Three times a champion

It wasn't easy, the naysayers stretched from coast to coast. and even here in Cancun, Mexico, few locals gave the San Francisco Giants much of a chance to win a third World Series in five years. Luckily, Manager Bruce Bochy, his team, and millions of Giants fans don't listen to the critics. They never have. The Orange and Black were not suppose to win in 2010 but they did. Then in 2012, the team of "misfits" once again proved they were no fluke.  Tonight, the story is one of perseverance, talent and teamwork. Not much different than back in 2010. And again, the visitors are popping the champagne on the road after beating the favored Kansas City Royals, 3-2.

This is what we love about Sports. What makes us stop during our vacations, abandon beaches and dinner parties to   watch the drama unfold before our eyes.  In game 7 it's heightened beyond expectations. The odds have been discussed. It's time to leave it all on the field and there was little doubt that's exactly what happened in Kansas City. The trophy for Most Valuable Player  rightfully belongs to 25 year old pitcher Madison Bumgarner who was more than an ace throughout the series.  He won game one, pitched a complete game shutout for his second win in game 5 and stepped in to "save" the day again in the fifth inning. After the game Bochy simply said, "I love him and what a warrior he is, and truly incredible what he did throughout the postseason. He's such a humble guy, and we rode him pretty good." Of course it wasn't just Bumgarner. Despite his shaky second inning, Tim Hudson did his part, as did every position player. There was great defense from rookie Joe Panik, shortstop Brandon Crawford and left fielder Juan Perez. The Giants got key hits from Pablo Sandoval, Hunter Pence, Brandon Belt and Michael Morse, and of course Jeremy Affeldt who came in to relieve Hudson and got the win. But Bumgarner's name is once again in the record books. He became the first left-hander to pitch at least four innings in Game 7 of the World Series on two days' rest. His teammates  aren't surprised by anything he does. And neither are the fans. I followed a couple of SF Gamer Babes who made the trip to Kaufmann Stadium. Amy Phillips summarized it perfectly, "SO very proud to be a San Francisco Giants Fan. We can't stop crying and they are tears of joy! SO proud of our SF boys! We cheered for each and every Giants fan that couldn't make it! Thanks Amy, and we cheered on our Anniversary trip, my poor husband forced to watch instead of relaxing on the beach or in the pool. I'd say it was well worth it! 

Anniversary celebrations and Giants' woes

As you've probably noticed, I haven't blogged in a couple of days. I have a good excuse. I am traveling,  celebrating my 26th wedding anniversary with my husband Brent. Unlike me, he is NOT a  sports fanatic who reaches for the daily sports pages or hunts around for a television to watch games. It's been complicated finding time or viewing places while on the road and playing the dedicated wife card.

 It is so true that you just can't be two places at one time. To preserve my marriage, I sacrificed watching the entire world series games, but still did catch several innings and simply delayed writing about them while focusing on my "better half." Thankfully I am also getting a little help from my friends. I have my private spies updating me with scores,  and life is so much easier with my iPhone connected to the internet where I can fill in the blanks and watch recaps. And while I still don't have much time, I will relay some quick thoughts about the series so far. I wasn't at all surprised by Madison Bumgarner's masterful performance. What did hit home was realizing he wasn't even born when I married Brent at Sts Peter and Paul Church on Washington Square, October 23, 1988!! But the 25 year old lefty made it a torture free 7-1 victory. However, Giants fans know the dreaded "t" word can't be far away.  Last night's game featured an all too familiar roller coaster ride. First the high, watching Gregor Blanco's leadoff home run to give the visitors a quick 1-0 lead. It happened just minutes after the pre-game interview in Spanish aired here in Mexico and Blanco spoke about how even though they are seen as the underdogs, the Giants will never give up and game one was just the beginning. Then came the lows, the blown game by the bullpen after Jake Peavy did enough to keep his team in position to win it. What made this so much worse was knowing that when I left to dinner, the score was tied 2-2.  Sorry, I couldn't put Brent off any longer. My friend Mary Ann gets mad at me when I leave the room and something bad happens in any game, like it did last night when Hunter Strickland got blasted....again. And so the Giants go down 7-2 and the series is now tied 1-1.  While the Giants are back home for game 3 in the safe confines of AT&T Park, I'm still away.  I will continue sneaking around, looking for any way to stay connected to the Orange and Black and sharing in the All Together October Quest from the afar.  Stay tuned.

