Wow, what a year. For me, it started out not being able to buy season tickets for the first time in 26 years due to the economy. So, I picked the Giants to win the World Series since I wouldn't be there to see it. And it happened.
Spring training started with the realization that the Giants had little prospect for improving upon their 2009 total of 88 wins. Although 88 wins could be figured as overachieving, they finished in 3rd place behind a surging Rockies team, and were the only team of the 8 holding a playoff position at the All-Star break not to hold on. One thing was clear, though. The Giants had one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball, and the 88 wins without any semblance of an offense proved it.
They started off very strong in the first couple of weeks, as did the A's. But they faded as time went on, and it was clear that the Padres were a team to be reckoned with, especially with the way they were pitching. Slowly, the Giants added bats. First, Buster Posey was brought up from the minors. Bengie Molina was their cleanup hitter, and Posey took that spot after Molina's trade to their eventual World Series opponent Rangers. Pat Burrell and Cody Ross were instrumental additions in the team's stretch run. The pitching staff caught fire in August - racking up numbers not seen in baseball since the 1965 Dodgers. I was convinced they easily had the pitching staff to win it all, but I was not convinced at all that the Giants would win anything. The Giants never won anything, and it was not in their nature to ever do so.
The pennant race with the Padres was simply an amazing thing to watch. "Torture" as we would come to know it was already coursing through our veins, we just didn't have a word for it. Of course, that last 3-game series had the Giants dropping the first two - and losing a great number of games during the year to San Diego - and winning the West in game 162 was Torture at it's highest...to that point.
Of the 32 post-season games played in 2010 between all 8 playoff teams, seven were one-run games. The Giants played every single one of those seven games, and were 6-1. Now that's Torture. All four Braves games, three of the six Phillies games, and not one of the Ranger games. The Giants simply dominated the post-season, going 11-4. Brian Wilson was on the mound for all four clincher games - game 162 vs. the Padres, game 4 vs. the Braves, game 6 vs. the Phillies and game 5 vs. the Rangers. Three of those series ended in strikeouts. Ryan Howard standing motionless trying to argue with the umpire whilst the Giants dogpiled in the center of the diamond is an image of contrasts I'll never forget. Swing, Ryan, swing! Tim Lincecum won game 1's of the NLDS, NLCS, WS and the WS clincher. Matt Cain had a 0.00 ERA in 3 starts, and Brian Wilson was lights out. The Texas Rangers, who had the best offense in baseball, were shutout once at home all year. The Giants shut them out twice, and came one pitch from doing it a third time. The Rangers totalled one run and six hits in the last two games, and only one Texas player even as much as touched third base. AL MVP Josh Hamilton was a deer in the headlights and Vladimir Guererro swung not like a madman, but like a little leaguer. Nelson Cruz whiffed and Cliff Lee was spanked.
Madison Bumgarner, Johnathan Sanchez, Juan Uribe, Buster Posey, Edgar Renteria, Javier Lopez, Aubrey Huff. Kruk, Kuip, Miller and Flem. Dave Flemming's cracked voice. Enough names to remember forever. I hope I didn't forget anybody. Bruce Bochy, and the million man march down Market Street. "Swing and a miss. And that's it!" What a season. The replays are great and will be forever.
Showing posts with label 2010 World Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2010 World Series. Show all posts
Monday, January 3, 2011
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Giants Victory Parade
Before this last Wednesday, the largest crowd I had ever been in was a Giants road game I saw in Denver in 1993, the Rockies' expansion year, in Mile High Stadium. This was before Coors Field was built. The attendance that day was 72,431. I can't remember any other big events I attended with a crowd that large.
