September 30 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Yesterday

What is this all about?

Here are the September 30 games that mattered in San Francisco history

1962 home vs. Houston.  One back.  One left.  We need to win.  The Dodgers need to lose.  Both of us at home, LA hosting the Cards, Johnny Podres for the Dodgers, Curt Simmons for St Louis - both throw complete game 5 hitters.  There's only 1 run scored, in the top of the 8th, Gene Oliver homered off of Podres to give the Cards a 1-0 lead.  LA never got another baserunner. So - if we win we force a 3 game playoff. Billy O'Dell for us against Turk Farrell.  We get the first run, Ed Bailey homered in the 4th.  They get the tying run in the 6th, Jim Pendleton singling it home. We load the bases with 2 out in the bottom of the 7th, but Farrell gets Matty Alou to pop up.  We don't go hungry for long, Willie Mays leads off the 8th with a homer and when Houston goes down in order in the 9th we had caught the Dodgers.  101-61 to 101-61.

Walk off 1964 home vs. Houston, 3.5 back with 5 to go, we walked Houston off in 11 the day before and do it again here.  Gaylord went 10, struck out  7 - but we only get 4 hits, it's 1-1 in the 11th, bases loaded, two out, an Eddie Kasko error on a Jim Davenport grounder to third allows us to score the winning run.  Unfortunately we gain no ground - so with 4 left we're still 3.5 out.

Walk off 1965 home vs. Reds, 2 back with 3 left, we needed a run in the 8th to tie it and in the 9th Orlando Cepeda hits a 2 run walk off homer against Joe Nuxhall. The Dodgers also win - so we stay 2 back but now with 2 left to play.

1966 off day, 3 out, 4 left

1969 we beat the Padres for our 90th win, but the Braves also win and we're eliminated

1971 at San Diego, here's how to think about '71 - it's the inverse of '62, so, the chasing Dodgers are right on our doorstep, 1 game back with 1 game to go.  They beat Houston 2-1, Sutton throws a complete game, a Buckner 7th inning sac fly gave LA the winning margin.  So, now it's up to us - but unlike LA in '62, we hold them off , beating the Padres 5-1 to win the NL West. Juan Marichal throws a complete game 5 hitter, striking out 5 and walking none, Kingman homered, Fuentes had 3 hits and 40 year old Willie Mays doubles to get the scoring going in the 4th. For the first time since 1962 - the Giants are in the playoffs.



Walk off 1982 home vs. Astros two behind the Braves with 4 to go, maybe the high point of this tremendous 1982 run at first place, we are down 5-0 heading to the 7th, two out, bases loaded, Joe Morgan singles home two off of Mike LaCoss (of course it's LaCoss) Jack Clark follows with his own run scoring single and the lead is down to 5-3.  Fast forward to the 8th, we've already scored another run, trail only 5-4, 2 out, runners on the corners, Max Venable singles off Bert Roberge to tie the score at 5.  In the top of the 9th, future Giant Harry Spilman homers off Rich Gale to again put the Astros up - we've come back so far, from 13 out, and then today, 5 runs down - but now it's all over, we trail 6-5 going to the bottom of the 9th - but we load the bases, there are two outs, Ron Pruitt is on to pinch hit against Dave Smith.  Pruitt was a Giant for the final two seasons of his 9 year big league career, he had a total of 5 San Francisco at bats. He had two hits.  His first came here, a 2 run game winning single.  The Braves lose - the Dodgers win, Atlanta's lead over both of us is cut to a game with 3 to go.  1982!

1987 NL West Champs (clinched 9-28)

1989 NL West Champs (clinched 9-27)

1993 at Los Angeles some years we chase the Dodgers, some years they chase us - we rarely play each other at the end, this year however the Dodgers are long out of the race, we're a game behind the Braves with 4 to play - but all 4 of those games have to be played in Los Angeles.  It starts here, Bill Swift nails this one down, 7 1/3, gave up just 2 hits, 1 earned. Kirt Manwaring broke a scoreless tie with a 2 run 4th inning single off Tom Candiotti, we win this one 3-1 - and the Braves lose to the Astros, so with 3 days left in the season, each of us is 101-58.

1997 Game One NLDS at Florida hey look it's the playoffs, hey, look, I'm at the game, hey look, we only get 4 hits and they walk us off.  Scoreless in the top of the 7th, Bill Mueller leads off with a homer off of Kevin Brown - some people behind me throw popcorn as I shout "Bill Mueller! Bill Mueller! (what it lacked in creativity it made up in accuracy) and I challenge an entire row to come at me.  Kirk Rueter gave it back in the bottom half in the form of a Charles Johnson homer.  In the bottom of the 9th Julian Tavarez put the first two on, got replaced by Roberto Hernandez, and with 2 out and the bases loaded, he gave up the game winning single to Edgar Renteria.  That Marlin mascot planted the flag on the pitcher's mound and I made my escape.

2000 NL West Champs (clinched 9-21)

2001 we lose to the Padres, Arizona also loses, we're 2 out with 6 left.

2002 NL Wild Card (clinched 9-28)

2003 Game One NLDS home vs. Marlins, 6 years ago the Marlins edged us out in Game 1 of the NLDS, this year it goes our way, Jason Schmidt throws a 3 hit shutout, 5 strikeouts and no walks. We only get 3 hits ourselves, two of them from Edgardo Alfonzo that drove home the only two runs of our 2-0 victory.  We're two wins away from the NLCS.

2004 at San Diego it's Houston we're chasing, half a game out of the WC with 4 to play - we catch them here, Jerome Williams gets it done, 7 innings, 4 hits, 1 earned, it's 1-1 on the 4th, JT Snow hits a 2 run double off Adam Eaton, we go on and win 4-1.  Dead tied for the WC with 3 to play.

2009 we beat Arizona but are eliminated.

2010 home vs. Diamondbacks, we're 2 up on the Padres with 4 left and we're on a roll, having won 7 of 9.  We make it 8 of 10 and sweep the Snakes, 1-1 in the 5th, Andres Torres hits a 2 out homer, Buster Posey hits a 2 run homer in the 6th, that's all the runs, we win 4-1.  The Padres do not win - so with 3 to play we have a 3 game lead.

2012 NL West Champs (clinched 9-22)

2014 NL Wild Card (clinched 9-25)

2016 home vs. Dodgers, like 1993, we're playing the Dodgers at season's end but they aren't implicated in the race (unlike '93, it's because they've already won the West - the race is for the second WC spot, we're 1 up on St Louis with 3 left). We're down 3-2 with the bases loaded in the 6th, Conor Gillaspie hits a 2 run double off Brandon McCarthy and we go on to win 9-3, our Brandons both had 3 hits. The Cards won - we stay 1 up with 2 left.  This was Madison Bumgarner's 100th career win.

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

September 29 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

What is this all about?

Yesterday


Here's every September 29 game in San Francisco Giants history that mattered.

1962 home vs. Astros we were 15-5 at the end of April, 1 game up on LA.  We were 35-15 at the end of May, half a game up on LA.  We were 51-28 at the end of June, half a game up on LA.  We were 67-39 at the end of July, 4 games behind LA.  We were 85-49 at the end of August, 2.5 behind LA.

We come in 1.5 out, we have 3 left to play, LA has two left.

Doubleheader at the Stick against Houston.  We get the first to move to 100-60.  Haller, McCovey, and Cepeda all homered, Stu Miller went 3+ in relief of Jack Sanford, we win 11-5.  But we drop the second 4-2, we only gave up 5 hits, but Marichal didn't get out of the 5th and we just couldn't get close to evening the game. Fortunately, LA lost - so with a day to go, we are 1 game out of first.

Walk off 1964 home vs. Houston, we're 4.5 out with 6 to go, the first place Reds lose and we take advantage, 4-4 in the bottom of the 11th, Matty Alou walks them off with a leadoff homer. We're in 4th, so it's still tough to navigate, but with 5 left we are 3.5 games out of first.

1965, until September we never spent a single day in first, but 13 days ago a 14 game win streak gave us a 4.5 game lead.  Today we lose to St Louis.  The Dodgers win.  We're 2 back with 3 left. Down 8-6 in the 9th, 2 on, 2 out, McCovey at the plate - but Hal Woodeshick strikes him out.

1966, off day, 3.5 out with 4 to go.

1969 off day, 2.5 out with 3 left

1971 - there have been a total of 3 days all season where we didn't at least have a share of the lead, but the Padres walk us off (Nate Colbert hit a 3 run homer off Jerry Johnson) and with 1 to go we have a 1 game lead on LA.

1982 home vs. Astros, we've never spent a day even tied for the lead, and two months ago we were 13.5 out of first - but we come into this one 2 back with 5 left and we beat the Astros (in front of less than 9000 paid on a Wednesday night at the Stick) we get 14 hits including homers by Davis and Leonard.  We win 6-1.  The Braves also win - they have a 2 game lead over both us and LA with 4 to play.

1987 NL West Champs (clinched 9-28)

1989 NL West Champs (clinched 9-27)

1993 we lose to the Rockies, the Braves win, we're 1 out with 4 left

1997 NL West Champs (clinched 9-27)

2000 NL West Champs (clinched 9-21)



2001 home vs. Padres Russ Ortiz goes 7, strikes out 7, at 1-1 in the 6th Barry Bonds hit #69 on the season, off of Chuck McElroy, we win it 3-1.  He had been 2-32 off McElroy.  Barry's now one homer short of tying McGwire's single season record (and Rickey Henderson, now leading off for San Diego, is one run short of tying Ty Cobb's runs scored record). This was Barry's 563rd career homer.  Arizona also won.  With 7 left, we stay 2 out.

2002 NL Wild Card (clinch 9-28)

2003 NL West Champs (clinch 9-17)

2004 the Padres walk us off, we drop half a game out of the WC with 4 to go.

2009 home vs. Diamondbacks, we come in 5 out of the WC with 6 left, we leave 5 out with 5 left after beating the Snakes.  A Bengie Molina 2 run homer in the 4th off of Doug Davis gave us a 4-1 lead in a game we'd win 8-4.



2010 home vs. Diamondbacks, we led through most of April, but after May 6, we didn't have first place by ourselves until 13 days ago. Over the last two weeks we've been trading it on and off with the Padres - we come into this one up 2 with 5 left. We only get 5 hits, and only score in the fourth- but that's enough, we win 3-1 and stay 2 up with 4 to go. Lincecum struck out 11, all 3 runs came on one swing of Pat Burrell's bat off Ian Kennedy.

2012 NL West Champs (clinched 9-22)

2014 NL Wild Card (clinched 9-25)

2015 The Dodgers end our season, Kershaw throws a 1 hitter and strikes out 13.

2016 home vs. Rockies, from May 11 to August 15 we had at least a share of first every single day, but the last time we saw first was August 20 and are now fighting for the last WC spot, 1 up with 4 left coming in to this one.  Johnny Cueto goes 7, strikes out 11, and with us up 3-2 in the 6th, he bunt singled us into 2 more runs when Nolan Arenado threw it away.  We win 7-2. The Cards also win - so with 3 games to go our WC lead stays at 1.

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

Top 10 Television Shows 2017 (July-September)

April-June is here.

I'm behind, obviously, but in my own defense, I'm behind.

I've yet to see, but will see:

I Love Dick (have yet to start)

Transparent (am underway)

Casual (have yet to start)

Wet Hot American Summer (yet to start)

Difficult People (yet to start)

I noted in the April-June list that I might readjust Veep/Fargo at year's end, upon finishing each it's clear that both shows had their softest seasons to date (as did The Americans, recall)

1. Top of the Lake (Sundance)

2. I'm Sorry (Tru)
3. Halt and Catch Fire (AMC)

4. Catastrophe (Amazon)

5. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)

6. Orange is the New Black (Netflix)
7. Master of None (Netflix)
8. Better Things (FX)

9. You're the Worst (FXX)

10. Broad City (Comedy Central)

For me, Top of the Lake season two is rare peak TV better in 2017 than in its previous season; it's my Peggy Olsen viewing of choice this year.  I'm Sorry was just funny and very true to itself, had a very consistent comedic voice in every episode.  I don't know that Halt and Catch Fire (or Catastrophe) needed another season, it's well done and a pleasant visit, but it feels like the story could have stopped a year ago.  Kimmy Schmidt is entirely Titus's show now, he scores in every scene and the further the story gets away from him the less interesting the show becomes.  Maybe the softest year yet for OITB in a season of largely soft campaigns for premium shows. I haven't quite finished Master of None yet, it seems to have given a little back this year.  The last three shows are all about 1/4 through their seasons, there's a practical element to their inclusion here, given the backlog of shows I haven't seen and the entire fall still to come, I wanted to slip them in here.

September 28 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

What is this all about?

Yesterday


Here's every September 28 game that mattered in San Francisco Giants history (and one that didn't)

1962 off day, but LA loses, so we're only 1.5 out with 3 to play.

1964 off day, we stay 4.5 out with 6 left

1965 tied with LA with 5 games left, we lose to St Louis 9-1 and drop a game out, 4 to go.

1966 at Atlanta no margin for error, we come in 4 out with 5 to play, and we live to see tomorrow by sweeping the Braves. Gaylord throws a complete game, we were down 2-1 in the 5th when Tito Fuentes hit a 2 run homer to flip us ahead 3-2.  We won 5-2, the Dodgers lost, so with 4 remaining, we're now 3 out.

1969 at Los Angeles, we're 2.5 out with 4 left, we're chasing the Braves, Juan Marichal throws a complete game, because of course he does, 5 hits, 0 earned, we were 1-1 in the 6th, Bobby Bonds singled home the go ahead run off of Bill Singer and we go on to win 8-1. Unfortunately, the Braves win, so now it's 2.5 down with 3 to play.

1971 at San Diego, we're 1 up on the Dodgers with 3 to go, Gaylord throws a complete game against the Padres, we put it away in the 6th, we had a 3-1 lead and Chris Speier hit a 3 run homer off Ed Acosta. We won 7-1, the Dodgers also win, our lead remains 1 with 2 to play.

1982 - we lose again to the Braves, they move into first, LA is 1 back, we're 2 back, 5 games to play, Bill Laskey didn't get out of the third, they beat us 8-3.

1986 home vs. Dodgers here's the meaningless game, it goes 16 innings, the Giants play 25 guys, Will Clark goes 0-8, we were down 3-1 in the bottom of the 9th and a Maldonado homer and Youngblood run scoring double tied it.  Then we were down 5-3 in the bottom of the 14th when Harry Spilman tied it with a 2 run scoring single.  Finally, we won it in the 16th, Bob Brenly singles off of Balvino Galvez to end the nearly 6 hour game.



1987 at San Diego, 7 back, 7 left - we just need one more to get our first playoff spot in 16 years - and we get it.  Don Robinson goes 5 in relief and wins the game with a tiebreaking 8th inning homer off of Lance McCullers, we win 5-4.

1989 NL West Champs (clinched 9-27)

1993 home vs. Colorado - here's the thing you need to know, the Braves lost, so we entered the day down a game and the Braves lost, meaning - if we can beat the Rockies we will have regained a share of the lead we had virtually the entire season and then lost in this death match of a pennant race.  We win. We only get 4 hits, but we win.  Up 2-0 in the 5th Steve Scarsone hit a 3 run homer off David Nied and we held on for the 6-4 win.  5 games left and we are tied for first in the West.

