Tag Archives: season preview

by | April 6, 2025 · 11:20 PM

Episode #311: Best Record in Baseball

San Francisco Giants’ Wilmer Flores, right, hits the the winning RBI single against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Kavin Mistry)

You can download the episode here, or stream it below!

So, the title of this episode is not lying. As of the evening of April 6, the Giants do indeed have the best record in baseball. No matter that it’s only been nine games. Hey, it’s one of the best starts in franchise history, with most great starts ending in the postseason, so there may be something to glean from that. Clearly, this team is exceeding our expectations, even after a great spring. There is an energy about this club. There is a feeling amongst the fans. Something may be different this year. Is it the new guys? Is it Bustermonium? Who knows, but the fellas are gellin’ with a 8-1 record, two walk-offs during the home opening series, and they are in first place. Might this come crashing down on their next road trip through Yankee Stadium, Philly, and Anaheim? Maybe, but let’s enjoy great baseball while we can, and Willie, Eric, and Chad have a great time just being giddy about this team. Oh, and don’t forget to check out Chad’s Oracle Park food review on YouTube!

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by | March 25, 2025 · 11:55 PM

Episode #310: 2025 Season Preview!

Matt Chapman (left) and new Giant Willy Adames will anchor the left side of the infield and they will be key to the Giants’ success in 2025. Photo by San Diego Union Tribune.

You can download the episode here, or stream it below!

The gang gets back together to preview the San Francisco Giants’ 2025 season. We break down the roster and speculate on the remaining spots and share our season predictions, including wins, playoff hopes, team leaders, and more. Plus, we had a great response on social media in responding to our question to YOU, how many wins? As promised, we read all of your responses. Let’s just say that the hopes are high among Giants fans, I mean they did win the “Cactus League Championship.” The last time they did that?…2010…just sayin’. We’re back, baby, and so is Giants baseball with the season opener in Cincinnati on Thursday afternoon. 

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by | April 1, 2019 · 1:34 PM

Episode #159: 2019 (late) Season Preview

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Brandon Crawford #35 of the San Francisco Giants scores ahead of the tag of Austin Hedges #18 of the San Diego Padres during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Petco Park March 31, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

You can download the episode here, or stream it below!

Chad and Eric host our annual season preview episode a little bit late…well, after 4 games into the season, but there is a good reason for that. Chad had the flu one week, then was traveling for work, then last week was having the experience of a lifetime, diving 2 miles under the ocean in the historic Alvin submarine, exploring a recently discovered “octopus garden” near an extinct underwater volcano while the BBC broadcast all this live back to the UK for their “Blue Planet Live” show. So, yeah, good reasons.

The Giants started off the season with a whimper, losing 3 of 4 in San Diego, while mustering only 5 runs in the process. They are hitting an NL-worst .177, but at least their pitching is 2nd! By the way, who expected Michael Reed and Connor Joe to be on the roster? We review this series, and preview the season, reading off all of YOUR predictions for total wins this year. Spoiler alert…most of you don’t think they’re going to win that many game. We also give our playoff, statistics, trade, and milestone predictions.

Spring has sprung, and baseball is back, baby! Can’t be sad about that.

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by | March 28, 2019 · 8:55 AM

SF Giants Opening Day 2019

San Francisco Giants Opening Day

Opening Day

It’s here! The 2019 San Francisco Giants season begins today in San Diego. After what seemed like an eternal offseason full of tragedy and embarrassment, we finally get to focus on the diamond and watch the Giants play baseball for the next 6 months.

Usually I try to put together some previews before the season and we generally have an idea who is on the team. This year has not been the same. I have absolutely no feel for what kind of team the Giants will be in 2019.

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The only certainty at this point, is Bruce Bochy is retiring after this season and I’m damn sure going to miss him. I’ll get to him before the home opener. Continue reading →

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by | March 27, 2018 · 3:40 PM

SF Giants Season Preview: Starting Rotation

Ty Blach of the San Francsico Giants

Ty Blach/Photo: @SFGiants Twitter

The San Francisco Giants have wrapped up spring training and have their roster for the 2018 season. I guess. It hasn’t been officially announced as of Tuesday afternoon. Cactus League action is finally over. It feels like it took forever. I’m ready for some baseball that matters. I bet you are too.

The next few days, I’m going to take a look at the roster to get prepared for the start of the season. First up, the starting rotation. After that I’ll cover the bullpen and the position players. All projections are from the 2018 Baseball Prospectus. Let’s get this season started. Continue reading →

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by | March 26, 2018 · 9:10 PM

Episode #136: 2018 Season Preview

openingday2018

Opening Day is Thursday, March 29. Ty Blach vs. Clayton Kershaw.

You can download the episode here, or stream it below!

It’s our annual season preview! In this 7th preview in total, the gang has all been pretty close in guessing the Giants’ win totals…until last year. With all of us ranging between 84 and 92 wins, we were more than 20 games off.

That said, no one predicted that the Giants would lose 98. Taking that into consideration with this year’s injuries, we have the biggest range in our hosting history, with Chad going low with 76 wins, Willie just behind at 79, and Eric piling on the unicorn droppings with a whopping 96 wins, proclaiming that the Giants will win the West, the World Series, Duggar will win Rookie of the Year, and Posey and Panik will battle it out for a batting title.

Perhaps Eric is getting high off his new puppies?

We also read listener’s win total predictions, talk final potential roster moves, and our keys for getting off to a good start, considering that the Giants play the Dodgers 10 times over their first 29 games…and that’s without Bum or Shark.

 

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by | April 3, 2017 · 11:53 PM

Episode #117: 2017 Season Preview

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Bumgarner became the first pitcher in MLB history to hit two homeruns on opening day. (Photo: USA Today)

You can download the episode here, or stream it below!

Besides the post-World Series victory podcasts, season previews are our favorite to record every year. Spring has sprung. Hope is effervescent. The Giants bullpen is…different.

Chad, Ben and Eric talk about that catastrophic meltdown by Melancon in the 9th in their opening day loss to the Diamondbacks, but also reason why there is hope.

Many of you responded to our query about how many games the Giants will win this year. Let’s just say that many are out of the stratosphere, but would more than be appreciated. We also offer up our own predictions and break down what are crucial spots that may pivot the season in one direction or the other.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @torturecast or like us on Facebook!

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by | April 4, 2016 · 12:19 AM

Episode 100 – 2016 Season Preview

2016seasonpreview_ep100

Download the episode here, or stream it below!

Although this is audio recording 145 (or thereabouts), we’re celebrating the 100th episode of the TortureCast! No big cake. No confetti. Just us.

Ben, Eric and Chad gather around the proverbial campfire to talk about their expectations for the 2016 season, including their predictions for the number of wins for the Giants. Now, Chad has something at stake, as he’s predicted the EXACT number of wins for 3 of the last 4 years: 84 last year, 88 in 2014, and 92 in 2012. The only year he was off was 2013, but he predicted his low of 82, which corresponded with the low bar of 76 wins, the lowest since 2008.

The year’s predictions:

Chad: 90 first place
Ben: 86 first place
Eric: 94 first place
Willie: 93, f

We also discuss our favorite episode, the coolest thing we’ve done as a part of this podcast, and our predictions for most HR, lowest ERA and best batting average.

Come join us for our centennial!

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by | April 5, 2015 · 2:10 PM

SF Giants preview: The other guys

Matt Duffy of the San Francisco Giants

Photo via USA TODAY Sports

Well here we are. The 2015 San Francisco Giants season is upon us. I thought I’d take this time to preview the season and throw out some predictions. I’m sure you’ve read the “big boy” publications and what they forecast for the season so I’m not going to even mention the fact that none of them are giving the Giants a chance to do big things this season.

Nope. Won’t mention it at all. That whole odd year thing? I won’t mention that either.

I’ve already previewed the starting rotation and the regulars. Here are some links.

Part 1: The rotation

Part 2: The regulars

For the part 3 I’m going to take a pass at the other guys. It’s time to take a look at the Giants bullpen and bench players.

The bullpen

It’s been reported over many Giants outlets that the team will carry 13 pitchers to start the season. If that is the case, here’s the guys that will be in the pen. Continue reading →

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by | April 3, 2015 · 7:43 PM

SF Giants preview: The regulars

Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants

Photo via AP Images

Well here we are. The 2015 San Francisco Giants season is upon us. I thought I’d take this time to preview the season and throw out some predictions. I’m sure you’ve read the “big boy” publications and what they forecast for the season so I’m not going to even mention the fact that none of them are giving the Giants a chance to do big things this season.

Nope. Won’t mention it at all. That whole odd year thing? I won’t mention that either.

I previewed the starting rotation yesterday. Today I’m looking at the starting 8. Well, truthfully, it’s the starting 9. Even though Hunter Pence is out until sometime during April, I’m going to include him here. It’s not like he won’t be back and frankly we all love him.

So here are the starters. I’m not going to go by batting order because Bruce Bochy has already said that he will mix it up. Some days Angel Pagan will hit 3rd, others he’ll hit 5th. I’m going to go around the diamond starting with LF and ending with the catcher position. I’m choosing which stats from last season I want to highlight with each player because, well, I can do that. So sit back and enjoy a look at this year’s Giants starters. All slash lines are batting average, on base percentage, and then slugging percentage.

Nori Aoki

2014 (w/ Royals): .285/.349/.360, 132 G, 549 PA, 22 2B, 6 3B, 1 HR, 63 R, 43 BB, 17 SB

It looks like Aoki is the new leadoff man. He’s entering his 4th year in the league. Nori is 1 of 2 new starts for the Giants this season. If he’s going to be in that role I’d love to see those walks improve. After 2 years with the Brewers he was on the AL champion Royals last season. You may remember them. I’m not sold on his arm out in LF. In fact, “noodle arm” is a term I’ve used to describe him on multiple occasions throughout spring training. But he’s not here for his defense. Aoki rarely strikes out and can be a key if he shoots the gap towards triples alley. If he does that, he made lead the league in triples this season. Continue reading →

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