Balancing life with Sports on Sundays

"Never on a Sunday." I remember my father, an old fashioned Greek PHD in psychology professing how nobody should work on Sundays. Well, the 49ers would have loved to take this Sunday off. At times it appeared both the defense and offense were missing in action as they were embarrassed by the Denver Broncos on national TV 42-17. But really the night belonged to Payton Manning who broke the all time career TD passes record at home. "He's one of the greats. It was a great performance in a great career. Congratulations to him. He played at the highest level," said a stoic Niners Coach Jim Harbaugh. "The Broncos played a good game." Something the 49ers couldn't do. First there were dropped passes, then an interception and in the end perhaps the greatest loss was the absence of key defensive players like Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Aldon Smith, Chris Culliver and Jimmie Ward. Too many holes to fill and too many openings for Manning to capitalize on.  Luckily the Niners have a bye week to recover and regroup. As for the faithful, the three game winning streak is over, but hopefully you were able to enjoy this beautiful Sunday.

We sure did. This picture was at Viansa Winery where some great friends, my husband and I feasted on a wonderful lunch and sampled the wines of the season before the Sunday night game. At the end of the day, the Niners loss is just that, one loss. Some good news,  the Seattle Seahawks also lost. Unfortunately for Raiders fans, the bleeding continues. After loosing to Arizona 24-13 at home they now own the worst record in the NFL at 0-6.  Raiders safety Charles Woodson didn't mix words after the game."This is as bad as you're going to get," Woodson explained. "We haven't won a game. How much worse can it get than that, than not winning a game?" Just ask the 1962 Raiders who finished the season 1-13.  How to balance life with sports on a Sunday? A glass of wine certainly helps. Cheers!

An unlikely Hero rockets the Giants to the World Series

This is why we love sports. The Giants quieted their critics with not one, not two but three home runs to clinch the National League Pennant in five games. The team that was accused of "stealing" the last  two wins by capitalizing from Cardinals' errors put on a long ball show.  None brighter than the walk off three run homer by Travis Ishikawa.  He is the poster boy for perseverance, hard work, determination and finally, redemption.  Ish was on the 2010 Roster that won the World Series. The former first baseman then bounced around the league, five different teams,  down to the minors, considered quitting, but after being signed by the Giants he filled in when most needed in left field and connected on the biggest hit of his career with two on in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied at 3-3. The crowd went wild as the ball sailed over the right field fence, his teammates mobbed him at home plate, his dream a reality. The 30 year old described the moment as: "It was just icing on the cake."

As has been the case all year, this win featured a multitude of stars.  In the second inning, rookie Joe Panik broke the long ball spell with a two run shot that ignited the crowd and put the orange and black ahead 2-1 in the third. Ace Madison Bumgarner didn't have his best stuff, but the MVP of the series did enough to keep his team in the game. Mad Bum gave up two homers in the fourth, one to Matt Adams and one to Tony Cruz putting the Cards back on top 3-2. For the next four inning a  pitching duel ensued with Adam Wainwright returning to his MVP form and shutting down the Giants. Then in the 8th Michael Morse came in to pinch-hit against reliever Pat Neshek. There was no question about this one. Morse whose left oblique injury has kept him out of the lineup since September, knew it too. He floated around the bases, jumping up and down, his joy evident all the way to the nose bleed section of AT&T Park. In the dugout, his teammates matched his enthusiasm and as Morse walked out to take his vow and encourage the crowd you just had a feeling this was going to be the Giants' night to win it all.  Closer Santiago Casilla got the first two outs in the ninth. Then with bases loaded Jeremy Affeldt recorded the final out to send the game into the bottom of the ninth with the score tied at 3. Pablo Sandoval started the magical ninth with a solid single off another former MVP, Michael Wacha. Brandon Belt took a one out walk and Ishikawa made it a night to remember with his swing of the bat.
After the on field celebrations, Manager Bruce Bochy addressed the crowd and put it all in perspective. "It doesn't get any better than this, and to all you fans out there, nobody has it better than us. Thank you"
From those who never stopped believing, the feeling is mutual. Thank you Giants for another amazing ride to the World Series. Yes, torturous at times, but we wouldn't have it any other way. Kansas City be ready. The Giants are now hitting both the small and long ball and are on a Quest to repeat the feats of 2010 and 2012, after all it is another even number year.

