OT congrats to the SF Giants

[h2oya311]

Wow, what a game! Congrats to the SF Giants! Incredible pitching on both sides...

[icollectDCsports]

Bumgarner's WS is one for the ages. The Royals had a special chemistry this postseason, but the Giants also have a great team chemistry and the type of grit that is necessary to win in the playoffs and WS. Congrats to the Giants. 3 in 5 years. Sabean and Bochy have done a great job. Bochy now a lock for HOF.

[Kenny Cole]

Wow. Bumgarner is just about the biggest stud I have ever seen. What a post-season player!!!! His performance is one for the ages. Totally impressed and cannot really say more because I am simply out of words.

[Orioles1954]

Thank you Giants! Now the 1979 Baltimore Orioles have been avenged

[edjs]

Awesome series from both teams! Talk about being on edge until the end! That was an awesome, just awesome series. Did I mention it was awesome?

[Louieman]

Wow! Man, just a total wave of stress off my shoulders. Probably aged a few years this playoffs, but totally worth it. Grew up a die-hard since the late 80s. Experienced so many years of painful, devastating baseball. But it's so nice to experience these golden years, especially with my dad, who has been here through it all. Way to go Giants!

[Louieman]

...and just to add, have to tip my cap to the Royals. Just a totally outstanding team, no question the best we've played on this 5yr run of ours. Royals fans should hold their heads high, you guys played so well. Truly made us earn it, all the way to the end

[Rickyy]

Brian Sabean to 25 year old Madison Bumgarner after the National League Championship Series... “What the hell are you going to do when you grow up?”

Congrats El Gigantes! 3 in 5!

Ricky Y

[barrysloate]

Congratulations to the Giants for their kangaroo straight dynasty! What an organization they are, from top to bottom.

Bumgarner's accomplishment will be the gold standard for all future World Series performances. How do you pitch like that on two days rest? And if you're a Giants fan, didn't the hit and two base error with two outs in the ninth give you a near heart attack?

I too am a Giants fan since 1962, and after 48 lean years, including the train wreck sixth game of 2002, I never imagined I would ever get to see even one championship team. To now have three is the unthinkable.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by Rickyy

Brian Sabean to 25 year old Madison Bumgarner after the National League Championship Series... “What the hell are you going to do when you grow up?”

And the ownership partners to Sabean- "you've got this guy for five more years at $10M a year!" What an unreal postseason performance by Bum, definitely one for the ages.

I mentioned in another thread, win or lose in game 7, I think this year was also Bochy's most impressive as Giants manager. This team had to adapt several times this year, deal with major injuries, but still managed to get in and to win at the most important times. Again, they exemplify true team (virtually everyone is a key contributor) and the power of playing feerless, confident, clean baseball. I can't wait to cheer them on this Friday.

Congrats Giants!! (and tip of the cap to the Royals)

[barrysloate]

The Giants had a ten game lead in June when their record was 42-21, then proceeded to play so badly for so long it looked like they might not even make the playoffs. It was a very difficult season for them, and this championship certainly wasn't expected as the regular season wound down.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

The Giants had a ten game lead in June when their record was 42-21, then proceeded to play so badly for so long it looked like they might not even make the playoffs. It was a very difficult season for them, and this championship certainly wasn't expected as the regular season wound down.

Yes 2014 was a crazy season indeed. That early season 42-21 team was also winning largely by power (Morse, Belt, Hicks, etc) albeit unexpected, while their defense and starting pitching was playing at a subpar level. It's been a nearly complete reversal since, and following a couple terrible stretches, they still got in, then got it done.

Each run has seemed totally unique, as opposed to being a continuation of the previous. 2010 was probably still the most surprising, and 2012 saw them overcome 2x major series deficits... But this year may be the strangest (and very satisfying) combination of injuries, stop gaps, patch work, unexpected contributors, and in the end heart... And another championship.

[barrysloate]

Another strange part of the season Ian, at least for me, was the odyssey of Tim Lincecum. After being the Giants ace and phenom for several years, his career began to unravel, but he seemed to stabilize a little early this year. Back in the starting rotation, he pitched admirably although inconsistently, and even threw his second career no hitter.

After he slumped, they put him back in the bullpen, which really wasn't a big deal since he was so effective in relief during the 2012 post season.

Then he completely disappeared. Except for one mop-up appearance, the Giants never went to him. He was literally the last man out in the bullpen, and you have to assume that Bochy lost all confidence in him. What a strange journey indeed.

[frankbmd]

Gordon being tagged out at home would have been a better ending or............

extra innings, if safe. We'll never know.

[yanks12025]

So happy SF won and not KC.

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

Gordon being tagged out at home would have been a better ending or............

extra innings, if safe. We'll never know.

I was thinking the same thing. But Gordon wouldn't have been close. It might have even ended in a rundown, with the ball reaching Posey with the runner halfway between third and home.

[packs]

I loved how after the game they were interviewing MadBum and Ken Rosenthal asked him if he was tired.

