The 2021 Giants Won 107 Games. It Still Makes No Sense.

[@flashmcdash36]

The '21 Giants is the exclamation point on Buster Posey's HOF worthy career. While not his crowning achievement, and not a strictly personal achievement, he was undoubtedly the leader of that club. He had the ability to significantly help bring out the best in pitchers. His game calling, leadership, pitch framing and defense were extremely valuable. Pitchers just succeeded with Buster catching. He was a huge piece in the winningest season in Giants history. In a shortened career , he was the embodiment of professionalism and excellence. His swan song season was nothing short of amazing. Posey=HOF

[@AnnPorkins]

I wonder if Posey was the reason Kapler was able to perform at Manager of the Year status. Fans aren’t in the clubhouse, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Posey’s leadership took some of the load off Kapler so that he could be a hands-off manager. It’s all speculation, but Posey clearly was a fundamental piece to the team’s leadership and clubhouse culture

[@jonnyt16]

Very well said. Both of you guys are correct. Posey was a true General out there. You could just see how much more comfortable our pitchers were with him behind the plate. Buster definitely belongs in the Hall.

[@j6936-d6v]

@@AnnPorkinsBuster was in the room when Kap was interviewed for the manager’s job. So his opinion definitely mattered. When he retired, it came crashing down.

[@loutheseal4475]

The dbacks game in June was electric

[@outofcompliance1639]

No Posey in 2021, no 107 wins. But Posey for HOF might be a stretch since he only played 1371 games, just 1500 hits, 158 home runs, and had an OPS of .832. On the other hand he had 7 all-star appearances, 5 silver sluggers, 3 World championships, and NL MVP in 2012 so maybe.

[@__Yikes]

As a Dodgers fan I can say that 2021 was maybe the most fun season in recent memory its always better when the Giants are competitive imo although im still always rooting against them

[@chloewu2760]

same

[@BennyBoy90]

As a Giants fan I’ve come to appreciate the true almost computer like regular season consistency by the dodgers to continue to win and keep that farm top 10 despite trades. I would’ve thought it would push us to grow the farm and simply add good players to supplement. Only 1 team did this correctly and will continue for the foreseeable future and the Giants will keep doing the cheap way lol.

[@elasmojones]

Yeah, those damn Giants....Buster Posey is just a different animal.

[@shermanngjazz]

I wanna see a Giants vs Dodgers NLCS!

[@brianchua4240]

1000% agree.

[@shoukatsukai]

To put it into perspective 2021 Giants were 1 win behind the 2018 Red Sox, 1975 "Big Red Machine" Reds, and 1970 Dynasty Orioles. They won as many games as the 2019 Astros and more than any Dodgers team until 2022. 107 wins is a truly special, Top 0.1% achievement.

[@WolvesBaseballNine]

Don't forget the 108 win 86 Mets, the 114 Wins 98 Yankees and of course the 116 Wins 01 Mariners.

[@randomman3321]

9 less than the 2001 mariners

[@TheGreatRepeller]

and not winning a WS makes it worthless, lol.

[@razkable]

​@@TheGreatRepeller that is what makes it crazy...the 114 win yankees won 125 games and the title easily...only 7 behind them is insane considering the talent going into the year

[@psymar]

​@@randomman3321also 9 less than the 1906 Cubs... who played 8 fewer games and also had two ties

[@joeboyden1736]

As a diehard giants fan, it really cannot be stated how integral posey’s return was for us that season. Every single guy on the roster that year knew it was poseys last year, and went all in. That aspect coupled with incredible clutch moments by lamonte and yaz nearly every night was electric to watch. Also, respect tyler rogers, dude is an absolute dawg

[@politicaphile6810]

Every time I look at the 21 Giants bbref page I'm just mystified. They led the NL in home runs despite their individual leader only having 29. Truly a case study in how baseball is a team sport & how a deep roster is super important

[@jonnyt16]

Fun Fact: the Giants have not had a single player hit 30 or more home runs in a season since Barry Bonds! Giants World Series titles with Barry Bonds: 0 Without Barry Bonds: 3 100% baseball is a team sport.

[@baseballvideos90]

F**k bonds

[@Baseball2287]

@@jonnyt16How can you not win a World Series win your guy gets on base three quarters of the time 😂

[@mikevickilovedogs]

Cheating lab was going wild that year for real 💯

[@GizmoBeach]

@@Baseball2287 Because that same guy was so bloated, he could barely jog to a very catchable lazy fly ball that fell in front of him, triggering the Angels’ comeback and winning it all next time out…that’s how.

