Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - In five innings, Madison Bumgarner went from World Series ace to World Series closer. All the while his manager avoided him, showing Bumgarner the type of wide berth normally reserved for pitchers in the middle of a no-hitter. The stakes in this one were even bigger. I was staying away from him every inning because I was hoping he wouldnt say, Im starting to get a little tired, Bruce Bochy said with a laugh. Because theres no way I would have taken him out unless he told me that. We just got on his horse and rode it. Bumgarner was named Most Valuable Player of the World Series on Wednesday after his San Francisco Giants beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 in Game 7 for their third title in five years. The Giants ace won Games 1 and 5 in the series and picked up a five-inning save in Game 7 on two days rest after throwing a four-hit shutout on Sunday. All of 25 years old, Bumgarner ran his career World Series record to 4-0 with a 0.25 ERA, earning at least one victory in each of San Franciscos three recent title runs. Bochy said the left-hander would be available in an all-hands-on-deck Game 7, but five innings? It gave Bumgarner 270 total innings pitched this year, including 52.2 in the postseason. He was also named MVP after the NL Championship Series against St. Louis. He had a 0.43 ERA in his three appearances against the Royals. I was just concentrating on making pitches, Bumgarner said. I wasnt thinking about how many innings I was going to go, how many pitches. I was just concentrating on outs. The first batter he faced, Omar Infante, singled to lead off the fifth inning. Infante made it to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Alcides Escobar, who was the first of 14 straight batters retired by Bumgarner before the whole thing nearly unraveled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Alex Gordons sliced single got past Gregor Blanco in left-center field and Gordon made it all the way to third on a two-base error that gave the Royals some hope. But Bumgarner, renowned for his cool demeanor, settled in to throw Salvador Perez six straight fastballs. Perez hit a foul pop on the sixth one, ending the game and cementing Bumgarners MVP. Madison Bumgarner, man. What can you say about him? Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. He has an entire offseason to find the words. Pat Rapp Jersey . Correia pitched six innings of one-run ball, Eduardo Escobar homered, and the Minnesota Twins pulled away late to beat the Colorado Rockies 9-3 on Saturday. Charles Johnson Jersey . -- League scoring leader Anthony Mantha had two goals and two assists to lead the Val-dOr Foreurs over the Blainville-Boisbriand Phoenix 6-3 on Wednesay in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play on Wednesday. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/581r-...ey-marlins.html. Not only that, when Julian de Guzman first stepped on the pitch for Deportivo de la Coruna he became the very first Canadian to play in Spains top tier. John Wehner Jersey .com) - Former New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya is joining the Major League Baseball Players Association staff as a senior advisor to executive director Tony Clark. Jay Powell Jersey . James Erskine said Tuesday that Thorpe was "quite sick" in a Sydney hospital but dismissed media reports the swimmer might lose the use of his left arm. "Hes not in the intensive care," Erskine said. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Peyton Manning flew to New York this spring to pay his respects to Derek Jeter and David Letterman, two much-admired superstars in the middle of their long goodbyes. "Im sad to see some of these guys retiring," the Broncos quarterback said at the time. "Im not far behind." Yet retirement really isnt on Mannings radar as he prepares for his 17th NFL season, his third in Denver. Coming off the best two-year stretch of his career, Manning is keeping tacklers, tedium and time itself at bay. At 38, Manning said hell keep playing as long as hes still productive and loves the game. That passion and productivity were on full display last season when he won his fifth MVP award and set single-season records by passing for 55 touchdowns and more than 5,500 yards. There are no signs of his affection or efficiency ebbing anytime soon, either. "You see it in how he prepares every day," centre Manny Ramirez said. "Were here in the off-season and hes still putting the same amount of focus as he does in-season, preparing, trying to get better every day, trying to pick apart the defences." "I still enjoy the work and preparation," said Manning, who lost wide receiver Eric Decker to the Jets but gained coveted free agent Emmanuel Sanders and prized rookie Cody Latimer. That turnover actually helps keep Manning young at heart, coach John Fox suggested. "Theres so much change in the NFL nowadays that I think that keeps the juices flowing, whether thats getting Emmanuel Sanders up to speed or last year, Wes Welker. Anytime you put a new cog in there, thats an adjustment," Fox said. "I think he takes pride in that and he attacks that. He seems to me to be having a great time." Manning would like to play out his contract, which runs through 2016. Yet, while hes not pondering retirement, he said in an interview with The Associated Press that he has certainly contemplated what it will be like. "Sometimes I sort of kick back and I pause and I think what sorts of things would I miss the most if I wasnt playing," Manning said. The answer hits him like one of those teeth-rattling sacks by Robert Mathis. "Being in the huddle," Manning said. "Thats what I missed most when I was injured, Ill say that. I mean, theres no other type of unity or bond that I think any other job can provide. I know there are meetings, there are video conferences. But that huddle, because of where it takes place: its often on the road, in the middle of the field, in front of 80,000 people, its unique." Its what excites him even at an age when many quarterbacks have retired to the broadcast booth or are hitting thhe links instead of the weights.dddddddddddd "When you dont play football anymore, you can broadcast, you can coach, you can be in management, whatever, but you are not allowed to go into the huddle anymore," Manning said. "That huddle is just for players. You can go into the locker room after the game and you can speak to the team, but I think any retired player would probably tell you they miss the huddle." The way Manning has guided the Broncos to a 28-8 record over the last two years belies how far he had fallen when he was forced to sit out the 2011 season in Indianapolis and even had to look in a mirror to relearn his release point after a series of neck surgeries weakened his throwing arm to the point he could hardly grip, much less throw, a football. Mannings reboot has turned into a blessing. "Yeah, although I have to say, some guys might need a year off to whatever, relight to fire, whatever it may be. I didnt need a year off to remind me of how much I love football," Manning said. "But when you have it, it sure does reinforce what you kind of always thought, that I do love it." Working with play-caller Adam Gase and new teammates has revitalized Manning. "Sometimes it, the monotonous routine, the boredom, that pushes guys out, not the physical part of it," Manning said. "And I have been stimulated the past two years working with Adam and working with different teammates, so it does sort of keep the bounce in you, I think." Manning doesnt view himself so much as a 17-year NFL veteran but as Denvers third-year quarterback. "I really feel because its a new team, post-injury, its kind of a new me. Thats how I have to look at it," Manning said. "Im a different player from before I was injured. Im not saying better, worse, whatever, just a different player. And so what I can compare myself most accurately to is my first season here in Denver and kind of how I am physically and how I am with my teammates and with Adam and so its helped to have now two years to build off that baseline." He no longer feels like a visitor in his own locker room. "And I like going into that huddle," Manning said. "I like the guys that I get to work with. I like lifting weights, working with Wes Welker, doing a set of bench press with Jacob Tamme, I like working with the guys that I play with and I still like learning. I like being challenged by Adam every day to be a better football player. There are a lot of things that I still enjoy about it. "And I look forward to driving over here every day. I think as soon as you go, Golly, I do not want to go over there today, thats when youve got to get out." ' ' '
