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2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Edgy MD Oct 16 2014 10:38 PM

Ed Charles likes the Royals. Willie Mays is dogging for the Giants. The 2014 Mets are of two minds on the issue. [fimg=625]http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/royalgiants.jpg[/fimg]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 17 2014 12:54 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Banny is torn (happily). Cone and Saberhagen? Less so... and in Sabes' case, confidently so.

themetfairy Oct 17 2014 07:00 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Edgy MD wrote: [fimg=625]http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/royalgiants.jpg[/fimg] Studious Metsimus was all over this last weekend.

MFS62 Oct 17 2014 08:24 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

If the uniforms they wear are able to predict the team(s) that reach the World Series, I'd prefer they keep wearing the ones that say "Mets". LAter

Ashie62 Oct 17 2014 10:36 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

If it ain't the Mets playing I really couldn't care.

Frayed Knot Oct 17 2014 10:38 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

[fimg=425:1amm4qdq]http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/royalgiants.jpg[/fimg:1amm4qdq] Musically speaking: they'll never be Royals, but they might be giants.

Frayed Knot Oct 17 2014 02:56 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

So how about Bochy's use of Yusmeiro Petit in the post-season so far? - he's only been called on in 2 of the 9 games for SF, but in those 2 he's totaled 9 innings (a 6-inning outing in the 18-inning game, plus a 3-inning stint in Game 4 vs StL): [u:1qoz11rs]0 Runs on 2 Hits[/u:1qoz11rs], 4 BBs, and 11 Ks, getting credit for the win both times

G-Fafif Oct 17 2014 03:08 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Frayed Knot wrote: [fimg=425]http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/royalgiants.jpg[/fimg] Musically speaking: they'll never be Royals, but they might be giants. And ain't nobody meetin' nobody in St. Louie.

d'Kong76 Oct 17 2014 07:41 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

From bbrdotcom on fb: Excluding 1981 & 1918 (shortened schedules) this will be the 1st World Series in which both participants won fewer than 90 games

Gwreck Oct 17 2014 08:28 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Rooting for KC. Predicting Giants in 5.

Fman99 Oct 17 2014 08:57 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Game 1 not until Tuesday. BOOOOOO

d'Kong76 Oct 18 2014 08:45 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Postseason Vanishing From Broadcast Networks By RICHARD SANDOMIR, The New York Times, October 17, 2014 The 1980 World Series was notable for at least three things. To start, the Philadelphia Phillies won their first World Series. Second, the Kansas City Royals played in their first one. And third, together the Phillies and the Royals produced the most-watched game in World Series history: 54.9 million viewers saw Game 6. Now, as the Royals await their World Series opener against the San Francisco Giants, they should not anticipate 55 million people tuning in, regardless of the interest generated by their 29-year postseason exile and eight consecutive postseason wins this year. Perhaps 15 million will watch. A decade, after all, has passed since the audience topped 20 million. What has happened in the past 34 years is familiar: Prime-time viewing has eroded on broadcast television for virtually everything but the N.F.L. as the thousand-channel cable universe has lured viewers with options that were unimaginable when the journey around the TV dial involved only three networks and a few local, independent stations. Other entertainment options — the web, video games, apps and streaming — combined with the aging of baseball’s audience and the crawling pace of the game, have not been kind to the sport. But in the 1970s and ’80s, viewership was regularly stunning, reflecting the size of broadcast audiences. The 1980 World Series averaged 42.3 million viewers. Two years later, when the Cardinals played the Milwaukee Brewers in a seven-game series, one game drew 48.9 million viewers and another 49.9 million. In 1985, Game 7 of the Royals-Cardinals series had an audience of 45 million. The 1980 Series was tightly played through five games, and with the Phillies leading, three games to two, anticipation was high for either the Phillies to clinch or the Royals to survive and force a seventh game. Three future Hall of Famers were playing: Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton and George Brett. Pete Rose, who would become baseball’s career leader in hits in 1985, was the Phillies’ first baseman. And there was still something special about watching the World Series. The glut of local and national games was years away. There were no interleague games or wild-card playoffs. The league championship series would remain best-of-five affairs until 1985. Division series were still far off. And all a viewer needed to know was that NBC and ABC were taking turns broadcasting the L.C.S. and the World Series. This postseason, more than ever, underscores cable’s dominance. From the wild card to the World Series, TBS, Fox Sports 1, ESPN and MLB Network have each had pieces, requiring a navigation at my home from Channel 8 to 400 to 28 to 306. The only broadcaster involved is Fox. In this shifting sports business landscape, the money that Major League Baseball can amass from selling rights to multiple cable networks trumps the convenience of remote-armed fans — or even their ability to have access to some channels. With that in mind, there are a few points worth making: ? Fox’s postseason strategy changed this season with the start of its new M.L.B. deal and the availability of Fox Sports 1, its cable network. This year, up to five N.L.C.S. games were scheduled for Fox Sports 1, with two on Fox, whereas in past seasons, Fox routinely broadcast all its L.C.S. games. After Game 4 of the Giants-Cardinals series on Wednesday generated 5.1 million viewers, Fox Sports 1 declared in a news release that it was the most-watched telecast in Fox Sports 1 history, but Fox’s broadcast of Game 4 of the A.L.C.S. last year was seen by 8.1 million. Fox Sports 1 reaches about 85 million TV households, nearly 30 million fewer than Fox the broadcast network does. Do those viewership figures represent greater fan affinity for the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox, or are they the expected result of a broadcast-to-cable shift? Fox Sports 1 now labels itself “America’s fastest growing network.” But is what’s good for Fox Sports 1 good for viewers? ? As it has since 2012, the MLB Network aired two division series games. Under its new contract, Fox sold the games to M.L.B.’s cable network, which is in about 70 million households — great for a league-owned network but not as widely distributed as TBS or Fox Sports 1. When MLB Network carried Game 2 of the Cardinals-Dodgers division series, it drew 1.77 million viewers; the previous game in the series, on Fox Sports 1, attracted 3.6 million. Similarly, 1.84 million tuned in for Game 3 of the Nationals-Giants series on MLB Network; almost twice as many watched Game 2 on Fox Sports 1. Cable networks, with revenue streams from advertisers and subscribers, can satisfy themselves with smaller audiences than broadcasters. They covet postseason games, and M.L.B. knows that it would not get the billions of dollars it has received if cable networks were given nothing but regular-season games. But beware of what you ask for. TBS increased its annual payment to baseball to $325 million this season from $150 million and saw sweeps in two division series and the A.L.C.S. That is a formula for substantial losses at a time when its parent company, Time Warner, is laying off employees and cutting costs. The cabling of baseball’s postseason recalls a kerfuffle in 1996 when Don Ohlmeyer, then NBC’s head of West Coast operations, was irked at the network’s depressing performance in the division series and the L.C.S. Those series, each starring the Yankees, averaged 9.9 million and 11.2 million viewers, not enough for Ohlmeyer when NBC was No. 1 in prime time with programs like “Seinfeld.” Ohlmeyer wanted NBC to get out of the deal. Back then, Ohlmeyer said, “We started off winning the first 12 of 14 nights of the season; then baseball started.” His chagrin is long past. Now, thanks to baseball, cable networks issue gleeful news releases about their prime-time and demographic victories against their foes.

metirish Oct 18 2014 09:02 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Saw a thing today on Twitter, is Bochy worthy of the HOF......is he? Bochy always came across to me as so understated ,seems to get the best from his squad. I don't know what the criteria would be but he certainly has had a great last five years.

Gwreck Oct 18 2014 09:41 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

No. Bochy's managed 20 seasons and has a record of .500. The 3 trips to the World Series in the last 5 years is nice but even if they win again I still don't see anything that puts him in the upper echelon of managers all-time.

Edgy MD Oct 18 2014 10:57 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

You don't have to be in the upper echelon, however that is measured. Pretty much anybubs who has ever won two World Series gets in eventually.

batmagadanleadoff Oct 18 2014 11:21 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

No. Bochy's managed 20 seasons and has a record of .500. The 3 trips to the World Series in the last 5 years is nice but even if they win again I still don't see anything that puts [Bochy] in the upper echelon of managers all-time. [fimg=222]http://s0.wp.com/wp-content/themes/vip/espn-grantland/img/grantland-logo.png[/fimg] Is Bruce Bochy One of the Best Managers in Baseball History? (Yes. Here’s Why.) excerpt: The Giants’ success starts with the players, of course — the mainstays like Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, and Madison Bumgarner who’ve come up big in the last three postseason runs. Superstitious types will cite The Even-Year Effect, which (theoretically) enabled the San Francisco squad to carve through October every even-numbered season. But at some point, we have to throw some credit to the man who has been there longer than all but two members of the current roster.1 It’s quite possible that the Giants wouldn’t be where they are now without the guidance of Bruce Bochy — one of the best managers in baseball history. It may sound strange to anoint Bochy with such a lofty title. After all, managers don’t pump out detailed, easily scrutinized stats the way that star players do. Objective data tells us that Derek Jeter is a no-doubt Hall of Famer, even before we get into reverence and rings. With managers, the only standard on which everyone can agree is wins. And judging a manager solely by team wins is just as problematic as judging a pitcher by the same measure. But that’s not to say evaluations can’t be made. And when you look at it closely, there’s no doubt Bochy is an all-timer. read the rest at http://grantland.com/the-triangle/bruce ... -baseball/

Zvon Oct 19 2014 01:12 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Bochy's been managing for 20 years!? Cripes, I'm gettin' old.

metirish Oct 19 2014 10:17 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Plus he is in the HOF for coconut size , always a good indicator.

Frayed Knot Oct 19 2014 11:26 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Heard Tim Kurkjian relating a story the other day about Bochy, a typical low-offense backup catcher in his playing days, getting a rare game-winning hit. As a tribute his Padres teammates awarded him a six-pack of beer in the clubhouse after the game. They put it in his locker ... on ice ... in his helmet! Nothing like having a catcher's helmet big enough to double as a cooler.

