And just like in the Championship Series, everyone remembers the Ishakawa HR but forgets that without Michael Morse's game-tying, pinch-hit HR and Panik's 2 run job earlier in the game versus Adam Wainwright, we might never get to Ishakawa's magical AB.
Earlier in "The At-Bat", Panik had ripped a ball that left the yard by a bunch but just foul. I do think eventually this kid silences the critics (mostly SABR) that don't see any pop in his bat based on his small sample size of AB's in the big leagues. I think Panik eventually develops into a 10-15 HR guy, but I would gladly settle for the Bill Muellar comparisons with the bat.
I will effort getting a clip of the entire AB because it is a clinic on hitting discipline and approach. I'm glad the Giants coaches and Panik's peers agree.
Earlier in "The At-Bat", Panik had ripped a ball that left the yard by a bunch but just foul. I do think eventually this kid silences the critics (mostly SABR) that don't see any pop in his bat based on his small sample size of AB's in the big leagues. I think Panik eventually develops into a 10-15 HR guy, but I would gladly settle for the Bill Muellar comparisons with the bat.
I will effort getting a clip of the entire AB because it is a clinic on hitting discipline and approach. I'm glad the Giants coaches and Panik's peers agree.
from Mercurynews.com
Joe Panik's two-out, ninth-inning walk in Game 2 of the NLDS that drove Jordan Zimmermann from the game. Gregor Blanco's bunt that led to an error and a walk-off run in the NLCS. Hunter Pence's homer in Game 1 of the World Series. Lefebvre cued up the big, instantly recognizable moments but also the nearly imperceptible contributions, too, such as Joaquin Arias moving a runner into scoring position.
The coaches didn't lecture about the significance of each clip, or drone on about what the player did right. Instead, they asked the questions and opened the floor: What were you thinking? What did you want to achieve in that moment? What was your plan? How were you able to execute?
After just 20 minutes, almost everyone on the team had spoken.
"I'm sitting there watching it and getting goose bumps," said Casey McGehee, one of the few newcomers who wasn't part of last year's World Series team. "Pretty much everybody had a hand in making something good happen. Each clip was someone different. It really makes you aware that anyone can make a contribution. When they spoke, a lot of them said something similar: They didn't try to be a hero. They just focused on doing their job at the time."
Lefebvre, who put together the presentation, said the first clip he knew he'd include was Panik's plate appearance in Washington. The two-out, bases-empty walk was a prelude to a last-second comeback in what became an 18-inning victory.
"I loved it. I showed the whole thing," Lefebvre said. "Here he is, the youngest guy on the team, or just about, and there's nothing but calmness on his face. He walks into the biggest moment, and he handles it well."
Panik explained that he didn't change his stance or swing mechanics. He choked up a half inch on the bat, told himself to stay short and, more than anything, refused to allow his eagerness to nudge his strike zone a little wider.
Spring training is long, it is often frighteningly dull and players can hear things like "the little things make a difference" only so many times before it becomes white noise.
Lefebvre got the message across with crowd noise.
"Hearing the commentary, hearing the crowd roar, just all the emotion of it -- for 15 minutes, these guys had smiles on their faces and were pulling for each other," Lefebvre said. "It got all of us going."
from USA Today:
Game 2 pivot point: After Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann held the Giants scoreless for 8 2/3 innings, Pablo Sandoval's two-out double into the left-field corner scored Joe Panik to tie the game at 1. Zimmerman only allowed three hits, but his first walk of the evening to Panik was his 100th and final pitch of the night.
None of the heroics would have been possible without the 23-year-old rookie second baseman getting on base with the Giants down to their last out. With Buster Posey due up next, Zimmerman was removed despite dominating the Giants the entire game.
***
Manager's special: Zimmermann seemingly made things easy for Williams. His efficiency with his pitches didn't require any tough decisions on when to go to the bullpen … or whether or not lift his starter for a pinch-hitter.
But the walk to Panik prompted Williams to make the first huge decision of his postseason managerial career. It backfired.
Williams went to closer Drew Storen to get the final out. But a single by Posey and a double by Pablo Sandoval plated the tying run, and only a flawless relay - and a favorable video review - prevented Posey from scoring the go-ahead run on Sandoval's hit.
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