[@ian3740]

Brandon belt over 2020-21 was such a monster. Third highest wrc+ in the entire sport behind only Harper and Soto for that span

[@EricWBurton]

I love watching Brandon Belt when he is hot. He carried the team on his back for a while many times. He would have hit 30 homers in 21 if he didn't get hit in the hand.

[@outofcompliance1639]

The only two seasons he was any good but only played 97 games in 2021.

[@million36]

As a giants fan, this was the most fun summer ever! This team was insane.

[@SuperCatacata]

As a Dodgers fan, this was probably the most "WTF do we need to do to catch these guys" summer ever.

[@mikoaru4811]

That was a special season I will never forget. I went to the finale game of the regular season for the dodgers v giants and the atmosphere was spectacular. I missed that rivalry

[@eddielopez4698]

As a Giants fan watching this season unfold I always had a feeling of too good to be true. I was enjoying the season but always mentally goal posting them 😅

[@Dodgers-sw2uk]

As a Dodgers fan I didn’t like watching their steroid abusing head coach hand out steroids to the players like candy. Thank GOD they brought back steroid testing in 2022 and 2023

[@eddielopez4698]

@@Dodgers-sw2uk Don't forget the cheating labs 😂

[@Dodgers-sw2uk]

@@eddielopez4698 whatever that means

[@baseballvideos90]

​@@Dodgers-sw2uk as a dodgers fan. How does it feel to waste a your time every single october??

[@kylegross1081]

Dodgers haven’t had a parade in 3 decades. What an enjoyable team LOL

[@daltonred7774]

This season was so bizarre. Darin Ruf being a feared clean up hitter on a MLB team, Anthony Desclafani leading the top of the rotation with Gausman, every single vet having crazy good years.... Hear me out, the Giants win the 2021 world series if Brandon Belt isn't injured in the playoffs. The NLDS came down to the final innings and could have drastically changed with Belt. Belt was a top 5 hitter in baseball with 29 homeruns (any barry bonds curse enjoyers?) at the time of his injury. Dodger fans like to say Muncy being injured was comparable, but look at their numbers towards the end of 2021... Belt was a difference maker and the best hitter on the team for most of the year...

[@mzcomicattack]

100 percent. Belt was that clutch home run hitter we needed there. Hes been there before.

[@razkable]

I doubt they win it all

[@LukeNukeEm24]

@@razkablethey didn’t need to win it all they just had to Beat LA

[@chesterthechickeneater1302]

I liked how this was so close, I remember a division game back in 2021 where Albert pujols nearly hit a walkoff homerun and was robbed, that robbery would have won the dodgers the division but that game ended in a loss

[@LiamSFG405]

And the Giants cut Tauchman but every person on that Giants team contributed in some way

[@beerussama7093]

How about the game Ruf clearly swung and ump said he didn’t? That game was robbed, but karma came around game 5 of the nlds for the giants huh? 😂

[@ssuperman123]

@@beerussama7093 couple other times that happened both ways

[@EricWBurton]

@@beerussama7093 When Gabe Morales run up Wilmer on his checked swing against Scherzer, I immediately thought of the non-call on Ruf...I still complained about Gabe's call but I knew that I couldn't really get THAT bent out of shape about it. We all knew Ruf got away with that one :)

[@Splifftone]

@@beerussama7093 I certainly recall Dodgers fans crying about the Ruf non-swing call for months. Looks like you clowns still can't get over it!

[@rebelpunk13]

The pandemic shortened season did wonders for the Giants older veterans, those dudes fully healed and came back rejuvenated in ‘21

[@JommlyYT]

It’s also worth mentioning the hitting coach Donny Ecker. I think he is the unsung reason for that teams offensive explosion. He has since left for the Texas Rangers with Bochy 👀

[@baseballvideos90]

I did not know this...🤔🤔

[@benjammin6228]

Good point because the hitting was trash in the last two seasons. Last season for sure from what I remember

[@J_T_H]

2021 was by far the most fun season I've watched in my 20 years of living, watched almost every game

[@baseballvideos90]

The giants players patiently waited for the smoke to clear on these cheating pitchers with sticky substances and finally had their 1 year to show what happens when pitchers can't cheat and forget to pitch on their own

[@bmac4]

That Giants team played so far over their head it was insane. Like it's astounding watching them the last two years because even those squads feel like overachievers.

