Volcanoes History: 2010 World Series

All off season, leading up to Opening Day 2019, your Salem-Keizer Volcanoes will mix a little history with what to expect this upcoming exciting season. In 2010, your Volcanoes shocked the world, helping the San Francisco Giants win their first championship in 56 years and the first in the city of San Francisco. It may be easy, having Volcanoes alumni help win three World Championships this decade, to forget how improbable this all looked...below is the original Volcanoes article heading into the 2010 Fall Classic. For me, this article has special meaning as I wrote it after meeting with Jerry and Lisa Walker to discuss how to honor the Volcanoes alumni and community for this special organizational moment.

The 2010 National League Champion, San Francisco Giants have seven Salem-Keizer Volcanoes alumni who are looking to bring a World Series victory to the Bay area. Standing in their way are the American League Champion, Texas Rangers.

Tim Lincecum : the Rangers are going to look to Cliff Lee to go 8-9 innings in game 1, hold the Giants to a run and start the 2010 World Series with statement. Enter Giants ace Tim Lincecum who knows a little something about delivering under pressure and shutting down the opposition.

The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner will need to frustrate Rangers batters throughout the series and try to shift the pressure as quickly as possible on the AL champs.
Tim Lincecum 2010 NLCS: 3 G, 1-1 W/L, 3.14 ERA, 14.1 IP, 16 SO, 4 BB

Jonathan Sánchez : needs to be an innings machine to work down the Rangers batters and keep Giants bullpen arms fresh. Sanchez has the stuff to go deep into games; the key will be starting strong (obviously); and if he gets into trouble, to trust Buster Posey to call the right pitches.

Sanchez has all the makings of being a real game changer in the 2010 World Series. The key will be for him to remain in command and to get the always-coveted first strike.

Jonathan Sanchez 2010 NLCS:2 G, 0-1 W/L, 4.50 ERA, 8.0 IP, 8 SO, 5 BB
 

Buster Posey: has such a critical role, and the young player has been more Johnny Bench than rookie as this 2010 season has progressed. Buster has three essential duties: 1. keep the Giants pitchers in their respective grooves, relaxed, and when needed, guide them through tough innings when the Rangers get hot; 2. the Rangers will test Posey on the base paths - he needs to be aggressive and squash base stealing attempts; 3. Posey himself needs to bat a little better than he did in the NLCS. This is a new series and a fresh start for the star catcher.

Buster Posey 2010 NLCS:6 G, 23 AB, 5 H, .217 BA, 3 RBI, 2 2B

Sergio Romo : needs to do just what he did in the NLCS; come in, shut down the opposition and keep the game in control. Sergio made three appearances in the 2010 NLCS, did not yield a run in 2.1 innings, and had a 3:1 SO: BB ratio. The Rangers are a streaky hitting team so players like Romo are essential to stopping any potential momentum the AL Champs will look to create.

Sergio Romo 2010 NLCS:3 G, 0-0 W/L, 0.00 ERA, 2.1 IP, 3 SO, 1 BB

 

Pablo Sandoval: can be the one-swing game changer, much like David Ortiz was for the Boston Red Sox in post seasons of the past. The key for Sandoval will be patience at the plate. In the moment, in the World Series, it will be tempting just to swing away. Sandoval needs to make Rangers pitchers throw him strikes and try to force the count beyond one or two pitches. Make no mistake, Sandoval has the potential to be World Series MVP.

Pablo Sandoval 2010 NLCS:3 G, 8 AB, 2 H, .250 BA, 2 RBI, 2 2B, 1 3B
 

Travis Ishikawa: will be asked to be a situational game-changer, and he has the tools to deliver on that expectation. The key for Ishikawa will be putting the ball in play and advancing the runners through smart hitting or forcing the walk.

Travis Ishikawa 2010 NLCS: 5 G, 4 AB, 1 H, .250 BA



Nate Schierholtz: has the makings of delivering a great World Series moment. When asked to play this Fall Classic, he has the ability to get the clutch hit and / or make the big defensive stop. Schierholtz had only 1 error in 127 total chances during the regular season.


Nate Schierholtz 2010 NLCS:4 G, 3 AB, 0 H, .000 BA, 1 R