SAN FRANCISCO — Matt Chapman’s Tough Week with the Giants

No player on the struggling Giants had a more difficult week than Matt Chapman. Still, the veteran third baseman, known for his leadership in the clubhouse, faced the music during a lengthy session at his locker on Monday, fielding every question thrown his way.

A recent slip-up during the bottom of the ninth inning in a 5-2 loss to the Mets is the talk of the team. Normally a savvy baserunner, Chapman made a key error by getting caught in a rundown.

He owned up to it in private chats with reporters and manager Tony Vitello. “I didn’t miss any signs,” he insisted. “There’s no fluff, just an honest mistake.” In short, he simply misread the situation.

“If I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t go for that stolen base,” Chapman admitted. “I was trying to stay alert, but it was a poor call on my part. If I had stolen second without a hitch, it probably wouldn’t have been an issue, but getting thrown out was a tough blow, especially at a crucial moment.”

With the Giants trailing 5-2 against Mets closer Devin Williams, Chapman’s blunder proved costly. What had the potential to spark a rally fizzled out fast.

Leading off the ninth, Chapman saw that Williams was taking a while to deliver the pitch. After the Giants had already faced one double play, he thought maybe he could avoid another. But, as it turned out, he only ended up disrupting his team’s chances.

“Bad timing,” Chapman reflected. “He was slow to the plate, and as soon as I took off, he picked up the pace. Getting caught stealing at second base? Yeah, that could easily kill a rally. I recognize it’s on me.”

Taking responsibility was crucial for Chapman, especially after a recent incident captured on camera, where he had a heated exchange with teammate Casey Schmidt.

Ironically, it has been a rough five games for Chapman, who has committed three errors since that on-camera incident, all while also dealing with base running issues. It’s been a less-than-stellar week for a player many respect in the locker room.

“When the game gets sloppy, it’s not good,” Chapman said. “But, you know, this isn’t how the team feels or what I think. It happened, and we’ve got to move on.”

The start of the season hadn’t been great for anyone involved.

Vitello pointed out that Chapman’s on-field frustration during the San Diego game was just one of three similar moments that had occurred recently.

Two other incidents had taken place privately, revealed only to the coach, who viewed them positively, noting that they preceded wins.

“I think our players tend to perform best when they let their guard down a little,” he said. “Our coaches speak frankly and just go for it rather than holding back caution. I’d take those moments any day over the alternative.”

Details remained scarce, but Vitello mentioned that Chapman’s exchange was relatively minor compared to the incident with Schmidt and involved some name-calling. Different team members had spoken up each time, hinting at a culture of open communication.

“Our players turned some of this into something constructive in various ways,” Vitello remarked. “As far as I recall, it’s happened three times, and these moments have brought us together, allowing for a more free-flowing game.”

The Giants’ 3-7 start marked the worst record in the National League. To make things worse, they have struggled with a dismal 1-6 mark at home, having been outscored 24-5 in their last three losses against the Mets.

Chapman was responsible for three of the Giants’ eight errors, placing them fifth in the league for mistakes. They’ve allowed three runs or fewer in eight of their ten games, but with an alarming average of just 2.6 runs per game—tied for the worst in the league. Mets announcer Gary Cohen even labeled Chapman’s baserunning blunder as a “cap.” It’s been an undoubtedly tough week for him.

“Things just haven’t clicked yet,” Chapman admitted. “The last thing we want is to look like a sloppy team. We made mistakes in the past that hurt us, which contributed to a less-than-stellar finish last year. But I refuse to let this define our season.”