Looking for somewhere to land
Marlins 9, Giants 4
Over the course of six months, some games just don’t fit into your schedule. Even mine, if you can believe it.
Those games come and go, the baseball equivalent of a flyover state.
In the same way you might peer out the window of the plane and try to figure out where you are, maybe you find a quiet moment to sneak a peek at the Giants score. You’re not watching, you’re just... curious.
That’s what I found myself doing Friday night. Not watching, just curious.
Then my phone greeted me with:
Marlins 8
Giants 0
Top 5
And in the same way you might look out the window of the plane, see endless miles of The Jefferson Grid, and think to yourself, huh, I couldn’t imagine living there. I saw the score, refreshed to make sure it was right, and thought to myself, huh, I couldn’t imagine being there—or watching at all.
I’m sorry if you did.
Up next: Robbie Ray will try to cool off the Marlins, facing Eury Pérez at 1:05 pm. It’s also Brandon Belt day at the yard. My favorite Belt moment came in my short time on the beat, watching him bounce over to the waiting reporters after a game in 2016. He shot his arms high into the air and wore a wide smile. He had just launched Splash Hit No. 69.
Coming into this series, the Marlins are one of the better contact team who can hit for power, steal bases (Rank #2: 29 vs 30th Giants: 7); rank #1 successful ABS challenges overturned with the … Rockies, who beat the Mets last nite. Marlins are a good test of strength, NOT the Dodgers. Bendix and Kapler joined the Marlins in Q4 2023.
Good teams beat teams under .500 more often during a season. Good teams win 4 in a row and sweep the Nats. Tony V is spot on: Stacking wins is critical, especially when 9 out of the top 10 teams are in the NL.
Grant Brisbee wrote the Giants were 1-hit for the second time this season. Ditto 2010. He should have added the 2010 team was never under .500 and started April 4-0.
Kerry, John and TK are super smart, so it’s scary how much trust they still have in Buster. The future of the Giants success isn’t about not signing Ohtani. Valkyries have a 2026 season-ticket waitlist with zero superstars. Most valuable WNBA franchise Year 1. Nyanin is under fire for a poor presser and Posey is given Participation Trophies.
Posey’s decision-making is erratic. If there’s a lockout next year, I’d recommend they read all of Kevin Acee’s Padres Daily. Padres moved into NLW first place last night and some fans are furious with Acee’s concerns that Tatis hasn’t hit a home run yet. Ethan Salas, Padres prospect, hit his first last night. Padres are in Mexico so Tatis’ chances are high. Tatis has also impacted winning games, choosing small ball until his power returns. Some Giants fans think Tatis is a loser: 2025: 25 HR, 71 RBI, 15 DRS and 8 OAA Platinum Glove defense is not a loser.
Arráez as the Giants best defensive infielder is a red flag, not a success story for the Posey Era. Chapman (2030) and Adames (2031): best left side in baseball. Not 2025, not YTD.
Fun fact: Dom Smith is hitting .500 vs fastballs, as of April 23, best in majors.