Rafael Devers and Bryce Eldridge Offer Hope for Giants Future

0:00This is Jorva! Chevy is called the heartbeat of America for a reason, and Silverado keeps its rhythm. You feel it in the Turbo Max engine with Best in Class Standard torque, and available Z71 off-road packets that keeps you rolling when the road turns rough. And the most functional truck bed with Best in Class Cargo space, they're trucks that work as hard as you do, so you can do more of what you love without missing a beat. See your Bay Area Chevy dealer today. Based on latest competitive information, it excludes other GM vehicles. All right, Andy Bagley from the Athletic is sponsored by Marin Health with top physicians, surgeons, and clinicians right here in the North Bay Marin Health puts you closest to your best health. World Class Care, closer than you think, so the Giants now 17 to go. They need to win three to avoid 100 losses, and try to just sort of avoid the ignominy of this whole run. Five straight years, no playoffs. First time in franchise history going back to 1883, shocker. So a lot to get to, but they're trying to find things along the way.

1:00And who knows, maybe they're finding something with some of these guys like Turner Hill, or Trent Harris, or Bryce Eldridge. We'll talk about it all with Andy Bagley on the Uma Guess Line. Come on, Andy, how are you, man? Hey, what's up, Beck? Good morning, good morning, guys. I hope you had a nice holiday weekend. Yeah, yeah, watching some baseball a little bit in between the college football and all that good stuff. All they win last night kind of hurt the Cardinals. Cardinals are trying to stay in the edges of the wildcard race, and that kind of was a damaging loss. Is that the, like the best thing if you're the, you know, the front office, buster and Zach and all that looking at this team, seeing how they're competing in the last 15 games, eight and seven in their last 15 and not laying down. Yeah, I thought you were going to go is the best thing to be a spoiler, to pride in being a spoiler. And I was going to say there's one guy in the front office that absolutely would disagree with you on that. That's Bruce Bochie. He hated to be called a spoiler. Just hated it because it just reminded him that his team was out of it. It's like, hey, you should take pride in competing every day, you know, not just, you know, to be a spoiler.

2:01So, but yeah, I think I think you nailed it. That's exactly what, you know, you learn how to win and you learn how to win at every level. It is a skill. It's a super soft skill, but it's the most valuable one there is, right? It's all that matters is whether you win or lose. And the chance of done a lot of it this year. All up and down their system. I mean, there are 96 games over 500 that they're four full season affiliates. And yet, at the major league level, it's been a glaring lack of showing that they can win those close games. I mean, we know what their record is in one run games. It seems like they lose one of those types of games in every series. And in a lot of them, that means they lose two out of three instead of win two out of three. You do that over and over and over and over again. You look up in September and, you know, you're you're more than 20 games under 500 and you're mathematically eliminated with, you know, three weeks to go. So, yeah, I think that's that's going to be a big thing just to see how they can compete and win some of these close games. And I think I think it's a learning experience for the coaching staff as much as the players too.

3:03And it's a whole different group. You know, you can't really make too much out of anything positive you see in the aggregate. But you look for all those flashes and those good signs and you want to feel like the team has a little bit of belief that they can win those close games because that's what the giants did in 2021. That's what they did in a lot of the world series years. They found ways to win those close games. And it's just been the opposite all year this year. So that was a nice sign yesterday. Yeah, and it turns out that Rafael Devers might end up being one of the biggest bright spots for this giant's lineups throughout the entire season. Now that of course comes after the early season struggles in the first month of the season and bags. I know that Devers doesn't talk to the media a lot, but has there been any insight recently lately of what has kind of turned around the season for Rafael Devers these last couple of months? Yeah, he's actually been a little more accessible lately, which is great to see. You know, obviously it's easier to do that when things are going well for you personally. But, but yeah, I think that he's he is looking just like he's having more fun, being more comfortable. And you know, I really do believe and I don't think that even if he asked in this question, you get an answer, but I really have to think that going back to Boston did something for him and he was going good before that, you know, he's been going good since since May.