Yes,Yes, Yes, We do believe

My friends around the country are texting and sending messages saying that the Cardinals are "gifting" us the series. I disagree. Although it hasn't been pretty and the Giants can't remember how to hit a home run, they are doing the little things that prove they are the better team, and certainly they have the best manager.  They are now just one game away from a return to the World Series. Giants fans may sometimes disagree with Bruce Bochy's lineups and pitching changes, but nobody can argue with the outcome.
The Cards came out swinging in game three knowing they had to win if they wanted to ensure the series would return to St. Louis. Ryan Vogelsong did not have his best stuff, allowing four runs in just three innings. But the bullpen did it's work. Trailing 4-1, Yusmeiro Petit stepped in and was lights out right away.

The steady reliever gave his team three shutout innings and recorded the win after the orange and black crawled and scrapped their way back getting two runs in the bottom of the third thanks to a Buster Posey RBI that trimmed the lead to 4-3. Then in the sixth, the Cards helped out first with a leadoff walk to Juan Perez, then a timely hit by up to now hit-lesss Brandon Crawford, a pinch bunt by Matt Duffy advanced the runners, a grounder by Gregor Blanco which tied it 4-4.  Rookie Joe Panik followed with another grounder scoring Crawford after an errand throw. The Giants held on to the one run lead with almost perfect pitching from Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez, Sergio Romo and closer Santiago Casillas. An all together game with contributions from every player. And that's what Bochy is asking for.
" We're seeing some good pitches, " explained Bochy. "We have to do the little things. The base running, putting the ball in play, putting the bunt down. Momentum starts to change and that's what's happening. It was a great win but we still have work to do. We have to come out tomorrow and be ready to go. Keep fighting"
The Giants will hand the ball to their 25 year old ace, Madison Bumgarner in the possible clincher Thursday at home. Remember, he lead his team to a 3-0 win in St. Louis in game one pitching 7 2/3 shutout innings. As Hunter Pence put it, "Yes, Yes,Yes."  The Giants are exactly where they want to be, one win away from the World Series.

Walking off in the 10th to happily end the drama

Well, it's never easy for the Giants and their fans. I take that back. Game one in St. Louis was quite painless, a 3-0 win behind great pitching by Ace Madison Bumgarner. Game two was as my friend Mary Ann described it, "a heart attack in the making," with the home team winning it with a walk off homer in the ninth. Today, the sentimental favorite, 39 year old Tim Hudson was pitching in his first Championship Series after 16 years in the majors. He took the mound with a comfortable 4-0 lead after his counterpart John Lackey gave up four hits. A single to Buster Posey, a single to Pablo Sandoval, a double to Hunter Pence who recorded his first RBI in the playoffs, a walk to Brandon Belt and the clincher, a double to Travis Ishikawa who collected three RBI's as Panda, Pence and Belt all came home to make it the biggest first inning in a postseason game since the 1912 World Series. At this point, the fans were on their feet at AT&T Park and we were all feeling pretty good. I was updating game results to my friends hard at work without TV's and to those traveling around the world--Ray.  Just as we were all relaxing, the Cardinals struck back in the fourth with two runs cutting the Giants lead to 4-2. In the sixth, the Cards added another run to trim the lead to one

Huddy was pitching well with good command and got out of trouble numerous times with 5 strikeouts, but in the seventh, with one out, center fielder Randal Grichuk's solo homer tied the game and sent the veteran to the dugout. No problem. This time the bullpen did it's job. First Jeremy Affeldt, then Santiago Casilla,then Sergio Romo who got the win. But the Cards' bullpen was also effective retiring 16 consecutive Giants. Until the bottom of the 10th with reliever Randy Chaote facing the bottom of the lineup, which has been struggling. Brandon Crawford took the walk. Juan Perez who came in for Ishikawa was up to bunt but after missing twice he instead regrouped and with two strikes recorded a nice hit. Gregor Blanco who was hitless was supposed to bunt the runners over with no outs. Blanco's bunt was picked up by Choate who threw wide of first base and the ball rolled past the diving first baseman. In comes Crawford and the celebration begins.... Giants fans can breathe again. Nothing like torture in the playoffs, but all is good when the orange and black lead the series 2-1 with two more home games. Ryan Vogelson gets the ball tomorrow and Mad Bum can clinch the series at home Thursday. But that's jumping the gun, and if the past two games are any indication, there is still much torture to endure.

