AI weighs in on controversial SF Giants Brandon Crawford play from 2014 World Series

There are so many happy memories SF Giants fans can draw upon from the team's three World Series runs last decade. One that may cause heart palpitations to think about is when Alex Gordon's line drive in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series got by Gregor Blanco.

It was just a soft liner into shallow center. Surely with Blanco's speed it would be an easy-oh my goodness he misplayed it and now it's at the wall. Okay as long as Juan Perez just-no way he just kicked it. Okay now just a good relay throw-holy cow Brandon Crawford had to pick it on a short hop.

AI settles the debate on near-disastrous Sf Giants play from 2014 World Series

That is probably how every Giants fan's internal, and quite possibly external, monologue went during the course of that play. Catcher Buster Posey ran towards Madison Bumgarner on the mound thinking it was all over with there being two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

Instead, it got dangerously close to a calamity of epic proportions as Alex Gordon made it to third base. One of those big "What If" debates that has made for some controversy is whether Gordon would have been safe if the Kansas City third base coach had sent him home, even though he himself has said Gordon would have been way out. Thankfully, AI has now weighed in on the debate.

According to Grok, the social media platform X's AI tool, Gordon would have been out by a mile if he had tried to go home.

Giants fans have always understood this because they were aware of how strong Crawford's arm was and that, so long as he didn't spike it into the ground or airmail it over Posey's head, Gordon would have surely been hosed. What is arguably most impressive is the pick that Crawford made on the relay throw. If he boots that ball or does not field it cleanly then Gordon may have been able to score.

Crawford's wife, Jalynne, noted on social media that one of her favorite plays to watch Crawford make were on relay throws to home:

Thankfully, the near-disaster did not cost the Giants as Bumgarner threw seemingly dozens of fastballs up and in to the next batter Salvador Perez until he popped one up in the field of play that Pablo Sandoval was able to catch to secure the team's third World Series title in five years.

Still, that soft liner from Gordon made for one of the tenser moments in the history of the franchise. Thankfully, we can sleep at night knowing that things turned out okay and even if Gordon did try to go home, it is safe to assume Crawford would have gunned him down easily.

More from Around the Foghorn: