2010 World Series: Rangers vs. Giants

[Anthony S.]

I've always liked Vlad. It was painful watching him in right -- though he still has the rifle arm. But I know he can still do some serious damage with his bat, so as a Giants fan I'm not ready to mourn his diminished skill set quite yet.

As for Lincecum's rundown gaffe, it was the first inning of the first game of the World Series, Timmy was really amped up, and the previous hitter, Vlad, had just ricocheted a line drive off his foot. Combine those factors with the realization that Lincecum is from somewhere beyond Neptune, and I can see how he might make a mental gaffe. Doubt he would have made the same mistake were it the 5th inning. I'm not justifying the mistake, just saying I was little less surprised than others when it happened.

[B O'Brien]

You all are aware of Mr. L's off field "issues", of course he is gonna forget to throw the ball from time to time! My wife thought I was watching a scence from Dazed and Confused the first time she saw him pitch. Mitchy, Mitchy, Mitchy keeps running through my head!

Not the best played game ever, but I had a good time watching,

Bob

[fkw]

Some simple fact that many overlook on Giants and Rangers

Giants hit 21 more extra base hits than Rangers did this year (16 more doubles, 5 more triples, and the same HRs)

They did this playing home games in a pitchers ball park while the Rangers hit in a hitters ball park

They did this with No DH and their pitchers batting roughly 10% of the time.

They did this w/o Burrell, Posey, Ross, Guillen, etc, fora good % of the season.

If you reduce the Rangers to a NL team by removing their DH stats (57 Extra base hits, .300 average), then the Giants will have a team batting average very close to what the Rangers had, but the Giants would hit over 75 more extra base hits, and a far higher slugging %

And they call SF "The Hitless Wonders" haha

PS also take in the fact that the Giants pitching staff in last 8-9 weeks have put up numbers that rival some of the best in Baseballs History.

Underdog? .... I love it!

[Anthony S.]

Wow. Good stuff, Frank. Never would have guessed it.

[David R]

Here was Lincecum's post-game reaction to that rundown play in the first inning:

"I had a little bit of a brain fart there," Lincecum admitted afterward.

[Anthony S.]

A friend just forwarded this to me. Safe to say the Giants have more than their fair share of prankster/free spirits on this team.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ckloLGOgVo&feature=fvsr


* apparently, "the machine" is Pat Burrell.

[andypcl]

I got lucky and had some great seats last night...

[M's_Fan]

^ Wow, great pic, thanks for posting.

Holland just walked three straight batters on 13 pitches! Wasting a great effort by Wilson the starter. The Texas bullpen is looking awful so far this series.

[Rickyy]

I figured it wasn't the Rangers night when Kinsler's ball bounced off the top of the fence and back onto the field...and then N. Cruz popped up with the tying runner on 3rd...and to top it off...the Giants never known for drawing walks get a bunch in one inning...

[Matthew H]

Nice picture. I'm a Dodgers fan so... Well, you know.

I do have some fond memories of that park. My father lived a couple of blocks from there for about 5 or 6 years in the Clock Tower Lofts. Interestingly enough, the Clock Tower building housed Schmidt Lithography. I didn't know what Obaks were back then. I was surprised to find out they printed cards there.

Anyway, go Rangers.

I thought the Giants lacked batting game?

[barrysloate]

For a team that can't score any runs the Giants are starting to look like Murderer's Row. What's going on here? I know they haven't won anything yet- if you're a Giants fan think Game 6 of the 2002 Series- but you have to be feeling awfully good right about now!

Go Giants!

[FrankWakefield]

Great photo, Andy. Thanks for posting. And an excellent vantage point. I've seen one game there, it's a nice ball park. The Giants are a real force. I'd like to see Renteria continue with what he's done, and for him to be the MVP of the Series.

[andypcl]

Glad you guys liked the pic. I'm really torn because as a Giants fan I'd love to see this end as quickly as possible but I've got two tickets in hand for game 6. I guess I'm kinda hoping Texas wins 2 of 3 down there so I can get back for what could even be a clincher.

