2014 MLB World Series
We stand by our predictions. So far 6-2, we'll take it.
Wild Card
Oakland over KC - Wrong, by this much... (we were surprised that Lester gave up six runs in a post season game as KC won in extra innings 9-8; the A's would have been formidable) .
SF over Pitt - Nailed it.(Bumgarner blanked the Pirates 8-0. In their June Swoon, the Giants blew a 10 gm lead and crawled in, do not underestimate their potential)
With the exception of the Orioles, we expect a whole lotta rockin of the boat in the Division Series.
ALDS
Baltimore over Detroit (Orioles shouldn't have any problems, at home. Their arms are suspect, but Motown's murderer's row of starters have been off of late and that's not good. If it goes five, the Tigers could surprise.)
Nailed it, Baltimore Orioles took opening 2 at home, swept 3-0
KC over LA Angels (Anaheim spent themselves catching and burying the A's, their arms are suspect. Scrappy young Royals crawled in the back door, have nothing to lose and simply don't know any better. With a short best of five, who knows, big payout on KC pooch's.)
Nailed it, KC Royals took opening 2 on road, swept 3-0
ALCS
KC Royals over Baltimore Orioles - The Royals are hot and "don't know any better". They should be able to steal at least one on the road. Depends on how KC pitching matches up with Oriole bats. Could go 7.
Nailed it, not much of a match up, red hot plucky Royals swept the Birds 4-0.
NLDS
LA Dodgers over St. Louis (Dodgers suffer same fate as Angels re:Giants, they are tired but should be able to hold it together. If Kershaw loses Gm 1, beware the Redbirds as it could go five.)
LA Dodgers collapsed in Gm 1 losing 6-1 lead with Kershaw on the mound at home. Rebounded with 3-2 win. Heading to St. Louis it appears this could go five.
Sore thumb, we picked LA, and didn't see the Dodgers folding in four. But gave a warning "if Kershaw loses Gm1, beware the Redbirds." The opening game home loss deflated the Dodgers. St. Louis held serve at home (beating Kershaw again) to close 3-1.
SF over Washington (these are the two teams that have the arms, and the Nats have the hitting, although Giant bats picked up late. Having run the table twice in the last 4 seasons, the Giants are "money" and are an attractive dog. I expect the winner of this series to run the table.)
SF Giants took opening 2 on road, coming home with ace Bumgarner throwing, they should sweep.
Nailed it, in the end. Bumgarner's throwing error cost 3 runs and extended the series one game as the Giants closed 3-1.
NLCS
SF Giants over St Louis Cardinals. Giant hitting has been clutch and the pitching on the money. How many games? Depends on how many games SF steals on the road.
Nailed it, the Giants were clutch and closed 4-1.
Divisional Series Stats
KC pitching silenced the tired Angel bats .170 BA with pitching 1.74 ERA & 0.87 WHIP
KC batted .198 BA; .275 OBP; .349 SLG; .624 OPS; WHIP 1.10 vs Angel ERA 4.20
SF pitching silenced the Nationals .164 BA with pitching 1.60 ERA & 0.84 WHIP
SF batted .222 BA; .275 OBP; .278 SLG; .553 OPS; 1.05 WHIP vs Nationals ERA 1.23
LCS Stats
KC pitching held the Orioles .217 BA with pitching 2.92 ERA & 1.16 WHIP
KC batted .280 BA; .362 OBP; .417 SLG; .779 OPS; 1.49 WHIP vs Orioles 4.37 ERA
SF pitching held the Cardinals .233 BA with pitching 3.20 ERA & 1.13 WHIP
SF batted with .253 BA; .330 OBP; .355 SLG; .685 OPS; 1.41 WHIP vs Cardinals 4.57 ERA
Earlier Question: Should the Giants finish off the Nationals, what will happen when the Giants batters face softer opposing pitching (Nationals led MLB is regular season ERA 3.03)? Answer: SF hitting improved across the board vs Cardinal pitching and should continue to do so.
