For as great as the newest member of the San Francisco Giants Evan Longoria has been, the postseason is something that’s haunted him in his 10-year career.
Longoria was the 2008 Rookie of the Year, earned three All-Star nominations, and received three Gold Glove awards with the Tampa Bay Rays, but only batted .191 with 38 strikeouts in 30 postseason games, which includes a 1-20 showing in the 2008 World Series.
While some in San Francisco might see Longoria’s playoff track record as worrisome, Mike Kurkow told Murph & Mac Thursday morning he believes it will fuel the 32-year-old third baseman to redeem himself.
“If you look at postseason play of Longoria, he hasn’t done well,” Krukow said. “The reason I bring that up is with a guy who’s had a career like he’s has, that gnaws at him. He burns to get back to the playoffs and he burns to atone the .191 average he’s had in the postseason. I think that’s something he’s going to get with this Giants club.”
Before signing with the Giants in 1992, Barry Bonds found himself in a similar situation that Longoria is in now. He stumbled through 20 postseason games with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he batted .192 with only one home run.
“If you remember when Bonds came over to the Giants, he had a bad history of postseason failure,” Krukow said.
Yet, Bonds flipped the script when he came to San Francisco, appearing in 28 playoff game and batting .471 with four home runs in the 2002 World Series. Although Bonds ultimately ended his career without a championship ring, San Francisco could be the place where Longoria not only gets another shot at the postseason, but also win his first World Series title.
“I like all that he brings over, all that he wants to do and wants to achieve,” Krukow said. “I just think there’s a lot of fire in this guy and I think he’ll be a good Giant.”
To listen to the full interview check out the podcast below, and start from the beginning for Krukow on Longoria.