I've been to some really cool sporting events but the energy inside the park is just crazy. I won't even try to explain what's going on outside the park! If I get back to 6, I'll post some shots of Willie Mays plaza and the craziness in the cove.

[barrysloate]

Andy- I know how you feel. Of course if you're a fan you want to see them win four straight; but if they could clinch it in game six you would be a witness. A question: why was Pat Burrell's name on those banners? It stretches most of the length of the left field stands.

Now that I look at it again I guess you shot the image at the moment his name was announced. It looked to me like a long red banner but now I can see it's part of an electronic scoreboard.

[Matt]

With all the talk in this WS about pitch counts and Nolan Ryan's philosophy, I thought this would be of interest, from the Sporting Life, circa 1916:

Hughie Jennings, the keeper of the Jungle
team, says that he has been panned a lot for
keeping pitchers on the hill when the hitters
have found their range, but explains his motives
with some sound reason. "When I announce the
pitcher to start the game," said Jennings, "he
is the best man I have for that day's work. If
they hit him they will probably hit the next one
I offer them. These one-inning bursts win
games sometimes, but If you don't win and you
throw away a couple of pitchers, you are up
against it when the double-deckers come along.

[andypcl]

Hi Barry,

Yes, that's an electronic scoreboard and unfortunately it was never used for game statistics. Throughout the entire game it rotated MLB's advertisers.

I don't mean to clog up the thread with pics but even back in March I had hope for these guys. Here's a few I snapped in Scottsdale and one more where they ended up.

Rowand leading off against the Brewers with Zito totally unaware of his 2010 fate! Another of Will Clark tossing a baseball to a kid.

[barrysloate]

Great pics Andy- and it is interesting how Barry Zito has become a forgotten man. The Giants invested a zillion dollars in him and he's been a near total flop. That they could get this far without the pitcher who was supposed to be their ace makes it that much more amazing.

[tbob]

The way the Rangers have been playing they probably watched this video one too many times .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB2nq...eature=related

[barrysloate]

Great video Bob. It's from the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival and is an outtake from the film. And check out Brian Jones!

[tbob]

Sad so many of these people left us way too early, Cass Elliott, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, etc.
Barry, Linsecum looks like he would have fit right in at Monterey

[Anthony S.]

Originally Posted by tbob

Sad so many of these people left us way too early, Cass Elliott, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, etc.
Barry, Linsecum looks like he would have fit right in at Monterey

And yet Keith "Rasputin" Richards turns 67 later this year.

[jimm]

Great pics, I made it out to about 10 games this year, no postseason unfortunately, keep it up boys!

[barrysloate]

I had the same thought Bob. At one point in the clip Mama Cass, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Brian Jones were shown back to back and all four died way too young.

[sealmark2]

Great pictures Andy and nice comments from others too. NOBODY has offered me tix to the series so I will be in front of the TV as usual. I hope it goes 6 games for you and do not worry about me being home.

Oh by the way Andy is my son !

Mark (sealmark)

[tedzan]

While we are reminiscing "rock".....let's not forget Buddy Holly, J P Richardson, and Richie Valens.
Their untimely deaths on Feb 3, 1959 stunned the music world.

And, the terribly tragic ending of Marvin Gaye.

Speaking about Mama Cass, I couldn't keep my eyes off Michelle Phillips when I was young. And,
she still looks great at age 66.


TED Z

[Anthony S.]

Originally Posted by tedzan

Speaking about Mama Cass, I couldn't keep my eyes off Michelle Phillips when I was young.


TED Z

You weren't the only one, Ted.

[barrysloate]

Ted- Michelle Phillips is the only survivor of the Mamas and Papas....and see you in a few hours.

[jimm]

Lewis having great postseason for Texas, Giants lean on rookie southpaw tomorrow, lets get back on track Gigantes!

[barrysloate]

If you're a long time Giants fan you hope for the best but expect the worst.