Loving Monday Night Football

What a difference a half makes. The Niners got off to a very slow start in St. Louis on Monday Night Football but they never flinched. Down 14-0, Colin Kaepernick who last year enjoyed one of his best games on a Monday Night telecast was still smiling on the sidelines. Of course my friends and I texted back and forth wondering what was going on. Would it be like last night's Giants/Cardinals game?  Not if Kaepernick had anything to do with it. After a drive that resulted in a field goal. The Niners were on the move a second time with just :27  left in the first half. Kaepernichk found Brandon Lloyd along the left sideline and the former Patriot turned his jets on for an 80 yard touchdown. After the extra point, San Francisco trailed just 14-10 at halftime.

But after what must have been a fiery talk from Coach Jim Harbaugh, last year's NFC Champions started firing on all cylinders. First a beauty of a run by Kaepernick for 23 yards.  then he found Anquan Boldin in the back of the end zone for an 11 yard pass. With the lead, the defense stepped up and stomped the Rams redeeming themselves for failing miserably in the first half with a couple of costly penalties and missed coverages. On his next drive, Kaepernick showed why he leads the NFL in TD passes and owns the best passer rating. He completed 4 of 4 passes for 72 yards finding Michael Crabtree for his 3rd touchdown pass of the night and a comfortable 10 point lead in the fourth quarter. Thanks to great defensive plays the Rams threatened late in the game but had to settle for a field goal. With one minute left, as a reward, the defense sealed the win with a 20 yard interception return by cornerback Dontae Johnson who was one of several back-ups in for injured 49ers. All contributing to shinning the bright lights of Monday Night Football back on the San Francisco 49ers who were all smiles as were the Faithful back home.

Giants torture returns during Columbus Day festivities

It's Torture with a capital T. The Giants fell behind early when Jake Peavy gave up a Home run to The Cardinals Matt Carpenter in the third inning.  Then in the fourth St Louis scored again, but as they so often do, the Giants clawed their way back into game 2. They did it with the small ball tying it in the 6th inning as Hunter Pence recorded his first RBI of the postseason. Throughout the roller coaster ride, the crowd at the Columbus Day Bazaar at Sts Peter and Paul School was going wild.

We felt like we were helping our guys rally back. Sure enough, the Giants took the lead in the top of the seventh, but in the bottom of the 7th, the Cards blasted another home run, this time from Oscar Taveras. If you're wondering who he is, so was everyone at the bazaar. The rookie has hit 3 home runs in 80 games. No time to relax for Giants fans. In the 8th rookie fastball reliever Hunter Strickland came into the game and once again gave up another home run, this time to Matt Adams, and the Cards are back on top. 4-3. Hold on to your drinks because with two outs and bases loaded the Giants fight back to tie the game on a wild pitch that scores pinch runner Matt Duffy. Heading into the bottom of the 9th tied at 4 all it felt like this ballgame would go into extra innings, but with Sergio Romo on the mound, Joltin' Kolten Wong hit the 4th and final home run of the night for the Cardinals to tie the series at 1-1. As deflated as we were watching the Cardinals celebrate on the field, Manager Bruce Bochy reminded us all that the Giants did win the first game on the road and now they are heading home.
"It was a great game between two great teams going at it, " Bochy said. "The long ball came back and bit us tonight, but it was a hard fought game and it's going to be a hard fought series."
In other words get ready for more Giants torture.

Madison Bumgarner, the Blue Angels and living the dream

From our rooftop in North Beach I first heard them. Then the roaring intensified to an ear shattering explosion and as I looked to the crisp blue sky, there they were. The Blue Angels. My eyes immidiately fixated on their synchronized maneuvers. Marveling at the way they sliced across the sky with such ease. Spinning, turning, criss crossing each other seemingly oblivious to the danger below with grace and unwavering precision.

As I watched them skimming above the steeples of Saints Peter and Paul Church, All I could say was, "wow!"
A few hours later and 1736 miles away, Madison Bumgarner took control of game one of the National League Championship Series in St Louis.  The 25 year old lefty broke the record for consecutive scoreless inning in playoff games with 26 and 2/3 innings... and counting. He displayed his own country grace maneuvering through the Cardinals line-up with unflappable command of his pitches. In 7 and 2/3 innings, MadBum surrendered just 4 hits. At one point all I could say while watching him was, "wow!"  

