Bay Area Buzz 10/21: World Series Game 1, Aldon Smith, Daniel Kilgore
Bay Area Topics
World Series Game 1
"Shields vs. GiantsAs can be seen above with the 5.63 ERA, Shields has been touched up this postseason. He’s allowed opponents to hit .309/.365/.485 in three starts so far. The Royals have won every one of his starts but, well, they haven’t lost in a long time. It’s not like we could point to Shields as the reason his team won his three starts.In the regular season, Shields was worse at home (3.51) than on the road (2.97), though not in a big way.Shields has only faced the Giants once in his career, but it came recently. And he streamrolled them, throwing a shutout on Aug. 9, allowing only four hits while striking out five.Knowing that, it’s not surprising to say the Giants’ individual batting lines against Shields are awful. The only one with a sample of at least 10 plate appearances is Hunter Pence, who is 0-for-11 with three strikeouts. Gregor Blanco is 4-for-7 with a triple, though, if anyone wants to believe that equates to future success.Bumgarner vs. RoyalsThe 2014 NLCS MVP was totally locked in for much of the postseason heading into the World Series, though it’s worth noting that he coughed up a pair of home runs in Game 5 of the NLCS and the Cardinals did square him up a few times. That he battled through eight is a testament to just how good he is, as he clearly didn’t have his best stuff.During the regular season, Bumgarner was better on the road (2.22) than at home (4.03) and, as you can see, it’s a sigificant gap of ERA. That trend has continued in the playoffs, as he’s worked 16 2/3 scoreless innings on the road this postseason.Bumgarner’s only career start in Kauffman Stadium was a good, but not great, outing (8 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K). It was also a loss, this past Aug. 8.Only two Royals have seen Bumgarner more than 10 times. Omar Infante has fared well, going 6-for-16 (.375) with a double. Norichika Aoki has not (and that’s putting it nicely). He’s 0-for-13 against Bumgarner in his career. He does have a .071 on-base percentage thanks to getting hit with a pitch once."
–Eye on Baseball staff, CBS Sports
Aldon Smith
"Linebacker Aldon Smith’s suspension might be reduced one or two games, according to an NBC Sports report before Sunday night’s 49ers game against the Denver Broncos.General manager Trent Baalke said before kickoff that he was unaware of any possible reduction in Smith’s nine-game suspension.Sunday night’s game marked the seventh game Smith has missed. He has been banned from practices but has been able to work out and attend meetings at the team facility.The 49ers have a bye next week before a Nov. 2 home game against the St. Louis Rams. If Smith’s suspension stands, he wouldn’t return until Nov. 16 at the New York Giants."
–Cam Inman, San Jose Mercury News
Daniel Kilgore
"San Francisco 49ers center Daniel Kilgore is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery Tuesday on a fractured left ankle sustained in the third quarter of Sunday night’s loss at Denver.Coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday the injury is similar to what nose tackle Ian Williams suffered in Week 2 of the 2013 season at Seattle that required four operations and kept him sidelined until training camp this year. Kilgore, who will be placed on injured reserve, was carted off after getting hurt when linebacker Brandon Marshall inadvertently ran into his lower leg at the end of a run by Frank Gore during a 42-17 loss to the Broncos.”It’s similar. He was disappointed. He played well in the game. So that’s an obstacle to overcome. He’s made of the right stuff. No doubt that he’ll overcome,” Harbaugh said. ”He’s been playing really well, better and better each week. Like I said, I thought he played really well in this game. Say a prayer and hope the surgery goes real well tomorrow, which I’m confident it will and we’ll start healing.”Marcus Martin, a 20-year-old rookie third-round draft pick, is the favorite to fill in for Kilgore on the starting offensive line. Martin recently returned to practice following a training camp knee injury.Martin’s NFL debut would likely be Nov. 2 at home against the Rams after the bye."