The Tigers are just incapable of dealing w/ a team like the Giants that knows how to play small ball to the tilt and has a much tighter and faster defense. Starting pitching on both teams are pretty equal but the Giants definitely have the better bullpen that can shut down any offensive team which is what the Tiger's are supposed to be built on.
Yep, Leyland is no stranger to small ball, but the Giants are doing it that much better. They're manufacturing runs almost every time they get an opportunity.
And in those pivotal moments that make up a good baseball game, the Giants are making plays. Scutaro had no business backing up at 3rd base, but happened to be there at a critical time to relay that throw home to get Fielder by inches. Very pivotal, and probably should not have happened. Scutaro has a different job to do on that play. On that play, the 2nd baseman covers 2nd, the shortstop takes the relay (backed up by the 3rd baseman), and the pitcher backs up the catcher. If Scutaro had been doing his job, last night's game could have gone very differently. I'm betting that as the series develops, they'll come back to that play many times. That, and Fister taking one off the noggin'. Wow.
Granted, Fielder never should have been sent in the first place. Base coach definitely messed up there. You just don't risk that runner with no outs. No idea what he was thinking.
3rd Base Coach Gene Lamont said he won't send him if he had to do it over again. DUH!! sending the runner with no outs instead having men on 2nd and 3rd?? It would have put some pressure on the lefty, but it didn't happen.
Tigers have been like this all year, make mistakes swing at pitches all over the place, but somehow made it to the WS. They have been a very good home team all year so let's see what happens. Plus what happen to Verlander can happen to Cain so don't start printing t-shirts just yet.
If the Giants proved anything this year it is that you are never out of it until the final out.
They have been a very good home team all year so let's see what happens. Plus what happen to Verlander can happen to Cain so don't start printing t-shirts just yet.
If the Giants proved anything this year it is that you are never out of it until the final out.
Exactly! If there's one thing that a lifetime of playing and watching baseball has taught me, it's that anything can happen, especially in October. You can do a lot of good analysis and make sensible predictions, but the most subtle things can completely change a game or a series in the blink of an eye. Amazing game, even more amazing in October.
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Two of the better 3-4 hitters in the league and they seem to have lost their way. All the defense in the world doesn't help if there are no bats behind em. I'm still in shock..
Dave
Two of the better 3-4 hitters in the league and they seem to have lost their way.
It's not really their fault. When Giants pitching is hitting on all cylinders, they can't be stopped. This is something that the MLB experts kept overlooking when they made their WS predictions.
Anyway, I'm happy to see my G-Men kicking it into high gear. We've had our years of frustration before 2010 so you have to enjoy it while it lasts.
Alright, I bow to the better team. Well at least we made it interesting last night. Don't mind losing so much if they at least keep it close. Congrats to all the Giants fans....
Dave
Detroit played a heck of a game last night, and really showed why they made it to the World Series. My condolences to the Detroit fans, and congrats to the Giants and their fans. The Giants had an amazing run at the most critical time of the season. Congrats to Sandoval for MVP!
Detroit's bunt-and-run with a man on first with one out was one of the more interesting calls in the game. McCarver didn't like it. Any thoughts?
This was a great post season for me. Been a Giants fan as long as I can remember. Lots of runner-ups in 60's and good teams off and on since. The last few years have been fun. Got to go to the 1st NLCS game in 2010 against the Phillies (in Phila.) Pitching matchup was Lincecum vs. Halliday and Giants won.
As far as the bunt and run, seems senseless to me. I got the impression by the expression on the batters face after he crossed 1st base and was in the dugout, that he may have missed the sign.
Never understood the bunt with runners on 1st and 3rd to move the runner to 2nd either.
As far as the bunt and run, seems senseless to me. I got the impression by the expression on the batters face after he crossed 1st base and was in the dugout, that he may have missed the sign.
Seems like the most likely thing (missed signal). The only possible reason for doing it, and this could be stretching a bit, was if it's a designed steal. Showing bunt can draw a pitch out of the strike zone, giving the catcher a harder pitch to handle, and protecting the runner a bit.
Congrats to all the Giants fans....
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