MVN - Most Valuable Network

So Very Exciting, Yet So Very Painful

In typical Giants fashion, our hometown favorites came back from being down 3-0, and then 5-2 on two dramatic home runs, by John Bowker and Ray Durham respectively. Once again in typical Giants fashion, we managed to instantly negate any hope for a win by promptly coughing up the game the very next inning.

Allow me to set a scene for you: down 3-0, the Giants are in need of a rally. With two outs and one on, John Bowker absolutely clobbers an inside pitch clear into the Cove, putting the Giants within one run and waking up the hometown fans. The very next inning, Sergio Romo comes in to bail out Kevin Correia, and ends up surrendering a two run single to put the Cubs ahead 5-2. In the bottom half of the inning, Carlos Marmol strikes out the first two hitters on 6 pitches, only to walk Travis Denker, give up a single to Fred Lewis, and on the first pitch a three-run game-tying homer to Ray Durham.

Onto the top of the 8th we go with the game knotted up at 5 all. In comes Tyler Walker, ready to set down the Cubs and keep the momentum in the Giants’ dugout. Well, no not really. Then up comes Mike Fontenot, he of 5 home runs on the season and a .399 career SLG. Fontenot proceeds to crush a Thighler Walker pitch over the right field bricks to put the Cubs up 6-5, a score that would stick as the Giants would fail to score off of the very mortal Bobby Howry, and the other-worldly Kerry Wood to cap off an exciting, but disappointing night.

Now as the raving Giants fan I am, this game wasted my yelling capacity, as I was fortunate to witness the drama from the view box in section 315.  Witnessing my third loss in a row, I’ve become convinced that I’m severely cursed in my choice of Giants games this year. As a superstitious type, I’ve eliminated the reason for these losses as being my choice of t-shirt, my sweatshirt, my jeans, and of course my lucky boxers. Again as the superstitious type, there must be something I’m doing wrong, because this losing while I’m present simply can’t be the fault of the Giants themselves. Nevermind the fact that in my last three Giants games I’ve seen Kevin Correia twice, and Barry Zito once.

Nope, there is absolutely no way that there’s any other reason than my presence. The bad luck baseball gods sense my presence upon entrance to Willie Mays Plaza, and automatically rob Barry Zito of his usual pinpoint control and blinding velocity. I recommend that no one attend the game this Friday against the Dodgers if they want to see a win, as I’ll be in attendance in section 317. If you do go, feel free to bring your silver crosses and holy water; it won’t hurt my feelings.

We Found the Real Matt Cain

Well it looks like the ads I put out on milk cartons worked. Here I thought that Real Matt Cain had run away from home, but as it turns out he really was just taking an extended leave of absence. After getting roughed up for four runs in 5 innings on 8 hits against Cleveland, Real Matt Cain woke up and remembered that he kicks ass. Like, serious ass people. Think 8 innings, 2 hits, no runs, and 10 K’s against the best offense in the NL, and that’s how much ass Real Matt Cain kicks.

In devotion to the greatness that is Real Matt Cain, I’m going to gloat to my heart’s content. That is, until tomorrow night when Kevin Correia violently drags us back down to a world full of average pitchers that really aren’t that impressive or interesting to watch. Then we’re right back into deep space with Tim Lincecum and Jonathan Sanchez. Following those two starts, we’re dragged to the depths of hell by the pitcher whom I shan’t name (hint: his name rhymes with Scary Neato). It’s a vicious cycle that quite frankly has severely damaged my psyche to an extent where it can only be repaired through years of rigorous therapy.

More on topic, the Giants small-balled a big-ball team to death, albeit a Cubs team without Aramis Ramirez or Alfonso Soriano. Coming off a forgettable 9-2 loss at the hands of Barry Zito and the Cubs, Matt Cain came through in spades to help erase the memory of June 30th completely from our minds and to replace it with happy memories of puppies, kittens, and ass-kicking pitching performances.

Outside of the pitching performance, there were still kudos to be given out. Fred Lewis stealing home on a double steal was especially exciting. F-Lew’s double to deep center following his baserunning escapade topped off a damn good offensive night, as Lewis ended up scoring the Giants’ only two runs. The offense’s 2 run explosion wasn’t the only upside of the night though. With two outs in the 8th inning, Mark DeRosa hit a high hopper to the left of Jose Castillo, who dove parallel to the ground, got up, and threw a one-hop seed to first while falling forward.

After His Holiness Matthew Cain did his part to contribute to victory, Brian Wilson came in. I feel like a broken record saying this, but Wilson made it interesting as usual, displaying his ability to not pitch a 1-2-3 9th inning. Mike Krukow stated it better than I could ever, saying that Wilson “definitely puts some butter on the muffin.” You go Brian Wilson–you keep on buttering that muffin. Just remember, if you ever, ever take a win away from Matt Cain, I will…be very unhappy and might consider writing a strongly worded letter. Watch out.

