Through eons
of columns from beat writers, sports analysts, and general managers
alike, a team with chemistry, great pitching, power, and a little bit of luck
will usually be playing baseball in October...
When it comes to the
San Francisco Giants, statistics, odds, and assumptions officially do not
apply. Based on team numbers displayed in box scores and spread sheets, no one
would have picked or expected San Francisco to represent the National League in
the Major League Baseball World Series; even avid fans were suspect all 162
games! Based on a team that had the least amount of runs scored in MLB, the
least number of home runs belted out of ballparks, mediocre number of
multi-base hits, league leading numbers in stranding runners in scoring
position, league leading number of errors commited on the field, and a mediocre
at best starting 5 ERA amongst the MLB, no way San Francisco in the Black
and Orange make it to the Fall Classic with those lackluster stats.
Ahhh.... Luckily what
creates a "Winning" franchise requires more ingredients than a triple
crown winner, a Cy Young recipient, and MVP team savior... Just ask Hunter
Pence, or should I say "Preacher Pence", whom addressed the team
during their initial elimination series against the Cincinnati Reds, "We
accept each other for who we are, and go out there and play for each
other!" Since that eloquent pep talk (and he now gives one before each
game), Giants have gone 6-0 in elimination games this postseason, Sweeping the
Cincinatti Reds in Cincinatti, and bringing a NLCS on the brink of postseason
tee times back to San Francisco from St. Louis after losing the first two games
in the BBQ capital of the USA San
Francisco
Through out Spring
Training, and the marathon of months leading up to October, Bruce Bochy and the
managing staff of the San Francisco Giants have creatively compiled a “Band of
Ballers” that somehow worked through plugging holes in Season ending injuries
to an All-Star closer (Brian Wilson out with Shoulder injury, the Bull Pen
creatively becomes closer by committee), an All-Star Second baseman who went
down with Season ending Shoulder Surgery (Freddy Sanchez aggravated an injury
thought to be healed, out at beginning of year, and a hand full of plug-ins ranging
from Pill, Theriot, to finally acquiring the perfect fit in NLCS MVP Marco
Scutaro picked up at the trade deadline from Colorado Rockies), a set up relief
pitcher suspended for 100 days testing positive for the 2nd time of illegal PEDs (Mota left a huge
hole in options of the closing bull pen by committee, Sabian and Bochy played
reliever roulette with remainder of the staff along with acquiring Kontos and
Mejias), an anemic and sluggish offense committing errors left an right along
the infield, shocking performances (or lack there of) from a back-to-back Cy
Young Ace pitcher (Tim Lincecum's ERA blew up and seemed could not get out of
the 3rd inning of a
game without being handled by opposing offenses across MLB Ball Parks) along
with yo-yo performances from the remainder of the starting pitching staff
(Vogelsong and Bumgarner seemed to be cruising to potential 20 win seasons,
when August came along and reminded both of the definition of ‘dead arm’).
Last
but not least, the Giants’ received a final blow when its major offense
contributor (and MVP of the All Star Game giving home field to NLCS winner in
the World Series, as well as leading BA in NL) Melkey
Cabrera was suspended for testing positive for an illegal PED (performance
enhancing drug). Not only did it devastate an already anemic offensive line up,
the franchise was literally blind-sided by the news seemingly coming out of
left field.
With the San Francisco
Giants NL West nemesis, Los Angeles Dodgers acquiuring money men (a blockbuster
of a trade bringing the likes of Adrien Gonzales, Josh Beckett, and Carl
Crawford over from Boston
Everyone assumed
Larry Baer, Brian Sabian, and Brucy Bochy were backed in to a corner to make a
move. The most shocking and bold move was made by the franchise, they did
nothing… The San Francisco Giants franchise had a positive outlook and faith in
their GM, their Manager, and the coaching staff to make it work with the
mixture of players they’ve groomed and acquired, to give them the best shot at
making the postseason. When the San Francisco Giants decided to stand pat, it
reminded me of a quote I recently ran across, “It's not about what happens,
it's about perspective. I may not be able to change what takes place, but I can
always choose to change my thinking.” ~Michelle Sedas
It worked! Actually it was a gem! In
hindsight, I realized the GM and Bochy knew not to screw with the chemistry
brewing in the dugout. The combination of a little bit of luck, line up
tinkering, a tightened up Defense, a pitching staff seeing career numbers from
their 4th (Vogelsong) and 5th
(Barry Zito ended up with 15 wins!) starters as well as bull pen, they had all
ingredients to make another run for a World Series appearance. There is a
philosophy Bochy brings to his line up most other managers heed from- he’s not
afraid to bench a player, or move one to a different hole in the batting order,
to achieve best results. It doesn’t
matter what you’ve done, it matters what you’re doing. Some of the greatest
moves recently have been moving former Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum to the bull
pen (and he has been lights out in mid-inning relief), moving the likes of
Brandon Belt and Hunter Pence up and down the batting line up to improve
hitting success, and keeping left handed and right handed hitters on the 40 man
roster that can be explosive in pinch hitting situations. Bruce Bochy must have
a PHD in pitcher vs hitter match ups, usually (and obvious) resulting in a
winning outcome. Bochy has been nothing short of a world renowned conductor
guiding all the instruments through a melodic masterpiece concerto with a
crescendo final movement booming as strong as the 1812 Overture.
Once again, the pesky
underdogs from San Francisco San
Francisco
What? You haven’t heard
the 1812 Overture?
Take a listen:
You need to close your eyes
and enjoy the 16 minutes of masterful music! This is the piece played that
usually opens up 4th of July fireworks across USA !
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