Nirvana… Again
October 29th, 2012 | by Ray Flowers |
Nearly two years ago to the day I wrote the first Nirvana piece. That piece started out… “In the grand scheme of things a championship in sports means nothing, and the life of one person is also rendered insignificant when placed in the context of the world. But I gotta tell you, in this corner of the sphere that we all inhabit, there have been few things that can rival what has occurred over the last 24 hours.” And it happened, again…
For the second time in three years the San Francisco Giants were triumphant in the World Series. For a team that moved to California in 1958, legions of Bay Area fans lived through the decades of defeat. Now, they have been able to bask in the glow of greatness twice in three years. Words escape me to describe what it feels like to witness the triumph yet again. OK, maybe they don’t (you know me so well). Here are some interesting factoids from their run of excellence.
The Giants won their 7th championship, and for those that think Giants fans are used to winning remember that the team has been in existence for 130 years.
The Giants became the first NL team to win two championships in three years since the Big Red Machine won in back-to-back years in 1975-76. In fact, they are only the 5th NL team, ever, to do it (Cubs 1907-08, NY Giants 1921-22, Cardinals ’44 and ’46, Dodgers ’63 and ’65).
The Giants are the 5th team in history to win the World Series after finishing last in baseball in homers.
The Giants led the Tigers for 56-straight innings before Miguel Cabrera’s HR in the 3rd inning of Game 4. It was the second longest streak in post-season history.
Over the last seven games of the playoffs the Giants team ERA was 0.98. The starters ERA was much higher… 0.99.
Giants relievers pitched 11.2 innings in the World Series allowing two hits, two runs and striking out 17.
Tim Lincecum threw five games out of the bullpen in the playoffs and over those 13 innings he posted a 0.69 ERA while striking out 17 batters.
Buster Posey hit only .200 in the playoffs, but in the three series clinching games Posey drove in six runs while hitting two homers.
Pablo Sandoval won the World Series MVP Award as he hit .500 with three homers. Only three other men have reached both of those totals in a World Series – Babe Ruth (1928), Lou Gehrig (1928, 1932) and Hideki Matsui (2009). He still needs to lose about 45 lbs, but there is no disputing that the man can hit.
Marco Scutaro, nicknamed “The Blockbuster” by his teammates (cause he was the blockbuster addition of the trade deadline), had about as impressive four month run you will ever see from a non-elite player. Scutaro hit .362 with the Giants over 61 games and tied Derek Jeter for the major league lead with 88 hits in that time. Scutaro then went on to hit .500 in the Giants 7-game victory over the Cardinals in the NLCS, and over his last 11 playoff games he had at least two hits eight times. Fittingly it was his hit in the 10th inning that led to the Giants’ World Series victory.
By Ray Flowers
Tags: Buster Posey, Giants, Nirvana, Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants, Tim Lincecum, World Series
By Marc in CO on Oct 29, 2012
Congrats Ray! Amazin’ playoff run for your Giants. Looking to next year, do you think Romo remains the closer, and if so, is he an elite (top 5) option?
By Danny Tanner on Oct 30, 2012
Hey Ray! I actually had tix for Game 5 which would’ve been in Detroit last night. While I wished the series would’ve made it that far so I could’ve taken my dad to the game, the weather would’ve been brutal with the area feeling the outskirts of Sandy.
What a crazy postseason.. as an A’s fan, I’ll cut you some slack. I would’ve loved to see another Bay Bridge Series. Hopefully next year.
I’m on an 20-team keeper league. I have both Wieters and Jesus Montero and have been getting interest in both. Which one do you prefer long-term?
Do I hang on to both with the mindset that Montero will possiblt lose ‘catcher’ eligibility in a couple of years? Would he be a good flex play at that point? Or do I ship him off now and stick with Wieters?
Thanks in advance!
By Ray Flowers on Oct 30, 2012
Marc in CO – Given everything, I would not be expecting to see Romo closing on opening day. Wilson should be healthy by then, they could always go out and sign someone, and there is a tiny chance that Lincecum could fill the role. As I’ve always said, and was totally proven right this year, Romo could easily handle the 9th. Still think the club is worried about him being overworked though given his reliance on the slider.
By Ray Flowers on Oct 30, 2012
Danny Tanner – I had Series tickets for when the games came back to the Bay, so I feel your pain there… I was at the ’89 Quake game… and yes, I was really there, not like those people that claim they were but actually weren’t.
Wieters and Montero are excellent holds in a 20 tm keeper. I’d be asking a TON for either in trade. I’d prefer Wieters, but Montero does possess a 30-100 bat if he DHs, and if he weren’t stuck in SEA. Montero could end up at DH, as you suggested he’s not a good defensive player, and many scouts doubt that he ever will evolve to that point.
By Danny Tanner on Oct 30, 2012
Thanks Ray. What do you consider to be a ton? This is my first keeper league.. I’ve been playing fantasy for a number of years, but just want to make sure I don’t sell myself short.
By Ray Flowers on Oct 30, 2012
Danny T – I honestly cannot speculate with concrete details. I will say this though. Jesus Montero seems like a lock to be a top-10 C with top-5 upside. In a 20 team lg, that’s big time value. In a 20 tm keeper lg, that’s huge. If you start 2 catchers, its MASSIVE.
If you deal him you should be able to get a borderline elite player in return based on his potential.