The Torture Cast

In a truly stunning, out-of-left-field event, the Giants traded for slugger Rafael Devers. It really did come out of nowhere, but it's genesis was the discontent that was brewing in Boston after Devers was not being treated like a franchise player, being promised third base, only to have Alex Bregman usurp it. The Giants gave up relatively little as a price for securing Devers for the next 8 1/2 years. This was not a rental, and often 2 month rentals end up costing teams a LOT more than what the Giants gave up. All told, the Giants traded away Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, and two prospects. Even the AAV for Devers is under what the market would bear now and certainly what it will bear in several years. Devers is in the prime of his career at age 28. Buster Posey made this happen, and he is the man right now. Eric, Willie, and Chad discuss this blockbuster and can't find a comp to it in recent Giants history. We are all excited, but if the Giants would just actually perform on the field. After briefly tying the Dodgers for first place in the NL West over the weekend, they have lost 4 in a row and 5 of 6 overall. Let's hope they snap out of it with the help of their new shiny star.@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecasttorturecast.com

It's in the title. The Giants are on a 7-game winning streak, bookended with our recording of 315 during game 1 of the streak and tonight's recording of 316 during the 7th game of the streak. They're just 1/2 game back of LA and if they complete the sweep of the Rockies tomorrow, the Giants will go into Chavez Ravine tied for first. This incredible streak started with six consecutive one-run wins and eight consecutive one-run games overall, both franchise records. They haven't lost since Buster Posey shook up the roster, DFA'ing LaMonte Wade Jr. and calling in some journeymen. Although the new guys haven't contributed much statistically speaking, something has happened to their ability to come back and hold on to tight games, get knocks in clutch situations in between droughts of hits. Some may call it a lucky streak, but it also shows the strength of the pitching staff and their resolve. Either way, wins are wins, and the Giants are hot. Let's hope it continues. Oh, and the pope was seen today wearing a White Sox hat, so that was cool.www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

It must have been somewhat depressing or bittersweet for Buster Posey to make the decision to DFA LaMonte Wade Jr., a consistent player in this lineup that suited up with Posey for the 2021 season when they both performed well and won the NL West as teammates. Yet, it was a move they had to make. The Giants ranked last or near last in all offensive categories at first base. It also serves as a wake-up call for other players that are underperforming this year. The Giants also DFA catcher Sam Huff, which is a little puzzling considering he was the NL Pitcher of the Month's (Robbie Ray) main backstop and brought up two journeymen from Sacramento and signed another free agent journeyman. The Giants were in an incredible streak of 16 games of scoring 4 runs or less, averaging only 2 during that streak, yet their team ERA was an unbelievable 1.77, making them a competitive 7-9. The moves worked, at least for game one, as the Giants roared back from a 5-0 deficit to clip the Padres 6-5 after two heart-wrenching extra-inning losses to their southern rivals. Eric and Chad break it down and even bring in some baseball superstitions that the Giants may want to consider going forward.www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

We are one-third of the way through the season, and it's episode 314. So, pi. Anyhoo...we are beginning to fear that the Giants are whom they've been the last few years, aside from the outlier of the 8-1 start. Since then, they've been mediocre. They're bullpen is the best in baseball, by a lot, but starting has been middle of the pack (aside from Ray and Webb), and their biggest problem is their anemic offense. Only five Giants are hitting above .250, and the rest of the team is below .225. They are in the lower quarter in most offensive stats. The spunk they showed with comeback wins earlier in the year seems to have vacated the bench. The Giants have re-settled on Doval as their closer, Birdsong is in for Hicks, and Harrison is temporarily in for Verlander as he nurses his right pec. Posey said they will mix in more at first base to help the struggling Wade, but Bailey IS their catcher, and Adames is "a dude," so don't expect any changes there.www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

After an impressive 8-1 start to the season, the Giants have come back to Earth, going 17-18 since and have lost 5 of their last 6. That said, they are only 4 games out of first and hold the final wild card spot, the path that seems most likely for their entry into the postseason. They lost 4 of those 5 games by just one run, and the other by two. They are not getting crushed...just missing. One of the reasons is Jordan Hicks, who has compiled a 6.55 ERA this year and a .293 batting avg against. It's not just this year...over his last 9 starts last year, he had a 6.44 ERA and his BAA was over .300. We think those 18 starts is a sufficient sample size, and maybe his time as a starter should end. Options? Birdsong first, Harrison next. We also critique LaMonte Wade, Jr. and his anemic offensive stats and hitting metrics. He's just cold. And his defense ain't cutting it, unlike Patrick Bailey's. We chat about how to potentially solve these issues, and Eric has some important and heartfelt words at the end of the episode, so don't miss that.www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

