What I Am Thankful For As A San Francisco Giants Fan

The easy answer is 2010, 2012 and 2014. And to some degree, those are certainly three of the things I am most thankful for, especially 2010. However, what I am truly thankful for is the fandom itself.

I am thankful for 1983. That was the year of my first game at Candlestick Park. My father took me to the game. I don’t remember what game it was. I don’t remember if the Giants won or lost. The Giants won 53% of their home games that season, so I had roughly a 50/50 chance of seeing a win. I am much more thankful of my father taking me to the game in the first place. I am thankful for the love of the game he had and the love for the game he instilled in me.

Candlestick Park, Home of the San Francisco Giants 1960-1999

I am thankful for 1987. My first pennant race. I am thankful for being seven years old and beginning to live and die with my team. I am thankful for the young homegrown stars like Will Clark, Robby Thompson, and Chili Davis and new players traded to the team like Jeffrey Leonard, Jose Uribe, Kevin Mitchell, Mike Krukow, Don Robinson, and Dave Dravecky. I was heartbroken when they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals, but I was excited for the future.

I am thankful for 1989. My first World Series. I am thankful for seeing some of my favorite players evolve like Clark, Mitchell, Robinson and more. I am thankful for new additions like Steve Bedrosian and Brett Butler playing key roles. I am also thankful for the first responders and everyone that came to the aid of the victims of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. Despite the loss to the Oakland Athletics, that reality hit home harder than any loss could ever do.

My father and I were in the car heading home to watch Game 3 when the earthquake began. We were listening to the pregame on the radio when it felt like all four tires went flat at the same time. But then you look around and every other car is stopped on the freeway as well. I am thankful that we weren’t on the Bay Bridge that day or on 880. I am thankful that so many survived.

Barry Bonds waves to the crowd after a home run, 1993.

I am thankful for 1993. I am thankful for Barry Bonds agreeing to sign with my favorite team and the 15 years of entertainment he provided my family. My grandfather was near the end of his life as Bonds was beginning his career in San Francisco and he would watch every game. He would call my dad to comment on the fact that Barry Bonds had homered in the exact same spot as he did the day before.

[Sidenote: My grandfather would watch the replays of the game on SportsChannel Bay Area and not realize they were replays.]

I am thankful for the excitement Bonds, Dusty Baker, Rod Beck, Matt Williams and so many more brought my grandfather, my father and me.

I am thankful for 1997. I am thankful for Brian Sabean and the team he built. I am thankful for Williams and all he did for the Giants in his time in San Francisco. I am thankful for Jeff Kent, J.T. Snow, Rich Aurilia, Russ Ortiz, Shawn Estes and Kirk Rueter. I am thankful for the era that began that season.

Kirk Rueter's first pitch at AT&T Park on April 11, 2000

I am thankful for 2000. I am thankful for the most beautiful baseball park I have ever set foot in. I am thankful for Ellis Burks, Robb Nen, and Mark Gardner. I am thankful for the first time I was able to take my dad to a game. I am thankful for sitting at Pacific Bell Park with my father, driving the two of us to the park to enjoy the game I had loved for the past 17 years.

I am thankful for 2001. I am thankful for Bonds and the season he had. With every home run, I felt like I was home instead of being away at college, 1,646.2 miles away. I am thankful for home runs 71 and 72 as I shared baseball history with my roommates and felt a connection to my team despite being so far away.

I am thankful for 2002. I am thankful for my second trip to the World Series as a fan. I am thankful for how close we got. It was gut wrenching and heart breaking and still feels raw to this day, but it was such a special season. I am thankful for all of the players that were a part of that team. I am thankful for Kenny Lofton, Benito Santiago, David Bell, Reggie Sanders, and Jason Schmidt. I am also thankful for the team’s first round draft pick that season.

Matt Cain's Debut Start

I am thankful for 2005. I am thankful for the debut of Matt Cain. I am thankful for the first move towards an eventual championship. I am thankful for the front office changing their philosophy on how they would build the Giants in the future. I am thankful for future draft picks like Tim Lincecum, Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, and Joe Panik.

I am thankful for 2008. I am thankful for taking my future wife on dates to San Jose Giants games and seeing those homegrown draft picks up close. I am thankful for watching Posey and Bumgarner with her and watching them get to the big leagues. I am thankful that my wife was a Los Angeles Dodgers fan before we met which meant she already loved baseball. I am thankful that because of those San Jose Giants games, she fell in love with the Giants. I am thankful for her family, despite their love for the Dodgers, were happy for me and my team when they made the playoffs. I am thankful that she fell in love with them organically. I am thankful that when they won it all in 2010, she was the first person I hugged.

And yes, of course I am thankful for 2010. I am thankful for every torturous moment. I am thankful for every thrilling moment. I am thankful for every Bruce Bochy decision, every Cain pitch, every Posey at bat, and every Lincecum strikeout.

I am most thankful for November 1, 2010 about 30 minutes after Brian Wilson struck out Nelson Cruz in Game 5. About 30 minutes after that last strike, I showed up on my father’s doorstep and knocked on the door. When he answered the door, I hugged him and cried. It was one of the most special moments a son could have with his father as it relates to sports. It is why we care so much about the game itself. Losing happens. No team goes undefeated. The people you share those moments with and the shared joy you feel when your team wins the final game of the season is indescribable. Had the Giants won all the time, 2010 wouldn't be as special as it was. Had the Giants continued to win the World Series every other year like some “Even Year Magic,” 2010 wouldn’t be as special as it was.

I truly loved seeing San Francisco win the World Series in 2012 and 2014. But the moment i embraced my father on the night of November 1, 2010 is the best moment I have ever shared with him when it comes to our Giants.

Aaron Saltzman, the next great Giants fan

And now my son, Aaron, who is two years old, will be the next generation to be a part of this fandom. I look forward to introducing the Giants to him and rooting for new players that come along and become his favorites. This is bigger than any win or loss the team can have. This is more special to me than whether the Giants sign the next Barry or draft the next Buster. This is what I am thankful for, this is what baseball is all about, and this is what the San Francisco Giants mean to me and my family.

Giants will win in 2016 because: Even Year Magic...and talent.

The San Francisco Giants have had an interesting last 6 seasons. Three World Series championships. Three seasons without a playoff appearance. Every even season they win it all. Every odd year, they don't even make it to the dance. How can we explain this? It's very simple. Even year magic. Also, baseball is very hard and making the post-season is never easy. In pro basketball or hockey, more teams make the post-season than stay at home. In Major League baseball, only 10 of the 30 teams reach the playoffs, and two of the 10 only get guaranteed 9 innings.

There are some obvious reasons 2011, 2013 and 2015 ended without October baseball. For one, the team suffered some back breaking injuries, both literally and figuratively in each of those seasons. From Buster Posey's broken leg and Freddy Sanchez broken back in '11, to Angel Pagan's hamstring and Marco Scutaro's broken back in '13, to Hunter Pence's various injuries and Joe Panik's broken back in '15. If there was one thing we knew was going to happen in odd years, it was a critical member of the lineup was going down for several months and the team's second baseman was going to injure their back.

