SB Nation Bay Area - Giants vs. Dodgers: Giants lose series, get ready for NLDShttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48817/bayrea-fave.png2012-10-03T18:56:33-07:00http://bayarea.sbnation.com/rss/stream/32021572012-10-03T18:56:33-07:002012-10-03T18:56:33-07:00Giants fall short in season finale
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<p>The <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Francisco Giants</a> and <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> were looking to close out their regular seasons in style Wednesday night as <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> made his last start of the year for L.A. And in the end Kershaw and the Dodgers proved too much, taking their last game of the year, 5-1.</p>
<p>San Francisco got on the board first with an RBI groundout from <span>Buster Posey</span>, who <a target="_blank" href="http://bayarea.sbnation.com/giants/2012/10/3/3451748/buster-posey-wins-nl-batting-title/in/3202157">locked up the NL batting title</a> this evening with an 0-for-2 night to finish the year with a .336 average. That would be all the Giants could muster against Clayton Kershaw, who tossed eight innings of three-hit ball along with three walks and eight strikeouts, and even helped himself with an RBI single.</p>
<p>Los Angeles took the lead in the sixth after Adrian Gonzalez's RBI single extended his hitting streak to 15 games, while <span>Alex Castellanos</span> and Juan Rivera's homers in the eighth off of Jean Machi would put the game out of reach. It was Castellanos' first major league home run.</p>
<p><span>Ryan Vogelsong</span> was outstanding in his five innings of work, allowing one unearned run and seven strikeouts. <span>Marco Scutaro</span> finished the regular season with a 20-game hit streak after his 1-for-3 night.</p>
<p>San Francisco will now head home to prepare for the NLDS matchup with the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cincinnati Reds</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://bayarea.sbnation.com/giants/2012/10/3/3450790/giants-reds-nlcs-postseason/in/3202157">starting on Saturday evening</a> at AT&T Park.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/giants/2012/10/3/3452160/giants-dodgers-final-score-recapErnie Pomin2012-10-03T17:24:32-07:002012-10-03T17:24:32-07:00Posey clinches NL batting title
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<p>After missing the majority of the 2011 season with injury, <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Francisco Giants</a> catcher <span>Buster Posey</span> came back with a vengeance in 2012, clinching the National League batting title on Wednesday and perhaps the NL Most Valuable Player award as well.</p>
<p>Buster was pulled early in the Giants matchup with the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Dodgers</a>, finishing 0-2 with a .336 batting average for the season. Pittsburgh <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pirates</a> outfielder <span>Andrew McCutchen</span> was his closest competitor, going 1-3 against the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Braves</a> to conclude the year with a .327 average.</p>
<p>Along with a .408 OBP, 24 home runs, 103 RBI and a 27 percent caught stealing percentage, Buster Posey is making a very strong case for National League MVP, especially with his play in the second half, as he has a .388 average after the All-Star break. That's not to mention helping his team go 48-27 after the break while the Giants lost <span>Melky Cabrera</span>.</p>
<p>Along with Posey and McCutchen, <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Milwaukee Brewers</a> outfielder Ryan Braun is a leading candidate to win the MVP this year as well.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/giants/2012/10/3/3451748/buster-posey-wins-nl-batting-titleErnie Pomin2012-10-03T14:01:53-07:002012-10-03T14:01:53-07:00It's set- The Giants take on the Reds in the NLDS
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<figcaption>Joe Robbins - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The San Francisco Giants will play the Cincinnati Reds in the first round of the 2012 playoffs. </p> <p>With their win over the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Phillies</a> on Wednesday the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Nationals</a> locked up the top seed in the National League, meaning that the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Francisco Giants</a> will take on the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cincinnati Reds</a> in the NLDS.</p>
<p>This will mark the return of Dusty Baker to playoff baseball in San Francisco, who <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121001&content_id=39318892&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb">recently was hospitalized</a> for an irregular heartbeat and suffering a mini-stroke. He was at the helm during the Giants 2002 World Series run, though is yet to claim a championship in his 30-plus years as a coach.</p>
<p>This best of five series is in the 2-3 format, with the home-field advantage coming in the form of three straight to end the series. It all starts on Saturday at AT&T Park with <span>Matt Cain</span> taking on <span>Johnny Cueto</span>. From there the Reds are expected to use <span>Bronson Arroyo</span> in Game 2 on Sunday in China Basin and <span>Mat Latos</span> when the series moves to Cincinnati on Tuesday for Game 3. The Giants are yet to finalize their rotation for the postseason.</p>
