Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants for winning the 2010 World Series! The Giants weren’t on anyone’s radar when it came to picking the best team in baseball before the season started, and had to go to the last week of the season before even qualifying for the playoffs. Then they caught lightning in a bottle, as their bats came alive to complement their outstanding pitching, and the result was a stunning run through the playoffs, culminating with a one-sided World Series win over the Texas Rangers in five games. The Giants’ strength going into the postseason was their outstanding pitching staff, led by two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum. Lincecum thrived in the postseason spotlight, outdueling Atlanta’s Derek Lowe, Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay, and the Rangers’ Cliff Lee, twice, in the World Series. The surprise was the effectiveness of the other Giants’ starters – Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Matt Bumgarner. Closer Brian Wilson did his job throughout the playoffs, and the rest of San Fran’s bullpen was nearly unhittable also.
The pitching was outstanding, but what the Giants’ lineup accomplished was amazing. It was a great example of winning as a team, as the Giants’ roster of castoffs and misfits took turns coming up with timely hits. Rookie catcher Buster Posey is the only home-grown player, and he should be a cornerstone of the franchise for a decade. Series MVP Edgar Renteria epitomized the team’s makeup. His three run homer in last night’s series-clinching win was the second time in his career that he’s had a World Series winning hit. The entire starting lineup is made up of players who have kicked around the majors for years and were either acquired in trades or signed as free agents because nobody else wanted them – first baseman Aubrey Huff, 2nd baseman Freddy Sanchez, Renteria, 3rd baseman Juan Uribe and outfielders Pat Burrell, Cody Ross, Aaron Rowand and Andres Torres.
The best part of the story may be seeing the Giants’ manager, Bruce Bochy, win it all. Bochy is a crusty old career baseball man who has always reminded me of the actor, James Gannon, who played manager Lou Brown in the baseball comedy movie Major League. It’s always a great story in baseball when a team that isn’t one of the big spenders wins it all, and this Giants’ team was the ultimate example of how a team can succeed, even a collection of veteran castoffs, when they combine team play with great pitching.
Lou Brown looking to the bullpen for the “Wild Thing”.
Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy.