The San Francisco Giants' quest to confirm dugout seating reservations for the 2010 World Series took a hit in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series as they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 at AT&T Park. San Francisco keeps an overall 3-2 advantage in the seven game series, but the NLCS now moves back to the hitter friendly confines of Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park on Saturday October 23rd.

In deciding just who is awarded the uncoveted dead bird in this one, don't blame Giants' starter Tim Lincecum, who put up a sterling pitching line of 7 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, and 7 strikeouts. But please feel free to point an accusing finger at the Giants shaky infield defense, which turned the top of the third inning into a festival of Philly run scoring.

The initial scoring was Giants-related, as San Francisco took the lead 1-0 in the first inning after catcher Buster Posey's fielder's choice ground ball scored Andres Torres.

Fast-forward to the nightmare top of the third. After Phils left fielder Raul Ibanez opened the inning with a single, catcher Carlos Ruiz decided not to move when an inside pitch headed his way and he got plunked-- so runners at first and second, no outs. In the bizarre follow-up play, pitcher Roy Halladay attempted to sacrifice the runners over by way of a bunt. The ball died on the plate and Halladay didn't run because he saw the ball was foul. But home plate umpire Jeff Nelson stood motionless, indicating a fair ball.

This was a critical moment in a critical game, and two players instantly reacted correctly; Ibanez bolted from second base, and Giants catcher Buster Posey pounced on the ball and rifled a throw to third base. The throw easily beat Ibanez, but third baseman Pablo Sandoval did not initially react and his attempt to back-peddle with the ball failed when his foot missed the third base bag. Ibanez was safe at third and Ruiz at second, while Sandoval stood at third with the ball in his hand until Posey yelled for him to throw Halladay out at first; which he managed to do.

The very next play was the defining moment of the ball game. Lead-off hitter Shane Victorino hit a low line drive at Giants' first baseman Aubrey Huff. Huff later told reporters he thought the ball was going to be a short hop and his initial thought was to go to the plate with the throw and nail Ibanez at home. The ball might also have been caught in the air, in which case and Huff could have doubled Ruiz off at second. Whatever the scenarios, Huff appeared to give a look to the runners just as the ball got to him, and it bounced off his shoe or glove, and somehow ended up in shallow center field.

On Huff's error, Ibanez scored, Ruiz scored, Victorino to second base. For Aubrey Huff, who has been central to the soul of this 2010 Giants team, it had to be a gut-wrenching moment. The next batter, third baseman Placido Polanco, singled to left center and plated Victorino, 3-1 Phillies.

An Aubrey Huff error at first base is as rare as the chef at a real banquet actually serving Coors beer. In a hundred games at first in 2010, a total of 813 chances, Huff committed only 3 errors. He has been, and will continue to be, a defensive rock at first base for the Giants. This is simply what the gods of baseball sometimes bring to the banquet, in this case a rare Huff miscue that ultimately cost three runs.

The only other scoring in the game would be a home run by Phillies' slugger Jayson Werth in the 9th inning, his first of the 2010 postseason. In a night of rare events, a rare AT&T Park right field homerun by a right-handed batter.

With victory one game away, the Giants have to reboot and face the best team in the National League in their own home park. This we do know: there will be moments of unrelenting joy and crushing frustration as the amazing and gritty San Francisco Giants take flight to Philadelphia and a date with their 2010 baseball destiny.

Before the chalk dust settled at AT&T Park after the Giants' triumphant 6-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the 2010 National League Championship Series, the impact of this most memorable baseball game seemed to overwhelm the players, the fans, and even members of the baseball media.

ESPN's Jayson Stark reported Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval's heartfelt words shortly after the winning run scored in the bottom of the 9th inning on a walk-off sacrifice fly by Giants shortstop Juan Uribe: "I've got a lot of happy right now."

NLCS Game 4 was dominated by two dramatically contrasting levels of play: the San Francisco Giants fighting with pure adrenaline as Manager Bruce Bochy confidently pushed the attack with all his resources. And the Philadelphia Phillies, an exceptional team simply unable to overcome Manager Charlie Manuel's poor decision making and situational mismanagement.

