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October 31 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Tuesday, October 31, 2017


Yesterday

What is this all about?

Here is the October 31st game that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.



2010 World Series Game 4 at Texas, we took the first two at home, lost Game 3 yesterday, this is Sunday night at Arlington, the only Halloween game played in San Francisco Giants history, 21 year old Madison Bumgarner goes 8, gives up just 3 hits, we shut out the Rangers 4-0 and move a game from our first ever World Championship.  Aubrey Huff gave us a 2 run homer off Tommy Hunter in the third, Andres Torres had a run scoring double off Darren Oliver in the 7th, and Buster Posey homered off Darren O'Day in the 8th.  Hey, this thing we're doing is almost done.

See you tomorrow for the only game in San Francisco history - which happens to be the most important game we'll ever play.


8 Weeks In - 2017 NFL All Pro Teams

Monday, October 30, 2017


8 weeks into the NFL season, here's the current All-Pro team.  Update coming at 10, 12 and then the end of the season. 

QB Tom Brady NE
       Russell Wilson Sea

RB Kareem Hunt KC
      Ezekial Elliott Dall
      Devonte Freeman Atl
      Jay Ajayi Mia

WR Antonio Brown Pit
       DeAndre Hopkins Hou
       AJ Green Cin
       Adam Thielen Min

TE Rob Gronkowski NE
      Travis Kelce KC

C  Jason Kelce Phi
     David Andrews NE

G David DeCastro Pit
    Shaq Mason NE
    Joe Bitonio Cle
    Zack Martin Dall

T     Daryl Williams Carol
       Demar Dotson TB
       Joe Thomas Cle
       Ronnie Stanley Balt

DE Cameron Jordan NO
      Khalil Mack Oak
      Joey Bosa LAC
      Everson Griffen Min

DT DeForest Buckner Niners
      Aaron Donald LAR
      Gerald McCoy TB
      Ndomukong Suh Mia

OLB Melvin Ingram LAC
         Justin Houston KC
        Chandler Jones Ariz
        Jabaal Sheard Ind

ILB Bobby Wagner Sea
        Telvin Smith Jax

CB Jalen Ramsey Jax
      Tre'Davious White Buff
      Marshon Lattimore NO
      Jason McCourty Cle

S Harrison Smith Min
   Tyvon Branch Ariz
   Glover Quin Det

   Micah Hyde Buff

October 30 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Yesterday, which was better.

What is this all about?

Here's the only October 30 game that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.

This is gonna go fast.

2010 World Series Game 3, we took the first two games at home, but the Rangers take the first game in Texas. Mitch Moreland hits a 3 run homer off Jonathan Sanchez in the third, Josh Hamilton adds a 5th inning homer. We halve that lead with solo shots by Ross and Torres but never really threaten and lose 4-2.  Game 4 is tomorrow.

And that's it.  There's no one left, just 2010.  See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

October 29 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Yesterday

What is this all about?



Here are all the October 29 games that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.

2010 World Series Game 3 is tomorrow












2014 World Series Game 7 at Kansas City 52 years ago we lost game 7 to the Yankees, a dozen years ago we lost game 7 to the Angels, the 2014 Giants look for a different outcome on a Wednesday night in Kansas City. Both clubs score 2 in the second.  We get one out singles from Pence/Belt off Jeremy Guthrie and a couple of sac flies turn them into runs.  The Royals come right back off Tim Hudson in their half, Alex Gordon's run scoring double was the big shot.  We go to the pen early, Jeremy Affeldt gets the last out in the second, coming in with 2 on and 2 out to get Nori Aoki, and then he's perfect in the third and fourth.  Our fourth broke the tie, Mike Morse singling home Pablo Sandoval off Kelvin Herrera.  Madison Bumgarner enters in the fifth - he threw 117 pitches in a complete game victory in Game 5 three days before and 106 five days before that in going 7 innings to win Game 1.  On his first pitch, Bumgarner gives up an Omar Infante single to right, he's sacrificed to second, but Bumgarner gets Aoki and Lorenzo Cain to end the inning.  We get a couple of hits in the 6th but can't plate a run.  Bumgarner throws a dozen pitches in a perfect sixth and we head to the 7th still up 3-2.  We go down in order.  The bottom of the 7th takes just 9 pitches for Bumgarner.  In our 8th, Pablo Sandoval doubles with 2 out off Wade Davis, but we can't get the insurance run.  Bumgarner continues - 16 pitches gets him through a perfect 8th and he's retired a dozen straight Royals.  We go down in order in the 9th - Bumgarner comes back to the mound, it's his 21st inning of the Series, he gets the first two men, but Gordon's line drive single is misplayed by Gregor Blanco into three bases - giving the Royals the tying run on third base with 2 out in Game 7 of the World Series. Just as Mays stood on third 52 years prior with 2 out and the Giants trailing by a run in the 9th inning of Game 7.  Salvador Perez is in the Willie McCovey spot - he pops up a 2-2 pitch into foul territory by third base, it's snapped out of the air by Pablo Sandoval, and for the 3rd time in 5 seasons, the San Francisco Giants are World Champions.

Here are your 2014 World Champion San Francisco Giants.  Flags Fly Forever.

C Buster Posey
1B Brandon Belt
2B Joe Panik
SS Brandon Crawford
3B Pablo Sandoval
LF Travis Ishikawa
CF Gregor Blanco
RF Hunter Pence
C Andrew Susac
IF Joaquin Arias
IF Matt Duffy
OF Mike Morse
OF Juan Perez
SP Madison Bumgarner
SP Tim Hudson
SP Jake Peavy
SP Ryan Vogelsong
P Sergio Romo
P Santiago Casilla
P Jeremy Affeldt
P Javier Lopez
P Yusmeiro Petit
P Tim Lincecum
P Hunter Strickland
P Jean Machi

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

October 28 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Yesterday

What is this all about?


Here's every October 28 San Francisco Giants game that mattered.

1989 World Series Game 4, I had just turned 29, this was the first Giants World Series of my life time, only the second in San Francisco history, and if there was a way it could have gone worse that is not evident.  Never really in any game, swept 4-0, with a catastrophic earthquake making all of it seem not as important as you'd like it to seem.  I wasn't around for the gut wrenching loss in '62, but I got to sit through this mess.  Again, the A's just rip our starting pitcher, Don Robinson doesn't get out of the second inning, gives up 4 earned, he's followed by Mike LaCoss who gives up 3 earned, The A's take a 7-0 lead and win 9-6.  We lose the World Series. Again.



2010 World Series Game 2 home vs. Rangers, 21 years later we still hadn't won the World Series, having added a 7 game 2002 loss to the sweep in '89 and the 7 game loss in '62. We're here again and up a game, winning game 1 last night. This one is super tight. Scoreless in the second, Cody Ross doubles with one out, but we can't move him across the plate against CJ Wilson. The Rangers get a man in scoring position in the third, but Matt Cain shuts that down.  Wilson and Cain continued to match each other, neither team getting another man in scoring position until the 5th, Ian Kinsler doubled to lead off the inning, but he died at second. We broke through in the bottom half, Edgar Renteria hit a solo run to give us a 1-0 lead. Cain got in real trouble in the 6th, second and third with one out - but Nelson Cruz popped up and Kinsler flew to right and we kept that 1-0 advantage. A leadoff walk to Ross chased Wilson in the 7th, Juan Uribe singled him home off of Darren Oliver, and we led 2-0 with 8 outs to go. Cain left with a man in scoring position in the 8th, but Javier Lopez shut the door on the threat-  and in our half of the inning we sent 11 men to the plate, erupted for 7 runs, and put the game away.  It all happened with 2 out and nobody on, Posey singled and then Ranger pitching walked 4 consecutive Giants to give us a 3-0 lead.  We then got 3 big shots - Renteria's 2 run scoring single, Aaron Rowand's two run scoring triple, Andres Torres doubling home the final run of the game.  We win 9-0 and head to Texas up 2 games to 0.






