For the first time this season, and that I can remember, the Giants had six out of nine starters under the age of 29, thanks to the Giants sending up three new Fresno sensations. The starters' ages for today are as follows:
Velez: 26
Ochoa: 26
Rohlinger: 25
Ishikawa: 25
Sandoval: 22
Correia: 28
Lewis got in during the 2nd inning as well, for Rowand. Notice please from the list above that the oldest is the starting pitcher; all the rest are position players. If you count Burriss who was on the bench today, this means that we have six position players aged 26 or under. This lineup shocks, is far overdue, and therefore worth the majority of the post itself. The possibility of winning is not worth even a good portion, since you've seen what we're doing in Houston already, and apparently the Astros had won 7 in a row, and were 17-8 since the All-Star Break.
What else can I say when the Giants got two runs in the top of the 1st? Velez-Ochoa-Ishikawa also turned a DP in the bottom of the 1st. Velez himself got two 2-out singles, that eventually led to runs. Even Sandoval, who didn't have a notable game offensively, was great for sacrifice contact. Ochoa and Rohlinger hit hard as well, and were simply robbed by great defense out of the Houston 2B.
The problem, since there naturally has to be one, was Correia's lack of control; it's mostly mental. So, in my mind I sense that he pitches like Zito: the minute the other team gets any kind of momentum at all, he relies completely on the defense and his pitches get all kinds of off-center. We had a 2-0 and 3-1 leads, but Correia blew that by the 3rd inning. In the 4th, Ochoa made a "fantabulous" DP by running to the bag and then throwing to Ishikawa while rolling to the ground. Proof of this Zito Effect for Correia: after that play, he struck a batter out.
In the 6th, Lewis (replacing Rowand earlier in the game) hit a HR and then Ishikawa finally settled the nerves and had a standup double, although he did keep from advancing easily. I'm not really sure what to say about Correia, except that he usually has trouble in the middle of his starts, but does quite well after the first troubling inning. He retired eight batters in a row, and had only 79 pitches through six full innings.
Velez was robbed of another up-the-middle hit because the ball hit the pitcher and bounced perfectly to the 2B. Otherwise, we didn't have much to speak of on the Astro bullpen. But I'll tell you this: these kids must feel for each other, because Ochoa made a diving catch to save the tying run on 3B in the bottom of the 7th. He was barely there, too; just as so many of our batters had been robbed. The defense for our team is stellar, whether young or old. Without question. Except for Sandoval. I'm glad he's in, but I wonder why Holm was sent down, because although Sandoval had a few sacrifice hits, the unfortunate thing about him is that he had two passed balls. Both of those PBs made things very difficult. Bochy has told the players that he doesn't mind them making mistakes after just coming up, which I think is a good attitude; relaxed players do better anyway. Of course, you know that relaxing only does so much. Like when Taschner came in to face a lefty, instead of leaving Correia in, and ended up with a one-pitch single - giving up the lead. Correia wouldn't get the win. Taschner threw just the one pitch. Yabu got out of the inning.
In the 8th, Ishi walked. That was it. When Yabu gave up a leadoff single, he was replaced by Hinshaw. In two pitches, Hinshaw gave up a HR to Berkman. Granted that the pitch wasn't bad, such an outing isn't normal for Alex, Berkman is strong, and this park favors Berkman's strength... but the game was pretty much up at that point. It was clear that the management thought so at least, because they put Walker in, who of course gave up yet another run. Ochoa made a nice play to Velez to finish the inning, but Jon and Dave had to joke about Michael Bourn's Class-A hitting performance by calling him "The Bourn Out" to make this inning an honest laugher. Which leaves the primary positive for the game the same as it should have been all year: "Yay For Youth."
FINAL: 7-4, Houston.
We were swept.
Hope B.S. wept.