<p>The Giants were 3-4 against the Reds this season, splitting a four-game set with them at AT&T Park at the end of June, while losing their series at the Great American Ballpark 2-1 in April.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/giants/2012/10/3/3450790/giants-reds-nlcs-postseasonErnie Pomin2012-10-03T13:40:06-07:002012-10-03T13:40:06-07:00San Francisco not resting for playoffs
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<p>The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> go out in their regular season finale against the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Francisco Giants</a> on Wednesday with little opportunity for climactic drama. Knocked out of the playoff race a game prior, the Dodgers will finish the season with <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> (13-9) on the mound and a long offseason on the horizon.</p>
<p>The Giants (94-67) will counter with <span>Ryan Vogelsong</span> on the mound. He's simply looking to pad his 14-9 record and 3.46 ERA.</p>
<p>Both teams will go with pretty standard lineups. One notable change is <span>Tim Federowicz</span> starting at catcher for the Dodgers (85-76) in place of <span>A.J. Ellis</span>. Federowicz has only played in two games this season.</p>
<p><b>San Francisco Giants</b></p>
<p>1. <span>Angel Pagan</span> CF<br>2. <span>Marco Scutaro</span> 2B<br>3. <span>Pablo Sandoval</span> 3B<br>4. <span>Buster Posey</span> C<br>5. <span>Hunter Pence</span> RF<br>6. <span>Xavier Nady</span> LF<br>7. <span>Brandon Belt</span> 1B<br>8. <span>Joaquin Arias</span> SS<br>9. Ryan Vogelsong P</p>
<p><b>Los Angeles Dodgers</b></p>
<p>1. <span>Mark Ellis</span> 2B<br>2. <span>Andre Ethier</span> RF<br>3. <span>Matt Kemp</span> CF<br>4. <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> 1B<br>5. Hanley Ramirez SS<br>6. <span>Shane Victorino</span> LF<br>7. <span>Luis Cruz</span> 3B<br>8. Tim Federowicz C<br>9. Clayton Kershaw P</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/giants/2012/10/3/3450662/giants-dodgers-starting-lineupsKevin Zimmerman2012-10-03T10:30:51-07:002012-10-03T10:30:51-07:00Where will Barry Zito be in the playoff rotation?
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<figcaption>Pool - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Barry Zito has earned his spot on the playoff roster, but where does he fit in best? </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Francisco Giants</a> haven't lost a <span>Barry Zito</span> start since Aug. 2. Zito has earned wins in seven of the 11 starts through Wednesday night's 4-3 victory, which was his 15th of the season. Manager Bruce Bochy had nothing but great things to say about Zito after the game, but still wouldn't say <a target="_blank" href="http://www.csnbayarea.com/baseball-san-francisco-giants/giants-talk/Bochy-offers-Zito-plaudits-but-no-playof?blockID=783119&feedID=2796">where he would be in the playoff rotation. </a></p>
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<p>"He's done just a terrific job, particularly when you look at winning the last 11 games," Bochy said. "It's a difficult decision and a lot of variables go into it. But he's pitched great and had great focus out there. We'll go meet Thursday and get this thing set."</p>
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<p>Much of that success stemmed from the run support he received this year. Giants hitters scored at least four runs in 18 of his 32 starts, posting a 13-1 record in those games. He's 40-3 with San Francisco when he gets at least four runs of support. Nevertheless, Zito is going to take whatever the skipper gives him:</p>
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<p>"Whatever's going to happen is going to happen," Zito said. "Bochy makes the decisions around here. He's done a heck of a job to this point and I think we all trust him."</p>
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<p>San Francisco will face either the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Reds</a> of <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nationals</a> in the first round of the playoffs.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/giants/2012/10/3/3449674/barry-zito-playoff-rotationErnie Pomin2012-10-03T10:18:22-07:002012-10-03T10:18:22-07:00Are the 2012 A's the 2010 Giants doppelganger?
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<figcaption>Jason O. Watson - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Some striking homogeneity between these two Bay Area ball clubs. </p> <p>The San Jose Mercury News' Tim Kawakami sees a number of similarities between the 2010 World Series champion <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Francisco Giants</a> and 2012 <a href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oakland Athletics</a>, but will they each have the same outcome?</p>
<p>Sure, the Giants didn't hit 111 home runs since the All-Star break like the A's have, and the A's aren't stocked with old guys like <span>Edgar Renteria</span>, <span>Pat Burrell</span> and <span>Aubrey Huff</span>. But there are some striking resemblances that can not be ignored.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2012/10/02/ok-for-serious-the-2012-as-are-getting-scarily-similar-to-the-2010-giants-let-me-explain-why/">Here's Kawakami's similarities:</a></p>
<p><strong>Regular-season records:</strong></p>
<p>2012 A's: 93-68 with one game to play.<br>2010 Giants: 92-70.</p>
<p><strong>Previous seasons without a playoff berth:</strong></p>
<p>2012 A's: Five playoff-free seasons, 2007-2011.</p>
<p>2010 Giants: Six playoff-free seasons, 2004-2009.</p>
<p><strong>Division race:</strong></p>
<p>2012 A's: Need to win the final game of the regular season vs. top contender Texas to clinch the AL West. (Though the A's have already clinched a Wild-Card berth.)</p>
