Bay Area Buzz 10/20: World Series, 49ers/Raiders Lose, Chili Davis
Bay Area Topics
World Series
"The San Francisco Giants are underdogs-once again-in the 2014 World Series, to the Kansas City Royals, and they’re good with that. However, though the Orange and Black may even be legitimately so, there is one rung on the ladder of experience that the Royals have yet to climb.Kansas City has ascended dizzying heights this postseason, including a historical sweep of all three pre-World Series tournaments, and is perched to trample over the Giants as well, whom they swept in a three-game series, earlier in the season.But with all that perfection, the Royals have yet to experience a searing jab to the solar plexus, a crushing blow that hands them defeat and sends them home, well, defeated. Without the knowledge of how the Royals will respond, should that occur, there is an element of uncertainty to the World Series, that more than piques one’s interest.The Giants have been in the position of taking a direct uppercut to the chin, staggering, and then recovering to get the job done, many times.…The Giants, winners of nine consecutive, postseason series, do not have a perfect record going into this year’s World Series. It is not a prerequisite, just as winning the division is not a requirement, either. What the Giants do have is an iron jaw, so as to be better able to deal with the next punch."
–Mark O’Neill, Around the Foghorn
49ers Lose
"The 49ers had several factors working against them Sunday night: a slew of injuries, a short work week and a game against the defending AFC champions in mile-high altitude.Oh, yeah, they also had to deal with this rather significant obstacle: Peyton Williams Manning.Even if well-rested, at full strength and at home, the 49ers might not have been a match for the Broncos quarterback, who broke Brett Favre’s record for career passing touchdowns en route to leading Denver to a 42-17 win at Sports Authority Field.“You can blame whatever you want to blame it on,” safety Eric Reid said. “At the end of day, we’re all professional athletes. We play for the San Francisco 49ers. We’re expected to do a job and we didn’t execute. Especially on the defensive side of the ball.”"
–Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle
Raiders Lose
"The Raiders hadn’t started a season 0-6 since 1962. On Sunday, this group matched that mark.A 24-13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at O.co Coliseum cemented that unwelcome reality and extended the body blows of a tortuous season where the Raiders can’t seem to put forth a winning effort.The Raiders are the NFL’s only winless team.They had opportunities to climb back into this game after a rough opening half, but the offense couldn’t replicate last week’s production against San Diego.Defense kept the Raiders in it late, but third-down defense ultimately did them in. Arizona converted 9-of-15 third downs, including a 3rd-and-8 late in the fourth quarter.The offense didn’t help matters much, scoring only 3 points in the second half."
Chili Davis
"Chili Davis has agreed to terms with the Boston Red Sox to become their next hitting coach, according to a tweet by Rob Bradford of WEEI.com, the website for the Red Sox’s flagship radio station. Before joining the Athletics as hitting coach in 2012 under Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin, Davis was the hitting coach for the Red Sox’s Triple-A team in Pawtucket.Davis’ departure, once confirmed, creates vacancies in Oakland for bench coach and hitting coach."