1997 NL West Champs (clinched 9-27)

1998 it's Game 163, we're in Wrigley for a one game winner take all game to earn the Wild Card spot, we lose 5-3.  We trailed 5-0 through 8 and then gave it everything we had in the 9th, Mayne and Mueller opened with singles off Kevin Tapani, Terry Mulholland entered and gave up a run scoring single to Javier, Ellis Burks walked to load the bases with nobody out for Bonds - but he flied to right, that scored the second run but was obviously a blow.  Rod Beck came out and got Kent to ground out - that scored the third run but left us still down 5-3 with only one on and Beck got Joe Carter to pop up to end our season.

2000 NL West Champs (clinched 9-21)

2001 home vs Padres, we come in 2 out with 9 left, chasing the Diamondbacks and starting a series against San Diego.  We get the opener. Shawn Estes goes 7, gives up 2 earned and strikes out 8, we win 10-5 a Marvin Benard first inning homer got it going. Barry hit #68, bringing him two of the record.  Arizona also won - with 8 to play, we stay 2 out.

2002 home vs. Astros, we need a win or a Dodger loss to clinch the WC - and we get it.  It takes 8 Giant pitchers but we beat the Astros 5-2 and make the postseason. The big moment is Barry's a 5th inning tiebreaking splash homer off Jeriome Robertson. It was Barry's 613th career homer.

2003 NL West Champs (clinched 9-17)

2004 at San Diego, one out in the WC, 3 out in the West - we get 17 hits and win the opener in San Diego, Ray Durham goes 5 for 6, Dustin Hermanson came on to close for us, up 7-5 in the bottom of the 9th and put the first two men on - then got Nevin to pop up, struck out Klesko - and then Rich Aurilia ground to third to end the game.  We move into a WC tie with 5 to go

2005 - the Padres end our season.

2009 - off day, 5 out of WC with 6 to go

2010 - home vs. Diamondbacks, we're 1 up with 6 left, 2-2 in the 6th, Nate Schierholtz pinch singles home the go ahead run.  We win 4-2.  The Padres lose, we're now 2 up with 5 to play.

2012 NL West Champs (clinched 9-22)

2014 NL Wild Card (clinched 9-25)

Walk off 2015 home vs. Dodgers we open up a series with the first place Dodgers 6 out with 7 left - we leave 5 out with 6 left.  2-2 in the 12th, Alejandro De Aza hits a pinch sac fly to drive home the winning run. We live another day.

2016 - we lose to the Rockies but remain 1 up for the last WC, now with 4 left.

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

September, 2017 Athlete of the Month

August is here.

Sloane Stephens.  Runners-up: Rafael Nadal, Corey Kluber, Aaron Judge

2017 is 3/4 of the way gone.  Who will be named Athlete of the Year?

January - Deshaun Watson
February - Tom Brady
March - Russell Westbrook
April - A'ja Wilson
May - Stephen Curry
June- Kevin Durant
July - Roger Federer
August - Giancarlo Stanton
September - Sloane Stephens

September 27 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

What is this all about?

Yesterday


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

1959 - it's the last day of the season, we're in 3rd, 1.5 behind the Braves and Dodgers - but we have a doubleheader in St Louis today - so, if both the Braves and Dodgers lose, and we win both games against the Cardinals, we've forced a 3 way tie.  None of that happens, the Dodgers win, the Braves win and we lose both games to St Louis.  Eliminated.

1962 - we lose to the Cardinals, fortunately the Dodgers also lose, so with 3 games left we remain 2 out.

1964 - we lose both ends of a doubleheader in Wrigley to drop 4.5 out of first with 6 to play.  We're in 4th place, so it's going to be a tough haul to make it.

1965 - home vs. Cardinals, we come in dead tied with LA with 6 to play, we win on a Monday afternoon, Tom Haller hits 2 homers, the first a 3 run shot off of Tracy Stallard in the second to score the game's first runs.  We win 8-4. LA wins too.  With 5 left - we remain tied.

1966 - at Atlanta, we're 4 behind the Dodgers with 6 left - we win, Lindy McDaniel went 6 scoreless in relief. Down 3-1 in the 6th, Willie Mays hit a 3 run homer off Pat Jarvis, we win it 6-3. LA wins, we're 4 back with 5 left.

1969 - the Dodgers walk us off, 2-1 in 11, former Giant Len Gabrielson beats Don McMahon with a run scoring single. The Braves win - we fall to 2.5 out with 4 left.

1971 - off day, we stay 1 up with 3 left.

1982 - a tough Monday night, we're tied with the Braves for second, a game behind LA, Atlanta comes to the Stick in front of 45,000 and Phil Niekro shuts us out 7-0.  The Dodgers lose, so now there are 6 left and LA and Atlanta are tied for first and we're still 1 game out.

1987 at Atlanta - we're 7 up with 8 left and beat the Braves 15-6, we get 19 hits, we have two 6 run innings, Jose Uribe gets 4 hits - we actually trailed in this one and by a decent amount, 5-2 in the 4th inning, but Candy Maldonado hit a pinch grand slam and then we rolled to victory. The Reds win, so with 7 games to go we have a 7 game lead.

1989 at Los Angeles, the Dodgers beat us 1-0, the only time we were swept in a series all season, but down in San Diego the Padres lost in 13 innings and that gave us the NL West Title.  The A's clinched the AL West on the same day.

1993 home vs. Padres, the Braves weren't losing so we needed every single game down the stretch and we nearly got it, this was our 10th of 11 and cut the deficit to 1 game with 6 to play. We got 14 hits, including 3 from Will Clark and Jeff Reed, Matt Williams got it going with a 2 run first inning homer.



1997 home vs. Padres, it had been 8 years since the last time the Giants could say they were NL West champs, but it happens here, Wilson Alvarez goes 7, gives up 2 hits and strikes out 9 and we win 6-1. Glenallen Hill got it going with a run scoring single in the 4th off of Sterling Hitchock to break the scoreless tie.

1998, it's the last day of the regular season, we're in Denver, Neifi Perez walks us off with a homer off Robb Nen. Meanwhile - the Cubs lost to Houston in 11 (Rod Beck was the losing pitcher) so the Wild Card race would be decided at Wrigley tomorrow on Game 163.

2000 NL West Champs (clinched 9-21)

2001 off day, we're 2 out with 9 to go.

2002 home vs Astros, we've won 5 straight, Jason Schmidt goes 7 1/3, gives up 1 earned, 4 hits, 8 strikeouts.  Houston had the tying run at third in the 8th, but Tim Worrell got Craig Biggio to fly to center to end the inning.  We win 2-1.  Our magic number to get the WC and eliminate LA is 1.

2003 NL West Champs (clinched 9-17)

2004 off day, we're a game out in the WC, 3 out in the West, 6 games left.

2005 - we lose to the Padres, we're 4 out with 5 left. Brett Tomko started, gave up 5 earned in 3 innings.

2009 - home vs Cubs we end a 3 game slide and keep the season alive another day, 5 out of the WC with 6 to play. Cain goes 8, gives up 3 hits, no runs and strikes out 8. Eli Whiteside had a pair of run scoring doubles, we beat the Cubs 5-1.

2010 off day, we're 1 up with 6 left.

2012 NL West Champs (clinched 9-22)

2014 NL Wild Card (clinched 9-25)

2015 at Oakland, we beat the A's to stay alive, 6 out with 7 left, 5-4 in the bottom of the 9th, 2 out, the winning run at the plate - Santiago Casilla strikes out Billy Burns.



2016 home vs. Rockies, we come in 1 up for the final WC with 6 to go and blast the Rox, 12-3, Matt Moore goes 7 2/3 and strikes out 11.  Brandon Crawford has 4 hits, Brandon Belt is a homer short of a cycle. We stay 1 up in the WC with 5 to go.

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

September 26 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Yesterday

What is this all about?


Here are are the September 26 games that mattered in San Francisco Giants history.

1959 at St Louis we come in 2.5 out with 3 left, in St Louis for the final series of the season and Sam Jones no hits the Cards, kind of.  Jones was the first African-American to throw a no hitter (with the Cubs in '55). Rain stopped this game in the 8th - at the time, Jones was credited with a no-hitter, subsequently an interpretation change required a no-hitter to go at least 9 innings and Jones lost that designation for this game. McCovey hit a 2 run homer in the 7th off Ernie Broglio to give us the 4-0 final. So - how about that as an all time great Giants pitching performance, Sam Jones in a must win game gives up no hits (walks just two). The Dodgers lose - and we move to 1.5 out with 2 left.

1962 home vs. Cards, we come in 2 out with 5 left, once again, playing the Cards but chasing the Dodgers.  Once again we win, up 4-3 in the 8th, Tom Haller hits a 2 run homer off of Bob Duliba, we win 6-3.  LA wins too.  4 games left - still down 2.

1964-off day, 3.5 out, 8 left

1965-we lose to the Braves, the Dodgers win - so they catch us with 6 games left.  We had runners on the corners with 1 out in the 9th, trailing by a run, but couldn't score it.

1966 at Atlanta, better result against the Braves a year later - we're 4 out with 7 left and win 8-2, Marichal throws a complete game, because of course he does, striking out 11, we get it going early with a 2 run McCovey homer in the first.  Unfortunately, just like '62 and '65, we're trailing the Dodgers and as in those years they win.  We're still 4 back now with 6 games to play.

1969 at Los Angeles, we aren't chasing LA in '69, but we are in second, 1.5 behind the Braves with 6 to play.  Gaylord throws a complete game 4 hitter, we win 2-1, getting both runs on a first inning Bobby Bonds single off of Don Sutton.  The Braves win.  5 left, still 1.5 back.

1971 at Cincinnati, this time the Dodgers are stalking us, they've made up 7 games in 3 weeks and come in 1 back with 4 left.  Juan Marichal throws a complete game, BECAUSE OF COURSE HE DOES, we get 17 hits and a dozen runs, the big shot a Dick Dietz grand slam off of Wayne Granger to give us a 7-2 lead in the 5th. 12-5 is the final.  LA wins.  We're 1 up with 3 left.

