Why Oracle Park is the Best Stadium in Baseball
Picture this, it's a warm summer Sunday in San Francisco. The Giants are playing a 1 pm game at Oracle Park. You drive into the city and park in a lot off the Embarcadero. You take the 30-minute bayside walk to the stadium, passing by dog parks and live music. You stop at Mo’s with your crew for a quick pregame drink and make your way across the street. You walk past statues of Giants icons like Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, and Willie McCovey. You didn’t want to spend much, so you are sitting in the upper deck of the 300s. You grab a crazy krab sandwich and take your seat. Pictured below what you see from your nosebleed seats. A stadium built on the water. It’s not just the view, it’s the die-hard fans who show up and show out to each game, no matter the state of the team. Lou Seal and his iconic spirit he brings. Tony Bennett's " I Left My Heart in San Francisco” ringing through the speakers after every win. The iconic food selection, from garlic fries to Ghirardelli. This stadium opened up in 2000, where Barry Bonds hit the first ever splash hit into the bay. The splash hit tradition carries on with 108 homers launched into the bay by the Giants. The kayakers in the water, no matter the weather ready to pounce on every ball. The iconic Coca-Cola slide and mitt in the outfield stand strong. No stadium will ever compare to the vibes, looks, and spirit of Oracle Park in San Francisco.
Predicting the 2026 Opening Day Lineup
The Giants will host the New York Yankees on March 25 to open the 2026 season. As the off-season begins, the Giants will need to make some roster changes. Here is what I think the opening day roster will look like. Starting with the opening day pitcher, I believe the Giants will pick up a new ace to take over the spot of Logan Webb. Ideally, that pitcher would be Dylan Cease; if not, Zach Gallen or Max Fried would be great additions. Moving on to infielders at first base, I think Bryce Johnson will earn the opening day spot. At second base, I see Casey Schmitt there on opening day. Shortstop and third base are very locked with Adames at short and Chapman at third. In the outfield, I believe the Giants will go after Kyle Tucker, and he will be the starting right fielder in March for the Giants. In center field and left field, there won't be a change keeping Heliot Ramos and Jung Hoo Lee at their spots. Of course, at catcher, 2025 Gold Glove winner Patrick Bailey will remain. Hopefully, Bailey will be able to sort out his hitting slump because he is so valuable behind the plate. As the DH, the power-hitting Rafael Devers will remain. In the bullpen, I see the Giants going back to Tyler Rogers after trading him before the deadline last season. The winter meetings begin in December, where we will see who Buster Posey will be targeting.
Next Moves for the Giants
It all begins with an idea.
After another .500 season, it is very apparent that the Giants must pursue an aggressive offseason. Letting go of Bob Melvin and hiring Tony Vitello was a step in the right direction. Buster Posey proved last offseason that he can go out and acquire stars. Adding Devers was a huge move for the Giants. What is next for them? Looking at who is available, the Giants should start by going after pitching. Dylan Cease would be a major help to the Giants’ rotation alongside Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. Another pitcher that could be an option if he becomes available to trade for would be the 2024 Cy Young winner, Tarik Skubal. If the Tigers offer up Skubal, he could be another huge addition to the Giants’ pitching staff. Moving on to bats, anyone from Bichette, Tucker, or Alonso could make a major impact next season. With already established players like Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, and Rafael Devers, adding at least one more big bat could boost the Giants into a more successful season and increase playoff hopes. Bryce Johnson is also someone to keep an eye out for next season. He was pulled up late last season in hopes of starting a successful career. He didn’t have his shining moment quite yet, but he should be someone to keep watch this season. We also got great news that former star manager Bruce Bochy would be joining the Giants’ front office. It will be interesting to see how he fits in and if Posey decides to bring back any former World Series teammates for more assistance. With strong new leadership, 2026 looks bright for the San Francisco Giants.
The Financial State of Baseball
It all begins with an idea.
As we look back on past dynasties, it's easy to wonder about the impact of the current situation on how dynasties are made today. A famous baseball team that took over the league was the 1996 to 2009 New York Yankees, who won 5 out of 7 World Series titles during those years. The Yankees were very willing to spend money on players, but also had a focus on building their farm system. There was a mix of homegrown talent, including all-time great shortstop Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Bernie Williams, alongside additional stars acquired, such as CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira. Another strong dynasty in the 2000s was the San Francisco Giants. The Giants were dominant and won 3 championships from 2010 to 2014. The key players in these World Series wins were homegrown. Posey, Bumgardener, and Lincecum, to name a few, were the stars of this team during their streak. The Giants do have money, but have never been the highest spenders; they typically fall into the middle of the league when it comes to spending. To take a sharp turn, we move onto the most recent dominant team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers have won back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025, and 1 championship during the shortened COVID season. The Dodgers are the highest spenders in the league and are spending $200 million more than the average team. Their constant roster moves during the offseason have kept their team at the top. They have acquired star players who have led them to victory without many team-developed players. Their most notable acquisitions have been Mookie Betts in 2020, Freddie Freeman in 2022, and the highest contract in all of sports, Shohei Ohtani in 2023. These 3 players will cost the Dodgers over $1.2 billion over the next 10 years, disregarding the deferral of payment. This team is a classic example of the state of baseball today, without any cap or floor on what a team can spend. A change must be made to bring back classic baseball and real competition. From the Sacramento Athletics to the Los Angeles Dodgers, we can clearly see the deficit in how money is being used in baseball.
