Best. Game. Ever.
ROY with 4 hits……….Rowand’s throw……Posey’s catch…..Panda double…..A lead……A lost lead……A lead…..A lost lead……Uribe….it doesn’t sound so hot when I write it like that but my God, what a game. And Pablo at 2nd base, clapping so hard I thought his hands might shatter, had me fighting back tears as I thought about the season he’s endured. As far as I’m concerned, that single at bat shed him of his burdensome nickname, “Pablo Strands’em-all”…..
There’s a perfect symmetry to the date “10/20/10”. And from the beginning to the end, that’s what this game felt like. For every perfect thing that happened last night there was an imperfect thing that happened. But the end result was this: I don’t need to ever watch that game again. Every play is burned into my brain. My memory. My soul. It was the absolute blend of glory and destiny. I can’t stop shaking me head and smiling…….
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Well said Flav. What a fucking game.
Had to go to work yesterday and missed the last 4 innings. Family recorded game. Watched it at 12 last night, but recording stopped with one out in the b 9th. Augh! had to watch espn highlights to see the finish.
Awesome ending!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Giants I picked them in 6. Don’t care. Good luck to those who picked them in 5
And of course, I missed the last 5 innings last night.
Believe me you…Believe you me…Believe…something
I’m not missing a second of tonight’s game.
Oh, and nice intro, Flav
OK, I believe you.
Will go down in the annals of Giants history….
The greatest game for me was Game 5 in ’89 against the Cubs to clinch the Pennant because I was there!!! But last night is in the top 5. We will win tonight!!!
I did not blog last night so I could bask in that victory till about 1 am. But we need to give some humongous kudos to Romo. Werth hit a pretty good pitch and he is a good hitter. Romo could have blown his focus and let that run come in but instead Posey and Romo humiliated the Phillies with three of the nastiest strikeouts ever….
Meant three of the nastiest outs of course since Rollins popped up….
well said flav!!!
I’m going tonight, can’t frackin’ wait!!!!!!!
I feel a whole lot of happy I didn’t miss a freakin pitch.
Yesterday was also Marichal’s birthday. Born in 37, turned 73. More symmetry for you, Giggety.
Well believe this– last night’s game literally, I mean literally sapped the life energy outta me. I’m pooped. When I say, “I can’t handle this shit.” I really mean it. I don’t say it just for the affectation. I can’t handle this shit. Stop doing this to me!
understood. fully.
And what an ass McCarver is…he actually said Rowand over threw the cutoff…is he a moron or what????
Yeah, both Buck and McButcher continued to insult Rowand even after repeated replays showed that the throw was just as crucial to the play as Posey’s snag and tag. No way they get the out using a cutoff relay.
And since I gave kudos to Romo, Casillia deserves a shit sandwich for that garbage he threw up there on a 2-2 pitch and he floats a changeup…he has demoted himself right out of the bullpen rotation. We better see Ramirez first in those situations…
I think the fact he was in there so early means something, but game situation has a lot to do with it. Needed a K there with guy in RISP, didn’t get it. Philly was starting to dial on Bum, they needed a different look. He is always a risk for the WP. He is still pretty tought to hit with 97 heat and killer breaking ball, and he shut them down next inning.
Just how 8) was Buster after last night’s game….How were you able to digest your historic night? “I helped the team win.” “I guess that’s how I digest it.” But it was so epic, right? “Well, thank you.”
I don’t know what do say except, “No, thank you.”
Unc Charlie hard to figure out, but Bochy has outfoxed him the whole series.
Nice to see the walks last night, esp Torres. Hope he and Uribe are good to go, Pablo pumped. Should be Tim’s Seattle kind of weather out there tonight.
At this piont, it doesn’t matter if it’s 92 in the shade.
Baggs makes a good point that both Romo and Casilla gave up leads but they also hung in there to get HUGE outs.
