The San Francisco Giants have the worst record in the National League. No other team has scored fewer runs or allowed more. Put simply, the 2017 season has been an unmitigated disaster thus far.
Considering the circumstances, it wouldn’t be out of line to suggest that the club is close to packing it in, which is just what Giants beat writer Andrew Baggerly said in his most recent game story Sunday evening.
Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow disagrees with that assessment, and told Murph and Mac on Monday morning that to suggest the Giants will give up anytime soon is disrespectful to what Bruce Bochy has built over the past decade.
“As far as packing it in, I think it’s a realistic suggestion for any clubhouse that’s going south as they are going right now — 10 games under .500 — that’s south,” Krukow began. “But to suggest that this team is capable of packing it in, I think that’s a slap in the face. I don’t think it is in their DNA. What you do, you bind together. You keep guys on the boat. ‘Cause most teams that do have an early collapse like this, they are going different directions. The game is over and that clubhouse empties out quick. You don’t see guys going out together, you don’t see them collectively getting together and trying to figure this out. That’s exactly the opposite of what’s happening with the Giants.”
As somebody who frequently travels with the team, Krukow said that he hasn’t seen any sign of the team drifting apart.
“They have a breakfast, a team breakfast on the road every day,” Krukow said. “Guys are getting together. You sit in there and you listen to conversations and guys are talking ball, they’re trying to figure this out. So I think for (Andrew) Baggarly to suggest that is, you know, I think it’s more historical because of what other teams have done, I’ve not seen it with this club. And I’ve not seen it with Bruce Bochy, I mean he’s keeping them together. That’s what you have to do. You have to keep the troops together and they’re doing that.
“I’ve been through this and if you’ve been on a losing team before, that’s the concern. Can you keep everybody together, can you keep the minds together? And that’s happened. So I think it’s a bit premature. That’s what you have to expect if you are a team that’s going south. You have to expect that there are going to be some criticisms coming your way…I think Andy Baggarly has every right to say what he says, but I don’t think it’s apt for this team.”
Listen to the full interview below.