“Silver” Lining More a Shade of Dull Gray

Ladies and gentlemen, you have been deceived.  Like myself, you’ve been given false hope, lied to, and had your dreams and aspirations crushed.  I’m speaking of course, of Barry Zito’s latest outing, in which he surrendered 5 runs (4 earned) in 5 innings with 5 walks, and a whopping 6 K’s.  As the game progressed the Giants slowly collapsed like the Prussian Empire, ending with a 9-2 loss to the best team in the NL.

Zito’s latest struggles came in a game where the strikezone was next to non-existent for a better part of the first five innings.  Now I don’t know much about new-fangled pitching mechanics and them darn statistics, but I know that when a pitcher who struggles to throw strikes is getting squeezed by an umpire, nothing good can come out of such a situation.

During the early stages of the game, Kruk and Kuip were having a pretty damn insightful discussion about the fan dynamic and Zito, truthfully stating that the fans want to be able to root for him, but at the same time he needs to earn their praises.  As former players, our esteemed announcers know what it’s like to go through rough patches (although probably none as rough as Barry Zito’s), and as such are good sources for such insight.  I know I don’t speak for a whole fanbase, but personally I would love to be able to root for Zito on a daily basis; I was excited to see him pitch well in Cleveland, and am happy to see him starting to strike people out.  But a baseball fan’s love is fickle and unpredictable, and constantly must be earned.

In defense of Zito, there’s no shame in losing to the 1st place Cubbies, but it’s painful all the same, especially when you hear more cheers than boos when Mark DeRosa homers.  I’m fairly convinced that Cubs fans outnumbered Giants fans at the ballpark tonight, with some Giants fans converting midgame, realizing that after a century of futility, the hapless Chicago team might be in line for, dare I say, a World Series.  If the Cubs do end the season with a ring, that leaves the Indians and the Giants as the two most painful, heart-wrenching Major League franchises left to rot in their World Series-less squalor.  One by one, our partners in misery are leaving us (see Red Sox, 2004 and 2007).

All that aside, I’m seeing two Giants games this week; one against the Cubbies on Wednesday, and then against the Dodgers on Friday, so I have something to be looking forward to as the Giants slog through a four game set against Chicago.  While I’m a bit unhappy to be missing Lincecum’s start by one day (he goes Thursday), Kevin Correia will have to be fair compensation.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an effigy that bares a striking resemblance to Barry Zito that I’m going to grant a robotic strike-throwing pitching arm to.  Thanks to the powers of voodoo, don’t be surprised to see Zito throw right-handed from hereon in.

First-Half Awards on a Lazy Sunday

With the vanquishing of the Athletics, the Giants cap off a nine game roadtrip with a blow-out in which they score 11 times as many runs as they did on Saturday. Color me optimistic about the Giants’ chances in the NL West, as they pulled within five games of the .500 D-Backs. In any other division, you can bet that there wouldn’t be any other talk of such ridiculous notions as a division title, but things being the way they are, this squad is right in the middle of one of the uglier races for the NL West I’ve ever been fortunate enough to see.

With the Giants one game over the halfway mark for the season, I’m going to hand out some first-half awards to our boys in orange…

• Best Quote: “I don’t need to lose weight” –Bengie Molina

Not much to be said here.

• The Rod Beck Award for Coolest Facial Hair: Sergio Romo

Romo’s moustache wins this one narrowly over Jonathan Sanchez’ meticulously manicured pseudo-goatee, and Brian Wilson’s enormous soul patch, while Tim Lincecum doesn’t qualify, as he has yet to grow stubble. Also given consideration were Randy Winn and Aaron Rowand.

• The Pedro Feliz Trophy for Best Job At Not Being Pedro Feliz: Jose Castillo

Sure he hits into a ton of double plays and doesn’t take that many walks, but for whatever reason I find myself not feeling the same frustration for him as I did for Feliz in his time with the Giants. Maybe it’s the post-Feliz hangover, but I’m OK ignoring the nearly identical slash stats of Pedro and Castillo (.264/.315 /.428 vs. .266/.319/.429 respectively). The fact that we’re paying Jose much less helps a little too.

• The Robb Nen Award for Best Reliever: Brian Wilson

Wilson’s appearances rarely ever fail to induce worry, but in the end he gets the job done, going 21 for 23 in save opps. This makes him our first legitimate close since the Nen Era, only much more…ahem…adventurous.

There’ll be more awards to come as I think of them, so feel free to make suggestions in the comments section. Giants-Cubs up next starting tomorrow so cross your fingers, close your eyes, and mutter to yourself; a position that I affectionately like to call the Giants Fan.