The Giants have gone 14-13 since their 8-1 explosive start. That doesn't sound amazing, but it's still good for the 4th best record in all of baseball. Unfortunately, the NL West has the two best teams in baseball with the Dodgers having won 8 of 9 games and the Padres have won 6 in a row. That said, the Giants are in the best shape at this point in the season since 2021. But...there are concerns. Many hitters are at or below .200. Their offense is average at best, and their starters are also around the average mark. So, why are they "overperforming?" Some of it has to do with their torrid start, but defense and other metrics creep in to alter a few losses to wins. Their expected W/L is only off by one. However, this could catch up in time. Chad and Willie discuss this and review the first quarter of the season and grade all facets of the Giants' game. We also go off on a tangent about Buster Posey's chances for the Hall of Fame in 2027...mostly inspired by Chad's recent visit to Cooperstown.www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

So, the title of this episode is not lying. As of the evening of April 6, the Giants do indeed have the best record in baseball. No matter that it's only been nine games. Hey, it's one of the best starts in franchise history, with most great starts ending in the postseason, so there may be something to glean from that. Clearly, this team is exceeding our expectations, even after a great spring. There is an energy about this club. There is a feeling amongst the fans. Something may be different this year. Is it the new guys? Is it Bustermonium? Who knows, but the fellas are gellin' with a 8-1 record, two walk-offs during the home opening series, and they are in first place. Might this come crashing down on their next road trip through Yankee Stadium, Philly, and Anaheim? Maybe, but let's enjoy great baseball while we can, and Willie, Eric, and Chad have a great time just being giddy about this team. Oh, and don't forget to check out Chad's Oracle Park food review on YouTube!www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

The gang gets back together to preview the San Francisco Giants' 2025 season. We break down the roster and speculate on the remaining spots and share our season predictions, including wins, playoff hopes, team leaders, and more. Plus, we had a great response on social media in responding to our question to YOU, how many wins? As promised, we read all of your responses. Let's just say that the hopes are high among Giants fans, I mean they did win the "Cactus League Championship." The last time they did that?...2010...just sayin'. We're back, baby, and so is Giants baseball with the season opener in Cincinnati on Thursday afternoon. www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

Chad and Willie "Dills" talk about the impact that newly signed Giants' shortstop, Willy Adames will have on this team. The left side of the infield is pretty strong right now and the outfield is set. Second and first may have a little work, but we have assumed starters there and at catcher. Most of the discussion revolves around starting pitching and the DH. After Snell signed with the Dodgers, it's apparent that the Dodgers are probably already better on paper than they were last year when they won the whole thing. The Giants really are relegated to shooting for the wild card at this point, but that's all it takes. Brandon Crawford officially called it a career and we reflect for a few minutes on his contributions to the franchise and imagine all of the upcoming Wall of Fame and statue ceremonies.www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

Buster Posey and the Giants hired a general manager! Zack Minasian (his brother is also the GM of the Angles, btw) has spent six years with the Giants and prior to that, was with the Brewers organization for 15 years. He grew up in the Rangers' clubhouse, as his dad was a clubhouse attendant. In his teens, Zack realized that he wasn't going to make it as baseball player and set his sights on the front office. Well, he's arrived. Randy Winn was also named VP of player development. We'll see if positions come up for JT Snow and Rich Aurilia. Patrick Bailey and Matt Chapman won Gold Gloves. It's Bailey's first, Chapman's fifth, and it's the first time the Giants have had two or more Gold Glove winners since Crawford, Panik, and Posey in 2016. Notice how we didn't mention the Dodgers? Wait, what?www.torturecast.com@torturecast

Look. Many Giants and fans of other franchises did not want to see Dodgers and Yankees. Chad certainly doesn't. He's rooting for a cancelation of the World Series. But, even though Eric and Willie would never want the Dodgers to win, they are intrigued by the superstar spectacle that this is. It's a far cry from last year's small market, wild card World Series between Arizona and Texas. In their 12th meeting in the World Series (5 ahead of the Yankees and Giants), and their first Fall Classic together since 1981, the Yankees and Dodgers square off in a Fox wet dream. Between the US and Japan viewership, this could be the most watched World Series in a decade or more. The boys make their picks, lament about Bay Area sports in general, and wrap it up with a little Giants' news (3 Gold Glove finalists!). We'll be back to review the World Series and get into the hot stove season with Buster Posey commanding the ship.www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