With their Ace leading the way,  Giants hitters stepped in to do their part.  Pablo Sandoval's double and Travis Ishikawa's RBI got them started in  the second inning.  Sandoval went 3 for 3 with a walk. Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright struggled, lasting just 4 and 2/3 inning allowing three runs, two earned on six hits. While the home team had problems fielding the ball, the visitors put on a defensive show. The highlight, a diving catch by left fielder Ishikawa to save a possible run. The former first baseman has stepped in and is this year's feel good story. After being  part of the 2010  World Series Championship team he bounced around five different teams and returned to San Francisco on a minor league contract halfway through the season. After the game he admitted he's living the dream. According to MLB,  65% of teams who win game one go on to win the seven game Championship series. Let's all keep living the dream.

Three reasons the Giants have a great case for winning it all in 2014

Since Manager Bruce Bochy arrived in San Francisco on October 27, 2006, he’s lead the team to two world championships; one in 2010 and another in 2012. His strategy he says is simple: play good fundamental baseball that starts with great pitching, defense and hitting, not the long ball, but making contact with the small ball. “It’s our way sometimes. We scratch and paw for runs,” Bochy explains. “ I really have a gritty bunch out there. There’s nobody’s will that’s stronger than theirs or desire that’s deeper than that.”  The gritty bunch has 10 players front he magical 2010 season.

San Francisco entered this year’s playoffs as the 10th seed. After taking care of the red hot Pirates in the wild card game behind their ace pitcher Madison Bumgarner, they travelled to Washington to face the best team in the National League at home. No problem, Bochy gave the ball to his veterans, Jake Peavy in game one and Tim Hudson in game two. Both tamed the Nats and recorded wins. With a 2-0 lead in the five game series, the Giants were at AT & T Park and once again turned to Bumgarner for game 3. A wild throw from the 25 year old lefty lead to two Nationals runs and the visitors seemed to take the momentum with a  4-1 victory. However,  this is the playoffs and the 2010 champs found a way to win a wild game 4 behind the lights out pitching of Ryan Vogelsong. In four games, the Giants starting pitchers recorded a 1.33 ERA that’s  exhibit A in Bochy’s plan for success in the post season. Exhibit B features perhaps the best catch in the outfield by Hunter Pence. Shortstop Brandon Crawford, rookie Joe Panik on second, center fielder Gregor Blanco and Pablo Sandoval on third have proven their defensive flair time and time again. .

Prior to the playoffs, the Giants faced huge setbacks with injuries to key players, lead-off hitter Angel Pagan, all star pitcher Matt Cain, 2012 NLCS MVP Marco Scutero and power hitter Michael Morse. The good news is that Morse is back on the 25 man playoff roster and will join the team in  St Louis, just what Bochy needs for Exhibit C, an added spark to light the Giants bats against the Cardinals and their next opponent in the 2014 World Series.

The morning after

Everywhere I go today, people are smiling. An orange glow is embracing the San Francisco Bay Area like evening fog. Giants signs, flags and banners fly freely, and why not, the underdogs quieted the national media by doing the unexpected; beating the Washington Nationals, owners of the best record in the league. Take that Fox Network and Major League Baseball. What outsiders don't understand is you can predict heart, experience, character and teamwork.

After last night's game what really made me and so many Giants fans proud was seeing the genuine affection spill over on the field and in the stands. To hear starter Ryan Vogelsong say he wanted to win it for veteran Tim Hudson who has never made it to the championship series. It truly is all for one and one for all. And to those Fox Announcers I can't write what so many were texting me during the game.  Seriously the East Coast bias in sports is beyond disgusting. The best way to silence the critics is proving them wrong. You just can't stop the Bruce Bochy Giants on even years. Unlike other Managers or Coaches who bask in the glory of victory,  he'd rather share the moment with his unlikely heroes. Vogelsong, Gregor Blanco, Joe Panik, Hunter Pence, Brandon Crawford, Sergio Romo, Santiago Casilla, Pablo Sandoval, Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Juan Perez, and Hunter Strickland. He calls them a gritty bunch. Bochy said: "I told them there's nobody's will that's stronger than theirs or desire that's deeper than that. It's fun to see a group of guys that come together, that are so unselfish and that play with so much grit."  Fun indeed.  Forget the statistics, predictions and patterns, this is October baseball and the Giants are just where they want to be, on their way to St. Louis.