-MSH
Showing posts with label Correia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Correia. Show all posts
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Sunday, August 3, 2008
The Nats Stand Alone
Today it was Correia against Maddux. I like Maddux, and respect his knowledge of the game, but the chance for a sweep looked good to me after discovering that his last win had come after a 14-game winless streak. Not that this is any better, or out of range, for the backend of our pitching staff. The expectations for the two sides were proven similar, and fulfilled, at plenty of points. The fact that it was mainly a pitcher's game is hard to state, but it was a fact. And by now, one almost has to expect it to survive a season.
I will say, however, that such a chance for a sweep was corroborated at first by the 1st inning, surprise-surprise. Roberts popped up, yes, but Burriss was then HBP and stole 2B easily. A single by Winn scored Burriss easily as well; this kid's speed is unreal. We led 1-0 after Molina grounded in to a DP.
Correia got the first two batters to pop up, but walked Giles and had a long count on Gonzalez. However, he did make Gonzalez look bad on a bad swing in the AB, and Burriss handled the ground out: easily.
Maddux was showing signs of errancy in the 2nd as well, and the only reason why Rowand struck out is because he couldn't smack a hanging breaking ball. I think that says enough about Aaron on this trip, honestly; but one man, a team does not make.
The same goes for Correia, but he did manage to hit someone and walk the subsequent batter. He had two outs, no one on and the seventh-placed batter up when this began. Naturally, then, Correia nearly walked Maddux, and then because of a fat pitch allowed Maddux only his fourth hit of the year, which tied the game for S.D. Correia finally got out of it on a changeup, but couldn't help his own cause when coming to bat in the top of the 3rd.
Roberts did single, and stole 2B on Maddux, because Maddux gave Bard no chance to throw him out; but Burriss had a rare normal moment and grounded out to end the inning. In the bottom of the 3rd, Correia was thankful Petco is a pitcher's park, because both of the first two outs were deep fly outs. Gonzalez struck out after long count.
Nothing in the 4th to speak of for the offense, naturally, but Correia's fourth was more solid: three straight outs, the last of which being a strikeout on three straight pitches. Too bad Maddux's top of the 5th was exactly the same. And the 6th.
Not so for Corriea. His slider was both a good night's rest and a small dog's constant yap in the evening. A leadoff double to Giles; a BB to Gonzalez. Kevin caught a break because Bowker caught a ball in foul territory on a good effort. Correia walked the Headley, the killer, and a sac fly lost the tie. Aaron Rowand made up for his offense all series (almost - maybe just his offense all day) with a fantastic diving catch to end the damage; end of six: 2-1, SD.
Proof of Maddux's possibly last year came when, after just six innings and a lead of any kind, he was pulled for Mike Adams. Adams has been decent, but that still doesn't hide the fact that Greg has regularly been out after at least six innings most of the year. Not saying he's bad - he'll be a first-ballot HOF player for sure - just that it's time to consider retirement, win or no win. Rowand managed a BB with two outs, something that made me think his offensive bad luck would end - which should communicate the obvious. But poor Bowker struck out to get to the 7th Stretch.
Correia got his necessary out in the 7th, but Hinshaw was put in immediately following. Hinshaw had 33 appearances, and when he's good, he's near perfect. When he's good. He looked that way getting a strike on the first pitch, at least. The hanging curveball on the fifth pitch did not. A double came off of that pitch, and a two out single by Giles, of course, scored that run. A further example of Giants' playing luck today, the inning ended when the batter struckout, but Molina decided to throw out Giles stealing, even though it was unknowingly unnecessary.
Aurilia led the 8th off with a bloop single, although if he was a runner anymore it could have been a double. But we'll take it. In a good judgment, Lewis became a PH for Vizquel next. Lewis' eye improved, and seemed to draw a BB on four pitches, but even he couldn't believe the fourth pitch was a ball. And that may have tipped the umpire to "change" his mind quickly, because the "ball" was called a strike, and Lewis would walk on the sixth pitch, instead of the fourth. Velez came up as PH next, showing bunt but not committing. A well-hit pop instead would have been a sac fly, but again Richie doesn't run and wouldn't have made it anyway. A strikeout next. To end it, Burriss almost beat the throw, and two men were left.
