Giants Fan Forever

I saw this a couple days ago at the ballpark. I don't know anything about Tom Maurer, except the Giants won the World Series before he died.

Back to Back

My date arrived complete with black and orange fingernails and a shirt she made specifically for the game. She was quite excited about going to her first Giants game of the season. That was a Tuesday night so I’ll refer to her as Tuesday-night-girl.

It wasn’t until about the third inning when we were talking about ticket availability that she reluctantly mentioned she was also going to the game the next day with a male friend, a friend that “she has known for years and was like a brother.” Somehow during that whole discussion I managed not to mention that I was also going to the game the next day and taking another girl. Honestly, if I wasn’t taking her I would have spent the night in the area and not had to drive back again the next morning. So I was being a gentleman by not mentioning it.

For both games I was using my friend’s season tickets. The seats to our left were empty, as they often were, and the seats to our right were again occupied by a couple of sisters that rarely missed a game. I was quite surprised at another couple that showed up in the seventh inning to the seats to the left of the empty seats. Maybe they were from LA. It turned out to be a great game and we enjoyed a victory complete with a Brian Wilson save. All together a good first date. Not our first date, but my first date of the week.

Now I wasn’t cheating on anyone or anything, but I did wonder if I would be able to pull off going to both games without mentioning the other woman either day. I was also wondering if one of the sisters would say anything when they saw me arrive. Maybe something like, “nice to see you again so soon.” However, on the way to the park Wednesday she directly asked me who I went with the night before (initially, when I invited her I gave her a choice of the two games, but I didn’t know she would remember that) so I had to tell her about Tuesday-night-girl. The idea of running into Tuesday-night-girl at the game did give us a few laughs. However, she had standing-room-only seats and was out in the outfield somewhere so it was unlikely that would occur.

I didn’t see Tuesday-night-girl for a couple weeks. We were talking candidly and freely so I said, “Okay, I have confession to make. You know the night we went to the Giants game…” She cut me off, “You went again the next day, with another girl.” I paused. I had a look on my face like, “how could she know that?” She continued, “I saw you.”

Apparently, with a large crowd at AT&T is pretty hard to find decent standing-room-only seats. She remembered the empty seats to our left the night before and thought she would see if they were available again. They walked up to the section. She looked up and saw me with my date grabbed her friend and ran back down the tunnel.

Oops.

Pic of the Week

Saw this bike after the game.

What are you doing?

My Favorite Player

September 1^st, 2010. The score was tied 1-1 in a huge pennant race game. The Giants bring in rookie Darren Ford to pinch run at first base. Who? Darren Ford? He had been called up from double-A that morning. After a missed flight connection he finally made it to the game sometime during the 2^nd inning. Lincecum bunts him over to second. Now in the 8^th inning, during his big league debut, Ford represents the potential go-ahead run.

On the next pitch Jimenez throws it in the dirt. It squirts about five feet from Olivio, the catcher. I literally didn’t know one baseball player that would even try to advance on that pitch, but that was because I didn’t yet know Darren Ford. He’s fast. Real fast.

Ford breaks for third. Olivio comes up firing and throws the ball into left field. Ford pops up and races home giving the Giants a 2-1 lead. Darren Ford, welcome to the Big Leagues.

Most baseball fans I know could tell you their favorite player as a kid. Mine: Will Clark. As an adult sometimes people ask me that same question. Who is your favorite player on the Giants? Depending on the year I would have answered something like, “I don’t know. Jeff Kent? Maybe Jason Schmidt.” It is hard to say a favorite player, but there are definitely certain players that command my attention. Bonds at the plate, Lincecum on the mound—there are certain players you don’t want to miss. Let me add to that list: Darren Ford on base.

Last week the Giants had Mark DeRosa and Andres Torres both return from the disabled list on the same day. I remember texting Gio at the beginning of the game when I heard the news, “The Giants kept Ford on the roster!” That very night Buster Posey gets a lead-off walk in the ninth of a scoreless game. Ford comes in to pinch run and steals second without a throw. Shortly after he scores the winning run on a Cody Ross base hit.

As I write, Darren Ford has two career major league hits and six runs scored (most of those runs were game-winning runs). He is like a secret weapon in a close game. I’ve literally said to my friends during the game things like, “If we can just get a runner on we can bring in Ford.” Being down 3-2 in the 8^th has never been so fun.

Back in 1987 I would have told you my favorite color is blue, favorite food is pizza, and my favorite baseball player is Will Clark.

“Who’s your favorite player?”

24 years later, I’m ready to answer the question again.

Thought of the Week

Baseball is ninety percent mental, and the other half is physical.
--Yogi Berra

Konerko and Betancourt

Even if you don't like baseball you will want to watch a couple plays that occurred this week. Awesome.

Brian Wilson

With the baseball season upon us I wanted to help get us in the mood by hearing from Brian Wilson. Here is when he went on Leno after the World Series.

