The Gaints - an 'old fashioned' baseball team!
The Giants this week stormed into the World Series under the inspiration of their 'old fashioned' right fielder Hunter Pence. After the Wild Card game that got them into the play-offs, Pence not only wound up his team to "go all the way" but he even grabbed the public address and included the fans to do all they could to see that the Giants win 'the ring' again this year.
They won in 2010 and 2012 - Pence was a key player in these games. But more than that he is their informal leader. In this knee high socks and his untrained swing he looks every bit the boy next door coming up to bat. But last night in what ended a dry spell for him (batting-wise) he posted a (3 run) home run that set up the Giants to a convincing 7-1 win in game one against the Kansas City Royals.
The manager Bruce Bochy also likes to stick to traditional baseball. He adopts a style nearly gone in these 'media mad', 'hit the ball over the fence', image that we have seen in recent decades. The Cardinals in their 4-1 series loss to San Francisco last week hit overall 10 home runs to the Giants 3. The Bochy style is that you bat for the lead runner - he is always the one in the best position to score. And score they do!
The whole Giants team appears somewhat unconventional against the hard core finely tuned professionals of the age. But this makes them very interesting. And given the fact that they can dominate (...when they want to) it makes them a lot of fun to watch. Their 3rd baseman 'the Panda' is worth the entry ticket alone too - great fielder - great batter - great entertainer!
The enthusiasm of the team shows at this time of year. They only had a 60/40 win ratio in the season but here they are! Another World Series win beckons.
Watch out for the World Series this week (7 games planned)!
Take me out to the ballgame
Take me out to the ballgame
Take me out with the crowd
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks
I don't care if I ever get back
'Cause it's root, root, root for the home team
If they don't win it's a shame
'Cause it's one, two, three strikes you're out
At the old ballgame
'Cause it's one, two, three strikes you're out
At the old ballgame
