How Long Can the San Francisco Giants’ Dynasty Last?

With their 3^rd World Series title secured in 5 years, there’s no doubt that the San Francisco Giants have established a dynasty.  Their run of success, particularly in the postseason, has been unparalleled in recent years and they’ve become the best team in baseball.  But how long can this period last for?  Will there be more titles on the horizon or will the Giants eventually fade in the coming seasons ahead?

The reason that the Giants continue to contend is simple enough: they have one of baseball’s highest payrolls.  Paying their players the 7^th highest total in the league, the Giants’ spending is on par with the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels, two teams known for their prosperous budget.  And given the divisional matchup against the free-spending Los Angeles Dodgers (who have by far the largest MLB payroll), the Giants certainly need to dish out the dollars in order to compete.  It’s also easy to forget that the Dodgers won the NL West by 6 games, meaning that the Giants had to play in the single game wildcard match.  This remarkable run could have been nipped in the bud over a month ago!

But San Francisco won that game and that speaks to the merits of this dynasty.  What the Giants are best at is winning in the postseason.  Their players seem to always rise to the occasion and their statistics back it up.  For example, Pablo Sandoval is one of the fan favorites at the club.  During the season he had a respectable .279 average.  However, in the postseason he cranked it up to .366.  Though he failed to get a home run in the 2014 MLB playoffs, he has been capable of that in past World Series runs.

Likewise, Madison Bumgarner had a solid season going 18-10 with a 2.98 ERA.  That’s good, but what he accomplished in the postseason was legendary.  He went 4-1 with an ERA of just 1.03!  His 5 innings of scoreless pitching in Game 7 was on two days’ rest!  Such a performance is nothing short of astounding.  As long as these players can crank their games up in the playoffs, I can’t see anyone stopping them.  The only trick for San Francisco seems to be just reaching those playoffs, which is how they were denied on the two occasions in the past 5 years in which they didn’t win the World Series.

But with baseball being such a sport of turnover, couldn’t roster changes threaten the longevity of their dynasty?  Perhaps, but the Giant’s front office has to be commended on how well they have managed their team.  Bumgarner, Hunter Pence, Tim Lincecum, and several other key players are tied up for a few years.  Meanwhile, many of their impending free agents like Sandoval, Michael Morse, Ryan Vogelsong, and Jake Peavy are certainly re-signable, though they will certainly command a large fee.

An interesting issue that the Giants overcame this year was injuries to their highest paid players like Matt Cain, Marco Scutaro and Angel Pagan.  Considering that they are likely to return next spring, San Francisco will have one of the deepest rosters around.  They just need to focus on keeping their big budget rolling and the good times will continue.  However, players will come and go, the Giants just need to keep their core star players in tact (specifically Sandoval), and their postseason dynasty should continue for some time.  At this moment I certainly expect the Giants to win another World Series in the next few years and have their incredible dynasty continue.  Their late-season prowess is every fan’s dream, and it looks set to keep rolling along!

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2014 World Series Preview: Momentum versus Experience

In stunning fashion, two wildcard teams have now reached the 2014 World Series.  The surprising Kansas City Royals and the budding dynasty of the San Francisco Giants will meet for the Fall Classic, and it has all the makings of an enticing competition to determine baseball’s world champion!  Neither team has exceptional superstars, and yet here we are in late October with these bunches of over-performing players ready to embrace immortality and a World Series title.

For the Royals, the team is built around a tremendous bullpen and a bunch of speedy runners capable of stealing bases in the blink of an eye.  Meanwhile the Giants have a more balanced squad and the experience of winning two World Series in the last several years.

For me the key will be Kansas City’s questionable starting pitching.  Both James Shields and Yordano Ventura haven’t quite played to their best while only Jason Vargas has been impressive.  If the Giants can get up early in games, they may be able to win this series.  However, if Shields finally plays to his true value, the Royals may just claim a title in their first postseason trip since 1985.

In many ways, most casual baseball fans will be hoping for the Royals to win this Series.  They’ve endured so many disappointing seasons and there really is the feeling that this will be their only chance for many years.  They’ve earned their place here with a late-season surge and have gone undefeated in these playoffs.  If momentum is any guide, the Royals should be well on their way.

But if anyone can overcome a hot team it’s the Giants.  They’ve won 9 straight postseason series and have won the World Series twice in the last four years!  Starters Madison Bumgarner, Tim Hudson, and Jake Peavy have pitched marvelously while their bullpen is no slouch either.

Hitting wise the teams are quite evenly matched.  While the Royals lacked power in the regular season, their big bats have come alive in the playoffs, especially that of Mike Moustakas, who has 4 postseason home runs.  The Giants have good hitters too, and anyone with a decent memory can recall the glorious blasts by Pablo Sandoval in the team’s recent championships.

All in all, this is a tremendously matched World Series and could very well go either way.  While my heart wants to see the Kansas City Royals win an unexpected title, I think the current dynasty of the San Francisco Giants will continue, largely due to their remarkable starting pitchers.  Everyone knows that pitching wins titles, not stolen bases.  It has been a remarkable run by the Royals, and their momentum could definitely push them ahead, perhaps even leading them to a sweep, but I think that the Giants are simply the better team.  Remember that they have only lost two games in these playoffs and are on quite a hot streak as well.  The 2014 MLB season certainly has been a special one and it’s coming to a tremendous close.  I think the Giants will get to have the last laugh though, and they will win it all in 7 games!

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Time is Now for Baseball Teams Looking to Get Hot and Win the World Series

As we enter the late days of summer and the month of August, Major League Baseball is just starting to really heat up.  Most of the divisions throughout the sport have neck and neck races, meaning that each game from here on out will be critically important as to postseason hopes and successes, especially with all the wild card teams staring down the barrel of a 1-game playoff at season’s end.  The teams that are likely to come out on top of their divisions (and who have the most realistic shot at the World Series) will be the ones that get hot from this point onwards.

Despite great seasons so far by teams like the Oakland Athletics, the San Francisco Giants, and the Milwaukee Brewers, if they cannot hit full stride at this juncture, they will likely be headed for early postseason exits, if they can qualify.  Fortunately for the Giants, they have been the hot team several times in recent history, giving the city two championships.  But to me several other talented squads seem the most likely to make the trip through October and into the 2014 World Series…

The first team that intrigues me is the St. Louis Cardinals.  In the National League Central Division, them, the Brewers, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Cincinnati Reds are all within a realistic shot of claiming the division.  But the Cardinals have the most winning experience and were the most active in recent trades, reeling in star pitchers Justin Masterson and John Lackey, while also gambling on the attitude of veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski.  Already a strong contender year in and year out with guys like Matt Carpenter, Matt Holliday, and Adam Wainwright, the Cardinals have put themselves in prime position to not only get hot, but to make a serious World Series push.

Another team in the NL that intrigues me is the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Simply stated, they have more talent than anybody else in the league, including 3 ace pitchers in Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and baseball’s best pitcher, Clayton Kershaw.  Offensively, the power of Yasiel Puig, Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp, and Hanley Ramirez will keep the Dodgers in any game or playoff series.  While they haven’t reached a streak like they managed mid-summer last year, they are certainly a team capable of doing just that in the months ahead to claim the World Series.

In the American League, I have my faith in the Detroit Tigers, who just added David Price to an already strong pitching lineup of Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.  Another team with solid hitting from Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera, this could finally be the Tigers’ year should they be the lucky team destined to get hot.

But to get everything clicking into place right at the time for the playoffs is no easy feat.  It could be anyone from the Los Angeles Angels to the New York Yankees, or even the Kansas City Royals who could go on a tear and take the title.  However it ends up going, we can be certain that for whatever club (or clubs) that get hot, the next few months will certainly provide some exciting baseball!

