San Francisco Giants: Three Hot Takes from Week 1

Apr 8, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) reacts during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) reacts during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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san francisco giants hot takes
Apr 4, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Hunter Strickland (60) pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning at Chase Field. The Giants won 8-4. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Hot Take 1: The Giants’ Bullpen is Going Nowhere Fast

Wait, where is the hot take? Most people have never heard of baseball fans complaining about their team’s bullpen. That never happens. Starting pitchers always go six or seven innings, and then a few trusty relievers come in to finish the job and slam the door. Joy is had by all. Fans hold hands and sing Kumbaya. Such is baseball!

Rarely.

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The San Francisco Giants bullpen is simply off to a horrible start. Through seven games, the bullpen has blown six leads. No sugar-coating, that is bad. Not 2013 Giants bad, but not good, to say the least. The team needs to buckle down, and right the ship together.

There have been few bright spots out of the bullpen, and for all the money thrown at big-time relievers like Mike Melancon, the ship needs to be righted soon. Melancon just got his first save of the year on Sunday, but a 50 percent save rate won’t get your team that fourth ring anytime soon.

Derek Law has been given the 8th inning set-up man job, but has yet to showcase the ability that Bruce Bochy and the Giants know he has. He has been a middle of the road pitcher, but then again, most of the bullpen has been as well.

There, that’s your hot take.