1982 at Los Angeles, we've cut 11 games off the lead in a dramatic late season push (even more dramatic as we hadn't seen the postseason in 11 years). We're 2 back with 8 left and trying to sweep the first place Dodgers in LA...and we do.  We do!  We scored all of our runs in the 5th - Jack Clark broke a scoreless tie with a double off Burt Hooten - and then Darrell Evans hit a two run homer.  We win this one 3-2.  We are tied with the Braves, both of us 1 game back with 7 left.  1982!!!!!!!

1987-we lose to the Braves, but the Reds lose, we stay up 7 games now with 8 to play.

1989-we lose to the Dodgers, the Padres win, we're 4 up with 4 to play.

1990-we beat the Padres 7-6 but are eliminated anyway when the Reds win.  Matt Williams had 10 total bases in this one.

1993 home vs. Padres, we've won 8 of 9 and are 1.5 behind the Braves with 8 left, Bill Swift goes 8, gives up just 3 hits, we're down 1-0 in the 4th and Barry Bonds hits a 2 run homer off of Doug Brocail. We win our 9th in 10 games, 5-2.  The Braves win again, with 7 left the deficit is still 1.5

So, just before this winning streak, of course, was when we lost the season, we dropped 8 straight at home and gave up 7 games to the Braves during the stretch (3.5 up to 3.5 down).

9-7 lost to Pirates, up 3-2 with 2 out in the 8th, Michael Jackson gave up a 2 run homer to Don Slaught.

9-9 lost to Cards, Jim DeShaies started, didn't get out of the second, the Cards then got 6 in the the 6th and beat us 9-4

9-10 lost to Cards, this was the day they caught us, we had been alone in first every day for four months, we were up 2-1 with 2 out in the 7th, Tom Pagnozzi hit a 2 run double off Salomon Torres and we lose 6-2.

9-11 lost to Cards, we got 12 hits and only gave up 6 - but still lost 3-1.

9-12 lost to Cards, a 4 game series sweep at the Stick that dropped us to second place, we were down 4-2 in the 7th, one on, nobody out, Todd Burns got Mark Carreon to line into a double play and our best chance was done.

9-13 lost to Cubs, we were down 6-2, but got one in each of the last 3 innings to cut it to 6-5, but Carreon was left at second as Randy Myers struck out Steve Hosey.

9-14 lost to the Cubs, Jose Bautista five hit us.  So, there's that.

9-15, it ended here, the Cubs swept us at home, we got 4 hits.

We were then down 3.5 but that was 11 days ago.  It's 1.5 now with 7 left.

1997 home vs. Padres, it's one of those years where the Dodgers are chasing us, we're 2 up with 3 left and we murder the Padres 17-4. We get 18 hits, Bonds homers, Kent homers and doubles, Darryl Hamilton and Jose Vizcaino each get 3 hits. Kent's 3 run first inning homer got it going.  LA wins - so with 2 games to play we have a 2 game lead.

1998 at Colorado, we're in a 3 way tie for the WC spot with 2 to play, we get 15 hits and 8 runs at Coors and take care of business.  Bonds, Kent and Javier each get 3 hits, a 2 run Charlie Hayes homer gave us a 5-1 lead in the 4th. We win 8-4 - the Cubs also win, so with 1 day left in the season we remain in a WC tie.

2000- NL West Champs (clinched 9-21)

2001 at Los Angeles, playing the Dodgers but chasing Arizona, 1.5 out with 10 to go, we were down 3-2 in the 8th, but JT Snow tied it with a run scoring single, that lead was short lived, we were down 4-3 going to the 9th - an Aurilia double/Santiago sac fly tied the score - and we won the game on a 2 out, 2 run John Vander Wal base hit off of Jesse Orosco.  We win 6-4, Arizona wins, we remain 1.5 out with 9 to play.

2002 off day, 3 up in WC with 3 left.

2003- NL West Champs (clinched 9-17)

2004 we lose to the Dodgers, fall 2.5 out in the West, remain half a game out in the WC, 6 games left - this run from '97-'04 is our best baseball since the '60s, those two stretches stand alone in San Francisco history for sustained regular season excellence.

2005 at San Diego, we're under .500 but on a good roll and have pulled to 4 behind the first place Padres with 7 to play. We're down 2-1 with 2 out in the 9th, Trevor Hoffman looking to put a nail in our 2005 coffin, but Randy Winn triples home the tying run and then JT Snow singles home the go ahead.  Brad Hennessey and 4 relievers combine on a 3 hitter and we're now 3 games out of first with 6 to go.

2009 - the Cubs beat us at home, we're 5 out of the WC with 7 left.

2010 at Colorado, we've spent the past 10 days moving in and out of first place - we're a half game out coming into this one with 7 to go.  Main Cain goes into Coors and throws a 3 hit complete game (he had a no hitter into the 8th) strikes out 8, walks just one. Up 4-2 in the 9th, with Troy Tulowitzki the tying run at the plate, Cain got him to pop up and then struck out Jason Giambi to finish it off.  San Diego lost - so with 6 games to play we moved back into first place in the West by a half game.

