Sunday, May 2, 2010

Leonard Nimoy goes "In Search of: A Killer Instinct"

You’d think that a 6-3 home stand against St. Louis, Philly and Colorado, with the Giants winning all three series, would be cause for joy. But this “accomplishment” is remarkably unsatisfying.

Three times the Giants had an opportunity to sweep, and in each case the Giants didn’t get beat so much as they lost. They were charitable in a United Way kind of fashion, adding once again to that list of games I fear they’ll be looking back at when the season concludes, muttering “if only…”

Twice the bats didn’t show, once the bullpen came unglued, and the fact is a 6-3 home stand should have been 7-2 and had the potential for a clean sweep. So you gotta wonder, does this team have the ability to put its foot on a team’s throat and close them out?

Thoughts from the Rockies series:

Barry Zito needs a nickname. I can’t get away with Barry Zero anymore, unless we’re talking about the zeroes he’s throwing at the opposition. Friday was his best outing to date. He didn’t have it in the first inning, but instead of the meltdown we’ve come to expect, he righted the ship and stated dealing.

His numbers would have been even more impressive had Molina, for the second straight game, found a way NOT to get his rather significant girth (a polite way off calling him a fat ass) in front of a blockable pitch, thus permitting a run to score. The Giants supposedly serve healthy food choices in the clubhouse now. Either Bengie is eating his portion and that of the entire bullpen, or he's making bonus stops at Yum Yum Donuts on his way to the park. You’re professional athlete, well, sort of. Treat your body like a temple, not a landfill.

Cain didn’t have to be perfect in Game Two, but he almost was. For once the team scored him some runs, and he didn’t disappoint. One hit over eight frames. The bullpen – namely the totally lame and over the hill Guillermo Mota, blew the goose egg -- but that just emphasized out out of this world Cain had been.

Thenonce again came, a chance to sweep. Instead, we found that Jonathan Sanchez continues to be his own worst enemy. Rallies for free kill you, especially when your “relief” is Brandon Medders. Ha, thought I’d forgotten about this hero, didn’t ya?

There are two mathematical equations I take as constant: The first is the obligatory E=MC2. Close behind is Medders+Inherited Runners=Disaster. When 1-0 becomes 4-0 in the span of two hitters, you can pretty much bet that Medders was involved. It’s not just that he looks like Shrek after lap band surgery, it’s that he stinks. Not in a “hey, I caught a whiff of something” way, but more like “somebody on the bus hasn’t showered in a week AND has a skunk in his pocket”.

We also saw the Rowand, three years into his deal, still can’t recognize a slider, that Velez still can’t hit, and that Bochy’s “I don’t give a rip” Sunday line-up will continue to be the norm.

A word to the ticket buying public: don’t waist your jack on Sunday games. Bochy is usually passing out unis in the parking lot. Play your cards right and you not only get in for free, you’ll sit on the bench. If someone is hot, you might even start in his place – how else to you explain Ishikawa getting the start over Huff?

Mike Krukow, whom I worship, made a comment that Bochy owed Ishikawa some at-bats. No he didn't. Ishi is getting paid. Bochy owed the fans who shelled out 80 clams to sit in the friggin' Club Level with the $10 beer and $7 two-scoop sundaes the best team he can put on the field. By the way, that team will NEVER include Eli Whiteside as the catcher.

So there it is, the worst 6-3 in Giants history. Back on the road, where they went a stellar 1-5 the last time out. Time to find out what these guys are really made of.

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