They did it again

In the words of the wise and agile Giants right fielder Hunter Pence: "Yes, Yes, Yes!" It wasn't easy and at times it wasn't pretty, but the underdogs did it again. In another even number year, the Orange and Black are heading to the National League Championship Series. On a balmy San Francisco evening, the home team sent the favored Washington Nationals packing with a 3-2 thriller that for Giants fans equaled torture.  If you want to know exactly how they did it,  put away the statistics and season record books.  Giants'  President Larry Bauer said it best: "It's all about heart." Nobody showed more heart than 37 year old Ryan Vogelsong who had a no hitter going into the 5th with  pitches up to 95 mph. The Nationals did connect for two hits and one run but Vogey left the game with a 2-1 lead in the 6th. A lead protected by an amazing catch from Pence who was pinned against the right field fence  to rob Jason Werth of an extra base hit.

The Giants scored the old fashion way and took that early lead in the second inning. Brandon Crawford singled, then Juan Perez followed with a soft hit that was fumbled by starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez. Vogelsong then helping his own cause put down a perfect bunt to load the bases. Gregor Blanco took the walk and the Giants were up 1-0.  Rookie second baseman Joe Panik contributed with an RBI ground out to score Perez and go up  2-0. The Nats did tie it in the seventh with a splash hit from Washington's superstar Bryce Harper off his new favorite reliever Hunter Strickland.  Make that two long bombs in the series for Harper off Strickland.  But as Karma would have it a wild pitch was also the difference in game four. With the score tied at 2, the Giants rallied with back to back  hits, first Panic, then Buster Posey.  Pence walked and once again the bases are loaded. Rookie Aaron Barett's pitch to Pablo Sandoval skips to the backstop and Panik scores. A second wild pitch follows but Posey is called out at the plate. Superb pitching by Sergio Romo in the 8th and closer Santiago Casilla showed off that heart and Bruce Bochy's undefeated playoff record as the Giants' skipper stays alive. They're going to St. Louis.  Oh yes, they are underdogs once again.

Robbed just like the Giants at home

My day started with disturbing news that my yahoo email had been hacked. Despite that, I was excited to join my good friend and fellow sports nut, Mary Ann outside the Giants game. We were both anxious to see the Giants clinch the NLDS with a sweep of the Nationals. We held on to a glimmer of hope that perhaps we could find "reasonable" tickets outside the park. No such luck. The market was beyond hot with prices ranging from $200 to $100 a piece. We proceeded to plan B. Watching the game at the Public House, something I'd never done. The crowd spilled over outside, so we headed next door to Mijita for a pitcher of margaritas and a delicious shrimp salad. The price of the pitcher was stiff, but we enjoyed the rowdy crowd and felt good about our viewing spot until the sun beaming through the window became too much. Or maybe it was the fact the game was still scoreless. After a quick trip around the park to see if perhaps in the fifth inning we could snatch two cheap tickets we returned to the Public House. I ordered an ice coffee and we shared a delicious hot fudge brownie sunday sitting in the back of the restaurant. The game was still tied at 0 and Madison Bumgarner was commanding the mound. But the Giants' bats were also quiet thanks to outstanding pitching by Washington's Doug Fister who threw seven shutout innings. This was a classic pitcher's duel, until the dreadful seventh inning. MadBum gave up a hit and a walk. But the biggest blow came when the 25 year old lefty grabbed the ball after a wimpy bunt and sent a wild throw that Pablo Sandoval just couldn't reach. Two runs scored on the error charged to Madison. Then to add salt to the wounds, Asdrubal Cabrera who watched game two from the locker room after being thrown out at home delivered another RBI to end the crushing inning and Bumgarner's day. It also marked the end of Bumgarner's postseason shutout street at 22 innings. As bad as things looked, they were about to get worse, for both me and the Giants.

In the ninth, Bryce Harper, hit a massive solo home run off Jean Machi. As the Giants fell to 0-4, we got our check and I grabbed my wallet to pay. Sandobal started our half of the ninth with a leadoff single and we put on our rally caps. Bus then, as the change arrived, I reached into my purse and felt nothing. My wallet was GONE. In less than 20 minutes from the time our bill arrived and I retrieved my wallet  to pay, a man dressed in a white shirt grabbed it out of my purse and exited the Public House.  Our server came to help and with the Manager they viewed security cameras and saw what happened in the extremely blurry video. In all the commotion, we missed Hunter Pence's double and Brandon Crawford's fly ball that lead to the Giants' first score.  But as I was filing my police report. The game and San Francisco's 10 game postseason winning streak came to an end. My wallet which was a gift from my deceased father is gone. My credit cards are now cancelled and tomorrow aside from dealing with the dreadful insurance company for new id cards, I'll have to tackle the DMV for a new driver's license, no fun, but I do believe things are about to get better for both the Giants and me. 

