Well folks, this is a feeling I can certainly get used to, and if your reading this blog, most likely your in agreement. For the third time in five seasons, the San Francisco Giants will represent the National League in the Fall Classic after a thrilling game 5 win over St. Louis at AT&T Park Thursday night.
In what was a series that was determined by who played the better situational, team baseball, the Giants ran away with it. It was a bit closer than the 4-1 series win would indicate as the Cardinals flexed their muscles on multiple occasions with big home runs while the Giants manufactured runs, put pressure on the defense 
and forced their way across homeplate, so to speak. It was two different styles of play clashing, and the Giants superior pitching, defense and timely hitting won out. The Giants didn't hit any long balls in the series until game five, but they got them at the opportune time when they needed them the most. Madison Bumgarner's performance was brilliant once again, and he deservingly took home NLCS MVP honors, but how about Travis Ishikawa in this series. Not only did he come up with the big, base clearing double in game three that set the tone for the Giants to take that game early, he ends up hitting the walk-off blast to send the club to the 'Series. What a long way to come for a guy that was pondering his baseball future in recent months. Despite his bad miss-judge on that Jon Jay double, the dude has gone out of position and held it down while providing some clutch at-bats. Bochy should have no problem rolling with him in left field when the Giants head to KC Tuesday, at which time they can finally get some at-bats from fellow game 5 hero Michael Morse as the starting DH.
Now, to me, this series came down to the Giants out-pitching St. Louis and really making less mistakes them them in the field. Bochy had a very interesting, yet somewhat generic quote the other day when he said the postseason is built into this teams DNA and it really is. All the sudden the playoffs role around and
free-swinging Pablo Sandoval has become an extremely patient and dangerous hitter. Gregor Blanco is looking like an adequate leadoff hitter. Joe Panik, another guy who played a huge role in Game 5, looks like he's a five-year veteran out there. The bullpen looks untouchable and Travis Ishikawa of all people becomes one of the offensive mainstays of October. They grinded out at-bats, made the Cardinals defense stay on the field and force them to be perfect and as we saw in Game 4, they aren't perfect all the time. The Giants did what winning teams do, what teams who've been here before and know how to play at this stage do. They may not have as much talent as the teams they're beating in the playoffs the last few years, but they play harder and smarter baseball, and have ice water in their veins when the game is on the line.
There's numerous other things I can point out about Thursday's clincher, including the move to Affeldt in the ninth which was brilliant, and how MadBum willed the Giants to another win despite not having his A+ stuff the whole night, but if you've watched these games closely, then you already know. No Pagan, No Morse (until now of course), no Cain, no Lincecum (for different reasons), no Scutaro? No Problem!
Now, that being said, we'll celebrate this one tonight, but this journey is far from over. The Royals are no joke, and a much different team than the Giants beat in their last two World Series appearances as well as the three teams they went through to get to this point now. The Royals are much like the Giants in a way where they'll manufacture runs, get on base, steal, take advantage of an error and stretch out innings with patient at-bats. We'll breakdown that upcoming series much more at some point this weekend (including the who takes the ball in game four, Yusmiero Petit or Ryan Vogelsong) but for now, I want to stop typing and get back to celebrating. As a dedicated fan and blogger for this club, this truly just gets better and better the each time you get here, and I can't wait to see what next week has in store for us.
and forced their way across homeplate, so to speak. It was two different styles of play clashing, and the Giants superior pitching, defense and timely hitting won out. The Giants didn't hit any long balls in the series until game five, but they got them at the opportune time when they needed them the most. Madison Bumgarner's performance was brilliant once again, and he deservingly took home NLCS MVP honors, but how about Travis Ishikawa in this series. Not only did he come up with the big, base clearing double in game three that set the tone for the Giants to take that game early, he ends up hitting the walk-off blast to send the club to the 'Series. What a long way to come for a guy that was pondering his baseball future in recent months. Despite his bad miss-judge on that Jon Jay double, the dude has gone out of position and held it down while providing some clutch at-bats. Bochy should have no problem rolling with him in left field when the Giants head to KC Tuesday, at which time they can finally get some at-bats from fellow game 5 hero Michael Morse as the starting DH.Now, to me, this series came down to the Giants out-pitching St. Louis and really making less mistakes them them in the field. Bochy had a very interesting, yet somewhat generic quote the other day when he said the postseason is built into this teams DNA and it really is. All the sudden the playoffs role around and
free-swinging Pablo Sandoval has become an extremely patient and dangerous hitter. Gregor Blanco is looking like an adequate leadoff hitter. Joe Panik, another guy who played a huge role in Game 5, looks like he's a five-year veteran out there. The bullpen looks untouchable and Travis Ishikawa of all people becomes one of the offensive mainstays of October. They grinded out at-bats, made the Cardinals defense stay on the field and force them to be perfect and as we saw in Game 4, they aren't perfect all the time. The Giants did what winning teams do, what teams who've been here before and know how to play at this stage do. They may not have as much talent as the teams they're beating in the playoffs the last few years, but they play harder and smarter baseball, and have ice water in their veins when the game is on the line.There's numerous other things I can point out about Thursday's clincher, including the move to Affeldt in the ninth which was brilliant, and how MadBum willed the Giants to another win despite not having his A+ stuff the whole night, but if you've watched these games closely, then you already know. No Pagan, No Morse (until now of course), no Cain, no Lincecum (for different reasons), no Scutaro? No Problem!
Now, that being said, we'll celebrate this one tonight, but this journey is far from over. The Royals are no joke, and a much different team than the Giants beat in their last two World Series appearances as well as the three teams they went through to get to this point now. The Royals are much like the Giants in a way where they'll manufacture runs, get on base, steal, take advantage of an error and stretch out innings with patient at-bats. We'll breakdown that upcoming series much more at some point this weekend (including the who takes the ball in game four, Yusmiero Petit or Ryan Vogelsong) but for now, I want to stop typing and get back to celebrating. As a dedicated fan and blogger for this club, this truly just gets better and better the each time you get here, and I can't wait to see what next week has in store for us.
Comments
Totally agree with what you said on twitter about using Petit instead of Vogey in game 4. The coaches should have much more confidence in him right now. Let Vogey take his place in the pen cause Vogey can give you a few solid innings before he tires.
I have a feeling they're gonna need lincecum this series, so keep him on. Who else would go on anyway? Gary Brown, pass!
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