It’s amazing how much one free-agent pitcher means to the direction and flow of the Winter Meetings. It seems as though once LHP Jon Lester decides from among his many suitors, the most highly regarded remaining starting pitchers will fall in line. Where does Lester pitch next year? And for how many years thereafter? We shall see. I don’t hear as much about the Cubs being the frontrunners anymore. The buzz here still points to Boston and the Giants. But the Dodgers loom. And the story changes depending upon the source of the information. Red Sox manager John Farrell is confident Lester will return to Boston. Could be. I have no idea. I thought his relationship with Cubs front office personnel could tip the scales in the direction of Chicago. I think we’ll know tomorrow morning. And then…other pitchers should fall into slots. But maybe not Max Scherzer. Perhaps we won’t know about him until Spring Training. But Lester could go to the Cubs or the…or the…or the. Frustrating. Powerful.

While our MLB.com personnel were in a meeting this morning, the Indians got a big left-handed bat in the name of Brandon Moss to play in the outfield, first base or as their designated hitter. He should help the Tribe…if his hip allows. Moss had a tough second half last year and had hip surgery following the season. He is currently in physical therapy and feels he will be two weeks behind other players in Spring Training. I think that may be optimistic. A hip injury for a hitter is a major concern. Hips do so much of the work in swing mechanics. I hope Moss doesn’t return until he is fully healthy.
Just a hunch, but I think the odd man out in the Indians equation could be David Murphy-also a left-handed hitter. Also an outfielder. Not much power. Decline in his 2014 season. Too many redundant position players. Someone probably goes.

Joey Wendle has a chance to be a good hitting second baseman. Some consider him more a utility player than a starter. I’m not one of them. I think he can play full-time for a team like the Athletics that isn’t deep in middle infielders. But he’s a year away from prime time. If the A’s don’t improve that role with a Major League ready guy by the end of Spring Training, Wendle may be rushed. I just don’t see that happening

The Diamondbacks formally announced the signing of Yasmany Tomas. He allegedly has a difference making bat. It could be very exciting for Dbacks fans.

The environment for these meetings is fabulous. The weather in San Diego could not be nicer. We are located adjacent to shops and restaurants right at the harbor. The hotel overlooks beautiful views of the water and downtown San Diego. Meeting rooms, the press room and the hotel sleeping rooms are all a short walk from each other.

Yesterday outside the hotel at Seaport Village we had a guy that trains exotic birds and makes money permitting tourists to take pictures. We had a guy that eats fire performing in the middle of the courtyard. We had Santa Claus greeting little kids, a ballon artist and a guy who thinks he’s Frank Sinatra singing non-stop for hours. Something for everyone. Like a circus. So far I’ve had one great lunch, one good lunch and one lousy dinner. Two out three isn’t bad.

Without a doubt, when we are at dinner tonight some major, huge amazing story will break. Isn’t that what always happens? Our MLB.com team is working hard to uncover every lead and leave no stone unturned to bring our readers the most up to date and current information. Every shred of a lead is followed. I work with amazing reporters who are the best in the business. I learn from them every day. But we can’t make chicken soup if we don’t have the chickens. Does that make sense to you? You know what I mean, right? We don’t start rumors. But I still have a feeling this is going to be a huge week. Trades. Signings. Why do I think that? There are teams with too many outfielders and teams without enough. There are teams with middle infield surpluses and teams with few middle infielders. Any everyone needs pitching.

The Rule 5 Draft is Thursday. I’ll get more into that in subsequent blogs.

So here we are. We wait. It’s like slow ketchup. Once the drips start, it pours easier and faster. I’m willing to wait. So are you, right? The wait is worth it if you like what your team has done. But you want your team to do something. Something good. You wait for word about your club. But don’t get excited about rumors. Get excited when you read that it’s official. Then you can slot the guy into the lineup in your head or in the rotation in your mind. I know. I’m chronologically advanced and I’ve spent years and years and years pounding that ketchup bottle in December. Sometimes it never pours. Sometimes it does. For your sake, I hope you get what you want. Let me know at my twitter account @BerniePleskoff. What are you wishing and hoping for? Keep pounding that bottle.

I have a scouting profile of Joey Wendle up today on MLBPipeline.com. Hope you check it out. And thanks for following me and reading my work. I’ll be back tomorrow with the Tuesday edition of my Winter Meetings blog. For now, let it flow. Please.

That’s it. I’m done. Breaking news will be posted @BerniePleskoff

Those who have followed me on twitter the past few years know how greatly I value defense in baseball. They also know how effusive I am in my regard for the defensive prowess of Didi Gregorius. I have extolled his remarkable defensive ability since the first time I saw him in a Cincinnati Reds Spring Training camp.

I really began to consider Gregorius an elite shortstop in the 2012 Arizona Fall League. His athletic ability, his grace, his amazingly soft hands and quick feet, his outstanding range and his cannon of an arm were poetic to me. Every time I saw him I liked him more and more.

Over the years I had seen other young, inexperienced shortstops in the Fall League that I couldn’t stop writing about. Players like Alcides Escobar, Adeiny Hechavarria and others had dazzled me in the AFL, but none quite caught my attention as much as Gregorius. He was, and is, special.

Gregorius was part of a three-team trade in 2012 between the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians and Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dbacks sent Matt Albers, Trevor Bauer and Bryan Shaw to Cleveland. The Reds sent Drew Stubbs to Cleveland. The Indians sent Lars Anderson and Tony Sipp to Arizona. The Indians sent Shin-Soo Choo and Jason Donald and cash to the Reds. Do you have all that?

When the deal was made, I was ecstatic. I would get to see Didi play shortstop on a regular basis. He didn’t disappoint. His defense was majestic, as expected. Maybe even better. His offense was raw and behind his defense. I kept writing that patience is required. He will come around with the bat. I sighted Omar Vizquel as a perfect example of a defensive wizard who was challenged offensively. Until the light went on. Until he gained enough experience to learn how to hit Major League pitching. Omar: 1989 .220, 1990 .247, 1991 .230, 1992 .294. He kept improving and improving and finished his 24-year career at .272.

No, Didi is not Omar. But in my opinion Didi is very close to Omar defensively.

But when the light goes on for Didi, and I think it will, he’ll be playing shortstop for the New York Yankees. And he’ll get his share of home runs into the short right field porch at Yankee Stadium. And he’ll improve as a hitter. In time.

