What we learned as Giants close out 2025 MLB season with sweep of Rockies originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — As the Giants finished up a sweep of the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, it was hard not to think about what might have been.
Sure, the Rockies are one of the worst teams ever, but had the Giants shown this same energy against the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates over the last week of July, they might be preparing for the Wild Card round right now. Instead, it was another 81-81 season after a 4-0 win in Game 162.
The Giants have finished exactly .500 just twice in their long history. They did it in 2022 and again this year, which was just as disappointing as that campaign that came on the heels of 107 wins.
After being double-digit games over .500 when they traded for Rafael Devers in June, they fell apart. Losing 15 of 16 at home in July and August wrecked their season, and this week, they had to win their final four just to avoid a losing season.
The final day was at least entertaining. Willy Adames broke the 30-homer drought, and Logan Webb made team history in his 34th start of the season.
IT’S OVER
There are late lineup changes a couple of times a month, usually because of an injury during BP. Sunday’s change was maybe the most interesting of the year.
A few minutes before first pitch, the Giants announced that Adames had been moved up to the leadoff spot, a change that was very clearly meant to maximize his ability to reach 30 homers. Adames didn’t need the extra at-bat.
On the first pitch he saw, Adames blasted a sinker from McCade Brown over the center field wall. He became the first Giant since Barry Bonds in 2004 to reach 30 homers, and he did it with a second-half explosion. The homer was Adames’ first leadoff blast in the big leagues, which made sense; he had not hit first since 2018.
The Giants should have multiple good options to make it two years in a row in 2026. In addition to Adames and Matt Chapman, who finished three short last year, they’ll have a full season of Rafael Devers. His solo shot Sunday gave him 20 in 90 games as a Giant and 35 overall. There’s always Bryce Eldridge, too …
The Workhorse
Weeks ago, the Giants moved Webb up a day so that he could face the Dodgers twice and be lined up for Game 162 if it was needed. They ended up falling short in the playoff race, but Webb still had a lot to pitch for Sunday.
The right-hander entered the day tied with two others atop the NL strikeout leaderboard, and he wrapped that up in the first when he struck out the side. Webb finished with 224 strikeouts, 30 more than his previous high in the big leagues.
Webb was just about a lock to lead the NL in innings for a third straight year, but by pitching into the sixth, he also passed Boston’s Garret Crochet and won the MLB title for a second time in three years. Webb became the first Giant since 1944 to lead the NL in both innings and strikeouts.
Good Giant
Bob Melvin gave Wilmer Flores a start on Saturday, but he didn’t feel that was enough. Flores was in the lineup again Sunday, with Melvin saying he wanted to let him feel the love from Giants fans. In the top of the third, Flores was removed from the game and received a standing ovation.
The 34-year-old is almost certainly done as a Giant, and given how teams view aging curves, he might have some difficulty finding a good opportunity this winter. His run in San Francisco, though, will always be appreciated.
Flores played 667 games for the organization over six seasons, hitting 92 homers and driving in 313 runs. A former Willie Mac Award winner, he might be the most popular player in the clubhouse. Melvin said Sunday that Flores never complained this season, despite the fact that his playing time got cut by the Devers, Dominic Smith and Bryce Eldridge moves.
“I have as much respect for Wilmer Flores as anybody I’ve ever managed,” he said.