Fans wanted the "odd year curse" to be over this season, and had high hopes that the Giants could get back to the post-season in back to back years for the 1st time since 2002-03. There was reason to be hopeful too. Hunter Pence did play some games this season and the Giants were 34-18 in those games. That .653 winning percentage would translate to 105 wins. That doesn't mean the Giants were going to win 105 games, or even 95 games, but since the Dodgers won 92 games to win the National League West, a healthy Pence could have made a huge difference.

Also, there were those pesky 1 run games. The Giants won 19 1 run games in 2015, which is more than the 15 the Blue Jays won, but it was there 2-15 record in 1 run games down the stretch that made all the difference. The Giants had several starters out during those 17 games, including Brandon Belt, Joe Panik, Brandon Crawford, Gregor Blanco and Nori Aoki and several key pitchers out, including Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Tim Hudson, Mike Leake and Jeremy Affeldt.

Looking ahead in 2016, there is room for much optimism. First and foremost, the Giants still have 3 of the best players in baseball in the prime of their careers. Madison Bumgarner will not win the Cy Young this year, primarily because of some of the greatest pitching seasons we've seen in the National League in a decade. However, Bumgarner had an incredible season that proves he is one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. His 8.9 Wins Above Replacement over the past two seasons is 13th best in baseball. And compared to those other 12 pitchers, his ERA of 2.95 is tied for 10th best, while his FIP is 8th. He also hit 5 home runs this season and has become a legitimate threat to the lineup when he bats. His pinch hit at bats have become epic performances. His .468 Slugging percentage was higher than Evan Gattis and Prince Fielder, among others.

When healthy, Pence has been incredible for the Giants, as the 34-18 record and World Series victory in 2014 has showed in recent seasons. If Pence can get back to being an everyday player that can play 150 games, the Giants will be much improved without making any upgrades. Buster Posey is still the team's primary catcher, despite fans and media members questioning when he'll move to first base.  However, one of the main reasons he is the team's primary backstop is because he is an elite catcher. He may very well be a finalist for the Gold Glove this season, and could win it for his ability to throw out runners, call a game and frame pitches. His offense was once again MVP caliber, as he narrowly missed a 2nd batting title. If it wasn't for Bryce Harper's otherworldly season, Posey could make a case for his second MVP.

The Giants defense has always been a source of strength during their successful runs to the post-season and to the World Series, and the two main players in the greatest double play in World Series history are coming off tremendous seasons. Crawford and Panik are both going to be finalists for Gold Gloves in their own right, and Crawford also ended up leading the Giants in home runs with 21. He is the first shortstop to lead the Giants in home runs in over 100 seasons. Panik, despite a back injury that ended his season, had a tremendous sophomore year and will certainly be one of the anchors of the team going forward.

Third base was the biggest hole from last season with the departure of Pablo Sandoval, and not just because of his weight. Sandoval was a member of all three championship seasons and his absence was evident immediately. Casey McGahee, brought in to replace the "Panda" did so poorly in the first five weeks of the season, that rookie utility player Matt Duffy replaced him in the starting lineup. Duffy, who had never played third base regularly in his professional career, became an instant success, ended up winning the team's prestigious Willie Mac Award, and will be a finalist for the Rookie of the Year award. Like Posey, who will lose out to Harper, Duffy will probably lose out to Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs. However, Duffy has made fans, teammates and front office people forget about Sandoval and completes a homegrown infield with Posey, Crawford, Panik and Belt.

Injuries were the story all season in the outfield. Not only did the team miss Pence, but Pagan, Blanco, Aoki and Juan Perez all missed significant time. The team tried several players from outside the organization, from Justin Maxwell, who made the team out of spring, to Marlon Byrd and Alejandro De Aza, who the team traded for during the season. Byrd and Aoki could both be options to return in 2016. Blanco and Pagan are signed for next season, but will both be free agents in 2017. Pence is the only lock to be with the team in 2016, and he ended the season on the disabled list. Needless to say, the outfield has huge question marks.

The outfield isn't a huge concern for fans because they are too busy being worried about the starting rotation. For all the superlatives fans can say and make about Bumgarner, there isn't another pitcher in the rotation that is a lock to have a strong 2016. Jake Peavy is the most likely, after ending both 2014 and 2015 strong. However, there is no guarantee that Peavy will stay as effective as is the case with any pitcher in their mid-30's. Same goes for Matt Cain, a "horse" for the Giants for nearly a decade, Cain has struggled the last three seasons to stay healthy. Cain, who showed flashes of being his old self in the season finale, will need to be healthy if the team wants to battle in the National League next season. The team wants to re-sign Mike Leake, who will be a free agent this winter, but even if the Giants sign Leake, they may want to try to bring in another starter in case Cain struggles or in case some of their young pitchers, like Chris Heston, struggle. Heston, who had a very strong 1st half that included no hitting the New York Mets, struggled in the 2nd half and now his roster spot on the 25 man roster is in doubt. With Lincecum, Hudson and Ryan Vogelsong all free agents and Yusmeiro Petit due a raise in arbitration, the starting staff could look vastly different in 2016.

The bullpen and the bench are always in flux every season for every team. They are the two hardest areas of a baseball team to have consistency because of the nature of the job descriptions. The bench, in particular, because one of the hardest things to do in sports is to perform consistently when you play inconsistently. Same goes for the bullpen, where pitchers may go several day without pitching at all and other days where they pitch many days in a row. That being said, one of the strengths of the Giants these last six seasons has been the consistency of their bullpen. The "core four" as they have been named, each have three World Series rings. Affeldt is retiring, so the team will no longer have all four members of the core. Sergio Romo, Santiago Casilla and Javier Lopez will all be back, but all will be in the final year of their contracts. So even if they all perform well in 2016, this could be the final year for the remaining three members of the core four. Josh Osich, another rookie who was brought up due to all the team's injuries, will look to replace Affeldt in the 'pen. Hunter Strickland, another rookie pitcher, will be asked to take on a more prominent role in 2016. George Kontos had a career year in 2015, and should be another lock for the bullpen next year.

The bench could include Byrd or Aoki or Blanco or Perez but it also could be rookies Jarrett Parker and Mac Williamson, two of the young players promoted in September. Parker and Williamson may be long shots because they have the option of returning to Sacramento and start the year in Triple-A. The team has expressed interest in bringing Byrd and Aoki back. They may platoon in LF, or they may both begin the year on the bench. The team will only start the year with five outfielders, so if Pagan isn't traded, the team will have a numbers crunch. Andrew Susac should be back healthy and his play at catcher has been encouraging. One of the bright spots of 2015 was the late emergence of Kelby Tomlinson. Tomlinson is primarily a second baseman, so the team has suggested he spend time this winter in center field. Much like Duffy in 2014, Tomlinson was initially an afterthought in 2015, but now looks like he could be a key contributor in 2016. That may be the one positive to all the injuries is the opportunities it gave Tomlinson, Osich and others.

