Picture courtesy of SportsIllustrated.com
World Series Impact
Welcome to
Home Plate Debate, where we discuss the hot topics in baseball. Free Agency
will be up to bat this month, but nothing is off the table. Top Free Agents
will get a complete shakedown by our top analyst. We will hash out best fits,
projected line-ups, and possible standing outcomes for each. Don’t consider
this an end to the argument, just a jumping point to get the baseball talk
started. If you want us to grill your team, let us know on social media.
The
previous MLB Postseason was a statement for baseball. Not only was it the end
of instant replay’s inaugural season, but it also proved that old school
baseball still reigns supreme. Going into the World Series, both the Royals and
the Giants had a complete package line-up with the perfect balance of speed,
power, hitting for contact, and great fielding when and where needed. The
difference in the two teams could be found on the mound. The Royals collection
of over powering bullpen arms was better than any other team in the American
League. The powerhouse trio of Holland, Davis, and Herrera helped shorten games
for the Royals. Those 3 combined for over 200 innings and only gave up 3
homeruns. Davis alone struck out 109 batters. But no matter how dominant a
bullpen is, every team needs a starter. Madison Bumgarner threw 21 innings
allowed his first ever World Series earned run, off of Salvador Perez in the
bottom of the 7th in game 1. He finished the 2014 season with 18
wins, 2.98 ERA, and 219 strikeouts in 217.1 innings pitched, and topped it of
with a World Series and NLCS MVP and won his 3rd World Series ring.
Bumgarner proved that every team needs an ace to take the mound every 5 games
and win the game, plus his 0.25 ERA is the lowest in World Series history. Free
Agents like Max Scherzer and Jon Lester should profit significantly from his
performance.
-Matthew "Wawa" Weatherill
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