The low point for the Giants

If you are a Giants fan you better HOPE this is the low point.

On July 28th, the Defending World Champions took 2 of 3 from the Phillies IN Philadelphia. They opened up a 4 game lead on the Diamondbacks, who were a nice story but let’s face it, didn’t have the legs to contend deep in the season.

The Giants added Carlos Beltran and the West was all but clinched.

Since then? The Giants have lost 10 of 13 games including 2 to the Pirates who couldn’t beat a Tee Ball team in the last few weeks.

The Diamondbacks haven’t exactly been world beaters. They have gone 7-5, right around the same winning pace that I would have expected.

But here we sit… in Mid August… and the Diamondbacks are in first place and the Giants are out of the playoff picture.

Indeed if the Playoffs Started Today… the Phillies and Diamondbacks would match up and the Brewers would have home field over the Braves.

In the promos for the Showtime series about the Giants, there is a clip of Brian Wilson on the golf course saying “Mark it down. Repeat.”

Ironically if the playoffs started now, that’s what the Giants would be doing… playing golf.

And the Diamondbacks don’t have to do this for the long haul. They have 45 games left. A team get get hot in a 45 game spurt. When a team is in first place all by themselves with 45 left, then guess what? They are a legit contender.

Now if you have no dog in the fight, you might think that rooting for the Diamondbacks is the right thing to do. A low budget club with lots of young talent is what people should want in the post season.

But, as I said in one of the Sully Baseball videos, the Giants have a unique opportunity to become one of the true marquee franchises in baseball. A fun, more relaxed alternative to the rough and not so friendly Red Sox and Yankees domination. And it would be a shame to see them be a one year wonder.

The Giants have the day off and the Diamondbacks are playing the minor league team that plays in Houston. So in all probability, the Giants will start Friday’s game in Florida a full game back.

Let’s see what you are made of. Defend that title.

THAT’S showing some fight, Pirates

When I saw the Pirates were losing AGAIN today, I was all ready to take them to the woodshed. I was going to trash them for letting themselves get swept at home and allowing the naysayers to be right.

Then lo and behold, a comeback and a 10th inning rally later (along with the Brewers loss to the Giants) and they finished the weekend still tied for first place.

It wasn’t the best start to the 20 game stretch to define the season… but the more days they spend in first, the better.

Now will someone explain to me why they pitched to Chase d’Arnaud instead of walking him, forcing the Pirates to bring in a pinch hitter and setting up a potential inning ending double play?

I’m not saying I’m smarter than Tony LaRussa… but the logic of that escaped me.

Well, you are still tied for first place Pirates.
Go to Atlanta. And don’t want video from the 1991 nor 1992 NLCS.

The Pirates are in first place by themselves… read that sentence again

No ties.
No percentage points.
No “tied in the loss column.”

The Pittsburgh Pirates are alone on top of the standings. And guess what? Day after tomorrow it is LATE JULY.

You know, the time when teams make deals to make themselves better for the stretch run?
Usually it is the time when other teams pick apart the dead carcass of the Pirates looking for spare parts.

This year?
They are in first place.

There must be a spare part or two they can acquire.
I’m not talking about Jose Reyes or Ubaldo Jimenez.

But a bat… a reliever…
Just to show their fans ONE YEAR they actually bring a big leaguer into Pittsburgh instead of shipping them out.

Come and savor it, Pirates fans.
Look at the standings.