This winter will have a lot of Hot Stove talk about the Giants going after the top pitchers on the market, such as David Price, Zach Greinke, Jordan Zimmermann and others. However, the Giants have proven over the last six seasons that they don't always need to find the best free agents. Sometimes they just need to find the right fits for their ballpark and their clubhouse. Leake and Byrd could be two of those fits.  Will those moves be enough? Will the Giants buck recent trends and overpay for the top tier free agents? Will they stick to their blueprint and try to be more strategic about who they sign? Should be a fun winter.

Giants Re-Shape their Front Office to remain the best Front Office in Baseball

Today's official announcement of extensions to Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy may fall under the radar today considering this is one of several extensions the two have signed with the San Francisco Giants during their tenure together. Even the tweet from the Giants was boring.

#SFGiants extend the contracts of Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy through the 2019 season.
— World Champs (@SFGiants) April 3, 2015

However, there were some moves made today to continue the trend set by the organization years ago about how to handle their baseball talent. Just like with the talent on the field, the Giants have been surprisingly loyal to their talent off the field. Brian Sabean was hired in 1996, and has been with the organization ever since as the longest tenured general manager in the game. Now he has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations to make room in the general manager's chair for Bobby Evans, who has been with the team for 22 years and was the assistant GM under Sabean.



A portion of the official release:
Sabean has been promoted to executive vice president of baseball operations. He is responsible for managing all aspects of the Giants’ baseball department, including the immediate and long-term development of the major and minor league systems and the team’s growing scouting and international operations.

Giants Vice President and Assistant GM Bobby Evans has been named senior vice president and general manager and will manage the day to day operations of the baseball department. Entering his 22nd season with the Giants, Evans assists Sabean in all Major League and amateur contract negotiations, player acquisitions via trade or free agency and all areas of major and minor league operations.

The promotion of Evans is a smart one on two fronts. First, it allows the Giants to keep one of the best assistant general managers in the game and allows Sabean to continue to work with Evans on all baseball matters. It also does something far more important to the overall health of the franchise. It allows Evans and every other executive and employee to see that promotions from within are standard practice.

Big day for Bochy, Sabean and Evans, obviously, but also for Jeremy Shelley. Gets bumped up to assistant GM.
— Alex Pavlovic (@AlexPavlovic) April 3, 2015

The Giants promoted Sabean to a new role, and gave Evans Sabean's old job and Jeremy Shelley Evans' former role.

When the Giants won the World Series in 2010, there were many baseball experts and even Giants fans who did not approve of the re-signings of many of the players from that team. Players like Aubrey Huff, Freddy Sanchez, Cody Ross, Andres Torres and Pat Burrell were not as good in 2011 as they were in 2010 and the money spent to retain all of these players were looked at bad investments.  The Giants even tried to compete with the offers given to Juan Uribe and Edgar Renteria to stay. For any criticism the team received for these moves, there was something starting in the locker room and in the front office that off-season that has continued through 2015. The team made a commitment to the players and the people behind the scenes who were leading this organization.

For the 1st time in 52 seasons, the Giants had won the World Series, and the feeling in the organization was to continue to try to win with the group that got them there. What this has done has given everyone in the building a feeling of ownership in the success of the team and a feeling of family that is rare in the business world of sports.

It's not just re-signing Huff, Ross or Torres in 2010, but also keeping Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Marco Scutaro, Angel Pagan, Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez, Hunter Pence, Jake Peavy, Sergio Romo and Ryan Vogelsong.  The Giants tried to keep Pablo Sandoval too.  What this does is send a clear message to future free agents such as Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik that the Giants will continue to believe in them the same way they believed in so many before them.

Now, Giants fans and baseball are seeing the same thing in the coaching staff and the front office. When Tim Flannery, the team's beloved third base coach, announced his retirement, the Giants organization made a decision strikingly similar to the ones they've made with their players. They promoted Roberto Kelly to be their new third base coach and promoted Bill Hayes to be their 1st base coach. Other people outside the organization could have been brought in to do the job, and maybe even done the job well, but it sends a better message to all the coaches in Sacramento, Richmond, San Jose and Augusta as well as with the major league club, that promotions are not only possible, but expected.

#SFGiants name Jeremy Shelley to vice president and assistant GM, pro scouting and player evaluation. Now in 22nd year with club.
— Carl Steward (@stewardsfolly) April 3, 2015

The promotions of Sabean,Evans and Shelley has become the norm for the San Francisco Giants. The Giants three World Series trophies are a direct correlation to the team's commitment to their players, their coaches and their front office.

Top 10 Reasons the Giants are a Dynasty

Top 10 Reasons the Giants are a Dynasty
By Michael Saltzman
On Twitter @CandlestickWill

So many players, coaches, front office people and members of the ownership group have had their hand in the three championships the San Francisco Giants have won over the last five years. But who is the most responsible. Nothing like a top 10 list to debate who had the biggest impact and who is the biggest reason the Giants are being referred to as a dynasty.

Honorable Mentioned:

The 6 Castoffs & Misfits: Andres Torres, Freddy Sanchez, Aubrey Huff, Pat Burrell, Juan Uribe and Cody Ross


The Giants had never won a World Series in San Francisco until these 6 men became Giants. All 6 had important roles in a Giants patchwork lineup that out hit the Braves, Phillies and Rangers in 2010. What makes these men unique in this historic run of the Giants is that none of them were able to do much for the Giants outside of 2010. Torres, Sanchez and Uribe were members of the Giants in 2009, but played smaller roles. Huff, Burrell and Ross had terrific numbers as Giants in 2010.

Wins Above Replacement in 2010:
Aubrey Huff (5.7)
Andres Torres (5.3)
Pat Burrell (2.1)
Freddy Sanchez (1.8)
Juan Uribe (1.5)

Cody Ross, who only played a month for the Giants before the post-season, made up for it in October, hitting .294 with 15 hits, 10 runs batted in and 5 home runs or a 1.076 OPS. Andres Torres highest WAR after 2010 was a 1.4 he had for the Mets in 2012.

Without these 6 men, the Giants don't win in 2010. Without winning it all in 2010, is there any talk of a dynasty?

Marco Scutaro:
What the misfits were to 2010, Scutaro was to 2012. Injuries plagued his 2013 season that he tried to play through and ultimately his back wouldn't let him play in 2014. He was recently designated for assignment by the Giants. However, his impact on the Giants in 2012 was enormous. He had a 2.1 WAR despite only 268 at bats. He hit .500 in the NLCS alone with 14 hits and a 1.140 OPS. His patience at the plate and his influence in the locker room helped the entire roster play smarter and more efficient. While he doesn't make my top 10, he certainly is one of the most influential figures in this dynasty for the Giants.



The Top 10

#10: Ownership Group
I'm not going to pretend to know all the interworkings of the front office to know who among the group approved the salary raises for our homegrown players or told Brian Sabean he could make a certain trade or sign a certain player.

According to Baseball Prospectus the Giants went from a payroll of $95M at the end of 2009 to a current payroll of $179M in 2014. That kind of financial commitment has as much to do with the success of the franchise as any other factor.

The combination of re-signing homegrown talent and trading or signing players to free agent contracts, wouldn't be possible without the support of the ownership group.

#9: Coaching Staff
Again, it's hard to designate one member of the staff as head and shoulders above the others. Dave Righetti, the team's pitching coach, has been tremendous in preparing the staff over the years and specifically during the playoff rounds where the Giants have out pitched some great staffs. But How can we say that his impact on the staff is more valuable than bullpen coach Mark Gardner or bullpen catcher Bill Hayes.  What Henry "Bam Bam" Muelens has done as the hitting coach has been vastly underrated. What Roberto Kelly and Tim Flannery have done at 1st and 3rd base respectively, has been incredible. If you don't think what they've done is valuable, go through the twitter response to Flannery announcing his retirement. And maybe the most influential part of the staff is bench coach Ron Wotus. Kelly and Wotus were in charge of the infield and outfield positioning. But Wotus was also the right hand man of Bruce Bochy. Bochy has said repeatedly how valuable his staff has been and how much responsibility he has given them. Wotus, for example, has been in charge of Spring Training camp for years now.

#8. Pablo Sandoval
Fans owe the Panda a standing ovation the next time Boston comes to San Francisco. For any animosity they may have over him choosing to leave the Bay Area, needs to be trumped by the three championships he was a part of. As the MVP of the World Series in 2012, he became a instant legend with three home runs in Game 1, joining the likes of Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson. However, it's his overall playoff performances that are truly outstanding.

In 2010, 2012 and 2014 he slashed a .344/.389/.545/.935 postseason line.  Sandoval also has the 2nd highest WAR among hitters since 2010 among Giants.

For all the weight issues, contract disputes, and slumps, Sandoval was most productive when it mattered most. That can't ever be forgotten. 

#7. Hunter Pence
Despite only being a part of two of the three championships, it's hard not to rank Pence even higher than 7th for what he means to the team on and off the field. He is the heartbeat of the Giants and the team is always better with him in the lineup. The effort Pence gives on ground out to 2nd base is why he leads the Giants every season in infield hits. The passion Pence plays with is why the team always seems to find ways to win.

His speech in Cincinnati with the Giants on the brink of elimination was the stuff of legends, and the fact that it led to winning six elimination games that post-season is tremendous.

His speech to the fans at the end of the 2014 regular season will forever make him a San Francisco icon.  Do the fans believe in value of Hunter Pence? YES! YES! YES!

#6. Core 4

The Giants have looked very different over the years and from the castoffs to Hunter Pence and Angel Pagan to Andres Torres and Gregor Blanco, the team has continually brought in new faces. One of the constants has been the pitching staff, and specifically the bullpen. Javy Lopez, Jeremy Affeldt, Santiago Casilla and Sergio Romo have each won three World Series as a member of the Giants. While their roles have changed throughout the run, their effectiveness hasn't.

In 2010, Brian Wilson was the closer, while the Core 4 were all used as setup men depending on the matchups.

In 2012, Sergio Romo was the closer, with the Affeldt, Casilla and Lopez each playing critical setup roles again.

In 2014, it was Santiago Casilla's turn to pitch the 9th inning, but again, all four were lights out throughout the playoffs.

The value of Casilla, Romo, Affeldt and Lopez has been one of the most underrated elements of the Giants dynasty. That is why they deserve such a high ranking. That is also why they are all still members of the best bullpen in baseball.

#5. Tim Lincecum & Matt Cain
It's never been easy for me to decide between the value of Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain and which pitcher has been more valuable during this dynasty.  Instead of ranking them separately, I've decided to put them together because this team doesn't win championships without both.

Lincecum had won back to back Cy Young Awards in 2008 and 2009, but his 2010 might be the best year of his career when you combine his regular and post-season.  From his 1st ever post-season appearance in 2010 of 8 scoreless innings and 14 strikeouts vs the Braves to his last post-season appearance of 8 innings of 1 run ball and 10 strikeouts vs the Rangers.

Cain had some great seasons as a Giant, but his 2012 was his best. He started the All-Star game, and led the Giants staff by pitching the clinching game of each round of the post-season. When the season was on the line, the Giants went to Cain.

Cain was injured in 2014, and Lincecum was limited to 1.2 innings pitched in the 2014 World Series. However their impact on the pitching staff and their success in 2010 and 2012 was astronomical. The Giants did outhit their opponents in their post-season series, but that was mostly due to the lack of hitting from the other teams. One of the main reasons for that was the starting staff that was led by Lincecum and Cain in 2010 and 2012.

#4. Madison Bumgarner
If 2010 & 2012 were dominated by Lincecum and Cain, 2014 was dominated by Madison Bumgarner. Bumgarner is the only starting pitcher over the last three post-seasons that has had a dominating performance in all three World Series.

His 2014 post-season was one of the greatest we have ever seen. It was so good that he was awarded the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, despite not being the best pitcher during the regular season.

It wasn't just 2014 that makes Bumgarner ranked so highly on this list. It was his 8 shutout innings in Game 4 of the 2010 World Series as a 20 year old. It was his 7 shutout innings in Game 2 of the 2012 World Series. And that, combined with his otherworldly 2014 performance, and Bumgarner may go down as the best post-season pitcher of his generation.

Scariest part is he is 25 years old.

If you aren't convinced that Bumgarner is the best pitcher on this staff over the last five years, let's use his bat as the tie breaker.

 
#3. Brian Sabean, Bobby Evans, Dick Tidrow and John Barr
Everyone in baseball knows Brian Sabean, but few realize the all-star front office he has put together. Bobby Evans, the assistant general manager has taken over for Ned Colletti and the transition has been seamless. His ability to work out contracts with the roster and work with the agents and other teams has been masterful. Dick Tidrow is the team's scouting director and the homegrown talent he has amassed over the years is staggering. John Barr has overseen the amateur and international scouting for the team among other responsibilities. These four men have led the Giants from a good organization to an elite one.

Fans are always quick to remember a front office's worst moves. Sabean and his team have had their share of moves that fans have criticized. From re-signing guys like Huff, Lincecum, Scutaro, or from trades like Carlos Beltran for Zach Wheeler or from not signing guys like Jose Abreu, Rusney Castillo, or Yasmany Tomas.

However, when you look at some of the best moves Sabean has made, it's pretty special.

• Hunter Pence for Tommy Joseph and Nate Shierholtz
• Marco Scutaro for Charlie Culberson
• Angel Pagan for Andres Torres and Ramon Ramirez (who both came back to the Giants)
• Pat Burrell for the league minimum
• Cody Ross for nothing
• Aubrey Huff for $3M
• Freddy Sanchez for Tim Alderson
• Juan Uribe, Torres and Gregor Blanco as a spring training invite
• Extensions for Madison Bumgarner, Pablo Sandoval, etc...
• Drafting Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Bumgarner, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Joe Panik, etc...

Sabean was always hamstrung in the Bonds years because they were always looking to replace young talent with veterans. Now that he has the backing of the ownership group, has brought in a tremendous coaching staff and has the personnel around him in Evans, Tidrow, Barr and others, he has been able to blend young homegrown talent with shrewd trades and signings. This has allowed the Giants to have the best front office in baseball.

#2. Bruce Bochy
Bochy will go down as the greatest manager in San Francisco history when he retires. Not because of what he may still do, but with what he has already done. Three championship rings is three more than any other manager. Bochy has always been known as a players manager, but what makes Bochy stand out among other managers in the game today is his ability to get the most out of the entire 25 man roster by playing all 25 guys on the team.

