Giants DFA Joe Panik
On Tuesday, the San Francisco Giants cut second baseman Joe Panik - one of the last remaining 2014 World Series champions on the roster - and longtime fans of the team are remembering his World Series heroics.
Panik played for the Giants for six seasons before getting designated for assignment by the team. The play that his fans are getting nostalgic for happened in Game 7 of the World Series. The Giants had the game knotted at two against Kansas City. The Royals' Eric Hosmer hit a powerful grounder through the middle of the Giants infield and Panik dove to catch the ball, then he flipped it to Brandon Crawford to get Lorenzo Cain out at second.
Crawford then turned that into a double play by throwing Hosmer out at first
Panik released a statement to San Francisco Chronicle beat writer Henry Schulman after the news broke on Tuesday afternoon: "To the fans, it was an amazing 6 seasons," he wrote. "Thank you for all the passion and support you have given us players. Nothing has driven me more than winning here in San Francisco. I am forever grateful for the Giants for taking the chance on me and allowing me to live out my life long dream.
MORE: https://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/giants-cut-joe-panik-game-7-2014-world-series-14285060.php
This season, Panik was hitting .235 and had a .317 slugging percentage. He likely would have been let go at the end of this season, but I guess the Giants need room on the roster now of pitchers.
It's hard to say goodbye, but Panik was just not producing at the plate. It's business, not personal.
= new reply since forum marked as read
