Our dad was a New Yorker and a Giants fan way before '58. I know he was thrilled when the teams moved west. He took me to a game at Seals Stadium, but my memory of it borders on the subliminal. I know we sat in the bleachers. It drives me mad to think I was watching the young Willie Mays play center field and I had know way of knowing at the time how special that was.
At this point, I find myself apprehensive. I know spring training is all about hope, everyone is in the best shape of their lives, and the Chronicle is doing a great job of hyping the Giants. The more I read, the more I want to believe. I almost do. And I have stuck to the logic that they never should have been as bad as they were last year, so they cannot fail to be better this year. Still, I think the shock has not yet worn off. Once bitten, twice shy.
during Spring training last year, I thought that after the horrible second half they had the year before, and the way the blew the playoff game to the Cubs, that they had something to prove. I clearly expected them to compete for the wild card and probably would be one of the two teams. Then the season started. They were able to find ways of losing games that were jaw dropping. Game after game. I kept waiting for it to reverse. It never did. Losing games they had in the bag, getting blown out of others, hardly ever coming back in a game, and just going out and finding new creative ways to lose. It was a season from hell, and will be hard to reproduce. I once again during Spring Training think that the giants have a great chance to win a wild card spot. Of course they could do better, or worse, but what I thought was realistic last year, was not. I feel the same way again pre-season, based on the roster, and a potential for this team to not play too much above their talent. Great years from a few guys and they could compete for the division. Poor years from a few guys and they could be out of it before September. The most likely scenario, it seems to me, is a legitimate wild card opportunity.
On Sunday, Madison pitched six innings of one-hit, scoreless ball and hit a homerun. That really lifted my hopes for this season. Now if I can just not think about the other pitchers, I will be just fine.
6 comments:
Hat tip, Russian River!
Amen Brother!
Our dad was a New Yorker and a Giants fan way before '58. I know he was thrilled when the teams moved west. He took me to a game at Seals Stadium, but my memory of it borders on the subliminal. I know we sat in the bleachers. It drives me mad to think I was watching the young Willie Mays play center field and I had know way of knowing at the time how special that was.
Excellent! I want one.
At this point, I find myself apprehensive. I know spring training is all about hope, everyone is in the best shape of their lives, and the Chronicle is doing a great job of hyping the Giants. The more I read, the more I want to believe. I almost do. And I have stuck to the logic that they never should have been as bad as they were last year, so they cannot fail to be better this year. Still, I think the shock has not yet worn off. Once bitten, twice shy.
Maybe with a few wins......
during Spring training last year, I thought that after the horrible second half they had the year before, and the way the blew the playoff game to the Cubs, that they had something to prove. I clearly expected them to compete for the wild card and probably would be one of the two teams. Then the season started. They were able to find ways of losing games that were jaw dropping. Game after game. I kept waiting for it to reverse. It never did. Losing games they had in the bag, getting blown out of others, hardly ever coming back in a game, and just going out and finding new creative ways to lose. It was a season from hell, and will be hard to reproduce. I once again during Spring Training think that the giants have a great chance to win a wild card spot. Of course they could do better, or worse, but what I thought was realistic last year, was not. I feel the same way again pre-season, based on the roster, and a potential for this team to not play too much above their talent. Great years from a few guys and they could compete for the division. Poor years from a few guys and they could be out of it before September. The most likely scenario, it seems to me, is a legitimate wild card opportunity.
On Sunday, Madison pitched six innings of one-hit, scoreless ball and hit a homerun. That really lifted my hopes for this season. Now if I can just not think about the other pitchers, I will be just fine.
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