SAN FRANCISCO — It was a mucky day by the Bay.
The sort of day — 57 levels and drizzling — when solely the die-hard followers go to the ballgame.
The issue for the Giants is that there are not sufficient die-hard followers to fill Oracle Park for a Friday afternoon Opening Day.
Don’t get me improper — it was an awesome crowd. The decrease bowl was stuffed with engaged and optimistic followers.
And it was trip, save for the climate, the price of concessions, the dearth of star gamers, and the Giants shedding 3-1.
However there weren't 40,711 butts within the seats — a sell-out crowd, because the Giants’ introduced within the seventh inning.
I’m not naive sufficient to purchase that.
Some old school, boots-on-the-ground journalism and some NBC Sports activities Bay Space crowd pictures say the higher deck was three-quarters full, with the mosaic that includes an entire lot of inexperienced seats among the many black and orange. Loads of seats had been accessible on the Giants’ official web site at first pitch.
Perhaps the Giants bought all these tickets. Perhaps they didn’t.
Both means, Giants followers made it clear Friday that they aren’t naive sufficient to purchase what the group is promoting.
Maybe group CEO Larry Baer ought to strive once more to mansplain why this group’s offseason was, in reality, good.
Friday’s crowd was the smallest for a Giants Opening Day at Pac Bell/SBC/AT&T/Oracle Park, and that speaks volumes.
Eradicating the pandemic and strike-affected seasons, Friday was the worst opening day attendance since 1978, when the Giants opened the season at Candlestick Park in entrance of 36,131 followers.
However what was anticipated? The Giants didn't signal a big-ticket free agent this offseason after numerous guarantees from the entrance workplace that this was the yr such a signing would occur.
Aaron Choose mentioned no, and the Giants balked at signing Carlos Correa. One other low season of failure
On the similar time, the Giants have failed to increase Logan Webb — the group’s finest participant (and arguably the one participant value an extension).
Oh, they usually nonetheless look like a .500 baseball group seeking to get fortunate in a few video games over 162.
group invigorates its buyer base. The Giants solely appear eager to worsen theirs.
So it’s telling that the 2 largest ovations within the Opening Day pregame festivities got here not for Webb and Brandon Crawford, however slightly for Sergio Romo and Matt Duffy.
The Romo cheers had been deserved, because the recently-retired Giants legend took to the general public tackle mic and declared, “Play ball!”
However Duffy? Severely?
He’s an awesome man, little doubt, however he solely performed 253 video games for the Giants and was a league-average participant throughout that two-season stretch.
Duffy hit 16 homers in a Giants uniform, however he had a fats cat he’d submit photographs of on social media (relaxation in peace, Skeeter), so he’s a fan-favorite; a #ForeverGiant.
I’ll give the present Giants credit score for this: not like the opposite group within the Bay, they’ve made large investments within the infrastructure of the group, presumably in an effort to win extra video games. However having robotic lawnmowers, umpteen assistant coaches, and a very good coaching advanced in Arizona doesn’t draw informal followers.
And I’m unsure Oracle Park is a draw anymore. It’s a timeless constructing, but it surely exhibits its age and is so costly to go to.
The irony is that this can be a nice yr to fall again in love with baseball. The brand new guidelines, which embrace a pitch timer, make for a markedly higher tv and ballpark expertise. Friday’s recreation was performed in a tidy two hours and 23 minutes. The sport is extra entertaining on this compressed format.
However guidelines aren’t definitely worth the value of admission, and the one-day draw of pomp and circumstance may solely achieve this a lot Friday.
For informal Giants followers, what’s the rationale to return out to see their group on the ol’ ball recreation?
This group has David Villar batting third. He’s an up-and-coming participant, however he’s presently rostered in 5 p.c of Yahoo fantasy baseball leagues. So, yeah, he’s not precisely Shohei Ohtani.
The Giants have good beginning pitchers, however they’re fortunate to pitch half a recreation lately. Even after they pitch nicely, they appear to all be bitten by no matter snake received Matt Cain so a few years in the past.
And I’m sorry, however nobody goes to a ballgame as a result of they heard the group has bullpen.
I suppose the $1 cheaper Coors Mild is sweet (solely $9, now!), and the brand new “6E” wifi within the stadium is a perk, however that’s solely so followers can shortly Google “Who's Blake Sabol?”
All of it comes right down to the truth that if the Giants usually are not going to roster star gamers, they’ll want some new fan favorites. They lack these, too.
This group would kill for a Matt Duffy-type.
And out of doors of adopting a chubby pet, successful video games with some aptitude is the one strategy to create cult heroes.
However after an offseason to neglect, the Giants performed a house opener not value remembering.
Perhaps the vibes will change within the 80 video games to return.
But when they don’t, Friday’s crowd would be the largest of the season.
And it wasn’t pretty much as good as marketed.