After a season of countless wins, the Giants want even bigger wins, shortstop Brandon Crawford said.
“The goal is to be the last team standing,” said Crawford, who knows that. I have already experienced it twice. That’s our mindset this year.”
San Francisco and Crawford hit record highs in a 107-win season last year.
The Giants set a club record with 241 homers and led the major leagues in wins.
Crawford, a World Series winner in 2012 and 2014, has set personal bests in nearly every offensive aspect in 2021.
He added his usual defense contribution, earning his third Gold Glove.
Crawford had personal bests with 24 home runs and 90 RBIs. He hit 30 doubles and hit .298.
The 35-year-old finished fourth in the National’s Most Valuable Player poll.
Crawford received four first-place votes, behind Bryce Harper (17) and Juan Soto (six).
The Giants also had brilliant results from first baseman Brandon Belt, in particular.
Additionally, a total of 17 players hit at least five home runs.
Oracle Park has never been known as hitter-friendly, but “collectively I think we’ve done a good job of changing that perception,” Crawford said.
Crawford spoke of a new batting approach developed with manager Gabe Kapler and his assistants ahead of the 2020 season. An approach that was refined in 2021.
“Brandon made some mechanical changes, but he was also open to new, more demanding styles of training,” Kapler said.
After a career low of .228 in 2019, Crawford was “a little open to anything.”
“We worked hard on the trajectory of my stick. We made an adjustment to simplify everything, said Crawford. I feel like I have this muscle memory that will guide my momentum.”
The Giants will play their inaugural game on April 8 at home against the Miami Marlins.