2012 - NL West Champs (clinched 9-22)

2014 - NL Wild Card (clinched 9-25)



2015 at Oakland - we beat the A's 14-10 to stay alive in the West, 7 out with 8 to play. We were down 10-7 through 6, got 2 in the 7th - caught the A's in the 8th, and then put them away with a 2 out Jarrett Parker grand slam off Ryan Dull that gave us the 14-10 final margin of victory.  Parker hit 3 homers, had 7 RBI on the day.  Tim Hudson started against Barry Zito in a battle of two old Oakland arms.

2016 - off day, the Cards lose so we're 1 up for the last WC spot with 6 left.

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!

September 25 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

Yesterday

What is this all about?

Hey, it's my birthday.  Let's see how we've played on every 9-25.

'58-off day, eliminated
'59-off day, 2.5 out, 3 to play
'60-at Los Angeles, the first Giants game on 9-25 was a decade before I was born, we were long since eliminated, but beat the Dodgers 13-9 at the Coliseum (1-0)
'61-at Philadelphia, again, this game doesn't matter as we're eliminated, we get 18 hits, Mike McCormick throws a complete game, we win 10-2 (2-0)

1962 home vs. Cards, this team, of course, is in a season long by gawd pennant race with LA, we come in 3 out with 6 left, only 10,000 paid at the Stick on a Thursday night, Jack Sanford throws a complete game, Orlando Cepeda breaks a 1-1 tie in the 6th with a base hit off of Ernie Broglio, we win 4-2.  The Dodgers lose - we cut the deficit to 2 with 5 games remaining.  (3-0)

'63-we lose 6-4 to the Phillies in a game that didn't matter. (3-1)

1964 at Chicago, we come in 4.5 out with 9 to play and slice a game off the deficit, barely over 1000 paid at Wrigley on a Friday afternoon, only 7 combined hits in this one, almost as many errors (5) as hits, Gaylord throws a complete game, Tom Haller broke a scoreless tie with a 7th inning homer off Bob Buhl.  We win 3-1.  Meanwhile - the Phillies lose, we're 3.5 out with 8 to go.  (4-1)

1965 home vs. Braves, we come in 1 up with 8 left and beat Milwaukee 7-5, a Len Gabrielson two run single gave us a 4-1 second inning lead.  LA also wins.  Our lead stays at 1, 7 to go.  (5-1)

'66-we lose to Houston 5-4, LA also loses, we stay 4 back with 7 games left.  (5-2)
'67 at New York, we're out of the race but walk off the Mets in this one, Jim Ray Hart singles home the winning run in the 10th. (6-2)
'68-we lose to Houston in a meaningless game (6-3)
'69-off day, we're 1.5 back with 6 to go.
'70-hey, look here, the day I was born, thanks 1970, we lost a meaningless game to the Padres (6-4)
'71-we lose to the Reds, the Dodgers win - our lead is down to 1 game with 4 to play (6-5)
'72-off day

'73-we lose a meaningless game to the Astros (6-6)
'74-we lose a meaningless game to the Padres (6-7)
'75-we lose a meaningless game to the Padres (6-8)
'76-home vs. Astros, it's my 6th birthday and we finally get one, it doesn't matter, but we beat Houston 10-0 in front of an intimate 2400 person Saturday afternoon crowd at the Stick, Jim Barr throws a complete game and hits a triple.  (7-8)
'77-we lose a meaningless game to San Diego (7-9)
'78-off day
'79-the Dodgers just crush us in a meaningless game (7-10).  Not for nothing, we had six wins before I was born and since - just the one and I'm now 9.
'80-at LA, we get another one, the game doesn't matter but we beat the Dodgers 3-2, Joe Pettini has 3 hits. (8-10)
'81-we were eliminated the day before, but we go to San Diego and shut out the Padres 3-0, Al Holland goes 8, gives up 5 hits.  (9-10)

1982 at Los Angeles, it took 11 years, but we play a September 25 game that matters, this '82 team has climbed from the grave, down 13 in early August but we come into this one just 3 off the lead and playing the first place Dodgers.  Saturday afternoon, sold out Dodger Stadium for my 12th birthday. It's just great - we're down 3-2 in the 7th when Joe Morgan triples home the tying run off of Fernando. They come back immediately and we're down again, 4-3 in the 8th - and we come back again, Chili ties it with a single off of Fernando and it's 4-4.  Morgan's next - and he drives home the go ahead run off of Terry Forster.  5-4 is your final - your San Francisco Giants are now only 2 games out of first place with 8 games left.  2 games!  1982!  Happy birthday!  (10-10).