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2013 World Series Preview: Boston Red Sox vs. St. Louis Cardinals in Classic Matchup

As Halloween draws ever closer, the time has arrived to discuss the annual “Fall Classic”, better known as the World Series of baseball.  This year’s series will bring together two of the most historically prestigious Major League Baseball teams, who have both won multiple championships in the last decade.  Bringing experience and top quality to the big matchup, this could be a World Series for the ages!

The St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox finished the season tied for the best record with a 97-65 mark.  For the Cardinals, such a result was basically expected.  They have been one of the most exciting teams in baseball over the last few seasons.  In the 2011 World Series, the Cardinals won an incredible Game 6 in which they were facing final pitches on several occasions, but always managed to deliver.  They would win the Series in Game 7.  Last season, in the final NLDS Game 5, the Cardinals were down 6-0 before a stunning rally to win the game in the 9^th inning.  They progressed to the NLCS where they were beaten by the San Francisco Giants, but the Cardinals have proven that they can be toughest team to close out.  Heroes like David Freese, Carlos Beltran, Matt Holliday, Allen Craig, and Matt Carpenter repeatedly make the plays to save the day!

But the Boston Red Sox also have a marvelous history of comebacks.  Who could ever forget their 2004 ALCS against the New York Yankees when they overcame a 3-0 deficit to beat their heated rivals in 7 games?  They would go on to sweep St. Louis in the World Series, winning their first title since 1918, back when Babe Ruth was still a pitcher.

The Red Sox would then win another championship in 2007.  And although we are several years removed from those heroics, several current players took part in that 2007 season; Clay Buchholz, John Lester, David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, and Jacoby Ellsbury.  The Red Sox may have had their disappointments in the last several years, missing the playoffs, dealing with aging veterans, and even having scandals regarding their pitchers drinking beer in the dugout during days off, but this season has seen a team rekindle the passion and desire so often associated with the Red Sox.  Big Papi is swinging strongly again and the beards are back on full display!

While both teams have had marvelous years, they have both been challenged since day 1 within their divisions.  The Cincinnati Reds and the surprising Pittsburgh Pirates made life challenging for the Cardinals, and the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, and even the lowly Yankees pushed the Red Sox to the brink.  Nevertheless, both these clubs persevered through their challenges and rose to the top, fully earning their success with gritty wins and pulling through in clutch moments.

So how can a humble writer go about predicting the winner of this series?  The only thing I feel I can accurately call is that this could be the most entertaining and evenly matched World Series in years.  These teams are basically carbon copies of one another.  Both teams have great hitters that can put away home runs, and both teams have some excellent arms capable of dominating lineups.  Both teams have ravenous fan bases, fully capable of carrying their teams to unprecedented heights.  Both teams are fully loaded with championship-winning heroes.  This is quite clearly the most fully deserving teams in baseball to find themselves competing for a championship.  The World Series could be won on the rare error or stolen base.  Who will blink first?  I expect this series to go the full 7 games, but that the Boston Red Sox will win it all because they have home-field advantage.  That’s the only difference I can see in these teams!

This will be an exciting World Series as the Cardinals will be going for revenge!  No matter which team wins, we will have the first collectibles commemorating the winning team.  Our collectibles will show some of the highlights of the series, the series MVP, celebrations, and more.  These great collectibles will be officially licensed by the MLB.  Visit us at www.AAASportsMemorabilia.com to check them out!  For those fans whose team did not make it to the World Series, we have collectibles for your team also!

The MLB Playoffs Begin: Who Will Win the 2013 World Series

Now that the silliness of all the tiebreaker/1-game playoff nonsense is over, the Divisional Series of the MLB Playoffs are poised to begin.  8 of baseball’s finest clubs will be going head to head throughout the month of October to determine who will be the next World Series champions.  Will it be the upstart Los Angeles Dodgers, who seemingly bought their ticket to the playoffs with big-name acquisitions?  Or could the small-market Pittsburgh Pirates continue on a legendary run that has defied all logic this entire season?  Or perhaps the Detroit Tigers could finally win it all, after looking woeful in last season’s 4-game sweep against the San Francisco Giants in the Series?