This isn't commonplace around the league, as some guys may go weeks without seeing the field. For all the frustration fans may have with unproductive guys getting playing time, Bochy will always let a guy on his roster earn what he gets. The guys at the end of the bench or the guys at the end of the bullpen will play. They will play and if they perform, they will continue to play. If they don't perform, they will eventually be replaced. Fans may want guys sent away sooner sometimes, but it is clear that there is a method to Bochy's approach. He wants guys to know they were given a chance to succeed and that gets Bochy's teams to play up to their potential.

Other managers have had more talent in each playoff run, but the 9 straight playoff series wins is not by accident. Being the underdog in nearly every series is because the other teams have usually had more talent on paper. However, winning each and every series is because of Bochy as much as nearly everyone in the organization.

#1. Buster Posey
When all is said in done, Posey might be on the Mount Rushmore of Catchers. Johnny Bench and Yogi Berra are the top tier of catchers in baseball history. Both are hall of famers as much because of their numbers on the field as the World Series trophies they helped win.  Posey now has 3 World Series trophies he has helped win in his four healthy seasons.

Posey has a 23.3 WAR since his debut in 2010, by far the most for any hitter since that first championship season.

His ability to catch the incredible staff the Giants have had throughout the run is another reason he has shown to be the most valuable player in the last five years.

Posey has a Rookie of the Year trophy, Comeback Player of the Year, Most Valuable Player, as well as a batting title, two Silver Slugger awards, The Hank Aaron award, the Willie Mac award and a two time All-Star.

The scary part is that he is only 27 and so he is just entering his prime.

Taking you back to 2010, where it all began

Taking you Back to 2010, Where it all Began
By Will Candlestick

For life long San Francisco Giants fans, this new era of success still feels more fantasy than reality. The idea that winning a championship is expected from this new wave of fans feels ridiculous. After 52 years, some of us fans still look back at 2010 as that perfect moment.

Now that all Giants fans are spoiled regardless of when they started cheering, it's important to look back at the evolution of this franchise from an organization that never found a way to the one that seems to be doing all the right things.

October 27, 2006
Bruce Bochy signed a three year deal to manage the Giants and it would be the 3rd coach Brian Sabean had brought in during his tenure. Dusty Baker and Felipe Alou both had success managing the Giants, but ultimately it was time to let Alou take a step back with the organization and find someone else. That someone was Bochy, who was a rival coach and player with the San Diego Padres for the better part of the last two decades. Bochy said all the right things at his introductory press conference with the Giants.

"I look forward to this challenge," he said. "I made a commitment to myself and to my wife that if we were to make a change, it would be with an organization that would be a cultural fit for me, where I would be comfortable and where there was potential to build real chemistry between myself and the front office.
"It would be a place where I would have a chance to make an impact and a contribution. That's why I'm sitting here today. That's the only reason I'd leave San Diego."

First 3 Years
The Giants struggled mightily in his first two seasons, winning 71 and 72 games respectively in 2007 and 2008. The team was old and the team lacked much talent coming through the minor league system, which was the same old story with all of the Barry Bonds led lineups that Sabean and company were putting together. Bochy, to his credit, did the best he could with what he had as he had done in San Diego.

For years, Bochy had overachieved with the Padres, winning the National League West title 4 times as well as the pennant in 1998. Had it not been for the greatest Yankees team in 60 years, Bochy may have come to San Francisco with a World Series ring. (Although who knows if the Padres would have let him go had he won it all in 1998 either.)

Now he was overachieving with the Giants, but casual fans couldn't see it because the record didn't show it. Bochy was finding ways to win with players who were at the end of their careers and struggling to stay healthy or productive.

In 2009, the last year on Bochy's contract, the team won 88 games. Led by Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, the Giants were doing something Padres fans weren't used to when Bochy coached for them.  Bochy was letting the young guys lead the way. Lincecum, Matt Cain, Pablo Sandoval and Brian Wilson were just some of the young players who were taking over the locker room that for the last 15 years had always been a veteran's locker room. Much like in San Diego, veterans ruled because that's where Bochy was most comfortable. If he was going to lose, he was going to lose with "his guys," the guys who had experience and played the game the right way.

How the 2010 Season Began
As 2010 began, it was clear that the pitching staff was led by Lincecum and Cain. Lincecum was a back to back Cy Young champion and Cain had become as reliable a pitcher as there was in the game. The 1-2 punch of those two starters really set the tone for the shape the team would take that season.

Sandoval had opened eyes around the league in 2009 with 25 home runs and 90 runs batted in to go with a .330 batting average as a switch hitter. He was still learning how to play 3B at the major league level, but his potential was through the roof.

However, as Sabean and Bochy had proved in the past, they were reluctant to go with young guys all over the diamond and 2010 was no exception.  Travis Ishikawa and Emmanuel Burriss had played more games at first and second base than any other player in 2009. The team needed to upgrade. The team had traded for Freddy Sanchez in 2009 and signed Aubrey Huff late in the off-season to take over those two slots.

Edgar Renteria was at shortstop, but had never been able to stay healthy as a Giant to this point. Mark DeRosa, another veteran that had been brought in by the front office was even in worst shape than Renteria and wasn't going to be able to be the everyday LF they had hoped he could be.  The Giants brought in Juan Uribe for a second Spring Training invite to camp hoping the veteran could earn his way back onto the club.

The outfield was also a mess with Randy Winn gone and Fred Lewis being sent to Toronto. The team also had an underachieving Aaron Rowand as the only OF left. So the team kept Andres Torres and Nate Schierholtz to compete for spots on the roster along with Triple-A product John Bowker. 

Then there was Bengi Molina. For years, Molina had done everything asked of him and more for the franchise. Despite not being a power hitter, Molina was the Giants clean up hitter for much of his time as a Giant and in fact led the team in home runs in 2008 and was one of their most consistent hitters. However, Molina wanted to find a new home and nearly left for the New York Mets in the off-season. Sabean even famously said that Molina's "ship has sailed" when referring to the chances Molina would come back. Yet, Molina did end up returning in 2010 despite knowing that the team's top prospect, Buster Posey, was waiting in the wings to replace him.

The Same Old Bochy & Sabean
For many fans, these signings were just further proof that the Giants were going to win with veterans whenever they could.

As the season went on, production from Huff, Sanchez and Uribe was good enough that fans were being more patient with this particular group. Molina, Renteria and Rowand were all struggling with the issues fans had predicted in Spring. Molina was dealing with the constant questions surrounding when would Buster Posey come up and when he would take his place. Renteria was struggling to be healthy enough and Rowand was struggling with production on the field.

As the year went on, another interesting twist occurred. Pablo Sandoval was struggling. What seemed like the makings of the next big bat in Giants history suddenly was struggling and weight issues seemed to be at the center of it. On top of that, Sabean was finding more veterans to add to this bunch. Pat Burrell, who had been released by the Tampa Bay Rays, was brought in to take over left field. Despite his defensive struggles, Burrell's bat erupted as a Giant, and suddenly with Huff, Burrell, Uribe and Posey, the Giants had some serious power threats in their lineup.