I think Twin made that point last night, too. And it’s absolutely true. Critical to the win that those guys bent a little but never broke……
Love Wilson’s comment. “Every victory is tasty, but this one was real delicious.”
witnessed a fine moment of Giants pride this morning. My middle-school kid selected his clothes carefully–black socks, skinny black jeans, black Sandoval t-shirt, black skater shoes, and over it all, the orange fleece jacket he wears to night games. But he wasn’t through. After breakfast, he went to the baseball shelves and considered the hats. He started with a classic black SF cap, black bill, and then he reached for the Panda hat. A trip to the mirror confirmed what he’d suspected–with his chin up and his smile confident, the audacious look would work.
In the car, driving across town, he asked, “Why do non-Giants fans hate the Giants so much?” I had to admit that I don’t know the answer to that question. I pointed out that there a many millions of Giants fans, across the world, to make up for the bad vibes. “Who do you want to see in the World Series?” he asked. “I think the Rangers will make it. And then everyone who’s not a Giants fan will root for the Rangers because of Nolan Ryan.” “Well, then they’ll all be disappointed when we win.”
As I dropped him off at the front of his East Bay school, more than a few of the other kids arriving at the gate stopped and stared. I heard a couple of lame Halloween jokes. One good-looking girl, however, seemed impressed (“Double hat! Nice.”) The kid calmly took his black rolling backpack out of the trunk, pulled the telescoping handle up with deliberate flair, and proudly walked toward the sour crowd of hostile A’s (and Raiders) fans waiting for him.
I felt a sense of ineffable delight as that snowy Panda hat moved across the crowded schoolyard.
Thank god, I thought, that he does not attend public school. He’d be beaten to a pulp by now.
And most public schools don’t allow hats, because of concern about gang issues.
Your kid rules!
I don’t quite understand the hatred of the Giants, either. I’m getting flak from Yankees and Red Sox fans to go along with the neverending shitstorm o insults I always get from Dodgers fans. The team hasn’t won SHIT since the 50’s. It’s not like I hate the Cubs or the Indians. And I didn’t hate the Red Sox until they won it and their fans became unbearable.
The only thing I can figure is that the Giants have a park and a fanbase that are the envy of baseball. Plus, the entire Bay Area is the subject of a lot of angst because of the triple whammy of being perceived as filled with hippies, homosexuals and uber-successful technology whizzes. Middle America hates all three of those groups. Then there’s the litany of larger-than-life personalities that have played for SF. I don’t have to name them because we all know them. I think only the Yankees and Dodgers can compare in terms of name and player recognition. Maybe that’s why there’s so much hatred directed towards the Giants?
Funny
LOL. That’s great.
I have to confess that I haven’t experienced this Giants hatred you guys are talking about. This time of year the opposing team is always the enemy, but I see a lot more widespread disdain for teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, etc.
Maybe it’s the Barry Bonds fiasco.
I just checked, to make sure it really did happen . . . . the NL won the All Star game this year. Hey, it would benefit the Phils, too . . . .
I’m sure Charlie is a great manager, but his postgame press conferences are kind of surreal. He’s a strange combination of corn-pone goober and fidgety crack addict.
He and Cox look like identical relics to me, but the latter sure does sound and act a bit more like a great manager.
Juan happy feller.
Juan happy team.
Juan happy town.
great post, XOOT–
The Giants are so universally hated because of Bonds and all of his issues. I don’t think it’s any other thing…..
This ride is pure gravy this year. I had no hope for this season besides maybe squeaking into the playoffs and winning a game or two. I had a smile from ear to ear last night when they walked off the field. If this is all they do in 2010, I’ll be disappointed but proud.
Missed following the game last night. Dude who’s been camping out on the Back 40 since June is heading back to Portland from here in the Northwoods of Minnesota; so there was a little bash at the firepit with total moonview up on Echo Ridge. Snuck into the house for a few minutes to get some munchies for the gang and booted up the computer. The top of the Fifth had just ended. Casilla’s meltdown had just put the Philthies up 4-2.
