SF Giants: Gabe Kapler says he ‘still believes’ in Trevor Gott
By Justin Fried
SF Giants’ manager recently stated that he ‘still believes in’ closer Trevor Gott.
The SF Giants haven’t exactly enjoyed the most success over the last few days. And that might just be the understatement of the entire season thus far.
The Giants entered their three-game series against the crosstown Oakland Athletics on Friday having lost five of their last seven games including three of their last four.
And while a three-game series against one of the hottest teams in baseball wasn’t exactly ideal, the Giants hoped that they could at least steal a game and turn their fortunes around a little.
That was until they got swept in perhaps the most painful way possible.
San Francisco made history blowing two huge ninth-inning leads in consecutive games before getting absolutely demolished in Sunday’s game by a final score of 15-3.
The bullpen was the impetus behind the first two games, particularly closer Trevor Gott. However, despite his struggles, manager Gabe Kapler still seems to have faith in him.
When speaking to reporters following Saturday’s meltdown, Kapler insisted that he “still believes in Trevor Gott.”
Gott was named the team’s closer early in the season and he actually fared quite well over the first few weeks of the year. In his first six games, Gott allowed just one run and recorded four saves.
But it all fell apart in the Bay Bridge Series.
Gott allowed nine runs and a whopping four home runs in two games against the A’s with seven of the runs coming off the bats of Stephen Piscotty and Mark Canha.
It’s safe to say that the two local Bay Area products have Gott’s number.
Yet despite his disastrous showings, Kapler is sticking with him. Perhaps that’s because he doesn’t really have much else at his disposal.
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Trevor Gott hasn’t been the only SF Giants reliever to disappoint in 2020.
Kapler has taken a lot of heat for the way that he’s managed the bullpen this season and while much of that is valid, it’s important to remember the players he’s working with.
The Giants went into 2020 with three relievers they trusted in late-inning scenarios — Gott, Tony Watson, and Tyler Rogers. Rogers has allowed 11 earned runs in 11 innings and has accounted for 20 percent of the team’s losses.
Watson has been better, but the Giants’ bullpen is still one of the weakest in baseball. At some point, the blame must shift to the players to perform rather than a manager who’s clearly working with his hands tied.
Nonetheless, Gott will be given the chance to turn things around as the Giants look to do the same following their calamitous three-game series against the A’s.
dark. Next. SF Giants: Blunders by Gabe Kapler continue to hurt the team
Here’s to hoping that both can turn it around before it’s too late.