The "Fire Farhan" brigade got their wish, but his replacement was a bit of a surprise. Buster Posey was named President of Baseball Operations of the San Francisco Giants. It's not often that a franchise icon gets a chance to run their team, but if anyone can succeed, it's Buster Posey. He was introduced Tuesday at Oracle Park and he promised to please the fans and players and get back to what San Francisco Giants' baseball is all about. This man appears to care deeply about this team, and is somewhat putting his reputation on the line. A few call this move desparate, but it seems that most Giants fans are 100% behind this move. I mean, could it be worse than Farhan? One playoff appearance and one winning record in 6 years suggests not. Farhan's time ran out. Maybe he was given too much rope as it is. Chad and Eric talk about this monumental decision in Giants history and the potential good and bad ramifications it could have on the franchise (we think mostly good!). www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

Be honest, you don't really care about the Bay Bridge Series, but now that it's gone, you pine for it. The Giants made their last visit to the Oakland Coliseum over the weekend for the final Bay Bridge Series, splitting the two games with their soon-not-to-be cross-bay rivals. Next year, the Giants will travel to their OWN AAA ballpark to play the A's...wtf? Chad is joined by special guest Ryan Leong (@ryanleong) from Bay Area Sports Wrap to discuss his 25+ years of covering pro Bay Area sports and of course, Giants baseball. We take a historical look into the Giants' franchise and how the near-move in 1993 compares with the A's move today. We also chat about his Starter jacket collection, favorite memories at the Coliseum, Blake Snell, Logan Webb, Matt Chapman, the Giants' playoff chances (now officially on life support), and frankly, criticize both Melvin and Zaidi. Ok, we are two grumpy 50-year old men shaking our fists at the Giant clouds in the sky.@torturecast (Twitter and Instagram)facebook.com/torturecasttorturecast.com

The Giants have been slowly creeping up in the standings and suddenly find themselves 2 games above .500 and only 1.5 games back of the wild card with 42 to play. We discuss their playoff chances, their recent trades, the demotion of Doval, Snell's resurgence and no-hitter, the all-important 4-game series with the Braves this week and much, much more. www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecasttwitter.com/torturecast

Well, they are. At the All Star break, the Giants stand at 3 games under .500, and while they are only 3 games back of the final wildcard spot, they have 5 teams ahead of them. That's a tough assignment. Should they sell, buy, or stand pat? Eric and Chad discuss the Giants prospects of making the playoffs with 67 games remaining. We also had an All-Star game, where the two Giants didn't do so well in another NL loss. And...we talk about the MLB draft with the Giants going outfield heavy in the early rounds.www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

Willie Mays, a legendary figure in baseball history, forged an incomparable legacy throughout his illustrious career. Born in 1931, Mays made his Major League Baseball debut with the New York Giants in 1951, quickly capturing attention with his exceptional athleticism and prowess both at bat and in the outfield. Known for his remarkable catches and powerful hitting, Mays became a symbol of excellence and determination on the field. His tenure with the Giants, which continued when they moved to San Francisco in 1958, solidified his status as an icon for both the franchise and its fans. Mays' impact transcended statistics; he embodied the spirit of the game, inspiring generations with his charisma, sportsmanship, and unwavering dedication. His contributions to the Giants' success and his influence on the sport as a whole remain unparalleled, making Willie Mays a revered figure in baseball and a beloved hero to Giants fans everywhere. Chad, Eric, and Willie reflect upon Mays' life and career after his passing earlier this week. Mays' was Eric and Willie's favorite Giant, and Eric wouldn't even be a fan of the Giants if it weren't for Willie Mays. Willie Dills' always wears 24 and heck, his NAME is Willie. It's not sad, but it is somber that Mays passed away two days before the game at Rickwood Field was to honor him. We spend the majority of this episode talking about his career and impact on our lives, review the experience and game at Rickwood Field, then wrap up with where the Giants stand at almost the halfway point in the season.Willie Dills also recorded a few minutes of audio while standing at Mays' statue at Oracle Park the day after his passing. That audio can be found separately or at the end of this podcast.www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

Our own Willie Dills went down to Oracle Park and the Willie Mays statue on the day after Mays' death and shared a few thoughts while standing in front of the "Say Hey Kid." RIP to the GOAT. We'll miss you.

