[SSW]

Bumgarner awarded the World Series MVP.

Earlier even credit for the win in Game 7 but the win is later given to Affeldt and a save is credited to Bumgarner. Career WS record is now 4-0, 1 SV, 0.25 ERA and .121 BAA. MadBum also won a new Chevy truck for being named MVP, which I'm sure will get good use back home in North Carolina.



Here are some interesting facts about MadBum's performance during the WS that I found on Yahoo Sports:

"He won the opener with seven innings of one-run ball, pitched a four-hit shutout over 117 pitches in Game 5 and then whipped 68 more by the Royals in Game 7. He pitched more than one-third of San Francisco's World Series innings: 21 of 61.

Some grand totals, courtesy of Brooks Baseball: He threw 205 of 291 pitches (70 percent) for strikes. His arsenal of smoke and trickery included 152 fastballs (52 percent), 81 cutters (28 percent), 44 curveballs, 11 changeups and three of those Bugs Bunny slow curves."

. . .

"Bumgarner pitched a record 52 2-3 innings in this postseason, going 4-1 with a 1.03 ERA in six starts and the longest appearance for a save in World Series history, a grind that boosted his season total to 270 innings. Bumgarner is 4-0 with a save and a record-low 0.25 ERA in earning three World Series rings."

See: Bumgarner a Throwback to Pre-pitch Count Era

[GarySL]

Better celebration pic, Go Giants:

[GarySL]

Hunter Pence joyful in the dugout earlier in the game:

[GarySL]

Michael Morse getting the game winning hit:

[GarySL]

Madison Bumgarner, WS MVP, 2 wins, and 1 save, what a stud:

[tbone28]

Torture well worth it once again

Having sat through the big quake of '89 while watching the giants lose, to go through the biggest quake this year since that '89 quake and watch the giants pull it through is quite satisfying. #Born-n-RaisedInDaCity

[marksae]

MadBum was insane this whole post season. He put the team on his back and lead us to the promise land. Wow.. just wow. Bochy made all the right decisions too. With the way MadBum was throwing, I did not want to see a possibly rusty Casilla come in.

I'm still not quite sure how to process this. I was waiting my whole life to see them win one title.. and now they've won 3!!!

[GarySL]

Originally Posted by marksae

...I'm still not quite sure how to process this. I was waiting my whole life to see them win one title.. and now they've won 3!!!

Totally in the same boat, growing up in the 60s, the jersey I had then was #40 (Mike McCormick, also a lefty). Now another lefty, #40, makes it easy to Don't Stop Believin'!

[SSW]

This was the 1st time in last 10 times that a visiting team has taken Game 7 to win the World Series on the road away from home. The last team to do it was the Pirates back in 1979 when the took the title from the Orioles in Baltimore.

Giants redeem themselves after the 7th game loss to the Angles back in 2002, which was the last time that the wild card teams met in the WS.

Giants have been to the WS 20 times but have only won 8 times. Most of those appearances 14 out of 20 were made by the NY Giants, who won 5 out of the 14 for a 35.7% win rate. The SF Giants have only been to the WS 6 times in 1962, 1989, 2002, 2010, 2012 and 2014 and they've won 3 out of 6 for a 50% win rate.

Only 2 teams have ever won 3 or more WS titles in a row: The 1972-74 Oakland A's and 3 different Yankees teams 1936-39 (4x's), 1949-53 (5x's) and 1998-2000 (3x's). Those teams certainly entitled to be considered DYNASTIES!!! Don't think the SF Giants even come close to that yet.

Also, all of those teams, other than the 1998-2000 Yankees, won BEFORE the age of free agency (starting in 1975) which made doing it easier because those teams were able to remain intact during those time periods.

This makes the accomplishment of the 1998-2000 Yankees all that more amazing (or explains why that Yankee team was able to win 3 in a row; they paid a lot of money to do it) considering how hard it has become to keep a winning team intact after free agency was adopted.

The last team to win 3 WS titles in 5 years was the St. Louis Cardinals back in 1942, 1944 and 1946, which was also prior to free agency. The fact that the Giants were able to win 3 WS in 5 years after free agency is a tribute to the ability of ownership to hold onto a solid core of players and to find others needed in order build 3 different teams that were each able to win the World Series.