The positive story of this game is the continuing ascent of the Giants through a tough and challenging season and post-season, and their colorful mix of home grown stars and players let go by various National and American League teams. But the story of how badly the Phillies were mismanaged in Game 4 is both compelling and confounding for a team that has owned the National League pennant three years in a row.

Among Manuel's numerous boots in this game, nothing compares to his inept management of the bottom of the 6th inning. The Phillies forced Giants rookie starter Madison Bumgarner out of the game in the top of the 5th inning, with two on and two out and the Giants leading 2-1. The Phillies then scored three more times and led 4-2. After the Giants scored a run in the bottom of the 5th inning, the score was 4-3 Phillies.

In the bottom of the 6th, Manuel brought in right hander Chad Durbin in relief of Jose Contreras. Durbin walked left fielder Pat Burrell and gave up a double to right fielder Cody Ross. Then up came third baseman Pablo Sandoval, no outs, runners at second and third.

How could Charlie Manuel have not been aware of the following: although Sandoval had a terrible 2010 season, with a .268 average, he hit much better from the left side of the plate against right-handed pitching (.282), than he hit from the right side against left handed pitching (.227). And, Sandoval hit much better at AT&T Park (.330) than on the road (.208). But for some reason Manager Manuel allowed the right hander Durbin to stay in the game and pitch to Sandoval. In the 6th inning of a must win playoff game with no outs, the tying run at third and the potential winning run at second base.

And, of course, Pablo Sandoval hit a double, driving in both Giant runs and retaking the lead 5-4.

In the Philadelphia bullpen sat two left-handed relievers, Antonio Bastardo and J. C. Romero. The argument against bringing in a lefty to turn Sandoval around to the right side is that you likely lose that left-hander after the Sandoval at bat, when the Giants would certainly pinch hit a right-handed hitter for the pitcher's spot. So you lose the lefty reliever after one at bat, and you might need him later. But this was later, later in the most critical game of the year in a situation where you use all your resources to keep the lead.

Another stand-out Charlie Manuel error occurred in the top of the 8th inning. Back to back doubles by Phillies Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth tied the game at 5-5. With Werth on second base representing the go-ahead run and no outs, Manuel elected to not have shortstop Jimmy Rollins sacrifice Werth to third, setting up a great scoring opportunity. Instead, Rollins hit away and Giants reliever Sergio Romo got him to pop up to third base. Then Romo struck out Phillies Ben Francisco and Carlos Ruiz.

A truly amazing moment in the 8th inning of the most important game of the year for Philadelphia.

Charlie Manuel's ineptitude takes nothing away from the what the Giants achieved in Game 4. If you know the game, you know well that opportunity is only half the equation; without execution there is no winning and the Giants won this game on their terms.

Having said that, if the much-feared Philadelphia sports media is not serving up roasted Charlie Manuel on a skewer in every newspaper and sports radio talk show today, I will have lost all respect for their exacting, negative, nasty reputation in the world of sports media.

For the Philadelphia Phillies, playing at San Francisco's AT&T Park is like making Superman wear a kryptonite cape-- it's just not going to turn out well. In Game 3 of the 2010 National League Championship Series, the Giants smothered the Phillies in home field advantage, shutting them out 3-0 and taking the lead in the 2010 NLCS two games to one.

Giants starter Matt Cain may have taken his own giant step into the ranks of current MLB world class pitchers, as he went seven innings giving up 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 5. Cain had the Philadelphia offense off-balance all afternoon as he mixed well placed fastballs and off-speed pitches all over the strike zone, handcuffing one of baseball's most powerful line-ups. Giants side-winding left-hander Javier Lopez required only nine pitches to dispose of the Phillies in the 8th inning, and closer Brian Wilson slammed the door tight to complete the team shutout in the 9th.

The Giants' shining gem of a ballpark was a deadly 26th player in this game, and has been the garlic around the necks of the Phillies for years. In the past three years the National League's top run-producing machine batted an embarrassing .199 at AT&T Park, with a .313 slugging %, scoring 32 runs in 10 games-- a paltry 3.2 runs per game average. To give some perspective on just how bad San Francisco's home park is for the Phils, during that same three year period against all other teams on the road Philadelphia sluggers plated an average of 4.84 runs per game.