The Giants had a good two weeks going, winning 10 of 12 games and getting 2 games north of .500. Until they faced the Yankees. Aaron Judge went off at Oracle, something Giants fans dreamt of a couple of years ago. Except, he did it in Yankee road grey going 6-10 with 3 bombs and even 2 stolen bases. It didn't help that Camilo Doval blew a 2 run lead in the 9th to complete the Yankee sweep. We look into some of Doval's metrics, and let's just say his barrel and hard hit percentage are near the bottom of the league, where it's traditionally near the top. Perhaps his stuff isn't moving as much, because the velocity is there. After recording, the Giants went out and lost another heartbreaker to Arizona in walk-off fashion. They have lost 5 in a row and are 3 games below water. Not great, but still within 1.5 games of the wild card. Chad, Eric, and Willie are actually pretty positive about this team. They ran into the Yankee buzzsaw, but also took 2 of 3 from the best team in the NL, so there's that. Still, it's going to be an uphill climb with the piling injuries (Lee out for the year, Wade out for 4 weeks, etc.) and young guys trying to find their place. www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

Ok. Full transparency. I started the podcast by opening with a clip of Russel Crowe bellowing, "Are you not entertained?!" to honor our 300th episode. I forgot that clip is not from the movie "300." It's Gladiator. Eric, Willie, and I talk about the milestone that is our 300th episode, how the podcast got started, and a few interesting podcasting stats. Then we came to visit the hospital that is the current SF Giants clubhouse. Lee, Soler, Conforto, Winn, Slater, Ahmed, Murphy...all injured. There are 7 players on the current roster that were playing for Sacramento less than two weeks ago. And they have to compete with the All Star Dodgers? But hey, they just signed Curt Casali and an outfielder from the Mexican league! This team is certainly not performing the way we expected, and things could get much worse with all of these injuries. The good news is they are only 2.5 games out of the third wild card spot. On to the next 100 episodes!www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

Well, that didn't take long. Blake Snell gets rocked in his first three outings then goes on the IL with an adductor strain. The boys chat about our biggest surprises and biggest disappointments in the first 26 games of the season, which finds the Giants just under .500. At least they haven't lost the division in the month of April. Our surprises include Conforto and Hicks, but aside from Snell, our biggest disappointments so far are the bullpen and Austin Slater. Also, the Giants welcome in the Pirates and Joey Bart this weekend after they traded Bart to the Bucs in early April. He's off to a hot start with 3 bombs in 26 ABs. He hit only 11 homers with the Giants in 5 years. Go figure. www.torturecast.com@torturecast

The season is officially underway, and Chad and Eric review the first five games of the Giants' 2024 season. Despite the 2-3 start, there are a lot of positives to take away with the hitting of Lee, Conforto, Chapman, and Wade, and the starts by Webb, Harrison, Hicks, and Winn. However, the bullpen has been the worst in the majors to start the young season, having given up 20 earned runs in just 18 innings. Although there will be a correction to the mean, if the pen doesn't smooth things out quickly, it could lead to some Pepto nights for Giants fans. www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

It's one of our favorite episodes to do every year: the season preview episode! This also begins our FOURTEENTH season of covering Giants' baseball.Everything is fresh as a daisy. Everyone has a 0-0 record (well, except the Dodgers and Padres), and you can just smell the scent of fresh-cut grass in the office. Eric and Chad review what's happened in Giants' baseball over the last three weeks, including the bombshell of landing last year's Cy Young winner, Blake Snell. Then, we get to our picks and prognostications. How many wins? Who will lead the team in ERA? Wins? HR? facial hair rearrangement? (strike that last one). We also solicited win predictions from YOU, our listeners, and we read every single one on air. Vegas has the over/under at 83.5 wins. Where do we land? We also give our divisional and wild card picks, and who will be victorious in the World Series.Also, don't forget to check out Chad's Oracle Park food review video!Go Giants!www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

The Giants "said" they were done signing free agents, but it was a ruse, just as we thought. News broke late Friday night that the Giants signed prized third baseman Matt Chapman to a 3 year, $54 million contract, with opt-outs after years 1 and 2. The Giants have significantly upgraded their lineup with the additions of Soler and Chapman, and now questions linger about J.D. Davis' or Wilmer Flores' fate. There was also just no room for Brandon Crawford, who signed a $2 million, 1 year MLB deal with the Cardinals. Sad to see him go, but he had a -1.5 WAR last year, and he just doesn't have the positional flexibility required of a 26th man. Normally, we are less concerned about the rotation, but with Tristan Beck out indefinitely after today's surgery to correct an aneurysm in his upper right arm, the top four are Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, and Keaton Winn. Hicks and Winn are already questionable, and Harrison doesn't even have a full year under his belt. The fifth spot could go to Hjelle, or perhaps Kai-Wei Teng, but spring training will sort that all out. They will be getting Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray back during the year, and Cobb reportedly is ahead of schedule.www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

