The Giants had must-win games in the World Series the past two nights, and they won.

Going back to Kansas City doesn’t seem quite as daunting when you’re up 3-2. And imagine if they could squeeze another start out of Madison Bumgarner.

I’d find a way.

Bumgarner is an absolute stud, one who’s truly worthy of the “Big Game” moniker. He certainly was worth the 10th overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

The nine players chosen before him? David Price (Rays), Mike Moustakas (Royals), Josh Vitters (Cubs), Daniel Moskos (Pirates), Matt Wieters (Orioles), Ross Detwiler (Nationals), Matt LaPorta (Brewers), Casey Weathers (Rockies) and Jarrod Parker (Diamondbacks).

It’s hard to argue with Price, who was the obvious choice at No. 1, but a few others were taken due to concerns over Wieters’ signability.

Bumgarner threw the first complete-game shutout in the World Series since the Marlins’ Josh Beckett in 2003 at Yankee Stadium. He stated after last night’s win that he would be available for Game 7 if needed. I’d take him up on it.

The Orioles have engaged in talks with Nick Markakis’ agent regarding a new contract and more conversations will take place this week, according to sources.

Both sides want to get a deal done, but it’s not as though Markakis will settle for whatever is put on the table. A hometown discount has its limits.

Markakis can become a free agent immediately following the World Series, since the Orioles will decline his $17.5 million option.

The Orioles have posted three consecutive winning seasons for the first time since registering four in a row from 1982-85. So they have something to shoot for next year.

Naturally, I had to look up the 1986 season to determine where it all went wrong.

The Orioles finished in seventh place in the division with a 73-89 record. Yes, it was possible to drop that low back in the day. Earl Weaver was the manager. Just not how we remember him.

I have no recollection of the Dec. 12, 1985 trade that sent Gary Roenicke and a player to be named later (Leo Hernandez) to the Yankees for Rex Hudler and Rich Bordi. I can’t imagine that it was wildy popular with Orioles fans.

The Orioles released Joe Nolan and Dan Ford before spring training. They never had a chance.

Testing your memory here. The Orioles had four starters - Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Bud Norris and Miguel Gonzalez - win 10 or more games this season for the first time since 1997. Name the quartet. Answer below.

The Orioles used 46 players this season, with 22 making their club debuts and three (Tim Berry, Caleb Joseph and Christian Walker) making their major league debuts.

The Orioles registered 211 home runs and 264 doubles, the third consecutive season that they exceeded 200 in both categories. It happened only three times in franchise history before 2012: 1999 (203 homers, 299 doubles), 1998 (214 homers, 303 doubles) and 1996 (257 homers, 299 doubles).

Here are some final numbers, conveniently packed by the Orioles’ PR staff in the season summary:

The Orioles were 50-31 at home and 46-35 on the road. They were 24-30 in day games and 72-36 at night. They were 22-19 versus left-handers and 74-47 vesus right-handers.

The Orioles’ longest winning streak was six games and their longest losing streak was four games. They were 14-6 in extra innings, 32-23 in one-run games and 17-14 in two-run games.

The Orioles were 75-7 when leading after seven innings and 80-4 when leading after eight innings. They were 5-52 when trailing after the seventh and 3-54 when trailing after the eighth. They were 61-16 when scoring first and 35-50 when their opponent scored first. They were 75-15 when scoring four runs or more and 21-51 when scoring fewer than four runs.

As for their division records, the Orioles were 47-29 against the American League East, 16-17 versus the AL Central and 21-12 against the AL West. They also were 12-8 versus the National League.

Interleague play used to be an issue for the Orioles, but the 12 wins this year set a club record. They’ve finished above .500 against the NL in five of the last seven seasons since 2008 after posting a winning record only twice in the first 11 years.

The four starters who won 10 or more games in 1997 were Mike Mussina, Jimmy Key, Scott Erickson and Scott Kamieniecki. My guess is most fans forget about Kamieniecki.