Yesterday I heard Steve Sax discuss Gregorius on MLB Radio. It was as if I was hearing my own words coming back to me. Sax indicated Yankees fans will be thrilled with what they see from Gregorius. He predicted audible oohs and ahs from Yankees fans at the plays Didi will make. He said Gregorius was among the finest defensive shortstops he had every seen. High praise from a guy who played the game. And who watched him play regularly with the Dbacks.

Nobody can replace Derek Jeter. Someone will play his position. That someone will be Gregorius against right-handed pitching initially with Brendan Ryan playing against lefties. And by the way, Ryan is a fantastic defensive shortstop in his own right.

Being chronologically advanced, I have had the great pleasure and privilege of seeing countless fantastic defensive shortstops. Several like Ozzie Smith and Adam Everett come to mind. Of course, Escobar and Hechavarria make my list. In today’s game, I find Andrelton Simmons the gold standard. Not even Didi matches up with him It’s close, but Simmons takes my prize. More are on the way.

In exchange for Gregorius, the Dbacks bolstered their pitching by obtaining lefty Robbie Ray and helped their organizational depth by receiving shortstop/second baseman Domingo Leyba from Detroit. The Yankees sent right-handed pitcher Shane Greene to the Tigers.

Ray is a work in progress. Still young and relatively inexperienced at 23, the lefty starter could find himself at the back end of the Dbacks rotation. The team is not deep in pitching. If they can afford more development time for him, so much the better. He still has inconsistent command and control, but I saw improvement during his Arizona Fall League season. The same improvement Dbacks brass must have seen. I think his upside could help make this a nice transaction. The real prize could well be Leyba. He has a strong, projectable hitting tool and an ability to grow into a fine defensive infielder. He probably profiles best at second base-a future need for Arizona. His presence in the deal really helps balance things out a bit.

In essence, the Tigers have traded Doug Fister, Robbie Ray and Domingo Leyba for Shane Greene and lefty reliever Ian Krol. Ray was the primary player dealt by Washington to Detroit for Fister in 2013. Krol is serving in the Tigers pen.

Greene could fill a rotation role (that at one time may have been reserved for Ray) if and when the team loses Max Scherzer and/or another starter like Rick Porcello. Is Greene capable? He just turned 26 and is coming off a season of 14 starts in New York. He threw 78 2/3 innings. He yielded 3.3 walks per nine and struck out 9.3 per nine. Those are solid numbers. The walk rate will probably improve. He had an ERA of 3.78 and a WHIP of 1.39. He is a pitcher with promise and upside. He could certainly be a very good addition. But giving up Doug Fister? I’m still scratching my head about that one.

Arizona now turns to very capable shortstop Chris Owings to replace Gregorius. Owings is a better hitter than Didi to date in his young career. For me, Gregorius is a far better defender. The team traded Owings’ good offense and good defense for Didi’s fair offense and great defense IMO. Prospect Nick Ahmed waits in the middle infield wings along with very, very capable utility infielder Cliff Pennington. If he shows he can hit, Aaron Hill will probably get most of the playing time at second base.

But Didi won’t be there to glide deep in the hole, plant his feet and then shoot a 90 mph or more strike on time to first base. Some have said he hits higher than 90. With accuracy. Didi won’t be there to glide behind second base, plant and then throw out the runner by an eyelash. Didi won’t be there to race out to short center or deep along the left field foul line to pull a ball out of the air in what looks like an effortless manner. He’ll be in New York. I wish him well. Soon-maybe even this coming season or the next one at the latest, we’ll talk about his hitting. He’s Omar Vizquel. Steady offensive improvement. Maybe more pop in his bat. Acrobatic defense. Run saving defense.

Yankees fans—enjoy. He’s a treat to watch.

Thanks for reading my scouting profiles on MLBPipeline.com and for following me on twitter @BerniePleskoff. I’ll be writing this blog every day from the Winter Meetings in San Diego.

That’s it. I’m done.

 

It’s always difficult to write a hot stove article or blog because things can change the moment a prediction is made in writing. I was reading a piece today that predicted where players would go. Of the free agents already signed, the site was wrong on each. But at least the reasoning for their choices was sound. But baseball players and baseball teams can change direction quickly.

Here are some of my thoughts as we head to San Diego for the annual gathering of both Minor League and Major League baseball folks at the Winter Meetings.

The Indians are said to be kicking the tires on trading for Oakland’s Brandon Moss. Moss is a left-handed hitter. The Indians are loaded with lefty bats that include Michael Brantley, Jason Kipnis, Lonnie Chisenhall, Michael Bourn and David Murphy. However, Moss could be a legitimate home run threat that would improve the lineup. He can play both 1B and the OF as well as serve as a DH. Much may depend upon the future of switch-hitting Nick Swisher.

If the Tigers were to go “all in” for Andrew Miller (and I believe he will sign with the Yankees) they would improve their club tremendously. Miller has exactly what the Tigers need. A late game, shut down lefty.

I think adding Miller to the Yankees makes great sense. He would be facing mostly right-handed hitters in the late innings, avoiding the short right field porch lefties hit with regularity. It makes great sense for him to pitch for the Yankees.

I believe the relationship established by Theo Epstein in Jon Lester’s Red Sox days give the Cubs a great chance to sign the lefty. I believe a trust has been established between the two. I also believe Lester may like the challenge of helping the Cubs finally get over the top. Lester sets the starting pitching market.

It wouldn’t surprise me if Chase Headley headed to the Giants to fill the void left when the Panda decided to buy his bamboo in Boston.

Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario could be on the move. I get it. He still has trouble blocking balls in the dirt and he just isn’t making enough progress behind the plate. And his offense tailed off last season. But if he’s traded, some club will get a guy with home run power and a good batting average as a catcher.

I’m still trying to figure out how the Orioles make up for the loss of Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis? Is Chris Davis the Chris Davis of Texas, the Chris Davis of two years ago or the Chris Davis of last year? Will Manny Machado be healthy? I think he will be. And I also think Matt Wieters will have a big year and contribute greatly to the offense. Melky Cabrera fits in Baltimore for me.

What are the Phillies thinking? Who knows. But they have to get younger. They have to improve their farm system and organizational depth. They have to get what they can for the veterans that have any market value remaining. And that means that may have to swallow hard and start eating some “dead” contract money. If they pay down much of Ryan Howard’s contract, they may yield some prospects. He has value at the right price for certain teams.

The Dodgers concept of adding depth makes perfect sense. It allows them to deal from a position of strength. Bringing in Chris Heisey gives them another option to place in front of teams in need of outfielders.

