Giants Baseball with Ben Kaspick

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit benkaspick.substack.comThe San Francisco Giants’ offense has hit a breaking point. After a winless road trip, two runs in three games at Tropicana Field, and a six-game losing streak, the SF Giants are reportedly calling up top prospect Bryce Eldridge and versatile catcher/utility option Jesus Rodriguez ahead of a huge series against the San Diego Padres.Ben Kaspick breaks down why the Giants’ decision is exciting, necessary, and maybe even a little desperate. Bryce Eldridge has mashed in Triple-A, showing huge raw power, strong walk rates, elite hard-hit data, and serious upside as a 21-year-old first baseman/DH. But his high strikeout rate raises real questions—and so does the roster fit. With Rafael Devers locked in at first base/DH despite brutal early-season struggles, and Casey Schmitt swinging one of the hottest bats on the team, where exactly does Eldridge play?The episode also digs into Jesus Rodriguez, acquired in the Camilo Doval trade, and what his low-strikeout, high-contact profile could mean for a Giants roster that has struggled badly to generate offense. Could Rodriguez push Patrick Bailey for playing time? Could Eric Haase, Jerar Encarnacion, Will Brennan, or Christian Koss be affected by the roster moves?Also discussed: Rafael Devers’ alarming strikeout rate, Casey Schmitt’s breakout, Luis Arraez’s surprising value, the Giants’ lack of walks, Buster Posey’s roster construction challenge, Tony Vitello’s role, bullpen bright spots, NL Wild Card math, and why the San Francisco Giants’ season is already starting to feel fragile.Independent, ad-free SF Giants analysis from Ben Kaspick.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit benkaspick.substack.comThe San Francisco Giants are reportedly in agreement with Harrison Bader on a two-year, $20.5 million deal, and while the move clearly addresses a major need, it also continues the theme of a very “meh” offseason.In this episode of Giants Baseball with Ben Kaspick, Ben breaks down who Harrison Bader actually is, why his 2025 offensive surge is unlikely to be sustainable, and why the SF Giants are really paying for elite center-field defense, leadership, and stability—not a breakout bat.Ben dives into:Why Bader’s contract makes sense when you look past last year’s surface statsStatcast and Outs Above Average data that show just how bad the Giants’ outfield defense was, and how much Bader helpsWhy Jung Hoo Lee may be better suited for a corner spot, and how Bader changes the entire outfield dynamicThe ripple effects for Heliot Ramos, Luis Matos, and Jerar EncarnacionWhy the Giants still look unfinished without a true second basemanConcerns about the rotation and bullpen behind Logan WebbWhat an opportunistic move—whether a trade or a late pitching addition—could mean for the Giants’ playoff hopesThe Giants have added solid players, but the big question remains: have they done enough? With pitchers and catchers reporting soon, the window to push in a little further is closing.👉 The first half of the episode is free. The full episode is available exclusively on Substack.Giants Baseball with Ben Kaspick—independent, ad-free, rational San Francisco Giants analysis.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit benkaspick.substack.comThe San Francisco Giants have officially signed Tyler Mahle to a one-year, $10 million deal, and that move raises more questions than answers.In this episode of Giants Baseball with Ben Kaspick, Ben breaks down why Mahle’s surface-level 2.18 ERA from last season doesn’t tell the full story, what the underlying numbers actually say, and why injury risk looms large for a rotation already packed with uncertainty. He also examines the SF Giants’ broader offseason approach, including their stated reluctance to commit long-term money to pitchers, how internal depth factors into the plan, and what that means for names like Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, and the rest of the staff.Plus:• Why the Giants may still be active via trade• How payroll constraints, deferred money, and managerial costs are shaping decisions• Where the roster looks stronger than it gets credit for, and where it doesn’t• What realistic next moves could still make sense before Spring TrainingIf you’re wondering what the Giants are actually doing this offseason, and whether this roster is good enough as currently constructed, this episode lays it all out.🔒 Full episodes are available exclusively to paid subscribers on Substack.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit benkaspick.substack.comGiants Baseball with Ben Kaspick brings data, insight, and personality together in a smart, independent show breaking down everything happening (and not happening) around the San Francisco Giants. Host Ben Kaspick, who covered the Giants professionally for more than six years at Locked On Giants, returns with deep analysis, sharp perspective, and a decade of podcasting experience.In this episode, Ben recaps a busy and bizarre offseason stretch: Tony Vitello’s unprecedented jump from Tennessee to the Giants dugout, the delayed completion of the coaching staff, rumored hires like Jayce Tingler, Hunter Mense, Justin Meccage, and Frank Anderson, and the club’s push to modernize player development. He breaks down the Giants’ biggest needs for 2026, the early impact of Dylan Cease’s $210M deal on the pitching market, and why San Francisco must get aggressive in free agency and trades if they want to avoid mediocre season.Ben also looks at roster crunches, out-of-options dilemmas, potential trades involving Marco Luciano or Luis Matos, and what league executives are saying about Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai, who multiple MLB insiders predict could land in San Francisco.If you’re a Giants fan who wants smart analysis, front-office context, real roster insight, and zero fluff, you’re in the right place.

