An amazing end to a wild year. 

For the third time in the last five seasons, the San Francisco Giants have won a World Series. It was not as easy as the 2010 or 2012 championships, but they hung in there and won when it mattered most. 

The thing I’ve loved about this team over the years is how they never count themselves out of it. A lot of credit for that goes to their field manager,Bruce Bochy. If not for him, I don’t think this team wins three world championships. He seems to find a way to keep this team in it and isn’t afraid to stick with something if it doesn’t work the first time. That’s why you get a guy like Travis Ishikawa playing left field when he had never done so at the big league level. That’s why you have a  Yusmeiro Petit coming in for long relief. And that’s why you have a guy like Madison Bumgarner coming into a Game 7 of a World Series to record a five inning save.

So much can be said about so many of the players on this roster. Buster Posey,Pablo Sandoval,and Hunter Pence were brilliant as always this year. But there are guys like Joe Panik,who came up from the Fresno Grizzlies to become the everyday second baseman that the Giants needed. You have guys like Ishikawa who came back to this team after bouncing around the league to be a postseason hero.For Tim Hudson,who at age 39 finally gets a World Series ring,the reason for him coming to the Giants. I think the man who was no doubt this team’s heart and soul was Bumgarner. Who else did you want out there for Games 1,5,and 7?  No one other than No. 40!

In my mind,Bumgarner’s performance in Game 7 is one of,if not the best I’ve seen in the World Series. Here’s a guy who pitched a complete game on Sunday and was called upon to help deliver the Giants to a win and another championship and did he ever?

“I wasn’t thinking about innings or pitch count. I was just thinking about getting outs, getting outs, until I couldn’t get them anymore and we needed someone else,” Bumgarner said.

For me personally, it’s been a wild season. From thinking they were going to win over 100 games in April when they had the best record to wanting the team to fire their hitting coach when times weren’t as good to hoping for the best the rest of the way,it’s been a wild ride and I couldn’t be happier for these guys and happier as a Giants fan. Before the season started I bought a Giants gnome and placed it above my window at the office at work and kissed its head for good luck after every Giants win. You can be assured that he is staying with me through the offseason and into next year. 

I hope all of you fans enjoy the parade Friday. I wish I was able to go,but I am working. Have a blast and celebrate safely!