<p>2010 Giants: Won the final game of the regular season vs. top contender San Diego to clinch the NL West.</p>
<p><strong>Game-changing rookie:</strong></p>
<p>2012 A's: <span>Yoenis Cespedes</span>, 23 HRs, 25 doubles, 82 RBIs, .858 OPS.</p>
<p>2010 Giants: <span>Buster Posey</span>, 18 HRs, 23 doubles, 67 RBIs, .862 OPS.</p>
<p><strong>Crazed closer:</strong></p>
<p>2012 A's: <span>Grant Balfour</span>.</p>
<p>2010 Giants: <span>Brian Wilson</span>.</p>
<p><strong>Ages of top starters heading into the playoffs:</strong></p>
<p>2012 A's: <span>Jarrod Parker</span> 23, <span>Tom Milone</span> 25, <span>A.J. Griffin</span> 24, <span>Dan Straily</span> 23, Brett Anderson 24.</p>
<p>2010 Giants: <span>Tim Lincecum</span> 25, <span>Matt Cain</span> 25, <span>Madison Bumgarner</span> 21, Jonathan Sanchez 27.</p>
<p><strong>Crucial/relatively unforeseen power sources:</strong></p>
<p>2012 A's: <span>Jonny Gomes</span> (18 homers), Brandon Moss (21), Chris Carter (16), <span>Brandon Inge</span> (11).</p>
<p>2010 Giants: Aubrey Huff (26), Pat Burrell (18), <span>Juan Uribe</span> (24), <span>Andres Torres</span> (16).</p>
<p><strong>Second-half surge:</strong></p>
<p>2012 A's: 43-43 at the break, 9 games out of first place. 50-25 since.</p>
<p>2010 Giants: 48-41 at the break, 3.5 games out of first. 44-29 after.</p>
<p><strong>HRs post-All Star Break:</strong></p>
<p>2012 A's: 111.</p>
<p>2010 Giants: 80.</p>
<p><strong>Team ERA:</strong></p>
<p>2012 A's: 3.61, fourth in AL.</p>
<p>2010 Giants: 3.20, first in NL.</p>
<p><strong>Seasoned manager, former catcher:</strong></p>
<p>2012 A's: Bob Melvin, who won the 2007 NL manager of the year award with Arizona.</p>
<p>2010 Giants: Bruce Bochy, who won the 1996 NL manager of the year award with San Diego.</p>
<p><strong>Catcher trade:</strong></p>
<p>2012 A's: Traded veteran catcher <span>Kurt Suzuki</span> to Washington mid-season.</p>
<p>2010 Giants; Traded veteran catcher <span>Bengie Molina</span> to Texas mid-season. (And then faced Molina in the World Series. Does this mean the A's will play Washington in late-October?)</p>
<p><strong>Beat the <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rangers</a>:</strong></p>
<p>2012 A's: Two in a row in the last series of the season, with one to play to clinch the AL West.</p>
<p>2010 Giants: Four games to one in the World Series.</p>
<p>Pretty crazy huh? Now all we can do is keep our fingers crossed for another Bay Bridge World Series (without any earthquakes, of course).</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/giants/2012/10/3/3449584/2012-athletics-similar-to-2010-giantsErnie Pomin2012-10-03T08:26:21-07:002012-10-03T08:26:21-07:00A's and Rangers still tied on final day
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<p>The Oakland A's are tied with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> as the two teams face off for the division title on Tuesday afternoon. Both teams still have a shot at the best record in the American League and home field advantage throughout the playoffs, as they are one game behind the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a> and tied with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Baltimore Orioles</a>.</p>
<p>The loser of the A's and Rangers season finale will play in a one-game playoff on Friday against either Baltimore or New York for the chance to advance to the division series. The Orioles face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Rays</a> and the Yankees play the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a> on Tuesday. If New York wins, they clinch the AL East and home field advantage.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> have no scenarios in their last game, as they clinched the division long ago and are locked in to the third seed in the National League playoffs. San Francisco is still waiting to see who they will face in the postseason, as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> come into the last day tied for the best record.</p>
<p>For complete standings, head to S.I.'s <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/standings/" target="_blank">MLB standings page.</a></p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/athletics/2012/10/3/3449004/mlb-playoff-standings-2012Craig Powers2012-10-03T07:58:09-07:002012-10-03T07:58:09-07:00Giants to take victory lap against Dodgers
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<p>The <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Francisco Giants</a> visit the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> in the regular season finale for both teams on Wednesday afternoon. The Giants will be taking a victory lap as they head into the playoffs. San Francisco eliminated Los Angeles from postseason contention with a win on Tuesday.</p>
<p><span>Ryan Vogelsong</span> gets the call for the Giants. He is 14-9 with a 3.46 ERA on the season. Vogelsong looks to get some positive momentum going as he heads toward the playoffs. He has struggled in September, going 2-2 with a 6.46 ERA. He suffered a tough loss to the Dodgers back on July 29, when he allowed just one earned run in six innings.</p>
<p><span>Clayton Kershaw</span> looks to end the season on a positive note for Los Angeles. The left-hander ia 13-9 with a 2.58 ERA. Kershaw has a chance to take the ERA title, as he currently leads the National League in that category and is just behind <span>David Price</span> of the <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Rays</a> for the Major League lead.</p>
<p>First pitch is schedule for 4:15 PT at Dodger Stadium.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/giants/2012/10/3/3448852/giants-dodgers-game-previewCraig Powers