San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has read this script before.
In July, 2019, a Giants team that was sinking toward the bottom of the National League suddenly came up for air and ripped off 17 wins in a 20-game stretch that suggested the club might have some magic left in it for Bruce Bochy’s final ride.
In the last days before the trade deadline, the Giants began to struggle, losing three of five as the bats went silent and the pitching showed signs of wear and tear.
Even in a condensed 60-game season, the Giants’ path leading up to the 2020 trade deadline looks familiar.