Matos took over in the 8th, and wasted a few pitches before giving up a HR to Kouzmanoff. That's right, the same guy that has hit DP balls for us all series and botched plays on the defensive side as well. He got a HR. 420 ft. Matos did get out of the inning, but without any hope gained, and whatever hope remained completely lost.
In the 9th, Winn did run out a routine grounder that Kouzmanoff botched (see above paragraph for the expectations about that). Randy was basically allowed to steal, and Molina almost hit him in save for a stellar play in CF to catch a liner that tailed away from the player. Matching play quality from a diving catch by Giles couldn't advance Winn farther than 3B, although Rowand's offensive power seemed to almost return by the power on the ball. Bowker's strikeout allowed Winn to enjoy the view from the left-corner base. The Nats stand alone as the only team we've swept all year. Hence the title.
FINAL: 4-1, SD. We finished the current road trip 3-3, scoring just an average of just over two runs a game. It's absolutely fantastic that we didn't finish it 1-5, or even 0-6. Given the scores and how we won those three games, that rationale is not irrational in the slightest.
All I'm going to say is this:
Last night, Cole was wearing his jersey. Today, he wasn't even interested in his hat.
-MSH
I will say, however, that such a chance for a sweep was corroborated at first by the 1st inning, surprise-surprise. Roberts popped up, yes, but Burriss was then HBP and stole 2B easily. A single by Winn scored Burriss easily as well; this kid's speed is unreal. We led 1-0 after Molina grounded in to a DP.
Correia got the first two batters to pop up, but walked Giles and had a long count on Gonzalez. However, he did make Gonzalez look bad on a bad swing in the AB, and Burriss handled the ground out: easily.
Maddux was showing signs of errancy in the 2nd as well, and the only reason why Rowand struck out is because he couldn't smack a hanging breaking ball. I think that says enough about Aaron on this trip, honestly; but one man, a team does not make.
The same goes for Correia, but he did manage to hit someone and walk the subsequent batter. He had two outs, no one on and the seventh-placed batter up when this began. Naturally, then, Correia nearly walked Maddux, and then because of a fat pitch allowed Maddux only his fourth hit of the year, which tied the game for S.D. Correia finally got out of it on a changeup, but couldn't help his own cause when coming to bat in the top of the 3rd.
Roberts did single, and stole 2B on Maddux, because Maddux gave Bard no chance to throw him out; but Burriss had a rare normal moment and grounded out to end the inning. In the bottom of the 3rd, Correia was thankful Petco is a pitcher's park, because both of the first two outs were deep fly outs. Gonzalez struck out after long count.
Nothing in the 4th to speak of for the offense, naturally, but Correia's fourth was more solid: three straight outs, the last of which being a strikeout on three straight pitches. Too bad Maddux's top of the 5th was exactly the same. And the 6th.
Not so for Corriea. His slider was both a good night's rest and a small dog's constant yap in the evening. A leadoff double to Giles; a BB to Gonzalez. Kevin caught a break because Bowker caught a ball in foul territory on a good effort. Correia walked the Headley, the killer, and a sac fly lost the tie. Aaron Rowand made up for his offense all series (almost - maybe just his offense all day) with a fantastic diving catch to end the damage; end of six: 2-1, SD.
Proof of Maddux's possibly last year came when, after just six innings and a lead of any kind, he was pulled for Mike Adams. Adams has been decent, but that still doesn't hide the fact that Greg has regularly been out after at least six innings most of the year. Not saying he's bad - he'll be a first-ballot HOF player for sure - just that it's time to consider retirement, win or no win. Rowand managed a BB with two outs, something that made me think his offensive bad luck would end - which should communicate the obvious. But poor Bowker struck out to get to the 7th Stretch.
Correia got his necessary out in the 7th, but Hinshaw was put in immediately following. Hinshaw had 33 appearances, and when he's good, he's near perfect. When he's good. He looked that way getting a strike on the first pitch, at least. The hanging curveball on the fifth pitch did not. A double came off of that pitch, and a two out single by Giles, of course, scored that run. A further example of Giants' playing luck today, the inning ended when the batter struckout, but Molina decided to throw out Giles stealing, even though it was unknowingly unnecessary.
