SF Giants Struggle: Devers and Adames Woes [Audio Analysis]

HOST

From DailyListen, I'm Alex. The San Francisco Giants are dead last in the NL West, 13-16 this year after back-to-back walk-off losses. That's two gut punches right there, and the harsh truth? Star signings like Rafael Devers and Willy Adames are bombing out, even with new manager Tony Vitello's big arrival. Fans hoped for a turnaround from that 81-81 slog last year, but nope. Why's this hitting so hard for a team with eight World Series titles, tied for fourth-most ever? We're joined by Maya, our culture analyst, to unpack the fan frustration and what these stumbles say about Giants baseball right now.

MAYA

Two walk-off losses in a row dropped them to last in the NL West at 13-16. That's the first gut punch—games you can taste, where one swing flips everything. But the second lands on Rafael Devers, their big first-base acquisition. He's at a 0.350 wOBA this season, with just a 0.210 ISO, two home runs, nine RBI over 704 at-bats. SF Standard calls his OPS one of the lowest in baseball. Willy Adames, the other splashy add, is slumping too—no pop from either. Tony Vitello's hype as the fresh manager? It's flatlining early. Fans see echoes of the 684-701 skid since 2017. This isn't random; it's the Giants' pattern of high hopes crashing into early-season ice.

HOST

Devers' numbers scream slump—two homers in 704 at-bats? That's painful for a guy they banked on. But eight World Series rings don't vanish. How's last place messing with the diehards who've stuck through 39 winning seasons, most from the San Francisco days?

MAYA

Giants fans know glory—those eight titles tie them for fourth all-time, with 39 winning seasons, the first 14 straight after moving west. But last place stings because it's familiar fog. Think 2019: third of five in the NL West, 77-85. Or 1976 under B. Rigney: 74-88. Now 13-16 echoes that. The harsh truth hits here—no quick fix from Vitello's arrival or Devers-Adames duo. Baseball-reference logs it all: pitchers like J. Samardzija's 3.4 WAR in 2019 couldn't save them alone. Fans pack Oracle Park anyway, but social feeds buzz with "same old Giants." It's not panic yet—29 games in—but the vibe's shifted from "new era" posts to memes of walk-off ghosts. That loyalty's tested when stars whiff.

HOST

Walk-offs are brutal, but Devers' ISO at 0.210? That's barely extra-base threat. Vitello's supposed to spark this—any sign his style's clashing with these guys?

MAYA

Vitello walked in with sky-high buzz, but those two walk-offs expose the disconnect. Devers' 0.350 wOBA means weak contact, no power—0.210 ISO is bottom-tier, per Fantasy Team Advice stats. Adames mirrors it, no juice. Harsh truth: acquisitions flop without chemistry. SF Standard nails it—these aren't tweaking; they're ice-cold. Vitello's college roots scream analytics and speed, but Giants' 13-16 says slow starts persist. Since 2017, 684-701 overall. Fans gripe on Reddit: "Paid for mashers, got middles." It's the third straight year under .500 pace early. Vibe's gone from parade dreams to "fire sale whispers."

HOST

Fans calling for fire sales already? Oof. But they had 81-81 last year—decent parity. What's the one stat that shows this last-place rut's deeper than two bad games?

MAYA

The 684-701 record since 2017. That's the harsh truth anchor—below .500 for nine years straight. Last year 81-81 felt like progress, but 13-16 now drags them below division rivals. Devers' two homers? That's drought math: one every 352 at-bats. Compare to 1932 New York Giants days—M. Ott cranked 8.3 WAR in 154 games amid their sixth-place finish. Modern Giants chase that spark, but Vitello's crew lacks it. No injuries detailed, no roster tweaks flagged—just poor output from headliners. Fan pods like "Giants Talk" dissect it: "Adames-Devers bust?" It's the pattern—hype, then haze. Oracle bleachers half-full midweek, but tailgates still rage. Loyalty holds, but hope frays.

HOST

Nine years under .500 overall? That's a grind. No injury excuses in the mix either. How do these walk-offs replay in fan heads, tying back to that storied past?

MAYA

Walk-offs replay like nightmares because they steal momentum Giants crave. Last place after them? Pure gut punch. Ties to history—1932 New York Giants went 17-23 under J. McGraw early, or 55-59 under B. Terry, landing sixth of eight. Fast-forward: SF's 77-85 in 2019, third but no playoffs. Fans relive it on Baseball-Reference threads, comparing Devers' slump to eras without anchors. His nine RBI? League-low pace. Vitello's postgame on Tyler Mahle? Blamed pitching breakdowns, per Facebook clips. No Adames specifics, but duo's drag is clear. Culture shift: TikToks mock "Vitello curse," shifting from hype reels. It's raw—39 winning seasons mean fans expect fight, not fold.

