World Series: Oh So Close

I’ve been a San Francisco Giants fan my whole life, an I mean my whole life. Born and raised in the Bay Area, I was taught to respect my elders, be a good person, eat my vegetables, and to hate the Dodgers. Hopefully I have made my parents proud.

However, at the same time, it’s been a long road. There have been wonderful high’s along the way, but at the same time it’s the failures that stick with you. My first World Series experience was in 1989, but on October 17, at 5:04 PM, the Loma Prieta Earthquake struck and delayed the Series for over a week (unlike many that claim they were there, I actually was). The A’s eventually trounced the Giants four games to none.

In 2002 the Giants, powered by Barry Bonds at the height of his powers (he hit .370 with 46 homers and a 1.381 OPS), took on the Angels in the World Series. A mere eight outs away from a World Championship (the Angels were down by a score of 0-5 in Game 6), the Giants proceeded to fall in Game 6 and then to lose Game 7 by the score of 4-1.

And that’s it. In my lifetime, those are the only two times the Giants had been in the World Series prior to this year. In fact, the Giants had only been in the World Series one other time since moving to San Francisco in 1958 losing to the Yankees in 1962 in, you guessed it, seven games. That’s right, the San Francisco Giants have never won the World Series, but all that stands between them and ending the third longest World Series drought in baseball is a mere victory (the Cubs last won in 1908, they also won in 1907, and the Indians in 1948 who ironically fell to the Giants in ’54).

So what will I do tonight when Game 5 is played? I will probably be watching the game at my parents house. I know, most people would think I would be a sports bar or somewhere with beer and rowdy fans, but I’ve been “in this” with my parents for my whole life, so I couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate if the Giants were to win. Of course, that wouldn’t preclude me from going out after the game and getting so bombed that I can’t work on Tuesday.

I’ve been asked – ‘Ray, you have tickets for Game 6, don’t you want the Giants to win the Series in front of you?’ I couldn’t think of much in life that would make me happier than being able to attend a Series clinching win, but after waiting my whole life to be able to lift that #1 finger and chant “We’re number #1,” I could care less if I actually see the game in person or not — I just want the win no matter how/when it comes.

Bumgarner Makes History

Before signing off, here is some Madison Bumgarner love courtesy of Jayson Stark of ESPN.

Just 21 years old, Bumgarner turned in one of the better pitched World Series games in recent memory in Game 4 (8 IP, three hits, two walks, six strikeouts and no runs). His outing was much more than a merely terrific outing though – it was a historic performance.

* This was the fourth time a Giants pitcher had throw seven shutout innings while allowing four or fewer hits this postseason. No other team has ever been able to do that (four such outings in one postseason).

* There have only been three pitchers in World Series history, younger than Bumgarner, who have won a game.

20 yrs, 316 days – Bullet Joe Bush
20 yrs, 356 days – Fernando Valenzuela
20 yrs, 356 days – Jim Palmer
21 yrs, 91 days – Bumgarner

* Bumgarner was just the second rookie, ever, to toss at least eight shutout innings in a World Series game. The other was Palmer in 1966 when he shutout the Dodgers.

* Bumgarner is the only rookie pitcher in World Series history to throw six or more shutout innings in a World Series game.

By the way, Bumgarner is the Giants fourth starter.

By Ray Flowers