World Series Recap: Madison Bumgarner Wins The World Series

Giants Win World Series For Third Time In Five Years; Bumgarner Is MVP

By: Apurv Baichwal

The Giants have been known as the Torture since 2010. They always seem to string games and series out to the very end, and they possess an uncanny ability to put themselves in the worst positions yet still win. After being shutout and completely dominated 10-0 yesterday, the Giants came back strong to win this game, and the World Series, 3-2.

Simply making the World Series for the third time in five years proved the Giants’ skill, but winning the World Series for the third time in five years proves that they are a dominant team in baseball, and a perennial contender to win the Fall Classic. They also made themselves the second National League team to win three in five years, with only Stan Musial’s historic St. Louis Cardinals of the 40s. This year, they won in Game 7, after barely making the postseason from the wildcat position, but even so, they played amazingly in the postseason and showed everybody that they were meant to be there, and they were meant to win the World Series.

Madison Bumgarner was easily named World Series MVP, after having another stellar outing today. On only two day’s rest, Bumgarner entered the game in the fifth inning and pitched five stellar innings, and 68 pitches after his 117 on Monday, to earn himself a five inning save, the first save of his career, and give himself an ERA of .43 in this World Series. This relief appearance marked his first of the sorts since Game Six of the 2010 NLCS, and he made it a great appearance. In his five innings, he only allowed two hits, while recording four strikeouts in a stellar, almost perfect appearance. He finished the Fall Classic with a huge outing, and he cemented himself in World Series history with his great performance. He already had the record for the best career World Series ERA from his last outing, but he made this number almost visible, as he lowered it to .25, a number that looks more like a batting average than an ERA.

In this specific game, the pitching was really key, as Jeremy Affeldt and Madison Bumgarner combined for a 7.1 inning shutout. Affeldt pitched 2.1 innings, an extremely long outing for him, but he was great for the whole of it, as he only allowed one hit, although he did hit a batter. He picked up the Game Seven win with this stellar outing, although the MLB seemed confused about this fact, as they originally credited the win to Bumgarner. Fortunately, they corrected this mistake, as they properly assigned the win to Affeldt and the save to Bumgarner. After Affeldt’s great pitching, Bumgarner stole the show with his performance, as earlier noted, earning him the five inning save. Tim Hudson started this game, although he did not last long, and he was the only pitcher to struggle for the Giants. Although his outing was quite poor, he still earned himself a place in World Series history by being the oldest pitcher to ever start a World Series game at 39 years old. He also earned himself a more notorious spot, as his start was the shortest World Series Game Seven start in baseball since 1960, at only 1.2 innings. In these innings, Hudson gave up two runs on three hits and a walk, as he never really seemed to settle into the game. It is possible that he would have settled down later, but Bochy did not give him a chance, as he made the quick—and most likely correct— decision to go to the bullpen early.

Another smart Bochy decision was to start Juan Perez in left field instead of Travis Ishikawa. They both provide about the same offensive prowess, except that Ishikawa has been strong in clutch at bats, while Perez is a speedier runner. The main difference between the two is that Juan Perez is a much better left fielder, as he is actually an outfielder, unlike Ishikawa who is truly an infielder. This move paid off in multiple occurrences, especially when Perez made a catch running back towards the wall, that Ishikawa very probably would not have made. The other play was one where Perez sprinted to the left field line to catch a ball that would have dropped in fair if Ishikawa had been playing, due to the fact that he does not possess the same speed as Perez. So, Bochy’s managerial decisions were great today, both with his pitchers and his defense.

The scoring in this game all came early, and both offenses were quiet after the fourth inning, as the two bullpens, or really the Royals bullpen and Bumgarner, locked down the hitters. The Giants struck first in the top of a second with a strong rally, exactly what we predicted they would need to win the game today. Pablo Sandoval led off the inning by letting a pitch graze his elbow and give him a free pass to first base. Hunter Pence then followed with a single to left, advancing Sandoval to second, and Belt added a single of his own to load the bases. The Giants then scored two runs on two sacrifice flys, the first by Michael Morse and the second by Brandon Crawford. Although the Giants once again scored runs without a hit, they still managed to manufacture the runs, as both Morse and Crawford used their at bats well to knock in the runs.

Unfortunately for the Giants, the Royals responded in the bottom of the second with two runs of their own, chasing Tim Hudson from the game. This World Series Game Seven matchup remained tied until the fourth inning when the Giants added the decisive run in the game.