And here's the really bad news. The Phillies play two more games at AT&T Park, one of which will be against Giants' top rookie pitcher Madison Bumgarger, who the Phillies have never seen before, and the other against a long-haired gentleman named Tim Lincecum.

Game 3 provided yet another offensive encore for the amazing Cody Ross, who has been a cold drink dispenser in San Francisco's offensive desert throughout the 2010 post season. Giants' shortstop Edgar Renteria singled in the 4th inning for the Giants' first hit and was sacrificed to second by second baseman Freddie Sanchez. With two outs, left fielder Pat Burrell had a gutsy at bat, coaxing a walk after getting two strikes from Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels. Cody Ross followed with an RBI single and the Giants were on the board; Aubrey Huff followed with his own run scoring, seeing-eye ground ball just past Phils' second baseman Chase Utley.

In the 5th inning, an Aaron Rowand lead-off double was made good when Freddie Sanchez hit another two out single to score the Giants' third run. So while the big Philadelphia boppers foundered against the perfect storm of Matt Cain's pitching, all three Giant runs came on two out singles.

And that's the lesson of AT&T Park. As I noted in my pre-NLCS blog notes, the Giants' home park can have the effect of bringing down a big run-scoring offense and making them whimper in the corner, while the Giants' hitting machine does its usual slapping, scrapping, and punching out hits and runs here and there.

Which makes it all about pitching, which is what the 2010 Giants are all about.

Throughout the 2010 MLB post season, the San Francisco Giants have been carrying a very large elephant across a thin and extremely wobbly tightrope wire. On Sunday October 17, in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, that elephant sneezed and the tightrope snapped as the Giants tumbled to a 6-1 loss. Lack of offense will do that to you.

In four games with the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series, the Giants scored a total of 11 runs-- an average of 2.75 runs per game. In two NLCS games with the Phillies, the Giants scored 5 runs, or 2.5 per game. During the 2010 regular season, the Giants were 9th in the National League with 697 runs scored, good for 4.30 per game. In the 2010 post season, San Francisco has so far scored 16 runs in six games, or an average of 2.67 runs per game.

In contrast, Philadelphia scored 772 runs during the regular season, 2nd among all NL teams. If your toes are currently unavailable, that's an average of 4.76 runs per game. In their three-game NLDS sweep of Cincinnati, the Phils plated 13 runs; add the 9 runs they've scored in two games against the Giants and the favored Phillies are pretty much on target with an average of 4.4 runs scored per game in the post season.

For the statistically challenged, what all of this means is the Giants are not even meeting their own normally lackluster offensive objectives. The pitching-over-power mantra has been mandatory for all Giants fans entering the magic kingdom since 2005; and after five years of wandering through the desert ('05- 3rd place, '06- 2nd place, '07- last place, '08- 4th place, '09- 3rd place), the thirsty faithful are drinking at the post season well, and it's cold and it's wet and it tastes damn good.

Now all this stuff about scoring runs comes up again. We know it needs to change soon. Really very soon.

The good news? So far, Giants outfielder Cody Ross is not only hitting home runs, he's among the top hitters of all eight National and American League teams making the  2010 post season. Tops with 4 home runs, tied at second with 6 RBIs, a .350 average, a .435 OB%, and leading the post season world with a whopping 1.435 OPS. Add to that list Ross' dynamic base running, that maniacally toothy grin, and the fact that he's doing most of this damage from the 8th spot in the batting order.

More good news? Sure, the pitching is absolutely coming through. Out of eight post season teams, the Giants are currently third in team ERA at 2.45 (Atlanta is second at 1.95, and [whoops] Philadelphia is first with a 1.60 team ERA). Giants pitchers are second with 68 strike-outs (Texas has 70), and SF and the Yankees are tied with 3 saves each. And, by the way, the Giants are 4-2 in the 2010 post season, with the next three games coming up at AT&T Park.

