Since becoming the Giants' president of baseball operations, Buster Posey has consistently emphasized his desire to construct a fundamentally sound team – a team that plays “strong defense.” Zack Minasian, the team's latest general manager, sang an analogous tune during his opening press conference.

As Posey and Minasian begin constructing next 12 months's team, they won't must look far for 2 of baseball's best defenders.

Third baseman Matt Chapman and catcher Patrick Bailey were each named Gold Glove Award winners on Sunday. This is the primary time the Giants have had multiple award winners in a single season since Posey, second baseman Joe Panik and shortstop Brandon Crawford in 2016. They are the primary Giants to receive the award since Crawford in 2021.

“It means a lot,” Chapman said. “(Nolan Arenado) dominated the National League for a long time. Ke'Bryan Hayes won it last year. There are a lot of really good defensive third basemen in the National League. I was able to come here and win it. I thought it was pretty cool to get one in the American League and the National League.”

Bailey added: “I’m very proud of that. I was obviously a little frustrated that I didn't make it last year, but I put in the work and wanted to improve in all aspects and was just excited to be able to win it this year.”

Mike Yastrzemski was a finalist for the Gold Glove in right field, but the award went to the Brewers' Sal Frelick. Fremont's Steven Kwan won his third Gold Glove Award after taking home the hardware in each of his first three major league seasons.

For Chapman, who signed a six-year, $151 million extension with San Francisco in September, this is the fifth Gold Glove of his career, three of which he won with the A's. The 31-year-old's defensive resume also includes two Platinum Glove Awards, three Fielding Bible Awards and 109 defensive runs saved most of any position player since he made his debut.

For Bailey, arguably the best defensive catcher in baseball, it is the first time in his young career that he has won gold. The 25-year-old is the fourth catcher in Giants history to receive this award, joining Posey (2015), Mike Matheney (2004) and Kirt Manwaring (1993).

Given publicly available defensive metrics, Chapman and Bailey were both the strongest candidates to win at their respective positions.

Chapman led all third basemen in defensive runs saved (17) and tied with the Brewers' Joey Ortiz for the most outs above average (11). Bailey, a finalist last year, caught 19 runners attempting to steal second base in 64 attempts (the most in the Netherlands).

He led all the defenders inside Fielding run value (22), as well as all catchers in defensive runs saved (20) and Catcher framing runs (16). Be Pop time of 1.85 seconds tied for second place with JT Realmuto of the Phillies and Korey Lee of the White Sox as the best baseball players caught stealing above average (nine).

When Bailey and Chapman were asked if the other made a notable play, Bailey quickly pointed to Chapman's game-saving defensive gem against the Mets in Queens. Chapman couldn't think of a specific play for his backstop, but spoke generally of Bailey's ability to throw runners out.

“It's so fun to watch his quick transfer and his ability to pick up balls like a middle infielder and throw out guys at second base,” Chapman said. “I always enjoy seeing guys head to second base and watching Patrick throw them out.”

While the Giants have two of the perfect outfielders in baseball, their defense should improve overall.

Last 12 months, San Francisco's outfielders combined for -16 defensive runs saved (twenty seventh) and -19 outs above average (twenty ninth). Those numbers should improve if Jung Hoo Lee, who was limited to 37 games as a result of a season-ending left shoulder injury in May, returns to the patrol midfield.

Along with the outfield, the Giants' shortstops overall finished with -11 defensive runs saved and -3 outs above average, but they may quickly improve this unit in the event that they manage to sign Willy Adames or Ha-Seong Kim in free agency.

“Apparently Buster is pretty busy right now with the GM hiring. He has a lot going on, but I told him I would be as committed as they would like,” Chapman said. “I want the best for this team and to do that I have to bring people in, whether it's trading people or signing people. Whatever it is, I'm all for it. I signed up here because I really enjoy the people here and the staff we have and I think we can win here. So I’m going to do everything I can to get the guys here and help win.”

Originally published: November 3, 2024 at 5:59 pm PST

SAN FRANCISCO – The Giants suffered a significant blow Tuesday when Patrick Bailey was placed on the injured list, but manager Bob Melvin was confident they won't be without their starting catcher for long.