Key stats for the post season: (Bold indicates advantage in this series matchup)
Batting
SF .244 BA; .313 OBP
Clutch:
with 2 outs .195 BA; .283 OBP
with 2 strikes .192 BA; .280 OBP
with 0-2 count an insane .226 BA; .250 OBP
2 out RBI's 12.
Opportunities:
Team LOB 79/10 games = 7.9; RISP 21-91 = .230
KC .259 BA; .331 OBP
Clutch:
with 2 outs a healthy .245 BA; .311 OBP
with 2 strikes .179 BA; .228 OBP
with 0-2 count a mortal .143 BA with .143 OBP;
2 out RBI's 14.
Opportunities:
Team LOB 55/8 games = 6.875; RISP 18-67 = .268
Advantage: KC 7; SF 4
Pitching
SF 2.18 ERA; .192 BA; 0.95 WHIP
Clutch:
with 2 outs .147 BA; 1.72 ERA; 0.96 WHIP
with 2 strikes .134 BA; 1.35 ERA; 0.79 WHIP
with 0-2 count .088 BA; 0.00 ERA; 0.27 WHIP
2 out RBI's 6 (all earned)
Opportunities:
opponent LOB 64/10 games = 6.4; RISP 9-56 = .160
KC ERA 2.93 ERA; .210 BA; 1.11 WHIP
Clutch:
with 2 outs .206 BA; 3.20 ERA; 1.11 WHIP
with 2 strikes .138 BA; 0.63 ERA; 0.87 WHIP
with 0-2 count .250 BA; 0.00 ERA; 1.00 WHIP
2 out RBI's 9 (all earned)
Opportunities:
opponent LOB 59/8 games = 7.375; RISP 15-60 = .250
Advantage: SF 12; KC 2
On a roll... In the post season, KC Royals are unconscious and undefeated at 8-0.
The Giants have now won a NL record 9 consecutive playoff series. (if you count the wild card game as a series.)
As a manager in the postseason, Bruce Bochy (SF Giants skipper) teams are 37-18 and have now won 11 of 12 series.
From the post season statistics it is apparent that the Giants have the better starting pitching with the bullpens about even.
KC has the batting edge (vs inferior pitching), however SF clutch hitting 2 strike & 0-2 count numbers are off the charts (vs better pitching).
You finish on road Joe... Postseason ERA Split's
Home:
Royals 3.00 ERA; .199 BA; 1.08 WHIP
Giants 3.13 ERA; .219 BA; 1.07 WHIP
Road:
Royals 2.85 ERA; .220 BA; 1.15 WHIP
Giants 1.36 ERA; .168 BA; 0.85 WHIP
In the postseason when the money is on the table, as you can see home is equal, while postseason Giant road pitching has been taking the money.
This is a 2-3-2 series, the Giants will likely throw Peavy & Bumgarner to open Games 1 and 2 at KC.
Since August 13th with Peavy starting 9-2 (road 5-1)
Since July 13th with Bumgarner starting 13-5 (road 8-2)
Postseason:
Bumgarner 1.42 ERA; WHIP 0.76
Peavy 1.86 ERA; WHIP 1.24
2014 MLB World Series: SF Giants over KC Royals
KC has home field advantage, where the designated batter will be in play, they have red hot bats, are playing unconscious, and just do not know any better.
SF vs WAS... "these are the two teams that have the arms. I expect the winner of this series to run the table." "[The Giants] when their pitching is on, they are money. To date, nothing has happened to alter my disposition.
Unfortunately, the Royals are not the 69 Met's, and Giant pitching will probably bring the plucky young Royals back to earth and reality as in, if you can't score, you can't win, the parties over and all good things must come to an end.
The Giants opened on the road in Pittsburgh, Washington and St. Louis where they put a full nelson choke hold on the home team bats that would make a python proud and have left town with 4 wins in 5 tries.
With Bochy's postseason record of success (his only series loss in 98 WS Yanks swept Padres) and having won 2 of the last 4 World Series, the Giants should make it 3 out of 5.
IMO, I would be surprised if the Giants didn't take both games at Kaufmann and head home to Baghdad by the Bay with their Beach Blanket Babylon brooms out for a clean sweep.