I was hoping the Indians would get Chris Denorfia. I’ve always liked his game. Gets his uniform dirty, gets big hits and knows how the game is played. Haven’t heard much on that front lately.

The risk/reward for the Dbacks bringing Chad Billingsley on board tilts heavily to the reward side. If the price is right for Arizona, they could add an option with big league experience to their pitching depth. If he has recovered from injuries, there is little to lose. The Dbacks need pitching.

Yes, Mark Trumbo has value to almost every American League club. Guys that can hit home runs don’t grow on trees. He can hit home runs. Like every transaction-the key will be the price paid. An American League team with pitching depth could find a very nice Christmas present in Trumbo. I’m more worried about his feet than his defense. He can play a bit at 1B and be a designated hitter. But keeping him healthy is an issue.

I haven’t heard a word about Sergio Romo. He’s another guy the Tigers should be talking about. Will he leave the Giants? Who knows?

I heard the Marlins are also interested in Brandon Moss. Watch out for that team. I said last year that I liked their future. I’m a huge Christian Yellich fan. I look for a big, big year from him.

Look for the Padres to play in the international market.

We don’t hear about James Shields on the free agent front. I guess until Lester and Max Scherzer settle somewhere, the Shields’ of the world have to wait. Somebody should come in now and strike. Why wait? Teams want to see pecking order dollars. Scherzer, Lester and then a drop off in money. That’s where Shields will probably fit.

Have I missed it, or is catcher Ryan Lavarnway still out there? Long swing, true. But he can certainly be an upgrade as a back-up catcher for lots of teams.

Robbie Cano, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager. Not bad. To me, Seager is a very underrated player and I think this will be his blossom year. Especially with both Cruz and Cano hanging around in the lineup.

Latos or Leake for Cespedes? Could happen. The Red Sox have Castillo, Cespedes, Craig, Betts, Nava, Victorino, Ramirez, Bryce Brentz and Jackie Bradley as quality outfielders. Ya think a few of them may depart? Jackie Bradley we hardly knew you.
I still think if Cespedes is dealt, Mookie Betts starts in the outfield with Castillo and Ramirez. Have I missed any of them? That’s quite a list.

If you are coming to Phoenix for Spring Training you owe yourself one favor. Drive on the 101 heading east at sunrise. The sun coming up over the McDowell Mountains is just magnificent. Just thought I’d share that.

Just my opinion. The White Sox have made great strides this off season. I think they should keep Alexi Ramirez and keep building with him in the middle of the diamond.
But I think the Dodgers or Mets will make compelling offers for Ramirez.

I credit the Blue Jays for making some very good moves so far. Adding Russell Martin, Michael Saunders and especially Josh Donaldson to an already wonderful lineup that includes Bautista, Reyes and Encarnacion puts them right at the top of the pack in the AL East. They may be able to slug their way to victories with adequate quality as opposed to outstanding quality pitching. But watch out if they get one more starter and/or a relief arm.

Thank you for reading my prospect profiles on MLBPipeline.com. Follow me on twitter @BerniePleskoff every day from the Winter Meetings for the latest and most up to date news possible.

That’s it. I’m done.

It’s very possible filet mignon is on the menu, but the Athletics may have to wait a few years for the first big taste.

I have to admit right off the bat that I’m a huge Josh Donaldson fan. I think he’s one of the most underrated players in the game.

Donaldson plays a position that has been weak in the American League for a few years. In my opinion, he follows only Adrian Beltre in overall 3B value. I like Evan Longoria, but I think Donaldson may be even better. Kyle Seager is up and coming. I remember being upset when Donaldson was left off the 2013 All Star team. I couldn’t believe it. But Beltre was omitted that year as well.

Some may not know that Donaldson was a Minor League catcher and was converted to third base when a huge need went unresolved. Now he has become an outstanding defender as well as an impact bat in the lineup.

General manager Billy Beane has indicated the gap between the Angels and the Athletics was difficult to close and having Donaldson wouldn’t really make the difference. Rather, he wanted a group of near Major League players to add depth to his roster.

At age 24, Brett Lawrie is four years younger than Donaldson. Lawrie, from Canada was developed by the Brewers and traded to the Blue Jays for pitcher Shaun Marcum. Lawrie is a former first round pick (16th overall) from the 2008 draft. He was a second baseman in the Brewers system and can still play there. Like Dondaldson, he is eligible for arbitration. Lawrie actually becomes a free agent in 2018. Donaldson not until 2019. So both are under team control for years to come.

Here’s my problem. Lawrie has not played a full season as a Major League player. He played in 125 games in 2012, then 107 and 70 this past season. His injury history is an issue. Can he stay on the field? If he can, I think he can be productive. But as productive as Donaldson? That’s my second question. Health is first, productivity second.

In that same three year time frame, Donaldson has played 75 games in 2012 (half the season was played at Triple-A Sacramento) then 158 and 158 this past season. Lawrie hit .247 in his limited time this year, Donaldson .255. Donaldson drove in 98 runs. Lawrie 38. Donaldson hit 29 homers. Lawrie 11. What am I missing here? There’s more. Much more to this deal.

It wasn’t Donaldson for Lawrie even up. The Athletics also yielded RHP Kendall Graveman, LHP Sean Nolin and SS Franklin Baretto. Baretto may be the hidden gem.

Graveman threw 4 2/3 relief innings for the Blue Jays this past season. He worked in five games and finished with an ERA of 3.86 and a 0.85 WHIP. He struck out four and didn’t issue a walk. His history with Toronto has been as a starting pitcher. That’s where the A’s will likely use him. He has a chance to pitch in the Oakland rotation this coming year. A chance. He has 37 Minor League starts. He never appeared as a reliever. His composite ERA is a very, very solid 2.30. His WHIP 1.07. We’re not talking chopped liver here. We’re looking at a very strong history in parts of two Minor League years from a 6-foot-2, 195 former pitcher for Mississippi State University. He was an eighth round Blue Jays draft pick in 2013. Left handed hitters hit better against him than righties. That’s to be expected. So-in summary, Graveman is a viable prospect. He has become the No. 14 prospect on MLB.com. And he’s not chopped liver. He’s a nice entree and a good addition to the Athletics menu.

Sean Nolin is a left-handed starter. I saw him in the recently concluded Arizona Fall League. He has become the No. 9 prospect on the MLB Top 20 Athletics prospect list.
Nolin threw 22 1/3 innings in Arizona. I saw several of his starts. He finished with a 2-1 record and a 4.03 ERA. He had a 1.16 WHIP.