2012 World Series Game 4 at Detroit, we needed to win 3 straight to beat the Reds in the NLDS, we needed to win 3 straight to beat the Cardinals in the NLCS - but we win the first 3 games of the World Series putting Detroit in a hole from which no team has ever climbed.  Cain for us, Max Scherzer for Detroit. We break through in the second, Hunter Pence doubles, Brandon Belt triples him home. They take the lead in the third on a 2 run Miguel Cabrera homer. We retake the lead in the 6th, Buster Posey hits a 2 run homer off Scherzer and Cain gives it back in the bottom half, Delmon Young homers and it's 3-3.  Scoreless in the 7th,8th,9th.  Top of the 10th, Ryan Theriot led off with a single off Phil Coke and stood at second with two out, with a 3-1 count from Coke, Marco Scutaro singled to center, Theriot scored and we went up 4-3.  Sergio Romo came on and struck out Austin Jackson...then struck out Don Kelly...then, on the 15th pitch of the inning, at approximately ten minutes to midnight Eastern time, he struck out Miguel Cabrera and the San Francisco Giants were Champions of the World.  23 years to the day after we were swept by the A's, the Giants swept the Tigers to win the World Series.

Your 2012 World Champion San Francisco Giants.   Flags Fly Forever.
C Buster Posey
1B Brandon Belt
2B Marco Scutaro
SS Brandon Crawford
3B Pablo Sandoval
LF Gregor Blanco
CF Angel Pagan
RF Hunter Pence
IF Joaquin Arias
IF Aubrey Huff
C Hector Sanchez
IF Ryan Theriot
OF Xavier Nady
SP Madison Bumgarner
SP Matt Cain
SP Ryan Vogelsong
SP Barry Zito
P Sergio Romo
P Santiago Casilla
P Jeremy Affeldt
P Javier Lopez
P Tim Lincecum
P George Kontos
P Jose Mijares
P Guillermo Mota

2014 World Series Game 6 we won the final 2 at home to take a 3 games to 2 lead in the World Series, meaning we are one game away from another World Championship.  We do not get it here. The Royals break Jake Peavy in half, 5 earned runs in less than 2 innings, we trail 8-0 after 3 and lose 10-0.  The Royals get 6 doubles, which has to be in shouting distance for most in a World Series game. As did it in 1962 and 2002, this World Series is headed for a Game 7.

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants.



October 27 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Friday, October 27, 2017


What is this all about?

Yesterday

Here are all the October 27 games that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.

1989 World Series Game 3, we got blown out in Oakland in games 1 and 2, then the earthquake hit ten days ago, here then is the first World Series game in San Francisco since McCovey's line drive to Richardson ended the '62 series 27 years prior.  It goes the way the first two games went, the A's jumped all over us and won easily.  Dave Henderson doubled home two in the first, then homered in the third, both off Scott Garrelts.  We sliced the deficit to 4-3 with a 2 run Terry Kennedy single off Dave Stewart in the 4th, but you just couldn't deny this A's squad, Henderson homered again in the fifth, this time off Kelly Downs, McGwire hit a 3 run shot in the same inning, we were down 8-3 and went on to lose 13-7.  Mercifully, game 4 is tomorrow.

2002 World Series Game 7, I think if I owned a sports bar I'd call it Game 7, it's a term with immaculate branding for sports fans.  40 years ago McCovey lined out to Richardson in the bottom of the 9th; 24 hours ago we had a 97% chance to win our first ever World Championship.  It's game 7.  Let me ask you this - how many hits did we give up?  5.  We gave up 5 hits in a Game 7.  Livan gave up 4, Rueter, in 4 innings of relief, gave up 1.  Livan also gave up 4 earned runs in 2 innings.  It was 1-1 through 2, the first 3 Angels got on in the third and Garret Anderson hit a 3 run double to end our season.  We had chances.  2 on, 1 out in the 4th.  2nd and 3rd with 2 out in the 6th. 2 on, 1 out in the 9th inning.  But none crossed and we lost the World Series. Again.



2010 World Series Game 1 home vs. Rangers, 8 years later, we're back.  It's the first San Francisco home World Series game since Game 5 in '02 when we scored 16 runs.  We get 11 in this one.  It didn't look good early, Tim Lincecum gave up runs in each of the first two innings, including a run scoring single to Vlad Guerrero. We got them both back in the third; an error and hit batsman gave us 2 on with 1 out, Freddy Sanchez and Buster Posey had back to back RBI knocks off of Cliff Lee and it was 2-2. We ended the game in the 5th. Sanchez broke the tie with his second run scoring double, Cody Ross and Aubrey Huff had back to back run scoring singles, Darren O'Day came on and gave up the backbreaker, a 3 run homer to Juan Uribe that gave us an 8-2 lead. We won 11-7 (Sanchez added a third double). Game 2 is tomorrow.



2012 World Series Game 3 at Detroit, we took the first two at home, making it a must win for the Tigers to effectively stay in the Series. We got 2 in the second off of Anibal Sanchez, Gregor Blanco had a run scoring triple and was driven home himself by Brandon Crawford.  Those are the only runs of the game, Ryan Vogelong pitched us into the 6th, Tim Lincecum gave us 2 1/3 and Sergio Romo closed it out.  The big spot was the 5th, they loaded the bases with 1 out, Vogelsong struck out Quintin Berry and then popped up future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera to end the game.  No one has ever come back from 3-0 down to win a World Series, so with Game 4 tomorrow, even the most jaded of Giants fans had to be optimistic.

2014 World Series Game 6 is tomorrow

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!


October 26 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Thursday, October 26, 2017


What is this all about?

Yesterday

Here's every October 26 game that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.

1989 World Series Game 3 is Tomorrow 

2002 World Series Game 6...when Russ Ortiz got Garret Anderson to ground out to open the 7th inning we had a 5 run lead with 8 outs left to get, that's a 97% chance to win the game, meaning, a 97% chance to win the first World Championship in San Francisco Giants history.  So, just sit in that for a moment. Dunston hit a 2 run homer in the 5th, Barry homered in the 6th, when Jeff Kent singled home Kenny Lofton in the top of the 7th we had a 5-0 lead.  Ortiz got Anderson, then gave up back to back singles and got lifted.  On the 8th pitch of the next at bat Felix Rodriguez gave up a 3 run homer to Scott Spezio, but even with the lead cut to 5-3 at the end of the inning we still had an 86% chance to win the World Series. And then they got 3 more in the 8th to beat us.  Erstad homered off Worrell and Glaus hit a 2 run double off of Nen.  We went down in order in the 9th and the series was tied.  Game 7 is tomorrow. It's the worst loss in San Francisco history. 

