Just a few leftover sound bytes from two very involved participants in last night s Game 7 drama Buster Posey who caught Madison Bumgarner and pitching coach Dave Righetti who plotted out and then rode the wave of Bumgarner s instantly legendary performance.
One note This was as buoyant and open as I ve ever seen Posey who was an overflowing mixture of total exhaustion jubilation awe and flat out relief.
Best moment As Posey was bringing up the historic proportions of Bumgarner s postseason outing somebody started up Fire on the Mountain on the clubhouse speakers at full blare.
Tremendous. (And thanks to Tim Linecum for very graciously offering me a sip of champagne. I didn t take any but it was very nice of him. He looked very happy and relaxed in the celebration and didn t splash me either.)
AdvertisementMeanwhile Righetti was as keen eyed and precise as always. Here s some of what they said
DAVE RIGHETTI/ Q When Bumgarner started the fifth are you thinking he might finish this game
RIGHETTI No.
I m not saying we didn t want him to. In our wonderful dreams we d want him to do it.
But we were hoping he bridges the gap to our three other relievers that we trust.
But once it builds you just go with it.
Q What was he telling you through each successive inning
RIGHETTI We were talking about strategy. Posey there was always a guy or two he wanted to be certain about Bum s right there to hear it all wondering what he should do too.
That s it it was baseball.
It wasn t about how s your arm
I just looked him after the eighth he looked at me goes yeah and I said You re in. You re starting the inning.
Q How did he get through it Did he have his normal stuff
RIGHETTI He s got four pitches which he used. He didn t just go out there trying to blow smoke he came in to pitch.
A lot of starters that have tried this overthrow because they think they re relievers now whatever they ve got they re going to empty the tank.
He took his time same rhythm and he threw the same pitches.
That slow curve ball was there and the change up was there.
I don t know how in the hell he does that with all the adrenaline you figure he d be over amped to throw those
BUSTER POSEY/
Q You looked pretty emotional in that hug with Bumgarner
POSEY I knew what was on the line. I m a huge fan of baseball and just honored and humbled to be a part of three world championship teams in five years.
I know how historic the performance of Bumgarner what he just did was.
And I was really tired too. That probably had something to do with it.
Q Were you counting down the innings with Bumgarner OK got through the 7th the 8th
POSEY That s what I was thinking. I was thinking If he goes through seven it s going to be a great job.
But I mean the guy wasn t missing. He wasn t missing his spots the velo was picking up.
I talked to him after his first inning he was like Yeah I just gotta get loose a little bit.
And he did.
Q Then came the Gordon hit and error man suddenly on third. Were you and Bumgarner just determined to throw all fastballs on the last batter
POSEY Obviously other pitches went through my mind but he was just commanding the fastball so well that he could elevate it enough where it was either a strikeout or what you got was a pop up.
Q What do you think Madison s response would ve been if Bochy took him out
POSEY Oh I don t think he had to worry about that. He knew he was going to get the ball.
Q Did you sense how historic this performance was at it was going on
POSEY Yes. Definitely. I mean I think you re going to be hard pressed to ever find a postseason performance like this ever again.
I really believe that. If you do it s going to be few and far between.
Q So is this a dynasty
POSEY In today s game if it s not it s as close as you re going to get
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