Bay Area Buzz 12/10: Bumgarner, Lester, Woodson, Upton, Sharks Win
Bay Area Topics
Madison Bumgarner Wins Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year
"True, too, is that he embodies another archetype, one that is rare in an era when self-promotion defines too many athletes: He wants success without spoils, achievement without attention and the ball without excuses. He pays little to no mind to video analysis, advanced analytics, scouting reports, pitch counts or innings limits, yet nobody his age in his lifetime ever threw as many innings in one year as Bumgarner did this year.Several towns wanted to throw a parade for Bumgarner when he returned home from the World Series, but he didn’t see the need for everyone to make a fuss. What makes the people in Caldwell County swell with pride is not just that Bumgarner is from here, but also that he chooses to stay here. “They let me know they appreciate it, which is weird to me,” he says, “but they appreciate me just staying here. This is just a slow, easy life. Me and my wife, we’ve never considered moving away. This will always be home. It’s a special place for both of us.”"
–Tom Verducci, Sports Illustrated
Jon Lester
"Jon Lester is the player everybody is watching to get things rolling in MLB Free Agency this winter. As he nears a decision, he told the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday that he will not be signing with them."
Charles Woodson
"Oakland Raiders veteran safety Charles Woodson would rather Jim Harbaugh coached the University of Michigan football team next year rather the Oakland Raiders football team.When asked by Rich Eisen — if given the choice — which team Woodson would prefer Harbaugh to coach, Woodson selected each’s alma mater over his current employer.…For Woodson, his rationale for wanting Harbaugh at Michigan remains unclear. It could be because he doesn’t want to deal with Harbaugh, or it could be because Woodson is 38 and doesn’t see a future with the Raiders beyond this year. In the event that his NFL career is winding down, it makes sense that he might have a deeper allegiance to the Wolverines rather than the team that drafted him out of Michigan."
Justin Upton
"Justin Upton has been the subject of MLB Trade Rumors all off-season. The latest grumblings suggest that the slugger could be headed from the Atlanta Braves to the San Francisco Giants as part of a blockbuster deal.…Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the Braves and Giants are talking about a potential trade that would net the Giants Upton and Chris Johnson, providing them a replacement at third base for the departed Pablo Sandoval as well."
Sharks Win
"The Sharks got the early lead they were seeking, saw it vanish, but managed to regroup and skate to a 5-2 win over the last place Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night at SAP Center.Joe Pavelski led the offense with two goals, including one on the power play, as the Sharks were forced to play shorthanded after a number of players suffered apparent injuries throughout the game.Marc-Edouard Vlasic left late in the first period after going into the boards courtesy of Tyler Pitlick; Mike Brown needed help off of the ice and into the dressing room after finishing a check on Matt Hendricks; and rookie Melker Karlsson, making his NHL debut, left in the second period for unspecified reasons. He returned midway through the third.Antti Niemi was the probable starter after he was the first goalie off of the ice in the morning skate, but did not play due to reasons that weren’t immediately clear.The Sharks (15-11-4) have won five of their last six games, all in regulation, including four straight at home. They remain at SAP Center for their next four."