Defending Champions Going Home Instead Of Playoffs

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Bruce Bochy made no plans for October. He fully planned to be working.

Instead, he will be busy in the coming days and weeks with player evaluations, sit-downs with his returning coaching staff, organizational meetings and a visit to the Arizona Fall League.

The reigning World Series champions are headed home early this year after high hopes of another special postseason run.

There were devastating injuries to Buster Posey and Freddy Sanchez, not to mention all the others, and an offense that couldn't produce the clutch hit that carried this club to an improbable title last fall. Pitching performances were wasted because of quiet bats.

Forget the victory parade through the city for thousands to celebrate. Not this year.