Most times i’d have been pretty bummed in that situation. But somehow that sinking feeling just was not there. A lot of us have a different feeling these days. Team seems to have it too. It’s not so much a ‘can’t lose’ feeling. More akin to intuiting that something is written in the stars. Destiny. The great turning of the Wheel of Karma.
Consider: I was 14 when my beloved New York Giants moved out West to the City by the Bay. World Champs when i was ten, the team had fallen off in 55, 56 and 57. Being Joe DiMaggio’s town, S.F. did not take immediately to Willie Mays. Maybe that set the karmic wheel in motion. Whatever. Then there was 62 and the Evil Empire’s religious freak Bobby Richardson snagging McCovey’s drive. Then there were years and years of second best to the dominant pitching of the LaBumbos. Then, the forgettable years of the Seventies and the Curse de Candlestick and its diminishing crowds . Picking it up through the 80’s, came 89, the A’s on steroids and the Earthquake. 103 wins, but screwed by Atlanta and the Dago’s giveaway of Fred McGriff in 93. Mutts and Marlins in succeeding parts of that decade. Then Dusty’s mismanagement of the BP in Ought-Two.
Yes, perhaps the Great Wheel of Karma has turned. It’s oiled and lubed and all the parts seem to be working (last night’s game with contributions from all over the squad) and the Halloween Machine is set to roll. Tonight it’s Cy against Cy once again. This battle of the Aces will be fought out at McCovey Cove. Maybe that’s fitting. Willie Mac almost won the whole thing there in Sixty-Two. Perhaps this time that line-drive will sail a bit higher, a bit further to the left. The wheel is turning. It’s turning. It’s turning into an Orange and Black October as the Halloween Machine rolls on.
Speaking of the Halloween Machine, there’s actually a World Series game scheduled for Halloween night.
I’ve always thought that ugly floppy pallid Selig masks should get hawked outside the park on 10/31. Few would wear the thing for very long, but with a sold out crowd, there’d always be somebody mugging it up, trying to get on camera.
True. Bonds is an arrogant SOB. However, he is doubtless the greatest player of the 21st Century and the late 90’s of the last Millennium for that matter. He earned the right to be arrogant. Problem is America’s concealed racism. The Jack Johnson syndrome.
Bonds became the posterboy for Selig’s sin mainly because of his ‘tude. He clearly had a HOF career before he looked around one day and saw that Roiders McGwire and Sosa were getting all the glory. Inferior hitters. Worse players all around, but all amped up on artificial support. So Barry jumped in with both feet. He showed the world what a truly superior athlete could do with the edge that those two bimbos took to ring up all those Taters. Bonds became the most feared hitter in modern baseball history, easily a match for Babe Ruth.
So the mass media of misinformation and mesmerization jumped all over BB as their Bad N-word de jour. Soured middle Amerikkka on the Man and his deeds. Reflected on the Giants. Suddenly, the potent slugger with the hobbled wheels became unemployable throughout MLB. Maybe he couldn’t do LF anymore, but with that Dink Hitter rule over in the Junior Circuit he could have become a monster in that role for another two-three years and in the process setting new hitting standards that would create an unattainable bunch of records.
As a Giants fan i’m still pissed plenty at MLB, ShitforSelig and the Mainscream media. The other day, during the Braves series, i happened to be rummaging around in some stuff i’d filed away some years back. There, as big as life was this forgotten printout from SFGate multimedia images dated 2-28-06. Here’s this photo of this dude in shades, a ho’s wig and with bulging biceps and massive shoulders wearing a black sheathy thing with the words “San Francisco Giants” over the boobzone.
Caption reads: “Dressed in drag portraying Paula Abdul on “American Idol”. Giants left-fielder Barry Bonds participates in a rookie hazing spoof of the hit television show prior to the Giants workout Tuesday.”
Finding that printout the other day struck me as an omen ~ an omen of an orange and black October as the Great Wheel of Karma rolls with the Halloween Machine as it rocks the baseball world.