There's no doubt the Giants' bats have to come alive, and this amazing group of home-grown talent and retread patchwork toss-aways are more than capable of getting the job done at the plate. Even if they just come back up to their 2010 season average of 4.30 runs per game.

But if there's one thing we've learned after getting back into the National League Championship Series after eight long years, it is this: even with the kick-ass pitching staff San Francisco trots out on the field every game you need to have at least one legitimate All Star power/average bat in the middle of the line-up. Otherwise you might just find yourself carrying elephants across a tightrope wire.

Around the greater Philadelphia metro area this week, NLCS Game 1 at Citizens Bank Park was not something to be overly concerned about. Kind of like a routine visit to the doctor. So Philly fans bought their five foot long cheese steaks, grabbed a few cases of Rolling Rock lite, and prepared to watch Doctor Roy Halladay practicing from the mound in game one, surgically disecting the San Francisco Giants.

Only the patient did not cooperate. Cody Ross rose from the table and started chasing people around, including the good doctor. And what a scarey sight it was for the Philly faithful to see the living dead coming after them and their cheese steaks. Not only did Ross hit two home runs from the 8 spot in the line-up, left fielder Pat Burrell had two hits and knocked in a run, and shortstop Juan Uribe also contributed an RBI.

Oh, and Giants ace Tim Lincecum pitched his heart out, going seven innings, giving up three runs, and striking out eight batters in a 4-3 win.

Lincecum brought his own medical condition to the mound: a previously developed a blister on his pitching hand, probably from overworking his new slider in Game 1 of the NLDS on October 7th. So the Giants ace relied early and often on his change-up, and that pitch was absolutely deadly the first six innings as the Phillies' celebrated offense could not find the hitting zone against the two time CY Young Award winner. In the 7th, Lincecum found his fastball just in time to finish his stint with a three up and three down frame. Closer Brian Wilson threw a four out save, and Philadelphia batters ended up with a total of 13 strikeouts on the night.

But it was Cody who again climbed the tower and stood on top of the world in his second post season series. Ross positively rocked the Phillies and their confident fans by lighting up the night at Citizens Bank Park with two long balls off the invincible Roy Halladay. The dynamic right fielder has provided almost all the post season offensive fireworks for the Giants, a streaky hitter hitting a streak at just the right time. 

After the game, Philadelphia Manager Charlie Manuel appeared to be aware of what occurred earlier on the field, and at the same time showed off his impressive knowledge of Major League Baseball rules. "I don't think we can do nothing to bring this game back tonight," stated Manuel to the gathered media. "It's a loss."

And so it was. Game one of the National League Championship Series went to the San Francisco Giants 4-3, as they continue walking a torturous tightrope in their unbelievable quest to win the 2010 World Series.

 o As much as the Phillies' Citizens Bank Park is touted as a hitters ballyard, and will further favor the potent Philadelphia
    line-up, this park could be exactly what the Giants need. The Giants' offensive is based on an extra base hit attack from
    virtually every hitter in the line-up; which means hitters like Juan Uribe, Cody Ross, Freddie Sanchez and Mike Fontenot
    become more dangerous. The power spots in the batting order, Pat Burrell, Aubrey Huff and Buster Posey, may
    frequently find runners in scoring position throughout the games in Philly.

o The familar baseball formula of the Giants looking to at least split the first two games in Philadelphia becomes even more
   critical in this series. At Bank One Park, both teams should hit, but at AT&T Park, the Phillies' offense could be shut
   down, while Giants hitters do what they normally do at home: score just enough runs to win.

o Watching the first Yankees-Rangers ALCS game yesterday was a stunning example what an experienced, confident,
   and extremely talented team like the New York Yankees can do. I have to grudgingly admit that I was not least bit
   surprised as the Yankees methodically put up five runs in the 8th inning at Texas to win the game 6-5. Every member
   of that team, starting with Manager Joe Girardi and his coaches, looked poised, confident and deadly serious.
   Somewhere, The Boss is looking down (or, maybe, up?) at the legacy he helped resurrect and recreate.

o I hate to pick a player to watch in the Giants-Phils series because that so often does not work out. But I believe Giants
   second baseman Freddie Sanchez could be the break-out offensive force the Giants need to take this series. Sanchez
   is as fierce and focused a baseball player I have ever watched play the game. And he is a professional hitter of the
   first order.

o The San Francisco Giants, in their infinite wisdom and foresight, have picked Giants Cove author Richard Dyer to be
   on the field prior to NLCS Game 3 at AT&T Park on Tuesday October 19, 2010. I will join a very large group of Giants
   fans in unfurling the American Flag as part of the pre-game ceremonies. Both an honor to be chosen, and and honor
   to display the flag. Need I add...    Gooooooo Giants!