Zen restored as winning continues

After last night's marathon Giants game of emotional ups and downs, I was afraid of what would happen this afternoon when Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs arrived at Levi Stadium.  Which 49er team would show up in the Santa Clara heat? The one struggling defensively, penalized heavily and suffering from an identity crisis at 2-2 without some key players, or the former NFC Champions. To prepare for the stress, and restore some sense of internal order after baseball's longest playoff game, I joined a group of friends for a visit to the Green Gulch Zen Center early this morning. Funny even here, the Orange and Black and 49ers were represented as visitors sported their favorite team's gear.

As for me, I was still bleeding orange. But once I turned on the game,  my blood started bubbling, and my newly restored zen went out the open window. Smith looked good early, giving his team a 10-3 lead, but Colin Kaepernick quickly responded. He first passed to Anquan Bouldin for a nice gain then found his new go to target, Stevie Johnson in the end zone for a 9 yard TD and a 13-10 lead at the half. But Smith's homecoming wasn't over.  He came back in a hurry capping a four play, 58 yard drive to retake the lead 17-13. The Niners went back to the good old days and handed the ball to main man, Frank Gore who in the last two games is back to rushing for more than 100 yards.  A contrast to the first three games where he averaged 46 yards a game.  With the running game restored, the passing game opened up featuring another acrobatic catch by Brandon Lloyd. But each drive fell short in the red zone. An area which still needs improvement. In the end it was the boot of Phil Dawson that kept lighting up the scoreboard with five field goals. Major positives were the lack of penalties and some gutsy calls from the sidelines. A fake punt allowed Kaepernick to keep the final drive alive and burn the clock. Then the defense, which stepped up with some critical adjustments after the half and secured the win as Perrish Cox intercepted Smith's pass with time running out. Many rumors are swirling around about Niner players unhappy with their animated coach, players interviewed after the win say they love Harbaugh. Winning always restores peace and happiness...and even one's zen.

Birthdays, baseball and breaking records

Yesterday I wrote about how my friend Mary Ann and I changed our plans to watch the Giants' first playoff game with a group of friends. Today, I thought I lucked out. My tennis team match was at noon at Golden Gate park which meant I could be home by 2:30 for the start of game two. My next commitment was at 7pm in Mill Valley for a special birthday party.  No problem. I would be done watching and blogging about the game with plenty of time. Wrong! How about six hours and 23 minutes later a game for the record books.

It was a pitcher's dual. The Nationals' starter Jordan Zimmermann who six days ago threw a no hitter appeared to be in control, although in the first three innings,  the Giants were getting hits...three to be exact. Yet those early hits didn't lead to runs and after the leadoff hit in the third inning Zimmerman retired 20 consecutive batters. Our own Tim Hudson was also dealing well, pitching into the eighth inning and allowing one run on a two-out RBI single in the fourth by Anthony Rendon who  had four of Washington's seven hits against Huddy.  But just as I was getting ready to leave for the birthday party with my foccacia from North Beach's Liguria Bakery,  Zimmerman was taken out of the game after walking Joe Panik. Buster Posey singled off closer Drew Storen and Pablo Sandoval kept his hitting streak alive with an RBI single that scored Panik. Posey was called out in a questionable play at the plate, so the game went into extra innings. I didn't  want to leave,  however, I had no choice! The foccacia was an appetizer and my good friend Lauretta had been cooking all day. We got in the car and continued listening to the action on KNBR. Once in Mill Valley, we gathered around the TV and poor Lauretta who grew up in Italy and does NOT share our love of baseball was not happy we were not sitting at the table. But we couldn't abandon this drama. Inning after inning, we witnessed a player and the home team manager get thrown out, superb relief pitching, and with no errors in 18 innings, standout defense. Finally, in the 18th inning Brandon Belt who has missed a great deal of the season with injuries showed he's back and ready to start the celebration with a leadoff homer on a 3-2 pitch from right hander Tanner Roark. For our birthday boy, Greg, the 2-1 win was the best present of the night, and for us, it was a memorable night of baseball, fabulous Italian food and wine and a chance to share it all with friends. Life is very good. The Giants are coming home, up two games in the best of five series with their number one ace Madison Bumgarner scheduled to pitch at AT&T Monday.  Where will you be?