Edgy MD Oct 19 2014 12:25 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Yeah, the tough thing is that we all understand that a manager can only do so much with what he has, that good managers are often saddled with a squad wanting for talent, and that bad managers often are blessed with managing a juggernaut, yet at the end of the day, they're mostly judged by winning percentage.

Lefty Specialist Oct 19 2014 12:35 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Edgy MD wrote: Yeah, the tough thing is that we all understand that a manager can only do so much with what he has, that good managers are often saddled with a squad wanting for talent, and that bad managers often are blessed with managing a juggernaut, yet at the end of the day, they're mostly judged by winning percentage. (Cough....Joe Torre....cough)

Edgy MD Oct 19 2014 12:43 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I'm not sure what you mean to say about Torre.

Frayed Knot Oct 19 2014 02:44 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

EVERY manager with three WS or more is in the HoF which has a lot of folks talking up Bochy this week for all the obvious reasons.

Lefty Specialist Oct 19 2014 08:44 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Edgy MD wrote: I'm not sure what you mean to say about Torre. Torre was handed the keys to a Ferrari. All he had to do was keep it from running into a ditch. Had they kept Buck Showalter after 1995, they'd be talking about him for the Hall of Fame now. The Torre hiring was derided at the time because up to that point he'd been profoundly mediocre as a manager.

Edgy MD Oct 19 2014 09:04 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Thanks.

batmagadanleadoff Oct 19 2014 09:08 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Lefty Specialist wrote: Edgy MD wrote: I'm not sure what you mean to say about Torre. Torre was handed the keys to a Ferrari. All he had to do was keep it from running into a ditch. Had they kept Buck Showalter after 1995, they'd be talking about him for the Hall of Fame now. The Torre hiring was derided at the time because up to that point he'd been profoundly mediocre as a manager. [fimg=333]http://cdn.riveraveblues.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/CluelessJoeCover.jpg?edf414[/fimg]

Edgy MD Oct 19 2014 09:30 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I would possibly dispute that Torre had decisively been mediocre as a manager. His record prior to joining the Yankees was a losing one to be sure. But if you are going to (very sensibly) call his appointment to the Yankees as being given "the keys to a Ferrari," then it would be good to include in any assessment his driving skills a good look at the make and model of the vehicles he had previously driven. I'm not sure what I would conclude. But I know there's a way to assess a manager while controlling for the quality of his team.

Lefty Specialist Oct 20 2014 07:22 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Very few Ferraris are given out. Hard to compare that with the 1977 Chevy Vega he was handed in Queens. It's unusual for a manager to go to the playoffs with a team for the first time in 14 years (as Buck did) and then get fired. But these were the Steinbrenner Yankees, so anything was possible. Don't forget that Buck had the Yanks playing the best ball in the AL in '94 when the strike came, too. So this was a team primed and ready to go. Yes, Joe didn't do anything stupid, but perhaps his best talent was dealing with The Boss, something Buck wasn't really capable of. Maybe he should be in the Psychological Hall of Fame.

d'Kong76 Oct 20 2014 05:45 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

San Francisco at Kansas City When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, October 21, 2014 Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri SportsDirect Inc. The red-hot Kansas City Royals kick off their first appearance in the World Series since 1985 when they host the National League-champion San Francisco Giants in Game 1 on Tuesday. The American League-champion Royals are a perfect 8-0 this postseason, taking the wild-card route to the pennant. San Francisco is in the World Series for the third time in five seasons as it also began this postseason journey as a wild-card entrant. NL Championship Series MVP Madison Bumgarner will be on the mound for the Giants in the opener despite losing to the Royals during the regular season. James Shields, who pitched a four-hit shutout against San Francisco in August, starts for Kansas City. Both teams feature strong bullpens and have a knack for producing unlikely heroes – such as San Francisco's Travis Ishikawa, who belted a walk-off, three-run homer to end the NLCS matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals. TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, FOX PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (2-1, 1.42 ERA) vs. Royals RH James Shields (1-0, 5.63) Bumgarner has pitched at least seven innings in each of his four postseason starts and is holding opposing batters to a .170 average. In the regular-season loss to the Royals, he gave up four runs (three earned) and seven hits in eight frames as Kansas City's Billy Butler had a homer and three RBIs. Bumgarner is 2-0 and hasn’t allowed a run in 15 World Series innings, blanking Texas on three hits in eight frames in 2010 and Detroit on two hits over seven innings in 2012. Shields has struggled in the postseason, giving up 21 hits in 16 innings as opponents have touched him for a .309 average. He was at the top of his game in the regular-season outing against San Francisco, striking out five and walking one while tossing his ninth career shutout. Shields won his lone career World Series start, beating Philadelphia in 2008 as he gave up seven hits in 5 2/3 scoreless frames as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays. WALK-OFFS: 1. Kansas City swept a three-game home series against San Francisco in August, stealing seven bases in the finale. 2. Giants RHP Santiago Casilla hasn’t allowed a run in 12 consecutive appearances, while Royals RHP Greg Holland has converted 26 straight save opportunities – including six in the postseason. 3. Kansas City 1B Eric Hosmer is batting .448 in the postseason, while San Francisco 3B Pablo Sandoval is hitting .326.

d'Kong76 Oct 20 2014 07:15 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Some night-before-the-game-soap-opera stuff: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-royals ... 53095.html

d'Kong76 Oct 21 2014 02:59 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

The traditional mayoral bets are in: http://www.kansascity.com/news/governme ... 01025.html

Ceetar Oct 21 2014 03:01 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

The traditional mayoral bets are in: http://www.kansascity.com/news/governme ... 01025.html Don't care if it's not beer. Let's get some 21st Amendment up against Boulevard. like this: [url]http://beergraphs.com/bb/567-drinking-with-shirt-ep-8-beersport-predicts-baseba/

d'Kong76 Oct 21 2014 03:02 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Oh, and Sly James is a great political name!

Edgy MD Oct 21 2014 04:19 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Koufax's curveball is snapping off like a fucking firecracker. [youtube:2yclvbqd]XI_4HtIJYDM[/youtube:2yclvbqd]

d'Kong76 Oct 21 2014 04:28 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

"For Christ's sake, isn't there one of you fucking maniacs that knows what I'm talking about?"

Zvon Oct 21 2014 05:58 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I predict the Royals lose the first three games, and then win four in a row to take it all. This should drive Royals fans sufficiently insane, and by golly, they deserve it.

Zvon Oct 21 2014 06:20 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Posey afraid to go in hard at the plate. He tries to tip toe past the catcher.Wuss. He's gotta hot bat though. 1-0 SF PENCE!!!!!!!!!!!kaaaaaaaaaaBOOM!!!!!!!! 3-0 SF

Frayed Knot Oct 21 2014 06:27 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

If Posey doesn't make that out at home then I'm not sure Shields would have survived the 1st inning. By the time Morse came up it would have been 4-zip with 30+ pitches and only one batter retired - and at that point I think Yost would have at least had action in the pen.

Gwreck Oct 21 2014 06:31 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Yost did have a reliever up by the time Norse was batting, as per the Giants radio broadcast.

Zvon Oct 21 2014 07:23 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Royals have bases loaded, two out in the 3rd. Ooof. They had to score there but a weak ground out ends it. Still 3-0 Poserboys

Zvon Oct 21 2014 07:45 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

If Hunter bats 1.000 and makes some great catches, AND the Royals win in 7, I'm going to enjoy this. 5-0 Giants

Zvon Oct 21 2014 09:13 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Royals get on the board. Boomer by Perez. Pence made an out. BOOOOO! 7-1 Colossal Men. 8th. Bumburger still in. 3 hits allowed.

Zvon Oct 21 2014 09:45 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Tonight, they definitely are Giants. SF wins game one, 7-1. The Bumguyner pitched a great game. If SF sweep in 4 I'll be grouchy all winter.

G-Fafif Oct 21 2014 10:40 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

[fimg=200:1bafbric]http://gb.fotolibra.com/images/previews/537928-old-usa-beer-label-anchor-steam-brewery.jpeg[/fimg:1bafbric] Bumgarner 4.5 Pence 3.5 Sandoval 2.0

d'Kong76 Oct 22 2014 08:30 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Anchor Steam on tap... breakfast of champions! San Francisco at Kansas City When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, October 22, 2014 Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri SportsDirect Inc. Hunter Pence has slammed his first homer of the postseason and now looks to help the San Francisco Giants take a 2-0 series lead when they visit the Kansas City Royals in Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday. Pence hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning to fuel the offense in Game 1 and reached base four times as San Francisco rolled to a 7-1 victory. “He’s a tireless worker and he’s the lowest-maintenance player I’ve ever had,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said afterward. San Francisco starter Jake Peavy has seen a lot of the Royals while pitching in the American League and possesses a 5-7 record and 4.97 ERA in 14 starts. “They’re still the same guys, just a little more refined and obviously a lot more confident than they were at any point that I faced them in Chicago,” Peavy said in his Tuesday press conference. “And they were formidable, even when we faced them – the Chicago White Sox didn’t have much success here.” Royals catcher Salvador Perez homered in the seventh of the opener for the lone run allowed by Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner. TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, FOX PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Jake Peavy (1-0, 1.86 ERA) vs. Royals RH Yordano Ventura (0-0, 4.85) Peavy is making his second World Series start as he made one for Boston last season and gave up two runs in four innings. He hasn’t made it through six innings in either start this postseason but has allowed just six hits in 9 2/3 innings while continuing to fit in well with his new team. “With his experiences and knowledge, he really has, I think, just ramped up the intensity and the focus on these guys,” Bochy said. “Jake, as you know, when he pitches, he’s all in.” Ventura has been placed in the No. 2 role by manager Ned Yost, who has no concern over how the 23-year-old rookie will handle the spotlight. “He’s a special kid because as young as he is and as good as his stuff is, his composure is off the charts and his competitiveness is off the charts,” Yost said in his Tuesday press conference. “So you combine all those things together and you’ve got a pretty special guy that’s going to step on that mound.” Ventura last pitched Oct. 11 when he worked 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision against Baltimore. WALK-OFFS: 1. Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval has reached base in 24 consecutive postseason games, tied for fourth-longest streak behind Miguel Cabrera (31, 2011-13), Chase Utley (27, 2007-09) and Boog Powell (25, 1966-71). 2. Kansas City DH Billy Butler is 14-for-33 with three homers and eight RBIs against Peavy. 3. San Francisco leadoff hitter Gregor Blanco is 4-for-11 with three walks and five runs scored over the last three games.

d'Kong76 Oct 22 2014 01:38 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Sharing a bbrdotcom post from fb: #Giants have won 7 straight World Series games. That's the 2nd-longest streak in NL history. Any guesses at longest? http://www.baseball-reference.com/play- ... i?id=QeQv9

Frayed Knot Oct 22 2014 07:04 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

As Harold Reynolds went yapping merrily along about Escobar's failed 1st inning steal attempt--about how exciting it was and about what a positive affect it was for KC's game--do you suppose at any point he noticed that it cost them at least one run in that inning alone plus the ability to keep the frame moving for at least one more batter?

