Three reasons the Giants have a great case for winning it all in 2014

Since Manager Bruce Bochy arrived in San Francisco on October 27, 2006, he’s lead the team to two world championships; one in 2010 and another in 2012. His strategy he says is simple: play good fundamental baseball that starts with great pitching, defense and hitting, not the long ball, but making contact with the small ball. “It’s our way sometimes. We scratch and paw for runs,” Bochy explains. “ I really have a gritty bunch out there. There’s nobody’s will that’s stronger than theirs or desire that’s deeper than that.”  The gritty bunch has 10 players front he magical 2010 season.

San Francisco entered this year’s playoffs as the 10th seed. After taking care of the red hot Pirates in the wild card game behind their ace pitcher Madison Bumgarner, they travelled to Washington to face the best team in the National League at home. No problem, Bochy gave the ball to his veterans, Jake Peavy in game one and Tim Hudson in game two. Both tamed the Nats and recorded wins. With a 2-0 lead in the five game series, the Giants were at AT & T Park and once again turned to Bumgarner for game 3. A wild throw from the 25 year old lefty lead to two Nationals runs and the visitors seemed to take the momentum with a  4-1 victory. However,  this is the playoffs and the 2010 champs found a way to win a wild game 4 behind the lights out pitching of Ryan Vogelsong. In four games, the Giants starting pitchers recorded a 1.33 ERA that’s  exhibit A in Bochy’s plan for success in the post season. Exhibit B features perhaps the best catch in the outfield by Hunter Pence. Shortstop Brandon Crawford, rookie Joe Panik on second, center fielder Gregor Blanco and Pablo Sandoval on third have proven their defensive flair time and time again. .

Prior to the playoffs, the Giants faced huge setbacks with injuries to key players, lead-off hitter Angel Pagan, all star pitcher Matt Cain, 2012 NLCS MVP Marco Scutero and power hitter Michael Morse. The good news is that Morse is back on the 25 man playoff roster and will join the team in  St Louis, just what Bochy needs for Exhibit C, an added spark to light the Giants bats against the Cardinals and their next opponent in the 2014 World Series.