Nolin is a big guy at 6-4, 230 pounds. The fact he’s left handed adds to his value. He has a composite 27-17 record in five Minor League seasons with a 3.06 ERA. His WHIP is 1.21. Nolin has started 86 of the 92 Minor League games in which he has appeared. He pitched for San Jacinto College in Texas and was a sixth round 2010 Blue Jays draft choice. Again, he has a chance to pitch out of the Athletics rotation at some point. A chance. So-in summary, Nolin is a serviceable lefty with good command and control. He is more prospect than suspect. He’s not a salami sandwich, but he’s not prime rib, either. He’s another nice addition to the entree menu.

Now for the prize of the lot. Franklin Barreto is a 5-foot-9, 175 pound shortstop with good range and a bat that plays. He’s only 18 years old. He was MLB.com’s No. 2 international prospect in 2012. I remember all the discussion about him. Toronto landing him was a coup. Oakland grabbing him may be an even bigger coup. He is already the No. 3 prospect in the Athletics system as assigned by MLB.com.

Barreto finished 2014 with an average of .311. He had 90 hits in 328 plate appearances in the low Minors. Among them were 23 doubles, four triples, and six home runs. He drove in 61 runs. He stole 29 bases in 34 attempts. He made too many errors (26) but he’s still learning. So-in summary, Barreto was a highly prized prospect coming out of Venezuela as a teenager. He can hit. He can hit for average and for power. He can play shortstop, although his offense is ahead of his defense. Barreto is no bowl of chicken soup. He’s possibly filet mignon.

So yes, the Athletics shipped a very, very fine All Star caliber, possibly game changing 3B to the Blue Jays in return for a good 3B when healthy and three prospects. Two are on the brink of being Major League ready. One could become a star in several more years.

While I think the Blue Jays will be very happy with this deal, I believe the Athletics are once again rolling the dice. Prospects are prospects. They aren’t proven players. The gap between daily competition in the Minor Leagues and big league players is huge. Huge. But. If Lawrie stays healthy and if one of the two pitchers can pitch, the deal will help Oakland. The operative word is “if”. The crescendo won’t take place until we find out if Barreto is filet mignon or…flank steak.

Thank you for reading my prospect profiles at MLBPipeline.com and for following me on twitter @BerniePleskoff.

That’s it. I’m done.

The San Francisco Giants have won three World Championships in five years. Not too shabby. It’s so tough just to get to the postseason. This club has a ring for each of three fingers. And for me, this clinches a Hall Of Fame induction for manager Bruce Bochy.
Congratulations to the players, the front office, the workers in the organization and the fans. Well earned. Well deserved.

Part of being a good manager is keeping your team loose, knowing when and what trigger to pull and knowing what you’re doing. Having conviction. Bochy handled his roster like a Concertmaster handles his orchestra. He knew which instrument had to play at which time to make beautiful music. Together.

In essence, Bochy and the Giants accomplished the victory with a rotation of one starter. They got good effort but no results to speak of from Ryan Vogelsong, Jake Peavy or Tim Hudson. Bumgarner was the violin section, the horn section, the percussion section and everything else combined. He did everything but turn the sheet music. That was left to Jeremy Affeldt who pitched extremely well in Game 7 and to a great extent, Yusmeiro Petit who also contributed from the mound early in the Series.
But for all intent and purposes, this was the Madison Bumgarner World Series.
There will be countless words spoken and written about his heroics. He earned every syllable. All I can say is what I said on twitter tonight. I’ve watched lots of baseball in my life and Mr. Bumgarner’s mastery of his craft was probably the best I have seen over a sustained period of the Postseason. Others have been great. This was special. The man was on a mission. I’m glad I saw it. Bruce Bochy knew the exact moment to insert his magic weapon and had enough intestinal fortitude to let him finish the job.

Pablo Pandaval and Hunter Pence provided the offensive fireworks to allow the Giants to eek out enough runs to turn Bumgarner loose. The Panda can get hot and use the entire field to bring havoc to the opposition. Pence gets loose and confident and smacks the ball around the diamond with authority himself. Together they form a dynamic duo in the middle of the lineup.

I was disappointed in the lack of plate discipline of Buster Posey. He swung at bad pitches throughout the World Series and didn’t offer much offensive help at all. In fact, when his team had a chance to fight back in Game 6 when they were down 7 runs, he swung at the first pitch with the bases loaded and grounded into an inning ending double play. That took the rolling train right off the tracks. The train landed in a ditch and forced the Bumgarner Game Of A Lifetime-tonight.

Gregor Blanco almost became the Bartman of the Bay. His misplay with two outs and nobody on base in the 9th inning caused acid reflux, nausea and a case of the yips in the Giants dugout. But all is well that ends well. For the Giants, it ended with Pablo Sandoval catching a lazy foul pop up and collapsing to the ground in joy.

I could hear and feel the ground shake when Sandoval went from first to third base in the second inning. And when he fell to the ground with the final out in the 9th. And he did it right in front of the fabulous Panda heads if I’m not mistaken.

The Royals laid an egg tonight because they couldn’t really cash in when they had the chance. The door was open in their half of the second inning and they could only muster two runs. It seemed like a lot, but it could have and should have been more.

The Royals matched the Giants for ineffective starting pitching with the exception of rookie right-hander Yordano Ventura. We may be talking about that young man for a long time to come. He can hit 101 with his fastball and has the secondary pitches to buckle knees. What I like is that he has ice water in his veins.

Manager Ned Yost played his game without going to ANY of his right-handed pinch hitters against Affeldt or Bumgarner. Left sitting on the bench watching the action were bats that belonged to Josh Willingham, Terrance Gore, Jayson Nix and back up catcher Erik Kratz. Wouldn’t one of them have been worth giving a crack at Bumgarner? Would a bunt by Jarrod Dyson have possibly started a rally? We’ll never know.

The fans in both San Francisco and Kansas City were gracious, exciting, excited and tremendously loyal. I didn’t read or hear of any poor behavior or rude conduct. Everything in both cities was flawless. It’s just a shame one team had to lose. But the Royals didn’t lose. The Giants won. They snatched one more game in the series than Kansas City. It came down to the magic weapon they had and the Royals didn’t. That was Madison Bumgarner. Period.