Frayed Knot Oct 22 2014 07:18 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

d'Kong76 wrote: 1. Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval has reached base in 24 consecutive postseason games, tied for fourth-longest streak behind Miguel Cabrera (31, 2011-13), Chase Utley (27, 2007-09) and Boog Powell (25, 1966-71). Wait, I thought Jeter held all post-season records!!

Edgy MD Oct 22 2014 08:10 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

You guys following this tied-ass game? There's a panda involved, somehow.

Mets – Willets Point Oct 22 2014 08:33 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Tied no more.

Mets – Willets Point Oct 22 2014 08:35 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I'm irrationally irritated that there's a man in a Marlins' jersey sitting directly behind home plate.

Frayed Knot Oct 22 2014 08:42 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Mets – Willets Point wrote: I'm irrationally irritated that there's a man in a Marlins' jersey sitting directly behind home plate. Somebody did a profile on that guy the other day. Seems that he's a Florida attorney who reasons that, with no wife and no kids, he has the money to go all over the place to sporting events ... so he does.

Frayed Knot Oct 22 2014 08:44 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Hunter Strickland: Not ready for prime time reliever. Also lesson 396 about how throwing 100 mph ain't everything.

MFS62 Oct 22 2014 09:54 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Frayed Knot wrote: d'Kong76 wrote: 1. Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval has reached base in 24 consecutive postseason games, tied for fourth-longest streak behind Miguel Cabrera (31, 2011-13), Chase Utley (27, 2007-09) and Boog Powell (25, 1966-71). Wait, I thought Jeter held all post-season records!! Only the important ones. I guess since they played this in an AL park, there was some rule that said it had to last as long as a usual Al game. The only thing in sports that lasts longer then that 5 run half inning is a hockey post game show. Later

Lefty Specialist Oct 23 2014 06:34 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Frayed Knot wrote: Mets – Willets Point wrote: I'm irrationally irritated that there's a man in a Marlins' jersey sitting directly behind home plate. Somebody did a profile on that guy the other day. Seems that he's a Florida attorney who reasons that, with no wife and no kids, he has the money to go all over the place to sporting events ... so he does. You're not alone. That guy irritates the crap out of me.

Frayed Knot Oct 23 2014 06:42 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

The only thing in sports that lasts longer then that 5 run half inning is a hockey post game show. Well, football pre-game shows often last longer than the game itself, but that's a whole 'nother category. In retrospect, between that 6th inning involving 5-runs, 8-baserunners, 7 pitchers plus a near brawl, added to the increased commercial time and the for-some-reason now required 7th inning stretch production, it's surprising that the game took only 3:25

Ceetar Oct 23 2014 07:29 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

This broadcast, from Harold and Joe to Erin, is atrocious.

HahnSolo Oct 23 2014 07:55 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Ceetar wrote: This broadcast, from Harold and Joe to Erin, is atrocious. I feel like Harold Reynolds is on a mission to make me stupider about baseball pitch by pitch. Tom Verducci, who I used to like or at least respect as a writer, brings zero to the table. Buck is by far the best of the 3-man booth and that says a lot because normally I can't stand him. And Erin, oh Erin. Sending it down to her for a "report" that tells us, hey, first row seats are being scalped for a lot of money! just illustrates why it is so unnecessary to have "sideline" guys (or gals) at a baseball game. The FX pregame is a clusterbomb as well. They did Burkhart no favors putting him up on set with the douchetastic crew of Kapler, Swisher, Ortiz and Thomas. Lose Kapler and Swisher and it might be watchable.

Edgy MD Oct 23 2014 07:59 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Hang on to your knickers.

d'Kong76 Oct 23 2014 08:49 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I'd like some KC undies stuffed in my stocking!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 23 2014 08:58 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Probably also illegal. [url]https://www.etsy.com/listing/207976430/sexy-kansas-city-royals-mlb-lingerie

Edgy MD Oct 23 2014 09:20 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Is repurposing and marketing a validly printed logo a violation in the same sense as printing and marketing 'em on your own? The greater story and greater question, though, is... Department of Homeland Security?

d'Kong76 Oct 23 2014 09:24 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Edgy MD wrote: The greater story and greater question, though, is... Department of Homeland Security? Keeping us safe from evil doers!

MFS62 Oct 23 2014 09:32 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Edgy MD wrote: The greater story and greater question, though, is... Department of Homeland Security? They probably intercepted a phone conversation about the bikini set during which someone said they're "da bomb!". Later

batmagadanleadoff Oct 23 2014 10:33 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Here's what's good about the Royals being in the WS: Next season, guess who'll be the team that hasn't won a World Series in 29 years?

TransMonk Oct 23 2014 11:09 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Here's what's good about the Royals being in the WS: Next season, guess who'll be the team that hasn't won a World Series in 29 years? Yup...I've been thinking this all fall.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 23 2014 01:08 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

HahnSolo wrote: Ceetar wrote: This broadcast, from Harold and Joe to Erin, is atrocious. I feel like Harold Reynolds is on a mission to make me stupider about baseball pitch by pitch. Tom Verducci, who I used to like or at least respect as a writer, brings zero to the table. Buck is by far the best of the 3-man booth and that says a lot because normally I can't stand him. And Erin, oh Erin. Sending it down to her for a "report" that tells us, hey, first row seats are being scalped for a lot of money! just illustrates why it is so unnecessary to have "sideline" guys (or gals) at a baseball game. The FX pregame is a clusterbomb as well. They did Burkhart no favors putting him up on set with the douchetastic crew of Kapler, Swisher, Ortiz and Thomas. Lose Kapler and Swisher and it might be watchable. What makes all this seem all the worse is that TBS' coverage was generally excellent. (Pedro, in particular, is fantastic, and fantastically entertaining-- he's like Baseball Barkley with a perm.)

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 23 2014 01:35 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: HahnSolo wrote: Ceetar wrote: This broadcast, from Harold and Joe to Erin, is atrocious. I feel like Harold Reynolds is on a mission to make me stupider about baseball pitch by pitch. Tom Verducci, who I used to like or at least respect as a writer, brings zero to the table. Buck is by far the best of the 3-man booth and that says a lot because normally I can't stand him. And Erin, oh Erin. Sending it down to her for a "report" that tells us, hey, first row seats are being scalped for a lot of money! just illustrates why it is so unnecessary to have "sideline" guys (or gals) at a baseball game. The FX pregame is a clusterbomb as well. They did Burkhart no favors putting him up on set with the douchetastic crew of Kapler, Swisher, Ortiz and Thomas. Lose Kapler and Swisher and it might be watchable. What makes all this seem all the worse is that TBS' coverage was generally excellent. (Pedro, in particular, is fantastic, and fantastically entertaining-- he's like Baseball Barkley with a perm.) Yes and yup. Just cutting to the smarmy guy standing there in the Fox Sports 1 studio makes me want to turn it off immediately. I'll never get why everyone thinks the key to doing better than ESPN (or Mike Francesa, or anyhting sport-media related) is to do every bit as douchy as the leader would, only more.

Edgy MD Oct 23 2014 01:42 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

It's relatable. Few people can be a great athlete. Few can be smart. Not everybody can be incisive, humorous, or a good communicator. But we can all be dicks. Let's put a bunch of dicks up there.

d'Kong76 Oct 23 2014 02:22 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I'm available for off-color commentary duty.

d'Kong76 Oct 23 2014 03:00 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Kansas City at San Francisco When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, October 24, 2014 Where: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California SportsDirect Inc. Tim Hudson pitches in a World Series game for the first time in his 16-year-career when the San Francisco Giants host the Kansas City Royals in Game 3 on Friday. The 39-year-old Hudson will attempt to pitch the Giants into the series lead after the teams split two games in Kansas City. “Obviously, when you go 16 years without having been able to experience something like this, you wonder if it’s going to happen,” Hudson told reporters. “I’m no different than anybody.” The Royals avoided a series hole by producing a 7-2 victory in Game 2 to halt San Francisco’s streak of seven consecutive World Series wins. Kansas City designated hitter Billy Butler is 3-for-6 with two RBIs over the first two games to break out of the postseason doldrums that have him looking for his first homer. Giants catcher Buster Posey also hasn’t homered and is 2-for-9 in the World Series while red-hot third baseman Pablo Sandoval (4-for-9 in the World Series) also hasn’t gone deep despite batting .346 in the postseason. TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, FOX PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (0-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Hudson (0-0, 3.29) Guthrie is making his second start of the postseason, having received a no-decision against Baltimore on Oct. 14 when he gave up one run and three hits over five innings. He spent part of 2012 in the National League with the Colorado Rockies and has made two career starts at AT&T Park, going 0-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 11 1/3 innings. “He’s a tremendous clubhouse presence and he’s a guy with a lot of experience,” Royals manager Ned Yost said in a press conference. Hudson will be pitching for the first time since taking a no-decision against St. Louis on Oct. 14 when he allowed four runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. He lost his final four regular-season starts and Giants manager Bruce Bochy said at a press conference that Hudson’s issues were tied to a nagging hip injury. “It’s hard enough to play this game when you’re healthy but when you’re pitching and your hip’s bothering you a little – he’s a warrior,” Bochy said. “He was never complaining, he was never making excuses but it was a fact.” WALK-OFFS: 1. Sandoval has reached base in 25 consecutive postseason games, tied for third place all-time with Boog Powell and trailing only Miguel Cabrera (31) and Chase Utley (27). 2. Kansas City 2B Omar Infante’s Game 2 homer was his first in the postseason and came in his 145th playoff at-bat – only Mark Lemke (192) and Lonnie Smith (170) went longer. 3. Giants RHP Hunter Strickland has allowed five homers this October, matching Chris Narveson (2011) for the most given up in a single postseason by a reliever.

