Kuzul

In order for MLB teams to be World Series contenders, they need significant contributions from every single player on their 25-man rosters.Baseball is a team sport that demands that each player do what they can to ensure the success of their team. A bench player drawing a walk as a pinch-hitter in the late innings of a tight game can be just as important to a team as the slugger that wallops a three-run home run.However, each team has a go-to player as well—that one special weapon they can rely on to help carry them through. In many cases, that one player can be critical to a team's overall success.Here is one player from each contending team in 2013 whose performance could make or break their team's chances of reaching the World Series. Note: The criteria for World Series contenders is based on the latest odds for the 12 top teams ...

Mr. October’s most famous pinstripes are going on the auction block. As first reported by Sports Collectors Daily, the jersey Reggie Jackson was wearing October 18, 1977, when he hit three homers in Game 6 of the World Series will be up for auction this spring. SCP Auctions will offer Jackson's size 44 No. 44 home white button-down in its catalog auction in April.Experts anticipate that it will sell for a minimum of $500,000. Some of the proceeds from the sale will go to Jackson's Mr. October Foundation for Kids. David Kohler, president of SCP Auctions, says he believes the Jackson jersey could bring more than any other sports jersey sold in the modern era. He wouldn't be surprised to see the sale reach seven figures at the conclusion of the bidding. A Babe Ruth jersey worn in the 1920s was sold at an SCP Auction last year for $4.4 ...

In the coming weeks, one of the most impactful and controversial classes for the Hall of Fame will have judgment passed on them—at least for their first year of eligibility. One of those on the list is all-time home run leader Barry Bonds, whose career, despite being acquitted of any wrongdoing in a court of law, will forever be tied to the steroid era.Bonds is certainly a huge part of the San Francisco Giants history and although not being part of the teams' two recent (and only) World Series titles, his name and his actions still set off widespread debate amongst Bay Area faithful.Should he get in, should he not.An election to the Hall would also benefit the Giants' brand, who could use that justification for even more business gains in an area where baseball is really rivaled only by the success of the 49ers in popularity. Will the Giants ...

We all remember musical chairs. It was a simple numbers game—there was no other way to look at it, unless you grew up spittin' game like me and always lined up behind the cute girl in class so that as soon as the music stopped you swooped right underneath her so her backside conveniently landed right in your lap—but that's neither here nor there. There weren't enough chairs to go around.A baseball roster has only 25 spots on it, and the Detroit Tigers have a problem similar to the level of suaveness of Arthur Fonzarelli: something we call a surplus.The Tigers just re-signed RHP Anibal Sanchez to a reported five-year, $80 million contract. There's a lot to like in Anibal's game, but shelling out $80 million on a guy without a "stellar" year to his credit is a lot like handing the role of Superman to Brandon Routh. Let's hope ...

The San Francisco Giants' improbable run to, and sweep through, the 2012 World Series has already been chewed up, merchandised and spit out as the 24-hour news cycle continues to churn.In certain circles, however, the memory of the organization's seventh world championship and the road traveled to win it will linger for a bit longer. Understand that what looked surreal from the outside was downright unreal for those who've suffered with the team for years.That's because the San Francisco Giants haven't been the apple of the baseball gods' collective eye since before I was born. Probably since the franchise moved West.Baseball lore is rife with stories of Willie McCovey's World Series-ending line drive that was a breath away from winning the 1962 Fall Classic, which instead found Bobby Richardson's leather to seal those Giants' fate and crown the New York Yankees champion. Likewise, you can read all about the doldrums which ...

For all intents and purposes, the World Series ended on Miguel Cabrera's pop-up in the fifth inning of Game 3. It was the symbolic play of the 2012 Fall Classic: The Giants have maximized their opportunities, and the Tigers have not. More than any one play, that pop-up summed up why San Francisco has a 3-0 lead and could very well end the series Sunday night.But Saturday night, Detroit lost a second straight 2-0 game and joined the 1966 Los Angeles Dodgers with the dubious distinction of being shut out in back-to-back World Series games. A pair of runs scored by the Giants in the second inning might as well have been 20, because the toothless Tigers simply could not generate offense against Ryan Vogelsong, Tim Lincecum and Sergio Romo.The shame of it is that Anibal Sanchez pitched well tonight for the second time this postseason, only to lose. Like ...

Three games into the 2012 World Series, it looks like barring a complete miracle, the Series is already over. The San Francisco Giants are one game away from winning it all after beating the Detroit Tigers, 2-0.The game ended up being a pitcher's duel, with Ryan Vogelsong and Anibal Sanchez controlling things. The Giants were able to get just enough successive hits to allow them to win.The grades for each team's hitting, pitching and fielding make the two teams seem somewhat evenly matched this game, even though that was not the case. All that mattered in the end was the win, which the Giants have.Begin Slideshow

The San Francisco Giants can do no wrong, gaining a 3-0 World Series lead over the Detroit Tigers with Saturday night's 2-0 victory.The equation remains the same for San Francisco: lights-out pitching plus a few timely hits equals victory, especially against the Tigers' maligned offense.Jhonny Peralta tried to get his squad back into the game in the ninth inning, but Gregor Blanco made a beautiful sliding catch to preserve Sergio Romo's flawless inning to close the game. Romo was able to earn the save, completing an excellent game overall.Both starting pitchers threw well on the night, but Ryan Vogelsong got the W. He threw 5.2 shutout innings, striking out three and walking four in cold temperatures. As ESPN Stats & Info shows, Vogelsong doesn't mind chilly weather: #SFGiants Ryan Vogelsong had made 2 prior starts in sub-50 degree weather in career prior to today-- allowed 1 R in 13 IP #WorldSeries— ...

The Detroit Tigers bats have been colder than a Russian winter thus far in the World Series, but you can expect them to heat up in Game 3 against the San Francisco Giants. This is a must win game for the Tigers if there ever was one. Not a single team in major league history has come back from a three game deficit in the World Series, but there chances are a lot better in a 1-2 hole. But, in order to change the direction of the series, the Tigers bats will finally have to attend the contest. In Game 1, Detroit only managed one run through the first eight innings. In Game 2, it only got worse. Detroit managed only two hits against the previously struggling Madison Bumgarner. For the series the Tigers are only hitting .167 with 17 strikeouts in 65 plate appearances, resulting in only three runs. ...

The San Francisco Giants are off to a hot 2-0 start in the World Series and are looking to finish things up in Detroit. But there's still plenty of baseball left to be played.Below, we'll give you a time and TV primer, and then a preview of the remaining games.  Game 3: Saturday, October 27Time:  8:07 p.m. ETTV: FOX Game 4: Sunday October 28Time: 8:15 p.m. ETTV: FOX Game 5: Monday, October 29*Time: 8:07 p.m. ETTV: FOX Game 6: Wednesday, October 31*Time: 4:30 p.m. ETTV: FOX Game 7: Thursday, November 1*Time: 8:07 p.m. ETTV: FOX*if necessary Now, onto the preview.The Giants are in command. They're up 2-0 and their best pitcher, Matt Cain, hasn't taken the rubber yet. Game 3 will feature Ryan Vogelsong as the starter (14-9, 3.37 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 158 K, 189.2 IP). He'll be ready. But Anibal Sanchez is no slouch (1.35 ERA and 0.98 WHIP so far in the playoffs).Detroit wants to get a win so they can be down only 2-1 ...