As reported in MLB Trade Rumors, San Francisco Giants Triple A Fresno right handed starter Kevin Pucetas has been sent to the Kansas City Royals to complete the August 13, 2010 trade for Jose Guillen.

The Royals immediately put Pucetas on their 40 man roster, a list which in recent years appeared to include random names from the Kansas City metro phone book. Pucetas will bring his 2010 1.713 WHIP to KC, which may qualify him as the Royals' new ace.

Prior to being moved up to Fresno in 2009, Pucetas put up some good numbers: he was 7-1/2.17/60 SOs for Single A Salem-Keizer in 2006; 15-4/1.86/104 SOs for Single A Augusta in 2007; and 10-2/3.02/102 SOs for Single A San Jose in 2008.

But after being promoted to Fresno, Pucetas slid backwards; in 2009 he went 10-6/5.04/96 SOs, and his final 2010 line was 5-7/5.69/95 SOs. In 2008, Pucetas' name came up as a fifth starter at San Francisco, and in possible trades for offensive help. He was the Giants' 17th round pick in the 2006 MLB Amateur Draft.

Comparisons between the combatants in the 2010 National League Championship Series involve a universe of obvious differences, vague intangibles, subtle nuances, insider knowledge, and man/woman on the street opinions. Thanks to Baseball- Reference.com, we can take a close look at the numbers put up by the San Francisco Giants and the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2010 regular season to see the precise differences.

Hitting:

2010 season	RS	RA	TB	HR	XBH%	BA	BB	OPS	RG	SB% SB-CS	GDP	SH/SF	W-L	SB3-CS3
Giants	697	583	2,241	162	7.8%	.257	487	.729	4.30	63% 55/32	158	76/41	92-70	6-3
Phillies	772	640	2,307	166	7.8%	.260	560	.745	4.77	84% 108/21	120	44/43	97-65	20-3

RS: runs scored/RA: runs allowed/TB: total bases/XBH%: percentage of all plate appearances ending with an extra base hit/BA: batting average/BB: bases on balls/OPS: on base %+slugging %/RG: runs scored per game/SB% SB CS: stolen base %, stolen bases, caught stealing/GDP: grounded into a double play/SH-SF: sacrifice hits, sacrifice flies/W-L: wins losses/SB3:CS3- steals of 3rd base, caught stealing 3rd base.


Pitching:

2010 season	ERA	CG	tmSHO	HR	BB	R	SO	WP	WHIP	HR/9	BB/9	QS	IPmult	3pk	SV	BSv	Hold
Giants	3.60	6	17	134	578	583	1,331	74	1.271	1.0	3.6	95	118	234	57	16	65
Phillies	3.95	14	21	168	416	640	1,183	26	1.248	0.8	2.6	94	63	194	40	20	61

 

 

ERA: earned run average/CG: complete games/tmSO-shutouts by a team, one or more pitchers/HR: home runs allowed/BB: walks allowed/SO-strikeouts/WP: wild pitches/WHIP-walks+hits per innings pitched/HR9: home runs allowed per 9 innings pitched/BB: walks per 9 innings pitched/QS: starter pitched at least 6 innings giving up 3 or fewer runs/IPmult: games in which a reliever pitched more than 1 inning/3pk: 3 pitch strikeouts/SV: saves/BSv: blown saves/Hold: pitcher entered the game in a save situation, did not get a save or a win, did not give up the lead.