Aurilia led the 8th off with a bloop single, although if he was a runner anymore it could have been a double. But we'll take it. In a good judgment, Lewis became a PH for Vizquel next. Lewis' eye improved, and seemed to draw a BB on four pitches, but even he couldn't believe the fourth pitch was a ball. And that may have tipped the umpire to "change" his mind quickly, because the "ball" was called a strike, and Lewis would walk on the sixth pitch, instead of the fourth. Velez came up as PH next, showing bunt but not committing. A well-hit pop instead would have been a sac fly, but again Richie doesn't run and wouldn't have made it anyway. A strikeout next. To end it, Burriss almost beat the throw, and two men were left.
Matos took over in the 8th, and wasted a few pitches before giving up a HR to Kouzmanoff. That's right, the same guy that has hit DP balls for us all series and botched plays on the defensive side as well. He got a HR. 420 ft. Matos did get out of the inning, but without any hope gained, and whatever hope remained completely lost.
In the 9th, Winn did run out a routine grounder that Kouzmanoff botched (see above paragraph for the expectations about that). Randy was basically allowed to steal, and Molina almost hit him in save for a stellar play in CF to catch a liner that tailed away from the player. Matching play quality from a diving catch by Giles couldn't advance Winn farther than 3B, although Rowand's offensive power seemed to almost return by the power on the ball. Bowker's strikeout allowed Winn to enjoy the view from the left-corner base. The Nats stand alone as the only team we've swept all year. Hence the title.
FINAL: 4-1, SD. We finished the current road trip 3-3, scoring just an average of just over two runs a game. It's absolutely fantastic that we didn't finish it 1-5, or even 0-6. Given the scores and how we won those three games, that rationale is not irrational in the slightest.
All I'm going to say is this:
Last night, Cole was wearing his jersey. Today, he wasn't even interested in his hat.
-MSH
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
How (And How Not) To Get It Done
S.F. is now 1 for 1 when I am at Dodger Stadium. For those who like it straight-up, here's the box and wrap. Thank you; I am quite proud of them, myself. Hence the title.
But the title also implies how not to get things done. And what I was not proud of, visibly and vocally (in an explanative, not expletive, fashion), was further proof of my "(mis)management conspiracy" theory to throw this team into the Bay with player rotation. In addition to Ralph Barbieri's fantastic tirade this afternoon which furthered my post on Lincecum's removal Saturday, I got to witness first-hand what Bochy's idiocy means for this team. More on that later.
We can allow a little indulgence into the good of the game itself, but it was honestly a weird game. Strange. Had a humid "feel" to it's weirdness. First of all, we scored seven runs without first allowing the Dodgers a hit. I was feeling proud of Kevin Correia. Especially since our own run seemed to start when he got a two-run single himself with two outs, after Vizquel struck out chasing (bad) sliders.
I was also feeling proud of the umpires from a biased point of view, because there were three consecutive, very close calls in a row that kept our run-streak alive in the fourth: a plate tag (couldn't see it), Lewis beating a throw at first (did see it and it looked a tie, which means I functionally didn't see it), and Ethier's "catch" in RF hitting the ground before his glove (which I couldn't see for other people in the way). After those were done, we played a contact-hitting game. This is really the only way we score, and it explains why we score in bunches. Think of it like the baseball equivalent to bopping squirrels on the head at an arcade. It's frenzied, and it's erratic, but you get on a roll.
However after the run amazement, and the umpiring amazement (which was not done for the night), came the necessary growing pains of our youth. In the fourth, we almost gave up a run. Bochy left Correia in. OK, maybe. Then in the fifth, the Dodgers actually scored five runs, with no one out. Righetti talks to Correia after the second run comes in. Nice talk. Lewis misfielded what should have been a single, making it a two run double.
