SAN FRANCISCO -- Sure, Jake Arrieta and Joe Maddon know all about what Madison Bumgarner has done on the postseason stage in recent years.Just how good the big lefty has been and his San Francisco Giants, too. Theyre 9-0 in elimination games under manager Bruce Bochy, rallying from improbable deficits to win it all three times this decade -- every other year, and this is one of those even years.San Franciscos October theme this time: BeliEVEN.As the Chicago Cubs arrived Sunday in the Bay Area with a 2-0 NL Division Series lead and a chance to close out the home team, Maddon knows theres plenty that still must go right Monday night for his club to move closer to ending its World Series curse.Wed be foolish to be overconfident about this situation, Maddon said. Theyre really good, theyve done this before. That is a group that is just dripping with tested veterans and a manager thats outstanding. So you never take the Giants for granted. Never.The Cubs were in for an unexpected treat Sunday: The Blue Angels regularly buzzed over the bay during Fleet Week as Chicago wrapped up its afternoon work, with a few players and coaches stealing a glance up at the blue sky.Maddon found himself reflecting to his youth when Bumgarners name was brought up before an on-field workout. The 2014 World Series MVP has thrown 23 straight scoreless innings in the postseason, going 2-0 with a save in elimination games.Its like when I was a kid. I could only relate it to that. I was a Cardinals fan growing up, and seeing Bob Gibson do what he did in the `60s and then Mr. (Sandy) Koufax, what he did. So you have to kind of draw the parallels or the comparisons from when you were a kid, Maddon said.So I look at it as, wow, its just like what Gibson did, its like what Koufax did. And maybe with Whitey Ford and the Yankees prior to that. Its unique. So I hope the kids that are really watching right now understand how good this guy is and how it parallels throughout baseball history, what hes doing right now, he said.Bumgarner dazzled with a four-hitter last Wednesday in New York as the Giants eliminated the reigning NL champion Mets in the wild-card game. He did the same thing at Pittsburgh two years ago to get that championship run rolling.Even with all of the accolades and comparisons, Bumgarner just goes about his business ignoring any fanfare.When told of Maddons remarks about Gibson, Ford and Koufax, Bumgarner insisted he never thinks about where he might rank in postseason lore.You cant, MadBum said. As soon as you start buying into that its probably going to take a turn.Arrieta already has said he has no fear about this matchup, giving his respect to Bumgarner while also noting hes beatable.Hes been one of the best in the postseason for the last several years. We have got a challenge ahead of us, but we put ourselves in a really good position, obviously taking care of business at home with the opportunity to close the series out in three games and get back to Chicago and prepare, Arrieta said. He is tough, but at the same time we have got a pretty potent offense that he has to try and neutralize.Trailing in a postseason series or being on the brink of going home for the offseason has hardly seemed to faze Bochys teams in recent history. In 2012, the Giants became the first team to win three straight road games in a best-of-five series after dropping the first two in the division series at home to the Reds. San Francisco then rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat St. Louis.This club has a history, and thats what you like about whats going on now, finding a way to win that game they have to win and moving on, Bochy said. Thats experience thats so vital to draw on. If you dont have that, you may not have that belief that you can do it. They know theyve done it.As brilliant as Bumgarner might be against the Cubs slugging lineup, the Giants must find a way to score runs -- or a run if thats all it takes in a likely pitchers duel -- to extend their season by at least one more day. Arrieta won 22 games and the NL Cy Young Award in 2015 and another 18 this season.Both pitchers are capable hitters, adding to the intrigue of Mondays matchup.I feel like well attack each other accordingly, Arrieta said, and not take it lightly. Carlos Vela Jersey . Team physician Dr. Steve Traina performed the surgery Friday. Robinson was injured in a spill underneath the Nuggets basket during the first quarter of Wednesday nights loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. Diego Reyes Jersey . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. http://www.soccermexicojerseysteamstore.com/javier-hernandez-mexico-jersey/ . Vettel was 0.168 seconds faster than Red Bull teammate Mark Webber around the Suzuka circuit. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was two tenths of a second off Vettel. "The car balance is decent, but I think we can still improve," Vettel said. Jonathan dos Santos Jersey . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Edson Alvarez Jersey .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The horn went off too soon, and Michigan State hung on.Eron Harris had a season-high 31 points and the 13th-ranked Spartans held off Florida Gulf Coast 78-77 on Sunday night when a timekeeping error led to a disputed finish.With 1.6 seconds remaining, Florida Gulf Coasts Christian Terrell threw a long inbounds pass from underneath his own basket. But the clock incorrectly started when the pass was thrown, rather than when Antravious Simmons caught the ball by the foul line at the other end of the court.So as Simmons turned to try a game-winning shot, the buzzer sounded -- much too early. Simmons missed his attempt, but FGCU players looked confused and coach Joe Dooley sought an explanation.Officials went to a video review as players and fans waited to find out if the game was indeed over.Since a timing error occurred, we are able to utilize the replay monitor, referee Bo Boroski told a pool reporter. Using a stopwatch, it was determined the ball was caught and released in 1.3 seconds, meaning if the shot would have gone in, it would have counted. After the miss there was no time remaining in the game, therefore ending the game. By rule the possession cannot be replayed.And that was that.After the game, Dooley said he understood the ruling.Harris made all six of his 3-pointers and Miles Bridges added 13 points for the Spartans (2-2), who shot a season-best 51 percent from the floor. They hit 52.9 percent of their attempts from beyond the 3-point line, but struggled at the free throw line (57.6 percent).Its hard to be honest and mad and happy at the same time, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. We got to the free throw line 33 times. Twenty-one assists on 25 baskets was very, very good. We improved in some areas, but I thought we got outplayed. The biggest thing this program has stood for has been toughness, but I told our players they were the tougher team.Florida Gulf Coast (1-3) got 18 points apiece from Brandon Goodwin and Simmons, who added 12 rebounds. RaySean Scott Jr. added 14 off the bench.I thought it was a greaat college game.dddddddddddd Great atmosphere. Im proud of the way our guys competed, Dooley said. Obviously disappointed with the ending, but we put ourselves in some spots that we shouldnt have. But thats what happens when you play a really good team, and Michigan States a really good team.The Eagles shot 46 percent overall and 47.1 percent from the foul line. They outrebounded Michigan State 41-29.They were tougher than I thought they were going to be, Harris said of Florida Gulf Coast. They werent trash-talkers or anything. They got out there and played hard.It was the second meeting between the schools. Michigan State won 97-58 in East Lansing on Nov. 13, 2009.BIG PICTUREFlorida Gulf Coast: The Eagles dropped to 1-8 against ranked opponents. The schools only win came during its improbable run in the 2013 NCAA tournament, when it beat No. 8 Georgetown in the second round.Michigan State: The Spartans kept their November home winning streak alive, but barely. They havent lost at home since David Robinson led Navy past Michigan State 91-90 in overtime on Nov. 29, 1986.POLL IMPLICATIONSIf it were up to Izzo, there wouldnt be any for his team. This will be one of the four or five best teams we play in the preseason, Izzo said. That team will play in the NCAA (Tournament). No question about it.BY THE NUMBERSGoodwin has been Florida Gulf Coasts leading scorer in all four games this season, while Simmons recorded his first double-double of the season. The Eagles outscored Michigan State in the paint (40-22) and on second-chance points (24-9).UP NEXTFlorida Gulf Coast is home Wednesday against Binghamton, the start of a seven-game stretch that includes six at home.Michigan State, which has played in Hawaii and New York this month, travels to the Bahamas for the final three games of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament beginning Wednesday, when the Spartans take on St. Johns. They finish the month with a Nov. 29 game at Duke. ' ' '
