CLINCHED!

SF Giants Minor Lines, June 18, 2025

Photo Credit: San Jose Giants

One of this week’s mailbag questions concerned the import of low-levels championships and playoff teams. It’s a good question! It feels like we’ve seen low level teams turn in playoff performances for years, only for that talent to drizzle out into losing squads by the time they reach the upper levels. This year is certainly on pace to continue that trend. Richmond has spent the first half in the running for the worst record in all the minor leagues, while Sacramento is, as they perpetually are, lolling along a bit under .500 (the 2024 River Cats posted a winning record for just the second time since the club has been a Giants’ affiliate).

Still, I maintain that if the goal is to produce well-rounded “winning ballplayers,” then it stands to reason those players need to have some experience at actually….you know….winning. And so, in these digital pages of There R Giants, we will always celebrate those who thrive in competitive moments …. even if that thriving is confined to the lowest levels.

The San Jose Giants have punched their ticket to the Cal League playoffs, and we’ll see how much the squad that enters those playoffs, some two and half months from now, resembles this group that got them there. The ACL Giants have put themselves in position for a place in the complex league playoffs, and the DSL squads are off to excellent starts.

Winning is good. Winning is a habit that needs to be formed, and it hones the competitive instincts. While a lot of development involves mechanical adjustments and metrics chasing, it cannot be forgotten that the point of all of this self-improvement is for the team to win. And today, we celebrate a winning team.

Go Giants (San Jose version)!

HITTER of the NIGHT: Jakob Christian (SJ), 4 for 4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
PITCHER of the NIGHT: Dylan Carmouche (Eug), 5.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K

Let’s head to Clinch City….er, the Minor Lines!