Now, it’s back to Phoenix and the Arizona Fall League for me. Please join me on twitter to read about the prospects on your favorite team. I’ll be discussing every Major League club and the guys they have playing in the AFL. This coming Saturday is the Fall Stars Game. I’ll be there. I hope you will be, too.

You can find my World Series scouting profiles of Giants young players on their MLB.com team page and Royals young players on their MLB.com team page. Just click on “news” at the top of the page and scroll down for my articles.

Again, thank you to San Francisco and Kansas City for 7 great games. Thank you to each of you for following me on my World Series blogs. And congratulations to the 2014 Champions of Major League Baseball-the San Francisco Giants.

 

It wasn’t as bad as it looked. Jake Peavy made some good pitches. The Giants hitters found some holes. They also slammed some hard drives to the outfield, but it looked worse than it really was. But make no mistake-the Royals smoked the Giants tonight. This game was over in less than an hour, for sure.

Peavy and Tim Hudson have huddled in the clubhouse about the pitches Peavy made tonight and just how they would handle the Royals. Hudson said he wants to go at least 6 or 7. He has great faith in his bullpen.

I think Yordano Ventura was outstanding, to say the least. He said he wanted to start the game with the Royals thinking he was a little wild. Sort of keeping them loose. It was his plan warming up before the game. It worked. He went more to his secondary pitches in about the third inning-mixing and matching them with his 95-98 mph fastball.

I was concerned that Ventura would be “cold” after sitting through that seven run Royals rally. In fact, he was. He walked the bases loaded. Then Buster Posey did something I couldn’t believe. He swung at the first cookie he saw and slammed into an inning ending double play. With Ventura unable to throw strikes, it seemed strange to me that Posey would be up there swinging. But he was. That double play was like a dagger to the heart. It was the end of the night for San Francisco.

Every Royals starter had at least one hit. Escobar, Cain, Hosmer, Perez and Moustakas had two each. Moose also had a homer. The 6th off Hunter Strickland in the postseason, including two in the World Series.

The Royals have their big four of Finnegan, Herrera, Davis and Holland all available for tomorrow. The Giants have Lincecum, Romo, Affeldt, Lopez and Casilla ready to go. And of course, if needed, Shields is lurking for Kansas City and Bumgarner waits in the wings for the Giants. I don’t think Bochy will hesitate to make the call to Bumgarner if the situation fits.

The MVP? For the Royals it would be either Ventura or Cain for me. For the Giants I would vote for Bumgarner or Pence. In reality, there are more than one or two most valuable players in this 7 Game Series.

Yordano Ventura dedicated his game to his dear friend, the late Oscar Taveras. Speaking in front of a Dominican flag that he draped before him at his press conference, Ventura was emotional in thinking and speaking of Taveras.

Lorenzo Cain made another great play in tonight’s game. Now the entire world is aware of the complete player he is.

I have no prediction for Game 7. All I know is that like every little kid, I used to pretend I was hitting in the bottom of the 9th with the bases loaded and two outs in the 7th game of the World Series. The games were always in Cleveland. And they were always against the Giants or the Dodgers in my mind. I never struck out. We won every game. What a thrill it must be for a Hunter Pence or a Joe Panik. A Tim Hudson or a Jeremy Guthrie. No pretending for them. This is the real deal. They get to keep all the marbles if they win. And wouldn’t it be great if it was tied in eight innings and someone’s 9th inning heroics won the game. I’d be loving that.

It’s been a fabulous Series so far. I’m glad you’re with me and I’ve enjoyed sharing it with you. Come back tomorrow, please. We’ll end the season together.
Just think—February, March, April, May, June, July, August. September and now…the end of October. The last game of the year. One team will win the rings and be crowned the 2014 Champions of Major League baseball.

Thanks so much for following me twitter @BerniePleskoff and for reading my scouting profiles on MLB.com.

That’s it. I’m done.

Travel day from San Francisco was rather uneventful. It consisted of San Francisco to Chicago to Kansas City. There was one minor hiccup. Our plane was late getting to Chicago. I had very little time for the connection and had to go from a terminal on one end of the airport to the very last terminal and the very last gate at the other end. Lets just say I’m not fast on my feet. But I gave it everything I had (which was very little) and arrived in my seat just in time for wheels up. I was concerned about my luggage making the transfer in time, but my luggage was among the first to arrive. It was all very smooth. As it turns out, there were several people from San Francisco making the same connection and the plane was held 15 minutes. Kudos and thanks to the airline.

I believe baseball fans must be among the most passionate people in the world. They are loyal to their team beyond the imagination. For example, I met a couple on the Chicago to Kansas City plane that were on their way back home to K.C. They were at Games 1 and 2, left for Myrtle Beach, Florida, left their belongings in Myrtle Beach, drove to Charleston, caught a plane to Chicago, and transferred there for the plane to Kansas City. They’ll be going to games 6 and 7 (if there is one.) All dressed in their Royals garb, they indicated their son remembers sitting in the same seats at Kauffman Stadium when he was 11. He’s now 40. They’ve had season tickets for over 50 years.

We often forget the “behind the scenes” people at the stadium when we go to a game. I get to the park early and see the faces of America. They work so hard making sure the food gets out on time, the stands are clean, fans are escorted to their seats properly and the health and safety of everyone is cared for. These are wonderful, wonderful people who are proud to wear the black and orange or the royal blue and white. Or the home colors of any other stadium. They work hard and they don’t get the praise and recognition of the names we know. I tip my cap to each of them. They have made my experience at the ball park richer and more rewarding with their smiles and their kindness. I suggest we all take a moment to say thanks to a few the next time we’re at the park.

A couple voices we hear but faces we never see belong to the public address announcers in each park. San Francisco and Kansas City have two of the best.
Renel Brooks-Moon has one of the most mellow, pleasant and confident voices I have heard. She is passionate, yet professional. She loves her San Francisco Giants. As a matter of fact, her Game 3 program from the 2002 World Series is in the Hall of Fame. Why? She’s the first woman World Series public address announcer. She says she loves to introduce Buster Posey because the fans go crazy. Does she use passion when introducing the opposition? She says they get her respect, but not her enthusiasm. Love it. Just the right touch.

Mike McCartney has one of those voices to dream for. He bellows in a mellow way. He is as clear as a bell and introduces players his Kansas City Royals players with gusto and charm. He’s also respectful of the opposition, but there can be no doubt who signs his checks. That’s as it should be. The public address announcer sets the tone of the game. for the fans. And the tone set by Mike McCartney is professional, exciting and enthusiastic.