The Giants officially opened up spring training this week, and we had a lot to catch up on. First and foremost, the Giants plugged in some desperately needed power by signing Jorge Soler to a 3 year, $42 million contract. He's slotted to bat fourth and be the Giants' primary DH. Zaidi also said that they are essentially "done" with acquisitions and trades for now, although Blake Snell is still sitting out there as a prized free agent, not to mention Matt Chapman and Cody Bellinger. The Giants traded Ross Stripling to Oakland, but their opening day rotation looks a little light. Perhaps the Giants will stand pat with signing Jordan Hicks, who will become a starter after a long stint as a flame-throwing reliever, along with a trio of young starters, until Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray come off the injury shelf. Hey, the Panda is back! But, don't expect him to make the roster out of spring training. We also talk about numbers, jerseys, and a LOT of 49ers talk.www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

We break in the new year by reflecting on the signings of Jung Hoo Lee, Jordan Hicks, and the trade for Robbie Ray. Bye Disco and Haniger, we barely knew ya! The Giants avoid arbitration with three key players, but will probably face an arbiter in February with JD Davis. The need is obvious: at least a healthy starting pitcher and some power, but the Dodgers are apparently cornering the market on everyone! There is still hope with several key free agents still available. Let's just hope Farhan can actually make some of these happen or it's going to be a very long year.www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast.

Not that we're shocked, but the greatest unicorn player since Babe Ruth and most prized free agent in...well, maybe forever, decided that his services should stay in southern California but with the Bums. That's right, the ONE team we didn't want to see him go to was the Dodgers. $700 million over 10 years. The richest sports contract in history. The Giants were reportedly on the outside of the 3 finalists, which were Toronto, Anaheim, and LA, so they didn't really have a chance in the end. Where do the Giants pivot? There is still a lot of talent out there, and signing a few all-starts versus one unicorn can still be a better value deal, despite missing on the marketing opportunities (which, by the way, may pay for most of Ohtani's contract in LA).Chad and Eric try and point the ship in the right direction for the Giants to sail, but seeing Ohtani in Dodger blue for the next 10 years has us....concerned to say the least. We review the available free agents, whom the Giants have signed, yet-to-be-signed arbitration-eligible players, and review the 2023 baseball awards.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecast

Once we heard that the San Diego Padres gave the Giants permission to speak with Bob Melvin, we knew it was just a matter of days before Melvin was signed and announced as the 39th manager in franchise history. That was made official this morning with an introductory press conference. What a strange turn of events. On July 18, the Giants were 1.5 games back of the Dodgers for the NL West, and had a firm grip on the #1 wild card seed. A few months later, not only is Gabe Kapler fired, but the manager of the All-star-studded Padres bailed ship with a year left on his contract for the Giants. Sounds similar to another ex-catcher and Padres manager that came north, eh? Chad and Eric review the positives and the challenges of the Melvin signing, and the fact that Farhan Zaidi was extended through 2026. Also, Bruce Bochy did it again! After winning Game 7 of the ALCS against another former Giants manager in Dusty Baker, he is now 6-0 in winner-take-all games, and it was his 13th managerial victory in an elimination game. Of course, 6 of those came in the 2012 postseason alone! We preview the matchup between Bochy's Rangers and the speedy, 84-win Diamondbacks, who edged out Philly in 7 games. So much to talk about!@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecasttorturecast.com

The Championship Series are set, and we find two ex-Giants' managers against each other in the American League with Texas vs Houston, while the powerhouse Braves and Dodgers were eliminated in the division series, leaving the upstart Diamondbacks against the slugging Phillies in the National League. The teams with the best five best records in the regular season went 1-13 in the playoffs! Willie, Chad, and Eric review the first two rounds, but focus on the Dodgers' failures, and the matchup between Bochy and Dusty. We touch on the Giant's managerial search and offer our opinions of what they need to look for in a candidate, and we make our LCS and World Series picks.www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

The firing of manager Gabe Kapler wasn't unexpected, but his firing with three games left was. We speculate on why he was fired with three games left, and where the Giants go from here. This is a meaty, longer episode where we dive into the psychology of the firing, and whom they may hire as Kapler's replacement. The Giants finished below average in almost every category, yet finished just below .500. That in itself is a testament to squeezing blood out of a stone, but at the same time, the Giants were 13 games above .500 and only needed to finish with a barely sub-.500 record from that point to make the playoffs. Miami and Arizona made the playoffs with a mere 84 wins while the Giants had 79. That's only a 5 game differential. Just one extra win a month. Baseball is cruel. We also give our postseason picks, reminisce about Brandon Crawford's career, and we'll be back in a week or two to talk playoffs and free agency. This is gonna get weird!www.torturecast.com@torturecast