2010 World Series Game 1 is Tomorrow

2012 World Series Game 3 is Tomorrow



2014 World Series Game 5 home vs. Royals, a dozen years after we failed to close out the Angels we were 2 games to 2 against the Royals, this is the last game in San Francisco of the series, Madison Bumgarner throws a complete game 4 hit shutout, striking out 8 and walking none, we win 5-0 to move within a game of the World Championship.  Brandon Crawford and Juan Perez both drove in two runs, the Royals only put one man in scoring position the entire game, we head back to Kansas City the same way we went back to Anaheim in '02, needing to win one of the final two games.

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

October 25 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

What is this all about?

Yesterday


Here's every October 25 game that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.

1989 World Series resumes on 10-27

2002 World Series Game 6 is tomorrow.

2010 World Series starts 10-27





2012 World Series Game 2 home vs. Tigers, we took the opener last night on Sandoval's 3 homers, one more game in San Francisco. We only get 5 hits - but the Tigers only get 2.  Madison Bumgarner and Doug Fister keep the game scoreless into the 7th; we scraped a run across on a Brandon Crawford double play in the the 7th, then got a second run on a Hunter Pence sac fly in the 8th. Bumgarner gave way to Santiago Casilla and Sergio Romo, who each threw perfect innings and we head to Detroit up 2 games to 0.



2014 World Series Game 4 home vs. Royals, down 2 games to 1, needing a win to avoid going down 3 games to 1 with only one home game remaining, it looked a little desperate when the Royals ripped Ryan Vogelsong for four in the third, a two run Omar Infante single being the big blow.  We got one back on a Buster Posey run scoring single off Jason Vargas in the bottom half to make it 4-2, and then got the rest back in the 5th, Joe Panik doubled and scored on a Hunter Pence single, Pence later scored on a Juan Perez sac fly.  Yusmeiro Petit held the Royals down for 3 innings since taking over from Vogelsong, so it's 4-4 with the bases loaded and 2 out in the bottom of the 6th. Pablo Sandoval at the plate against Brandon Finnegan - he lines the first pitch to center to score two, and Brandon Belt follows with a run scoring single of his own.  Look what happened here - it's 7-4 good guys and in the 7th we pick up another 4 runs off Tim Collins, Joe Panik's 2 run double the big blow. We win 11-4 to even the Series with another game still to play at home.

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

October 24 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

What is this all about?

Yesterday

Here's every October 24 game that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.

1989 World Series resumes 10-27





2002 World Series Game 5 home vs. Angels, the day before we won the first World Series game in San Francisco in 40 years to even the Series at 2 - here's the last game in San Francisco and it is a dream, we scored 3 in both the first and second and win the game 16-4. Kent had two homers and a double, Bonds two doubles and a single, Lofton tripled with two singles, Aurilia hit a 3 run homer, Bell and Snow had multiple hit games and Snow also saved little Darren Baker's life. A near century of Giant shortcoming and frustration just burst through in a torrent of thunderous hits.  We're a game from our first ever World Championship.

2010 World Series begins 10-27






2012 World Series Game 1 home vs. Tigers, we were down 2-0 in the NLDS and 3-1 in the NLCS, how does that portend for the World Series?  Pablo Sandoval doesn't give the Tigers a chance to find out, he homers off Justin Verlander in the first and the third, and homers off Al Alburquerque in the fifth, becoming just the 4th man to homer 3 times in one World Series game (Ruth twice, Reggie, Pujols) and the only one who did it in his first 3 at bats.  Barry Zito goes 5 2/3, giving up just one earned, and he's replaced by Tim Lincecum who strikes out 5 and doesn't allow a baseunner in 2 1/3. We win 8-3 and take a 1-0 lead in the World Series.

2014 World Series game 3, we split the first two in Kansas City, we come home and drop game 3. We only got 4 hits and never led, we scored two in the bottom of the 6th to cut our deficit to 3-2, but didn't threaten the rest of the way.  We go down 2 games to 1, game 4 is tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

October 23 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Monday, October 23, 2017

What is this all about?

Yesterday

Here are all the October 23 games that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.

1989 World Series still 4 more days until game 3



2002 World Series Game 4 home vs. Angels the last time we won a home World Series game was game 6 in '62, 40 years later we're down 2 games to 1 and needing to get that home win to even the Series. We were down 3-0 early, Troy Glaus hit a 2 run homer off of Rueter in the third.  We tied that score in the bottom of the fifth off John Lackey, who is still pitching meaningful innings in big games 15 years later. Run scoring singles from Aurilia and Santiago sandwiched a Kent sac fly and it was 3-3. Still that score in the bottom of the 8th. Snow led off with a single off Francisco Rodriguez, he took second on a passed ball, and scored on a David Bell single. Nen got them in order in the 9th and we had evened the Series.  Game 5 tomorrow.








2010 NLCS Game 6 at Philadelphia, the Giants last pennant was 2002; we come in to game 6 up 3 games to 2 with a chance to update the record book.  The Phils got to Jonathan Sanchez immediately with 2 in the first, Chase Utley's run scoring double was the big shot. We tie it in the third.  Sanchez and Andres Torres both single and are sacrificed up a base.  Aubrey Huff singles home Sanchez and then scores on a Placido Polanco throwing error.  We left two on in the 5th, Madison Bumgarner came out of the pen and loaded the bases in the bottom half, but got Shane Victorino to bounce back to the mound to end the threat.  Bumgarner got in trouble again in the 6th, the go ahead run was at third with one out, but he struck out Ben Francisco and got Jimmy Rollins to ground to short.  Two out in the top of the 8th - Juan Uribe at the plate against Ryan Madson - he homers on a 1-0 pitch and we go up 4-3.  The Phils were in business again in their half, 2 on, one out, Brian Wilson came on and got Carlos Ruiz to line into a double play. We left the bases loaded in the 9th, leaving Wilson in to bat with 2 out, which is a helluva dice roll. Wilson walked two in the bottom of the 9th - went full count to Ryan Howard - and struck him out looking to win the 4th pennant in San Francisco history.

2012 World Series starts tomorrow.

2014 World Series Game 3 is tomorrow. 

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

October 22 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Sunday, October 22, 2017


What is this all about?

Yesterday

Here are all the October 22 games that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.

1989 World Series Game 3 is 10-27

2002 World Series Game 3 it's the first World Series game in the new park, the first World Series game in San Francisco since '89, and the Angels just beat us to death, they got 4 in the third, 4 in the 4th, they got 16 hits and won 10-4 to take a 2-1 series lead.  Livan Hernandez gave up 5 earned, 6 Angels had multi-hit games. It's like the '89 series never ended.  Game 4 tomorrow.

2010 NLCS Game 6 is tomorrow





2012 NLCS Game 7 home vs. St Louis, well here is an improbable turn of events.  We killed two elimination games in Cincinnati in the NLDS and then beat them on the road in a winner take all game 5.  Here, in the NLCS, we went down 3-1, survived two more elimination games, and now face the Cards in a winner takes the pennant game, just as we did back in 1987, 25 years prior. It's over early.  We score 7 in the first 3, the big blow a Hunter Pence 3 run double off Joe Kelly in the third that gave us a 5-0 lead. Matt Cain and 4 relievers shut out the Cards 9-0 and for the 5th time in history, the San Francisco Giants win the pennant.

