MLB Giants' Success Attributed To Front Office Doing "A Lot Of Things Right"

To win two World Series championships in three seasons, “an organization has to be doing a lot of things right,” and fans in Bay Area are “celebrating a Giants franchise whose stride has become a gallop,” according to Henry Schulman of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Ownership has to be “in tune with the front office, which has to work in tandem with the manager and coaches, who have to relate to the players, who have to bond in the right way and perform at the highest level.” The "smoothness of the Giants' machine these past three seasons is no accident." Team President & CEO Larry Baer and GM Brian Sabean "have worked together for 15 years." The people in charge “showed a keen understanding of the team's shortfalls and did well to correct them.” In the “afterglow of a second championship in the 2010s, the fans doubtlessly have faith that an organization in full stride will answer them thoughtfully and, for the most part, correctly” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/30). In N.Y., Anthony McCarron notes the Giants’ success “figures to continue.” The club is "stacked with important building blocks to become as regular an October force as the Yankees used to be” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/30).

THE LONG RUN: In S.F., Bruce Jenkins writes the Giants’ world championship is “a victory” for Special Assistant to the GM/Scouting John Barr, VP/Player Personnel Dick Tidrow, VP/Baseball Operations Bobby Evans, a “cadre of sharp-eyed scouts and especially” Sabean. The “modern-day general manager bears no significant resemblance to Sabean, rather an especially sharp accountant who can draw up contracts, analyze a salary structure and study esoteric numbers with the best of them.” The Giants' model is “based on visual evidence, not statistics, and it clearly works -- but it will fail, miserably, in the hands of organizations cutting their scouting staffs and stocking computers.” Baseball is an "enterprise of failure, both on and off the field, and it's a game of humility." Sabean "doesn't pretend to know everything, he'll gladly recount his misfired decisions over the years, and he knows these prideful days could unravel into a third-place finish next year” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/30). Giants Principal Partner Peter Magowan on Sunday said that he was “trying to keep a low profile” following the win. Magowan said, “I couldn't be better. Two years ago was very special and this year is also very special. But I'm out of it now. I should be out of the talking business” (MLB.com, 10/29).

LAW & ORDER: In California, Matt O’Brien notes Homeland Security officials were “boasting Monday about their latest big bust: counterfeiters peddling bogus Giants World Series memorabilia.” Hidden among Giants fans outside AT&T Park last week "were a dozen undercover federal agents hunting for phony" MLB shirts and caps. The agents "found plenty, seizing 1,019 T-shirts, 109 ball caps and 69 knit hats from vendors" outside the ballpark during the first two games (CONTRA COSTA TIMES, 10/30).

FANDAMONIUM: In S.F., Kane & Riley noted the “spirit appeared in good shape Monday evening when several hundred fans cheered the Giants, fresh from their Series-clinching victory in Detroit, as they rolled up to AT&T Park in a bus caravan, World Series trophy in tow.” The players “mugged with the trophy for a few minutes, then disappeared into the ballpark and back out again, leaving in their private vehicles.” Some fans who waited for hours said that they were "disappointed that the players didn't stay to chat or sign autographs” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/30). In San Jose, Carl Steward notes Giants fan Ashley Chavez has “spent the past seven months living expense-free in New York City as the team's fan representative at Major League Baseball's Fan Cave.” Her “outgoing and passionate personality” became a “hit for her videos on the MLB Fan Cave website.” Chavez, whose Fan Cave experience is now complete, said, “I have to return to reality." Steward notes that “based on the experience she garnered, she hopes to land a job in baseball somewhere, either with MLB or the Giants” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 10/30).