for the San Francisco Giants, he led the team to numerous victories, including World Series Titles in 2010, 2012, and 2014. He was a large part of the Giants’ success and an important member of the family. After these successful seasons, the San Francisco Giants faced many bumpy years, but ultimately have not achieved a title since 2014. Following the announcement of his retirement at the end of the 2019 season, many members of the Giants community faced much confusion and uncertainty regarding the seasons to follow. As a staple of the Giants’ team for many years, Bruce Bochy would be greatly missed, as many fans were attached to him. The uncertainty sprouted from the idea of newness, as they now did not know who was going to lead them. After many months of speculation, the naming of new head coach, Gabe Kapler, was announced in November of 2019.
Gabe Kapler, former Detriot Tiger and Head Coach of the Philadelphia Phillies, came to the Giants in this time of uncertainty with a new vision to bring the Giants back to their once successful selves. Along with Kapler came Kai Correa, former minor league defensive coordinator for Cleveland, Justin Viele and Donnie Ecker, hitting coaches from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Andrew Bailey, a closer from A’s, and most notable, Alyssa Nakken, a former Giants intern and first base player for the Women’s Softball team at Sacramento State University.
Along with the changes to the staff, the roster for the Giants has been modified significantly, as Kapler brought back notable Giants player Hunter Pence, and brought up many new faces and talents. One of these new talents, Tyler Heineman, became a new well-known player after previous starting catcher Buster Posey decided to sit this season out due to his concern for his and his family’s health. Another new face came in the role of pitcher, as Kapler brought up Tyler Rodgers, a right handed pitcher with a noteworthy pitching style; Submarining. Kapler also brought back many old faces, such as Austin Slater, Brandon Crawford, Evan Longoria, Johnny Cueto, Pablo Sandoval, Mike Yastrezmki, and many other members of the 2019 roster entered the 2020 season swinging alongside their new teammates.
With a new coaching staff and a new team, the San Francisco Giants were given the opportunity not many teams are given; the opportunity to transform into a new team with specific values, an unbreakable bond, and history making actions. This history making began even before the 2020 season started, as new coach Alyssa Nakken was officially named the first woman coach in Major League Baseball in January of 2020. It continued on during Opening Day as many members of the coaching staff and players were seen kneeling during the national anthem in support of the current civil injustices occurring in America. Many MLB teams have great relationships and bonds between players, with the San Francisco Giants not being an exception. This team has also always been known to have incredible player relationships, with many common gestures of celebration and support, such as ‘Buster Hugs’. This bond seems to have continued on to their new beginning, as ‘Elbow Taps’ are the new form of Buster Hugs.
Although only less than halfway into the season with a record of 9-16, the San Francisco Giants are doing better than expected this year. With the knowledge it takes more than one season to learn how to be cohesive with a new team and coaching staff, the Giants have hit their doubters out of the park, as their team remains to be fighters and smiling after each game. This year is the first of a new era, the Kapler era, one which holds lots of uncertainty and promise all at the same time. The Giants can not be expected to have a winning season just yet, but given this year is so new, the team and staff still have so much growing to do.
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