Then on a bunt, Bowker starts towards the ball. Too bad the ball had only gone six inches - an easy play for Molina. Except Bowker wasn't at first, and because he was moving back while Molina had the ball, Castillo didn't know whether to stand at first or not. Bowker decided that for him by backing off but too late, and Molina threw it. Why? Who knows. But Castillo, who should have been there to back Bowker up anyway, was not in place for it and lost it entirely. Did I mention that earlier in the inning, Castillo had made an erroneous throw to let Loney on base in the first place? Let me say this: You shouldn't be surprised.
Given that Correia was still in at this point, the following is the second piece of evidence for the mismanagement theory: Castillo at 2B. Excuse me, but you already have Bowker to play 1B, and Rich Aurilia to play at 3B, and sometimes 1B. Castillo can split time at 3B, though everyone in their right mind prefers Richie, which they should. (He was one of the only consistent areas of hope on both sides of the ball tonight - he hit when he had to and fielded where it would be necessary to make the best play. And of course he still has the right spirit about him on the field: gritty, versatile, calculating, and unsung.) The point here is that you've just freed Durham so that Burriss and Velez can grow out of their youth. Castillo has no place at 2B, ever.
The third piece of evidence, and the rest of it actually, is pitching. After giving up five runs in the fifth, Bochy left Correia in to bat, and then in to get one out in the sixth. This was insane; when Correia left, a runner was on second and it was 7-6. Bochy gained nothing by leaving Correia in, except another way to self-destruct his team.
Fourth piece of evidence: bringing in Hinshaw, who has the best ERA in the 'pen, to face one batter. Yes, Hinshaw walked him; yes, lefty-to-lefty is a good matchup; but this was the bottom of the sixth. Let the man finish it out. Romo did that instead, and awkwardly. Romo did not return.
Instead (the fifth piece), Walker was given the ball in the seventh. Yes, Mr.-Blow-It. Did we have luck? Fortunately, yes. But the first out was a mistaken swing at a bad pitch in the dirt, the second out was a fly out, and the third out was Rowand at the track. Kent's hit for that out looked gone to me immediately. Toward any other place in that park except dead-center, it would be. Walker did not do that smoothly, at all.
Then came the fun (no more evidence for this game). Taschner is now the setup man, apparently, and so got the ball in the eighth. (By now, of course, the Giant offense had committed to its default attitude of forcing the pitching to win the game - I believe it possible that we were hitless for the last 5 1/3 innings.) The best out was the second one, because newcomer Casey Blake was called out on a check swing. Now, I don't have a problem with Dodger fans wanting to see it as a bad call; I understand it. But Blake both crossed the plate with his bat, and had his bat angled towards the pitcher - even if just for a split-second, either of those things counts. Blake had done both. I won't argue it, but I was looking right at it, from the first base side, perpendicular to the right face of the plate. Blake argued it, because it was appealed to the 1B umpire, and after going into the dugout was then thrown out for God-knows-what by the home plate umpire. Blake ran from the dugout to the 1B umpire, for a moment as if it were an impending brawl. Welcome to the rivalry, Mr. Casey-At-The-Bat.
Then Torre was there with him; soon - and also inevitably - Torre was thrown out. I understand that you need to stand up for your players, and argue, but getting thrown out when you still have a (very) realistic chance at winning apart from a possible (but not actual) bad call is a huge mistake. The Dodgers never recovered from it, though Torre left to a standing ovation.
Something to further the weirdness was the arrest and manhandling of an errant and surprising fan by four or five security officers, who had to follow the man into the Giants' dugout. It was actually a bit frightening. We were on the 1B side, as I mentioned, and it was an absolute treat to see the boys in orange that close again (the first time in years, actually, because of the proximity to the dugout itself). But it also gave a great view for the man getting cuffed and carried out like a hot dog, being held face-down and parallel to the ground. I have no clue what he wanted, but he had a black jacket on and if he was a S.F. fan, that's completely uncalled for. I can understand if a Dodger fan gets in there because, hey, it's rivalry. But don't do that to your own team when they're losing a huge lead and just barely hanging onto it.
