© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
For a team that lost 98 games just a year ago, the San Francisco Giants had every reason to throw in the towel. After seeing the success that rebuilding brought the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros, some teams who lost less than 98 games, such as the Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays, traded away just about any hope of competing in 2018 with hopes of brightening their future.
But not the Giants.
In fact, newly-signed left-handed reliever Tony Watson said on KNBR’s Giants Hot Stove on Tuesday night that after facing the Giants last season their unbreakable winning mindset was evident and played a key role in his decision to sign with them over several other teams.
“Facing these guys last year, I think they swept us in Pittsburgh,” Watson said. “The book was, ‘don’t look at the record, these guys are still the same guys.’ So I don’t know what happened last year, but it just didn’t have the feel of a 98-loss team on the field.”
After the dust settled from last year’s regular season, the Giants were at a crossroads. Would they trade away their beloved stars for minor league return or build around their proven, but aging, core for another postseason run.
The Giants quickly made their decision, trading for Evan Longoria in late December and eventually acquiring Andrew McCutchen, Austin Jackson, and now Watson.
“The one thing about the Giants is they’re always going to go for it and they’re always going try to get the ring,” Watson said. “Winning is No. 1 priority over here. I started looking around the clubhouse and looking at the additions they made, bringing in Longo, bringing in Cutch and started looking down the roster and guys that have been here, the core is still in tact.”
Watson’s numbers in the postseason are impressive — 2.25 ERA with five strikeouts in 12 innings pitched — but his efforts have so far gone unrewarded. He came closest to his first World Series title with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing only one run.
Yet, now a 32-year-old veteran of seven seasons, Watson knows his days as one of baseball’s top relievers are numbered and he’s excited to help the Giants in their efforts to contend in 2018.
“The postseason is always priority over here and that’s what it’s all about, especially at my point in my career,” Watson said. “Tasting it with the Dodgers last year and a little bit with Pittsburgh, but just to go on those runs deep into October for the city and for the fans and for the team, that’s what it’s all about.”
