MLB San Francisco Giants

5 Things the San Francisco Giants Should Be Thankful For

5 Things the San Francisco Giants Should Be Thankful For

Madison Bumgarner San Francisco Giants
Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

The world champion San Francisco Giants are on the verge of officially losing fan favorite Pablo Sandoval via free agency, but the orange and black have a lot to be thankful for. The Giants exploded out of nowhere to win their third title in five years. Although staff ace Madison Bumgarner gets a bulk of the credit for San Francisco's surge to triumph, the Giants' run to glory was a total team effort.

5. Bruce Bochy's Genius Managerial Skills

Bruce Bochy San Francisco Giants
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

5. Bruce Bochy's Genius Managerial Skills

Bruce Bochy San Francisco Giants
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Giants wouldn't be on the precipice of dynasty status if it weren't for the managerial genius of Bruce Bochy. The Giants skipper is hands-down a future Hall-of-Fame inductee, and is just one of 10 managers in the history of baseball to win three championships. Bochy is currently the active wins leader among all big league managers, and it isn't by mistake. He pushes all the right buttons in October.

4. Brian Sabean's Belief

Brian Sabean San Francisco Giants
Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

4. Brian Sabean's Belief

Brian Sabean San Francisco Giants
Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Brian Sabean is the longest-tenured GM in MLB for good reason. Much like his skipper, Sabean seemingly always gets it right when it comes to crucial player personnel decisions. He had a chance to blow up the Giants' roster before the trade deadline after the club sputtered out of first place in an ugly pitfall. But Sabean stuck with his guys, a decision of which ultimately resulted in yet another orange October celebration.

3. Hunter Pence's Leadership

Hunter Pence San Francisco Giants
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

3. Hunter Pence's Leadership

Hunter Pence San Francisco Giants
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Hunter Pence isn't the only leader the Giants boast in their clubhouse, but he's certainly the most vocal. Pence's epic pregame speech before Game 3 of the 2012 NLDS sparked the Giants' current string of eight consecutive wins in elimination games. His profanity-laced rant following the Giants clinching a playoff spot was equally as fiery. The Giants may have gotten the biggest steal of last offseason in re-signing Pence to a $90 million deal.

2. Buster Posey

Buster Posey San Francisco Giants
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

2. Buster Posey

Buster Posey San Francisco Giants
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Buster Posey failed to register a single extra-base hit in the 2014 postseason, but was often in the thick of the Giants' offensive rallies. Posey's clutch, two-out single in the top of the ninth inning of Game 2 of the 2014 NLDS enabled Sandoval's eventual game-tying double. There may not have been a signature Posey moment in October this time around, but the Giants would not be perennial title contenders without the best backstop in MLB.

1. Madison Bumgarner

Madison Bumgarner San Francisco Giants
Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images

1. Madison Bumgarner

Madison Bumgarner San Francisco Giants
Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Madison Bumgarner's World Series heroics speak for itself. The 25-year-old southpaw forever etched his name in the record books this past October, allowing just one run in 21.0 innings pitched. He owns a microscopic 0.25 career ERA over 36.0 innings of World Series action, the lowest ERA in history. Bumgarner carried the Giants through the postseason, pitching five scoreless innings of relief in Game 7 to rightfully claim the MVP trophy.

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