The Killer P's

Game one sets the tone. In the nation's capital, the Giants proved they are not intimidated. Forget the season statistics and the fact that the Washigton Nationals own the best record in baseball. This one was a beauty from the start. Leading the way, a pitcher who many were dismissing as more emotion than substance. Jake Peavy was winless in his last three post season starts, but don't doubt this 33 year old. He walked on that mound and used his fiery emotion to fuel a shutout through six innings. He was the lead killer P with a backup that once again proved it's all about the team.

How important was this first win? Just ask anyone who took the afternoon off on a beautiful sunshiny day and was inside watching the playoff game. My good friend Mary Ann changed her Friday plans as did I. She absolutely had to cancel lunch and a movie with her friends to join the crowd at Rogue/Nick's Crispy Tacos in San Francisco and cheer on our boys in Orange and Black.  We all screamed as rookie Joe Panik drives in a run and scores another. Were thrilled to see Hunter Pence and Buster Posey with timely hits as well as Pablo Sandoval and the two Brandons, Belt and Crawford. Yes, we were very nervous after our young gun Hunter Strickland gave up two home runs. But Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla secured the save. The emotion was raw and contagious. It started with Peavy who got the win but smoothly infiltrated the visitor's dugout.  Of course there's a long way to go. But winning game one with strong pitching, solid hitting and top notch defense sets the stage for what the Giants did in 2010 and 2012, defy the odds and hold up the World Series trophy.  Romo summarized it perfectly, "We tapped into our postseason experience. There's that little extra thing in our chemistry, that focus, that determination, that separates postseason games from regular season games. Everything seems to mater in the playoffs. We've had our backs against the wall in tough environments against tough pitching and tough lineups. It enables us to stick together." And we the fans are right there with you, together, even if it means changing our day plans.

Giants fever

It's everywhere you look in San Francisco. As soon as I walked out the door in North Beach this morning, the first person I saw was wearing his Giants t-shirt. Around the corner on Grant Street, the window display showed Giants gear, and as the sun went down, Coit Tower was aglow in orange.

So the experts are picking the Nationals to win the series. Sure, on paper the Eastern Division leader looks like the sure bet, but in baseball as in life, anything can happen. Just ask the Angels who were clear favorites to take their first game from the wild-card winning KC Royals. Washington may have Anthony Rendon, but the Orange and Black have the killer P's--sure they miss leadoff spark plug Angel Pagan, but they still have Posey, Pence, Panda, and rookie Panik filling in just fine. San Francisco can't put their number one guy on the mound, Madison Bumgarner pitched a gem yesterday to win the wild-card game, but Jake Peavy is up for the challenge.  And after last night's celebration it's clear, the entire squad wants to keep playing through October. On the street a fan told me, there's nothing like rooting for a winner and that 's exactly what it feels like to catch Giants fever. Can you feel it?

ALL together

Maybe the champagne celebration is a bit much, but sure, why not? After six months of ups and downs, the Giants are officially in the playoffs. They did it with amazing pitching: a complete shutout game from 25 year old Madison Bumgarner featuring 109 pitches, 4 hits, one walk and 10 strikeouts; the long ball: Brandon Crawford hit the first grand-slam by a shortstop in postseason history to give the visitors a 4-0 lead and take the sell out crowd in Pittsburgh out of the equation in the fourth inning; then there was the small ball, hits by Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Belt who drove in three more runs and Buster Posey; and finally the visitors won the wild card with spectacular defense from Sandoval and Hunter Pence. It was a group effort...ALL together.
On an even year, the orange and black are once again in the big dance. Of course there's a long road to that World Series trophy and their next opponent, the Washington Nationals currently own the best record in baseball. The Giants however know all about having that best record and then loosing it. It's a clean slate and anything is possible. For this team who won it all in 2010 and 2012, pressure is a non issue. What is clear is that through the good and bad times, the multiple injuries and the nay-sayers, these Giants believe in themselves and each other.  After the game, Crawford said,  "it's crazy," that he is now in the record books and "it's pretty special." Indeed we agree, this team is all of that, crazy and special. Just hang on tight and enjoy the ride. It's the best of sports and life. With champagne as the beverage of choice in October! Cheers!!