Well said, stix
I’ve noted the Jack Johnson theme, too. Barry Bonds never let the racism issue fade. One obvious example: When he repeatedly, pointedly called the new ball park “My Godfather’s house,” he deliberately pushed history into sight. A black man built that house just as surely as a white man built Y stadium, and Bonds will never let anyone from the press who talks to him forget that fact.
The vast anger that developed as Bonds, after the steroid scandal broke, chased the big record, was an ugly nation-wide monster of herd-mentality racist loathing. The man’s accomplishments were astounding, his play electrifying. I’m amazed that such deep cultural racism held sway at exactly the same time a black man was successfully climbing the system toward the White House. Crazy country we live n.
Well said, xoot
I’m still just flat speechless.
I know it’s hard. But. One. Game. At. A. Time. Go, Timmeh. …
In retrospect, I should have waited for today to post that LINCECUM! FUCK YEAH! video
Man, great stuff here. And, as Dennis says, it can drain you, or at least drains me, in an uber-good way. So far, I’ve not experienced the hating, but Yankees fans are pissed off even when they win, Phillies’ fans too.
Magnus, humble thanks for POTD, but it was just my honest, manic response. YOUR post today, up above, is just as lyrical and true, just as all these comments here also are. I don’t mind at all inaugurating the Flapper Mutual Admiration Society today.
I’m nervous but confident about tonight. I honestly feel it is a must win. But no matter what happens, I will not cheapen the glory of last night, ever.
Bochy’s team-building has been so great, I had to say to myself Fontenot? Who he? But, hey, he may start tonight.
Whatever works.
I’ve already looked into plane tix for next week.
I cannot afford it, but life is short and I’ll be at AT&T if we are in the World Series. Just to hear the crowd and smell the air. And maybe I’ll see one of you there.
The best game I’ve ever missed, mostly, thanx to continued Fox blackout in parts of NJ, one of the parts being where I work. But I caught the euphoric end on my mlb.com’s account, which is not the direct telecast from Fox but instead a mix of bizarre camera angles any of which you can choose. So I went with the 1960s-ish behind-the-plate view, and Uribe’s ultra-clutch sac fly and Huff’s triumphant slide and the ensuing raucuos celebration never looked so beautiful.
Great post, Xoot.
One to go. I’m not missing this one.
“Dear Penthouse, I never thought I’d be writing to you…”
Bob Guccione passed away. Now, let’s look at this omenously.
Barbara Billingsley, the symbol of motherhood, apple pie and decency passes away and the Giants win a big game.
Tom Bosley, the symbol of fatherhood, apple pie and decency passes away and the Giants win an important game.
Bob Guccione, the symbol of…well…something else passes away…
SO if you believe in these sort of things, that either means “Uh oh” or the Giants win HUGE!!!!
Tonight’s game has somebody getting fucked hard while standing on second base during the middle of a rainstorm holding a double-dipped ice cream cone wearing a Superman costume written all over it.
Shit, they still aren’t showing the games back there? Devastating. Can’t you New Yorkers even go to a sportsbar to watch these games?
or just get Directv!!!
It is insane that this blackout has gone on for a week now, but it only affects those with Cablevision. Fortunately I get Comcast at home.
This is the poll I sent to my Philly friends here in DC:
Poll: Please Vote on the Three Greatest Play from Last Night
A) Top of the 8th, tied game, Werth on second and no outs:
Jimmy Rollins : Ball, Rollins popped out to third.
B) Top of the 8th, tied game, Werth on second and one out:
Ben Francisco : Foul, Strike swinging, Francisco struck out swinging.
C) Top of the 8th, tied game, Werth on second and two outs:
Carlos Ruiz : Strike swinging, Strike looking, Ruiz struck out swinging
D) All of the above. You philthy phucking Philly phuckwad phans.
agreed
The Giants are hitting .345 with two outs and RISP.
Go figure.