Back to the defense: in the third inning, Joe Panik converted a tremendous double play that went through a challenge process as Royals’ first baseman Eric Hosmer was originally ruled safe at first. This call was overruled after a long, long replay, and in addition to being a huge play, it was also a huge momentum boost, as the Giants really looked to have their “it” factor, something we predicted they would need to win before the World Series even started.

The situations in the second and the fourth inning were very similar, with the results being quite similar as well in an episode of deja vu. Pablo Sandoval once again led off the inning and got on base, although this time he did so with an infield single up the middle, that he managed to beat out because the second baseman slipped while trying to make the play. Hunter Pence then singled to center advancing Sandoval to second, in another eerily similar play. Brandon Belt, however, broke the pattern as he flew out to deep left field. This out was turned into a productive one, fortunately, as Sandoval realized that the Royals’ left fielder would be moving backwards to make the catch, and therefore in a poor position to make a throw. He used this knowledge as he tagged up from second and slid head-first into third ahead of the throw to get to third with one out. By advancing to third, he put himself in a great position, and that one base running play was the reason why the Giants scored. Right after this play, Michael Morse slapped a single to right field, easily scoring Sandoval and advancing Pence to third. Had Sandoval stayed at second on Belt’s flyout, the Giants very likely would have not scored the winning run. So, Sandoval’s base running, along with his hitting and fielding, was key to the Giants’ win.

In the bottom of the ninth, with two outs, and Bumgarner still pitching, the Giants added to the Torture. Royals’ left fielder Alex Gordon hit a single to center, which alone would not have been very torturous. However, Blanco over ran the ball and allowed the ball to bounce under his glove. It then rolled to the wall where Juan Perez slipped and eventually picked up the ball, giving Gordon more than enough time to make it to third base. 

From here, the Royals’ star catcher Salvador Perez, who was injured earlier in the game when Hudson hit him right above the knee with a pitch, came to bat with a man on third and two outs in the bottom of the ninth in Game Seven of the World Series. Fortunately, Bumgarne stayed calm and collected as he forced Perez to pop out foul of the third base line, where Sandoval caught the ball easily, then collapsed with joy.

Overall, the Giants came together today to put together rallies, produce runs, and most importantly win. The heart of the order was great, led by Sandoval who went three for three with two runs scored. Pence and Belt also had great nights at the plate each going two for four, while Pence added a run. Michael Morse also picked up two RBI on one hit and a sacrifice fly in three at bats.

Bumgarner was stellar today. Pablo Sandoval made a statement that will be important this offseason as he is a  now technically a free agent. Hopefully the Giants retain him, as he proved himself to be a great asset the whole season, and especially this series, but there will definitely be multiple teams vying for him. The Giants have won the Fall Classic today, for the third time in five years, and they proved themselves to truly be the best team in baseball.

Follow Apurv on Twitter: @abaichwal

BASTA: Choate’s Error Helps Giants Overcome Bochy’s Poor Managing

((HT: BASTA/Ben Leonard))

Bruce Bochy is infatuated with his veteran players, and it almost spoiled an early four-spot from the Giants’ offense. Only an egregious throwing error from Randy Choate bailed out the Giants’ skipper and the offense, which sputtered after a hot start. The Giants won in their typical playoff fashion, relying on magic and what some would call luck in a tightly contested game to take the 2-1 series lead in a 5-4 win in ten innings over the Cardinals

The Giants’ offense backed Tim Hudson early, rallying after veteran righty John Lackey got two quick outs to start the game. Buster Posey laced a single to right, and Pablo Sandoval followed with a opposite field single of his own to put runners at first and second. Hunter Pence fell into an 0-2 hole and proceeded to slap a pitch at his shoulders down the line in right, good for a double that gave San Francisco a 1-0 lead. After falling behind 3-0 to Belt and clearly pitching around him, Lackey intentionally walked Belt, loading the bases for Travis Ishikawa. Lackey was able to execute, unlike Nationals’ reliever Aaron Barrett. On the first pitch, Lackey meated a 90 MPH fastball, and Ishikawa did not miss, launching it to deep right center, bouncing at the foot of the wall for a bases-clearing double. The right fielder Grichuck appeared to lose sight of the ball, and took a strange route that left him farther away from the ball than he should have been, preventing him from making a play on it.
((HT: MLB.com))


After the explosion in the first inning, the Giants got absolutely nothing for the next eight innings. Their only two base runners were on a single from starter Tim Hudson, and Pablo Sandoval, who reached after being hit by a pitch. In an interview on FS1 after the game, Hunter Pence explained that Lackey “beared down” and started “work[ing] it in on us,” when the Giants expected him to “work away.” The Giants should have been able to make this adjustment, but clearly didn’t, as Lackey went on to throw six innings in total, not allowing any runs after the first.