'83-we shut out the Astros in a meaningless game, Scott Garrelts throws a complete game 5 hitter and beats Nolan Ryan (Knepper and LaCoss both in relief for Houston).  (11-10)
'84-we win again, it's five years straight, this one is a meaningless game against the Padres, 4-3 (12-10)
'85-we're 30 games out, which is fantastic, and we lose to the Padres (12-11)
'86-on my 16th birthday we got no hit by Mike Scott.  (12-12)

1987 at Atlanta, we come in 7 games up with 10 left and beat the Braves, Mike Krukow goes 8 and wins the game with a tiebreaking base hit in the 6th inning off Rick Mahler.  We win 9-2. The Reds win, we're 7 up with 9 to play. (13-12)

'88-we shut out the Dodgers 2-0, Dennis Cook throws a complete game 2 hitter.  (14-12)
'89-we lose to the Dodgers, the Padres also lose, we stay 5 games up with 5 left to play. (14-13)

1990 home vs. Padres, we're on our last breaths but still drawing them, we were up 3-1 in the 8th, Mark Dewey put two on with nobody out, but then got Jack Clark to pop up and a Joe Carter double play to end the inning.  We win 3-1 and move 7.5 out with 7 left (the Reds have 8 left).  (15-13)

'91-we beat Houston 2-1 on my 21st birthday, up 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th, Houston had the winning run at the plate, but Jeff Brantley got Andujar Cedeno to fly to center to end the game. (16-13)
'92-we lose to the Reds (16-14)

1993 home vs. Padres, we've won 7 of 8 and come in 1.5 behind the Braves with 9 left, we keep the run going as I turn 23.  Salomon Torres goes 8, gives up just 3 hits - Barry hits 2 homers, we win 3-1. Atlanta wins - with 8 games to go, our deficit remains 1.5 (17-14).

'94-season ended awhile ago
'95-the Padres beat us in a meaningless game (17-15).
'96-the Dodgers beat us in a meaningless game (17-16)
'97-off day, we're 2 up with 3 left

1998 at Colorado we've won 7 of 8 and are 1 game out of the WC with 3 to play, pretty big game on my 28th birthday, we play nearly 4 hours at Coors, we came into the 6th down 5-3, but tied the score - and on a Joe Carter bases on balls we took a 6-5 lead and won 8-6. Rich Aurilia had 4 hits. We moved into a 3 way tie for the WC with 2 games left on the season.  Happy Birthday! (18-16)

'99-we lose a meaningless game to Arizona (18-17)
'00-off day, we clinched the West on 9-21
'01-we lose to the Dodgers, but Arizona also loses, so with 10 left we're still 1.5 out (18-18)

2002 home vs. Padres, we're 3 down in the West - but 3 up in the WC with only 4 games to go, on my 32nd birthday Livan Hernandez throws a complete game 2 hit shutout, we cruise 6-0.  Reggie Sanders hits 2 homers.  We stay 3 up in the WC with just 3 games left (and only 2 back in the West). (19-18)

'03-off day, we clinched the West on 9-17

2004 home vs. Dodgers, we come in 2.5 behind LA in the West, 1.5 out in the WC - 8 games left, sold out Pac Bell on Saturday afternoon on my 34th birthday, it's 5-5 in the 8th inning, 2 outs, bases loaded - and of all people, Pedro Feliz hits, of all things, a grand slam off of Yhency Brazoban - we win this one 9-5. We're now 1.5 out in the West, half a game out in the WC - 7 games left (20-18).

2005 at Colorado, we're under .500 but still alive, 5 out with 8 left coming in and then Matt Cain and 4 relievers 5 hit the Rockies. At 2-2 in the 9th, Julio Ramirez (who was an outfielder tha I do not remember) pinch singles the go ahead run off of Brian Fuentes. We win 6-2. Ramirez was a Giant for a dozen games, got just 4 plate appearances and this was his only hit. In fact, in a 5 year big league career Ramirez only got 16 hits and this was the last one.  We're 4 out with 7 left (21-18).

'06-we lose a meaningless game to the Diamondbacks (21-19)
'07-we lose a meaningless game to the Padres (21-20)
'08-we lose a meaningless game to the Rockies (21-21)
'09-the Cubs shut us out, we're now 5 out of the WC with 8 to play. (21-22)
'10-the Rockies walk us off, a Tulowitzki double in the bottom of the 10th off Brian Wilson beats us, the Padres win so that's a big loss as we fall out of first place, we're now a half game out in the West (and tied in the WC) with 7 games left in the season (21-23).  That's a tough run of birthdays for the now 40 year old Jividen.
'11-we lose again, a meaningless game to Arizona (21-24)
'12-another loss to Arizona, fortunately we clinched the West 3 days prior (21-25)
'13- hey, we win one, it doesn't matter, but we beat the Dodgers on my 43rd birthday 6-4. Tony Abreu had 4 RBI.  (22-25)



2014 home vs. Padres it took until my 44th birthday, but look what happens here - we come in 4 up in the WC with 4 to go - and we beat the Padres to clinch the spot (we actually clinched earlier in the day when Milwaukee lost).  We had to come back, we blew a 6 run lead, went down 8-6, then scored 3 in the 7th. 8 Giants pitchers in this one, including a relief appearance by Tim Lincecum. 8-8 in the 7th, Matt Duffy bunts home the go ahead run off Nick Vincent.  We win 9-8 and clinch a Wild Card spot.  (23-25)

2015 we lose to Oakland, we're 8 back with 9 left (23-26)

2016 lost to Padres, we're half up for the last WC spot with 6 to play (23-27)

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!