But Wednesday was a special day. At the last minute, early in the morning, we decided to go to the San Francisco Giants World Series victory parade. About 1 million fans showed up. Driving into The City was out of the question, so we had to take public transportation, on the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train. We picked the furthest station in our town because the parking situation is always much better. We drove by the closest station on our way there, and there were hundreds of people walking down the sidewalks of every street we could see, all dressed in orange and black. Wow. On to our destination station. It was packed, and a line for train tickets was about a hundred yards long. Ouch. On to the last station on the line, in Pittsburg. Same story. The line was through the station, over the freeway, and about 50 yards out into the parking lot. I used to live a block away, so I knew where to park. As we entered the station lot, some fans turned us around and told us to go to the Safeway grocery store on the corner, as they sold BART tickets at a discount. That line was five minutes long. Thank you, whoever you are!
We proceeded into the station and to the furthest extent of the station to catch the last car. We saw a friend, Sean, who works in the City, and had to go back home because none of the vanpool vehicles he took to work every day were picking anybody up. The train completely filled up two stations later, and everybody else along the line was out of luck. It was a wall of orange inside the train. The train stations were so filled with people eager to get on the trains, the operator couldn't close the doors. It took a while to even get to San Francisco.
We exited at the Civic Center station, the closest station to the parade end destination. Once out, we entered a sea of people semi-jockying for position. We didn't arrive until after the parade had started at the other end, and it would be a while before it got to us. I had a radio, so I was able to tell when they were going to turn the corner onto the final street on the way to city hall. The kids couldn't see, as they were too small, and even I couldn't see because we were too far away. We could hear the crowd gain in volume around the corner as the parade approached, and when it hit our area, a huge roar erupted. The caravan angled away from us, and I think I saw announcers Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow, and Lincecum's hair. That was it. The kids were tired, and I was satisfied. A much needed ice cream cart passed by as we were leaving, so that bought us maybe a half hour more in a celebratory atmosphere.
We missed the speeches and all, but saw them later on TV. As the kids were eating ice cream on a low planter wall, a few people down was a lady that sits behind me in my Wednesday night class. How cool. She wore her colors all semester, and I would see her later that evening. She recorded a bunch of stuff on her Flip. Anyway, the kids finished their ice cream and we headed back toward BART. But one problem: there were thousands of people heading out to the plaza. As many people as were leaving, many times more were just arriving. The station was a zoo, and one exit was completely shut down due to heavy foot traffic. We got a seat on the train home, trying to beat what commute there would be, and made it home without a problem. It was exciting just to say we went, and I'm sure I'll look back on the parade with a sense of completion. What a season.
But Wednesday was a special day. At the last minute, early in the morning, we decided to go to the San Francisco Giants World Series victory parade. About 1 million fans showed up. Driving into The City was out of the question, so we had to take public transportation, on the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train. We picked the furthest station in our town because the parking situation is always much better. We drove by the closest station on our way there, and there were hundreds of people walking down the sidewalks of every street we could see, all dressed in orange and black. Wow. On to our destination station. It was packed, and a line for train tickets was about a hundred yards long. Ouch. On to the last station on the line, in Pittsburg. Same story. The line was through the station, over the freeway, and about 50 yards out into the parking lot. I used to live a block away, so I knew where to park. As we entered the station lot, some fans turned us around and told us to go to the Safeway grocery store on the corner, as they sold BART tickets at a discount. That line was five minutes long. Thank you, whoever you are!
We proceeded into the station and to the furthest extent of the station to catch the last car. We saw a friend, Sean, who works in the City, and had to go back home because none of the vanpool vehicles he took to work every day were picking anybody up. The train completely filled up two stations later, and everybody else along the line was out of luck. It was a wall of orange inside the train. The train stations were so filled with people eager to get on the trains, the operator couldn't close the doors. It took a while to even get to San Francisco.
We exited at the Civic Center station, the closest station to the parade end destination. Once out, we entered a sea of people semi-jockying for position. We didn't arrive until after the parade had started at the other end, and it would be a while before it got to us. I had a radio, so I was able to tell when they were going to turn the corner onto the final street on the way to city hall. The kids couldn't see, as they were too small, and even I couldn't see because we were too far away. We could hear the crowd gain in volume around the corner as the parade approached, and when it hit our area, a huge roar erupted. The caravan angled away from us, and I think I saw announcers Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow, and Lincecum's hair. That was it. The kids were tired, and I was satisfied. A much needed ice cream cart passed by as we were leaving, so that bought us maybe a half hour more in a celebratory atmosphere.
We missed the speeches and all, but saw them later on TV. As the kids were eating ice cream on a low planter wall, a few people down was a lady that sits behind me in my Wednesday night class. How cool. She wore her colors all semester, and I would see her later that evening. She recorded a bunch of stuff on her Flip. Anyway, the kids finished their ice cream and we headed back toward BART. But one problem: there were thousands of people heading out to the plaza. As many people as were leaving, many times more were just arriving. The station was a zoo, and one exit was completely shut down due to heavy foot traffic. We got a seat on the train home, trying to beat what commute there would be, and made it home without a problem. It was exciting just to say we went, and I'm sure I'll look back on the parade with a sense of completion. What a season.
Overall World Series Observations
There's something completely different about having your own team play in the World Series. When you're just a fan of a team who has already been eliminated, or a TV exec, or an advertiser, you want a great, seven game series, with lots of pivotal moments and lifelong highlights. When your team is in it, you want a four-game, double digit, four-shutout sweep. For me, it is difficult to cast myself into the position of neutral observer for a few more reasons.
When I'm used to my team collapsing time afte time for half a century, each pitch of the Series was grinding. There was simply no time to relax. None. The last pitch of the World Series - Wilson striking out Cruz - could easily have gone differently. It could have been ball four, with the next batter hitting a home run to tie. The Rangers win in extras, and their bats come alive in SF for games 6 and 7. So to me, the Giants were one pitch away from losing the Series at the same time they were one pitch away from winning it, despite the 3 games to 1 lead and 3 to 1 score. Pivotal moments come at times just like that one, Mr. Stanley. Just when you think it, Mr. Moore. Cruising, Mr. Bartman. Easy out, Mr. Buckner. Game ball, Mr. Baker.
But when one looks at it simply, the Giants were really one pitch (a lone Johnathan Sanchez mistake) away from a sweep. Twenty runs in the first two games was a no-brainer. The pitching staff completely dominated. Who could have guessed two shutouts against such an offensive giant? Well, me. That's what great pitching staffs do. Not that I thought they were going win easily, but after they knocked off the Phils, it was easy to see them winning in five, because the Phillies were a better team than the Rangers. The last two games, the Rangers got a combined six hits, with only one player even reaching third base. Game on, game over.
When I'm used to my team collapsing time afte time for half a century, each pitch of the Series was grinding. There was simply no time to relax. None. The last pitch of the World Series - Wilson striking out Cruz - could easily have gone differently. It could have been ball four, with the next batter hitting a home run to tie. The Rangers win in extras, and their bats come alive in SF for games 6 and 7. So to me, the Giants were one pitch away from losing the Series at the same time they were one pitch away from winning it, despite the 3 games to 1 lead and 3 to 1 score. Pivotal moments come at times just like that one, Mr. Stanley. Just when you think it, Mr. Moore. Cruising, Mr. Bartman. Easy out, Mr. Buckner. Game ball, Mr. Baker.
But when one looks at it simply, the Giants were really one pitch (a lone Johnathan Sanchez mistake) away from a sweep. Twenty runs in the first two games was a no-brainer. The pitching staff completely dominated. Who could have guessed two shutouts against such an offensive giant? Well, me. That's what great pitching staffs do. Not that I thought they were going win easily, but after they knocked off the Phils, it was easy to see them winning in five, because the Phillies were a better team than the Rangers. The last two games, the Rangers got a combined six hits, with only one player even reaching third base. Game on, game over.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Game 5 Observations
The Rangers' Cliff Lee and the Giants' Tim Lincecum dueled in an amazing game of pitching, and lived up to everything both games 1 and 5 were supposed to be. Both had a commanding performance over the other team's lineup, and took a scoreless game into the late innings. Wonderful!
But as the innings unfolded it became clear that the Giants were taking better swings when they made outs than the Rangers were. And as each scoreless inning moved into the late innings, I became more sure that the Giants were going to win. A scoreless game late was unfamiliar territory to the Rangers, while it was home sweet home to the Giants. It was only a matter of time before the Giants bats broke through. Lincecum was simply lights out all game.
When they got two hits in the seventh, and Huff bunted the runners over (the first sacrifice of his career), I could taste it. Although Pat "the Bat" Burrell whiffed, when Renteria came up, Giants radio announcer Dave Flemming called it. "Can Edgar Renteria be the Giants hero yet again?" I have never been so ecstatic over a baseball play in my life as I was for his three run homer. And Flemming's voice cracked like a thirteen year old when he came to the word "gone!" in his call.
After that, Cruz made it interesting with a homer off Timmy Jim, but order was restored the next at bat. I was a bit surprised when Lincecum took the mound for the 8th, but Wilson's appearance in the 9th, no matter how well Timmy was pitching, was the right choice. This time, Wilson made it easy. One, two, three. As has happened so many times before, Wilson faced the 3, 4, 5 batters to close it out. I wouldn't have it any other way. Neither would Wilson.
Final - San Francisco 3, Texas 1
San Francisco wins the World Series 4 games to 1
But as the innings unfolded it became clear that the Giants were taking better swings when they made outs than the Rangers were. And as each scoreless inning moved into the late innings, I became more sure that the Giants were going to win. A scoreless game late was unfamiliar territory to the Rangers, while it was home sweet home to the Giants. It was only a matter of time before the Giants bats broke through. Lincecum was simply lights out all game.
When they got two hits in the seventh, and Huff bunted the runners over (the first sacrifice of his career), I could taste it. Although Pat "the Bat" Burrell whiffed, when Renteria came up, Giants radio announcer Dave Flemming called it. "Can Edgar Renteria be the Giants hero yet again?" I have never been so ecstatic over a baseball play in my life as I was for his three run homer. And Flemming's voice cracked like a thirteen year old when he came to the word "gone!" in his call.
After that, Cruz made it interesting with a homer off Timmy Jim, but order was restored the next at bat. I was a bit surprised when Lincecum took the mound for the 8th, but Wilson's appearance in the 9th, no matter how well Timmy was pitching, was the right choice. This time, Wilson made it easy. One, two, three. As has happened so many times before, Wilson faced the 3, 4, 5 batters to close it out. I wouldn't have it any other way. Neither would Wilson.
Final - San Francisco 3, Texas 1
San Francisco wins the World Series 4 games to 1
Monday, November 1, 2010
THE GIANTS WIN THE WORLD SERIES!
IT'S OVER! THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS HAVE WON THE WORLD SERIES! WE WIN! NOW IT'S TIME TO PARTY!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Game 4 Observations
While all his friends went Trick or Treating tonight, 21 year old Madison Bumgarner pitched a three-hit shutout in the World Series against the great Texas Rangers bats. That's two shutouts now against this team.
The Giants had a phenomenal defensive performance behind Bumgarner to bolster the win. But the great glove work started out with Hamilton's diving catch to save the Giants from scoring first. The G-Men turned several double plays, and Cody Ross came close to matching Hamilton's feat later in the game with a sliding catch of his own. Rook Buster Posey gunned down Hamilton in a seemingly sure steal attempt. But the play that sticks out is Freddie Sanchez's robbery of a line drive. Hit over his head, he went high up, landed into a backward somersault, and came up with a sno-cone snag.
The Giants provided all the offense in the game in a blowout. Blowout? Yes, four runs scored by this team is a blowout. Huff's two run bomb, Torres' bouncer off the top of the fence that bounced back into the yard (yes, Ian, he did it too), and Posey's blast added up to an insurmountable lead. Bumgarner was iffy in the 7th, but Bochy left him in for the 8th to face the bottom of the order. The Beard slammed the door shut in the 9th with a 1-2-3 inning.
