Plus, we're expanding our brand to all corners of the globe. We're proud to have consistent readers (or at least Internet bots that randomly view our site) in over 20 countries.
But our heads grew to Bonds-esque size tonight. For the first time, I received a request to write a post-game recap. I got a text from a friend that said they were looking forward to reading my reaction to Tuesday's Giant's game. Until now I've only received messages from people saying they were looking forward to not reading my post-game recap. So things are looking up!
Before the monotony of another work day kidnaps the joy tonight's thrilling walk-off win produced, let me share some of my thoughts on the game.
I was lucky enough to be there in person. With the evening free all of a sudden and the siren that is StubHub calling to me from the rocks, I quickly pulled the trigger on some tickets. I would finally get to see my beloved Big Time TJ in person, hair flowing, body contorting and halo shimmering.
Accompanied by my main man RyCox, we took in the game from what I consider to be the perfect vantage point. Section 323, Row 3, right in the middle of the row. We had an open seat on either side of us (that's when you KNOW it's going to be a good night) and we were surrounded by excited but not idiotic fans. It had all the makings of a classic and the baseball team, for better or for worse, obliged.
Some notes:
- The Giants have now won 8 home games this year. A whopping 5 of them have been walk-offs. 5 of 8! Two against St. Louis, two against Colorado and now Tuesday against the D-backs. We could start calling the Giants the "Walk-Off" kids.
- OR we could start calling them the "Could Easily Have 5 Fewer Wins" Kids.
The Giants ability to win close games this season has been remarkable. But it also highlights the fact that they've had very few leads in games. They're blowing opportunities to score runs early in ballgames and leaving the work for later on. Granted, their getting it done, but that won't always be the case. Their offense is giving opponents too many opportunities to score the first run, which in Giants games is huge.
Walk-off wins are great, but they also erase from our memory things that went wrong during a game. For example, Mark DeRosa hitting into a first-pitch double play with the bases loaded and one out. Had Chris Young's near home run been three feet to the right, that double play would likely be the reason for you slamming your head against a wall after a 1-0 Giants loss. The offense can't expect to always be tied in the bottom of the 9th.
- That said, don't harp too hard on Mark DeRosa. It's his first game back in what seems like 2 and 1/2 years. There will be some rust. The first pitch double play in a game-changing spot was disappointing, as was missing a sharply hit ground ball in the ninth. But give him a week or so to see what he can put together. At the end of the day he still looks more like Adam Sandler than Miguel Tejada. Start him.
- Tim Lincecum. What more can you say? He was 1 strikeout away from another 10K and was again hitless through 5.1. A's fans are going gaga over Trevor Cahill, and rightfully so. He's 6-0 with a -0.03 ERA. But if Trevor Cahill walked down the street in Downtown Oakland, who wants to be more than 25 people would recognize him and approach him? Tim is becoming an icon in San Francisco. Just look at how many people are mobbing to get a picture of him stretching before a game. If he was traded, the city would turn upside down. People would riot. Muni would run on time. Can you say the same about Cahill? I'm not taking a shot at the A's as much as reminding Giants fans how lucky they are. Tim is as unique as he is dominant. He is a star. And he is our star.
- Seeing Tim pitch in person is really the only way to go. The energy in the stands is beyond palpable. I say it all the time to people I can convince to come to games with me, but there is absolutely nothing like watching Tim strike a man out to end an inning late in the ballgame. As soon as he gets to two strikes on a guy, the energy builds. Its starts as a dull roar. Then grows as he looks in to Posey. It peaks as he comes set. Then an explosion of sound as the batter whiffs at a ball in the dirt. There is nothing like it.
As Ryan said tonight, "You no can has ball."
- Darren Ford is straight G. As is Bruce Bochy for keeping him on the team. As soon as Posey walked in the ninth, I leaned over to Ryan and said, "Wonder if we'll see --", and there he was. As I discussed the Giants roster moves with a friend earlier in the day, we were both glad to see Ford make the cut. He's a unique weapon. Any leadoff basehit or walk late in a game almost immediately becomes a double when Ford enters the game. It takes a lot of hutspa to lead-off first, look the pitcher in the eye and have the following conversation:
Ford: "I'm stealing."
Pitcher: "Sigh, I know..."
Ford: "Ok then."
.....
Pitcher: "Well can you at least -- *WHOOSH* -- crap."
So there are my thoughts on the Giants latest installment of "Frustration, Elation." Hopefully it met Sarah's standards. If not, it will be pretty easy to tell. Our page views will drop by 25%.
But we'll always have you, loyal fans in Indonesia. We'll always have you...
I think Kruk says it best about Tim. "He's awesome. And you know what's more awesome? He's OURS!"
ReplyDeleteSuck it Mat Latos.