World Series Game 2: Enter the Fister
By Tim Ryan
“Growing up, don’t tell anybody, I was a Giants fan,” said Fister. “And being able to come to a couple games when I was little, it’s always been a dream and a goal for me, and now it’s happening.”
Fasten your seat belts for the dizzying ride.
Taking the hill for the aforementioned Giants will be Madison Bumgarner. In two postseason starts thus far, Bumgarner has given up 10 earned runs on 15 hits, including three home runs, in just eight innings of putrid work. On top of that, the 23-year-old starter finished the season in horrifying fashion, notching just one good start over his last nine outings. In short, Bumgarner is a scorching mess right now. Maybe we’ll see some Timmy?
As for Pablo Sandoval’s astounding performance in Game 1, the immediate reaction reminded me a little of the 2006 ALDS between the Tigers and Yankees. Anything and everything went New York’s way in the first game, with Jeter going 5-for-5 and many people foolishly jumping the gun and writing off Detroit altogether. Of course, it didn’t work out that way. So while people can’t help but get aroused over a player allotting himself a special place in history, let’s try and keep our pants on. Lots of baseball yet to be played here. As usual, Jim Leyland has it all in proper perspective.
“I’m a guy that doesn’t believe in momentum in baseball,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “I think momentum is your next day’s pitcher.”
You Stupid Stat of the Evening: The winner in Game 1 of the World Series has gone on to win the championship 66 of 107 times. Very telling and intriguing, in the sense that it’s not telling or intriguing at all.