[@AnnPorkins]

I disagree that the last two years have felt like over achieving, especially 2023. It felt that way at the end of May when the young guys, JD Davis, and Michael Conforto propelled them from sub-.500 to 10 games over. But most batters had pretty underwhelming seasons on the whole, and I could see a world where a few lucky breaks and better health pushes them from 79 wins to competing for a Wild Card until the end.

[@jonnyt16]

@@AnnPorkins Yeah, injuries really hurt the Giants in 2023. Crazy to think halfway through the season they were ahead of the Dodgers. Even swept them in a series in LA if I remember correctly.

[@alphaking1994]

@@jonnyt16 Not to mention 15-0 on a Saturday night game.

[@bmac4]

​@@jonnyt16 the injuries were the biggest reason. The Giants had three guys top 100 innings at all and Manaea was all over in terms of bullpen vs rotation, and the lineup kept having to dip into AAA.

[@sebucwerd]

Truly some of the best baseball content on KZbin.

[@TheTEN24]

I’ll never understand how the giants pulled this off, everyone maxed out there potential and ceiling at once great vid jolly

[@baseballvideos90]

Naw they just didn't have to face cheating pitchers anymore.

[@TryPuttingItInRice]

​@@baseballvideos90right. Which is why the Giants have been performing well ever since 2021😂 use your brain

[@baseballvideos90]

@@TryPuttingItInRice When the manager leaves players in for more than 4 innings per game they do perform....use you eyes funny guy....

[@TryPuttingItInRice]

@@baseballvideos90 cool story kid. Your logic is flawed. Cry harder.

[@baseballvideos90]

@@TryPuttingItInRice Look at the Giant's roster then, and look at it now different teams buddy.....Learn baseball other than HomeRuns and Strikeouts buddy.....go play anime by the lake buddy

[@haleykatz]

I started watching the Giants in 2021. I was dating someone at the time who took me to my first game. There was something utterly magical about being at that game-especially after such a long period of isolation during the height of the pandemic. The camaraderie was natural and beautiful among all of us strangers at the game that day, and I’m sure I’m not the only person who felt that way. The relationship ended, but I’ll always be grateful to him for introducing me to the Giants. I’ve been to several games since. I realize I was spoiled by the 2021 season, but I still keep watching. I’ve loved getting to know these players and this organization-even though their decisions have sometimes been questionable. There’s just such a rich history there. I can’t wait until the season starts again. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

[@jonnyt16]

Your relationship with that guy may have ended, but you gained THOUSANDS of more friends in becoming a Giants fan. Welcome to the family!!

[@JommlyYT]

Thanks for making this video! This is a mythical season to us giants fans. What an anomaly.

[@brianchua4240]

That 2021 NL West division race between LA and SF was as close as I have ever seen since I started watching baseball. The Sunday Night game where Buehler was gassed, I knew at that moment, LA would have to settle for the WC. LaMonte Wade Jr was really their unsung hero. Every time I saw him come up to hit in the 9th inning, I said oh no. True, it made no sense how the Giants were THAT good that year. But it made for must watch every night. I hate the Giants, but I can't deny how fun it was watching every LA vs SF game be THAT significant.

[@jonnyt16]

I hate the Dodgers lol, but yeah that 2021 season is how rivalries are SUPPOSED to be. I was literally following the Dodgers just as close as my Giants haha. And the way you felt about Wade is how I felt about Trea Turner when you guys traded for him. Every time he came to bat I knew he would get on base and/or knock in some RBIs no matter what! Now the last few years you guys have pretty much just been pounding us and unfortunately for me I think that will continue for the foreseeable future. Well, I do remember the Giants sweeping you guys in a series last year, and in LA to boot! Plus didn't they give the Dodgers their worst shutout loss ever or something like that if I'm not mistaken? Small victories like that is all I have to look forward to now I guess, lol.

[@willharveyfox3316]

LaMonte hit went .415/.439/.660 in high leverage situations. His season totals were .253/.326/.482 Absolutely insane

[@lukerichey6563]

As a dodger fan that year was wild. Also jolly you should make a video about yasiel puig dominated the league and then disappeared

[@RagsLighthouses]

The pitching likely had a lot to do with Buster calling them. Really a once in a lifetime kinda player. Sad you didnt mention how Wade got his 'Late Night Lamonte' nickname

[@gregcub3d]

late night lamonte came up in game 5 in the 9th and he was the ONLY batter i was afraid of... soon as scherzer got him out i was much more comfortable ofc that caused dead arm, but having only 3 starters will do that to a team.

[@joelnelson4770]

It'll be really interesting to see a retrospective on the Arizona Diamondbacks run to the World Series in 2023. Much like this Giants team, this most recent Snakes team felt so flukey and lucky that it still is weird to me that they won the NL Pennant.

[@pizzaparity]

winning 107 games in the regular season is way more impressive than winning 84 and getting hot/lucky during the postseason

[@duffman18]

​@@pizzaparity both are interesting to talk about

[@daltonred7774]

I disagree. The dbacks have been building for awhile, and they have a bunch of hungry young players. They are not flukey, they are finally seeing the results and will be competitive for the next 5 years at least. They have a solid 1-3 in their rotation, they have an AS GG first baseman who hits a lot of homers, they have a new franchise outfielder who just won rookie of the year. They also have ketel marte who had like a 20 game postseason hit streak. I see no fluke in their team, they just succeeded a bit earlier than expected

[@jonnyt16]

@@daltonred7774 Well the next few years will determine if Arizona was a fluke or not but yeah I agree that team is loaded with great young talent. They're not winning by signing high-dollar power hitters like some other teams try to do. They're doing it with stellar pitching and masterful defense....similar to how the Giants won 3 in 5 a decade ago. I like it.

[@Mdash37]

Corbin Carrol ain't flukey!!

[@backyardbaseball2006]

9:45 I really feel like you dropped the ball by not mentioning he also earned 1of the greatest all time nicknames that year, *"LATE NIGHT LAMONTE"* 😂😂because of his clutch hitting

[@cavewomanbrain]

this season totally revitalized my love for the giants. stats are obviously much easier to quantify and translate into why this team was so successful, but their chemistry was also off the charts. they really looked like they enjoyed playing with and for each other. so so many guys who were easy to root for when you knew their story. also, brandon crawford should’ve won mvp this season and the fact that he wasn’t even a finalist is lunacy. praying we can get back to something close to this team this year!! 🧡🖤

[@jonnyt16]

Yeah that '21 season was so fun and entertaining. I remember that night against the Diamondbacks to keep their losing streak going, such an epic game. I miss seeing that chemistry and excitement in the Giants these last few years. Let's face it...Buster Posey was more their manager than Gabe Kapler was and after Posey retired its like they lost most (if not all) of their character and identity. I hope Bob Melvin and the current players can bring some of it back in 2024!

[@kevinb3307]

Craw was a fluke that year just like the rest of the team.

[@389383]

@@jonnyt16 Nope, couldn't even make it to .500.

[@kangaroodude34]

The 2021 season is what made me love baseball again, that giants squad was special. I loved that it was led by the old boys giving it one last hurrah before either retiring or just coming back down to earth. I think if they had made it past the Dodgers there was a good chance of them winning it all, though I did like seeing Freddie win with the Braves. Crazy how this happened just two and a half years ago but already feels like it has been ages. I'm really hoping the Giants get it together soon here, past two seasons were extremely disappointing, but I have hope that Jung Hoo Lee can spark some excitement here.

[@ironic_iron8770]

Agreed, hopefully Lee, Bob Melvin, and the new staff can help make a positive impact

[@389383]

Hopefully Lee will be dynamic and healthy in 2025!

[@DeeeeDrawwwwsss93]

An incredibly fun season. With a lot of fun surprises. And a fun division race. I can honestly say that was one of my favorite years as a fan of the Giants to witness.