There was also the incident with Vizquel tossing his hat from the dugout to a lucky guy in the premiere box. This poor man then had it taken from him by a security guard so that Vizquel, obviously a little confused, had to give the man a ball instead. What, a player's hat is illegal to give out? Why? "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize that could encourage a fan to keep being devoted to the game; I'll make sure not to do that ever again." What's next, no baseballs tossed to fans? I already miss the old-school gray on the under-bill of the cap, for autographing. Idiocy, everywhere. I don't get it.
But all is well that ends well. Brian Wilson is the workhorse of this team right now, without question. At least in his attitude. Aurilia has the attitude, and Lincecum and Cain have it by-default, but Wilson has it every day: the stonefire eyes, the chiseled stance, the passion, tenacity, and hardcore intensity that we've not seen since Nen, and perhaps Beck. For God's sake, the man threw one inning, struck out two, threw over 80% of his pitches for strikes, and hit 100mph or more on the radar at least five times. The man's a human animal.
I love it. I may even adopt his facial hair pattern.
-MSH
But the title also implies how not to get things done. And what I was not proud of, visibly and vocally (in an explanative, not expletive, fashion), was further proof of my "(mis)management conspiracy" theory to throw this team into the Bay with player rotation. In addition to Ralph Barbieri's fantastic tirade this afternoon which furthered my post on Lincecum's removal Saturday, I got to witness first-hand what Bochy's idiocy means for this team. More on that later.
We can allow a little indulgence into the good of the game itself, but it was honestly a weird game. Strange. Had a humid "feel" to it's weirdness. First of all, we scored seven runs without first allowing the Dodgers a hit. I was feeling proud of Kevin Correia. Especially since our own run seemed to start when he got a two-run single himself with two outs, after Vizquel struck out chasing (bad) sliders.
I was also feeling proud of the umpires from a biased point of view, because there were three consecutive, very close calls in a row that kept our run-streak alive in the fourth: a plate tag (couldn't see it), Lewis beating a throw at first (did see it and it looked a tie, which means I functionally didn't see it), and Ethier's "catch" in RF hitting the ground before his glove (which I couldn't see for other people in the way). After those were done, we played a contact-hitting game. This is really the only way we score, and it explains why we score in bunches. Think of it like the baseball equivalent to bopping squirrels on the head at an arcade. It's frenzied, and it's erratic, but you get on a roll.
However after the run amazement, and the umpiring amazement (which was not done for the night), came the necessary growing pains of our youth. In the fourth, we almost gave up a run. Bochy left Correia in. OK, maybe. Then in the fifth, the Dodgers actually scored five runs, with no one out. Righetti talks to Correia after the second run comes in. Nice talk. Lewis misfielded what should have been a single, making it a two run double.
Then on a bunt, Bowker starts towards the ball. Too bad the ball had only gone six inches - an easy play for Molina. Except Bowker wasn't at first, and because he was moving back while Molina had the ball, Castillo didn't know whether to stand at first or not. Bowker decided that for him by backing off but too late, and Molina threw it. Why? Who knows. But Castillo, who should have been there to back Bowker up anyway, was not in place for it and lost it entirely. Did I mention that earlier in the inning, Castillo had made an erroneous throw to let Loney on base in the first place? Let me say this: You shouldn't be surprised.
Given that Correia was still in at this point, the following is the second piece of evidence for the mismanagement theory: Castillo at 2B. Excuse me, but you already have Bowker to play 1B, and Rich Aurilia to play at 3B, and sometimes 1B. Castillo can split time at 3B, though everyone in their right mind prefers Richie, which they should. (He was one of the only consistent areas of hope on both sides of the ball tonight - he hit when he had to and fielded where it would be necessary to make the best play. And of course he still has the right spirit about him on the field: gritty, versatile, calculating, and unsung.) The point here is that you've just freed Durham so that Burriss and Velez can grow out of their youth. Castillo has no place at 2B, ever.