Welp, that's it. The Giants are all but mathematically eliminated from postseason contention after losing 3 of 4 in Colorado, both games in Arizona and the first game in LA. They are also under .500 with 9 games remaining against the Dodgers and Padres and have a very good chance at finishing the season with more losses than wins, something that seemed unlikely when they were 13 games above .500 and 2.5 games back of the Dodgers in July. This has been one of the biggest second half collapses by the Giants that we can remember. It was fueled by poor hitting, mediocre pitching, no speed, and poor defense. For some odd reason, it also manifested itself on the road, where the Giants have won only 5 of their last 31 games, their worst stretch since 1902. Yeah, that's historic. We talk about what went wrong, and how the Giants really had to TRY to not get into the postseason. Think about it. Even going 10-21 in those road games would have them in a spot right now. Heck 13-18 would have put them 5 games in the lead along with Philly right now. It's just incredible how this team has imploded. Even the national perspective has shunned the style of Giants ball (see Tom Verducci's article in SI.com). Also, Brandon Craword goes back on the IL for the fourth time, and is eligible to come off and play on October 1, their last game of the season. Let's all go to Oracle and send him off in a positive way, should this be the end of his Giants' career. Man, what this season could have been.www.torturecast.com@torturecast

The Giants are sabotaging their path to the playoffs that, 4 weeks ago, was still looking very likely. However, they have gone 9-23 since Aug 5, including a current 6-game losing streak, and now stand at an even .500 and 2.5 games back of the wild card with 22 games remaining. The big issue is not just the 2.5 games, but the fact that they'll have to leapfrog at least 3 teams to get that third spot, with Miami, Cincinnati, and Arizona all ahead of them. The Cubs are now solidly in the second wild card spot and only 1.5 games back of the division after sweeping the Giants. The Giants' playoff chance once stood at 75%, but have plummeted to just 13% on Baseball Reference, which is much lower than the other wild card teams. The reason for that is that the Giants face the Dodgers 7 times while Cincinnati gets to beat up on the weaker teams in baseball. The Giants will have to right the ship with a sweep of Colorado, there really is no way they can lose more series and hope to snag a playoff dance card. We also talk about Kyle Harrison's electric home debut, and Alex Cobbs near no-no. It's not all doom and gloom!www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecasttwitter.com/torturecast

After a break in recording, we come back to the mic to find the Giants buried in the NL West, but still firmly in the wild card race. With a 7-11 record in August, and the Dodgers going 17-2 during that same period, the Giants are now 11.5 games back with 38 to play, so they can kiss the division title goodbye. That said, the playoffs are still within reach, as they currently hold the second wild card. BUT, 5 teams are all within 1.5 games of each other for the second and third spots, and the Phillies are 2 ahead of that. Speaking of, the Giants have a huge series in Philly, as they try and take advantage of a wild card competitor. After losing 5 consecutive series, and going 2-14 over their last 16 road games, the Giants desperately need some road magic. Kyle Harrison finally gets the call up and will start in Philly on Tuesday...just don't walk half the lineup, kid.www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecasttwitter.com/torturecaston Threads and Instagram...sort of....

During our show today, the Giants made a trade for AJ Pollock and Mark Mathias from the Mariners for our favorite "player to be named later." Other than that, the Giants have less than 24 hours to pull off additional trades, and this one certainly doesn't move the needle with an aging 35-year-old Pollock hitting under .200 on the year and currently on the IL. What is surprising, is despite the 6-game losing streak, the Giants won 4 of 5 and have the third best record in the NL, hold the first wild card spot, and are only 2 games behind the Dodgers. That's a great position to be in. That said, we looked forward to August and what lies ahead is gonna be tough with two series against the Braves, and series against the Rays, Phillies, and Reds. Lots of winning teams coming up, but the Giants have to stay at or above .500 to keep in the race. It's gonna be an interesting month.www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

Ok, we're borrowing this title from our friends over at Giants Chatter, sue us! The Giants are riding a 5-game winning streak after a sweep of Pittsburgh, and they'll continue their road trip into Cincinnati, DC, and Detroit. During this streak, the Giants have come within 1 1/2 games of the first place Dodgers and have passed the Diamondbacks into second place, while leading the wild card race. This team surprisingly has the second-best record in the majors since May 1. Yeah, April was that bad. Eric and Chad talk about this, the All Star game and break, the MLB draft (Giants had a good one!) and some rumors flying around that Ohtani could land in San Francisco. Oh please, don't get our hope up.www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast and on Threads!

