Sergio Romo's Series motivation

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Staring at Detroit's Miguel Cabrera, one out away from a World Series championship, Sergio Romo needed no external motivation. But he had some.

During a FanFest question-and-answer session Saturday, Romo revealed that before the Series, the Tigers' first baseman "called me out," telling the Giants' closer, "I'm going to be ready for your slider."

Jeremy Affeldt confirmed the story, saying Cabrera said it to Romo on the field. Romo was perplexed.

"He hadn't ever faced me. You have to have a little sense of respect," the pitcher said.

The incident made the ending even more delicious for Romo and the Giants. Romo said he threw Cabrera "five of my best sliders." When Cabrera fouled off the fifth, catcher Buster Posey called for a sixth, but Romo shook him off. His gut told him to throw a fastball.

Cabrera, looking for that slider, gazed at the 89-mph fastball for strike three, and the Giants were champs.

World domination: Trash talking is OK among teammates, and there has been plenty since the Giants gathered for FanFest, with Pablo Sandoval squarely in the middle.

Sandoval will play for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic and has made it clear to Team USA pitchers Affeldt and Ryan Vogelsong that he will homer off them if they meet.

"He said something to me this morning that he's going to take me deep," Vogelsong said. "I told him, 'You can't hit the ball if I hit you first,' and let's face it, Panda is not a small target. I might throw one at his head, then wink at him."

When a fan asked Affeldt if any hitters intimidate him, Sandoval pointed toward himself.

"You don't intimidate me," Affeldt responded. "I'll just throw the rosin bag up there and you'll swing at it. I'll probably just hit Pablo. I'll walk (Marco) Scutaro. I'll pitch around all those guys so they won't have bragging rights."

Briefly: Manager Bruce Bochy said he senses major-league official Joe Torre softening his opposition to rules that would protect catchers from blind-side collisions. ... Bochy wants Brandon Belt to continue working in left field so he can stay in the lineup when Posey plays first base.