Since the turn of the century in 2001, both the Giants and Red Sox have won 3 WS titles and the Cards won twice. The Giants have appeared 4 times (2002, 2010, 2012 & 2014) and won 3 of 4. The Red Sox appeared 3x's (2004, 2007 & 2013) and won all 3. The Cards have appeared 4 times (2004, 2006, 2011 & 2013) and won twice. Six other teams have won once each. So, the Giants, Red Sox and Cardinals have been the most dominant teams of the 21st century so far.

IF the Red Sox are able to return to win the WS next year, they would match the Giants record of 3 WS titles in 5 years and would have won 4 WS titles (1 more than the Giants). That would require the Red Sox (who have been decimated by free agency and other problems) go from last place to 1st place in one year. Not likely but anything can happen in baseball.

This 3rd WS title should make Bochy the front runner for Manager of the Year and should make him eligible for election into the Hall of Fame when he retires. Nine other managers who won 3 WS titles are in the Hall of Fame. Only one other manager in Giants history has 3 WS titles -- John McGraw (1905, 1921 & 1922) -- the last one over 90 years ago!!! -- and one of the managers already in the Hall of Fame.

[SSW]

Do you consider this Giants team a dynasty yet or not. I don't but USA Today seems to think so in this interesting graphic that I'll try to downsize later:

[GarySL]

Fixed, Go Giants!

Originally Posted by SSW

Giants have been to the WS 20 times but have only won 8 times. Most of those appearances 14 out of 20 were made by the NY Giants, who won only 5 out of the 14 for a 36% win rate. The SF Giants have only been to the WS 6 times in 1962, 1989, 2002, 2010, 2012 and 2014 and they've won 3 out of 6 for a 50% win rate.

[1MOREMOD]

St Louis wasn't last to win 3 in 5 years. If you win 3 in a row that is also 3 in 5 years.

[GarySL]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

St Louis wasn't last to win 3 in 5 years. If you win 3 in a row that is also 3 in 5 years.

No team can match the Yankees WS numbers and acknowledging the '70s As streak. I bet he meant to add the last NL team.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by GarySL

No team can match the Yankees WS numbers. I bet he meant to add NL team.

Yes true last nl team.

[marksae]

Arguments can be made about how to label this run of success. But one thing I do know is.. we may not ever see a run like this again in our lifetimes. And we probably won't fully appreciate this run until it's over.

This team has that postseason mojo that the past teams never had. Seeing the Giants take down all the higher ranked teams this postseason reminded me of all the past Giants teams that had great regular seasons, but got eliminated in the playoffs.

1997 - lost LDS
2000 - lost LDS
2002 - lost WS
2003 - lost LDS

I was always envious of those teams that had the playoff mojo. The so-so regular season teams that made magical runs in the playoffs. The 1997 and 2003 Marlins. The 2006 Cardinals. Well this year's team was it. We were finally THAT team!!!

[UncleWede]

LET'S GO DODGERS!

That being said, that was an EXCELLENT game 7!

SF: Pandoval got on base every time he came up. Pence is such an ugly form player, but he makes contact. Posey closes his eyes on every pitch! Bum is so cool under pressure, for such a young player.

KC: Perez is the ironman. To get hit like that and stay in the game and CATCH, even if he could no longer follow the play down to first base is some brass balls. I'm guessing now he doesn't need to wear a cup

[SSW]

Originally Posted by GarySL

Fixed, Go Giants!

Thanks!! Obviously didn't take time to "fact check" given all of my excitement!!!

[SSW]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

St Louis wasn't last to win 3 in 5 years. If you win 3 in a row that is also 3 in 5 years.

Being kind of picky, aren't you?

The reference to "3 in 5 years" is obviously meant to highlight teams that won 3 WS titles but NOT consecutively. Only the 40's Cards and OUR current Giants teams are the only ones to have done that in the NL. According to US Todays chart, the Red Sox and A's also did it around 100 years ago in the 1910's.

I referenced the teams to win 3 or more times in a row (the 70's A's and 3 the 30's, 50's and the 1998-2000 Yankees teams). Personally, those are the only teams I consider to have been worthy of being considered a DYNASTY because they were so DOMINANT in their time.

Say what you like about the Giants but you can't say they were a DOMINATING team in 2010, 2012 or 2014. Heck, the Giants didn't even win their division this year, so it's hard to make the case that they're a DYNASTY.

Yes, they won the World Series 3x's in 5 years BUT to rise to the level of a DYNASTY, I think they need to do more.

