It’s been a year since September, 2018. That’s not exactly news, but hopefully you’re not here for the news.

I had some baseball thoughts that September. I don’t remember all of my thoughts, but here’s one I’m pretty sure I didn’t have: “I’m looking forward to 2019.”

The San Francisco Giants September was ugly. Horrendous. Repulsive. Worse yet, it was lacking in silver linings. As they moseyed their way to a 5-21 record and a -57 run differential, the Giants gave us nothing. Absolutely nothing.

They were devoid of young players doing exciting things. They were lacking vision and direction. I fully anticipated Bobby Evans to double-down on the Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen trades, sending Heliot Ramos to Detroit in exchange for Miguel Cabrera sometime around January.

That didn’t happen, obviously. They fired Evans, hired Farhan Zaidi, and started doing interesting things. Things like not trading prospects for expensive veterans in regression. Things like signing fascinating minor leaguers. Things like trying to sign Bryce Harper.

Now here we are, with the 2019 season dwindling away, and the 2020 season just . . . /checks notes . . . 193 days away.

And I’m officially excited.

The Giants have used more players this year - by a sizable margin - than in any year prior. And the result is Mike Yastrzemski, and Alex Dickerson, and Donovan Solano, and Tyler Rogers, and Trevor Gott, and Logan Webb, and Mauricio Dubon, and Jaylin Davis, and Sam Selman, and so many other names that are coming soon to a Sporcle quiz near you.

Some were acquired via trade, some simply signed, some already in the system when Zaidi took over. But they’re exciting. They’re promising. They may or may not be a part of the next good Giants team, or even the next Giants team, period. But they might be!

I’m still enjoying the 2019 season, as Bruce Bochy says his farewells, the aforementioned players get the opportunity to develop, and baseball continues to be a beautiful, enjoyable sport. I’ll be sad when the season ends.

But I’m already looking forward to 2020. I’m looking forward to the moves Zaidi makes over the offseason that I don’t realize will be as good as they are. I’m looking forward to the suddenly thrilling farm system taking steps forward, and the debuts of numerous potential core players.

It was hard to fathom, this time last year, that it would be worth getting excited about a Giants team that’s half a year away. But here we are.

I quite like it.