“It's hard to say, but I'm pretty optimistic he should be ready on Day 10,” Melvin said after the Giants' 4-1 win over the White Sox. “Based on what I'm hearing and how he's feeling. We've been a little cautious on that one.”

Bailey underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan on Tuesday, which revealed a strain of the correct oblique abdominal muscle.

After being scratched Monday night but not yet undergoing imaging, Bailey told reporters that the injury felt “very, very minor” and that his absence was “more of a precautionary measure than anything else.”

He first felt problems in his right side after throwing some left-handed shots before Monday's game.

“It wasn't really a particular swing,” he said. “It just kind of tightened up at the end.”

Bailey, the Giants' second most precious player with 3.8 fWAR, is eligible for next Thursday's final road game at Milwaukee, although a 10-day absence can be considered a fast recovery from an oblique strain of any severity. They often have a 4- to 6-week timeline.

“If you go out even one game too early and get injured again,” Melvin said, “it can take a long time.”

Although Bailey has been in a rut on the plate currently, his pitch-framing, play-calling and throwing skills have nonetheless made him one of the beneficial catchers in the game. According to the Statcast metric, which measures throwing, blocking, framing, arm and runs against average, he has collected 19 fielding runs above average, greater than double the next-best catchers, who’ve nine.

In the meantime, the Giants will hand the keys to veteran reliever Curt Casali, who has already contributed to 4 runs from the last spot within the lineup while leading a pitching staff that has allowed a complete of 4 runs after getting used the last two nights.

“(Bailey) is one of those guys that's hard to replace,” Melvin said. “Even if he doesn't swing the bat well, which he does behind the plate. And this year he's hit in the middle of the order for us at times. But Curt is doing a good job right now. He's on a bit of a roll right now. He knows these guys.”

When they placed Bailey on the 10-day IL, the Giants brought in Jakson Reetz from Triple-A Sacramento as their second catcher. But Casali said he expects to catch Logan Webb in Wednesday's matinee. That can be the primary time he starts three straight games since Sept. 18-20, 2022, after the Giants traded him to Seattle following his original tenure in San Francisco.

The majority of the work during Bailey's absence will likely fall on the shoulders of the 35-year-old from Walnut Creek.

“I just have to keep going,” he said. “Obviously I'm disappointed that Patty has to sit out for a while, but I'm looking forward to the opportunity to play. Hopefully we won't miss anything when I get back.”

So far, so good.

The Giants' victory Tuesday night was their seventh consecutive win in games wherein Casali began, improving his overall record with him as a hitter this season to 14-10.

About two hours before Monday's game, he received word that he can be within the starting lineup that night, but prior to that, he had only began twice in 19 games since catching half of the sport's doubleheader on July 27.

“I'm going to go out there and do my best, so I hope Webby makes it easy for me,” Casali said. “But I feel good. I'm fresh and ready to go. … I feel like a young 35-year-old right now.”

Originally published: August 20, 2024 at 11:40 p.m.

Patriots

Bailey Zappe grew up in Texas and started his college football profession in Texas before moving to Western Kentucky and playing for the FBS record for passing yards in a single season and be drafted by the Patriots.

This 12 months's NBA Finals will pit the Dallas Mavericks, from Zappe's home state, against the Boston Celtics, the skilled basketball team closest to Foxborough, where the Patriots play.

So, which team will Zappe be rooting for?

“I'm here, I'm in Boston,” Zappe said Wednesday, based on Karen Guerigian of MassLive. “I'm from Texas, but I'm not from Dallas.”

“You know, I think since I'm already here, I have to say Celtics, otherwise Bostonians won't like me anymore. So I'm rooting for the Celtics.”

Texas is a giant state, and Zappe's hometown of Victoria, Texas, is about five hours from Dallas. It's just over two hours from Houston and San Antonio, the opposite two Texas cities with NBA franchises. All three Texas teams play in the identical division.

Zappe began the ultimate six games of last season after Mac Jones was benched. The Patriots have since drafted Drake Maye in the primary round and signed Jacoby Brissett. Despite the brand new additions, Zappe says he continues to be fighting for the starting spot.

“I had fun. Of course, they bring in new guys every year. They want everyone to compete, and that's what they've told us all along: Everyone gets a chance, everyone will compete. As (coach Jerod) Mayo says, it's all about what you do with the opportunity.”