The Giants set themselves up for success in 2018 with an active offseason. But mostly due to injuries, things haven’t gone according to plan.
The San Francisco Giants came into this season with their thoughts set on October baseball. After all, it is 2018 — an even year — and San Francisco is known for winning World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
Unfortunately for Bruce Bochy’s crew, the injury bug has bitten them. Hard.
The latest Giants player to hit the disabled list is closer Hunter Strickland, headed there after fracturing his right hand. On Monday night, Strickland blew a 4-2 Giants lead in the ninth inning, marking his fourth blown save this season. He proceeded to punch a door after the game, injuring his hand badly enough to require surgery, Bochy said.
Strickland is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, a timetable that puts him on the shelf until well past the All-Star break. Strickland posted a heartfelt apology on Instagram Tuesday night. He expressed regret for letting down those who “care and mean the most” and accepted full responsibility for his actions and their consequences.
The Giants are currently without third baseman Evan Longoria, who was acquired in a trade with the Rays this offseason. Longoria fractured his left hand after being hit by a pitch from Marlins pitcher Dan Straily last Thursday. He elected to have surgery and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, too.
As if two hand injuries aren’t enough, Giants ace Madison Bumgarner missed the first third of the season with a broken bone in his left hand as well. He was hit on the hand by a line drive in a spring training game just days before the regular season began. He made his return to the rotation on June 5.
The Giants are currently sitting three games under .500 at 35-38. They’re just 5.5 games behind the Diamondbacks for the division lead, however.