Personal Necessity

After our World Series victory in only five games, Gio (my coworker) and I decided to take the day off work for the parade. I clicked on the "personal necessity" category when I requested my substitute. I didn't realize on the paper form I would actually have to categorize my personal necessity.

I read through my eight choices and decided to check the box for "religious observation."

I wasn't even lying.

S.F. Giants

Click here to read my thoughts about the 2010 World Champions.

My 4th Period

Yesterday with a 3-1 World Series lead I changed plans for my fourth period AVID class. Here are a few pics from my classroom:

I love it when a plan comes together:

Giants Baseball... Torture

"Giants baseball... torture," remarked Giants announcer Duane Kuiper after another intense one-run Giants game. The phrase stuck. That's how it has been all year. That's how it was for the division series and the NLCS.

Each game was an intense nail-biting, nerve-wracking, down-to-the-wire finish. That's what makes it so exciting. Like they did against the Braves, against the Phillies, and against the Rangers in game 4 tonight the Giants keep on winning.

I've invested more time and emotional energy into this post-season than I ever have before. I also have invested more emotional energy than any normal human (not playing sports professionally) should for any sporting event.

I thought the Giants could beat the Braves. I thought they could beat the Phillies. And I thought they would beat Texas in Six. That's why I picked game 6 to attend.

My hope was after four games the Giants would be leading the series 3-1, and they are.

So tomorrow will not be torture for me. I will not be stressed. I will be watching with ambivalence, maybe even apathy (not about the Giants, but about them wining or losing the game).

Because nothing bad can happen for me tomorrow. I watched the Giants get swept out by the A's in the Battle of the Bay back in '89. I watched the Giants take a 3-2 series lead into game 6 in 2002, only to watch the game unravel.

I stood by during the torture last season as the Giants once again flirted with greatness only to fall short of the playoffs.

Not tomorrow. Kick off your shoes and relax. Because by this time tomorrow evening my beloved Giants will be World Champions for the first time in my lifetime, and the first time since 1954, or they will still be up in the series three games to two coming back to San Fransisco. And I will be there. Wednesday could be the first World Series game I have ever attended, or it could be day three of our celebration.

For tonight, all is right in the world.

Ashkon's Don't Stop Believing

I've already watched this numerous times, but I thought it deserved be reposted here:



Go Giants.

Giants Closer: Brian Wilson

I was watching Ashkon's video again, and I accidently stumbled across this Brian Wilson interview.

Rome: You get fined a 1000 bucks for orange spikes. What was the fine for?

Wilson: Uh... having too much awesome on my feet.

Click here to watch the entire interview.

Days

I was listening to the Yankee game yesterday on the radio and the announcer was discussing one of the players. He said, "And just a few years ago he turned 27 years of age."

Interesting. Me too.

It's pronounced Ni-jer

At the Giants game Thursday I was sitting near a guy wearing a Nationals jersey and openly cheering for the away team. It was a smaller than usual crowd, but he was definitely the only guy I saw sporting a Nationals jersey. I started chatting with him and he turned out to be the father of Nyjer Morgan, the Nationals centerfielder. Several innings later I decided to inquire about the name of his son. He told me he has always been fascinated with the Niger River in Africa.

He added, “But I had to change the spelling.”

Flip of the Year

The baseball season is merely one day old and today we had a play for the ages. I don't know how he pulled this off. Click on the link and then play the video.

Check it out.

Things I wish I would have said yesterday

I remember one time in college I went to visit one of my professors in his office. I was wearing a Giants sweatshirt. He noticed and said to me in a slightly condescending tone, "The Giants. I still remember them from when they played in the Polo Grounds. You've probably never even heard of the Polo Grounds."

I responded, "The site of possibly the most well-known play in baseball history-- Will Mays' basket catch in straight-away center field off the bat of Vic Wertz in game one of the '54 World Series. The Polo Grounds remained the home of the New York Giants until the team moved west in 1958. Then they played in Seals Stadium for two years until moving over to Candlestick Park. That remained the home of the San Fransisco Giants until the late 1990's, when they opened Pac Bell park, now known as AT&T... Yeah, I've heard of it."

I actually just said, "Yeah, I've heard of it."

Things I wish I would have said yesterday.

Jon Miller behind the Mic

Those of you that know me know I have an appreciation for good broadcasting, especially baseball on the radio. Jon Miller, with mastery of the English language, and incredible improvisational ability, does it beautifully. This is one of the greatest calls ever. And someone on youtube combined his radio call while showing the highlights from ESPN that evening. Even if you don't like baseball you should listen to this one anyway.

Sports Interviews

Postgame interview after the World Series game tonight:

Chris Rose: Hey Jorge, did it feel like the late 90's out there, with you catching Pettitte, then Jeter behind you, and then closing it out with Mo?

Jorge Posada: Let's not forget this is for Mr. Steinbrenner. Alright. Every fan was amazing. Thank you very much. I can't tell you how I feel right now.

Um... Yeah. Nevermind the question. I meant to say, "What would you like to say?"