I’ve rethought the prize and a previous winner will receive a $100 gift certificate at Best Buy, system would go to second place. Front Runners if it ends tonight:
Kevin 15
Kristin 17,6
MacDog 17,7
Sportdude 19,5
Michael, did you have an evaluation today?
UCSF’s Tumor Board is reviewing it this afternoon.
Okay
Knew I should have gone with 17. Dang!
Fox doesn’t show playoff games in New Jersey?
You know yer from Jersey when yer radioactive, and yer proud of it . . .
Chuck, Fox is in a dispute with Cablevision and pulled their signal from all their cable systems…
FOX SUX
I don’t know why but WordPress isn’t retaining my login.
anyone else having that problem? I’m not. Maybe you hit a setting thing or maybe wordpress is just fucked up.
I’ll fuck around with it.
As much as I rip Rohand along with the rest of the world, I’ll give him credit when due. That throw home last night to Buster was spot on. Certainly the best throw he’s made as a Giant, considering everything including the clutch situation and game importance. Now, if he wins tonite’s game with a jack, I’ll gladly forgive all his putridity (though he still has to be traded in the offseason…)
People hate the Giants? Gotta be Sabean’s fault.
I think MLB fans don’t really hate the Giants. I’d bet a lot that most fans disliking SF never even heard of guys like Schierholz and Ishi and El Presidente, and have a vague notion of Panda. Agree with BF that they “hate” Bonds based on negative media reporting over a long period of time, and his FU personality. Sosa was a ‘roider, but only WSox fans “hate” the Cubs. For the Giants “haters”, Bonds = the Giants, and though he’s been gone now for some time, he keeps popping up in the news re: his upcoming show trial…
CF Torres
2B Sanchez
1B Huff
C Posey
LF Burrell
RF Ross
3B Sandoval
SS Uribe
P Lincecum
From an Amy G. tweet: Bochy says Uribe’s wrist feels “much improved and that’s good news for us.”
That is good news. It sure looked pretty good when he was able to get around on that Oswalt pitch as he lift and pulled it for the game winner. That sure was something last night. For selfish reasons only, I kind of wish we had an off day today. I still need time to recoup from last night. I’m like the horse who enjoys an extended layoff. These quick turnarounds are just no good for me.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: if he’s 0 for 100 but healthy,Uribe plays. The thing is, he does not change. He will swing the same way if he’s hot or cold. He’ll chase, he’ll look like shit, and then he’ll kill the same shit. I’ve never seen him press. Considering both years, I rate him their best signing over any, Huff and Burrell included.
Already I’m getting jangly and twitchy, ready to see this game. I just feel very good about tonight and our ED [no, not erectile dysfuncton; Eternal Destiny; cue the Rocky music for us, for us, not Phrilly — typo intended].
dysfunction — that typo not intended
So many feelings and so many here seem to share them. What a season and the playoffs are getting better every game. Part of me wants it to 7 games and see this crew of castoffs get their due. Baseball has never been more beautiful for a Giants fan, and after a lifetime chasing this team, this is the best it’s ever been. I keep trying to imagine the world series, then I hear Buster say in my ear, “let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
I can’t think of a team they’ve had inthe 35+ years I’ve been here that compares . I don’t think any player more exemplifies this cast than Torres. It is entirely possible that Andres really has just had his year of a lifetime- but it’s one that will live for him and for us forever. And geez, look at those dugout steps: 50 million bucks worth of cheerleaders, don’t tell me clubhouse chemistry is meaningless.
POTP = post of the pregame
Shit, i was worried by all the high fives Uribe was giving and getting.
Regarding negativity from the rest of the nation- I think this team is doing a good job of building some positive vibes from the rest of the nation. We’re the plucky underdog, winning with teamwork and terrific pitching, from a talented young starting pitching staff, and the scary closer with the crazy beard.
