Matthew

Brian Wilson couldn't hold on to a three run lead -- game over. I was listening to the radio broadcast, where Duane Kuiper & Mike Krukow were going on and on how this was going to be a "manly save for a manly team," by Wilson; how "Rich Gossage and Bruce Sutter would be proud of this save," blah, blah, blah. HAH! I thought the Giants had it in the bag in the 10th when Buster Posey came up with the bases loaded, one out, but he grounded into a double play, and that was it for the Giants. It must have been very sweet for Ankiel to hit the game winner, he crushed it. The dude's had a tough career, and he's going to remember everything about that one. I have a feeling they will be coming back to San Francisco for game five.

I really think the Giants, with their pitching and improved offense, have a great chance of going all the way. Brian Wilson needs to be a little bit more steady, or maybe pitch less five out saves, Bochy might be over pitching Wilson. Still, I've like the Giants from the start, and I don't see any reason to change at this point. Giants in the World Series. I never like Bochy's strategy of having Wilson pitch the 8th, and it didn't work tonight. Have to give the Braves there due though, they fought back, and Ankel just crushed the game winner into McCovey's Cove. Best of three series now. 48 saves....except when it matters. Wilson couldn't save my lunch. When Posey grounded into the double play to end the 10th, I think everyone just had a feeling it wasn't going to be a Giant win tonight (at least I did).

I really think the Giants, with their pitching and improved offense, have a great chance of going all the way. Brian Wilson needs to be a little bit more steady, or maybe pitch less five out saves, Bochy might be over pitching Wilson. Still, I've like the Giants from the start, and I don't see any reason to change at this point. Giants in the World Series. I never like Bochy's strategy of having Wilson pitch the 8th, and it didn't work tonight. Have to give the Braves there due though, they fought back, and Ankel just crushed the game winner into McCovey's Cove. Best of three series now.

This Kimbrel kid isn't too bad of a pitcher...

My reaction as well when I saw that happen, Matthew. And the call he was arguing didn't appear to me to be a blown call--it looked to me like Huff's foot was still on the bag for a split second as the ball arrived in his glove. In any case, such a close, close call that I can't see why Cox came unhinged over it. I think the Reds had a better case for Utley being out on the force play in the bottom of the 7th, which could have radically altered the outcome of that inning (credit to the Phillies, though, for hitting Chapman so well in general). As for the infamous Berkman strike/ball that's been talked about from here to Sunday, all I can say is that earlier in that same at-bat he had a pitch that was clearly outside called for a strike--so IMO it evened out. I don't think the controversial pitch was right down Broadway, either--it was a borderline inside pitch. Umpires are so sick of taking crap from Cox over the years, they'll toss him for any reason, much less throwing his cap to the ground. But hey! He's a genius! It's remarkable (almost said amazing!) if any manager hangs around for fifteen-twenty years, he's must be a "great manager," when that's not even close to the reality. Two prime exhibits to prove this point: Bobby Cox & Tommy Lasorda.

Bobby Cox is a idiot. Getting thrown out of a playoff game in the second inning. What kind of manager does something like that?

Pay Burrell just hit one out. Giants 3-0

Looks like the Reds are trying their best to blow this game... ... and they did just that. Ugly game ....

Looks like the Reds are trying their best to blow this game...

WTH?? Two errors by Utley in one inning? Won't see that again for a long time....

Bill Evans: The Complete Verve Recordings - Disk one. Decided to make my through this one, haven't listened to any of it for a long time.

What's amazing is after last year's suckitude by the umpires in the playoffs/World Series, Bud "Genius" Selig said that baseball would make sure that didn't happen again. Thanks again Bud for your great work! PS: Why am I using the word amazing so much? it's in every post I do now.. amazing!

Watching the condensed game this morning, it was amazing striking out the side in the 9th, given the fact that the lead-off batter grounded out! Anyway, the Giants were lucky to score the run, Infante really should have fielded that grounder, easy play for a big league third baseman.

Amazing! Lincecum stuck out the side in the 9th.

Yeah, he's made a very good recovery from a disastrous August.

Looks like AJ won't get a start, reports are that Girardi will go with CC Sabathia for game four. Kind of risky, riding your main man like that, but hopefully, Twins in three!

According to the SF Chronicle, the Giants are thinking of leaving Barry Zito off the playoff roster, and keeping Madison Bumgarner to start game four of the Braves series. I could go for that, Bumgarner has been pitching much better than Zito, and I don't think Zito can pitch out of the bullpen that well. That's a lot of money off the roster though, but at this point, winning trumps everything else.

Yes! I read this a few years ago...your post makes me want to pull it out again. Thanks for the reminder, Matthew. Ghostie: Have you read Friedrich's book on Berlin in the 1920's? I hear that's supposed to be very good also.

City of Nets: A Portrait of Hollywood in the 1940s by Otto Friedrich. One of my all time favorite Hollywood books.

Way to go Mariners! last night you hit the 100 loss mark, good job. BTW, I checked, and there are seven teams with 90 or more losses this year -- there was some really awful baseball played this year. This sentence sums up a history making year for the Mariners: The Mariners not only scored the fewest runs in the majors this season with 513, but their offense was the worst by an American League team in the Designated Hitter Era (since 1973). Way to go guys....

Interesting match-ups in the NL, I still think the Giants can take the Braves, Lincecum goes first, and he's pitching well right now. Phillies take the Reds. As for the AL -- *yawn*

Let's hope this year there's an umpire that can see fair from foul...

I'm starting to discover J Dilla, here's my favorites so far. What a loss when he died... http://www.youtube.c...feature=related http://www.youtube.c...h?v=_ncSt5xC8Uk

What is ridiculous is the scenario of all three teams making the playoffs, but having two playoff games to decide who plays who. Why would MLB want three teams to go through all that stuff, when the staffs are already worn out from the end of the season? There has to be a better way to do this, but Selig probably would love having two extra playoff games -- what a fool. I keep forgetting that if all three end up with the same record, only two of the three make the playoffs. Guess there's nothing to be done, but still, Padre vs. Giants head-to-head record could be used to break the tie -- not too fair though. If it happens, it's the first time ever for three teams, some record.