RIP Brandon Belt. I can’t quite explain it, but he’s been my favorite Giant all these years, even though the team has had Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, Madison Bumgarner, Hunter Strickland, and Nick Hundley all these years. He’s been the best hitter on the team over the past few seasons and I think his quiet confidence and unassuming attitude felt genuine and different enough that I couldn’t help but appreciate (over-appreciate?) him.
It’s not often when the top athletes feel like guys you’d want to hang out with — I definitely would’ve liked to hang out one night with him.