San Francisco Giants: 2017 Season Review and Offseason Preview

The Giants had their worst season in more than 30 years, but have so many big contracts that they’ll be reloading rather than rebuilding.

The Giants continued their trend of playoff seasons in even numbered years and non-playoff seasons in odd numbered years, but took it to the extreme in 2017. After winning the World Series in 2010, 2012, and 2014, the Giants made the playoffs but lost in the NLDS in 2016. This year they were expected to win 86 or 87 games and be one of the two wild card teams in the National League by Sports Illustrated, Fangraphs, and Baseball Prospectus.

The team got off to a bad start, winning just six of their first 16 games. Then things got worse when stud starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner injured his shoulder in a dirt bike accident in Chicago. He would miss nearly three months. Meanwhile, the Giants went 9-17 in April, 13-16 in May, and 9-18 in June. By the time Bumgarner came back just after the All-Star break, the Giants were 34-56 and 27 games out of first place in the NL West.

They were slightly better in the second half than the first, but still not great. By the end of the year, the Giants were tied with the Detroit Tigers for the worst record in baseball. It was the first time they finished last in the NL West since 2007 and their lowest winning percentage in a season since 1985, when they were 62-100.

It was a very disappointing season for the Giants and their fans, but the team was considered a contender just six months ago and still have talent on the roster. Also, next year is an even-numbered year, so there’s that.

Let’s look at what went right, what went wrong, and the top offseason needs for the San Francisco Giants.