[@AnnPorkins]

Loved the video! There’s a lot to cover in a 15-minute video and it’s impossible to touch on everything, but I just want to shout out the contributions of a few others that didn’t get much time in the video. Brandon Belt was a force, putting up the best numbers of his career. He missed a good chunk of time and would have broken the Giants 30-HR drought if he hadn’t been hit in the hand. Evan Longoria was quite good in his 80 or so games, which helped lighten the 3B load for guys like Wilmer Flores and Kris Bryant. Johnny Cueto wasn’t spectacular, but he provided some quality innings after several lost injury-plagued seasons. Nice way to rebound at the end of his hefty contract. Austin Slater has quietly been one of the best punch hitters in decades, and he particularly shined in 2021. LaMonte Wade Jr got some love, but his solid numbers don’t express how clutch he was. They call him Late Night LaMonte for a reason. Darin Ruf is handsome. That is all. And I’ll stop with Buster Posey. This whole video could have been about him, and it still would have understated his importance to the Giants. His clubhouse presence was foundational to winning Giants baseball, his ability to work with pitchers made the fancy coaching decisions easier to implement, and it was a joy to see him hit the fountain of youth with the bat one last time. I wonder if the 2022 teams and beyond could have maintained some of that 2021 magic if Posey hadn’t retired.

[@ssuperman123]

lamonte hit like 700 in the 9th inning or later i think

[@aquila519]

As a Giants fan, i really enjoyed 2021 not just cuz of their success, but because it finally spiced up the LA/SF rivalry. It had been kinda one sided since the Giants sucked but in 2021, LA and SF were the 2 best teams in baseball record wise and it finally felt like the rivarly that its supposed to be. It was fitting that the division race came to the final game and they would meet in the postseason. Miss these times.

[@josequintanilla9932]

It just sucks we lost to the dodgers in the playoffs I hope we get revenge on them 😤

[@komickaze85]

The 2013 Red Sox kind of had this feel to them as well. They had a bunch of free agent signings that all went amazingly well and won the World Series. Sure, they still had Big Papi and Pedroia, but it was Gomes, Victorino, and Napoli who played huge roles the whole season. I forget how many games they won, but the duo of Lester and Lackey in the rotation stunned the Tigers in the ALCS.

[@jonnyt16]

12:07 Kevin Gausman makes Shohei look absolutely silly. Love it.

[@iggy_vibez]

God I want Gausman back

[@jonnyt16]

@@iggy_vibez No kidding. Farhan Zaidi messed that up big time. Gausman even wanted to stay in SF.

[@bradclifford295]

2021 was a weird year, and I’m a Braves fan. Crazy how my team has won 100+ games so many times in my life but the year they win 88 games was the year they decided to finally win when it matters. I feel for the Giants in 2021 but don’t feel too bad for them cause they have 3 rings in the last decade or so.

[@MLBTwins]

Great video jolly. Was a crazy run

[@SenorTortas]

1:22 LMAO as soon as I heard "you should know who Alex Wood is," I knew a Passan diss was coming 🤣🤣

[@SpikeFartly]

2021 Giants were so much fun to watch, they had that dawg in them!

[@C0NN]

@6:40 the way you resumed the clip to lineup the tank shot with the highlighting of Home Runs and you starting your next sentence was very satisfying, very well done

[@shiba473]

I can confidently say it was this team in this year that rekindled my love for baseball from sport I liked but had awful personal history with to something I that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Thank you for reminding me of that joyous year, although Brandon Crawford learning to double jump in the Divisional Series is a moment that shouldnt be overshadowed by the blown call

[@kevinbodan4928]

People might say it was a “fluke” but it was amazing to watch and especially battling the west with LA.

[@astrostar49]

Thanks for doing another video on my squad. Sucks that they couldn't put a bow on it, but it definitely was an incredible season.

[@SpikeFartly]

Great video Jolly , only thing I wish you touched on more was the epicness of game 1 of the nlds , Logan Webb was amazing in his first ever playoff start and then he was almost just as good in game 5.

[@SpikeFartly]

Posey almost went oppo taco into the bay , would have been the first righty ever if it didn't hit the smoke tower

[@evandouglas5414]

Love it! Great insight as always jolly. hope the running is going well

[@mkr836]

my favourite piece of 2021 giants trivia is that logan webb was the last non-unicorn pitcher to hit a regular season home run, which was on the last day of the season

[@lou2056]

Hey Jolly, great video but you forgot one key moment in the season that robbed fans out of the last and potentially the BEST game 163 in baseball history. On July 22 a blown check swing call that went the way of Darin Ruf on a pitch thrown by Kenley Jansen provided the black magic Giants the opportunity for yet another comeback win in such a clutch season. Obviously, many other games were played and this 1 game should have not mattered... But it did. It adds another layer to the check swing in game 5. Sucks to know that check swing calls robbed 1 more head to head match on this historic season and at least 1 more pitch in one of the best NLDS in history.