4:17But I got to think that for a lot of folks you go back to Boston, you almost closed the loop a little bit. And when you come back to San Francisco, it's okay, that that was home. Now this is home. And I do almost feel like maybe that's made a little bit of a difference. But the biggest thing is that, you know, he's just dialed in with a swing. He's not in in patterns like he was early in the season where pictures can exploit him. He's not missing pitches. He's hit a bull. He's doing damage. Obviously 35 doubles now to go with the 35 homers or 36 double to get to yesterday. That's the first giant to do it since Jeff Kent in 2002. And 40 is not out of the question. 100 RBIs is obviously in play. A lot of things that, you know, no, Giants done in a long time. And you know, if you asked me two weeks ago, three weeks ago, if the Giants were going to lose 100, I was going to say, yeah, they probably will just because of what the rolling out there. And I just did not think that this team was going to score a lot of runs and obviously we know they've been challenged in terms of run prevention all year.

5:18But this offense has been pretty functional and Rockville Devers is obviously playing the biggest part in that with Bryce Eldridge as well. And so, you know, you can probably think Devers if this team wins, you know, now it seems like they really have to go bad to lose 100. They'll have to win three more. So you could probably think Devers for that. Because I think he's been the main reason that they've been as competitive as they've been over the last few and a couple of weeks. Chevy is called the heartbeat of America for a reason. And Silverado keeps its rhythm. You feel it in the Turbo Max engine with Best in Class Standard torque. And available Z71 off road package that keeps you rolling when the road turns rough. And the most functional truck bed with Best in Class Cargo space. They're trucks that work as hard as you do. So you can do more of what you love without missing update. See your Bay Area Chevy dealer today based on latest competitive information excludes other GM vehicles. Yeah, interesting stuff. And the bagelies voice you hear from the athletic. Listen to Cambier Ammon Cambier FM San Francisco, these sports leader are chemilist media stations. So Rafi Rafi Rafi and Bryce is so great.

6:22I'm just looking at this bullpen and you know, like you said in your last answer run prevention has been a struggle all year understatement of the century there. It's been terrible. And again, Sunday in New York, Carson Seymour comes in. Kaboom, Kaboom, two home runs and they lose a game last night. Logan Webb leaves the game with a three nothing lead. Boom, boom, boom. It's a three three game. And it's just on and on it on it on it on this has happened. So I guess I'm getting to the point now as much as I like to Dylan Smith a while ago. I'm starting to see the flaws in his game as much as I like Trent Harris. I know that yesterday he can't get I'm almost wondering, do they have anybody in this bullpen that they want to bring back? I mean, it is that bad Andy. I can't really see too much positive out there. Well, you know, one thing that that happens when you're stretched in like this, you don't have very many people you can trust. It means you overextend the guys that you do feel you have a little bit of trust in and you know Dylan Smith's numbers in the aggregate have been pretty good. I mean, he's been about 20% better than the average major league reliever. And I think that gets lost a little bit because he's been walked off four times on the road and obviously he's had some blown leads.

7:31You know, the game last night they push him for a second inning and I think they don't do that if they have other people in that bullpen they really trust. But you know, they're trying to basically put people out there that they feel they they have the most trust in and and it means that they're going to overextend some people and maybe he did get overextended a little by putting him out there for a second inning. And yet that said, you know, the tying run scores after two really, really hard luck in field hits start the inning. So yeah, you know, I think Smith is somebody that you could see coming back next year and maybe he's in a more managed role. You know, like look at 2021 they didn't ask Dom Lee own to get six out saves, you know, they didn't ask John Brevy to come in and get you know to two plus innings. You know, they had a the next guy they could turn to you know, you didn't have Sergio Romo faced the left because you had you know, have you Lopez back in him up, you know, and that's what a really good bullpen is. It's where you always feel like you've got good options. You don't have to overextend anyone. You don't have to pitch someone a third day in a row and then they you end up, you know, paying the price for that later on.

