On-Air Now
On-Air Now
Listen Live from the Casino Matrix Studio

Krukow compares Bumgarner’s uniqueness to former Giants Hall of Famer

By

/

© Neville E. Guard | 2019 Aug 8


Tuesday night marked the beginning of the Bay Bridge Series against the Oakland Athletics and Madison Bumgarner was beyond dominant. Aside from a Stephen Piscotty solo home run in the fifth, Bumgarner completely owned the A’s. He tossed seven one-run innings while allowing two hits and striking out nine. The Giants are 9-1 in the ace’s last ten starts following his seven inning masterpiece.

Giants longtime broadcaster Mike Krukow joined the Murph & Mac Show on KNBR 680 Wednesday morning to discuss Bumgarner’s absolute gem, and rare delivery, which reminded him of a particular Giants legend.

“The low three-quarter motion with a cross-over step and a big upper-body turn, who does that?” Krukow asked about Bumgarner’s delivery. “Nobody. He’s as unique as Juan Marichal is. Whose ever seen a guy throw the ball like Bumgarner? Nobody.”

Juan Marichal pitched in the MLB from 1960-1975. He pitched for the Giants for fourteen of those years. Throughout his 16-year career, Marichal went 243-142 (.631) with a 2.89 ERA and pitched with a unique leg kick, shades of Tim Lincecum. To compare, Bumgarner is 118-90 (.567) with a 3.09 ERA.

Krukow continued on about what makes Bumgarner so special.

“Most guys who have that low three quarter release with a cross over step, they end up ‘shlinging’ their delivery. They don’t have pinpoint control. Bumgarner has pinpoint control with four pitches”

“That curveball is not something he forces. If it shows up, he rides it. If that changeup shows up, he rides it. But yet, when it shows up like that curveball did last night; hop on board we got a toy, let’s work it out. So I think what he has, he has an incredible ability to compete. And he also has a very common sense approach to whats working…I mean he’s the whole package, he can pitch.”