Predicting the winner of this tournament is really a tough feat.  All the clubs involved have had sensational years (each with their own heartwarming tale), and each and every one of them could logically take the title.  The games in October are won by heroics; the bottom of the 9^th home run that carries a team from the brink of elimination, the incredible complete-game pitching display by a team’s 3^rd starter, the bit-part player who pinch hits to spark a big inning, or the costly error that befuddles an entire team into disarray.  Anything can happen during October baseball, and that’s why it is so darn fun!  It also makes predicting the champion a challenging endeavor.

But anyways, I’ll give my prediction for this year’s MLB champions based on a hunch alone, and my full confidence lies in the Tampa Bay Rays.  Through their late season heroics, the Rays have now conquered two 1-game series with dominating pitching, brilliant base running, and a hard-hitting lineup full of key players.

Since pitching wins championships, let’s start with the Rays’ pitching staff.  David Price is an ace. Alex Cobb is a rising star.  Matt Moore and Chris Archer are fully capable of starting playoff games.  Therefore, their starters will do fine.  In the bullpen, they are strong as well and capped off with closer Fernando Rodney, whose tilted hat brings an element of style to the end of Rays’ games.

The hitters on the team are excellent as well, and the team gets RBI support all the way down the lineup.  Evan Longoria is the star player and can hit a fair bit of home runs.  American League Rookie of the Year candidate Wil Myers hits near .300 and can help put guys aboard.  Defensively, the team is wonderful.  They made the second fewest errors in the Major Leagues and will certainly support their more-than-capable pitching staff.

Basically stated, this team has all the tools needed to win baseball games. But so do basically all the other teams in the playoffs, so what sets the Rays apart?  I like the fact that they have been here before, and their past failures will have made them extra-hungry.  Also, this is the first season that they really do have a great squad in every position, meaning that they will be able to compete against the best.  Also, the post-season began roughly a month ago for the Rays, as the AL Wildcard race went down to the wire, and the team persevered and is now on a roll.  Heading into October, the hottest team is usually the one that wins it all!

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Are the Los Angeles Dodgers Unstoppable?

With a record approaching historic records over the last 50 games, the Los Angeles Dodgers are beginning to look like the exciting and talented team that everyone expected once their new owners took over. After several high priced acquisitions started to click, and a sensational rookie by the name of Yasiel Puig joined their ranks, the Dodgers are the strongest team is baseball and the front-runners for the 2013 World Series. Is there any hope left for the other contenders?

Of course there is. Pushing the odds against the Los Angeles Dodgers is the fact that they haven’t been to the MLB Playoffs since 2009. But that’s about it. Right now the talent on this team is pretty incredible, and whether or not they win it all this year, the Dodgers will become a familiar team in playoff baseball come every October.

 

Their starting pitching is formidable. Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu are all pitching very well and each have over 10 wins on the season. Relief pitching has been solid, and incoming closer Brian Wilson could figure into the mix in the latter stages of the season.

 

But the most exciting part of the Dodgers has been the hitting. Yasiel Puig has been sensational and may figure to become the premier hitting talent of the new generation. His .352 average is among the best in the majors, and his power makes him one of the most dangerous players on the field. His call-up provoked this incredible run for the Dodgers, and he is the heart and soul of the team and its fans. That’s a lot of pressure for any 22-year-old rookie, but so far Puig has carried the team along with confidence and brilliant play. His defensive work is also first rate in the outfield. He can carry this team far.

 

Other hitters have also picked up steam for the Dodgers, including Hanley Ramirez. Although injured for the first half of the season, Ramirez has returned and put up similar numbers to Puig. With two dominant power-hitting players, the Dodgers lineup is menacing.