As Lackey settled in, Hudson fatigued, starting out well but slowly fading. He allowed just one hit in the first three innings, but started to run out of steam in the fourth. After giving up back to back singles to lead off the frame, Hudson gave up hard contact but got Holliday to line out, and struck out Jhonny Peralta. With runners on first and second for Kolten Wong, Hudson hung a curve that Wong launched, just a few feet short of leaving the yard in right center, cutting the Giants’ lead to 4-2. The Cardinals continued to chip away in the sixth, when Peralta drove in a run with two outs on an RBI single to left, just beyond the reach of Sandoval at third.

That should have been it for the 39-year old Hudson, who has struggled with hip problems as of late and hasn’t been able to go deep into games. With 86 pitches under his belt going into the seventh, Bochy should have recognized that going to his bullpen was the right option. Instead, he left Hudson in, even after giving up a scorcher to A.J. Pierzynski that Ishikawa was able to glove. With one out, Hudson hung a changeup to Randal Grichuck, and he launched it off the foul pole in left for a homer, tying the game and chasing Hudson from the game. Luckily for the Giants, they escaped with a win, largely due to 3 and 2/3 innings of dominant pitching from their bullpen.

Randy Choate was dominant against lefties in the regular season, yielding a stingy .171 wOBA in the regular season, but that didn’t matter against Brandon Crawford, who battled to lead off the tenth with a walk. Juan Perez failed to get the bunt down twice, leaving the count at 0-2. Perez worked the count to 2-2, and drove a pitch to left center, over the head of Peralta for a single, putting runners at first and second.

Gregor Blanco also failed to put down his first bunt attempt, but got the second one down. As Blanco put it on an FS1 interview, “the first one was a little rushed, then I told myself to just put it down.” Blanco’s bunt was not perfect in execution, a little too far away from the line, but it was perfect in effect. Randy Choate picked it up and rushed the throw, letting the ball sail into the Cardinals’ bullpen and the game sail away from St. Louis. Brandon Crawford came around to score easily from second, and the Giants took Game Three.
((HT: MLB.com))


Choate’s miscue may mask Bochy’s questionable managing, but it may still come back to haunt San Francisco later in the postseason. It cost the Giants a victory on Sunday, and could very well do so again. Veterans are not better at battling fatigue than younger players, despite what Bochy may think; it is actually the opposite. Experience may calm nerves, but it certainly isn’t a panacea.

BASTA: Bochy’s Poor Decisions Prove Costly As Cardinals Tie Series

((HT: BASTA/Ben Leonard))

One day after a magical win to take Game One of the NLCS, the Cardinals’ come-from-behind victory left the Giants thinking about what could have been. The fiery Jake Peavy struggled early, but largely averted disaster and kept San Francisco in the game. Mistakes plagued the Giants’ bullpen, allowing three solo homers in the last three innings. The Giants’ bullpen has allowed six runs this postseason, and all six have come on solo shots. Sunday’s game was entertaining, although disappointing for the Giants; three lead changes made Sunday a night to remember for baseball fans.

Jake Peavy did not have his “A” game on Sunday, letting too many fastballs fall right down the middle; yet the Cardinals largely did not make him pay for his egregious mistakes. The Cardinals made lots of loud contact in the first two innings, but hit balls right at Giants’ defenders and got nothing to show for it. Postseason hero Matt Carpenter turned the tide in the third, launching an inside fastball from Peavy into the right field stands for a solo homer, giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. After seeing his three home runs in the NLDS, Peavy was wary of throwing inside early in the count to Carpenter, with his first two offerings hitting the outside corner; his third pitch was not on target. Carpenter’s dinger made him the first leadoff man to have four or more home runs in postseason history.

Peavy’s struggles continued in the fourth, surrendering a leadoff walk to Matt Adams, and Jhonny Peralta followed with a hard single to center. In a head-scratching move by Cardinals’ manager Mike Matheny that somehow paid off, All-Star catcher Yadier Molina sacrifice bunted, moving Adams and Peralta to second and third (Molina left in the sixth with an oblique strain, leaving his status in doubt for the rest of the playoffs).Molina’s injury looms large for St. Louis, as the All-Star has been an invaluable piece of their recent postseason runs. Deep in the Cardinals’ order, Peavy intentionally walked Kolten Wong to load the bases, but defensive star Randal Grichuck lined a single up the middle, giving St. Louis the 2-0 lead. Peavy got the next two outs, but rightfully gave way to Jeremy Affeldt to start the fifth. He needed 76 pitches to make it through four shaky innings, but in typical Peavy fashion, fought and gave it his all to keep his team in the game.

