October 3rd, Just another ballgame?

It's not easy to look at it, as "just another ball game."

It's not April anymore, it's not July or September, this is October baseball...but try not to look at it that way.

It's a windy day today in San Francisco. It's cloudy and the sun really doesn't look like it's going to make an appearance any time soon.  

Giants will go out there and play their bests,

we'll just have to see how things unfold for them.

The line-up today against the Padres features Freddy Sanchez, who sat out of yesterdays game. Bochy is also favoring (my favorite ... sarcasm implied) Guillen over Scheirholtz and Ross. Burrell is out in left, and Torres in center. Posey is behind the plate, and Huff is at first. The Panda is keeping an eye on third and Uribe is playing short.

On the mound for the last game of the regular season is Jonathan Sanchez who is coming into this game with a 3.15 E.R.A, and 12-9 record.  

No pressure, guys...

For the Padres, we have a certain-pitcher-who-should-watch-his-mouth, Mat Latos.  Latos is 14-9 with a 2.92 E.R.A.

The game started at around 1:06,

Sanchez's first pitch is recorded as a strike. The Padres lead off man singles off of Sanchez's second pitch.

Good news, is that our defense (except the throw to second to a jumping Freddy who thank god, caught it), is on it today.

San Francisco Giants' lead-off man, Andres Torres hits a ball that hits JUST on the fowl line, right on the left. IT TOUCHED THE FOWL LINE. The crowd is NOT pleased. Bochy is not pleased, no one is pleased.

Latos has thrown 8 pitches so far.

Unfortunately for us, Freddy grounded into a double play, but Aubrey Huff singles right after, meaning our offense is at least alive.

Both the Giants and the Padres have left a man stranded at second in the first inning. Its bound to be one helluva interesting game.

I think it's important today for ALL batters to note that the umps are a little whack, and the home-plate ump is in serious need of some specs. So, watch out. Despite the strike-zone, Jonathan Sanchez is doing a decent job getting himself out of jams, knock on wood. He has walked a couple batters, but with men on base, he's been able to get that third out to keep the game scoreless. Knock on wood again.

You know it might be all good...when you're pitcher triples. Freddy Sanchez comes through for us, and singles to put us on the board, a lead. Aubrey Huff also comes through for us, doubling and giving us a TWO run lead. For the first time in the Padres series, the Giants have an early lead.

Except for Posey's still having trouble registering pitches at bat, and Guillen is being the Jose Guillen who is like 4 for 20 in his last at bats. He's like a...rut in the line up. Rally! Rally! Guillen -- STOP!

The Red Sox took the series against the Yankees over in Boston. The Red Sox won today's game 8-4. Boston played a very nice last game of the 2010 season. J.D. Drew homered, and so did Jed Lowrie. Kalish had a great game as well. Boston scored 7 runs when Kalish stole home, and Nava stole second. Jed Lowrie homered again to score the final Red Sox run of the season. Despite the Red Sox being out of the post-season race, they did manage to get back at the rivals, the Yankees.

The Yankees will be going to the post-season, but they'll be going as the wild-card winner.

You can't make shirts that say, "WILD-CARD WINNER!." I mean you can, but it's just not as great as division winner. Yankees fans shouldn't be complaining anyway, but knowing them, they'd be whining.

It's nice to know Boston can still do some damage to the Yanks.

Sanchez finishes his game in the 6th, handing the ball over to Santiago Casilla.

Jonathan Sanchez definitely did EVERYTHING he could, especially offensively today.

Our team is also in it defensively -- is on it, the Giants manage to turn two in the 6th with the scoring runs on base. I would have expected Bochy to start altering the outfield after the 6th, which is something he tends to do. We do get to see Cody Ross in the bottom of the 6th, as a pinch runner, replacing Burrell who singled. Uribe keeps the inning alive...for Jose Guillen.

Great.

He's (4-33), Bochy, look at the numbers, PLEASE.

Of course, Guillen is a giant red light in the line-up, and we leave two men stranded.

Both Burrell and Schierholtz come out of the game after the 6th. Schierholtz goes to right, and Ross into left. So in a way, my wicked prediction was right. Though I thought we'd only see one of them. Does that make me double-right? Probably not how that works.

Our bullpen is solid, dependable, strong, throwing some amazing stuff.

Casilla errors and Ramirez comes out to take over with two down.

After Tejada puts up one HELLUVA fight, Ramirez takes him down on a swing and a miss to end a sticky situation in the 7th.

Andres Torres is instructed to bat right handed against Padres' Joe Thatcher in the bottom of the 7th. He looks kind of awkward. Velez is out on first after a failed sacrifice bunt intended to send Sandoval to second. Velez watch his base running.

There has been a crazy number attempts by Thatcher to pick Velez off of first base.

After Thatcher did what he could, the Padres replace him with Gregerson as Freddy Sanchez came up to bat.

Buster Posey I guess just "FOUND IT" again because he sent a solo shot into the stands.

3-0 Giants.

Thanks Buster.

I knew we couldn't do it without you.

Cody Ross came up to bat next. Yes, I cheered loudly. Ross singled on the second pitch he saw. Just another reason why he should be playing instead of Guillen. Just saying.

mlb.com

Pablo hits a ball hard into the outfield, but the ball is caught and the Giants leave a runner stranded.

Brian Wilson comes in to pitch in the 9th.

3-outs away from becoming the NL West Champions.

Uribe throws a ball to first.

2-outs away.

Fontenot throws to first.

1-out away.

Strike one to Veneable.

Fowl, strike two.

WILSON STRIKES HIM OUT SWINGING.

HE RECORDS HIS 48 SAVE.

LATOS GOT WHAT HE DESERVED. 

ON THE BOBBY THOMPSON ANNIVERSARY!

the Braves won their game,

and the PADRES, after putting up a fight,

suffer a SHUT-OUT and they're FINISHED.

THE GIANTS ARE NL-WEST CHAMPIONS.

WE'RE GOING TO THE PLAY-OFFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

not just another ball game.