Lefty Specialist Oct 24 2014 06:45 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Irritating Marlins Guy is in San Francisco, too. It's not as jarring as it was in KC, as lots of people are wearing orange.

Mets – Willets Point Oct 24 2014 07:45 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Once you see Marlins Guy, you can't unsee him.

themetfairy Oct 24 2014 07:53 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Speaking of guys, it is painful seeing Erin Andrews doing sideline work when Kevin Burkhardt is in the house and available.

Ashie62 Oct 24 2014 08:50 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Yup, she does have the resume tho.

Frayed Knot Oct 24 2014 09:15 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Harold Reynolds is just discovering Now that NL/DH-less baseball is more fun and interesting? Posey, Sandoval, Pence in the 9th against, presumably, closer Holland. I have a feeling the Giants are going to get to him.

Frayed Knot Oct 24 2014 09:25 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Frayed Knot wrote: Posey, Sandoval, Pence in the 9th against, presumably, closer Holland. I have a feeling the Giants are going to get to him. Or he's going to retire the side 1-2-3 on 8 pitches ... either way.

Mets – Willets Point Oct 24 2014 09:27 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Great game. Great result.

Zvon Oct 24 2014 10:31 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Good solid baseball game. Stretch it out KC. At least 6 games please. Step it up SF.

Frayed Knot Oct 25 2014 06:25 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

That's where I'm at at this point too - essentially rooting for whichever team lost the previous game or is behind at any particular moment.

Lefty Specialist Oct 25 2014 07:10 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I basically want KC to win at home. So the Giants have to win one of the next two games, and since Bumgarner is pitching one of them that should be doable.

d'Kong76 Oct 25 2014 09:11 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Kansas City at San Francisco When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, October 25, 2014 Where: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California SportsDirect Inc. Despite the fact they trail 2-1 in the World Series, the San Francisco Giants will bypass ace Madison Bumgarner and stick with scheduled starter Ryan Vogelsong for Saturday’s Game 4 against the Kansas City Royals. San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy considered switching starters before staying with Vogelsong. “He’s done a pretty good job for us, so he’s going to have his start (Saturday),” Bochy said in Friday’s postgame press conference. “Sure, we talked about other options, but there is a confidence we have in Vogey.” Kansas City has won two straight games since losing the opener, and the relief trio of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland has combined to allow one hit in seven scoreless innings. A few standouts had their first hits of the World Series in Friday’s victory - Alex Gordon (11 at-bats) recorded an RBI double and Eric Hosmer (10 at-bats) delivered a run-scoring single. San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval was hitless in four at-bats to end his streak of reaching base in 25 straight postseason games, tied for third all-time with former Baltimore standout Boog Powell (1966-71). TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, FOX PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Jason Vargas (1-0, 2.38 ERA) vs. Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (0-0, 5.19) Vargas is pitching for the first time since Oct. 15 and only the third time this postseason. He endured a winless four-start stretch in September during which he gave up 18 runs in 18 innings but says he fixed a mechanical issue to get himself back on track. “Just some fine-tuning of not anything extraordinary,” Vargas said at his Friday press conference. “Just getting back on track and getting some opportunities to spend a couple more side sessions working on executing some things that we hadn’t.” Vogelsong is making his second World Series start, having beaten Detroit in 2012 when he pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings. He said he plans to lean on the experience to keep his focus in perspective when he steps on the mound against the Royals. “I think the biggest thing is just the experience of curbing the emotions,” Vogelsong said. “It’s definitely a situation where you have to be locked into the game and your thoughts need to be on the game, but you have to take a quick second to look around and take it all in.” WALK-OFFS: 1. Royals SS Alcides Escobar had two hits and scored twice Friday and is 5-for-12 in the series. 2. San Francisco C Buster Posey is 2-for-13 in the series and hasn’t homered in the postseason. 3. Holland has seven saves in this season’s playoffs, tied with five others for most in a single postseason.

Zvon Oct 25 2014 01:24 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Lefty Specialist wrote: I basically want KC to win at home. So the Giants have to win one of the next two games, and since Bumgarner is pitching one of them that should be doable. That would be the perfect climax to The Royal Surge. I want to squeeze as much baseball as possible out of 2014 so 7 games would be even better.

Ashie62 Oct 25 2014 07:04 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Frayed Knot wrote: Harold Reynolds is just discovering Now that NL/DH-less baseball is more fun and interesting? Posey, Sandoval, Pence in the 9th against, presumably, closer Holland. I have a feeling the Giants are going to get to him.

Mets – Willets Point Oct 25 2014 07:27 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

KC piling on.

Mets – Willets Point Oct 25 2014 07:39 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Mets – Willets Point wrote: KC piling on. Well, they could have piled on more. SF gets one back.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 25 2014 08:31 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

And another. And now Pence is on third with one out.

Mets – Willets Point Oct 25 2014 08:37 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

For fuck's sake, Duffy! Tie game.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 25 2014 08:38 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

It's rare that a guy tags and scores on a shallow fly, and the play from all involved-- pitcher, batter, defender, baserunner-- was superlative. But, yeah, nice pitch, nice job by Perez to fist it to the outfield, and then Dyson and Pence.

Mets – Willets Point Oct 25 2014 09:04 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Giants piling on.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 25 2014 09:04 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Death by a thousand short, jabby swings.

Frayed Knot Oct 25 2014 09:34 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

And the rout is on. So if this game ever actually ends (I'm figuring around 1:47 AM at this point) it looks like SF will have tied things up 2-2

MFS62 Oct 26 2014 07:49 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Petit has not only been a good pitcher in the post season, but a good luck charm, too. Later

d'Kong76 Oct 26 2014 08:00 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Kansas City at San Francisco When: 8:00 PM ET, Sunday, October 26, 2014 Where: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California SportsDirect Inc. The San Francisco Giants have evened the World Series and will send ace Madison Bumgarner to the mound when they host the Kansas City Royals in Sunday’s Game 5. Bumgarner has allowed just one run over 22 innings of three career World Series starts and perplexed Kansas City hitters while winning Game 1. The Royals will start James Shields, who was shelled in Game 1 as part of a miserable string of postseason performances. The Giants produced an 11-4 victory in Game 3 as Hunter Pence had three hits and three RBIs while Pablo Sandoval and Joe Panik each drove in two runs. The defeat was only the second this postseason for Kansas City and the players are highly aware that this has become a best-of-three series with only one more game left to be played in San Francisco. “If we win (Sunday), we have the ability to go home and basically win one of two and we’re world champions,” first baseman Eric Hosmer told reporters after Saturday’s game. TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, FOX PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH James Shields (1-1, 7.11 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (3-1, 1.40) Shields has had a rough postseason and was shelled for five runs and seven hits in three-plus innings in Game 1. Royals manager Ned Yost refused to get down on Shields and said he continues to think his next outing will be a breakthrough start. “I know his intensity, I know his work ethic, I know his competitiveness,” Yost said at his Saturday press conference. “I know that as much as a lot of you guys think that these guys are lights out perfect every time they go out there, they’re not. They’re human beings.” Bumgarner held the Royals to one run and three hits in seven innings in Game 1 and has 33 strikeouts against six walks in the postseason. He was considered to pitch on short rest in Game 4 before being held back for Game 5 and said he feels fresh despite the heavy workload. “I feel as good as I’ve felt all year right now, which is fortunate for me,” Bumgarner said in his Saturday press conference. “It usually don’t work out that way but for whatever reason, everything started clicking in the last two months and I’ve been feeling really good.” WALK-OFFS: 1. Giants manager Bruce Bochy became the fifth manager to win 40 postseason games with the Game 4 win. 2. Kansas City LF Alex Gordon is 2-for-16 in the World Series and is batting .186 in the postseason. 3. San Francisco C Buster Posey hasn’t homered this postseason but his RBI on Saturday was the 21st of his playoff career, matching Barry Bonds’ franchise record.

Zvon Oct 26 2014 11:02 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Man, the Giants were teeing off late last night. Tonights a toss up. But whoever wins tonight, loses game 6. I don't ask for much. Just more baseball, please.

Frayed Knot Oct 26 2014 11:55 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Zvon wrote: Man, the Giants were teeing off late last night. They're still just "teeing off" with mostly singles. Last night they just happened to have a bunch of them: 16 hits, 13 singles. Fortunately for them, it's not like KC is hitting for much power either.

Centerfield Oct 26 2014 07:36 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Two thoughts while watching tonight's game: 1. We will need a right handed power hitter in the NLCS next year against Bumgarner. 2. James Shields does not look at the plate while delivering a pitch.

Frayed Knot Oct 26 2014 08:06 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Centerfield wrote: 1. We will need a right handed power hitter in the NLCS next year against Bumgarner. Hell, I'd settle for a guy who can make contact against him. 2. James Shields does not look at the plate while delivering a pitch. He doesn't do it as much as that Japanese reliever on the BoSox a couple of years ago (not Uehara but the other one) but, yeah, I noticed that for the first time in his last outing.

