The G-Men played atrocious baseball (in the sense it seemed they were always trying to dig out of holes they dug for themselves) immediately before the current brutal stretch heading into the All-Star break next week. Four home games against the Cubs looked winnable enough on paper, but the Cubs, while looking inept, still have lots of talent and are right in the thick of the Wild Card race with the Giants – so taking 3 out of 4 was a bonus. Then the three home games against the team from LA were exactly as difficult as we expected but we won two (and I was at the 11th-inning meltdown game – not a great night). The three road games against the Braves will be exactly as daunting as you expect (so winning the first game last night was cool). And if you’ve been living under a black-and-orange rock this season, the upcoming three road games this week against AL Central-leading Guardians (I still want to say Indians, but that is just not politically correct) may be the most difficult assignment in baseball this side of four road games against Cleveland. But, at the end of yesterday, we are in 3rd place in the division and 2 games under .500 – there is plenty of time to right the ship.

Willie Mays passed away at 93 while the Giants were playing a ball game, which was somehow fitting. There is plenty of press about Willie’s records and longevity in the game.  I was privileged to see him for the first time in 1958 (as a 12-year-old) at the old Seals stadium when the Giants moved out here from New York. He was a rock for the team at the plate and in the field. He struck fear in every pitcher he ever faced and smiled while doing it. The Hall of Fame credentials, the Presidential Medal, and countless other honors are great, but he will forever be enshrined in the hearts of every Giants fan for the boundless joy he brought to the game. I am privileged to own a copy of the Catch signed by Willie – it’s hanging at the Palisades office. Say Hey, Willie.

It’s not going well right now for the G-Men as they just finished a 6-game losing streak against the Yankees and the Snakes (leavened by a convincing run outburst against the Snakes in the closing game of the series). It will not be any easier against the World Series winning Astros.  We’re 61 games into the season, meaning there are 99 games remaining on their schedule.  There is time.

The Giants’ series win (culminating in today’s second come from behind 9th Inning win), after a first game massive choke job that included a Doval meltdown and a Luciano glove made of stone, is in the running for the strangest series over the last few seasons.  But a series win is a series win, and the Giants are in no position to worry about style points; it’s a tough division and getting to .500 (they are close) has been a slog.

The G-Men are coming home after a road trip from hell (3 and 7).  They got swept by the Phillies, lost both catchers (Bailey to concussion and Murphy to a knee sprain], lost Solar to the DL and generally looked like Michael Keaton shedding body parts in Beetlejuice. Even taking 2 out of 3 from the Rockies wasn’t a high point because the Giants have yet to win 3 games in a row this season.