Baseball

SFG: Madison Bumgarner’s Dominance By the Numbers
Oct 26, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner waves to the crowd after defeating the Kansas City Royals during game five of the 2014 World Series at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 26, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner waves to the crowd after defeating the Kansas City Royals during game five of the 2014 World Series at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Madison Bumgarner is not just the ace of the San Francisco Giants’ starting pitching staff. He’s become one of the best postseason pitchers in MLB history.

The Giants’ ace is no longer Tim Lincecum or Matt Cain. Both of these pitchers have been the faces of the franchise in the past, but this is now Bumgarner’s team. He is the postseason master and the Giants’ Mr. October.

Click here to read the rest of the story at Golden Gate Sports.

SFG: Starting Ryan Vogelsong in Game 4 Is the Right Move
Oct 7, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong reacts after a catch by right fielder Hunter Pence (not pictured) in the sixth inning during game four of the 2014 NLDS baseball playoff game against the Washington Nationals at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 7, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong reacts after a catch by right fielder Hunter Pence (not pictured) in the sixth inning during game four of the 2014 NLDS baseball playoff game against the Washington Nationals at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco Giants lost Game Three of the World Series to the Kansas City Royals last night, which gave the Royals the 2-1 advantage in the series. Although Game Four today isn’t technically or mathematically a must-win for the Giants, it’s certainly an almost must-win for the Giants, which raises an important question.

Click here to read the rest of the story at Golden Gate Sports.

Golden Gate Sports World Series Predictions
Oct 20, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of the field with logos before practice the day before the start of the 2014 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 20, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of the field with logos before practice the day before the start of the 2014 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The co-editors of Golden Gate Sports have each compiled previews for the 2014 World Series, which include keys to the series and a prediction. Click here to read my thoughts and prediction, along with the two other editors’ thoughts on the World Series.

SFG: San Francisco Giants Lifted by Experience and Unexpected Heroes
Oct 16, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Travis Ishikawa (45) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk off three run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning of game five of the 2014 NLCS playoff at AT&T Park.Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 16, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Travis Ishikawa (45) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk off three run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning of game five of the 2014 NLCS playoff at AT&T Park.Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco Giants are National League Champions…again.

Not many baseball analysts thought the Giants would even make the playoffs. Not many analysts thought they’d beat the Pittsburgh Pirates. Or the Washington Nationals. Or the St. Louis Cardinals. But here they are. The Giants are four wins away from their third World Series title in five years.

Click here to read the rest of the story at Golden Gate Sports.

SFG: San Francisco Giants vs. Kansas City Royals World Series Schedule
Oct 16, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Travis Ishikawa (45) celebrates with teammates as he tries to get to home plate after hitting a walk off three run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning of game five of the 2014 NLCS playoff at AT&T Park. Giants won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 16, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Travis Ishikawa (45) celebrates with teammates as he tries to get to home plate after hitting a walk off three run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning of game five of the 2014 NLCS playoff at AT&T Park. Giants won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco Giants are going to the World Series for the third time in five years. The Giants have beaten the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Wild Card game, they’ve beaten the Washington Nationals in the NLDS, and they just beat the St. Louis Cardinals to win the NL pennant.

Their opponent in the 2014 World Series will be another underdog team, the Kansas City Royals.

Click here to read the rest of the story at Golden Gate Sports.

SFG: San Francisco Giants Defy Odds, Win with Experience and Teamwork
Oct 7, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants players celebrate on the field with relief pitcher Santiago Casilla (46) after defeating the Washington Nationals in game four of the 2014 NLDS baseball playoff game at AT&T Park. The Giants won the series three games to one and advance to the NLCS. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 7, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants players celebrate on the field with relief pitcher Santiago Casilla (46) after defeating the Washington Nationals in game four of the 2014 NLDS baseball playoff game at AT&T Park. The Giants won the series three games to one and advance to the NLCS. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

According to Al Saracevic of the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Francisco Giants “went into the postseason with the farthest odds of anyone, other than the Royals, to win the World Series.”

The Giants still have a lot to overcome if they want to make it to their third World Series in five years, but in the 2014 MLB postseason so far, the Giants continue to do what they do best. They defy the odds.

Click here to read the rest of the story at Golden Gate Sports.