🎧 Podcast: Should the Giants design their roster around Oracle Park? It’s tricky. Kerry and I debate on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere else.
Whenever a young player struggles through their first few games, I can read the minds of Kruk and Kuip.
Maybe he'll be the next Willie Mays.
The Giants broadcasters love to bring up that the greatest to ever do it started his career 0 for 12. One week into his career he was 1 for 26.
Drew Gilbert began Sunday afternoon in Willie Mays Territory. Duane Kuiper said as much when the rookie stepped into the box in the seventh inning: Gilbert needs a hit.
He wasn't wrong. Ten days and seven innings into his major league career, Gilbert was 1 for 20.
His troubles ended when Rays pitcher Mason Englert laid a fastball over the plate. Gilbert clobbered it toward San Francisco Bay. Kuiper yelled Did he do itttttt????, wondering if the kid had notched his first home run and splash hit in one swing. He didn't, but it didn't matter.
Gilbert elevated himself from one Hall of Fame comparison to another. Because as he waited in the on-deck circle for his next at-bat, Mike Krukow had only three words to say about him.
There's the Babe.
Up next: Robbie Ray (9-6, 2.98 ERA) and the Giants head to San Diego for four games. A sweep would put them back at .500, so, I think you know what’s coming.