 

The rest of the team is solid as well. Adrian Gonzalez is a near .300 hitter while up and down the lineup are capable players that hit in the upper .200’s. This makes the team quite solid and well prepared even if Puig stutters in the playoffs due to nerves or the cold weather. The talent is well spread throughout the lineup to handle any potential opponents.

 

So is there any reason to feel that the Dodgers won’t be rumbling and bouncing their way along to the World Series? Surely, October baseball brings about drama and will have its stern tests ahead for the Dodgers. They aren’t the only team with a great record. The Atlanta Braves are solid, as are the Cincinnati Reds, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the St. Louis Cardinals; and those teams are all in for the NL Pennant! But no one is hotter than the Dodgers right now, and I get the feeling that they aren’t slowing down any time soon. It will be a joy to see what baseball’s most exciting team will bring to the MLB Playoffs this year!

 

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With MLB Trade Deadline Approaching, Who is Ready to Contend for the 2013 World Series?

The MLB trade deadline is just several days away so contending baseball teams are scrambling in order to get that final piece of the roster puzzle that will help them contend for the 2013 World Series.  However, even with all the trades, there is still a realization that this is pretty much the team you’ve got, and how the season will pan out depends largely on the players already on the roster.  Several teams have come together in the last few weeks and should figure to contend this year.  Here are my 5 World Series favorites:

1.  Boston Red Sox – The team is currently ahead of the jam-packed AL East, and will be in a dogfight for their post-season lives, but the Red Sox are starting to play with passion.  As anyone who witnessed David Ortiz attack a dugout telephone can attest to, the madness sprung a surge, and Ortiz went 4-4 the next day.  Additionally, the Red Sox have solid hitters in Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, and decent pitching.  Jon Lester and John Lackey are formidable while if the injured Clay Buchholz can return and build off of his 1.71 ERA before his injury, the Red Sox may just have all the ingredients for a World Series run.

2.  Los AngelesDodgers – This team has all the talent and is getting really hot.  Since early June they are 26-6, while bats have come alive and pitching has been incredible.  Yasiel Puig injected a bit of passion into this team, while other hitters like Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez have also worked magic.  With a starting pitching tandem of Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers are the best team in the league.  Will they keep up the heat through October and win the World Series?  Perhaps, but there will certainly be more tests along the way!

3.  Detroit Tigers – Although the Cleveland Indians are breathing down their necks in the AL Central, the Tigers are the premier team in this division as usual.  Miguel Cabrera is one of the league’s best hitters and is already approaching 100 RBI on the season.  Other hitters like Prince Fielder, Torii Hunter, and Johnny Peralta add both power and consistency to the lineup.  Pitcher Max Scherzer is having an incredible year while Justin Verlander has also been dominant.  The Tigers are built to win now, and will be quite hungry come the MLB Playoffs.

4.  Tampa Bay Rays – Not supposed to be anything special, the Rays are on the move.  With players emerging from all over the place to produce, the team is hot on the Red Sox’s AL East heels and could nab the division or a wildcard spot.  Their team doesn’t look special, but players like Matt Moore, David Price, James Loney, and Kelly Johnson are producing and giving the team wins.  Youngster Wil Myers has been superb, and suddenly the Rays are back in contention.  They could claim this division and do more if Evan Longoria can re-discover his bat!

5.  St. LouisCardinals – One of the most successful teams in recent years, the Cardinals are facing a tough race against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds in the competitive NL Central.  I presume that the Cardinals will edge out through their recent experience and October heroics.  The team is loaded with unspectacular and unflashy, yet very talented players.  Their hitting power from Yadier Molina, Carlos Beltran, and Allen Craig is formidable while their stable of pitchers is great top to bottom and features Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, and newcomer Shelby Miller.  The Cardinals have been regulars in recent MLB Postseasons, and I expect them to be another team fully capable of lifting the 2013 World Series.

 

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