The San Francisco Giants have officially missed the playoffs for the eighth time in nine seasons, despite headline moves like acquiring Rafael Devers and signing Willy Adames. How did a roster with Devers, Adames, Matt Chapman, Logan Webb, and Robbie Ray still collapse down the stretch? And what does it say about the SF Giants’ future under Buster Posey’s leadership?In this episode of Giants Baseball with Ben Kaspick, Ben dives into:The brutal 1–15 home stretch that sunk the Giants’ season.Why wasting the prime of Logan Webb is so frustrating, even after three straight 200-inning campaigns.Breakout signs from Bryce Eldridge and what his arrival means for 2026 and beyond.Bob Melvin’s uncertain future as manager and what Zach Manassian’s recent comments reveal.The Giants’ payroll outlook, upcoming free agents (Justin Verlander, Wilmer Flores, Tom Murphy), and potential offseason targets.It’s another season of disappointment in San Francisco, but there are real reasons for hope if Posey and the front office can deliver more bold moves this winter. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit benkaspick.substack.com/subscribe

This debut episode is free for all. Future episodes may be paywalled, with full access for paid subscribers. Your support keeps the show independent and ad-free!The San Francisco Giants recently dropped 15 of 16 at home—their worst stretch since 1901—and the timing couldn’t be stranger. Just two months ago, the SF Giants were one win away from first place in the NL West. Since, after trading for Rafael Devers, the Giants have somehow been the worst team in baseball.In the debut episode of Giants Baseball with Ben Kaspick, host Ben Kaspick breaks down what’s gone wrong: Devers’ strikeout surge, Patrick Bailey’s offensive struggles, the cursed run support for Justin Verlander, and how a 1–15 home stretch sunk their playoff odds to 1.8%.He also digs into how an 8-8 record—instead of an unfathomable 1-15 record—during this recent stretch of home games would have left the Giants in sole possession of a playoff spot. Plus: how Wilmer Flores and Heliot Ramos have fallen flat, and which young bats—Casey Schmitt, Christian Koss—might offer a glimmer of hope for the future.This is an independent, ad-free show. No segments, no scripts, no hot-take factory. Just clear, stat-based San Francisco Giants talk from Ben Kaspick, who’s been covering this team since 2015.Follow and subscribe on all podcast platforms:Substack: benkaspick.comApple: apple.co/4n8xt9FSpotify: bit.ly/Spotify-BKYouTube: bit.ly/YouTube-BKFollow Ben Kaspick on Twitter and Bluesky, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.Twitter/X: x.com/BenKaspickBluesky: bsky.app/profile/benkaspick.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit benkaspick.substack.com/subscribe