The Giants have cooled off considerably after their 10 game winning streak. They've lost 7 of 10, and although they're currently just outside of a wild card spot, they are only 2.5 games back of Arizona for the NL West...with the Dodgers in between. Eric and Chad chat about the lack of offense over the last 10 games, and look forward to the All Star Break. Although some fans think some Giants were snubbed for the All Star Game, we break it down and come to the conclusion of...not really. Who might the Giants target before the trade deadline? Stroman, Giolito, an empanada?www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

Since the Giants have won 12 of 14 (including 10 in a row!), they have surged into second place in the NL West, a mere 2.5 games back of Arizona and ahead of the Dodgers. They currently hold a wild card spot, and the 4th best record in the bigs. Eric and Chad review what was the catalyst to this amazing surge, and can the Giants actually sustain it and possibly take the division?@torturecastwww.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast

Eric, Willie, and Chad review the last week in Giants' baseball, and they are HOT and in the hunt. Now 3 games over .500 and holding a wild card spot, the Giants are poised to make a run at the postseason. The bad news is that Mitch Haniger will be out for a couple of months with a broken right forearm, and moments before he was hit by a pitch, J.D. Davis went out with a sprained ankle. The silver lining is the call up of phenom Luis Matos, who made his MLB debut today in St. Louis by lining a single in his first AB. He's the youngest Giant to make his debut since Madison Bumgarner. Keaton Winn made his MLB debut in St. Louis with a 4-inning save, but what's odd is that was the first MLB park he ever set foot in. Should Crawford be the new set up man? Speaking of hot, Pederson is hitting .480 over the past week plus, Doval is a perfect 14/14 in saves, Taylor Rogers has allowed only 1 ER in his last 18.2 IP, and his twin brother Tyler is down to a 1.71 ERA. We also chat about what Joey Bart's future is after being demoted to AAA. Barring injury or a trade, we all agree that he may stay there for the year.www.torturecast.comwww.facebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

Two months into the season, and the Giants are hanging around .500, which honestly, is good enough by the time you hit September. They are still relevant in the West, but more so in the NL Wild Card race, where they briefly held the third spot for a couple of days (now 2.5 GB). The rookies Schmitt and Bailey have cooled off, but have earned a lot of respect from the veterans, and they could be here to stay. This begs the question of what to do with Joey Bart? They're going to kick that can down a long road with his "injuries." The bullpen is performing more like we thought, and Camilo Doval was named NL Reliever of the Month, converting all 11 saves, which was the most since Brian Wilson had 11 in September 2010. Zaidi said they will be "aggressive" at the trade deadline, we revisit two ex-Giants who are doing well, and we pay tribute to the "Humm Baby" himself, former Giants manager Roger Craig, who died earlier this week at the ripe age of 93. I was 12 years old when he commanded the 1986 club, famously known for "Humm Baby," and "You Gotta Like These Kids."www.torturecast.com@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecastGet 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code TORTURECAST at MANSCAPED.com! #ad #manscapedpodwww.twitter.com/torturecastwww.facebook.com/torturecast

Chad and Eric discuss the great homestand and week the Giants had, winning 5 of 6 before heading off on a 7 game roadie. Casey Schmitt continues to make a huge impact, and we saw another rookie make his debut on Friday, get his first hit and start on Saturday and his first homer on Sunday. Patrick Bailey is up for an injured Joey Bart, and we'll see who moves off the roster when Bart comes back. The pen is better, the 2-out hits are off the charts, the defense is better. These are all of the elements that were lacking thus far. Now, can the Giants keep it up? We also chat about Correa and Rodon as "what if?" Giants, and we speculate on where MadBum may end up, or if he'll even be signed by anyone.www.torturecast.comtwitter.com/torturecastfacebook.com/torturecastGet 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code TORTURECAST at MANSCAPED.com! #ad #manscapedpod

In a shorter, conversational-style episode, Willie and Chad look at the bright spots of the Giants' season, despite their current record. The most recent highlight has to be the call-up and performance of Casey Schmitt. Not only does he have a great baseball name, but he has torn it up in his short week, accumulating as many hits (13) in 28 at bats as David Villar has in 88 at bats! (Villar was also just optioned to AAA, so...). Both the Nationals and Braves recently won World Series after very poor starts to the season (Nats were 19-31!), so the season is by no means over, but they are getting buried in the NL West at 8.5 games back of the Dodgers. But, at just 2 games back of the Wild Card, that's going to be their primary target. We also pay homage to Bay Area great Vida Blue, who passed away last week.Twitter @torturecastwww.facebook.com/torturecast

Eric and Chad talk about the first month of Giants baseball, and it's not....good. After a 5 game winning streak, they've lost 4 in a row, and their bullpen continues to be their achilles heel, with a 6.40 ERA, good for 28th. Maricio Dubon exacted a little revenge in game 1 with the Astros, and Mexico City was a damn launching pad on a t-ball field, played with a golf ball. It's not all terrible news as the Giants are "only" 5 games back of the Dodgers. They'd be 9 back in the NL Central. May has started 0-1, but "May"be it'll be better than April?www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