"No I'm not tired. We just won the World Series."

[tschock]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I was thinking the same thing. But Gordon wouldn't have been close. It might have even ended in a rundown, with the ball reaching Posey with the runner halfway between third and home.

I initially thought when Perez kicked the the ball "Holy Sh*t! He's going to actually score on this!". But when he ended up stopping at third, I immediately thought "No problem. We got this."

When Panda caught that pop-up, I'm surprised the police didn't show up from someone reporting a domestic disturbance.

[barrysloate]

My thoughts during that play were: two outs, bottom of the ninth, seventh game of the world series, Giants up 3-2...and this guy is about to tie it with an inside-the-park homer. It was too much to bear. Fortunately, it worked out.

[Fred]

That had to be one of the more exciting bottom of the 9th innings that I've seen in a while. The DRAMA!!!

[D.P.Johnson]

Just wanted to give a little shout out to JOE PANIK. That double-play was one of the best I've seen in World Series history...

[Section103]

That 2-base error was about to replace the Merkle Boner in infamy.

[Rickyy]

Originally Posted by itjclarke

Yes 2014 was a crazy season indeed. That early season 42-21 team was also winning largely by power (Morse, Belt, Hicks, etc) albeit unexpected, while their defense and starting pitching was playing at a subpar level. It's been a nearly complete reversal since, and following a couple terrible stretches, they still got in, then got it done.

Each run has seemed totally unique, as opposed to being a continuation of the previous. 2010 was probably still the most surprising, and 2012 saw them overcome 2x major series deficits... But this year may be the strangest (and very satisfying) combination of injuries, stop gaps, patch work, unexpected contributors, and in the end heart... And another championship.

One thing I noticed on each of the three championship runs..when the playoffs hit...the Giants hitting became more concentrated.....guys got more patient and selective...fouling off pitches, drawing walks...and though guys like Pablo and Hunter still chase pitches "out of the zone"...they were able to keep a level swing and drive them "where they ain't.."

Ricky Y

[itjclarke]

Ricky-agree 100% about quality at bats in the postseason, and it seemed even more pronounced this year. Several guys like Blanco didn't have good looking numbers, but were grinding at bats, fouling balls until they worked the count, etc. Also was amazed how productive their PH were in SF (so clutch). Quality of AB's was much better all around than it had been in the season, especially post June.

Re- Pablo, he's an amazing bad ball hitter, and "bad" is a relative term. What's "bad" to most, or a ball, is often exactly what he wants to hit. I was really impressed by how often he laid off pitches that were actually "bad" to him (which is all that really matters), and went for ones he wanted and could handle. He's a little wild at bat, but I do think there's more method to his madness than he's given credit for.

Barry- the Lincecum thing is a strange and frustrating thing. In 2012, the first year his numbers and fastball began to truly drop, he still had "swing and miss" stuff. I in no way track these stats, but know his rate of swing and misses was still really high, as were his K's per 9 innings. Key here being- he could still get people out. He's shown that this year too, and overall his season looked pretty good, but I think his late season funk was so precipetous and came so fast, Boch had to sit him down.

As we'd discussed in prior posts/threads, I think Boch has true, genuine affection for Timmy.. especially because he's been near drama free (save for his dad) when Boch has made these decisions to bump him from the rotation. I think his sharp performance in this year's WS game 2 also moved him up the bullpen ladder (past Strickland, Machi- who only got garbage innings after game 2), but the situatation never presented itself. He did get up in the pen yesterday, but given how long (and awesome) Affeldt pitched and how good Bum looked after his 2nd inning.. the window to pitch never presented itself. Had the Royals tied the game in the 9th, I think Timmy would have possibly been next long man (following a short guy or specialist), given Petit had thrown the day before, and had been hit hard (though think it very likely Petit would have gone too). The 2012 bullpen situation was also different because the Giants lacked a genuine/quality long man and Timmy filled that role perfectly. This year, Petit filled that hole, and Bum proved to be all everything, so the situtations didn't open up.

I'd love if Timmy can earn a rotation spot again next year. I think Timmy's a little more of a roller coaster and lacks some of the total focus that Bum, even Cain have exhibited, but would love to see him as a solid 5 starter. If Cain can come back strong next year, it could be another very interesting season in 2015.

Also pipe dream--- I'd love the other Cain (Lorenzo) in the OF... and if not, someone like Jon Jay. I'm 100% sold on good, fast outfields and players that can do a bit of everything. As said in stat thread, think defensive metrics do not come close to assigning appropriate value for these guys, and how often they can prevent the "big inning" before it gets started.

[sandmountainslim]

"San Francisco Giants" After looking at all these old cards I so very much want to say "New York Giants" It just sounds so much more natural.

[tschock]

Originally Posted by itjclarke

As said in stat thread, think defensive metrics do not come close to assigning appropriate value for these guys, and how often they can prevent the "big inning" before it gets started.

Nothing exemplifies that statement more than a man that went 0-4 with 3 Ks in game 7: Joe Panik.