Giants CEO: 2016 NLDS loss to Cubs was 'like getting hit by a 2-by-4'

Count San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer among the people who had their hearts broken by even-year magic.

"It was like getting hit by a 2-by-4," Baer told Bob Nightengale of USA Today regarding the team's bullpen collapse in Game 4 of the National League Division Series. "When you step back, you had guys that had never lost a playoff series. They were not used to this."

Entering the 2016 postseason as a wild-card team, the Giants had won the 2010, 2012, and 2014 World Series while failing to reach the playoffs in the odd years in between.

The Giants, trailing the NLDS matchup with the eventual champion Chicago Cubs by two games to one, held a 5-2 lead going into the ninth inning on the back of Matt Moore's eight-inning gem. In the final frame, five different relief pitchers combined to give up four runs on five hits, squandering the lead.

"I'm not blaming that game on this season," Baer continued, "but it was a big blow to the culture here, and we've seen things go so bad this year for players who aren't used to losing."

The team still boasts a roster with stars including Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, and Brandon Crawford but, at 46-70, sits firmly in last place in the NL West.

When prompted about whether the epic meltdown has played into the team's struggles in 2017, Posey told Nightengale, "If it did, I wouldn't tell you. But no, honestly, I don't think so."

Baer still believes the team will be back next season, in an even year. "This is August, 2017, but in our view, 2018 has started now. It's an even year. And even years around here means playoffs."