2014 World Series Game 2, we took the opener but lose this one, getting the split in Kansas City to open the series. We were 2-2 going to the bottom of the 6th, but the Royals got into our pen, Hunter Strickland was particularly ineffective, giving up a 2 run Salvador Perez double and a 2 run Omar Infante homer.  We lose 7-2 and head home for Game 3.

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

October 21 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Yesterday

What is this all about?

Here are all the October 21 games that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.

1989 World Series Game 3 is still 6 days away.  

2002 World Series Game 3 is tomorrow.

2010 NLCS Game 5, we're up 3-1 a game away from our first pennant in 8 years, this is the last game of the series in San Francisco and it doesn't happen.  We had a 1-0 lead when the Phillies got to Lincecum in the third with 3 runs, two coming on an Aubrey Huff error. Cody Ross cut it to 3-2 with a run scoring double off of Roy Halladay in the 4th, we left two on base in both the fifth and the sixth, but the Phillies tacked on insurance with a Jayson Werth homer off Ramon Ramirez in the 9th and we lose 4-2.  So, just like 1987 we head out on the road with a 3 games to 2 lead.



2012 NLCS Game 6 home vs. Cardinals, we lost the first two games of the NLDS, but then came back to sweep 3 in Cincinnati, that's 3 elimination games, then we fell behind 3-1 in this series meaning we would need to survive 3 more elimination games to win the pennant.  We won game 5, so the series goes back home with us again facing elimination in this one on a Sunday afternoon. After two innings we had a 5 run lead, the biggest shot a 2 run Marco Scutaro double.  Ryan Vogelsong took it from there, 7 innings, 4 hits, 1 earned, 9 strikeouts, 1 walk.  We win 6-1 to even the series.  Game 7 is tomorrow - winner takes the pennant, just like 25 years prior.



2014 World Series Game 1 at Kansas City, Madison Bumgarner goes 7, gives up just 4 baserunners, we beat the Royals easily 7-1. We ripped James Shields for 3 in the first including a 2 run Hunter Pence homer and then added two in the 4th, Mike Morse had a run scoring single. Two more in the 7th including Joe Panik tripling home a run.  It's an easy game 1 for the good guys.  Game 2 tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

October 20 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Friday, October 20, 2017

What is this all about?

Yesterday

Here are all the October 20 games that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.

1989 World Series Game 3 is 10-27

2002 World Series Game 2, we won yesterday, the Angels even the series here. It's like the Hagler/Hearns of World Series games without the early stoppage. Russ Ortiz gave up 5 in the first (and stayed in the game). We followed with 4 in the top of the second (Reggie Sanders hit a 3 run homer off Kevin Appier and David Bell followed with a homer of his own - Appier also stayed in the game).  Ortiz settled down in their half, giving up only a 2 run Tim Salmon homer before he got pulled with us down 7-4, that quickly got cut to 7-5 when Jeff Kent led off the third with a homer.  Just heavy, heavy blows raining down.  In the 5th, believe it or not, we took the lead. Ben Weber came on for the Angels and we got run scoring singles from Snow/Bell/Dunston, a total of 4 runs crossed the plate and we led 9-7. It was 9-9 in the bottom of the 8th, Felix Rodriguez on for the Giants - Salmon hit another 2 run homer to give the Angels an 11-9 lead. Barry hit a ball as hard as a person ever has off of Troy Percival in the 9th, but we lose 11-10 and head home with the series tied at 1.



2010 NLCS Game 4 home vs. Phillies we split the two in Philly to open the series and then won yesterday, up 2 games to 1 and hosting the Phillies for Game 4. We got off early, bottom of the first, 2 outs, 2-2 count, Buster Posey singles home the game's first run off of Joe Blanton. In the third he did it again, this time a run scoring double for Posey.  It went bad fast for Madison Bumgarner in the 5th, 4 singles and a run - he gives way for Santiago Casilla who gives up a 2 run double to Placido Polanco and then the Phillies 4th run in the inning scores on a wild pitch.  We get one back in our half on an Aubrey Huff base hit. Still down 4-3 in the 6th, Chad Durbin now in for the Phillies, he gives up a 2 run Pablo Sandoval double that puts us back in front 5-4.  We're 6 outs from the victory in the top of the 8th - but Sergio Romo gives up a Jayson Werth run scoring double that ties the game.  Bottom of the 9th now, Roy Oswalt on for Philadelphia, we get one out singles from Huff and Posey and then a Juan Uribe sac fly ends the game.  That's a 3 games to 1 lead with another game in San Francisco tomorrow.  We're a game away from our first pennant since '02.

2012 NLCS Game 6 is tomorrow

2014 World Series starts tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

October 19 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Thursday, October 19, 2017

What is this all about?

Yesterday

Here are all the October 19 games that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.

1989 World Series Game 3 is 10-27



2002 World Series Game 1 at Anaheim the first Giants World Series game since '89. We get on it early, Bonds and Sanders homer off of Jarrod Washburn in the second, Troy Glaus responds with a homer off Jason Schmidt and it's 2-1.  We leave the bases loaded in the 4th, they follow by leaving men on second and third in their half and then leave them on the corners in the 5th.  We extend the lead in the 6th on a two run Snow homer. Glaus homers again in the bottom half, they add another run and we take a 4-3 lead to the 7th.  The pen holds them hitless in the final 3 innings and we take the first game 1-0.  It's our first win in a World Series game in 40 years.



2010 NLCS Game 3 home vs. Phillies, we split the first 2 in Philadelphia, this is the first NLCS game we've played at home since '02. A combined 7 hits between the 2 teams in this one. No baserunners until the 3rd, the Phillies get 2 on against Matt Cain with 2 out, but Chase Utley grounds out to end the inning. Again in the 4th, the Phillies put 2 on base, this time with just 1 out, but Cain gets a Jimmy Rollins flyout and strikes out Raul Ibanez.  We get on the board in our half, with 2 on and 2 out, Cody Ross and Aubrey Huff hit back to back run scoring singles off Cole Hamels to give us a 2-0 lead and in the next inning we plate our third run on an Utley error.  And that's the scoring, Cain turns it over to the pen in the 8th and they maintain the shutout.  We win 3-0 and take the 2-1 series lead.



2012 NLCS Game 5 at St Louis, please recall the situation in which we found ourselves in the NLDS, down 2-0 and needing to win 3 straight on the road to advance.  We pulled it off.  Today, we're right back in the barrel, down 3-1 and needing to win 3 straight.  We start on a Friday night in St Louis with one of the great free agent busts of all time, Barry Zito, going for the good guys. In the second, it looks like they're going to get him.  Molina singles to lead off, Freese doubles him to third. Zito gets an out - then we fill the open base with an intentional walk.  Loaded with the pitcher, Lance Lynn, coming to the plate.  Zito gets him 6-4-3 to end the inning.  We bust it open in the 4th, the big shot is a single by Crawford that scores two runs, we add two more in the inning (a Zito single driving in one) and it's 4-0. Sandoval homers in the 8th to tack on a run, Zito goes 7 2/3, it never really in trouble again, we win 5-0 to send the series back to San Francisco, still down 3 games to 2.

2014 World Series starts 10-21

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!



