2021 MLB Showdown Set -- San Francisco Giants

 We've seen the two World Series teams, but what about the team that had the best regular season? That would be 107 win San Francisco Giants.... but like the 107 win Astros of 2019, they fell short in the postseason. I've been on record in multiple posts on this blog saying that the 2019 Astros are the greatest on-paper Showdown team that I've seen assembled -- could the Giants come close to them?

It would help if they could use this incredible Barry Bonds from 2001, which I've seen a lot of guys on the discord request the Giants re-sign for a game to restart his Hall of Fame clock. 

Unfortunately, the lineup doesn't feature anyone quite that good:

Lineup: San Fran's lineup featured a lot of surprisingly resurgent veterans, who provide a lot of draftable cards. For a mere 170 points, leadoff man Donovan Solano is a fine punt guy for a 5000 point squad. For options in earlier rounds, look no further than Giants legend and possible future Hall of Famer Buster Posey. For 410 points, you can put one of the few OB 10 hitters in the set at the worst offensive position, and he's got 19-20 HR, 17-18 2B for that cheap price! The real value pick has to be Brandon Belt -- OB 9, HR at 16 for only 420 points, he's a potential first rounder for that. Ruf and Crawford are surefire picks for roster spots as OB 9, 18-20 HR guys, especially Crawford at SS. Trade deadline addition Kris Bryant brings a fun (and good looking) card that can fill multiple lineup spots admirably. Evan Longoria's OB 8, 15-17 2B, 18-20 HR card is a really good option at starting 3B for someone at under 300 pts, and even Yaz (though a major step down from his 2020 card) has a 230 pt CF card with elite defense and a wildly fun chart. Although it lacks the starpower of Freeman and Acuna, top to bottom I'll take this lineup over Atlanta's!

Bench: Wilmer Flores really surprised me, and I think he's a great pick at only 210 pts (maybe my starting 3B). After that, there's four pretty similar OB 7 guys - SF had a type! Duggar had the least power, but is ironically the most expensive and most draftable thanks to his varied chart and superior CF defense.

Rotation: The unit that seemed to carry SF to its 107 wins, the rotation is stacked. However, guys like Gausman and Webb faded down the stretch, unfortunately dropping from Tier 1 to Tier 2 cards. Still, these Control 5, 1-16 out guys are legit aces and give them a lethal 1-2 punch... and it's really a 1-2-3 punch, because star value signee Anthony Desclafani (say that five times fast) brings another tier 2 card with his Control 4, 1-17 card. Another guy that the Giants got cheap prior to 2021 season was Alex Wood, who continued his trend of shocking the world with his Tier 3 showdown cards, putting up the draft foundation card -- Control 4, 1-16 out for 400ish points. Rounding out the rotation was former Tier 1 ace Johnny Cueto, sadly now a Tier 4 Control 2, but for 250 points could find himself drafted and plugged in as a serviceable #4 starter in 5000 pt play.

Bullpen: This is getting repetitive but..... another playoff team, another bullpen overflowing with riches. I'm sensing a trend in modern team building..... Here, the Giants have one, two, three, four, FIVE! Tier 2 relievers to turn to, and the crazy part is, that doesn't even include their best bullpen arm! That honor goes to the resurgent, left-for-dead Jake McGee! McGee may have been written off, but he's back in FOIL fashion in 2021 after putting together a Tier 1, Control 5 1-17 out card. Rounding out the bullpen is a tier 3 pitcher who they may never need but, if they do, he should hold his own.

Overall: The Giants are a very balanced and deep team that is built for regular season (and therefore Showdown) success. The pitching is extremely impressive, but seems even stronger considering the depth of the lineup, particularly for NL Rules. Points wise, San Fran clocks in at 7380 points -- pretty dang good for a team that people thought would struggle to crack .500 coming into the year!