Giants' Peavy: Sandoval close to as clutch as Red Sox's Ortiz
San Francisco Giants right-hander Jake Peavy has had a front-row seat to watch two of Major League Baseball's biggest postseason performers over the past two seasons.
After marveling at David Ortiz's dominance during his 2013 World Series run while a member of the Boston Red Sox, Peavy couldn't help but draw similarities to his current rotund slugger in Giants first baseman Pablo Sandoval.
“Pablo is as big-time of a player as I’ve played with and I’ve played with some great, great guys — David Ortiz, the flair for the dramatic, probably the most clutch player I’ve ever played with, nobody’s as clutch as that guy,’’ Peavy told Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. “That being said, this guy is a very, very close second. This guy revels in being on the big stage, having the moment. This guy’s ready — loves the big games. Watch the way this guy plays in the big games.”
Just as he did in the 2012 postseason when he belted six home runs and recorded 13 RBIs in 16 games, Sandoval has feasted on opposing pitching this October, hitting .326/.396/.419.
Peavy recalled a conversation he and Sandoval had in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals prior to the Panda's at-bat. Sandoval led off the inning with a single before Travis Ishikawa belted the three-run walk-off home run.
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
“I looked at him and said, ‘C’mon, let’s go to the World Series,’ and he looked me square in the eye and said, ‘I’m getting on base,’ ” Peavy said.
“And he couldn’t wait to get back in the dugout when we pinch-ran for him and said, ‘I told you! I’m not letting you down!’ ” said Peavy. “That’s special, guys that play with that passion. He’s a special player, you don’t get lucky and hit home runs off (the Tigers’) Justin Verlander in the World Series. Go look at his at-bats from that Pittsburgh (wild card) game on, against the best trying to get you out. It’s a special player that can take it to the next level in the postseason.”