I think that they at least need to have had the best record in the league, win the NL Championship and win the WS at least 3x's in a row, like the 70's A's and the 3 Yankees teams did. Otherwise, there are just TOO MANY teams who would rise to a level of a DYNASTY, which would diminish the meaning of the term.

The 40's Cards are also suspect because they won during the player depleted WWII years with a team lead by Stan Musial. In fact, given their advantages, it's surprising that the Cards did not win 5 in a row during that time period and the fact that they didn't emphasizes why they shouldn't be considered a dynasty either. They had a chance to win 3 in a row between 42-44 but lost to the Yankees in the WS in 43.

However, as I also already mentioned, I think what the Giants have done by winning 3 WS titles in the past 5 years is pretty f*cking amazing in this age of free agency. It's also amazing because of the ORDEAL that teams have to go through in order to win the WS now.

Back in the day, there were only 16 teams in MLB -- 8 in the NL and 8 in the AL. The team that had the best record in each league won the pennant and went on to play in the WS without any playoff, unless there was a tie for one of the league titles. Now, a team may have to play as many as 20 games to win the WS -- a wildcard game, best of 5 for the NLDS, best of 7 for the NLCS and best of 7 for the WS. That's really crazy. People complain about the wildcard teams winning the WS but any wildcard team -- like the Giants in 2014 -- that can do that has proven what a great team they really are by enduring such a demanding process.

Frankly, because of free agency and the current playoff system, I think that it will be very difficult (if not impossible) to create a baseball team dynasty again UNLESS there's a team out there who can BUY it again like Steinbrenner did w/the 1998-2000 Yankees and the Dodgers tried to do again this year.

Maybe the Giants will be the team to actually do it because the team has A LOT of $$ to spend in free agency now that they've almost paid off the capital costs for building ATT Park and are sold out every day. If they spend their money right to buy the right players, there's a good chance they may be able to build a team around the 8 or 9 core players that have been there since 2010.

What do I think they need to do that?

I think they need at least 3 bulletproof starters -- 15 to 20 game winners who no one can hit. They've only got 1 now and they "may" have 2 if Cain can regain his prior form. Possibly 3 if Lincecum can regain his form, but that seems unlikely. We've got Petit, who's really untested but should be good for #4 and could move up if he performs well. Hudson will still be on the roster in 2015 but I only see him as a #5 starter in the rotation taking over Vogelsong's spot; Vogie is a free agent in 2015 and I don't think the Giants will resign him unless they can get him cheap and there are no other options. Don't know if there's any one in the farm system who can fill the need for a #2 or 3 starter. If not, they need to let Peavy (who's also a free agent in 2015) go and use the $$ to find another vet who might be able to step up in that role.

In the field, they need to resign Pablo (who's a free agent in 2015) to a 3-5yr contract to maintain the continuity of the team in the infield and at the plate. They also need to sign Panik to a long term contract based on this WS performance which was outstanding. They also need to find at least one (and preferably 2) POWER hitter(s) who who can bat over 300 and hit 30-40 HRs a year, who can also field left or center field, which are the only positions open.

They use to have a power hitting outfielder -- called Bonds -- but that was awhile ago. Maybe the Cuban CF -- Daniel Carbonell -- who did not play in the WS but is currently listed on the Giants 40-man roster, will be that guy. If so, they could move Pagan (who's signed thru 2016) to LF, assuming he's still able to play.

Although they both contributed importantly to the Giants' success this year, I don't see Ishikawa or Perez being what we need in LF or at the plate and, although they may keep Perez, I think they'll probably release Ishikawa because of his relatively poor performance in LF (which is not his position anyway) and the fact they don't need him at 1st with Belt (the guy who took away his job) there. Assuming he can play, Morse (who's also a free agent in 2015) isn't ideal in LF either BUT the Giants might re-sign him to another 1 yr deal if they can't do any better to keep some power available off the bench.

What ever the case, here's hoping that the Giants can take it to the next level to become an actual baseball DYNASTY.

GO GIANTS!!!!

[tbone28]

Ooooooooops

[1MOREMOD]

Yes I guess kind of picky but it's referring to an achievment. If you win 3 titles in a row you also have won 3 in the last 10 years or whatever the time span is. The only reason you say 3 in 5 instead of 3 in 4 or 3 in 3 is because it's less of an achievment. Saying that St Louis is last team do do it makes it seem like A's and yanks achievement doesn't count which it does and is actually bigger achievment.

[SSW]

[UncleWede]

I could see Pence in WWE