Zvon Oct 26 2014 08:17 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Centerfield wrote: Two thoughts while watching tonight's game: 1. We will need a right handed power hitter in the NLCS next year against Bumgarner. 2. James Shields does not look at the plate while delivering a pitch. 1.lol. I love the sentiment :) 2. I noticed Another gritty game, not so well played by the Royals. A little sloppy in the field. A little dead at the dish. All Bumguy so far.

metirish Oct 26 2014 08:43 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Bumgarner is a joy to watch

Zvon Oct 26 2014 08:45 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

metirish wrote: Bumgarner is a joy to watch He is. Makes KC look like little leaguers at the plate.

Zvon Oct 26 2014 08:49 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

107 pitches after 8. He is fine tuned.

Zvon Oct 26 2014 09:04 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

This is one a those times if you're SF you want to get your pitcher right back out there ASAP. Some extra runs can't hurt.. wow! 2 run triple makes it 4-0.

Zvon Oct 26 2014 09:22 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

SF takes game 5 behind Bumgarner's masterful performance. My Royals have their backs against the wall. I hope Royals fans don't have to see SF celebrate on their home turf. That can be a traumatic experience.

Edgy MD Oct 26 2014 09:25 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Bumgarner vs. Mets: 3-0, 1.24, 29 IP, 33 SO, 8 BB. Fifteen hits, and no homers.

Frayed Knot Oct 26 2014 09:44 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Dodger fans have got to be tearing their hair out wondering why their ace lefty can't pitch that way in October.

Edgy MD Oct 27 2014 06:26 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

You've got to think they want him at least available for relief duty in a potential Game Seven.

Edgy MD Oct 27 2014 07:14 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

And, um, that National Anthem. Is this going to be MLB's Janet Jackson moment, where they stop being taken for fools and start putting some thought into this?

Zvon Oct 27 2014 01:39 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Edgy MD wrote: You've got to think they want him at least available for relief duty in a potential Game Seven. The Bum says he's ready to start game 7.

Edgy MD Oct 27 2014 02:01 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I've got to think starting games five and seven is much much harder than starting four and seven. Apart from the two days rest, I've got to imagine the adrenaline is telling you "No problem, piece of cake," but you've got a wall coming at you. Heck, you're probably still riding a little on the adrenaline of three days ago.

d'Kong76 Oct 27 2014 06:08 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

San Francisco at Kansas City When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, October 28, 2014 Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri SportsDirect Inc. The Kansas City Royals hope returning home will revitalize their title chances, while the San Francisco Giants aim to clinch their third crown in five seasons when the teams clash in Game 6 on Tuesday. San Francisco has scored the last 15 runs while winning two straight games to take a 3-2 lead and is looking to become the second National League team in history to win three titles in a five-year span. The St. Louis Cardinals – 1942, ’44, ’46 – are the lone team to do so. The Royals and Giants split two games in Kansas City to begin the series, but the Royals believe they have an edge when playing at home. “We like our stadium and the way the dimensions of our field works,” first baseman Eric Hosmer told reporters. “We definitely enjoy going back home, and we’re just going to take it a game at a time and worry about Game 6.” San Francisco's Hunter Pence has gone 9-for-19 with a homer, six runs scored and five RBIs to put his name in the MVP conversation along with Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner. TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, FOX PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Jake Peavy (1-1, 3.68 ERA) vs. Royals RH Yordano Ventura (0-0, 4.42) Peavy was charged with four runs in five-plus innings while losing Game 2 to drop to 1-4 with a 7.05 ERA in eight career postseason starts. Manager Bruce Bochy continues to profess his confidence in Peavy, who maintains he’s not feeling apprehension due to his postseason struggles. “I’m really excited about the opportunity, I really am,” Peavy said in a press conference. “I never thought it would happen any other way. That’s not who I am.” Ventura received a no-decision in Game 2 when he gave up two runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. The 23-year-old rookie has been Kansas City’s best starter in the postseason with a fastball that often tops 100 miles per hour. “He’s not your typical rookie,” Hosmer told reporters. “He’s absolutely fearless out there. He has confidence in himself and his pitches, and when he’s firing strikes – just like he was the other day – he’s pretty tough to hit.” WALK-OFFS: 1. Royals DH Billy Butler (3-for-7) will be back in the lineup with the contest in the American League ballpark. 2. San Francisco 3B Pablo Sandoval is 8-for-22 with three multi-hit performances in the series. 3. Kansas City LF Alex Gordon is 2-for-20 - two doubles - in the series and just 8-for-47 in the postseason.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2014 06:46 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Was thinking about how reluctant the Phils have been about trading away any of their aging stars over the last few years the Phillies -- and yet the one guy they did opt to deal was Hunter Pence!!! It was the July 31 trading deadline 2012 when they sent him to SF for a package of catcher Tommy Joseph (still in minors), P Seth Rosin (now back with the Phils org after flitting between four different orgs), and Nate Schierholtz (a 4th OF who had 66 ABs for Philly before moving on). I realize that his lack of a big contract at the time made him easier to deal than some of the others, but it all seems so odd in retrospect.

Lefty Specialist Oct 28 2014 08:50 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

They traded him because they were incapable of moving those other guys with the ponderous contracts. Ruben Amaro- not a genius.

Edgy MD Oct 28 2014 12:38 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

This broadcast, from Harold and Joe to Erin, is atrocious. I feel like Harold Reynolds is on a mission to make me stupider about baseball pitch by pitch. Tom Verducci, who I used to like or at least respect as a writer, brings zero to the table. Buck is by far the best of the 3-man booth and that says a lot because normally I can't stand him. And Erin, oh Erin. Sending it down to her for a "report" that tells us, hey, first row seats are being scalped for a lot of money! just illustrates why it is so unnecessary to have "sideline" guys (or gals) at a baseball game. The FX pregame is a clusterbomb as well. They did Burkhart no favors putting him up on set with the douchetastic crew of Kapler, Swisher, Ortiz and Thomas. Lose Kapler and Swisher and it might be watchable. What makes all this seem all the worse is that TBS' coverage was generally excellent. (Pedro, in particular, is fantastic, and fantastically entertaining-- he's like Baseball Barkley with a perm.) Let's give some credit here: if being a baseball Barkley means never finding a topic to be too sensitive to dive into head first, Keith has been bringing the Barkley for years.

Zvon Oct 28 2014 06:47 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I'm in the mood to be stunned. 1-0 Royals

Zvon Oct 28 2014 06:52 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Wow, KC didn't score on that. And the guys safe. Wacky stuff.

Zvon Oct 28 2014 06:58 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Whoa, Peavys done. That's a bit hasty considering there is a tomorrow for SF. 2-0 in the 2nd.

Frayed Knot Oct 28 2014 07:04 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Royals aren't exactly smacking the ball - but they're all dropping in.

Zvon Oct 28 2014 07:05 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Peavy could have done that. 4-0 KC

Zvon Oct 28 2014 07:06 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Frayed Knot wrote: Royals aren't exactly smacking the ball - but they're all dropping in. A lot of that in this series and I am enjoying it.

Zvon Oct 28 2014 07:09 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Whoa. A high chopper to short that goes for a double. 6-0

Lefty Specialist Oct 28 2014 07:17 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

7-0. Cool.

Zvon Oct 28 2014 07:29 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Royals are trying to give some back. But they fail. 7-0 after 2 and a half. Say this fast 7 times: Boche paniked when he pulled Peavy.

Lefty Specialist Oct 28 2014 07:50 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Paniked when he pulled Peavy, perplexed by Petit's pitching problems.

Zvon Oct 28 2014 08:15 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Is baseball bragging because WS game ticket $$'s are out of control? 9-0. I guess a game 7 ticket will cost your first born.

Mets – Willets Point Oct 28 2014 08:21 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I hope we get a classic game 7.

Zvon Oct 28 2014 08:30 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Mets – Willets Point wrote: I hope we get a classic game 7. I think it going 7 is classic enough. It's all that I ever ask. Probably every year, if you check. A classic game would be a nice cherry to top the cake though. 9-0 in the bottom of the 6th.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 28 2014 08:38 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I also wanted 7 games but 7 good ones. Games like tonight's remind you you're not really seeing the 2 best clubs.

Zvon Oct 28 2014 08:57 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

The Moose is loose. BOOM. 10-0, 7th. If SF don't crack that KC pen they are in trouble with a capitol T.

Frayed Knot Oct 28 2014 09:13 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Hunter Strickland gives it up easier than a Kardashian. And, btw, what are the odds on a team with two guys named Hunter?

Zvon Oct 28 2014 09:16 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Ventura went 7. 3 hits. Don't know how many pitches. I would have squeezed him for as much as possible and saved the pen for tomorrow. Frasor pitched a scoreless 8th.

MFS62 Oct 28 2014 09:23 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

According to ESPN radio, the last team to win game 7 of a World Series on the road was the '79 Pirates. BTW- who are the two guys in the booth on radio? They are very good. I'm guessing the color guy is an ex player - excellent insight. The PBP guy makes me think this isn't his first rodeo, either. I've been waiting, coming back from break, for them to say "This is ______ and _______" but if they've said it, I've missed it. Later

Frayed Knot Oct 28 2014 09:26 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I think John Schiambi is the p-b-p radio guy. Not sure who's doing color.

Zvon Oct 28 2014 09:31 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Gotta love those Royals. I didn't expect it to be that lopsided. There will be a game seven. All the marbles.

MFS62 Oct 28 2014 09:44 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Frayed Knot wrote: I think John Schiambi is the p-b-p radio guy. Not sure who's doing color. Now that you mention it, that sounds right. If it is, he is usually paired with Aaron Boone. Boone certainly has the blood lines to know his baseball. Thanks. Later

Mets – Willets Point Oct 28 2014 09:58 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

The patdown at the gate must've been interesting. "Oh, those are just my moose antlers."

