With only...13 games to go in the season, the Giants and their fans need some inspiration. While I could start talking a lot of mushy encouragement and , "I believe in you talk," I'm going to let the players speak for themselves. Then maybe I'll throw in a word or two and some words from someone who did something great a long time ago and felt the need to say something great about it.
before I get started, brief note on tonight's game:
There was about a 1 hour rain delay out in Chicago today. The weather was a little shaky, but luckily in the end we weren't rained out. For the most part, the wind had calmed down during the game, preventing a few well hit balls in the first several innings (one by Soriano in the 2nd caught just barely by Jose Guillen and one by Huff in the 3rd caught by Byrd out in center) from sailing right into the stands.
The Giants lead-off Cody Ross had pitcher Cashner working hard early on. In the 2nd the Giants got a rally going, loading the bases. After one out, Burrell walked, then Guillen got the second out on a foul tip. Sandoval singled, and Uribe singled right after loading the bases with 2-down. I originally expected Burrell to come home after Uribe's single, but the ball went right to Fukudome. Fukudome is known for having a somewhat crazy throw, so Burrell (who isn't a speed demon anyway) chilled out at third. It was a bad time for a rally anyway seeing as Matt Cain was next up at-bat with two outs. Despite being a phenomenal pitcher...he managed to end the inning, stranding three men on base.
Speaking of Matt Cain, he pitched very well tonight as expected. He has good numbers against the Cubs anyway. The game was for the most part 0-0 and it was Buster Posey who homered to end the scoreless game. Brain Wilson secured the save -- his 44th of the season.
Onward!
Quotation #3
"You've got to ride the highs as long as you can. The lows, they come every now and then, so we've just got to keep going."
- Giants' first baseman, Aubrey Huff
What's there to say? Huff is just an eloquent first baseman. Savor the winning streaks, ride the tube (if you know any surf terminology). We've seen some lows for the Giants...the pitching staff in August is a wonderful example, but we got through it didn't we? I mean, our pitching staff is solid now and they've been a huge part in helping us snag first place from the Padres.
Quotation # 2:
"...Keep battling all the way down to the end. If you're down 7-0 or 1-0, just keep going, and this team has a lot of character, a lot of fight in them."
- Giants' first baseman, Aubrey Huff
Yet another few words from Aubrey Huff worth quoting. Though recently I indirectly called the Giants wimps out of anger, I can't say that in the end they don't have what it takes. All teams are going to struggle and sometimes the "baseball gods" just aren't in your favor. Maybe the team is just incredibly unlucky, or the wind hates them, or things just weren't going their way. It takes character to fight. It takes a lot of it to keep playing like you mean it even if it's the bottom of the 9th and you're down 17 runs. It takes even more character to come back the next day and play your hardest again. If the players don't give up, the fans don't give up, and maybe, I don't know, but maybe, it work the other way around, too.
I'm starting to believe that the Giants can fight, and they can fight hard. I've seen them make some incredible come backs; I've seen them decide that losing isn't an option.
Let's just hope that the baseball gods are in their favor.
Quotation # 3
" From here on out we've got to [follow] the old cliche 'one game at a time,'" Ross said, "We're in control. It's ours to lose right now. We're in first place and we've got to keep playing the way we know how to..."
- Giants' outfielder, Cody Ross.
Ross, # 13
Well said, Ross.
'One game at a time.' Concentrate on the game you're playing and the game you're about to play, everything else, it hasn't come yet, so for now, it doesn't matter. It is INDEED yours to lose, but it's is yours to have as well. It is right there in front of you, but you have to fight for it, earn it. The team just need to keep doing what they're doing and they'll be headed in the right direction.
There's nothing really to be added, as this quote just sums it all up.
"It ain't like football. You can't make up no trick plays."
- Yogi Berra
It's all straight forward from here.
A strike is a strike, a ball is a ball. A home run is a damn home run. There's no fooling anyone.
A win is a win, and a lose is a lose.
This is a chance to make history, which is what so much of baseball is all about. Baseball cherishes the 'yesterdays.' The players today, they have legends to live up to. History is made out on that diamond. What happens out there, that's all that matters right now. Making history is flat out making history. One can't argue becoming a legend. I hate the Yankees and guess what, A-Rod, he's gonna be remembered for a very long time. This is our chance to be a part of something that'll last forever. It's the one sport that never stops looking back, but make no mistake, there's a lot to look forward to too.
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