Final - San Francisco 4, Texas 0
Los Gigantes surge to a 3-1 series lead
The Giants had a phenomenal defensive performance behind Bumgarner to bolster the win. But the great glove work started out with Hamilton's diving catch to save the Giants from scoring first. The G-Men turned several double plays, and Cody Ross came close to matching Hamilton's feat later in the game with a sliding catch of his own. Rook Buster Posey gunned down Hamilton in a seemingly sure steal attempt. But the play that sticks out is Freddie Sanchez's robbery of a line drive. Hit over his head, he went high up, landed into a backward somersault, and came up with a sno-cone snag.
The Giants provided all the offense in the game in a blowout. Blowout? Yes, four runs scored by this team is a blowout. Huff's two run bomb, Torres' bouncer off the top of the fence that bounced back into the yard (yes, Ian, he did it too), and Posey's blast added up to an insurmountable lead. Bumgarner was iffy in the 7th, but Bochy left him in for the 8th to face the bottom of the order. The Beard slammed the door shut in the 9th with a 1-2-3 inning.
Final - San Francisco 4, Texas 0
Los Gigantes surge to a 3-1 series lead
Game 3 Observations
As much as Johnathan Sanchez struggled, the difference in this game was one bad pitch by Sanchez. One pitch. Cruz led off the second with a double, but Sanchez pulled it together the next two batters. Molina was hot, so walking him wasn't a bad outcome if Sanchez were pitching around him. Moreland had a very good at bat, and Sanchez battled back. Moreland slammed the pitch he needed to, deep into the bleachers. This is what a good hitter does. He hits the one pitch he needs to all game long, and that's all it takes at the major league level to win a game.
On the other hand, the Giants have been doing all year long just what Moreland did in game 3, and it has been written off as luck. Could I get away with labeling this Texas Rangers World Series home run as luck? Not a chance. Anyway, the Giants showed signs of getting to the Rangers pitching late in the game, but it was too little, too late. Feliz came in and blew the Giants away in the ninth. The key to the rest of the Series is for the Giants to keep this kid on the bench. The Giants didn't play all that bad, and the Ranger bats showed us what they were capable of doing. Josh Hamilton finally showed up in this series with a solo shot to give the Rangers an insurance run.
Final - Texas 4, San Francisco 2.
Texas cuts San Fran Series lead to 2-1.
On the other hand, the Giants have been doing all year long just what Moreland did in game 3, and it has been written off as luck. Could I get away with labeling this Texas Rangers World Series home run as luck? Not a chance. Anyway, the Giants showed signs of getting to the Rangers pitching late in the game, but it was too little, too late. Feliz came in and blew the Giants away in the ninth. The key to the rest of the Series is for the Giants to keep this kid on the bench. The Giants didn't play all that bad, and the Ranger bats showed us what they were capable of doing. Josh Hamilton finally showed up in this series with a solo shot to give the Rangers an insurance run.
Final - Texas 4, San Francisco 2.
Texas cuts San Fran Series lead to 2-1.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Game 2 Observations
Okay, another torture game, but only 7 1/2 innings worth. Matt Cain was simply Matt Cain. Zero runs in the post-season. CJ Wilson tossed a really good game, too. Edgar Renteria! This was the pitching matchup everybody expected in game 1. But it got really out of hand in the bottom of the 8th inning. Both the Giants' bats and the Rangers' bullpen did some things out of character for them. And, how does Ron Washington let a guy walk more than one batter in that situation in a close World Series game? That just set up their 9-0 collapse.
I saw a post-game interview with Washington, and he was visibly annoyed at some of the questions. Are the Rangers unraveling? Let's hope so. The Giants need all the opposing team's blunders they can get. But...and this is a large but...the Rangers still have to play their first World Series game at home. Those fans should be absolutely crazy. GO GIANTS!
Final - San Francisco 9, Texas 0
Giants take a 2-0 Series lead
I saw a post-game interview with Washington, and he was visibly annoyed at some of the questions. Are the Rangers unraveling? Let's hope so. The Giants need all the opposing team's blunders they can get. But...and this is a large but...the Rangers still have to play their first World Series game at home. Those fans should be absolutely crazy. GO GIANTS!
