!@#$%^&*!@#$%^&*!!!

Nine runs down. San Francisco had NEVER overcome a nine-run deficit and gone on to win -- not in the 128-year history of the franshise. But finidng themselves a mere two outs away from doing just that, the Giants firmly wrapped both hands around their collective necks and gave it one heck of a squeeze.

I can't recall ever being this honked off about winning two out of three from a first-place team.  What could have been a herioc effort that lifted a team to glory turned into one of those days where you jam an ice pick into your temple in hopes of blocking out the memory. Instead of season-altering momentum builder we have yet another incident where you wonder if thre isn't a higher power with a serious grudge against Los Giantes.

After spanking Cinicnnati in the first two games of the series, a tremendous effort saw the Orange and Black come roaring back (a rhyme!) in the finale. But defensive miscues did in the so-called "pitching and defense" Giants, sending them down to yet another soul-crushing one-run extra-inning defeat.

Think about it: 38 runs in three games wasn't enough. A team that can generously be categorized as offensively challenged went on a three-day binge worthy of Amy Winehouse and Courtney Love. And the supposed strength of the team gacked it away.

Five errors. I watched the Little League World Series game later in the day and saw more competent play. And despite that, despite Madison Bumgarner showing all the control of a duece barrelling down the 101 half an hour after last call, the Giants were poised to prevail. Then it all came crashing down.

Two outs to go. A 10-1 deficit turned to an 11-10 advantage. No one on base. Routine ball to third. Sandoval retreats a step for the good hop, makes a clean grab and fires to first...

!@#$%^*!@#$%^&!!!

Mr. Sandoval, I believe the goat horns fit perfectly.

Panda's defense, or lack thereof, has grown from the check engine light illuminating to having smoke pouring out from under the hood. He again poses a threat to enemy pitchers but also puts the fans sitting behind first base in peril thanks to his errant throws.

Sandoval is in the midist of one of the worse fielding skids this side of Chuck Knoblauch.  Seriously, they gotta start getting this Terry Forster-ish tub of goo out of games when defense matters most. It's reached the point where the Giants need to consider Uribe or Fontenot as late-inning replacements because, as a fielder, Pablo couldn't be more frightening if he had been created in Rick Baker's creature shop.

God, I wanted to stand up and cheer when they rallied. A team with no capacity for coming from behind was about to do so in unprecedented fashion. The Giants hadn't gone double digits in three straight games since 1962 and had never come from nine down to win. Never. But on this date they were about to.....

!@#$%^&*!@#$%^&*!!!

Both the front office and field management crow about this team's versatility. Hogwash. The Giants needed a third baseman in this game. They had a guy playing third base, and that's not the same thing. Same story at shortstop, first base and left field. In this frantic and ill-conceived Hail Mary for offense, the defense is taking on water. Invariably you have to surrender some defense to get a hitter or two into the line-up, but the only positions on the diamond that don't currently lend themselves to perpetual ulcers are catcher, second base and center field. Balls hit to the rest generate apoproximately the same sense of impending doom as the national Russian Routlette finals.

Five errors. !@#$%^&*!@#$%^&*!!!

While I'm pointing out the foibles and failures of the front office (again), can we note for the record that the Giants six-man pen meant they ran out of pitchers, forcing Barry Zito into the fray on two days rest? How's that six outfielder thing working out, Brian? If Zito goes out in his next start and gets blasted, it's on your rather empty head. Ill-advised waiver claims, the gift that keeps on giving.

A totally disgusting game as the Giants lost an opportunity to take sole possession of a lead in the wildcard race. All it lacked was a Ryan Spilbourghs dinger and Jose Canseco coming in to pitch. Another opportunity wasted in a season full of blown chances. Should the Giants miss the playoffs, it's games like this we'll look back on and think "if only."

Day off on Thursday, and it couldn't come at a more opportune moment.

I need more time to drink, uh, think.