[@AdiosPelota]

Man, thanks for showing the 2021 team some love. It’s probably recency bias but I enjoyed that squad as much as I did the World Series teams. Completely different approaches to winning, of course, but it was still a magical year.

[@Fantasyremix]

When you look at a random player's baseball reference page and they have one of their best seasons randomly at age 33 or something like that, in a way that defies logic except for the fact that it shows there is natural variance from year to year... the 2021 Giants was that happening to every player on the roster all at the same time.

[@diamond13251]

Arizona had their worst season ever that year and was just feeding wins to LA and SF all season. it was really painful year to watch those guys play.

[@jonnyt16]

June 15th of that year must have been REALLY painful for you to see....

[@colbs237]

Outstanding video. I like your style too, great production. I'm a new follower!

[@sgaxnikolaix661]

That season for me, as a Dodger fan, was incredible. Every single night you had to look at the scoreboard to see if they lost and we can take the lead. That Giants team was playing out of their minds. Everything went perfect to them and everyone player played their best season. It was lightning in a bottle. It can never happen again

[@SO-if3yn]

As a Dodger fan I was happy to see Buster go out with a solid season and wins. His leadership was absolutely one of the reasons the team succeeded. Bochy molded a HOF catcher. I hope they spend more money and become competitive again. Dodgers vs Giants and Yankees vs Redsox is great for baseball. Make these teams strong,

[@jonnyt16]

As a Giants fan I agree, so quit spending billions of dollars and signing everyone!! LOL. In all honesty I feel the same. Similarly why I hope the Dodgers end up keeping Kershaw. For as much as he torched the Giants over the years, it wouldn't feel right seeing him in a different jersey.

[@1FMAlchemist]

As a Giants fan I too love a good rivalry. It may be a few years before we are competitive again. Our kids have to do something this year. No FA (or combination of FAs) on this market is going to push my boys to a winning record.

[@itsheat6553]

The giants dodgers rivalry peaked this year and idk if it ever be topped, better than New York days imo, as a giants

[@BESGO59]

Loves this video!! I would love to see 2021 Braves since I'm a Braves fan

[@ToneBone24]

Wish you showed the blown call against Jansen.

[@beerussama7093]

💯. At least we got em back in the nlds 😂

[@Giants5]

@@beerussama7093and got stomped by the braves in the cs

[@Mainybob]

I've always love your videos and im so stoked to see you almost hit 100k!!!

[@brennan883]

Glad you highlighted that 107 wins is too much to be purely luck. Pessimistic Giants fans love to dismiss 2021 as a fluke, but it’s impossible for a team to be that consistently dominant over a full season because of luck alone.

[@TravellingHistoryTeacher]

Always find your videos super interesting, informative and well made. Keep up the good stuff

[@67marlins]

I'm a rare SF Giants fan in New England. I really appreciate this post - it was thorough and excellent. Thanks.

[@buckitogrande4006]

I love how you keep saying that luck was involved, but you said it yourself the giants put quality players in the best position possible for them to win every game. Also #WilmerDidntGo

[@Wolf-wc1js]

Ruf did though

[@cardinalsfan9610]

When my mom and I were looking to go to Busch Stadium that summer, I chose the series against the Giants because I figured they weren't going to be very good. It was a surprise to see how they were playing, even in mid July. Nobody expected them to perform as well as they did, bucking the "even-year magic, odd-year tragic" trope of their 2010s along the way too.

[@jonnyt16]

So....did you see your team win or lose?

[@cardinalsfan9610]

@@jonnyt16 Cards and Giants split the two games I saw.

[@LiamSFG405]

It was such a joy to watch this team. They were never out and had so much heart

[@Golfer2022]

As a dodger fan, I gotta say that blown call in the postseason was for the blown call against the dodgers in the regular season which helped the giants win the division. Hate to see how it ended like that but I mean it’s baseball! 2021 was a crazy year

[@GizmoBeach]

Quietest 107-win season I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. And like those 116-win Mariners in Ichiro’s first season, it ended just as everyone suspected it would: w/o even an appearance in the World Series, much less winning it.

[@BKrystall]

As a lifelong dodgers fan. It was a great division race. Also the first ever playoff series with them was entertaining. Also the dodgers won the series in 5 grueling games. It was fun to watch.