2017 NFL All-Pro Teams

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

6 weeks into the NFL season, here's the current All-Pro team.  Update coming at 8, 10, 12 and then the end of the season. 

QB Tom Brady NE
       Alex Smith KC

RB Kareem Hunt KC
      Le'Veon Bell Pit
      Devonte Freeman Atl
      Jay Ajayi Mia

WR Antonio Brown Pit
       AJ Green Cin
       Golden Tate Det
       DeAndre Hopkins Hou

TE Rob Gronkowski NE
      Travis Kelce KC

C Alex Mack Atl
    Jason Kelce Phi

G David DeCastro Pit
    Shaq Mason NE
    Brandon Brooks Phi
    Joe Bitonio Cle

T Joe Thomas Cle
   Ronnie Stanley Buff
   Rick Wagner Det
   Jason Peters Phi

DE Cameron Jordan NO
      Khalil Mack Oak
      Calais Campbell Jax
      Everson Griffen Min

DT DeForest Buckner Niners
      Aaron Donald LAR
      Gerald McCoy TB
      Ndomukong Suh Mia

OLB Justin Houston KC
         Melvin Ingram LAC
        Chandler Jones Ariz
        Jabaal Sheard Ind

ILB Bobby Wagner Sea
        Telvin Smith Jax

CB Jason McCourty Cle
      Jalen Ramsey Jax
      Rashaan Melvin Ind
      Tre'Davious White Buff

S Harrison Smith Min
   Tyvon Branch Ariz
   Jaquiski Tartt Niners
   Tashaun Gipson Jax

October 18 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History


What is this all about?

Yesterday

Here are all the October 18 games that mattered in San Francisco Giants history. It's light.

1989 World Series Game 3 is 10-27

2002 World Series starts tomorrow.

2010 NLCS Game 3 is tomorrow.

2012 NLCS Game 4, down 2-1 in St Louis and it doesn't get better. The Cards get 2 off Lincecum in the first, add 2 more in the 4th, and win easily 8-3. One more in St Louis tomorrow, the Cards have a nearly insurmountable 3-1 lead.

2014 World Series starts 10-21.

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

2017-2018 Top 100 NBA Players

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Not a fantasy list, my projection of the top 100 players in the NBA for 2017-18.

1. L.James SF Cle
2. S.Curry PG GSW
3. K.Leonard SF SA
4. R.Westbrook PG OKC
5. J.Harden SG Hou
6. C.Paul PG Hou
7. D.Green PF GSW
8. N.Jokic C Den
9. K.Durant SF GSW
10. A.Davis PF NO

11. J.Butler SG Min
12. R.Gobert C Utah
13. D.Cousins C NO
14. K.Anthony-Towns C Min
15. G.Antetokounmpo SF Mil
16. K.Lowry PG Tor
17. P.George SF OKC
18. D.Jordan C LAC
19. D.Lillard PG Port
20. J.Wall PG Wash

21. M.Conley PG Mem
22. P.Millsap PF Den
23. K.Love C Cle
24. K.Porzingis PF NY
25. B.Griffin PF LAC
26. A.Drummond C Det
27. O.Porter SF Wash
28. K.Walker PG Charl
29. K.Irving PG Bos
30. R.Rubio PG Utah

31. M.Turner C Ind
32. H.Whiteside C Mia
33. A.Horford C Bos
34. K.Thompson SG GSW
35. CJ McCollum SG Port
36. B.Beal SG Wash
37. E.Bledsoe PG  Pho
39. K.Middleton SG Mil
40. R.Covington SF Phi

41. D.Gallinari SF LAC
42. M.Gasol C Mem
43. G.Hill PG Sac
44. J.Holiday SG NO
45. J.Nurkic C Port
46. S.Adams C OKC
47. A.Gordon PF Orl
48. B.Lopez C LAL
49. J.Teague PG Min
50. D.Green SG SA

51. K.Caldwell-Pope SG LAL
52. V.Oladipo SG Ind 
53. P.Beverley PG LAC
54. C.Zeller C Charl
55. J.Embiid C Phi
56. C.Capela C Hou
57. G.Monroe C Mil
58. L.Aldridge PF SA
59. A.Farouq Aminu PF
60. M.Kidd-Gilchrist SF Charl

61. M.Brogdon PG Mil
62. M.Smart SG Bos
63. E.Payton PG Orl
64. S.Ibaka PF Tor
65. G.Dragic PG Mia
66. D.Howard C Char
67. T.Ariza SF Hou
68. G.Dieng C Minn
69. N.Vucevic C Orl
70. P.Gasol C SA

71. J.Valanciunas C Tor
72. D.Favors PF Utah
73. J.Johnson PF Bos
74. L.Williams SG LAC
75. A.Roberson SG OKC
76. N.Noel C Dall
77. W.Hernangomez NY C
78. N.Mirotic PF Chi
79. N.Batum SG Charl
80. D.DeRozan SG Tor

81. I.Thomas PG Cle
82. T.Thompson C Cle 
83. K.Olynyk PF Mia
84. P.Patterson PF OKC
85. P.Mills PG SA
86. A.Iguodala SF GSW
87. T.Harris PF Det
88. R.Anderson PF Hou
89. M.Harkless SF Port
90. J.Crowder PF Cle

91. E.Ilyasova PF Atl
92. C.Anthony PF OKC
93. Z.Pachulia C GSW
94. G.Harris PG Den
95. R.Hollis-Jefferson SF NJ
96. E.Gordon SG Hou
97. M.Ginobli SG SA
98. M.Plumlee C Den
99. E.Kanter C NY
100. T.Chandler C Pho



October 17 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

What is this all about?

Yesterday

Here are all the October 17 games that mattered in San Francisco Giants history. Nothing good to say today.



1989 World Series Game 3 is 10-27 (the earthquake was today)

2002 World Series starts 10-19

2010 NLCS Game 2, up 1-0, we won the opener last night, Game 2 is also in Philadelphia, it was tight through 6, down 2-1 (Cody Ross homered again for our run). Roy Oswalt put us down in the top of the 7th, we only had one hit to that point; Jonathan Sanchez had nearly matched him and was pulled when he gave up a leadoff single to Oswalt in the 7th.  Ramon Ramirez couldn't keep that run from scoring and we were down 3-1, and Santiago Casilla later gave up a bases loaded double to Jimmy Rollins that made it a 6-1 game and that's the final score.

2012 NLCS Game 3, we split the first two at home and now play the next 3 in St Louis. We pushed across the first run in the 3rd, they followed with a 2 run Matt Carpenter homer off of Matt Cain in their half.  And then we sat there.  We put men on the corners in the 4th, but Kyle Lohse got Angel Pagan to fly out. We had two on and two out in the 6th, the Cards went to the pen and Trevor Rosenthal got Pagan to ground out. We threatened in the 7th, 2 on and 1 out, Mitchell Boggs came on and struck out both Pence and Belt to end the inning. Cain couldn't get away unscathed from a bases loaded, 1 out situation in the bottom half, the Cards added an insurance run to go up 3-1 and that's the final score.

2014 World Series starts 10-21

See you tomorrow, only 2012 on the docket.  Go Giants!

October 16 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Monday, October 16, 2017

What is this all about?

Yesterday

Here are all the October 16 games that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.