And all the Fox News viewers, who are constantly told how “weird and awful” everything about San Francisco is, can only look at those beautful camera shots of the city and know that the reality doesn’t jibe with what they’re hearing on Fox News.
If we’re not careful, we’ll attract the lot of them. The camera shots of these games are like a world class press release for The City. Can’t be good for us.
good point, as is typical
Mike, this team does remind me of the 87 team in that there were young guys like Clark, Wiliams, and Thompson, acquisitions like Kevin Mitchell, Dravecky, and Krukow, and role players like Harry Spillman and Joel Youngblood.
They too were unexpectantly good, and were almost good enought to make it to the WS.
One of the announcers who interviewed Posey seemed shocked that he was not only intelligent, but not full of himself or overwhelmed by it all. I guess when you’re used to interviewing ARod and Jeter egos are a different matter. You’d think they just heard of the Giants and didn’t bother to take them seriously. It’s going to get interesting.
I’ve been fiddling around with HD taping and highlight reels. I can’t wait to see how a baseball game can be tracked with HD. YOu can actually watch the grooves the pitchers are in and their release points. You can do pop up models to check to see if a pitcher is matching his last outing or any other tape you have. I don’t know how they work, but they’re a kick to watch and will change the way we watch sports.
Ok, let’s take his into tonight with my good news: the seizure was caused by edema that accompanied the DEATH of the tumor, it did not grow. So they’ll just treat the edema and rescan in two months… now let’s NOT go back to Philly..
Congratulations! Death to Tumors!! Death to Phillies (well at least malumbo!).
Glad to hear the good news. Stay well as we go for the clincher.
a great omen of O Men
of Victory!
Excellent news, Mike.
Great news Michael. The tumor just went down fighting I guess. Good, good sign
Who needs those GammaKnife deals. You probably called it a fuckwad, and unlike us Flappers, it just turned tail and went away. Nice goin’….
Late to the party, but that’s AWESOME news, twinnie!!!
Great news twin.
That has to be a good omen since Michael picked them in 5.
But I’m still a nervous wreck.
Heyy! Great to hear that news, Michael. Now you can enjoy the Giants winning ways with nothing much else to concern you.
How in the wide, wide, world of sports are we gonna clinch with this shit lineup?
Might as well start NO Whitey and make it a perfect night.
I can’t believe it’s about to start. Score first, score often and WIN the pennant goddammit!
goin’ downstairs to watch the game and pace and chant and pray and hum and levitate and align my chakras
see y’all later
Leave yer kokonuts alone, Pawlie . . .
Twelve pitch inning. Effective, efficient start.
Eat shit Halladay,Perfect hit and run to start the game!!!!
There goes “Bonehead” getting lucky when he pushes the button. 🙂
Let’s score!
See what happens when Bonehead gets a little adventurous? GOOD things…
We’ll take it. After Huff got robbed, I felt a huge Dr. Ben Dover paging.
I love it when we score first!
First Blood. Halladay must have been a bit rattled from the get-go.
And just a tad peeved. He was shooting some serious stank eye at the ump after the first from the dugout.
Hey Werth, you can stare all you want.But that pitch was perfect knee high paint on the outside corner.Take some pine Meat!!
Timmy is ON.
Halladay stare down on Burrell not gonna cut it.Your fuckin with the wrong guy there Doc.Mc Carver sucks big time,trying to defend Halladay with pitches he feels were borderline calls.
What’s with McCarver defending Utley on that booting of the double play ball? Ridiculous…
Well, another very good from Pablo.
‘AB’
That was about the best 6-3 AB I’ve seen in awhile. Good patience, eye and contact from my little fat friend.
Pablo working that count shows that his concentration is there. Wearing Doc down is an excellent strategy ~ particularly with a lead.
43 pitches to 26 for Timmy. It’s not hard to see who’s pressuring and who’s pressing.
Sandoval is looking good at the dish. He’s going yard tonight.
Twin, good to hear.
That fuck Ruiz has done that 3 times now.
Jesus, what a comedy of errors.