Final - San Francisco 9, Texas 0
Giants take a 2-0 Series lead
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Game 1 Observations
Torture. Anti-torture. Game 1 was anti-torture. Torture is when everything comes down to the ninth inning in a one-run game and Wilson lets several runners on before striking the last batter out on a full count. NLCS torture.
Anti-torture is when all of that happens at the beginning of the game. Like when Tim Lincecum has a brain fart and doesn't throw the ball in a run-down. Like when Freddy Sanchez gets doubled off second on a blooper that Bad Vlad simply can't catch. Like when Benjie Molina tries to score on a sac fly, and he's out by ten feet, except that the throw is half way up the first base line. And like when the Giants beat the best playoff pitcher ever to be born by racking up seven runs on him before the fifth inning is over, making sure that there won't be a one-run game. Scary.
What can you say about 18 runs, 25 hits, 6 errors, a double by an AL pitcher setting up Molina scoring on a sac fly, the Giants bullpen giving up 3 runs in the ninth inning in a game started by Lee and Lincecum? This was as bizarre a game as I can remember. Check out this summary by McCovey Chronicles. Giants up 1-0 over the Rangers. Holding my breath, turning purple.
Final - San Francisco 11, Texas 7
San Francisco takes a 1-0 Series lead
Anti-torture is when all of that happens at the beginning of the game. Like when Tim Lincecum has a brain fart and doesn't throw the ball in a run-down. Like when Freddy Sanchez gets doubled off second on a blooper that Bad Vlad simply can't catch. Like when Benjie Molina tries to score on a sac fly, and he's out by ten feet, except that the throw is half way up the first base line. And like when the Giants beat the best playoff pitcher ever to be born by racking up seven runs on him before the fifth inning is over, making sure that there won't be a one-run game. Scary.
What can you say about 18 runs, 25 hits, 6 errors, a double by an AL pitcher setting up Molina scoring on a sac fly, the Giants bullpen giving up 3 runs in the ninth inning in a game started by Lee and Lincecum? This was as bizarre a game as I can remember. Check out this summary by McCovey Chronicles. Giants up 1-0 over the Rangers. Holding my breath, turning purple.
Final - San Francisco 11, Texas 7
San Francisco takes a 1-0 Series lead
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Game 1 Shocker - Giants Defy Odds In World Series
"Nobody had been able to hit Cliff Lee in his playoff career. Game 1 of the World Series was different."
The title of this post, along with the quote above, were the headline and summary on Comcast's homepage story when I logged on tonight. Shocker? Well, if that's what the rest of the world thinks, we've got you where we want you.
Mat Latos, Derek Lowe, Derek Lowe (yes, twice!), Roy Halladay, Cole Hammels, Roy Oswalt, Cliff Lee. These were the dominating pitchers, in order, guaranteed to beat the Giants. They all lost. Is there a pattern here?
The title of this post, along with the quote above, were the headline and summary on Comcast's homepage story when I logged on tonight. Shocker? Well, if that's what the rest of the world thinks, we've got you where we want you.
Mat Latos, Derek Lowe, Derek Lowe (yes, twice!), Roy Halladay, Cole Hammels, Roy Oswalt, Cliff Lee. These were the dominating pitchers, in order, guaranteed to beat the Giants. They all lost. Is there a pattern here?
Saturday, October 23, 2010
THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!
The Philadelphia Phillies' dream of being the first team to win three consecutive NL pennants since the 1942-44 Cardinals has been slaughtered by the extreme underdog San Francisco Giants!!!! Juan Uribe hits an 8th inning opposite field home run to put the Giants ahead 3-2. Brian Wilson makes the perfect pitch - a low, backdoor slider - the pitch that awesome slugger Ryan Howard simply cannot hit. Howard was fooled badly, and THE GIANTS WON THE PENNANT! Another extreme form of torture!
The parties are spilling out into the streets! We're going to the World Series! Wahoooo!
The parties are spilling out into the streets! We're going to the World Series! Wahoooo!
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