SF Giants Win 2014 World Series In Seventh Game! Royals Go Down Swinging. #WorldSeries #SFGiants #Royals

Madison Bumgarner,
Greatest Pitcher Ever?

It took seven games, but the San Francisco Giants finally squeaked to victory in Game 7, winning 3-2 over the Kansas City Royals.  The Giants lost three games in this World Series, mainly because their pitching collapsed.  The Royals batters must have intimidated most of the Giants better pitchers, because those pitchers fell apart early, allowing the Royals to score many runs.  Tonight pitcher Tim Hudson disintegrated early, was replaced late in the second inning by Jeremy Affeldt who did a creditable job, until Madison Bumgarner took over pitching in the 5th.

When Bumgarner took over, the score was 3-2, Giants.  Bum kept it that way through five innings of shut-out baseball, allowing the Giants to win their third World Series in five years, and their eighth World Series in franchise history.  The Fox News announcers opined that the Giants are now a baseball dynasty, and have earned a place in sports history.  They also raved about Madison Bumgarner, who they say is one of the best pitchers to ever play the game.

The loss has to be tough to swallow for Kansas City fans.  Their team fought its way down a very long, hard road to reach the 7th game of the World Series, only to lose it all by one run.  The Royals are a fantastic team in my opinion, and I admire and respect them.  I would like to see them win a World Series soon, just not against the Giants.

The Royals last won a World Series 29 seasons ago, in 1985.  I know how that long drought feels.  Before 2010, the Giants had not won a World Series since 1954 -- a wait of 56 years.  I doubt that the Royals will have to wait that long.  They are too good of a team.

Royals Humiliate Giants in Game 6; Final Game of 2014 World Series Tonight #worldseries, #SFGiants #Royals

Back on their home turf and surrounded by dedicated, cheering fans, the Kansas City Royals looked like sure winners on Tuesday night.  They ran up a score of 10-Zip before the final out.

The major cause of their victory, however, was a dismal pitching performance by SF Giant Jake Peavy, the worst of his career (or so say the pundits).  He did terrible in Game 2 as well, for the same reason:  walking batters, loading the bases, then allowing singles and doubles to bring in the runs.

Why Manager Bruce Bochy started Peavy is odd, considering the Game 2 fiasco.  In Game 6, Peavy was pulled after 2 innings.  His replacements were not much better, allowing hits (but fewer walks), and the infield made some dubious defensive plays that allowed runners to reach base.  So Peavy was not the only problem, the entire Giants roster was lackluster.

The Royals started a young pitcher from the Dominican Republic who throws 98 MPH fastballs, and his pitching frustrated Giants batters.  The long and short of it is that the Giants crashed and burned, all to the staccato of Royals bats, who began to sound like a Japanese drum troupe as they laid down a barrage of singles, doubles and one home run.

An announcer stated that of the last World Series ten teams who were 3-2 but lost the 6th game, eight were defeated and only two survived the 7th game.  So it appears statistically probable that the Royals will win their second World Series ever this evening.  They last won in 1985.

I am hoping that the Giants will rally to win Game 7, but if I were a betting man, my money would be on the Royals.  Prove me wrong, Giants, puh-leeze.