[@M_11_m41n]

As a Diamondbacks fan, I can tell you that the NL West is a Group of Death sometimes. It's wierd.....

[@alwillk]

You get a lot of flukes out of that division diamondbacks last year and 2011. Giants In 2021. D’backs and Rockies in 2017. Rockies again in 2007. Mediocre teams that get hot at the right time.

[@bmac4]

There ain't nothing like the fiery motivation to one up the Dodgers. Yall felt it this year, the Padres the year before, the Giants the year before that.

[@mitchellsanchez3937]

@@alwillkthey’re not flukes. Like in the video, it was good management and good chemistry to get wins. Teams just want it more

[@M_11_m41n]

@@alwillk Okay man, really? Flukes?

[@razkable]

Nl group of death....the al west last year was good and the al east is always stacked...the real group of death

[@im_too_slick_4u343]

That nlds was maybe the best series in post season history

[@_Farbs]

keep bringing up a little bit of luck. i don’t think you can rely on luck but one time my dad told me. “the smarter you play the luckier you get.” and i think about that a lot

[@manuelzavala2214]

When you said blown call, I started getting flashbacks of that day and moment also to give context I am a Giants fan.

[@evanwladkowski5386]

Not even in baseball, this is probably the most baffling sports season in general to me of all time. The roster was not that different from the average years before and after this, but it all came together in a perfect storm for one year in 2021 for them to win 107 games of all things. Crazy.

[@mikemilana2217]

They played the splits really well and held leads just enough, aside from their player development innovations, I’d say they had a pretty good projection model to that was implemented by the coaching staff in real time.

[@jonnyt16]

2021 was just magical, and for me personally, I took my kids to their first Giants game that year. They both got Mike Yastrzemski's autograph and then watched the Giants beat the Dodgers in a very close game that ended with an error by Justin Turner. A night they will never forget!

[@bayareachamp28]

2021 Giants were so magical. Thanks for making this so we can relive the good times

[@dougdavid8576]

As a long, long, long time die hard Giants fan, it was truly special to watch the accomplishments of the 2021 Giants team. I grew up watching Mays, McCovey, Marichal and Perry. When you consider all the great teams and great seasons the Giants have had in their long storied history - winning more games than any Giants team before them is just remarkable. I’m so happy to have witnessed it - along with their 3 World Series Championships in my lifetime 🎉 2021 will always be special. Best record in baseball, best record EVER for a Giants team. It’s a shame it ended the way it did. That’s baseball. As Giants fans we’ll always have 2010 - 2012 and 2014! 🎉🎉

[@XxJj95xX]

The 21 Giants pretty much ruined the Dodgers chances of winning 10 Division titles in a row. We then had to restart after winning 8 straight lol.

[@michaelbaucom4019]

2021 Giants = the epitome of overperformance/good luck/players exceeeding their normal levels They were two, maybe even three standard deviations above the norm Anomaly would be understatement

[@phightinphil25]

The funny thing is Kapler had a young Phillies team in 2018 (that also regressed and had to be retooled around Harper and FA signings) playing to a very high standard compared to the previous season and expectations in before an absolute freefalling collapse in August and September took them from leading the division to finishing in 4th and 12 games back by the end of the season. For all Kapler's flaws the man knows how to get more than the best out of a group of players for short periods of time.

[@morcatna4767]

They relied on platooning which is basically luck based. They ended getting lucky and the veterans really stepped up. This was a fluke year and is the worst thing to happen to this franchise since it set us back by extending Farhan and Gabe. Instead of going after the newer shortstops in FA, we decided to run it back. This franchise is sad with no direction. And I’m a giants fan… Huge shoutout to Posey tho, he not only was one of the best players but he basically led the team and kept the clubhouse together.

[@ComradeArthur]

I don't know the exact number but I've heard the Giants had around *14* pinch-hit home runs that year. That seems like an extraordinary number. If there was anything "lucky" about their season, that stat would be it. (Assuming that's an unusually high number and it sure seems like it to me)

[@dukeon]

Reminiscent of the 1993 season when Gyros won 103 and the Bravos won 104…and the Giants had to go home. Second best record in baseball and they didn’t make the playoffs. No pansy wildcards back then. You won your division and made the postseason or you went fishing and listened on an old radio. I’m a die hard Giants fan so that season kills me (only season Giants had Clark and Bonds at the same time, plus they featured _two_ twenty-game winners), but the braves 4 stud pitchers were just two much. Those teams were both loaded so in that respect it wasn’t much like 2021, but the NL West Division race coming down to the final game and the two teams having the best records in baseball was much like the 2021 race.

