SF Giants’ Promising Start Crumbles: 'Terrible' Situational ABs and Birdsong’s Bad Day

In this episode, we dive deep into the San Francisco Giants’ ongoing struggles with situational hitting, which were painfully evident in their recent loss to the Washington Nationals. Despite having an above-average offense overall, as indicated by their 104 wRC+ this season, the Giants continue to falter in crucial moments. We analyze how their poor performance with runners in scoring position has been a recurring issue throughout the season and how it contributed to their latest defeat against the Nats. Next, we shift focus to Hayden Birdsong’s rough outing, which sparked questions about the SF Giants’ decision to trade away veteran right-hander Alex Cobb at the trade deadline. Birdsong, who had shown high upside in previous starts, struggled badly against the Nationals, raising questions about the Giants’ pitching depth as they aim for a postseason spot. We’ll discuss whether trading Cobb was a mistake and how this decision could impact the Giants’ rotation down the stretch. Finally, we cover the unfortunate news that Wilmer Flores will miss the remainder of the season due to a procedure on his right knee, which has affected his performance throughout the year. Flores, a crucial part of the Giants’ lineup in seasons past, may be back next season as he holds a $3.5 million player option for 2025. We’ll explore what his absence means for the Giants’ playoff push and how the team plans to navigate the rest of the season without him. Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOSFGiants?sid=YouTube Locked On MLB League-Wide: Every Team, Prospects & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnMLB The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Liquid IV No more thirsty summers when you indulge in hydration with Liquid I.V. Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to LIQUIDIV.COM and use code MLB at checkout. SupplyHouse SupplyHouse.com is the reliable way to get parts fast. Shop for your next plumbing, h-vac, or electrical job and get fast shipping from coast to coast. Booking.com The right stay can make you a fan of any US city - even your rival’s. Book today on Booking.com on the site or in the Booking.com app! Booking.com, Booking dot YEAH! PrizePicks Go to https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONMLB and use code lockedonmlb for a first deposit match up to $100! eBay Motors From brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com . Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. FanDuel FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. As playoffs wind down, the sports stop sporting like we want them to. But this summer, FanDuel is hooking up ALL CUSTOMERS with a boost or a bonus, DAILY! That’s right, there’s something for everyone, every day, all summer long! Visit FANDUEL.COM/LOCKEDON and add a big win to your summer bucket list! FANDUEL DISCLAIMER : 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.