Madison Bumgarner's dominance inspires: 'It's like you're watching history'
NEW YORK — San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy sat behind his desk late Wednesday evening, soaked with champagne, chatting with vice president Brian Sabean, trying to make sense what they just witnessed.
“You try to come up with the right words,’’ Bochy told USA TODAY Sports, “but there aren’t any. This is the best postseason game I’ve ever been part of. It’s almost like you’re watching history, only you’re living it.
“I mean, this guy may be the greatest postseason pitcher we’ve ever seen.’’
They are talking about Giants ace Madison Bumgarner, who just shut out the New York Mets, 3-0, pitching a four-hit complete game in the National League wild card game at Citi Field, displaying the latest chapter of his postseason mastery.
This is a pitcher who is re-writing the record book.
- He has now gone 23 consecutive innings in the postseason without giving up a run.
- He is yielding a 0.79 ERA in his last nine postseason appearances, including three complete games since 2014.
- In his last eight postseason road games, he is 8-0 with a 0.50 ERA, and has yet to give up a hit with a runner in scoring position in 24 at-bats.
- He has three career postseason shutouts, one shy of the record set by Giants Hall of Famer Christy Matheson a century ago.
- He has made six postseason starts without permitting a run, tying Hall of Famer Tom Glavine for the highest total in baseball history.
- And, he has the lowest ERA, 1.94, of any starter with at least 12 postseason starts.
“He’s not only the greatest,’’ Sabean says, “but I’m not sure it’s even close.’’
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No wonder when Giants president Larry Baer was asked about Bumgarner’s exploits, Baer says it may be time to do something a little unconventional.
“The rule is that we don’t build statues until they’re retired,’’ Baer said, “we may break a rule. We’re in the market to break a rule.’’
Hey, why not?
Bumgarner has now helped them win three World Series championships in six years, almost singlehandedly winning it for them in 2014 with his legendary postseason.
And now, he looms as the biggest threat to ruining the Chicago Cubs’ World Series dreams.
The Giants will take on the Cubs in the best-of-five division series beginning Friday night at Wrigley Field, and considering they have now won nine consecutive elimination games, and nine consecutive postseason series plus two wild-card games - tying the 1998-2001 New York Yankees for the longest streak in history - how can anyone shake their confidence?
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The Giants, even with Mets starter Noah Syndergaard pitching his heart out for seven shutout innings, never panicked. It may have felt like a remake of Jack Morris and John Smoltz in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series, but as Giants pitcher Jake Peavy said, never once did they feel they would lose.
“It really wasn’t that exciting, it was almost just the norm,’’ starter Jeff Samardzija said. “You’re almost numb about it. He just doesn’t make mistakes.
“Some people are born to be painters.
“Bum was born to pitch.’’
The way Bumgarner was cruising, the Giants’ most stressful moment of the night was immediately after Conor Gillaspie’s three-run homer run in the ninth inning off Mets closer Jeurys Familia. Bochy, preparing in case Gillaspie made an out, had sent Jarrett Parker to the on-deck circle.
When Gillaspie crossed the plate, Bochy noticed that Parker was standing right there, and screamed at him to get back, panicking that Parker would be inserted into the game.
“I’ll be honest, I was a little nervous because Parker was there in the batter's box high-fiving him,’’ Bochy said. “I’m screaming to get him out of there. I thought the umpire was going to put him in the game. I need Bum to stay in there. The last thing I wanted was to see him leave, the way he was pitching.’’
Bumgarner stayed in, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning, silencing the sellout crowd of 44,747 at Citi Field, who just witnessed a piece of history, with Bumgarner now having pitched 27 scoreless innings with his team facing elimination.
“In our lifetime, what he’s done, in these tight games, I don’t think we’ve ever seen anything like it,’’ Bochy said. “He’s just unbelievable.’’
His 2014 postseason remains legendary, making seven appearances, and then pitching five shutout innings of relief in Game 7, beating the Kansas City Royals for the World Series championship.
Wednesday, no Met reached second base until the fifth inning. And the Mets went the entire night without reaching third base.
Yes, he was that dominant.
“He did exactly what we thought he would do,’’ Belt said. “It’s almost boring. He needs to do something different next time.’’
Such as?
“Hit a home run in a playoff game,’’ Belt said, “that would do it.’’
Hey, with the way the Giants are feeling these days, even with Bumgarner unavailable until Game 3, they still feel confident with starters Johnny Cueto, Samardzija and Matt Moore standing by.
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The Giants, who have run the table the last three times they entered the playoffs, suddenly are an awfully dangerous threat to the Cubs.
“I know how good they are,’’ Bochy says, “but you just want a shot. That’s all we wanted. And now we got it.’’
And, oh yeah, they’ll still have Bumgarner in Game 3, and even in relief if needed in Game 5.
The last time Bumgarner hasn’t had success, you’ve got to go back to Oct. 6, 2014, when they lost to the Washington Nationals, 4-1. Bumgarner still went seven innings, and gave up just two earned runs, but he still got the loss.
Giants center fielder Denard Span was there, now that he thinks about it, as part of the Nationals. Now, he and everyone else in the clubhouse, can’t help but wonder if he’ll ever lose again.
“If I had to choose one pitcher out of the whole entire Major League Baseball to go into a deciding game,’’ Span said, “it would definitely be him. He epitomizes this team.’’
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