[Rich Klein]

I'll be i nthe same seats in the Upper Deck for the next 2 nights

It was amazing with the energy in the ballpark last night. That's what baseball is all about

Rich

[jimm]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

If you're a long time Giants fan you hope for the best but expect the worst.

this

[Dan Carson]

Barry,

We're used to TORTURE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyVdbfyvwso

[tbob]

Dan, even my wife thought the video was fantastic, although I had to explain who Kung Fu Panda, Bobby Thomson and Willie McCovey were

[tbob]

And here's the Rangers hip-hop theme song "Antlers Up."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MHB7qDyudY

[jimm]

Kid was nails tonite!

[Rickyy]

I normally hate Mondays with a passion, but I'm actually looking forward to tonite to see what will happen.

[barrysloate]

It's a treat to see a 21 year old rookie pitch with such poise in the most important game of his life. The Giants starting lineup is mediocre at best, but they have a pitching staff for the ages. And that is why they are going to win the Series.

[matthew]

Those 2 yahoos announcing game 5 just stated that there were no MLB teams west of the Mississippi when the Giants last won the Series. Who comes up with this crap?

[Kawika]

Yes!

[tbob]

Originally Posted by matthew

Those 2 yahoos announcing game 5 just stated that there were no MLB teams west of the Mississippi when the Giants last won the Series. Who comes up with this crap?

They obviously aren't from Missouri. Last time I checked the cities of Kansas City and St. Louis were both in existence in 1954. Someone didn't do their homework!

[Rob D.]

Originally Posted by matthew

Those 2 yahoos announcing game 5 just stated that there were no MLB teams west of the Mississippi when the Giants last won the Series. Who comes up with this crap?

McCarver also said, and I'm paraphrasing, "The Rangers aren't hitting because the Giants are pitching."

Thanks, Captain Obvious.

[tbob]

Maybe we could make it a package deal, McCarver and Selig both go in to retirement.

CONGRATS TO THE JINTS! They deserve it and their homegrown pitching staff was fantastic.

[Leon]

Congrats to the Giants. Their pitching was phenominal. Congrats to the Rangers for their best season ever, too.

[HRBAKER]

Tim McCarver is THE reason the mute button was invented.

Congrats to the GIANTS!

[Rob D.]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

Tim McCarver is THE reason the mute button was invented.

Congrats to the GIANTS!

I'll never forget the time during a World Series telecast when he took a few minutes to explain why an error made with none out is more likely to hurt the defensive team than an error made with one out.

Minutes.

Condolences to the Rangers and all of their fans. And the city of New York, too. Especially the Bronx.

[mybuddyinc]

Yes, the home run won the game ----- BUT ---- the bunt WON the game ( for those who know ).

[celoknob]

People enjoy complaining about these announcers but Joe Garagialo, Tony Kubek, Keith Jackson and many others in the past were worse. Curt Gowdy was so biased for the Red Sox in 1975 it was a joke. Plus, it at least sounded as if he was drunk. And Cosell, who announced several, was almost certainly drunk.

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by celoknob

People enjoy complaining about these announcers but Joe Garagialo, Tony Kubek, Keith Jackson and many others in the past were worse. Curt Gowdy was so biased for the Red Sox in 1975 it was a joke. Plus, it at least sounded as if he was drunk. And Cosell, who announced several, was almost certainly drunk.

I am not sure they were worse than McCarver but they were all most certainly better than Tony Kornheiser.

[matthew]

Originally Posted by tbob

They obviously aren't from Missouri. Last time I checked the cities of Kansas City and St. Louis were both in existence in 1954. Someone didn't do their homework!

I was just sitting there & could not believe my ears. Honestly, how long has there been a team in STL?

BTW, my dad is on top of the world right now. A lifetime Giants fan, he has been acting like a little kid since the Series started.

[Andy Sandler]

I am so excited for the Giants right now! I have been a fan since 1967 and through the years with Mays, McCovey, Hart, Marichal, and Perry to the present players I have now finally seen my team as the World Champs. Not in 1962, 1989 (I was at the earthquake game), and not in 2002. But, today in 2010, thank you Giants!!! Go SFG!!!
Proudly, Andy Sandler