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Apologies to Charles Dickens but I couldn’t help myself.
The Worst of Times – Too Many Series Losses.
The Giants have lost 4 out of the last 5 series (thank God for the Reds). They have been beaten up by the Braves and the Phillies, then got swept in San Diego and lost on Labor Day to the Cubs in Chicago. The pitching has been fine (love Cobb and Webb, and Harrison is the future) but unless a bat can go on a ball and send it to the outfield with a runner in scoring position all the pitching in the world will not help. To add salt to the wound the last two games have been shutout losses. This has been a painful period at home and on the road leavened only by the 1-hitter from Alex Cobb last week (I was there) that cloned Petit’s one-hitter in 2012 (I was at that game also and it also came down to the last at-bat – I still have the picture on the wall of my office). There are two more games against the Cubs on the road and then the G-Men come home to get back in the race for a wild card spot.
There are 22 games left in the season and Giants face the Dodgers (leading the NL West by a healthy margin) 6 times, the Padres 3 times, and most of the rest of the NL West. It’s time for the boys in Orange and Black to suck it up and play like every game is the last game of the season. The season is not over yet, and the G-Men have the tiebreaker (under the new rules based on the regular season series split) on at least three of the teams with whom they are competing for a wild card entry into the post-season (the Brewers, Reds, and Phillies). However, that does no good unless they start winning games (you can’t break a tie if there is no tie), and that was not happening over the last two weeks.
The Best of Times – Watching the Rookies, Who Are the Future.
The future will be on display throughout September. All the top draft choices have been called up and are playing. Harrison is a stud (but got no run support against the Padres), Casey Schmitt (he of the rocket arm) keeps getting better and better. Patrick Bailey has locked down the starting catcher job and should be a fixture behind the plate for the next decade. He is a worthy successor to Buster Posey. Wade Meckler may be the fastest man in baseball (watching him beat out a bunt is the most fun I’ve had at a game since my son was 10 years old). Matos and Ramos have flashed memorable moments and will continue to do so. I’d talk about the veterans (Yaz is back, and Slater is strong) but they are not hitting. The G-Men need to pick up a big bat. It’s too late this year but the Ohtani sweepstakes certainly got a lot more interesting for next year.
Finally, this may be the last series to see Crawford. The last of the Brandon’s is probably in his final season. He is the last of the World Series heroes left. He will be missed.
The Rockies and the Guardians – These Should Be Fun Series
The Rockies are dead last in the NL West (34 games back in NL West – the G-Men are 15 games back of the streaking Dodgers) and playing like they have nothing to lose, which is the case. They have called up their young guys and are playing loose. They want to see what they have next year, and they want to be a spoiler, which is why they are a dangerous team for the Giants to face at this time of year.
The Tribe (I have problems with the Guardians after decades of the Indians) are in 2nd place behind the Twins in the AL Central and have a shot at the wild card. They took two series in a row (against the Blue Jays and the Twins, after getting pounded by the Dodgers). They will feature their kids also and will fight hard.
As the weather goes into fall and the playoffs loom nearer the pressure rises on all the teams with a mathematical chance of getting to play October baseball. That includes the G-Men. The pressure is on.
On the board and ready to be picked up are:
FRI 9/8 – Rockies [7:15] – 2 [I’m going]
SAT 9/9 = Rockies [6:05] – 4 – Star Wars Night
TUES 9/12 – Guardians [6:45] – 2 – Mexican Heritage Night
Let the torture continue!
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 22 foul balls myself over 23 years and am looking for more. 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.
Oh, and BTW, The Czar found the original Hinman & Carmichael brick from 2000 (after looking for it every year since 2000) and found H&C’s Gotham Club Founders Bat! If you are on the patio, or in the Club, look for the symbols of baseball!
