‘The Best Bullpen in Baseball Was Him’

Loved this take on the Giants’ World Series victory from Adam Kilgore:

The Kansas City Royals clung this October to the well-founded belief they owned the most dominant bullpen in the major leagues. On Wednesday night, Madison Bumgarner emerged from the gates of the left field corner at Kauffman Stadium and informed them of their mistake. The best bullpen in baseball, Bumgarner let them know, with no shortage of menace, dangled from his colossal left shoulder. The best bullpen in baseball was him.

Bumgarner’s entire postseason performance, culminated with his amazing appearance to finish game seven, is one of the greatest athletic feats I’ve ever seen. And then to end the whole thing with the potential KC tying run just 90 feet away from home plate? Two days later I still can’t believe how good a game that was.

★ Friday, 31 October 2014