As the team got closer and closer to the trade deadline and the August 31st cutoff for playoff rosters, the team added Jose Guillen and Cody Ross to keep the lineup effective as the team got closer to a possible playoff berth. They had also shored up their bullpen with the additions of Ramon Ramirez and Javier Lopez, and this team that had so much youth at the start of the year was looking more like the teams that had been built for so many years by Sabean.

If Bochy and Sabean were going to lose to the Padres for the NL West title, it was going to be with their veterans.

So What Changed?
It's funny what happens to a season. One moment you are committed to one of your most productive catchers of all-time in Bengi Molina, and the next minute you are giving the job to the Rookie of the Year in the National League. One moment you are convinced that Pablo Sandoval is the best third baseman in the organization since Matt Williams, and the next moment, you are going with a two time Spring Training invite in Juan Uribe.  Barry Zito, who had signed a 7 year, $126 million contract the year Bochy arrived was being replaced in the post-season rotation with a 20 year old phenom, Madison Bumgarner.

This inconsistency of going with Posey over Molina, but then going with Uribe over Sandoval, while not including Zito on the playoff roster at all was crazy. Renteria and Rowand both made the playoff roster as well, but Rowand was also sent to the bench in favor of Andres Torres, who had come out of nowhere in 2010 like so many others to be the team's everyday CF.

How could you explain Sabean and Bochy's decisions? It came down to one simple question: Who will give us the best chance to win today?  Huff and Sanchez had never participated in the post-season before, despite several years in baseball, and they weren't going to miss this opportunity. Renteria, who had been injured most of the season, had vowed to his teammates to make up for it in the playoffs. Uribe took the 3B job from Sandoval and found ways to drive in runs any way he could. And the OF of Burrell, Torres and Ross became one of the most unlikely groupings in post-season history.

Production was trumping experience or potential. So many times, front offices had given players more chances then they had earned because they had "potential" and so many times, we had seen both Sabean and Bochy fall victim to the "experience" excuse for using veterans over unproven players. However, all of sudden, this 2010 Giants team was winning because players were playing simply based on what they had earned.  And it fluctuated.  All 25 members of the roster contributed to the playoff wins. Rowand was given chances to start and Sandoval was given chances to hit. Maybe the most impressive showing came in Game 4 of the World Series when Madison Bumgarner was given the ball despite having never pitched a full season before in the big leagues. His eight shutout innings vs the Texas Rangers showed how far Sabean and Bochy had come.

Fans who had ripped both in the past for loving veterans too much and relying on guys well after their production had warranted it, was going away. Fans had embraced this group of "castoffs and misfits" like no other team before it and as Brian Wilson struck out Nelson Cruz, every fan of the Giants finally knew what it felt like to win the World Series.


Of all the moves Sabean made, and of all the on-field decisions Bochy made, no one move stood out. It was the collection of moves that showed how much both had grown working together. Sticking with Renteria or believing in Bumgarner or letting Posey catch this incredible pitching staff or sitting Sandoval for Uribe. It didn't matter which decision was best. All of these decisions led to a championship by the Bay and a title that no fan will ever forget.

The 6 man rotation. A fan's suggestion

Henry Shulman of the San Francisco Chronicle has stated in the past and reiterated today that both Bruce Bochy and Dave Righetti are against the idea of a 6 man rotation. With the team interested in bringing back Ryan Vogelsong after all, that would give the team possibly 7 capable starters.

 

Good question. Bochy, Rags not fans. RT @chriskieffer: @sfchronicle Any chance #sfgiants use 6-man rotation, mitigate wear on Bum, Cain?
— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) January 22, 2015

•  One obvious drawback to the 6 man rotation is that Madison Bumgarner would get significantly less starts. 
• Also, It takes away the advantage of having starting pitching depth by using all of the depth we have. 
• If there were to be an injury, the Giants would be forced to change the rotation significantly. 
• Throwing pitchers off their regimen mid season in any way can impact a pitcher's performance dramatically. 

All that being said, I think there are some interesting circumstances in play with this particular staff and the possibilities and benefits that could come from a 6 man rotation.

1st - Bumgarner is the only pitcher in the rotation that is coming into the 2015 season where performance was not an issue at some point last season. An extra days rest for any of the other members of the staff could be beneficial.

2nd - Because of Bumgarner's 270 inning 2014 season, He may need extra rest at some point next season. Having a 6 man rotation in place could help with that.

3rd. I would suggest keeping Bumgarner on a 5 day regimen like normal, but still go with a 6 man rotation.

Game 1 - Bumgarner
Game 2 - Matt Cain
Game 3 - Jake Peavy
Game 4 - Tim Hudson
Game 5 - Ryan Vogelsong
Game 6 - Bumgarner
Game 7 - Tim Lincecum
Game 8 - Cain
Game 9 - Peavy
Game 10 - Hudson
Game 11 - Bumgarner
Game 12 - Vogelsong
Game 13 - Lincecum
Game 14 - Cain
Game 15 - Peavy
Game 16 - Bumgarner
Game 17 - Hudson
Game 18 - Vogelsong
Game 19 - Lincecum
Game 20 - Cain
Game 21 - Bumgarner

This would give Cain, Peavy, Hudson, Vogelsong and Lincecum 6 days between starts instead of 5, which will keep them all better rested throughout the season. All 5 of these pitchers have thrown so many innings in their careers, that spreading out their starts could have some great benefits.

4th - This also could give Bochy more options in a late inning game with a bullpen slot given to another starter since Yusmeiro Petit will make the squad as well.

5th - Speaking of Petit. If this 6 man rotation idea ends up happening and working, an injury to any of our starters would end up meaning Petit would just slide into the rotation. He was so good at doing that last season, and he should be even better this year, going into camp with a guaranteed contract and roster spot.

6th - I don't have a 6th reason, but if I am going to try and convince you that there should be a 6 man rotation, I shouldn't only have 5 reasons. How about a fantastic picture of Tim Lincecum? Or maybe a better one of Tim Hudson finally winning a World Series trophy after 16 seasons.