Aaron Lewis sang the National Anthem at Game 5. As so many have done before, he was flustered a bit and mixed up a couple words. Now, he is “asking for the Nation’s forgiveness.” He said his nerves got the best of him. There is nothing to forgive. He did a wonderful job. He has a great voice and I would guess 99.5% of us would likely forget a word or mix up a phrase under those same bright lights. Is there any among us that have not made a mistake? I know I flub up all the time. We’re human. So is Mr Lewis.
I only write this to share how badly he feels. Join me in remembering what a great voice he has. And please don’t get all over me when I mess up a tweet or miss a word here and there. I know the feeling of not getting it right all the time. Mr. Lewis did a fine job.

For the Royals to win tonight, I think they need to put Jake Peavy pitching from the stretch often. He pitches better from the windup. Putting pressure on him and making him think of base runners changes his game a bit. If he hangs a curve ball or two, the Royals could take the game and even the series. But they have to get to him early. And when he hangs one, they have to clobber it.

The Royals have to see some pitches and not go to the plate hacking. They’ve had a tendency to swing from their heels the minute they get in the batter’s box. They need to put some pitches on the pitcher’s arm. That goes for every pitcher they see-not just the starter. Make the pitcher work a little unless you see a cookie you can drive.

The Royals Yordano Ventura has to keep his fastball in the high 90’s range and not look to light up the radar game over 100 mph. Sure, fans like to see it . I like to see it. Television announcers like to see it. But when he hits 100, he often gets the ball up in the zone and gets hit. His pitches straighten the higher up the velocity ladder he climbs.
He is best when he uses his fastball to miss some bats and then his sharp secondary pitches to put the hitter away. If he can keep the game close for 6 innings, his team has a chance for a W.

I like the Royals tonight. When I was on the radio in San Francisco I said I thought the Giants would win in 6. If I’m on the radio in Kansas City, I’ll say the Royals will win in 7. So much for my integrity. I know how to play to the home crowd. I’m only kidding. I think the Giants will take this series—now in 7 games. Not 6.

Pitching-as it usually is-will be the key. I like Ventura over Peavy. And then? Who pitches Game 7? I really don’t know. I think the managers know. But I wouldn’t bet on anything just yet. Things have a tendency to change in a hurry as the pressures mount. Being the World Champions is what it’s all about. The public quickly forgets who came in second. Last year it was Boston that won the crown. They beat…I remember now. St. Louis. But it took a moment. Players will tell you that “it’s all about the ring.” They all have nice contracts and security. They don’t all have the ring. “It’s all about the ring.”

I’ll have another blog following tonight’s game. Hope you’ll find it then. And I hope you will follow me on twitter @BerniePleskoff. My World Series player columns remain available on the team sites of MLB.com. As always, thanks for reading.

That’s it. I’m done.

If there is anyone that hadn’t heard about Madison Bumgarner prior to this postseason and World Series, they know him now. For these few weeks he has been the best pitcher on the planet. Tonight, in his complete game shutout of the Royals, he yielded four hits and no walks. He struck out eight while throwing 117 pitches, 84 for strikes.
It was an epic performance by a very cool customer.

There were so many memorable moments from tonight’s game. Other than the work of Bumgarner, the game changer was the bunt single by Brandon Belt following a leadoff single by Hunter Pence. The bunt beat the Royals shift and surprised everyone in the stadium. I don’t think Kansas City recovered following the run that scored later in the inning. In essence, the game was over. Just as it was over in the first inning in Game 1 when Bumgarner threw his first gem of this series.

I am hoping that Lorenzo Cain is beginning to get some love from baseball fans everywhere. I’ve been talking about his bat and glove all season, and I think people are starting to take notice. I first saw him a couple years ago during Spring Training in Surprise, Arizona. I saw the pop in his bat. It is his speed on the bases that I think has been the biggest surprise for me. He now knows how and when to run. And his defense is outstanding.

A huge section of Royals fans seated in left field never gave up. They were cheering as loud at the end as they were at the beginning. I give them great credit.

It appears that the second base job on the Giants will belong to Joe Panik for a long time to come. He does everything well. He has some pop in his bat and plays very sound defense. I like what I’ve seen.

The Royals missed Billy Butler’s bat in the three games here. He struck out looking as a pinch-hitter tonight.

James Shields pitched a good game. He had no offensive support and didn’t make too many location mistakes. His pitches had tremendous life, which was different than Game 1 when he was fairly straight with everything.

I was seated next to a television monitor again tonight. That’s pretty cool. I can watch the game live and then catch it on delay on the monitor. There is no sound, just the picture.

The game took a very sad tone early with the news that young Cardinals hitting prospect Oscar Tevaras lost his life in a car accident. I was fortunate to have scouted him in the Fall League, in Spring Training and at the Futures Game. He had a tremendous future as a power hitter. May he rest in peace. My sincere condolences to his family and the family of his girl friend who was also died in the crash.

I am wondering how both teams will handle the pitching assignments in the next game or games? I don’t really want to speculate. Both managers have a day to consider their options. With the Giants on the brink of a Championship, the decision isn’t as crucial. But somehow, some way they have to find a way to get to the 7th inning with a lead. I’m not sure Kelvin Herrera has anything left in his tank. But I know Wade Davis and Greg Holland can rise to the occasion. And they can’t steal if they don’t get guys on base. As far as I know, a player still can’t steal first base.

For me, this series has turned on the pitching of the Giants and the timely hitting of Pence and Panda. Those two guys have been a wrecking crew. While Bumgarner is the likely MVP, Pence and Panda aren’t too far behind.

I am hard pressed to find a stellar performance so far from the Royals. If pressed, I would say the hitting of Sal Perez and the overall fantastic play of Lorenzo Cain are notable, for sure.

I loved seeing a wall filled with Yogi isms. I pointed out the location of the quotes on an elevator wall to my MLB.com colleague Lindsay Berra. She is Yogi’s grand daughter. She had her picture taken next to the wall. Way cool. I’m a huge, huge Yogi Berra fan.

I took a look at uniforms worn by the Giants in the 1950’s. The home whites and the road grey flannels look identical today. As I said yesterday, this is a franchise of tradition. All the old memorabilia hangs on walls. They even have some original seats on display in the Press Box.

The Press Box at AT&T Park is on a low level. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s very close to the field and the views are fantastic. Most Press Box locations are way up. The highest is in Washington. The players look like ants, but the view of the Capitol Building is stunning. I’m a fan of Press Boxes. They all seem so different to me.