8:38So that that to me is what a good bullpen is all about and that's been a struggle for them. You just have to have a lot of people you trust. And it is going to be real difficult for them because I think they have some relievers that they believe can be part of the next good bullpen, you know, whether it's fully amused or 98 yesterday or Smith or you know some of these other guys maybe you know see more we haven't really seen them as a short reliever a whole lot. He's still learning as he goes, but the home run ball has been a big issue for him and that's that's not what you want out of a reliever. You know, I think of the best relievers that the giants have had and they just don't give up homeers. I hear me. I felt would give up one a year. So I think that's where they have to kind of work backwards and and maybe they go out and they invest in, you know, some some real sort of studs on the free agent market. And I'm thinking like an Adrian Moore Hall or you know, obviously you got it. Well, I think David bednars of free agent from that wrong. And that's probably where they have to start and as much as you we know the giants have not really had a lot of success signing big name, you know, relievers, you know, you got our mandova.

9:42You just you got Mark well, and you almost need to work backwards and then and then you know sort of backfill from there. They just need more people they can trust, especially in the lead in a few more minutes here with Andrew Bagley on the home of guests on this morning and bags. I was at the game last night saw the walkoff win and I swear unless my eyes were deceiving me, I thought I saw Marcelo Meyer on the field celebrating after the walkoff bags. Can you confirm or deny whether or not Marcelo Meyer is currently with the team and are there any updates on his potential status making his big league debut with the giants or should I say shines debut. Yeah, he's been around the team and there's still hope he's going to play this year, but it's definitely looking more like a coin flip. I mean, they don't want to they don't want to push him just to say he played a game as a giant. I'm sure everyone would like that. And you're right, he's I think he's somebody that they feel could start, you know, 100 plus maybe even more games next year and and maybe give them some options elsewhere. And we know they're going to want to invest as much as they can in hitting this off season. And that means probably not doing a whole lot to the position player group.

10:48And yet, after trading Elliott Ramos, you know, they really need a right handed bat in the outfield. And whether that right handed bat becomes Casey Schmidt, you know, whether it becomes and maybe they could think about Victor Barracotto and a role like that, but I think they would like to have seen more of him this year and obviously the injuries have kept that from happening. You know, at some point, maybe it's really a Thomas and I know that that's a tough one and you probably need to get him to be more playable at shortstop next year because the contract is what it is. And until one of these prospects like Keelan or or you know, some of the kids in the system can come up and play short, maybe Adamus is still the guy, but I think that transition's going to happen eventually. But if you have a Meyer who can play on the infield, maybe that allows you some flexibility to move other guys around. So I'm sure they'd love to get a look at him, but they have to do what they feel is right by him physically. And if he's not ready or. You know, he doesn't have his timing at the plate. You're just going to send them up there to strike out a bunch, you know, because he's not really ready. Then, you know, it doesn't really serve a purpose to have him out there. So, but yeah, I get it. I mean, everyone's excited about, you know, this is a guy who has one of the top prospects in baseball.

11:55He's been a barely a year ago and any kind of fell in the giant's lap and they really want to find out what they have. You really want to find out what what they have and you know, we may just need to be a little bit patient on that. This is Dora. Chevy is called the heartbeat of America for a reason and Silverado keeps its rhythm. You feel it in the turbo max engine with best in class standard torque and available Z71 off road package that keeps you rolling when the road turns rough and the most functional truck bed with best in class cargo space. They're trucks that work as hard as you do. So you can do more of what you love without missing update. See your Bay Area Chevy, either today based on latest competitive information excludes other GM vehicles. Yeah, that's all on point. It is frustrating and that's what Red Sox fans said about them too. So we'll have to track that last one is sort of probably a question we're going to be asking you all off season two. If we ever get baseball next year and those are these kids coming up, you mentioned Gavin Keel and two that are in my mind or Jackson, Flora made his debut. He threw an inning, struck out to I don't know if you heard anything about that. And then the other one would be.