1962 World Series.  38 years ago the New York team lost a Game 7 in extra innings to the Senators, it was the only winner take all World Series game the New York Giants ever played.  And now here we are, it's a Tuesday afternoon at the Stick, Jack Sanford against Ralph Terry. We're still hitless in the fifth when the Yankees load the bases with nobody out.  Sanford gets Kubek 6-4-3, scoring the game's first run, but that's all the damage. Our first baserunner is Sanford, he singles with 2 out in the 6th, but it's the bottom of the 7th where we have our first real chance to score - with 2 out McCovey triples, but Terry strikes out Cepeda and we still trail 1-0.  In the 8th, Sanford loads the bases with nobody out again, O'Dell comes on in relief and gets out of it to keep us in the game, Maris grounds into the force play at home and then Elston Howard hits into the inning ending double play.  We're down in order in our half, the Yanks down in order in the 9th.  Bottom of the 9th, down 1-0, Matty Alou leads off with a pinch infield single.  But then Felipe strikes out and so does Hiller. Down to our last out.  It's Mays.  But Mays doubles to right - and now the tying and winning runs are both on base with McCovey coming to the plate.  But he lines to Richardson.  And our season ends.

1989 World Series Game 3 isn't until 10-27.

2002 World Series starts 10-19



2010 NLCS Game 1 at Philadelphia, it took nearly half a century, but we played another game on October 16.  I guess that's enough time. Tim Lincecum against Roy Halladay in the opener of the NLCS on a Saturday night in Philadelphia. We trade homers in the third - Cody Ross for us, Carlos Ruiz for them. 1-1 in the 5th - Ross strikes again - another homer off Halladay to give us a 2-1 advantage. We stretch that in the 6th, scoring two runs, the big hit from longtime Phillie Pat Burrell who doubled home Buster Posey.  The 4-1 lead was immediately cut to 4-3 when Jayson Werth homered in the 6th.  We left the bases loaded in the 9th and Brian Wilson put the tying man on with one out in the bottom, but he struck out Ross Gload and Shane Victorino to end the game and give us a 1-0 series lead.

2012 NLCS Game 3 is tomorrow 










2014 NLCS Game 5 home vs. Cards, I don't know of any "this guy was in the park for Game 7 in '62 and then Game 5 of the NLCS in 2014 exactly 62 years later" stories, but it's close to the extremes of the October baseball experience.  We're up 3 games to 1, a game from the pennant.  Three homers in the 3rd/4th left us down 3-2 (Panik for us, Matt Adams and Tony Cruz for them). Bumgarner and Adam Wainwright settled down, neither allowing a baserunner in the 5th, 6th, 7th, or, in Bumgarner's case, the 8th. The Cards brought on Pat Neshek in our half of the 8th - we're still down 3-2 - but Michael Morse led off with a pinch homer to tie the score.  Santiago Casilla comes on in the 9th and gets in trouble, loading the bases with 2 out, Jeremy Affeldt came on to face Oscar Tavares - who bounces back to the mound to end the inning.  Michael Wacha is the Cards pitcher in the bottom of the 9th, 2 on, 1 out, Travis Ishikawa hits a 3 run walk off homer to right to give the Giants the pennant.  Charles Schultz is long gone, but someone needed to do a Charlie Brown strip the next day about this October 16.

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

October 15 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Sunday, October 15, 2017

What is this all about?

Yesterday


Here are all the October 15 games that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.



1962 World Series Game 6 home vs. Yankees, 5 days after New York took a 3-2 lead the Series resumes, we need a win to force game 7 and we get it. Billy Pierce throws a complete game 3 hitter, we get all our runs in the 4th and 5th off Whitey Ford, Orlando Cepeda drives in runs in both innings, we went up 5-1 and held on for the 5-3 win. It all comes down to Game 7 tomorrow.

1989 World Series game 2, we're down 1-0 and about to go down 2-0. Mike Moore and 2 relievers hold us to 4 hits, we're tied at 1 headed to the 4th when Rick Reuschel gives up 4, the big shot a Terry Steinbach 3 run homer.  And that's your final score, we don't get a baserunner after the 5th inning. The earthquake is next, so game 3 won't take place until October 27.

2002 World Series starts 10-19

2010 NLCS starts tomorrow.



2012 NLCS Game 2 home vs. Cardinals we dropped game 1, need this one to get that split at home, Ryan Vogelsong goes 7, gives up just 4 hits and 1 earned, and we win easily.  Angel Pagan led off with a first inning home run, we put it away in the 4th on a 3 run Marco Scutaro base hit off of Chris Carpenter.  It's a 7-1 Giants victory and we head to St Louis.



2014 NLCS Game 4 home vs. Cardinals, two years later we're in a better spot, up 2-1, again with Vogelsong on the mound - this start doesn't go as well, 3 innings pitched, 4 earned.  Homers by Pierzynski and Wong had the Cards up 4-1 as we headed to the bottom of the third.  We got 2 back in our half off Shelby Miller with run scoring singles by Posey and Pence. Yusmeiro Petit came on and got 3 scoreless innings, taking us to our half of the 6th where we just kept moving over runners until 3 crossed the plate, Posey again came through with a run scoring hit and it's 6-4 good guys. 5 more Giants relievers finish off the last 3 innings and we hold a commanding 3-1 lead, a game away from another pennant.

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

October 14 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Saturday, October 14, 2017

What is this all about?

Yesterday


Here are all the October 14 games that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.  It's a big day.

1962 World Series, last day of rain, Game 6 is tomorrow.

1987 NLCS Game 7, we're in St Louis, its 3-3, a win and we have our first pennant since that '62 team that's still waiting for the rain to stop - but we don't get it. It was over early, Jose Oquendo hit a 3 run homer off Atlee Hammaker in the second to put St Louis up 4-0 and they win the game 6-0.  Our season is over.

1989 World Series Game 1, it's our first World Series game since '62, and it's just over the bridge, we're in Oakland to face the powerhouse A's and they whip us in game 1. We get shut out 5-0. Oakland gets 3 off Scott Garrelts in the 2nd, Dave Parker homers in the 3rd, Walt Weiss in the 4th. Dave Stewart throws a complete game 5 hitter.  Game 2 is tomorrow.





2002 NLCS Game 5 home vs. Cardinals, we're up 3-1, a game away from the pennant, but 15 years ago we went to St Louis up 3-2 and you know how that turned out, so there is at least some level of historical need to get this done on this Monday night at the new ballpark.  The Cardinals leave two on in the first, a runner on third in the second, men on the corners in the third, and two on the 6th - but Kirk Rueter escaped all of it, turning the game over to the pen in the 7th and the Cards immediately broke the scoreless tie with a double by Mike Matheny and a Fernando Vina sac fly off of Felix Rodriguez.  That holds until the bottom of the 8th, Matt Morris has gone the whole way, but with 1 out he loads the bases, meaning there's no place to put the next batter - Barry Bonds - who just misses, but his sac fly ties the score.  Bottom of the 9th now, Morris still on the mound, he gets the first two Giants - then David Bell hits a first pitch single followed by a Shawon Dunston single.  2 on, 2 out, the Cards go to the pen, Steve Kline to face Kenny Lofton - who hits a walk off single to right - Bell scores the winning run.  And for the third time in San Francisco history, the Giants win the pennant.