The food at AT&T Park is outstanding. Lots of fresh items for every taste. There are healthy choices as well as things to eat for people like me. You know–junk. They do a really nice job.

I may have said this yesterday. Panda hats are available in several colors. I repeat it today because I marvel at how the Panda has been marketed. Very wisely. I can only imagine his payday this off season. Pablo Sandoval is a “free” agent. And he’ll soon be wealthy beyond his wildest dreams.

There is public transportation that stops right outside the ball park. This city has thought of everything. It’s very convenient for fans. The entire area becomes one huge celebration on game days.

I’ve now been to nine games at AT&T Park and I’ve never seen a ball hit into the water in right field (McCovey’s Cove).

There was a tribute to San Francisco native Robin Williams before the game. It was really very touching. His kids were there along with comedian Billy Crystal to throw out the first pitch. The crowd roared.

Legends of the game like Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson and Willie Mays were all at the Series. We are so fortunate they are still with us. Seeing them together brought back tremendous memories for me. They should be cherished and celebrated. There are few players like them.

I leave tomorrow morning for Kansas City. Fly all day with a stop in Chicago. The World Series is so special. I think I’d fly anywhere, regardless of how long it took just to see one game. There’s something different in the atmosphere. Anticipation. Excitement. even Whimsy. There are serious moments of tribute and recognition. There are silly moments of local tradition. And there is darn good baseball played by the best athletes at their sport.

Thank you for coming along with me on this journey. And we aren’t done yet.

 

I was concerned when I heard Ryan Vogelsong was starting Game 3 of the World Series. Frankly, I had been advocating for Yusmeiro Petit to get the ball instead. The huge righty has been pitching extremely well and I felt he matched up better against the Royals. As it turns out, he entered the game in the 4th inning and rescued his club. He pitched extremely well, holding the Royals and giving his team a chance to mount a huge comeback. Petit was a star in my book. What a relief he was for the Giants.

A major key in the game (in my estimation) came when little known Matt Duffy entered the game as a pinch hitter and singled batting for Petit in the sixth inning. Frankly, that’s when I felt the momentum totally shift from the Royals to the Giants. It was a big clutch hit and it set the table for the flood gates to open.

To find success against Royals starter Jason Vargas, hitters have to make him elevate the ball. He likes to pitch down in the zone. Once he gets that low pitch from the umpire he finds a comfort zone and keeps peppering the ball down and away until he makes mistakes. He yielded six hits and 3 earned runs in his 4 innings of work. He didn’t last long enough to get to the Tremendous Trio in the 7th, 8th and 9th innings. Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and closer Greg Holland were nullified by a barrage of hits and runs created by the Giants. Each of those three should be raring to go tomorrow.

But tomorrow brings Bumgarner. And Bumgarner means trouble. If he’s on his game, Madison Bumgarner can easily send his Giants back to Missouri with a one game lead. the “Advantage Game” tomorrow seems to me to be advantage— Giants. Big Game James Shields will have to have the biggest game of his life. He better be more on his game than his last start in Game 1.

Bruce Bochy took a calculated risk starting Juan Perez in left field instead of Mike Morse. But Perez had a fine game. He made a diving catch that was among several terrific plays by the Giants defense that helped save the bacon.

When Jerome Dyson led an inning with a single, I was shocked he didn’t try to steal. That, my friends is the Royals game. Get em on, steal second, and get em in. Somehow. It didn’t happen and I felt it was a missed opportunity.

After Bumgarner and Shields, we’ll likely see Guthrie and Peavy.

Rain was evident for about 30 minutes tonight and it forced several of us to find shelter higher up in the Auxiliary Press Box in left field. The rain stopped and it turned out to be a chilly, but fine evening. I think the game took something like 4 hours to play. I had a hoody, a light jacket and heavier rain/windbreaker type jacket, a hat, ear muffs and gloves. I’ve been down this road before. San Francisco can get cold, damp and windy. I wore all my gear and looked like a geek. I take that back, I didn’t wear the ear muffs.
But I still look like a geek wearing a hat.

I love seeing the guys dressed in Panda heads that sit down near the Giants dugout. They look great. Huge fans. On the way out of the stadium, I saw them posing for pictures with fans.

The Giants do not etch a logo, lettering, pictures, graphics or anything in their outfield grass. They prefer to leave it pristine. It’s all part of their “Old School” philosophy. They want the baseball experience as it has been for years and years. That’s also why they don’t have names on the backs of their home uniforms. And their uniforms aren’t true white/white. That’s most evident in the Arizona Fall League. Next to players with white/white uniforms, the Giants players look like their uniforms are a bit off color. Almost like the wrong color was put in the wash load with the uniforms. Sort of what I used to do in college. You know, pink underwear, etc.

Joe Panik doesn’t. He is really, really smooth. He keeps his composure and plays as if he has been in the big leagues for years. In fact, he’s a rookie.

Royals recent college pitcher Brandon Finnegan went back to school again tonight. The Giants taught him a thing or two about being a Major League reliever. He got too much of the plate and payed the price coughing up five runs on five hits and two walks in only one inning of work. The young lefty who has now worked in both a College Championship Series and a Major League Championship Series in the same season has a great future. But tonight, he got some ice water dumped on the sizzling start to his big league career.

I love to watch Hunter Pence hustle. I love to watch his awkward swing. His awkward throws and his awkward routes in right field. He looks goofy. But like I said the other night-the man can play the game. Period.

Panik, Posey, Pence and Panda tonight went 8 for 17. That’s good enough to win most games, wouldn’t you say? They drove in eight runs among them. And scored five. Tonight once again, the P’s Produced.

Jeremy Affeldt is one heckuva good left-handed reliever. i think the Royals guys get all the credit, but Affeldt, Romo and Castilla aren’t too shabby themselves.

AT&T Park is beautiful. Huge, but beautiful. The setting in China Basin is picture perfect. And watching thousands and thousands walking from wherever to and from the games is a sport in itself. Of course there is little to no parking in that prime real estate area. People take public transportation of leave their cars miles away and walk along the water. The sound is deafening. Cheering. Air horns. Whistles. Boat horns. You name it. And the place is a sea of orange and black. I don’t think I saw one person without at least one form of Giants garb. Hat, ticket holder, tee shirt, sweatshirt, game jersey, pants, etc. etc. You name it. Lines at the portable souvenir shops were enormous. It’s just an exciting vibe. And believe me, it was exciting in Kansas City as well. The World Series is very special.

