Are you starting to understand why so many people thought this was such an intriguing World Series matchup? Yes, the Giants have Madison Bumgarner, and he’s an ace among aces at the moment. But there’s only one of him. And as the 2014 Fall Classic shifts to San Francisco, it’s become increasingly clear that successful mid-game strategizing is ultimately going to dictate the outcome.

The Giants were Larry Baer’s first job after college in 1980, and since returning in 1992, he has methodically risen through the organization. Now he’s the man ultimately responsible for one of baseball’s most respected franchises. But Baer’s real love of the Giants goes back to his boyhood.

It doesn’t take an expert in the art of catching to realize that Buster Posey is a special player off to a rare start to his Major League career. Two World Series rings with a third hanging in the balance are testament to his leadership qualities, both behind and beside the plate. Doesn’t take a genius to figure out that’s something special, something historic after just five years.

With the World Series shifting to National League rules in San Francisco, Royals pitchers will have a chance to dig their spikes into the batter’s box and take some swings over the next three games.

The Royals have endured comparison after comparison to the 1985 World Series champions, but in at least one respect, the current club may have a leg up on the team from 29 years ago.

The Mets did not need to look far to find their new hitting coach, taking him from just across town. The team on Thursday announced that recently dismissed Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long will fill that role for them in 2015. Long replaces Lamar Johnson, who took over when the Mets dismissed Dave Hudgens in May.

Cubs shortstop Addison Russell — the fifth-ranked prospect in baseball — saw his stint in the Arizona Fall League come to an abrupt end Thursday, but he made sure to leave a lasting impression.

Major League Baseball will dedicate Game 3 of the 110th World Series on Friday to advancing the fight against cancer and specifically to help Stand Up To Cancer — empowering a population of fans and Fall Classic participants who all share a goal of eradicating this disease in our lifetimes.

Throughout the Royals’ frenetic playoff run, one that was void of a loss until Game 1 of the World Series, one comment kept coming up in conversation among those familiar with Kansas City baseball: Buck woulda loved this.

At Game 2 of the World Series, Major League Baseball used its greatest stage to keep the momentum going to help find a cure for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Yilda Diaz has seen her son, Royals catcher Salvador Perez, take on a leadership role since his days on youth baseball teams at Club Firestone in Valencia, Venezuela. Perez homered in Game 1 and stroked a clutch two-run double that helped the Royals earn a 7-2 win on Wednesday in Game 2 of the World Series.

John Hart was named the Braves’ president of baseball operations on Thursday, agreeing to terms on a three-year contract that will run through 2017.

Three players at each position in each league were named finalists for the 2015 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards on Thursday.

Now the upstart, unbridled, uninhibited Royals are back in business. Kansas City landed a sixth-inning haymaker on the Giants and surged to a 7-2 victory in Game 2 of the 110th Fall Classic on Wednesday night with a blue-hued crowd of 40,446 roaring at Kauffman Stadium.

John Hart seemingly has it all. Great family, great golf swing, great clothes, great tan, great legacy in the front-office fraternity. And up until recently, he had great flexibility to enjoy all of these things at his own pace. But Hart also has great baseball insight and a great competitive fire. And these are the traits his good friend John Schuerholz leveraged in convincing Hart to take on this greater role and greater challenge with the Atlanta Braves.

The Padres hired Sam Geaney on Thursday to be their director of player development, a role in which he will oversee the organization’s Minor League system.

The Phillies need outfielders, and they believe Grady Sizemore can help in some fashion in 2015. They announced Thursday they have signed him to a one-year, $2 million contract.