2010 NLCS starts in two days.

2012 NLCS Game 1 it's the NLCS, so of course we're playing St Louis, unlike '87, and '02, October 14 doesn't mean the end of the series, this is Game 1 and we lose the opener at home 6-4. Madison Bumgarner gets lit up, gives up 6 earned and doesn't get out of the 4th inning. We got 4 back in our half of the 4th, the big blow a 2 run Gregor Blanco triple off of Lance Lynn.  But that's it, we lose 6-4. Game 2 is tomorrow.



2014 NLCS Game 3 home vs. Cardinals, it's the NLCS, so of course we're playing St Louis.  What the hell is going on between us and the Cardinals?  There are other teams.  We split the first two in St Louis and jump all over John Lackey in this one, 4 runs in the second inning, the big blow a 3 run Travis Ishikawa double. Kolten Wong cuts our lead in half in the 4th with a 2 run double off Tim Hudson, they add a run apiece in the 6th and 7th to tie the score.  We don't get a baserunner after the 4th inning until putting the first two on in the 10th and scoring the winning run when Randy Choate threw away a sacrifice bunt.  We're up 2-1, game 4 is tomorrow.


See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

2017-18 NBA Predictions

Friday, October 13, 2017

2017-18 NBA win total projections.


East
Cle 53
Bos 48
Mil 48
Wash 48
Tor 45
Char 44
Mia 43
Phi 35

Det 35
Orl 33
Ind 32
NY 31       
Brook 30
Atl 27
Chi 25


West
GSW 64
Hou 55
OKC 52
SA 51
Minn 50
Den 48
LAC 47
Utah 44

Port 43
NO 42
Mem 36
LAL 32
Dall 32
Pho 29
Sac 26

I've picked this Warriors/Cavs series each of the past 3 years and I'll pick it again this year.

October 13 - Top 5 Games in San Francisco Giants History

What is this all about?

Yesterday

Here are all the October 13 games that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.  Spoiler alert, this hasn't been a great day for us.

1962 World Series is still raining.  Game 6 on 10-15

1987 NLCS Game 6, we're up 3-2, a game from winning our first pennant in a quarter century, we go back to St Louis for game 6 and Dave Dravecky locks them down, 6 innings, 1 earned, 8 strikeouts, no walks, and then Don Robinson followed with 2 hitless innings, but it wasn't enough. Candy Maldonado misplayed a Tony Pena flyball into a triple to lead off the second and scored on a sac fly and that's the game's only run. We threatened in the 5th, two on, one out, but John Tudor got both Thompson and Mitchell.  We only got one more chance, tying run in scoring position with an out in the 7th, but Tudor got Brenly and Thompson and we lose 1-0.  It all comes down to Game 7 tomorrow.

1989 National League Champions. Bay Bridge Series starts 10-14





2002 NLCS Game 4 home vs. Cardinals,
15 years prior the Cards evened up the NLCS on us, they face that need again today as we're up 2 games to 1 on a Sunday night. We only get 4 hits against the Cardinals 12. St Louis gets to Livan Hernandez in the first, scoring 2 with 3 hits and a hit batsman. They left a man on third in the second.  They got back to back singles to open the third and a pair of 2 out singles in the 6th. But it was still 2-0 with 2 out in the bottom of the 6th when JT Snow hit a 2 run double off Rick White to tie the score. Still 2-2 in the bottom of the 8th, 2 out, nobody on - Bonds at the plate and they put him on.  That's who Barry Bonds was, the Cardinals would rather put the go ahead run on base in the 8th inning of game 4 of the NLCS than pitch to him. Benito Santiago made them pay - he hit a full count two run homer off White, and we went to the 9th inning up 4-2.  Robb Nen came on and got into trouble, gave up a run scoring single to Jim Edmonds that left St Louis trailing only 4-3 with runners on the corners and 1 out.  Who is at the plate?  Future Inner circle Hall of Famer Albert Pujols, he's 22 in his second big league season (Pujols played the first ten years of his career in St Louis, here's how he finished in the MVP vote in each season: 4,2,2,3,1,2,9,1,1,2,5) but in this spot he struck out and then so did JD Drew to end the game.  We're up 3 games to 1, one game away from our first pennant in 13 years.

2010 NLCS starts 10-16

2012 NLCS starts 10-14 

2014 NLCS starts 10-14

See you tomorrow, lot happening on 10-14 for the home team. Go Giants!

October 12 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Yesterday

What is this all about?

Here are all the October 12 games that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.  Spoiler alert, this hasn't been a great day for us.

1962 World Series is still raining.  Game 6 on 10-15

1987 NLCS. Game 6 tomorrow. 

1989 National League Champions. Bay Bridge Series starts 10-14

2002 NLCS Game 3, we took the first 2 in St Louis but drop game 3 at home, 5-4. Matheny and Edmond homered off Russ Ortiz in the 4th and 5th to give the Cards a 4-1 lead, we got them all back on one swing of Barry Bonds' bat in the bottom of the 5th, he hit a 3 run bomb off of Chuck Finley. But Jay Witasick gave up a solo shot to Eli Marrero in the 6th for the final margin of victory. We're still up 2-1 and Game 4 is tomorrow.

2010 NLCS starts 10-16

2012 NLCS starts 10-14 

2014 NLCS Game 2 - we took game 1, but the Cards even things up here, beating us 5-4 just like they did a dozen years prior. We had a 3-2 lead when Gregor Blanco singled off Carlos Martinez in the 7th to score Brandon Crawford, but homers in the 7th and 8th (Oscar Tavares, Matt Adams) gave the Cards the 4-3 lead as we went to the 9th. With 2 outs Matt Duffy scored the tying run on a Trevor Rosenthal wild pitch, but Kolten Wong took Sergio Romo's second pitch out of the yard in the bottom of the 9th to even the series.  We head home in two days.

That's it?  That's it.  See you tomorrow for a couple of games against St Louis.  Go Giants!

October 11 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Wednesday, October 11, 2017


What is this all about?

Yesterday

Here are all the October 11 games in San Francisco Giants history that mattered.

1962 World Series, down 3-2, game 6 is 10-15



1987 NLCS Game 5 home vs. Cardinals, the series is dead even at 2, Game 5 is at the Stick, nearly 60,000 paid on a Sunday afternoon. We trade runs in both the first and third, the big blow Kevin Mitchell's homering off of Greg Mathews to tie it 2-2. They went up 3-2 on a Reuschel error in the 4th, but we busted it open in our half - singles for Davis/Clark/Uribe all led to a two run Robby Thompson triple off of Ricky Horton and took a 6-3 lead. Joe Price came on in relief in the fifth and went the last five innings of the game, never allowing a Cardinal to reach scoring position.  We head back to St Louis a game away from the pennant.

1989 National League Champions, World Series starts 10-14

2002 NLCS Game 3 is tomorrow






2010 NLDS Game 4 at Atlanta, we're up 2-1 in a best of five, one game away from our first NLCS appearance in 8 years. Monday night at Turner Field, we only get 5 hits, and Madison Bumgarner's in trouble early, the Braves leave them loaded in the second and push across a run in the third.  Our first hit comes with 1 out in the 6th, but it ties the game, Cody Ross homering off Derek Lowe.  Bumgarner gives it back in the bottom half on a Brian McCann homer. We come right back in the 7th, tying the game on an Alex Gonzalez error and, with the bases loaded and two out, Cody Ross comes through again with a base hit off Jonny Venters that scored the go ahead run.  Atlanta threatens in the bottom of the 9th, getting 2 on with 1 out against Brian Wilson - but he strikes out Omar Infante and gets Melky Cabrera to ground to third to end the series.  We are back in the NLCS, game 1 is Oct 16.






