Saturday, May 13, 2017

Marathon Must Win

Win, 3-2 (17) vs CIN 

Buster Posey hit a mammoth homer at 12:43 this morning to send a few hundred stubborn fans home in absolute joy as the woeful Giants nipped the Reds, 3-2 in SEVENTEEN innings.  I followed this game in my car as I traveled down I-5 to see family in SacTown.  Since I got a late jump and was departing the Mt. Shasta area at 7pm I figured that I'd be "watching" this one on line.  Little did I know that I would get to see the last hour on a big screen!

I'm sure we all hope this game is the turning point. Only time will tell. It sure did have a few memorable highlights:
     *  Buster's bat flip and look of sheer relief are priceless. It was his longest of the Statcast era (431         ft.).  I think it was longer. It friggin' one hopped the Coke bottle.
     *  JohnnyC did his thing: 8 strong, game score around 70, 2 sac
     *  I may be odd, but I love me some small ball.  We had 3 perfect bunts in a row, 2 hits and a double sac which set up the red hot Span to single in the tying run.
     *  BCraw and Buster combined on a sweet tag out at the plate, which was quickly followed by picking a guy off second to end a major threat. I love when we use our defense as a weapon
     *  The game ball goes to the bullpen, no doubt. Everyone was used and everyone did their job. Gearrin went the last two and who knows would have gone next (Moore?)

So, is it a meaningful win? Or just a lucky W ?  Or maybe even a costly win... since Buster and most of the bullpen is very unavailable today?

Only time will tell. Go Giants!!


8 comments:

Zo said...

Those three consecutive bunts were a thing of beauty.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Buster is suddenly launching homers. I like it. Supposedly he's trying to cut down the leg-kick and take a simpler approach. Whatever works. They had to play nearly two full games just to score three freakin' runs! Yikes, that's scary. Good thing the FNG delivered three scoreless. Nice to see the 'pen be solid. Giants sure missed Crawford last week. He makes a big impact on the pitchers, they certainly benefit from him being out there.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Plus you must all see this tidbit in a column by Chronicle writer Leah Garchik:

A third of the San Francisco Giants players are working out wearing tDCS headsets that deliver a weak electric current to the brain to improve performance. This treatment is called “transcranial direct current stimulation.” This was confirmed early this week by Geoff Head, official sports scientist of the Giants.

But, with homage to Herb Caen, it’s not his name that’s the item. Combined with training, this gizmo — which retails for $749, but I’m assuming the Giants get a discount — is said to accelerate “improvements in muscle memory, strength, explosiveness, and endurance.”

Good luck to the Giants, and I suppose it’s good that they’re getting some help. But I can’t understand why, if doping isn’t allowed, this sort of treatment is OK.





The editorializing is hers, not mine, but I share the sentiment. Ballplayers would dance naked on the dugout steps chanting 'Hare Krishna' if it helped 'em hit. Anyway, I have to say (1) 13-24?? How about a refund! (2) "official sports scientist"?? Dude, that's a cool job. (3) This is not the same game we watched as youngsters. This is a whole 'nother level!

M.C. O'Connor said...

The original story from the KQED website.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Halo Neuroscience home page. Welcome to the cyberpunk future!

Zo said...

Neuropriming? Or mind control?

M.C. O'Connor said...

'Brain Hacks' is my take on this stuff on my other blog.

Zo said...

The 17th inning walk off home run was the latest inning walk off home run in San Francisco Giants history. The previous record was held by Willie Mays. He set it on July 2, 1963 vs the Braves for a 16th inning, 1 - 0 SF victory. That was the "greatest game every pitched" when Juan Marichal and Warren Spahn both threw the distance.