Ok, that's easier said than done. Ten games in, the Giants find themselves at 4-6, already in last place in the NL West. There have been questionable trades, questionable signings, and questionable managerial decisions. This team is kind of where we expected it to be. Homers, strikeouts, and a revolving roster around mediocrity. Eric and Chad break it all down for you, but our Giants' fandom might be suggesting that we're a bit frustrated already. That's ok. Giants baseball. Nothing like it?torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecastGet 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code TORTURECAST at MANSCAPED.com! #ad #manscapedpod

It's here, one of our favorite podcasts of the year! Chad and Eric are joined by special guest @StevenRissotto from SFBay and Rizzocast to talk about the Giants' roster, Sergio Romo's final appearance, the WBC, injuries, Brandon Belt punking his friend, Oracle Park media day and food tasting, and the always fun predictions! We throw out our guesses for how many games the Giants will win and read all of your guesses as well! This is a full one folks, settle in for it. The Giants kick off their 2023 season this Thursday at 10am PDT in Yankee Stadium. There's nothing like it? And by the way, this is our 13th season covering Giants' baseball, and we are the longest-running podcast about this team...and apparently we're going to become angsty and experimental soon.@torturecastfacebook.com/torturecastwww.torturecast.com

Would you be pissed if Camilo Doval was injured in the WBC and out of the year? We talk WBC excitement, Giants concerning injuries, Romo retiring as a Giant, and more!www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

Spring Training is well into action, and although the Giants aren't killing it in terms of their record (who cares?), there are a few guys making a case for the roster. We also chat about the impact of the rule changes so far, the actual shape of the baseball "diamond," and how the larger bases are changing it slightly, and the World Baseball Classic starts this week!www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

Giants have opened spring training in Scottsdale! The boys talk about the predicted roster, non-roster invitees, FanFest, the new MLB rule changes and more! You can just smell the fresh-cut grass!www.torturecast.com@torturecastwww.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecastGet 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code TORTURECAST at MANSCAPED.com! #ad #manscapedpod

Happy new year! Correa signs with Minnesota after all of the drama, Giants have twins, Conforto to patrol the outfield, Belt to Toronto, Longo to Arizona, Murph retires, 8 players avoid arbitration, Giants sign 23 international prospects, FanFest is Feb 4.www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecast@torturecastGet 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code TORTURECAST at MANSCAPED.com! #ad #manscapedpod

Consider this a group therapy session, Giants fans. Eric and Chad try and make sense of how and why the Giants essentially walked away from the deal with Carlos Correa in the 11th hour. Just three hours prior to the press conference that would have introduced Correa and his #1 jersey, the Giants contacted his agent, Scott Boras, and told him they needed more time to go over an "issue" they discovered with Correa's physical. Boras gave them 5 hours. The Giants never called him back. So, he hammered out a deal with Mets owner Steve Cohen and behold, Carlos Correa is now a Met. We talk through this and speculate why? Also, why have the Giants not offered any explanation. Aside from a short statement, they've been on radio silence. This is a PR nightmare for the team, the largest botched free agency debacle in MLB history, and an event that will have major ramifications for this franchise for years to come. No biggie, really.www.torturecast.com'facebook.com/torturecastGet 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code TORTURECAST at MANSCAPED.com! #ad #manscapedpod

Just when you thought that the Giants wouldn't make a big splash, Farhan pulls one out of his hat and signs Carlos Correa to a 13 year, $350 million contract. The Giants finally got their guy. This is in addition to signing Sean Manaea, Mitch Haniger, and Stripling...we think this team is absolutely better than last year's version. And remember, they only missed the playoffs by six games...that's one extra win a month. This new version should be able to do that. Join Chad, Eric, and Willie as we discuss this and more!www.torturecast.com@torturecast

We digest the hot stove action, which unfortunately includes Aaron Judge denying the Giants their big fish, as he signed a 9/360 deal to return to the Yankees. What other free agents should the Giants target? Will this off-season be a failure if they only get Haniger? Plus, Bonds gets rejected in a big way by the HOF veterans committee. Check out this cathartic podcast (for Giants fans, that is!).www.torturecast.comfacebook.com/torturecasttwitter.com/torturecast

Dusty Baker finally got the monkey off his back and won his first ring as a manger as the Houston Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4 games to 2. Jeremy Pena won the first World Series MVP by a position player rookie, along with ALCS MVP and a gold glove. Yes, we talk a little Judge, since the hot stove is LIT! And, Carlos Rodon officially declined his $22.5m option, as expected. Barry Bonds will have another shot at the Hall of Fame in December. Also, who do you think will be the Giants' uniform sponsor in 2023? And, why do we have to have a goddamn patch on these clean unis?!