On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010.
The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason.
The Giants were led by their starting rotation that featured an MLB-best 3.36 ERA during the regular season. Not only that, they possessed the mighty bat of top catching prospect and Rookie of the Year Buster Posey and the crazy, maniacal effectiveness of closer Brian Wilson.
With none of their major players departing, it seemed that the Giants had a fantastic chance to repeat as World Champions entering the 2011 season.
Their offense seemed it wouldn’t miss a beat as it jumped into the new season, but a few days into the season, speedy offensive spark plug Andres Torres injured his left foot. The next major Giant to visit the disabled list was the beloved Pablo Sandoval. After losing 40 pounds over the off-season, he added a huge offensive plus in the lineup, protecting Buster Posey in the lineup.
But on May 25, everything changed. In the 12th inning against the Florida Marlins, Posey was involved in a freakish defensive collision at home plate, breaking his leg and tearing several ligaments in his leg as well.
This injury would require surgery and meant that Posey would be sidelined for the rest of the season. This injury devastated the Giants lineup as it struggled to produce runs for the pitchers without the potent bat of their young star.
Not only did the injury bug hit the Giants offense, but also the pitching staff. Wilson visited the disabled list with a oblique strain. No. 2 hitter Freddy Sanchez, a former batting title winner, also suffered a season ending dislocated shoulder in early June.
As the Giants lost players to injury, the offense sputtered to almost a stop this season as it ranked in the last five places for RBIs and home runs, something they were famous for in their 2010 magical playoff run.
Missing their clean-up hitter, Posey (.305 BA, 18 HR, 67 RBI), the rest of the hitters struggled to get on base and drive runners in. Aubrey Huff and Cody Ross, both 2010 playoff heroes, barely hit above .240 this year.
After being on the disabled list, offensive expert Torres couldn’t pick up where he left off in 2010 (.268 BA, 16 HR, 63 RBI). He hit a horrid .221 as a leadoff hitter. Without their big clean up hitter, the Giants lacked the clutch hitting they possessed in the playoffs last season.
After an offensive drought in the 2011 season, the Giants hope to regain. The Giants hope to sign all-star Carlos Beltran and hopefully sign one more slugger to aid the offensive game.
A struggling offense and injuries ultimately sunk the Giants’ chances of being two time reigning World Series champions. Although fans are disappointed in the lack of Orange October this year, the Giants head into the off-season ready to revamp their offense, and ultimately parade down Market Street one more time.