Fielding:

2010 season	E	Ch	PO	A	DP	Fld%	CA	CDP	PB WP	SB-CS %	OFE	OFA	OFDP	PE
Giants	73	5,941	4,383	1,485	110	.986	103	11	6 74	115-49 30%	7	33	5	17
Phillies	83	4,369	4,369	1,687	156	.988	83	11	6 26	84-31 27%	6	27	7	9

E: team errors/Ch: team fielding chances/PO: team putouts/A: team assists/DP: team double plays/Fld%: team fielding percentage/CA: catcher assists/CDP: catcher double plays/PB: passed balls/WP: wild pitches/SB-CS%: opposition stolen bases, caught stealing, percentage/OFE: outfield errors/OFA: outfield assists/OFDP: outfield double plays/PE: pitcher errors.

SF vs Phi: 2010 Regular Season

	W	L	R	HR
Giants	3	3	27	8
Phillies	3	3	29	3

Game 1 4/26/10 5-1 Giants WP J. Sanchez LP R. Halladay Game 2 4/27/10 6-2 Giants WP T. Wellemeyer LP J. Moyer Game 3 4/28/10 7-6 Phils WP R. Madson LP: S. Romo Game 4 8/17/10 9-3 Phils WP R. Oswalt LP: B. Zito Game 5 8/18/10 8-2 Phils WP: J. Blanton LP: M. Cain Game 6 8/19/10 5-2 Giants WP: J. Sanchez LP: C. Hamels

no comments

Sure, the main theme of the 2010 season for the San Francisco Giants and their fans has been "Torture". Close games, not enough hitting, weird stuff happening all the time. But there's another symbol that represents the heart and soul of this team in a very special way as they charge to the National League Championship Series: Aubrey Huff's red thong.

It's red, it's unfortunately very tiny, and (yes) it is a thong worn for good luck by the 6'4", 234 pound Giants first baseman. And very often in the Giants clubhouse, that's all Huff is wearing.

Some teams have a lightning bolt, or a screaming eagle, or a sock as their official symbol. The Giants have a red thong.


Kudos to Ashkon Davaran for this way sick reminder of that very uncomfortable fact: 

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

There can't be a better image of the 2010 National League Division Series and the triumph of the San Francisco Giants than sidebar character actor Cody Ross being mobbed by his teammates as he raised his arms in victory. Because how Ross got there is the pure essence of American baseball.

A kid walks up to a sandlot ball game already in progress and a player on one of the teams sees him standing there and says, "Hey, kid, wanna play for us?" The kid eagerly jumps at the chance and ends up winning the game for his new team. Cody Ross was ejected from the mother ship by the Florida Marlins late in the 2010 season, and was plucked out of deep space by the Giants, ostensibly to prevent the rival San Diego Padres from picking him up.

Ross' value as a hitter and defensive outfielder was immediately recognized by Manager Bruce Bochy: his first game as a Giant was August 23rd, and of the 41 remaining games on the regular season schedule, Ross played in 37 of them. And then he went to the NLDS, put the offense on his shoulders, broke up a no-hitter with a home run off Braves' starter Derek Lowe in the 6th inning of Game 4, and became the unofficial MVP of the League Division Series.

But there's another side to Cody Ross, and you can see it in some of his photos, or by watching him in the dugout when the action gets hot. The maniacal Cody Ross whose enthusiasm and fierce competitiveness can be, well, a little frightening. And I go back to the classic 1949 Warner Brothers film "White Heat", and the crazy-wild sociopathic gangster Cody Jarrett so brilliantly played by James Cagney.

After a crime spree that would make John Dillinger envious, Jarrett is cornered by the cops in an industrial complex on the LA docks. Jarrett climbs the steps of a huge gas storage tank and shoots it out. As bullets tear into the tank, and jets of flaming gas explode around him, Jarrett shouts "Top of the world...  I made it Ma...  top of the world...".

Of course, I just couldn't help it; as Cody Ross' ball arched over the left field wall and he circled the bases in the top of the 6th last night, I frightened my own circle of friends with shouts of, "you made it Cody, you made it... top of the world!".
 
After eight years of not making it, this was a monumental moment of being on top of the world as the San Francisco Giants topped the Atlanta Braves 3-2 in NLDS game four, taking the Divison Series 3-1, and head to the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2002.