Wild Card
Oakland over KC - Wrong, by this much... (we were surprised that Lester gave up six runs in a post season game as KC won in extra innings 9-8; the A's would have been formidable) .
SF over Pitt - Nailed it.(Bumgarner blanked the Pirates 8-0. In their June Swoon, the Giants blew a 10 gm lead and crawled in, do not underestimate their potential)
With the exception of the Orioles, we expect a whole lotta rockin of the boat in the Division Series.
Baltimore over Detroit (Orioles shouldn't have any problems, at home. Their arms are suspect, but Motown's murderer's row of starters have been off of late and that's not good. If it goes five, the Tigers could surprise.)
Nailed it, Baltimore Orioles took opening 2 at home, swept 3-0
KC over LA Angels (Anaheim spent themselves catching and burying the A's, their arms are suspect. Scrappy young Royals crawled in the back door, have nothing to lose and simply don't know any better. With a short best of five, who knows, big payout on KC pooch's.)
Nailed it, KC Royals took opening 2 on road, swept 3-0
ALCS
KC Royals over Baltimore Orioles - The Royals are hot and "don't know any better". They should be able to steal at least one on the road. Depends on how KC pitching matches up with Oriole bats. Could go 7.
Nailed it, not much of a match up, red hot plucky Royals swept the Birds 4-0.
NLDS
LA Dodgers over St. Louis (Dodgers suffer same fate as Angels re:Giants, they are tired but should be able to hold it together. If Kershaw loses Gm 1, beware the Redbirds as it could go five.)
LA Dodgers collapsed in Gm 1 losing 6-1 lead with Kershaw on the mound at home. Rebounded with 3-2 win. Heading to St. Louis it appears this could go five.
Sore thumb, we picked LA, and didn't see the Dodgers folding in four. But gave a warning "if Kershaw loses Gm1, beware the Redbirds." The opening game home loss deflated the Dodgers. St. Louis held serve at home (beating Kershaw again) to close 3-1.
SF over Washington (these are the two teams that have the arms, and the Nats have the hitting, although Giant bats picked up late. Having run the table twice in the last 4 seasons, the Giants are "money" and are an attractive dog. I expect the winner of this series to run the table.)
SF Giants took opening 2 on road, coming home with ace Bumgarner throwing, they should sweep.
Nailed it, in the end. Bumgarner's throwing error cost 3 runs and extended the series one game as the Giants closed 3-1.
NLCS
SF Giants over St Louis Cardinals. Giant hitting has been clutch and the pitching on the money. How many games? Depends on how many games SF steals on the road.
Nailed it, the Giants were clutch and closed 4-1.
Divisional Series Stats
KC pitching silenced the tired Angel bats .170 BA with pitching 1.74 ERA & 0.87 WHIP
KC batted .198 BA; .275 OBP; .349 SLG; .624 OPS; WHIP 1.10 vs Angel ERA 4.20
SF pitching silenced the Nationals .164 BA with pitching 1.60 ERA & 0.84 WHIP
SF batted .222 BA; .275 OBP; .278 SLG; .553 OPS; 1.05 WHIP vs Nationals ERA 1.23
LCS Stats
KC pitching held the Orioles .217 BA with pitching 2.92 ERA & 1.16 WHIP
KC batted .280 BA; .362 OBP; .417 SLG; .779 OPS; 1.49 WHIP vs Orioles 4.37 ERA
SF pitching held the Cardinals .233 BA with pitching 3.20 ERA & 1.13 WHIP
SF batted with .253 BA; .330 OBP; .355 SLG; .685 OPS; 1.41 WHIP vs Cardinals 4.57 ERA
Earlier Question: Should the Giants finish off the Nationals, what will happen when the Giants batters face softer opposing pitching (Nationals led MLB is regular season ERA 3.03)? Answer: SF hitting improved across the board vs Cardinal pitching and should continue to do so.