The third piece of evidence, and the rest of it actually, is pitching. After giving up five runs in the fifth, Bochy left Correia in to bat, and then in to get one out in the sixth. This was insane; when Correia left, a runner was on second and it was 7-6. Bochy gained nothing by leaving Correia in, except another way to self-destruct his team.
Fourth piece of evidence: bringing in Hinshaw, who has the best ERA in the 'pen, to face one batter. Yes, Hinshaw walked him; yes, lefty-to-lefty is a good matchup; but this was the bottom of the sixth. Let the man finish it out. Romo did that instead, and awkwardly. Romo did not return.
Instead (the fifth piece), Walker was given the ball in the seventh. Yes, Mr.-Blow-It. Did we have luck? Fortunately, yes. But the first out was a mistaken swing at a bad pitch in the dirt, the second out was a fly out, and the third out was Rowand at the track. Kent's hit for that out looked gone to me immediately. Toward any other place in that park except dead-center, it would be. Walker did not do that smoothly, at all.
Then came the fun (no more evidence for this game). Taschner is now the setup man, apparently, and so got the ball in the eighth. (By now, of course, the Giant offense had committed to its default attitude of forcing the pitching to win the game - I believe it possible that we were hitless for the last 5 1/3 innings.) The best out was the second one, because newcomer Casey Blake was called out on a check swing. Now, I don't have a problem with Dodger fans wanting to see it as a bad call; I understand it. But Blake both crossed the plate with his bat, and had his bat angled towards the pitcher - even if just for a split-second, either of those things counts. Blake had done both. I won't argue it, but I was looking right at it, from the first base side, perpendicular to the right face of the plate. Blake argued it, because it was appealed to the 1B umpire, and after going into the dugout was then thrown out for God-knows-what by the home plate umpire. Blake ran from the dugout to the 1B umpire, for a moment as if it were an impending brawl. Welcome to the rivalry, Mr. Casey-At-The-Bat.
Then Torre was there with him; soon - and also inevitably - Torre was thrown out. I understand that you need to stand up for your players, and argue, but getting thrown out when you still have a (very) realistic chance at winning apart from a possible (but not actual) bad call is a huge mistake. The Dodgers never recovered from it, though Torre left to a standing ovation.
Something to further the weirdness was the arrest and manhandling of an errant and surprising fan by four or five security officers, who had to follow the man into the Giants' dugout. It was actually a bit frightening. We were on the 1B side, as I mentioned, and it was an absolute treat to see the boys in orange that close again (the first time in years, actually, because of the proximity to the dugout itself). But it also gave a great view for the man getting cuffed and carried out like a hot dog, being held face-down and parallel to the ground. I have no clue what he wanted, but he had a black jacket on and if he was a S.F. fan, that's completely uncalled for. I can understand if a Dodger fan gets in there because, hey, it's rivalry. But don't do that to your own team when they're losing a huge lead and just barely hanging onto it.
There was also the incident with Vizquel tossing his hat from the dugout to a lucky guy in the premiere box. This poor man then had it taken from him by a security guard so that Vizquel, obviously a little confused, had to give the man a ball instead. What, a player's hat is illegal to give out? Why? "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize that could encourage a fan to keep being devoted to the game; I'll make sure not to do that ever again." What's next, no baseballs tossed to fans? I already miss the old-school gray on the under-bill of the cap, for autographing. Idiocy, everywhere. I don't get it.
But all is well that ends well. Brian Wilson is the workhorse of this team right now, without question. At least in his attitude. Aurilia has the attitude, and Lincecum and Cain have it by-default, but Wilson has it every day: the stonefire eyes, the chiseled stance, the passion, tenacity, and hardcore intensity that we've not seen since Nen, and perhaps Beck. For God's sake, the man threw one inning, struck out two, threw over 80% of his pitches for strikes, and hit 100mph or more on the radar at least five times. The man's a human animal.
I love it. I may even adopt his facial hair pattern.
-MSH
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