Edgy MD Oct 28 2014 10:58 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Way to turn momentum around.

d'Kong76 Oct 29 2014 03:45 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

San Francisco at Kansas City When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, October 29, 2014 Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri SportsDirect Inc. Kansas City avoided elimination with a convincing victory and either the Royals or visiting San Francisco Giants will be crowned champions when Game 7 of the World Series is held on Wednesday. San Francisco was in position to win the series in Game 6, but the Royals racked up 15 hits and rolled to a 10-0 victory. Giants ace Madison Bumgarner is available for relief duty in the finale as San Francisco looks to win its third title in five seasons. The Giants have struggled to get strong outings from their starters when Bumgarner doesn’t pitch and Game 6 starter Jake Peavy lasted just 1 1/3 innings while being charged with five runs. Kansas City has won two of its three home games in the series as the lineup has a different feel to it when it includes designated hitter Billy Butler. “Billy is a big presence in that lineup offensively for us,” Royals manager Ned Yost said in a press conference. “Right in the middle of the lineup, he’s been a proven run producer and it’s just a big comfort level having him back in there.” TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, FOX PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Tim Hudson (0-1, 3.72 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (1-0, 2.70) Hudson took the loss in Game 3 when he gave up three runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings in his first career World Series start. He has walked just one hitter in 19 1/3 postseason innings while striking out 15. Hudson has found victories hard to come by in the postseason as he is 1-4 with a 3.53 ERA in 13 career appearances (12 starts). Guthrie defeated Hudson in Game 3 when he allowed two runs and four hits in five innings. He said he is ready to the task of pitching in a Game 7 as Kansas City looks for its first title since 1985. “I feel like I’m in as good of shape and in as good position to pitch well as I’ve been all season long,” Guthrie said in his Tuesday press conference. “And that’s a good place to be, to not have to worry about being fatigued or not have to worry about any lingering soreness.” WALK-OFFS: 1. San Francisco is attempting to be the first team to win a Game 7 on the road since the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles in 1979. 2. Kansas City 1B Eric Hosmer had two hits Tuesday to raise his postseason total to 20, tying the franchise mark set by Willie Wilson (1985). 3. Giants C Buster Posey is 4-for-22 in the World Series and doesn’t have an extra-base hit in the postseason.

Lefty Specialist Oct 29 2014 06:37 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

This is what you ask for as a baseball fan. Game 7. All da marbles. Fox will be wheeling out the cliches. There should be a Game 7 Cliche Drinking Game. "There's no tomorrow." "Do or die" "All hands on deck" "Leave it all on the field" And many others....

Mets – Willets Point Oct 29 2014 09:18 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Curious fact: Kansas City can finish the postseason with an 11-4 record and still only be runners-up.

Ceetar Oct 29 2014 09:29 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Mets – Willets Point wrote: Curious fact: Kansas City can finish the postseason with an 11-4 record and still only be runners-up. In which case they'd at 100 wins for the season, as would the Giants. No other team got to 100.

Edgy MD Oct 29 2014 09:47 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

So, Hudson vs. Guthrie. Gigantes resisting the temptation to go back to Bumgarner. This is what Bochy has to choose from: [list:2jgomajt]Bumgarner: 2-0 / 0.56 in the World Series Rest of the Giants' rotation: 0-3 / 9.82 ERA in the World Series. [/list:u:2jgomajt] Usual caveats about small sample size, and who knows how Bumgarner can respond on two days rest, but that's one poison pill he's willing to swallow there. Also, Hudson vs. Guthrie gives a combined age of 74 --- oldest Game Seven matchup in World Series history.

G-Fafif Oct 29 2014 10:07 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

MFS62 wrote: According to ESPN radio, the last team to win game 7 of a World Series on the road was the '79 Pirates. BTW- who are the two guys in the booth on radio? They are very good. I'm guessing the color guy is an ex player - excellent insight. The PBP guy makes me think this isn't his first rodeo, either. I've been waiting, coming back from break, for them to say "This is ______ and _______" but if they've said it, I've missed it. Dan Shulman and Aaron Boone are doing the radio. Shulman's a little slow calling developing plays but they're a pleasant listen.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2014 11:06 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Mets – Willets Point wrote: I hope we get a classic game 7. Kind of a weird post-season this year in that, in the early rounds, the games were often good but the series themselves were over quickly: - 1st round = 3, 3, 4, & 4; LCS = 4 games & 5 games ... just 3 games over the minimum, aka: 23 games out of a possible 34 While in the WS, the series has been back and forth but the games themselves, mostly blowouts: 6 runs, 5 runs, 1 run, 5 runs, 10 runs. Would be nice, like you said, to have the clincher on the line in the late innings. I wouldn't even care how things turned out if that were the case.

d'Kong76 Oct 29 2014 11:25 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I could go either way on this so long as the Royals win. It would be fun to see them score 7 runs again early and watch the fans enjoy themselves for seven innings. They certainly deserve that. A dramatic win at the end, after a well played game, would be fun too.

Mets – Willets Point Oct 29 2014 11:34 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

The 1997 World Series was like that with most of the games being tilted heavily towards either the Marlins or the Indians, but there was that great, tense, extra-inning game 7.

Edgy MD Oct 29 2014 06:45 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Game already awesome.

Edgy MD Oct 29 2014 06:52 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

A very sacrificial game.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2014 06:53 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Deuces Wild - 2 runs each in the 2nd

Edgy MD Oct 29 2014 06:54 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

In a move that WILL have Hall of Fame repercussions, Tim Hudson gets the hook.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2014 06:58 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

The problem with going to Affeldt this early is that you lose your main LHR for later in the game ... but I think the part of the LHR for later on tonight will be played by Madison Bumgarner.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2014 07:06 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

And suddenly it's Guthrie with six straight retired and through 3 innings in under 40 pitches. Not that the pitch count is a big deal tonight but, aside from that whole bases-loaded/no-outs deal, he's being very efficient otherwise.

seawolf17 Oct 29 2014 07:29 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I will never understand why guys dive into first base.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2014 07:47 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

So they can kill rallies and potentially injure themselves.

Edgy MD Oct 29 2014 07:55 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

All sorts of reasons. May not add up to the fastest way, but a lot things are going on in the mind of the athlete in motion.

Edgy MD Oct 29 2014 07:59 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Bummy suddenly not superhuman!

seawolf17 Oct 29 2014 08:09 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Edgy MD wrote: Bummy suddenly not superhuman! Check that. Yes he is.

Edgy MD Oct 29 2014 08:13 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Apparently he needs to be pricked to trigger his superpower.

Fman99 Oct 29 2014 08:44 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Good Lord, Joe Buck. Shut the fuck up. Why say ten words when you could say 50, repeated brainlessly, for 3.5 hours?

Ashie62 Oct 29 2014 08:47 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Is Jeter pitching?

Edgy MD Oct 29 2014 08:52 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Jeter's last stand tonight. His 2-2 with a run scored in the All-Star game helped the AL to a 5-3 victory and KC to home field advantage. I got a little money that's saying Bumgarner is an MVP.

Edgy MD Oct 29 2014 09:03 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

You send him out for the ninth, right? I suspect Romo is warming. I mean, this game is in serious danger of ending before midnight.

Lefty Specialist Oct 29 2014 09:05 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Edgy MD wrote: Jeter's last stand tonight. His 2-2 with a run scored in the All-Star game helped the AL to a 5-3 victory and KC to home field advantage. I got a little money that's saying Bumgarner is an MVP. Nobody is taking that bet. Bumgarner is playing a game with which I am not familiar.

Edgy MD Oct 29 2014 09:06 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

No action in the Gigante pen.

Edgy MD Oct 29 2014 09:14 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Let's Go, Hos-Mer!!! Clap! Clap! ClapClapClap!!

Edgy MD Oct 29 2014 09:16 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Wow! Let's Go, But-ler!! Clap! Clap! ClapClapClap!!

Edgy MD Oct 29 2014 09:17 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

GORDON!!! Make it happen, Alex!

Edgy MD Oct 29 2014 09:18 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Holy crap!! Gift trip!!!

Edgy MD Oct 29 2014 09:20 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

COME ON, PEREZZY!!

Edgy MD Oct 29 2014 09:22 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Hall of Fame time for Bochy. Giants are officially a dynasty. See you next year.

metirish Oct 29 2014 09:24 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

What can you say about Bumgarner ?, fucking awesome .

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2014 09:26 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Edgy MD wrote: I got a little money that's saying Bumgarner is an MVP. MVP no question. But this deal with the official scorer deciding that Bumgarner gets the win for tonight's game (even though Affeldt was the pitcher when SF took the lead) has the whiff of being contrived.

MFS62 Oct 29 2014 09:28 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I'll just mumble something about "National League Superiority" to the YLDBs in my office and move on - just a little sad. Later

seawolf17 Oct 29 2014 10:00 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

The Royals' third-base coach will probably be kicking himself all winter for not sending Gordon there.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2014 10:12 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Ashie62 wrote: Is Jeter pitching? No, he wasn't even at the game. But he was named the series MVP anyway.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2014 10:12 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

seawolf17 wrote: The Royals' third-base coach will probably be kicking himself all winter for not sending Gordon there. I dunno ... I don't think he makes it if he tries.

G-Fafif Oct 29 2014 10:19 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Madison 6.0 Bumgarner 4.0

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 29 2014 10:28 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Frayed Knot wrote: seawolf17 wrote: The Royals' third-base coach will probably be kicking himself all winter for not sending Gordon there. I dunno ... I don't think he makes it if he tries. Look at the replays-- absent one of the relay guys losing an arm in mid-throw, there's absolutely no way he makes it if he tries.

Zvon Oct 29 2014 10:46 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Great game. I was STUNNED when Gordons single was bumbled into a triple. STUNNED I TELLSYA! Gotta tip my hat to Bum. If I couldn't see the Royals win, at least I saw a great performance of GIANT proportions. Great series. Fman99 wrote: Good Lord, Joe Buck. Shut the fuck up. Why say ten words when you could say 50, repeated brainlessly, for 3.5 hours? Very much this^. If I could have I would have muted the TV.