2012 NLDS Game 5 at Cincinnati, winner take all, we lost the first two at home, won the last two on the road - we're still in Cincinnati needing to win one more game to advance to the NLCS. Both clubs had 2 on with 1 out in the first - but neither scored.  No baserunners in the second or third, each team had harmless singles in the 4th.  And in the fifth we won the game. Gregor Blanco opened with a base hit off Giant nemesis Mat Latos, three pitches later Brandon Crawford tripled to drive home the game's first run and a Zack Cozart error gave us a second.   We loaded the bases with one out, Buster Posey at the plate and Latos still on the mound - Posey hit a 2 strike grand slam to give us a 6-0 lead.  The Reds chip away.  2 in their half. Another in the 6th. One more in the 9th off of Sergio Romo, the tying runs on base, only 1 out.  Romo got Jay Bruce to fly out.  Romo struck out Scott Rolen.  And we advance to the NLCS.



2014 NLCS Game 1 at St Louis 12 years have passed since '02, 27 since '87, and once again we're meeting the Cardinals in the NLCS. Madison Bumgarner gets the ball for the good guys and he's lights out, 7 and 2/3, 0 earned, 4 hits, 7 strikeouts and 1 walk. We scored 2 in the second, Travis Ishikawa driving home the first off of Adam Wainwright and a Matt Carpenter error getting us the second. A Brandon Belt sac fly the following inning gave us the final margin of our 3-0 shutout victory.

2016 NLDS Game 4, we're down 2-1 in a best of five and the Cubs end our season by scoring 4 runs in the 9th inning to beat us 6-5.  We had a 5-2 lead through 5, when we entered the 9th we had a 97% chance to win the game and go to a winner take all game 5.  We used 5 pitchers in the inning to face just 7 batters.  That's not just a failure of execution, it's a strategic failure that was not appreciated as such by the organization or local analysts.

See you tomorrow. Go Giants!

October 10 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Yesterday

What is this all about?


Here are all the October 10 games that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.  October 10 is a helluva day.

1962 World Series Game 5, we're tied at 2, this is the last game at Yankee Stadium - and we lose.  We scored first, Chuck Hiller doubling home Jose Pagan off Ralph Terry in the third, a Jack Sanford wild pitch tied the score - but Pagan came back in the fifth with a homer and we were up 2-1.  Remember the wild pitch?  The Yankees tied the score at 2 in the 6th on a passed ball.  A wild pitch and a passed ball are New York's two runs in Game 5 of the World Series.  Until the bottom of the 8th when Sanford gave up a 3 run bomb to Tony Kubek.  We lose 5-3 and go back home a game from elimination. Rain's coming - game 6 is October 15th.



1987 NLCS Game 4 home vs. Cardinals we're down 2-1, nearly a must win game at the Stick, Mike Krukow vs. Danny Cox on a Saturday night, both starters throw complete games. They got to us in the second, four singles scored two runs and it took an Ozzie Smith double play with runners on the corners to get out of the frame. Robby Thompson homered in the 4th to cut the lead in half and in the fifth the bad man struck again, Jeffrey Leonard hit a 2 run homer, he's homered in every game in the series, and its a 3-2 Giants lead.  In the 8th, we added the insurance, Brenly homered, Krukow got inning ending double plays in the 7th,8th,9th and we tied the series at 2.  One more at the Stick, Game 5 is tomorrow.

1989 National League Champions - World Series starts 10-14





2002 NLCS Game 2 at St Louis 15 years later we're still playing the Cardinals, we took game 1 in Busch the day before and this gives us a stranglehold.  Rich Aurilia homered on the 4th pitch of the game off Woody Williams, the Cards threatened in the third, runners on second and third with 1 out - Jason Schmidt got a fly ball from Fernando Vina and Kenny Lofton threw out JD Drew at the plate. In the 5th - Aurilia got Williams again, a second home run gave us a 3-0 lead and we'd win this one 4-1.  We're headed home with a 2 games to 0 lead.



2010 NLDS Game 3 at Atlanta we split the first two at home, Jonathan Sanchez goes for the good guys here and dazzles, 7 and a third, 11 strikeouts, 2 hits, a walk and 1 earned. Future Giant Tim Hudson is on the other side, we left them loaded in the first, Mike Fontenot led off the second with a triple and he scored on a Brooks Conrad error (his second of the game). It's Hudson who gets the Braves first hit, a 6th inning single - and it's still 1-0 when we threaten in the 8th, singles by Huff and Schierholtz off Johnny Venters put on and one out, but Uribe and Fontenot struck out to end the threat.  Sanchez allowed his second hit in the bottom half, Sergio Romo came on -and gave up a 2 run homer to Eric Hinske that gave the Braves the lead with only 3 outs to go.  We were down to our last strike in the 9th, tying run at first, 2 out, Craig Kimbrel had a 1-2 count on Freddy Sanchez - but he singled to keep us alive - Aubrey Huff followed with a single that tied the game - and Brooks Conrad's third error of the game allowed the go ahead run to score.  Brian Wilson got the save and just like that we were a game from the NLCS.



2012 NLDS Game 4 at Cincinnati - we dropped the first two at home, took game 3 yesterday in 10 innings and now have a chance to square the series at 2.  We get homers in the first two innings off future Giant Mike Leake (Pagan and Blanco) to take a 3-1 lead, a Ryan Ludwick third inning homer off Barry Zito makes it 3-2, bur we add two in the fifth on a couple of doubles and 3 in the 7th on a double and a two run Pablo Sandoval homer off Jose Arreedondo - Tim Lincecum went 4 and a third in relief and we win 8-3.  Game 5 is a winner take all - and it's tomorrow.

2014 NLCS starts 10-11



2016 NLDS Game 3 home vs, Cubs, we dropped the first two at Wrigley, it takes 5 hours and 13 innings but we avoid the sweep.  That seemed unlikely when Jake Arrieta hit a 3 run homer off Madison Bumgarner in the second, a Denard Span double and a run scoring single by Buster Posey chipped away in the third, Span came back with a triple in the fifth, then scored on a Brandon Belt sac fly and we trailed by just a run. Bottom of the 8th, 2 on, 1 out, Aroldis Chapman facing Conor Gillaspie - who hits a 2 run triple to give us a 4-3 lead, he then scores on a Brandon Crawford single to give us a 5-3 lead into the 9th inning.  Remember what happened six years ago?  Sergio Romo gave up another 2 run homer this year, to Kris Bryant, and we were in extra innings.  The Cubs don't get another baserunner until the top of the 13th, Ty Blach gives up singles to Baez and Contreras with 1 out - but gets David Ross to go 6-4-3 and we moved to the bottom half.  It took only two batters, Joe Panik led off with a two strike double off Mike Montgomery and scored the winning run on a Brandon Crawford double.  It's October 10th magic.  Game 4 is tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

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