Key stats for the post season: (Bold indicates advantage in this series matchup)
Batting
SF .244 BA; .313 OBP
Clutch:
with 2 outs .195 BA; .283 OBP
with 2 strikes .192 BA; .280 OBP
with 0-2 count an insane .226 BA; .250 OBP
2 out RBI's 12.
Opportunities:
Team LOB 79/10 games = 7.9; RISP 21-91 = .230
KC .259 BA; .331 OBP
Clutch:
with 2 outs a healthy .245 BA; .311 OBP
with 2 strikes .179 BA; .228 OBP
with 0-2 count a mortal .143 BA with .143 OBP;
2 out RBI's 14.
Opportunities:
Team LOB 55/8 games = 6.875; RISP 18-67 = .268
Advantage: KC 7; SF 4
Pitching
SF 2.18 ERA; .192 BA; 0.95 WHIP
Clutch:
with 2 outs .147 BA; 1.72 ERA; 0.96 WHIP
with 2 strikes .134 BA; 1.35 ERA; 0.79 WHIP
with 0-2 count .088 BA; 0.00 ERA; 0.27 WHIP
2 out RBI's 6 (all earned)
Opportunities:
opponent LOB 64/10 games = 6.4; RISP 9-56 = .160
KC ERA 2.93 ERA; .210 BA; 1.11 WHIP
Clutch:
with 2 outs .206 BA; 3.20 ERA; 1.11 WHIP
with 2 strikes .138 BA; 0.63 ERA; 0.87 WHIP
with 0-2 count .250 BA; 0.00 ERA; 1.00 WHIP
2 out RBI's 9 (all earned)
Opportunities:
opponent LOB 59/8 games = 7.375; RISP 15-60 = .250
Advantage: SF 12; KC 2
On a roll... In the post season, KC Royals are unconscious and undefeated at 8-0.
The Giants have now won a NL record 9 consecutive playoff series. (if you count the wild card game as a series.)
As a manager in the postseason, Bruce Bochy (SF Giants skipper) teams are 37-18 and have now won 11 of 12 series.
From the post season statistics it is apparent that the Giants have the better starting pitching with the bullpens about even.
KC has the batting edge (vs inferior pitching), however SF clutch hitting 2 strike & 0-2 count numbers are off the charts (vs better pitching).
You finish on road Joe... Postseason ERA Split's
Home:
Royals 3.00 ERA; .199 BA; 1.08 WHIP
Giants 3.13 ERA; .219 BA; 1.07 WHIP
Road:
Royals 2.85 ERA; .220 BA; 1.15 WHIP
Giants 1.36 ERA; .168 BA; 0.85 WHIP
In the postseason when the money is on the table, as you can see home is equal, while postseason Giant road pitching has been taking the money.
This is a 2-3-2 series, the Giants will likely throw Peavy & Bumgarner to open Games 1 and 2 at KC.
Since August 13th with Peavy starting 9-2 (road 5-1)
Since July 13th with Bumgarner starting 13-5 (road 8-2)
Postseason:
Bumgarner 1.42 ERA; WHIP 0.76
Peavy 1.86 ERA; WHIP 1.24
2014 MLB World Series: SF Giants over KC Royals
KC has home field advantage, where the designated batter will be in play, they have red hot bats, are playing unconscious, and just do not know any better.
SF vs WAS... "these are the two teams that have the arms. I expect the winner of this series to run the table." "[The Giants] when their pitching is on, they are money. To date, nothing has happened to alter my disposition.
Unfortunately, the Royals are not the 69 Met's, and Giant pitching will probably bring the plucky young Royals back to earth and reality as in, if you can't score, you can't win, the parties over and all good things must come to an end.
The Giants opened on the road in Pittsburgh, Washington and St. Louis where they put a full nelson choke hold on the home team bats that would make a python proud and have left town with 4 wins in 5 tries.
With Bochy's postseason record of success (his only series loss in 98 WS Yanks swept Padres) and having won 2 of the last 4 World Series, the Giants should make it 3 out of 5.
IMO, I would be surprised if the Giants didn't take both games at Kaufmann and head home to Baghdad by the Bay with their Beach Blanket Babylon brooms out for a clean sweep.
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