The Giants’ offense responded in the fifth, with Brandon Belt leading off with a single and Travis Ishikawa lacing a double, setting up second and third with no outs for Joaquin Arias, pinch-hitting for Peavy. His broken bat groundout to second off of Cardinals’ starter Lance Lynn cut St. Louis’ lead to 2-1. Some typical Giants’ October magic contributed to a two-out rally in the sixth, on a poorly-hit double from Pablo Sandoval that fell just out of reach of a sliding Matt Holiday in left and into the stands for a ground-rule double. Hunter Pence worked Lynn for seven pitches, then lined a single to right center to score Sandoval, chasing Lynn and his dominant fastball from the game. Lynn threw 79% fastballs in the regular season, second in the majors behind Bartolo Colon (82.6%).

Gregor Blanco finally produced out of the leadoff spot, driving in a run on an RBI single just past the diving second baseman Wong with the infield in, giving San Francisco the 3-2 lead in the seventh. However, Bruce Bochy decided that it would be a good idea to let Jean Machi pitch to the dangerous lefty hitter Oscar Taveras instead of Javier Lopez, and Taveras made Bochy pay with a deep solo shot to right, tying the game at 3 apiece. The homer was the second Machi has given up this postseason, on a hanging forkball from the portly right hander. Javier Lopez was ready and waiting in the bullpen, but Bochy, for some reason, put the righty in instead, who had never faced Taveras. Taveras was 1 for 1 in his career against Lopez (A single), not exactly a large sample size.

Bochy continued the string of preposterous decision making, inserting Hunter Strickland into the game in the bottom of the seventh and the game tied at three. After giving up three homers in the NLDS, one would think that Bochy would not put him in in such a high-leverage situation against another great fastball hitter in Matt Adams. Strickland served up a high fastball to Adams on a 2-1 count, and Adams did not miss, depositing it into the right field stands, giving St. Louis the 4-3 lead.

With their backs to the wall, the Giants conjured up a rally in the ninth, scoring a run on a scudded wild pitch from Trevor Rosenthal, who was overhyped and blatantly overthrowing, missing high several times. Matt Duffy scored all the way from second, tying the game at four apiece on a play that constituted great individual hustle on the part of the scrawny rookie. However, the comeback was to no avail, as Sergio Romo hung a changeup in the bottom half of the frame and Wong did not miss, hitting a walkoff homer, the fourth solo shot for St. Louis in the game.

Here's the home run barrage
((HT: MLB.com))


Wong’s shot knotted the series at one apiece heading to San Francisco. Tim Hudson will go for San Francisco on Tuesday afternoon, in his first start since Game Two of the NLDS, when he went 7 and 1/3 innings of one run ball. He will face John Lackey, the active leader in postseason innings pitched.

Manager Gets To Call In Son For Relief

((HT: MLB.com))

This is just really a cool moment more than anything else...

San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy was getting his hat handed to him last night in the game against the Dodgers. Tim Hudson started and got shelled- giving up 6 in an inning-plus. Tim Lincecum came in for a relief appearance and got shelled- giving up five runs in three innings. Mike Kickham came in for a relief appearance after that and got shelled- giving up four in an ining and two-thirds.

It was 15-0 before anyone could really get settled and Dodgers starter Zack Greinke even hit a home run to help his own cause.

So, the game was out of control. As a manager, what do you do...???

Call your son, Brett, out of the bullpen for the bottom of the sixth...


Brett was understandably shaky giving up 2 runs in an inning and a third, but, hey...

How many dads get to do that...???

Giants Protesting Rain Shortened Game After Groundscrew Snafu

((HT: MLB.com))

Giants manager Bruce Bochy is challenging the result from last night when the Cubs were awarded a rain-shortened win over San Francisco.

Here's what happened that caused the delay and the shenanigans


But, from MLB.com, here's why the game was called and not suspended:

Had the Giants led at the time of delay, the contest would have been postponed by virtue of MLB Rule 4.10, which states the game is complete if the home team is ahead through five trips to the plate by the visitors -- the case Tuesday.

The game couldn't be suspended through Rule 4.12(a)(3) for a field malfunction either, as the tarp was hauled manually.

The Giants are now 4 1/2 games out of first in the NL West and into a tie for the final Wild Card spot with the Braves, who have won five straight.