[@Haha_You_Fool]

Jeff Passan was catching strays 😭

[@maxipad27]

I’m a dodgers fan, and this was the most fun season I’ve had watching the team in a while. Having competition in the division was so much fun, and being able to bring the rivalry back was so cool.

[@matthewwallack601]

As a Dodgers fan- 1. That season was insane and as much as I can’t stand them, it is good for the rivalry when then Giants are also competitive. 2. It’s almost poetic (and umpire griping inducing) that once can seriously argue that both teams’ seasons (and arguably, Houston and Atlanta’s as well) were impacted as much as they were by a wrongful no swing call in July and a wrongful swing call in October between LA and San Francisco.

[@willharveyfox3316]

It needs to be said how extraordinary those home run numbers really are. Oracle park is the worst ballpark to hit home runs in all of the Major leagues. There were only 176 homers hit in the ballpark that season, good for 22nd in baseball. Or a ballpark factor of 85 for home runs. The Giants havent had a 30+ HR season since Bonds because of this. Thats pretty damn crazy if you ask me.

[@MrDeano97]

Haircut looks good Jolly💪

[@Riley.a_Music]

This was my favorite season in recent memory

[@TheJkisboss]

This miracle season was amazing. I wish it led to success in 22 and 23 😔. Crawfords career season was wild.

[@joshuaweinberg3245]

They played perfect... that's what happened... perfection of analytics. They were truly crazy with the platoons but that's platoons working to perfection the last 2 seasons r platoons not working to that capacity. Although they still manage hot starts typically.

[@matthewgiusti7631]

one thing I think you missed on that is huge is losing Donnie Ecker after the 2021 season. went to Texas and won a World Series. its no coincidence. donnie ecker is elite

[@gillynova]

I was at that Diamondbacks @ Giants game starting at 6:15 and it was the BEST game I've ever been to

[@christianharter1434]

Love the haircut jolly, had to cut the flow too but it's a sick haircut 🤌🏼

[@MikeSuth4040]

This giants team platooned a lot and went based off matchups and I went to a few games this season. They would sweep the dodgers with average players

[@E_alvarad0]

Posey controlled the pitching staff and guys had really good offensive years. I think it's more a testament to Posey than it is as a team even though the team had an above average year offensively

[@outofcompliance1639]

I was saying all through 2021 that the Giants would slump into second or third place and it still makes no sense it didn't happen.

[@guysfieri8900]

2021 tommy lastella was crazy i wish he stayed that good after that year

[@haydenhatcher9314]

I feel like losing Buster Posey was the biggest factor for the giants, his pitch calling was huge for SF

[@ebscoHOSTpub]

I loved how from like mida May to the end of the September, there were so many "not sustainable" or "How is this sustainable?" posts. Loved it.

[@amwchicago5276]

This is why I love baseball

[@kenSpiffyJr.]

Great video!

[@ZiddyN]

it was a legendary season. I had good times all year, thanks for the memory

[@hollandaster8230]

god as a Padres fan it’s hard to deny how beautiful this season is for the Giants. nothing quite like it and will certainly be admired for decades. special team

[@user-jv9qz2bu1r]

Crawford career year Posey - great year Belt - career year Slater - 4 pinch hit HRs Soilano - great year different hero every day

[@54raynor]

The 2000 Seattle Mariners won 91 games and made the playoffs, but would lose the biggest free agent in MLB history when A-Rod (10.4 WAR) signed his famous $252 million deal with Texas. Seattle’s offseason adds consisted of Bret Boone (0.2 WAR in 2000 and never a 2 WAR player at that point) and a singles hitter from Japan named Ichiro Suzuki. The two improbably combined for 16.5 WAR, and the Mariners tied the MLB record with 116 wins. Sometimes, baseball happens.

[@sporer_]

Haircut lookin good as hell, Jack!

[@dead2me810]

I'd rather be proud of a failing regular season than be a Dodgers fan proud of a 60 game world series that wasn't even played at Chavez Latrine.

[@ArJayDM]

🫡 id rather be anything than a dodgers fan