Lefty Specialist Oct 30 2014 06:12 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Great series. Lots of mood swings. Bumgarner pretty much won it singlehandedly for the G-Men. Never seen someone come on in relief and pitch the last five innings protecting a one-run lead. That's some serious baseballin'.

Frayed Knot Oct 30 2014 06:55 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Frayed Knot wrote: Edgy MD wrote: I got a little money that's saying Bumgarner is an MVP. MVP no question. But this deal with the official scorer deciding that Bumgarner gets the win for tonight's game (even though Affeldt was the pitcher when SF took the lead) has the whiff of being contrived. Either the official scorer reversed his call or Buck simply passed along incorrect information to begin with, but Affeldt correctly winds up with the win last night and Bumgarner merely gets credit for the routine 15-out (2 hit) save.

d'Kong76 Oct 30 2014 06:57 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

G-Fafif wrote: Madison 6.0 Bumgarner 4.0 Nice! Congrats to the Giants and their mini-dynasty.

sharpie Oct 30 2014 07:14 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Echo all of that. While I had nothing against the Royals I was for the Giants all the way. I like the way they play, I like their players. It's amazing that they could win the WS with only one effective starting pitcher.

seawolf17 Oct 30 2014 07:14 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: seawolf17 wrote: The Royals' third-base coach will probably be kicking himself all winter for not sending Gordon there. I dunno ... I don't think he makes it if he tries. Look at the replays-- absent one of the relay guys losing an arm in mid-throw, there's absolutely no way he makes it if he tries. Probably. But that doesn't mean he's not kicking himself in retrospect, considering they'd gotten nothing off Bumgarner the whole way.

Lefty Specialist Oct 30 2014 07:17 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I don't think there's a third base coach with balls big enough to take the chance that he gets a runner thrown out at home to end a World Series. A halfway decent throw and he's out by 30 feet.

Ceetar Oct 30 2014 07:36 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Lefty Specialist wrote: I don't think there's a third base coach with balls big enough to take the chance that he gets a runner thrown out at home to end a World Series. A halfway decent throw and he's out by 30 feet. That's fair, on the other hand you've got 2 outs and MadBum dealing plus the Giants were fielding nervous, who says the LF doesn't spike it in a panic to get it in?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 30 2014 07:54 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Ceetar wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: I don't think there's a third base coach with balls big enough to take the chance that he gets a runner thrown out at home to end a World Series. A halfway decent throw and he's out by 30 feet. That's fair, on the other hand you've got 2 outs and MadBum dealing plus the Giants were fielding nervous, who says the LF doesn't spike it in a panic to get it in? I was rooting for him to make the attempt just so we'd have a World Series that turned (or ended) on a Little League fielding and/or running play. I imagine if he did we'd subsequently have the first WS to end or turn on a Little League running/fielding play that was also decided on video review and interpretation of the block-the-plate edict.

Edgy MD Oct 30 2014 08:04 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I imagine Yost personally endorsed his decision and lifted that burden from his wee shoulders. Video review all seems to support his choice. Cool to see the World Series still can't go off without an appearance by Lonnie Smith, if only in spirit.

HahnSolo Oct 30 2014 08:19 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Bottom of the fifth, Infante leads off with a hit; he was the first batter faced by Bumgardner. Do you bunt Escobar there? Yost did, no one in the booth questioned it, despite it only being the fifth inning. I don't like it...I know it's Bumgardner, but maybe your best chance to get to him is before you let him get in a groove.

metsmarathon Oct 30 2014 08:20 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Ceetar wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: I don't think there's a third base coach with balls big enough to take the chance that he gets a runner thrown out at home to end a World Series. A halfway decent throw and he's out by 30 feet. That's fair, on the other hand you've got 2 outs and MadBum dealing plus the Giants were fielding nervous, who says the LF doesn't spike it in a panic to get it in? I was rooting for him to make the attempt just so we'd have a World Series that turned (or ended) on a Little League fielding and/or running play. I imagine if he did we'd subsequently have the first WS to end or turn on a Little League running/fielding play that was also decided on video review and interpretation of the block-the-plate edict. and, quite deliciously, it would've featured none other than buster posey at the dish.

bmfc1 Oct 30 2014 08:25 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Nate Silver says "send him!": http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/send-alex-gordon/

Ceetar Oct 30 2014 08:30 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

HahnSolo wrote: Bottom of the fifth, Infante leads off with a hit; he was the first batter faced by Bumgardner. Do you bunt Escobar there? Yost did, no one in the booth questioned it, despite it only being the fifth inning. I don't like it...I know it's Bumgardner, but maybe your best chance to get to him is before you let him get in a groove. The radio guys questioned it, criticized even. First time I've had the radio on for the postseason and was only for 30 minutes so I don't know which one it was. (I had to scan for ESPN radio. 970? )

Frayed Knot Oct 30 2014 08:31 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

HahnSolo wrote: Bottom of the fifth, Infante leads off with a hit; he was the first batter faced by Bumgardner. Do you bunt Escobar there? Yost did, no one in the booth questioned it, despite it only being the fifth inning. I don't like it...I know it's Bumgardner, but maybe your best chance to get to him is before you let him get in a groove. That bunt was talked about quite a bit by the booth. Not surprisingly, Reynolds was for it, Verducci very much against. Adding fuel to it all was that Escobar was one of the few who actually hit Bumgarner earlier in the series. Aoki then followed it up with that liner to LF that I was sure was a double but they had Perez swung way over towards the line and he caught it fairly easily for out #2. Cain then K'd

HahnSolo Oct 30 2014 08:32 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

It was Schulman and Aaron Boone; I heard them earlier in the game in the car. They're actually pretty good.

Ashie62 Oct 30 2014 08:39 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

bmfc1 wrote: Nate Silver says "send him!": http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/send-alex-gordon/ Gordon doesn't have a ton of speed and looked winded coming into third.

Frayed Knot Oct 30 2014 09:21 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

So how often does a team win a 7-game series while having their closer throw a total of six pitches - all of them to one batter during a blow-out loss? Maybe, in the crush to put Bochy into the HoF, one can question how Santiago Casilla faced just the one hitter in the series while Hunter Strickland, already coming off a 4-HR in 4.1 IP during the early rounds, appeared 4 times for 4 innings facing 16 hitters.

bmfc1 Oct 30 2014 02:12 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

bmfc1 wrote: Nate Silver says "send him!": http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/send-alex-gordon/ Fangraphs says "don't send him!": http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/alex-gor ... -a-chance/

Edgy MD Oct 30 2014 02:19 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Frayed Knot wrote: Edgy MD wrote: I got a little money that's saying Bumgarner is an MVP. MVP no question. But this deal with the official scorer deciding that Bumgarner gets the win for tonight's game (even though Affeldt was the pitcher when SF took the lead) has the whiff of being contrived. Baseball-Reference has this going down as a save. Was this really the ruling or are you pulling my gam? If the most you can possibly ask out of a pitcher in a World Series is 27 shoutout innings --- three shutout starts --- then 21 innings and one run from MBG is about as far along that spectrum as anybody's ever gotten, right? Tops Pete Alexander from 1926. Tops Orel Hershiser from 1988. Tops Randy Johnson from 2001.

Frayed Knot Oct 30 2014 02:22 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

The problem with all of Silver's calculations and his stressing how unlikely it would be to score Perez's AB (even though Perez had HR'd off of Bumgarner earlier in the week) is that he gives Gordon a much better shot at scoring than I think is warranted: "... even Gordon had been a 2-to-1 underdog to score, he should have tried." 2-to-1 underdog?!? -- I'm not sure his odds were as favorable as 10-to-1 against.

Frayed Knot Oct 30 2014 02:30 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Edgy MD wrote: Edgy MD wrote: I got a little money that's saying Bumgarner is an MVP. MVP no question. But this deal with the official scorer deciding that Bumgarner gets the win for tonight's game (even though Affeldt was the pitcher when SF took the lead) has the whiff of being contrived. Baseball-Reference has this going down as a save. Was this really the ruling or are you pulling my gam? Sure it's a save: he came in with the lead, protected it until the end, finished the game, and fit ALL the categories to make it a save situation: - came in with the tying run on deck or at bat ... Check - 3 runs or less .. Check - three innings or more ... Check Joe Buck initially said that the official scorer had credited the win to Bumgarner but that seemed wrong to me both because it was bending the stats to fit the best story and short-changing what Affeldt did between Hudson & Bummy. The only reason to take the win away from the reliever who was the pitcher of record is if his outing fits the 'both brief and ineffective' standard. At 2.1 innings of 1 hit ball his contribution hardly deserves the insult. If the most you can possibly ask out of a pitcher in a World Series is 27 shoutout innings --- three shutout starts --- then 21 innings and one run from MBG is about as far along that spectrum as anybody's ever gotten, right? Tops Pete Alexander from 1926. Tops Orel Hershiser from 1988. Tops Randy Johnson from 2001. I have no idea what this part of your post means.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 30 2014 02:33 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Edgy MD wrote: Edgy MD wrote: I got a little money that's saying Bumgarner is an MVP. MVP no question. But this deal with the official scorer deciding that Bumgarner gets the win for tonight's game (even though Affeldt was the pitcher when SF took the lead) has the whiff of being contrived. Baseball-Reference has this going down as a save. Was this really the ruling or are you pulling my gam? If the most you can possibly ask out of a pitcher in a World Series is 27 shoutout innings --- three shutout starts --- then 21 innings and one run from MBG is about as far along that spectrum as anybody's ever gotten, right? Tops Pete Alexander from 1926. Tops Orel Hershiser from 1988. Tops Randy Johnson from 2001. Just asking: How much should the fact that these wins came against the Royals, in a down year for offense in general, enter into the greatness conversation? No doubt Bummy was outstanding, but, I dunno. I'd have been considerably more blown away had he done it against, you know, some other team. Not to take anything away from the Royals who played by the rules to get where they did, just that, I think they did it mostly by demoralizing a superior Orioles club with defense + a little team hot streak.

