The Royals only drop two games on their way to their 7th World Series in 11 years, and second since Colin Stewart resigned. The Giants appearance in the World Series was a welcome shock but their defeat means Stewart misses out on getting his World Series to .500, falling to a 4-6 record in his 10th World Series appearance.
The majority of the Giants bats were hot in the postseason, helping fuel the pennant-winning performance. Kevin Dobbs, Steve Boyd and Wilfredo Polo were particularly impressive while Jesus Castro, Juan Zetino and Germains Castro were the only major disappointments, although no one who watched the Giants this year was surprised by Zetino’s struggles. Sergio Ibarra was called up in difficult circumstances so can’t be blamed for struggling having not played in the big leagues all year.
When the going got tough, the Giants pitchers got rocked. With the exception of Cason Willard, none of the starting rotation managed a FIP- below league average, putting pressure on the bullpen and the hitters in nearly every game. Rickey Martino was joined by Juan Peralta, Joe Manley and Donte Lebeaux in posting a better than league average FIP-, although even then only Peralta managed a positive SD:MD ratio.
Minor Leagues
Postseason
Sacramento River Cats [AAA] lost in the Championship.
Richmond Flying Squirrels [AA] missed the playoffs by 20 games.
Eugene Emeralds [A+] won the Championship (back to back).
San Jose Giants [A] lost in the 1st Round.
San Francisco (ACL) Giants Orange [R] missed the playoffs by 9 games.
San Francisco (DSL) Giants Orange [R] lost in the 2nd Round.
The Giants organisation can celebrate another title as the Emeralds go back-to-back as Champions, with four of the six minor league teams joining the Giants in the postseason.
Owner Goal Review
Team Record:
That was a heart-wrenching loss in the finals, right? Oh, to come so close but have victory snatched from you! But we'll get them next year. Be proud of the team you put together.
Improve team stats:
Great work in improving our Bullpen ERA. That was important to shore up, and I'm thrilled that you accomplished that. Good Job!
Acquire a player:
When I asked you to find a better Most Valuable Player Award winner, I didn't have Ernesto Pantoja in mind. He's not bad, but I was hoping for a slightly better upgrade. Don't be afraid to keep looking.
Increase Attendance:
Attendance numbers look fantastic. I guess I obviously gave you too much time to complete this task. Well done!
Improve Team Chemistry:
You did a great job at building a real team. Well done!
Improve your fan interest:
I'm pleased with the uptick in fan engagement. But there's still room for improvement.
Long Term:
I'm very happy that you completed this challenge. I hope we continue to have a long and fruitful relationship.
I am delighted with your performance in accomplishing the goals I have given you. I feel similarly about your handling of the team's on-field and front office management.
International Amateurs
We just completed our monthly private practice with many young international amateur free agents who we hope can aid our club in the coming years. It was great to meet the players in-person and get to know them better, and I was able to improve my scouting assessment on all invitees.
In fact some of the players impressed me, since they showcased a higher potential than I had previously expected from them:
Rossano Chartrand, 16 year-old 1B out of Venezuela
Rossano Chartrand is a big 6-foot-3 , 205-pound first baseman from Tucupita, Venezuela. He projects to hit for .250 batting average because of his above average contact potential. He has a right-handed swing that can hit 20 home runs each year. Chartrand needs more seasoning against quality pitching before getting a shot in the majors.
However, a few invitees left me disappointed as they did not appear to match my previous assessment, although they may still end up being future stars:
Frank Cervantez, 16 year-old CF out of Dominican Republic
Lean and athletic, Frank Cervantez hails from San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic. His eye grades out as plus. He has decent power now and has the chance to have above average power in the future. He has above average foot speed. Cervantez has good potential and a very promising future.
Arturo Cardenas, 16 year-old LHP out of Dominican Republic
Lean and athletic, Arturo Cardenas hails from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He projects to have a repertoire that include an off the charts cutter and a nasty forkball. His stuff is projected to become elite once he fully matures. Cardenas will likely have setup duties and use his firepower when emergencies arise.