Giant Points on the 2015 Off-Season

Photo Courtesy of @Buelna37 on Twitter

• Tim Flannery is the biggest loss of the off-season
• Pablo didn't want to come back.
• Michael Morse wanted to live in Florida where he's from with his wife and newborn baby.
• Jon Lester would not have cost us a 1st round pick in June draft.
• James Shields & Max Sherzer would have cost us our 1st round pick.
• Jon Lester took richest offer. 
• Casey McGehee and Nori Aoki are 1 year options that create depth & flexibility
• If we need to upgrade during the season, McGehee & Aoki could be great bench options too.
• Gregor Blanco and Juan Perez having better competition than Gary Brown is a good thing.
• Adam Duvall and Chris Dominguez having more competition to make team is good too.
• Jake Peavy for an entire year will be great for our staff off the field as well as on.
• Bringing back a motivated Sergio Romo could make him elite vs RH again.
• Tim Lincecum motivated to earn another contract can be a great thing.
• Tim Hudson needs Derek Jeter treatment from the fanbase in final year.
• That's $30M we can move around and add players with in 2016.
• Marco Scutaro wants to play, and if he somehow gets healthy, what a bat off the bench.
• Angel Pagan and Matt Cain coming back is huge.
• Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford are still getting better.
• Having Andrew Susac and Hector Sanchez could mean more time at 1st for Buster Posey.
• Our bullpen will still have Jeremy Affeldt, Javy Lopez and Santiago Casilla
• We will be getting a full season of Joe Panik
• We still have Hunter Pence
• And we still have Madison Bumgarner
• And we still have Bruce Bochy
• And we still have Brian Sabean, Bobby Evans, Dick Tidrow and John Barr
• Oh, and we are the defending Champs! "I know, because I won" ~ Barack Obama

3 titles in 5 years?!?! But I just wanted 1 in my lifetime

As a die hard San Francisco Giants fan, I grew up with my share of disappointments. Any Giants fan who grew up in the 1980's like I did know exactly what I mean when I list the following names: Jose Oquendo, Terry Steinbach, Salomon Torres, Neifi Perez, Scott Spiezio and Jose Cruz Jr.

None of those guys received a Hall of Fame vote after they retired. None were ever great players, and some were even former Giants. But all had a big role in preventing a World Series title in San Francisco. So whether it was Oquendo in 1987, Perez in 1997 or Spiezio in 2002, the Giants have had some heartbreaking moments throughout my childhood and adult life.

The Year it Happened
So in 2010, when the team won the West by a single game, I had limited expectations because how was I suppose to know?

I had a good feeling going in vs Atlanta because we had played them well before in the post-season, but if we go back to the emotions of that series, there wasn't a single moment during that series that felt like we were in control. Even after Lincecum strutted off the mound in Game 1, we knew the history. We knew that we had had strong performances before. Russ Ortiz out pitched Tom Glavine in Game 1 in 2002.

So when we defeated the Braves in another nail biter post-season series, I was happy of course, but not confident. How could we be? We were facing the team everyone had pegged to win it all: Philadelphia.

There was a quiet confidence brewing inside of me though, and now that we have lived it, I can better describe what it was. It was that throughout my life, we had some great players. Barry Bonds is the greatest player I have ever seen. Guys like Jeff Kent, Will Clark, Kevin Mitchell, Matt Williams, Jason Schmidt, Rod Beck, Robb Nen, J.T. Snow, Rich Aurilia and so many others played at elite levels for the Giants. Despite all that talent, the teams of "Dustiny" and all the "Humm-Babys" we had, we never had this kind of pitching.

We had some pitchers we all loved, from Kirk Reuter, Mark Gardner and Dave Dravecky, to Don Robinson, and Mike Krukow. But we never had talent like this on the mound. Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, and that bullpen with Brian Wilson, Sergio Romo, Santiago Casilla, Jeremy Affeldt and Javy Lopez.

Until the 2010 World Series, we didn't see Bumgarner coming.  We all saw flashes and hoped for great things, but we didn't see 8 shutout innings coming. And because we have nightmares still of Felix Rodriguez and Tim Worrell, we didn't see the "Core 4" and "B-Weezy" happening either.

We embraced the "castoffs and misfits" as Bruce Bochy coined it because they were easy to like. They performed on the field, and they became the 1st ever champions; a title that nobody can ever take from them. We loved the "torture" as Duane Kuiper said, because the torture ended with a champagne shower. It washed away all those years of actual baseball torture where those previously mentioned ballplayers in the 1st paragraph helped end our World Series runs.

The Parade
Standing at the corner of McAlister & Hyde Streets, I stood there with four weeks of playoff beard covering my face, my Matt Cain 43 jersey and my official World Series hat and sweatshirt and a video camera. It was 8 in the morning, and as we left the BART station we walked through a sea of orange and black to find an opening to see the parade. We ran into several friends who like us had waited decades for this moment. But it was 8 in the morning and we weren't getting started until 1pm. So we had some time. We started chanting "Bus-ter Po-sey" and "Beat LA" and sing "We are the Champions" and see how loud we could scream "Let's Go Giants" with the people across the street and all around us. We cheered for empty buses that drove by that were going to be used after the parade to take the players back to the hotel. We cheered for police officers driving by. We even cheered for a random guy riding a bike with a Barry Zito Oakland A's shirsey. Because Zito is getting a ring too. And we just can't stop cheering.

When the Cal Marching band walked by us, I don't think we ever stopped cheering. Whether it was wanting to drink a Bud Light with Pat Burrell, or sing along with Ashkon or wave to the legend Willie Mays, it was perfect. I had said during that Texas series I only wanted 1. I had 1. It was perfect. The Giants didn't need to win it ever again and I would always have 2010.

World Series Champions Finally! Now what?
We actually won. 2010 still feels like a dream. Even today after two more championships, it almost feels imagined. So in 2011, when the team re-signed all but two key contributors to that 1st title, I was thrilled. I was just disappointed we couldn't make a deal for Juan Uribe and Edgar Renteria. I didn't want to make the smart baseball moves. I wanted to go to AT&T Park and give year long standing ovations to everyone. Even the Barry Zitos and Aaron Rowands who were booed and labeled as overpaid and underachieving their entire Giants careers to that point. They were part of that team and that team deserved love.

May 25, 2011
This day has special meaning for me. 1st and foremost, it was the day my niece was born. It also happened to be my 31st birthday. And for Giants fans, it was the day Buster Posey broke his leg. Giants fans knew that a chance for a repeat ended that day. But for me, who only ever wanted 1, I was still satisfied. I was intrigued with the idea of getting a guy like Carlos Beltran and an everyday catcher by the trade deadline to make up for Posey's absence but I didn't want to sacrifice the 2010 team. At the same time, guys from the team that were so valuable like Aubrey Huff, Cody Ross, Andres Torres, Freddy Sanchez and Pat Burrell weren't performing anywhere near the level they were in 2010.

A "smarter" GM may have let Huff and Ross walk and not brought back Torres and Burrell.  A "smarter" GM may have kept Zach Wheeler over going after Beltran because they knew pitching was the key.  However, now that we have seen what this locker room has become post-Bonds and what the combination of Sabean and Bochy can do with 25 men on the same page, it's hard to claim a smarter GM would have won two more titles.

Ultimately, lack of performance from Huff, Ross, Burrell, Torres and Sanchez is what led to a trade for Angel Pagan, Marco Scutaro and Hunter Pence and bringing in Gregor Blanco. It's also what led the team to give chances to Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford.

2012 and Beyond
2012 was the year of Matt Cain, and as Matt Cain's #1 fan, I loved every minute of it. From his perfect game to his All-Star start and win, to his winning each clinching game of each round of that post-season. Forget the actual W-L record, when Cain pitched, we won the game nearly every time, and that was what made him my favorite pitcher. He always gave us a chance to win the game. 108 times in his career, he's gone at least 7 innings in a game and given up 2 earned runs or less and only "won" 52 times. In 2012, he went 16-5, and was our ace. Even better than Lincecum and Bumgarner.