12:58How realistic it is the fast track for Joe Swargan's all is like, how much of a rocket ship is this guy on? So those two guys, what have you heard about Flora and Joe Swargan's all is. Oh gosh, I mean, they're just the ceiling is very, very high for both those guys. And you know, when you think about a talent like Joshua Gonzalez, who's competing as well as he is, you know, number one, you got to keep him on the field. He has had some bumps and bruises here early in his career, you know, little hamstring things and stuff like that. So keep him healthy, keep him on the field. But, you know, I think that we live in a in a time now where if someone shows that they've got the tools to succeed at the next level, you don't wait, you promote them. And, you know, someone like Devers was in the big leagues when he was like 1920, you know, eldritch obviously they didn't wait too long to bring him up and he's, you know, 21. And you think about some of the guys who are just real superstar talents in this game, whether it's a Rural Akuni junior or a Bryce Harper, I mean, if you have that level of talent, you know, they don't waste that in the minor leagues.

14:06They bring you up and you're 19 year in the big leagues and it's been a while since the giants have had a player like that and really Madison Bungar and maybe it's the last guy I can think of who was super, super young in the big leagues and obviously that turned out OK. So yeah, I do think there's a possibility that he could be in the big leagues next year, but it would mean that everything would have to go right. And you never want to pin your hopes on that, you know, it's, you kind of hope that that's the best case scenario and the kid keeps showing that he's ready for the next challenge, but, you know, this has been, I think a farm system that where they've wanted to make sure that they move deliberately with guys and not challenge them before they're ready and make sure that they give everyone a soft landing spot. And, you know, you can't argue with what the results have been on the minor league level this year. I mean, they've really, they've got a lot of interesting. Even a lot of guys in the system, we don't talk about, you know, that that are at Eugene or guys who were, you know, fifth, sixth round draft picks the last couple of years have performed well.

15:07So yeah, I think that there's a lot to be excited about, but, you know, obviously you can't wave a magic wand and plug them into moral. Right. They are certainly catching a lot of buzz and for a team that's out of it, you look towards things like that. All right, Andy will continue to read you in the athletic. Thanks for hopping on. Yeah, thanks, Max. Thanks guys. Have a good week. Pre-do it. Andy Bagley of the athletic covering this team, trying to find a few things that you brought up something that's a source subject for me, man, Marcelo Meyer. Yeah, that's a source subject for me. Last last last night at the game, I was like, wait a second. Is that Marcelo Meyer out there celebrating? Yeah, I mean, he'd be doing his Sacramento rehab and everything's it. And then boom, he heard his foot and then like, like these injuries, they're like, they're like, yeah, he's probably not going to be back this year. I'm like, what, how bad is it? I mean, you know, I get come from the NFL culture where these guys are out there playing, you know, and this is the knock on this guy. And, you know, I was hopeful, but right now it's not a good first impression that he's just on the shelf. Yeah, it sucks that we're dealing with injury concerns. Two separate injuries since being traded over from the boss of Red Sox, but yeah, I was a little confused. Last night, I was like, all right, if he's what the team, he should be back soon. If he's not wise, not in Sacramento, I know, man.

16:11So that's frustrating. That one makes me grind a little bit, but he did have a smile on his face throwing some some water in the celebration. Kid, we want to watch you play baseball. All right, buddy. All right, 49er football Trent Williams on Aaron Donald and Miles Garrett. We got Rahim Morris on Nick Bosa. Oh, yeah, Niners Rams Thursday on these sports later. Chevy is called the heartbeat of America for a reason and Silverado keeps its rhythm. You feel it in the Turbo Max engine with best in class standard torque and available Z71 off road packets that keeps you rolling when the road turns rough. And the most functional truck bed with best in class cargo space. They're trucks that work as hard as you do. So you can do more of what you love without missing update. See your Bay Area Chevy dealer today based on latest competitive information. Excludes other GM vehicles.