While no one who roots for the 2010 version of the SF Giants is happy about tonight’s 4-2 loss to the Phillies, alas it has to be said. Anyone who really expected this team to sweep the Phillies at home and win the NLCS in five, clearly hasn’t been paying attention.
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So now, game six in Philadelphia Saturday. And the SF Giants haven’t beaten Roy Oswalt since…Wednesday night.
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Just when you think the whole Bay Area has caught playoff fever big time, I get this report from a client about her boss, who was calling the office (hands-free) from her car in SF, and said “Are the Giants playing tonight or something? There’s a really big traffic jam.”
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In game five, Tim Lincecum actually outpitched Roy Halladay. But a horrible third inning gave the Phillies three runs. The inning included a hit batter (who didn’t try to get out of the way), a bunt that was probably foul, third baseman Pablo Sandoval not touching third base to start a double play, and first baseman Aubrey Huff ‘channeling Brooks Conrad on a ground ball for a two run error.
Said Giants manager Bruce Bochy “We just didn’t play real crisp.” “Real crisp? Yeah, more like a six-month old open box of Rice Krispies cereal.
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From TC: “If Pablo Sandoval and Bengie Molina get any bigger, Greenpeace will be trying to save them.”
But okay, in the sour grapes department, Major League Baseball should either enforce this rule, or get rid of it:
6.08
The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when (b) He is touched by a pitched ball which he is not attempting to hit unless (1) The ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, or (2) The batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball;
Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz has been hit by pitches four times in the postseason, twice against the Giants. Tonight he didn’t even flinch, let alone move.
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“Fear the beard” has become an SF Giants mantra. Lincecum and Posey say they will join the party too. As soon as they are old enough to shave.
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Meanwhile, in college football, UCLA was trounced by Oregon 60-13, in a game remiscent of the Bruins’ earlier 35-0 loss to Stanford.
Yet, this UCLA team also managed to beat Houston 31-13, and upset then undefeated Texas 34-12.
No wonder the Longhorns didn’t follow through on their rumored plan to join the Pac 10. At this rate the only thing less popular than California college teams in the state of Texas just might be liberals.
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The newly formed Pac 12 will divide into two divisions for football, with Stanford, Cal, Oregon, OSU, Washington and WSU in the North, and UCLA, USC, Arizona, ASU, Colorado and Utah in the South. Apparently the plan fell through to move USC to where they really belong, the NFC West.
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Meg Whitman’s poll numbers in Calfornia have apparently plummeted with Latinos after the controversy with her former maid. Which brings up a reminder again, for all would-be politicians and sports stars: If you have ANY relationship, working or romantic, that you don’t want to see on the front page, make sure you end it on good terms.
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Open note to Carly Fiorina: If you are going to run ads saying “I’ll oppose my party when it’s wrong,” and you actually mean it, could you come up with just ONE example where you think the Republicans are wrong now ?
Left Coast Sports Babe 