Your 2014 GIants: Basic Ace

Now THAT is what an ace does: whether or not you have your best stuff that day, you duck and bob and weave and keep your team in the game, no matter what. Especially when the team gifts you with a big lead like that in the first inning. You never ever give it back.  Bumgarner did that today, he didn't strike out anyone, gave up a ton of hits, plus gave up two homers, had a DIS start, and yet still held the Tigers to only 3 runs, helping the team win the game (and stay two back of the Dodgers, who won).

It's like this children's book I used to read to my kids. It's about trains that can talk, and one train had trouble remembering the one rule all trains must follow: you never, ever, 100% never, get off the tracks (or something like that, it's been 15+ years since I last read it...).

Aces somehow wills their team to a win, no matter what. That's why I was always impressed with Dave Stewart of the A's. He often got matched up with Roger Clemens, and somehow, no matter how good Clemons was that year, Stewart came out with the win. I certainly would have voted for him for Cy Young over Clemons in many years.

Bumgarner was not an ace early on.  He was jittery his first six starts, with 3 DIS starts and only 2 DOM starts.  The team was 3-3 in those starts.  Since then:  out of 24 starts, only 2 DIS starts (and that's including today's start) and 18 DOM starts or 75% DOM (elite level) and 8% DIS (also elite).  The team has been 15-9 in those starts.

Of course, his bigger test will come up soon: facing off with one of the Dodger's aces (reportedly Mattingly has adjusted his rotation so that the Giants will face Ryu, Greinke, Kershaw, I think in that order, so then it would be Ryu).   That will set the tone for that series, if he can get us the win, then we only need to win one of the following two games to gain one game on LA in the standings.  If he loses, we would be forced to win the remaining two, including one against Kershaw.

And losing the LA series (especially at home) is not an option, we cannot lose any more games in the standings to them.  Heck, losing any LA series is not an option right now.

Madison:  do what aces do!

Go Giants!