 

2014 was the most enjoyable season for me to date because I loved all 25 guys on the team. I had met Hunter Strickland in San Jose and he was great with my now 3 year old niece who got to be the "play ball" girl on May 25, 2014.  I threw out the 1st pitch as a birthday present to me from the amazing San Jose Giants organization. Then during the national anthem, my niece Kiora was still on the field. She saw the players line up, so she decided to line up too. She stood next to Hunter Strickland and he was great. he showed her to put her hand on her heart and just like Strickland, she put her other arm behind her back. So when Strickland was being ripped apart by Giants fans for giving up home runs during the post-season, I remembered that day.



Adam Duvall was one of the best to ever come through San Jose. I heard some behind the scenes stories about him and what he meant to the front office staff and host family there and he became one of my favorites too. On the day he got called up to the big club, it was so exciting, and when reports came out that he would start, I got a call to go to the game. It was a promise kept that was so special. "If you ever make it to the big leagues, I'll be there."  To be a part of that journey was incredible. To see Adam's 1st career home run that night was unforgettable. To see him want to take a picture with the guy who caught the ball so he wouldn't forget was indescribable.  So when Duvall didn't make the playoff roster, I was still cheering for them to advance so he might get a ring.

But it wasn't just them. Michael Morse and Hunter Pence were BFFs and you couldn't help but love seeing that love for each other on the field, Ryan Vogelsong and Tim Hudson and eventually Jake Peavy were giving every ounce they had despite not having what they once had. That kind of strength and passion is hard not to root for.  Hudson had battled for 16 years to get to a World Series and it was happening before our eyes. And then there's Bumgarner and Buster Posey. And the Brandons. And when you heard the story of Juan Perez finding out about his friend Oscar Tavares and 3 innings later, hitting a triple, how could you not love this team?

So fast forward to Game 7 with the heart thumping Alex Gordon single, I mean double, I mean triple. Suddenly, we were 90 feet from extra innings. Sal Perez is the only guy to have a hit off Bumgarner and it was a home run. A home run would end this World Series the same way Travis Ishikawa got us here. Every pitch was tense. Every swing was even more so. I wanted the Giants to find a way, but I was going to be happy for the Royals if they found a way. When that ball was in foul territory, and Pablo was under it, I was so excited, but not like 5 years ago. It was a different happy because 2010 was about finally getting away from the excuses. "It was the earthquake," or "why did Baker give Ortiz that damn ball?," or "why didn't Alou pinch run for Snow?" 2012 and 2014 were about a joy that was felt from Spring training through October. Because we had a ring already. And then because we had two rings already.

As a die hard fan, I always want the Giants to win. But the idea of "needing" another championship or the anger so many fans feel when their team loses has dissipated with me. I will still make comments on Twitter that are too harsh, and still get frustrated in the moment when the Giants give up a bunch of runs or leave runners in scoring position. But now I calm down so much easier. Now I look around my house and see all the mementos I've collected over the years. I do feel overwhelmed with a third championship. I do feel silly acting like there is some even year magic when there certainly wasn't in 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, etc...  Ultimately, as a fan, we will always want more, but needing more is a feeling I no longer have.

28 Reasons we love Buster Posey

28 Reasons We Love Buster Posey

by Will Candlestick
 
1. Buster Posey was drafted in the 50th round out of high school in 2005 as a P/SS by the Anaheim Angels.

2. Buster Posey has had a swagger since college.

 

"I ain't havin' it. I ain't having it."

3. Buster Posey played all 9 positions in a game while at Florida St. ... just to prove he could.

"It's a clear indication of the talent of Buster Posey," FSU Coach Mike Martin said, "because we've had a lot of great players but they just were not talented enough to play all nine [positions]. And I'll be honest with you -- I was never concerned wherever he was."

4. Buster Posey was drafted in 2008 by the San Francisco Giants in part because they hired John Barr, who the previous year was working for the Dodgers. 

"When I was with the Dodgers in 2007, going into his junior year at Florida State, I told him that if there was any way, we'd get him. Now it's a year later, I'm just starting out with the Giants, and I had this feeling it was meant to be. I even told Buster before the Draft that this might be the way it's supposed to happen."

5. Buster Posey is the best player to come out of the 2008 draft

6. Buster Posey rocketed through the farm system in less than 2 full seasons. After being drafted in June of 2008, Buster was through San Jose and Fresno and called up to the big club in May of 2010.

7. Buster Posey had 3 hits and 4 RBI's in his Major League debut at AT&T Park vs the Arizona Diamondbacks in a 12-1 rout.

8. Buster Posey made a publicly awkward parting with the Giants and Bengi Molina much smoother
by producing on the field.

9. which led to more team success on the field.

10. Buster Posey homered in game 162 vs the San Diego Padres to help with the National League West in 2010.

11. ...which led to the 1st official #BusterHug

12. ...and a 2nd #BusterHug

13. ...and a 3rd #BusterHug to Win the World Series for the 1st time in 52 years!

(BONUS: Renteria's 3 run home run  "It Is GAAAAHHHHHHOOOONNNN!")

14. Buster Posey won Rookie of the Year in 2010 in which he was 'humbled' to receive.

15. Matt Cain's perfect game caught by Buster Posey led to a 4th official #BusterHug

(BONUS: Gregor Blanco's Perfect Catch!)

16. Buster Posey earned his 1st All-Star game selection in 2012, only 1 year removed from a broken leg suffered in 2011. He was the highest vote getter at 7,621,370 votes.

17. Buster Posey earned the team's Willie Mac Award in 2012, a prelude to many more awards he would receive that year.

"It was a no-brainer that he won," Giants special instructor Shawon Dunston said. "What he went through? We knew he was going to win this. I hope he gets the big award. I hope he wins MVP. I hope he wins Comeback Player of the Year. Tell him to win them all ... well-deserved and a good young man."

18. ...and because a healthy Buster Posey meant the Giants won the NL West for the 2nd time in 3 years.

19. ...and led to what Ashkon called an 'MVP Slam' to help clinch the NLDS vs the Cincinnati Reds. (Love the catchers reaction!!)

20. ...and like all MVP's, Buster Posey was at the heart of the biggest moments, with this Buster Posey World Series Home Run in Game 4.

21. ...which led to the 2nd World Series Championship in 3 years, and of course, a 5th #BusterHug

22. ...which led to off-season awards, starting with the 2012 NL Comeback Player of the Year, the Silver Slugger, The Hank Aaron Award and the NL Batting Title.

23. ...and the 2012 NL MVP award.

24. Winning 2 World Series in 3 years leads to popularity which leads to commercial endorsements like this:

"It's a video game, you moron."

25. ...and this one.

"That was his favorite shirt"

26. Buster Posey started his 2nd straight All-Star game in 2013. 

27. ...and caught Tim Lincecum's 148 pitch No Hitter vs the San Diego Padres, leading to the 6th #BusterHug in Buster Posey history...which leads to fantastic blog post like this.

(BONUS Hunter Pence awkwardly beautiful catch helps save the No Hitter!)

 

28. Buster Posey is signed through 2021 with a team option for 2022. With all the uncertainty that comes with baseball, knowing our franchise player will be a Giant for the next 8 seasons is comforting.