Edgy MD Oct 30 2014 02:40 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Frayed Knot wrote: If the most you can possibly ask out of a pitcher in a World Series is 27 shoutout innings --- three shutout starts --- then 21 innings and one run from MBG is about as far along that spectrum as anybody's ever gotten, right? Tops Pete Alexander from 1926. Tops Orel Hershiser from 1988. Tops Randy Johnson from 2001. I have no idea what this part of your post means. Really? Again with the "no idea"? How hard can it be? If the most you can possibly ask out of a pitcher in a World Series is 27 shoutout innings... That isn't literally the most you can ask, but I'm preceding my question by asking for the understanding we accept for the sake of argument that it's the most you can reasonably ask of a pitcher. --- three shutout starts --- This is where I get the 27 innings and no runs from. then 21 innings and one run from MBG MBG is a shortened version of Madison Bumgarner. It's perhaps an elusive code I've used, but he is the subject of much of the thread. is about as far along that spectrum as anybody's ever gotten, right? I'm asking here if he's come as close to that ideal as any pitcher ever. Tops Pete Alexander from 1926. Tops Orel Hershiser from 1988. Tops Randy Johnson from 2001. These are three superlative World Series pitching performances that come to mind, each of which had a bottom line inferior to Bumgarner's, with regard to innings and runs allowed. For shorthand, I did not use subjects in these sentences. If I had, the subjects would have each been "It," or "Bumgarner's performance."

Frayed Knot Oct 30 2014 04:44 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Edgy MD wrote: Really? Again with the "no idea"? How hard can it be? Because I didn't realize what MBG stood for, nor did I see what any of those past referenced performances had to do with the Win vs Save discussion.

G-Fafif Nov 07 2014 11:38 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Perhaps some of you fellow old-enoughs remember the parody paper Not The New York Times that made the rounds during the newspaper strike of 1978 (recently revisited here). Well, if you wanted Not The New York Mets Ownership, you can find it in San Francisco. Larry Baer wrote this letter to Giants fans after winning the World Series. Even allowing for Baer's post-champagne giddiness, I'm trying to imagine such a letter emanating from the desk of F. or J. Wilpon between depositions and -- even spotting the Mets a championship -- I can't see it. Dear [Giants Fan]: We’re back in our offices now, confetti still stuck to our shoes, and diving into the preparations for 2015. But my first order of business is to thank you. Through all the ups and downs of the season, you were there. No matter the won-loss record, you showed up with Panda hats and Hunter Pence signs and orange everything. Your love and energy carried our players through some very tough days this summer. And they answered your unwavering belief in them with a hard-fought, absolutely brilliant October. The San Francisco Giants became the first National League team since the 1940s to win three World Series Championships in five years. It is amazing, the stuff of dreams. And yet it is not a surprise. This is what happens when a community lifts a team, and a team lifts a community. It’s what happens when we’re all in this together – the fans, the players, the coaches, the front office, the ownership group, every usher and vendor in the park. Players from around the league recognize that. Each year, our experienced, smart and passionate baseball department led by Brian Sabean constructs a roster with painstaking care and an exacting eye, finding and developing those few special players with the grit, heart and the talent to be Giants. In Bruce Bochy, we have a manager whose own will and resilience set the tone for his team. That championship blood he so admires in his players? It coursed through his veins first. When he goes to battle, his team follows. And what a team. These players saw themselves as world champions from the first day of spring training. They didn’t care about history or prognostications or anything except each other. They went into the final game of the World Series knowing no team in 35 years had won a Game 7 on the road. They didn’t care – they scrapped and fought in Kansas City — just as they did in Pittsburgh, Washington and St. Louis – until that last ball of a long season descended into Pablo’s glove. This “find a way” culture also permeates a Giants front office of exceptional, tireless and passionate employees. They collaborate, they innovate and they are customer-centric and community-centric. They are the unsung heroes of our organization and a big key to our success. I’m already excited about what the 2015 season might hold. What will be the next chapter in the growing legend of Madison Bumgarner, the best post-season pitcher in baseball history? How many more highlight reels will be filled by young, homegrown stars such as Buster Posey, Joe Panik, Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt? And by Gregor Blanco and Hunter Pence? Might we see a third no-hitter from Tim Lincecum? Can Yusmeiro Petit break his own Major League record of 46 consecutive batters retired in a single season? Can Jeremy Affeldt notch two more scoreless innings in a post-season to break the immortal Mariano Rivera’s record? On behalf of everyone at the San Francisco Giants, thank you again for carrying us through another dramatic and exhilarating season. No team anywhere has fans like ours. We could not be more grateful. We look forward to seeing you at FanFest in February! Sincerely, Laurence M. Baer, President & CEO No "send us your deposit for season tickets now so you don't miss out on more championship action in 2015" pitch. No P.S. urging the reader to visit sfgiants.com for great World Series merchandise. No loyalty oaths. And the guy gave good letter even after a bad season.

Ceetar Nov 07 2014 12:38 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

no, but for just $500 a seat you can get on the waiting list for 2015 postseason tickets. [url]http://mlb.mlb.com/sf/ticketing/season.jsp

G-Fafif Nov 07 2014 12:48 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Ceetar wrote: no, but for just $500 a seat you can get on the waiting list for 2015 postseason tickets. [url]http://mlb.mlb.com/sf/ticketing/season.jsp No doubt the Giants like money as much as the next team. But nice to see correspondence from a team (or team owner) that is, as the anagram of Alec Guinness has it (which I learned from The Simpsons), genuine class.

Ceetar Nov 07 2014 12:52 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

G-Fafif wrote: Ceetar wrote: no, but for just $500 a seat you can get on the waiting list for 2015 postseason tickets. [url]http://mlb.mlb.com/sf/ticketing/season.jsp No doubt the Giants like money as much as the next team. But nice to see correspondence from a team (or team owner) that is, as the anagram of Alec Guinness has it (which I learned from The Simpsons), genuine class. I dunno, I could easily see that same letter coming from the Wilpons. Sub in some Canyon of Heroes/New York supremacy stuff.

G-Fafif Nov 07 2014 01:17 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

I'm willing to find out.

G-Fafif Dec 08 2014 09:58 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Your World Series MVP is also Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year. Congratulations to Madison Bumgarner, who rides an epic postseason to a December magazine cover. First baseball Sportsman since Captain Intangibles and his Cinnamon Trick in 2009. First palatable baseball choice since the Red Sox were chosen as an entity in 2004. Tom Seaver won it in 1969. He remains the standard for all things excellent.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 09 2014 09:26 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Your World Series MVP is also Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year. Congratulations to Madison Bumgarner, who rides an epic postseason to a December magazine cover. First baseball Sportsman since Captain Intangibles and his Cinnamon Trick in 2009. First palatable baseball choice since the Red Sox were chosen as an entity in 2004. Also, it's the first time since, say, non-druggy Lance Armstrong that a fictional character has been selected for the honor. I mean, seriously, this is some literally fantastic stuff... like, it's almost too much to believe. The Giants, after selecting him 10th overall in the 2007 draft, assigned him to their Instructional League team in Scottsdale, Ariz. The secret he can tell now is this: After hardly a week there, he called San Francisco assistant general manager Bobby Evans, then the director of player personnel, and told him he wanted to quit baseball... Bumgarner would pass the downtime by walking from his room at a Days Inn to the Scottsdale Fashion Square mall. But he didn't go inside. In a courtyard there was a statue of a bull. Bumgarner would bring a lasso and practice his roping against the inanimate animal, pretending he was home. and One day during spring training this year in Scottsdale, Bumgarner and his wife were roping cattle when Madison was startled by a large snake he figured was a rattler. He quickly grabbed an ax and hacked it to pieces. When Ali, an expert field dresser, examined what was left of the snake, she found two baby jackrabbits inside pieces of it and extracted them. A short while later the Bumgarners noticed that one of the rabbits had moved slightly. It was alive. Ali brought the rabbit back to their apartment and for the next few days kept it warm and bottle-nursed it. The rabbit soon was healthy enough for them to release into the wild. and There would be, however, one obvious change in his life as a consequence of being named Sportsman of the Year: Bumgarner would have to acquire the first suit and tie he ever owned. and-- lest we bury the lede-- THIS: It's all true. That he was so good so young that he started playing coach-pitch baseball at age four against seven-year-olds, and is so adept with either hand that he shoots a bow, bats, writes and ropes righthanded, but throws from the left side. That his father, Kevin, wouldn't let him throw a curveball until he had a driver's license. That before he dated Ali, he dated a girl named Madison Bumgarner ("No relation, I'm sure of it"). Your World Series MVP, ladies y gents... Sidd Fucking Finch.

Edgy MD Dec 09 2014 11:09 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

That's a total Brooklyn pickup line: "Your name is Madison Bumgarner? No shit, that's my name too."

G-Fafif Dec 10 2014 10:14 AM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Edgy MD wrote: That's a total Brooklyn pickup line: "Your name is Madison Bumgarner? No shit, that's my name too." You could pick up Brooklyn Decker with that line.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 10 2014 12:11 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

My thing is, how do you look at this guy, given all this with which to work, and come up with "MadBum" as your nickname for him? For shame, San Francisco/MLB press.

Edgy MD Dec 10 2014 12:14 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

Even leaving out the rattlesnake-and-bunny story... he and his wife took some time to do some wrangling during spring training. Again... he and his wife took some time to do some wrangling during spring training.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 10 2014 12:37 PM Re: 2014 WS: Royals vs. Giants

It was spring training, though... so it was probably just a little light wrangling. But, yeah, just off the top of my head: Rodeo Wrangler Bumtown Mountain Wind Horse Hell, "Country" is more outside-the-box, and it's practically the box.