Last Away Game of the Season and Bobby Thompson

One day in the clubhouse, someone must have said,

"Hey let's make it so that this last game on the road a memorable one."

Even a psychic couldn't have called this one. The Rockies were hitless up until the 8th inning when Payton hit one down the middle and Uribe had trouble getting the ball out of his glove. Thus, Payton singled, ending the Cain's no-hitter. Earlier in the game, there were men on base, one on a walk and one on an error, but that was it. Cain allowed just 3 hits. In the bottom of the 9th, the Giants were leading 4-2. Cain gave up one home-run to Mora in the bottom of the 8th. Matt Cain allows one hit in the 9th, but ends his complete game on high note, a strike out. The Giants taking the last of the series.

After the offense had a sleepy series with the Brewers, it looks like they're back on their feet. The offense hasn't missed a beat. However, we are still scoring on home runs.

Like I said yesterday though, we are improving. Today Pat Burrell scored Aubrey Huff on a sacrifice fly. The game began with pitcher De La Rosa issuing a walk to lead-off man (and my best friend, he just doesn't know it yet), Cody Ross. Speaking of Ross, he's been having a very good several games and has been a key asset on the road. Must be something to do with the high altitude or something. He hit his first homer as a Giant against the Cubs during our crazy rally game that ended 13-0. He also hit one yesterday, and a solo shot today.

I think I figured it out. I'm mad at the Marlins' management for just handing Ross over like it's nothing. I have my own little fanbase for him, and my friend who's a Marlins' fan, she was talking about how they chant "CO-DY, CO-DY," and I think I just might have to carry that tradition across the country. He's like my adopted Giants' best friend. Whatever the reason, he's been great for the team, great to have, and he seems to be taking things quite positively.
In short, I hope he just keeps doing what he's doing.
I'll bet they miss him like hell in Florida.
But here in San Francisco, he's got me.
Cody, dude;
I love you, man.

Back on track, Freddy Sanchez also homered today. He isn't particularly known for sending balls into the stands, but hey, he's been doing a lot of that recently. Anyway, Freddy homered in the 1st to score himself and Ross. If anybody deserves a fielding award it's Freddy. It's unarguable. In fact, it's so unarguable that I'm not going to even argue it. It's just a fact. Freddy Sanchez deserves a fielding award.

Speaking of awards, Aubrey Huff had better walk away with that team MVP.
That man has carried us through this season. He's been a hot hitter, and great fielder. He is the team's mother fucking linchpin I swear. I know Buster Posey is a contender, I love Buster Posey, but I think he should get the rookie of the year award, not team MVP.

That pretty much sums up the game. Short and sweet, Matt Cain dominating as usual, and our offense backing him up. I like the way things are looking. The Giants are in first for wild-card right now, after the Braves lost to the Nationals, and if the Reds can hold on to their 4 run lead against the Padres, we'll be up for first again.

It's a tight race here in the NL West.

Here in San Francisco and the Bay Area world of sports, there's a lot going on. The hockey pre-season on it's way and the Sharks trying to find the dynamic they had last year sans their goalie. The Chronicle is reporting that Alex Smith was just rated 11th smartest quarter back (that rating got lost on it's way to the Sunday funny pages).

But it's basically October, and this is the time of year that baseball fans love the most. With Halloween approaching somewhat soon, everything is turning orange and black anyway. The weather here in the bay is sporadic, it feels more like mid-summer, but it's a delusion that the players can't be fooled by. There are high hopes for the post-season and fans can not wait to have their team back in town after their 6 game road trip.

For me, this is the most amazing part of the season, where every play, every pitch, every run, every base steal, every pop fly, ever catch made, ground out, -- everything counts for something bigger. Concentrating in school is become almost secondary (this is where I'm thankful that baseball season does not last all year). Everything that happens in October is second to baseball.

The ballpark in San Francisco has been dormant for about six days, but it will no doubt come alive again as the Giants start their last six home games against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres. Whatever happens, this is going to be one helluva week.

There's nothing much left to say about the rest of the regular season. We're out there obviously playing well and playing hard. We know how to play like a championship team all we gotta do is, well, do it. It's so much easier said than done.

In times like these, I like to think that we have what it takes to repeat Bobby Thompson, Ralph Branca and the "Shot Heard 'Round the World." I wish I could have been alive to see it all play out. That moment will never die. Russ Hodges' radio call will never be forgotten.

"There's a long drive... it's gonna be, I believe...THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! Bobby Thomson hits into the lower deck of the left-field stands! The Giants win the pennant and they're goin' crazy, they're goin' crazy! HEEEY-OH!!!'' 

 - Russ Hodges, Oct. 3, 1951

I like to think that we can do something like that again.
Maybe 2010 will be our year.

It's hard to believe that it's already fucking October, but here we are. Six home games left to play and the post-season just looming in front of us, but it's so far from over.

With that said, and Bobby Thompson, Ralph Branca, and Russ Hodges' on our minds,

I just want to say,

Welcome home, Giants.