The available games, dates and number of tickets will be shown at the end of the blog before the rules. Remember when you email me back to identify the game, the date, and the number of tickets you want. Please whitelist my email so you get the blog posts and ticket offers all season long.
Oracle Park is now open for baseball (no restrictions for the vaccinated) but bring a mask if anti-vaccine idiots sneak into the stadium.
Home Field Advantage Through the Playoffs and into the WS
The Giants finished the season with the best record in baseball (107/55) which gives them home field advantage for the entire playoffs and the world series, if they get there. The final game on Sunday was a gem from Logan Webb, who punctuated the victory with his first home run. Webb will feature prominently in the playoffs, as will Kevin Gaussman, Jake McGee (back from the DL) and Camilo Doval (the National League reliever of the month – pretty cool for the young guy with ice water in his veins).
But this is about Buster Posey, who could become the first player since Sandy Koufax to win three WS rings with the same team. Buster is the heart and soul of this team, and he has the will to drive the team to where it needs to be – you will be watching a first round hall of fame player at the top of his game.
How the Giants Got to Where They Are
The Giants led the NL in homers, but they also excelled at run suppression, boasting a pitching staff that ranked second in the Majors with a 3.24 ERA this season. Runs come at a premium in the postseason, so the Giants will be leaning on their top starters [especially Gaussman and Webb] to continue to deliver quality outings and take pressure off their offense and bullpen, which was taxed heavily down the stretch while Wood and Cueto were on the injured list. Cueto will be in the bullpen for the NLDS and the NLCS if the G-Men get there but the rest of the bullpen has been lights out in September and October so far – there is no reason to believe the magic won’t continue.
But the first challenge is the 3 out of 5 NLDS. Who will it be?
The Enemy Awaits – the Team from LA that won’t go away and the Streaking Cardinals
This week we all watched the scoreboard as the Dodgers dispatched the Padres and the Brewers at home to earn 106 wins (the most ever by a second-place team in a division). Right now, the Dodgers target is the Cardinals, who are coming off the longest winning streak of the season (17 game streak in September) and are playing for all the marbles. The Cards are a seriously good team with veteran leadership.
Frankly, I hope it’s the Dodgers because that will be a sweet series akin to 1962 and 1951 (the shot heard round the world). But, regardless, both teams are worthy and it will be great baseball at the most beautiful park in the game – Oracle.
Next stop – The NLCS.
On the board ready to be picked up are:
FRI 10/8 [6:37] either Dodgers or Cardinals – 2 [I will be there]
Ciao, and GO GIANTS!
The Czar
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THE PROTOCOL: the firm has four seats in Section 118 (Premium Lower Boxes), Rows 25 and 26. These are awesome seats directly below the press box and 25 rows behind home plate on the left side behind the screen. It is foul ball territory for left-handed batters so bring your glove – I have collected 19 foul balls myself over 20 years, am looking for more and caught my latest ball at the Cards game on July 5th [film available!]. If we don’t use all the tickets ourselves (or clients and friends of the firm don't claim them by calling me and reserving a game), then my next step is to give the tickets TO THE FIRST PERSON WHO GETS BACK TO ME PROVIDED THAT THEY ARE SERIOUS. If you ask for the tickets and don't use them, you will be taken off the list unless there is a seriously good reason. There will be a wait list.
When there are four seats available (we split up a lot of games) we will allocate the tickets two and two if the first people back just want two tickets. You can also go for four and might get them. I'm the Czar, my call.