HOST

TikToks turning on Vitello fast? Wild. But eight titles say they've bounced back before. Does the NL West pack make last place feel worse, or is it all internal flop?

MAYA

NL West grind amplifies it—Dodgers, Padres loaded, so 13-16 buries Giants quick. Internal flop owns it, though. Devers' 0.210 ISO means grounders, not gaps. SF Standard spotlights lowest OPS club-wide from stars. No gap-fillers like 1976's J. Montefusco 6.4 WAR. Vitello's anticipated, but wins lag. Harsh truth: 704 at-bats for Devers yield peanuts—two bombs. Fan culture flips: "House of Giants" subs drop boycott threats. But attendance holds—loyalty from World Series runs. It's the fourth early stumble this decade. Vibe now? Coffee shop rants over "wasted payroll." Bounce-back tales exist, like post-2019 tweaks, but clock's ticking at one-third season.

HOST

Payroll torched on flops like Devers—704 at-bats, nine RBI. Brutal. No details on those walk-offs—who'd they lose to, or is that the fog?

MAYA

Fog exactly—no opponent names, dates, or hero moments pinned down. That's the gap fueling fan theories. Two walk-offs straight? Classic gut punches, dropping to last at 13-16. Devers' line—0.350 wOBA, league-worst OPS tier—means bats silent when it counts. Adames echoes the quiet. Vitello's fix? Undetailed, but SF Standard says arrival's no magic. Since 2017's 684-701, it's pattern: promise, then plod. Fans hit X with "same script," no specifics needed. Harsh truth—no external scapegoat. Oracle Park echoes emptier, but diehards chant anyway.

HOST

No walk-off details leaves fans filling blanks. Fair. With no roster shakeups noted, what's Vitello facing to flip this?

MAYA

Vitello faces star slumps without quick levers—no injury lists or trades flagged. Devers' two HRs scream adjustment lag; Willy Adames matches the meh. Manager's college polish meets MLB meat grinder. 13-16 pace worse than 2025's 81-81. Giants lore—eight rings, 39 winners—demands response. But 2019's third place cooled hopes too. Culture beat: podcasters like "Knbr Giants" push "small ball pivot." TikTok shifts to "rebuild" tags. It's early May, 2026—room to rally, but two punches landed hard. Fans text lines: "Trust process?" Vibe's wary watch.

HOST

Small ball whispers already? From power bats to that? Ties to the big history drop-off.

MAYA

History drop-offs prime it—1932 New York Giants sixth despite M. Ott's 8.3 WAR. SF mirrors: talent flashes, team fizzles. Devers' 0.210 ISO? Powerless pivot bait. Vitello eyes grit over bombs. No Adames stats deep-dive, but duo's drag clear. 13-16 last place tests "new era." Since 2017, 684-701 proves patience thin. Fan spots like EBSCO research nod loyal base, but attendance dips midweek. Harsh truth: eight titles distant, 39 wins fading memory. Social's alive—"Vitello out?" polls spike. It's the shift from roar to rumble.

HOST

Polls calling for Vitello's head? Steep. But no other culprits like injuries detailed. How's this landing in the broader baseball fan chat?

MAYA

Baseball chat lumps Giants with "big spend, small win" clubs. Devers-Adames splash? Fizzling like 2019's 77-85 third. SF Standard frames it: lowest OPS from keys. Vitello's no savior yet. Gaps—no loss recaps, no Adames slice—let narratives run. 13-16 worse than 2025 tie. Culture pulse: StatMuse last-10 trends tanking. Fans cross-post NFL Giants memes—New York's 1925 start had Tim Mara grit, eight titles later. SF's eight rings? Dusty. Vibe's "wait and wince." Podcasts debate: chemistry or curse?

HOST

NFL Giants memes bleeding over? That's low. Wrapping the punches—last place, star busts, no easy outs.

HOST

Last place after those walk-offs cuts deep, especially with Devers' empty bats. Maya's broken down the slumps, the history weighing heavy, and that nagging 684-701 since 2017. Giants fans, you've got eight rings in the bank—hold tight. I'm Alex. Thanks for listening to DailyListen.