Mike Trout and Giancarlo Stanton won the Hank Aaron Awards-as the best overall players in each league.

They had ice cream sundaes today in the real Press Box. How great is that? I just happened to find my way there when I heard the news.

I’ll be back in this space tomorrow. Hope it’s a great game.

Thanks for reading my work on MLB.com and for following me on twitter @BerniePleskoff.

That’s It. I’m Done.

It is the job of the starting pitcher to keep his team in the game and give them a chance to win. It sounds simple. It isn’t. Big innings or imposing hitting threats waiting in the on-deck circle can cause a manager to make the waive to the bullpen. The best manager’s know when to make that nod. I think both the Royals Ned Yost and the Giants Bruce Bochy have handled their pitching well. So far. More about that later.

Tonight’s Game 3 was a battle of two tried and true veterans. The Royals sent Jeremy Guthrie to the mound. He’s a pretty seasoned and experienced pitcher. He really rebounded once he left the high altitude of Mile High Stadium in Colorado.

Guthrie throws a ton of breaking balls and off-speed pitches to go along with his average fastball. He is a fly ball pitcher, and home runs have been an issue. I thought for sure the Giants could take him deep tonight with a strong wind blowing out-especially to right-center field. After a bit of a sluggish start, he came on strong and pitched well enough to win. Of course, the bullpen of Kelvin Herrera, Brandon Finnegan, Wade Davis and Greg Holland each played their usual role in slamming the door shut at the back end of the game.

I thought Giants veteran pitcher Tim Hudson took quite a while to get his sea legs. He looked nervous to me. The wide strike zone of home plate umpire Jim Reynolds was both helpful and harmful. When Hudson did get the low strikes called his way he was grateful, I’m sure. When Reynolds called the same pitches a ball later in the game it rattled Hudson a bit.

Hudson has to get sink on his pitches to be effective. He did after a while and he was effective. There were quite a few ground ball outs induced by guys hitting the top of the baseball.

For me, the premiere at-bat of the game was Eric Hosmer against left Javier Lopez in the 6th inning. Hosmer saw 10 pitches before slamming a single on pitch No. 11. It was up in the zone and it knocked in the winning run. Usually Lopez is money in the bank against left-handed hitters. Hosmer had been struggling in the Series. Not this time.

The defense behind both starting pitchers was superb. Sliding catches saved the bacon. Both teams played and pitched well enough to win. The Royals got that one extra hit at the right time to seal the deal. Momentum shifts in the game could be felt throughout the stands. Royals to Giants and back to Royals. Now momentum remains with the Royals until the first pitch tomorrow. Who knows-it may not shift at all.

If i’m Bruce Bochy I don’t even think about starting Madison Bumgarner on such short rest. I would save him until he was on his natural schedule between starts Or maybe even until the Royals had won three games and he was a “must” start. But I certainly wouldn’t start him in Game 4. My Giants starter would be Yusmeiro Petit. I think he’s the “Wild Card” in the Series. He’s the extra starter the Royals don’t have. If not Petit, then I’d go with Ryan Vogelsong as originally planned. But frankly, I like Petit better for the situation. Bumgarner is the ace in the hole and should be played properly. That play will be very meaningful. Very crucial. it will be part of Bochy’s managing legacy.

The Royals will counter with Jason Vargas. It’s a good assignment, and the right one for the team that’s up one game in the Series. The only “spare part” pitcher they could even think to use as a starter would be Danny Duffy. I wouldn’t go there. Why invite uncertainty and unwanted intrigue to the party. keep it simple. Keep the mo flowing. Give the ball to Vargas. He can be very crafty.

Sal Perez showed the cannon he has for an arm tonight, cutting down Hunter Pence trying to steal. And what was up with that steal attempt? Was it a straight steal? Did someone miss a sign? It didn’t make much sense to me.

Right- handed pitchers simply have to feed Alcides Escobar a steady diet of sliders and curves down and away until he shows he can hit them. He should never see a fastball from a right-handed pitcher. Especially on the first few pitches of the game. The guy goes to the on-deck circle swinging. Get him off-balance and keep him there early in the count.

For a rookie that has now pitched in both the College World Series and the Major League Baseball World Series in the same season, Royals lefty Brandon Finnegan has ice water in his veins. And a nasty changeup. He is no fluke. He’ll be around a while. The guy can pitch.

Alex Gordon can murder a fastball up in the zone.

Lefties were hitting .194 off him before Hosmer got that hit off of Javier Lopez.

I was seated in the auxiliary media section in left field. The game started in bright sunshine. It was so bright, I couldn’t find the cursor on my screen or even see the screen to write or tweet. Then in about the 6th inning it got so cold I had to put on my jacket. In the 8th I went to my bullpen and called upon my even warmer jacket. This isn’t my first rodeo. I know how cold it gets in any American city in late October at 7PM.
I was prepared. Tomorrow-my MLB.com hoody, gloves and a hat. Take that-San Francisco weather. I hope it doesn’t rain.

Mike Morse has had two monster hits for the Giants this postseason. A huge home run and tonight’s ringing double. And he just recently returned from injury.

Twitter was so busy tonight it crashed. Every one of us out in left field looked at our screens at the same time. Every screen had some silly TECHNICAL ERROR message. Take twitter away from me and I’m a different person. I have a need to share.

The bus ride back to the hotel from the ball park showed once again why this is such a beautiful city. Major buildings were lit with orange colored lights. Way cool. And the harbor area with tons of boats lit for the occasion just added to the ambiance.

The stands were loaded with sophisticated fans. Neither team need be told by the scoreboard when to cheer. People dressed in orange far outnumbered those in Royal blue. But the blues were plenty loud. Maybe it’s because rows and rows of them were in the section adjacent to our Auxiliary box. Man, were they ever excited. Who can blame them?

On the way out, a couple colleagues asked me if the Giants are finished? My answer-not by a long shot. They were one timely hit away from a home field victory tonight. it didn’t happen. But give the Royals credit. They used Formula One to gain the upper glove. Formula One is the bullpen. Formula Two is the Running Game with Terrance Gore, Jarrod Dyson and Lorenzo Cain. They didn’t have a chance to pull that trigger on the stolen base routine. In fact, they didn’t need it. Formula One Won.

Join me on twitter during the game tomorrow. I may be reached @BerniePleskoff. And please bring your friends.

That’s it. I’m done. Good night. And thanks for reading my work.