Game 1. Paper Tigers Tamed by a Panda and a Bear (Barry Zito that is)!

So today I’m making a huge batch of caramel corn getting ready to settle in for the first game of the World Series, and still pinching myself trying to figure out how the Giants ended up in the series. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. I had it all figured out a few months ago that either Washington or Cincinnati would be representing the NL this week and I was fine with that. I mean spread it around. I’m still reveling in our 2010 World Series victory and nothing will ever take that away.

But fate intervened and the San Francisco Giants survived the regular season and so it begins. Tim McCarver was in usual form and talked non-stop for five minutes about the miraculous powers of the unbeatable, unstoppable Justin Verlander, pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, and the additional weapons in the form of Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder. And I agreed. I figured we’d lose the first game for sure, and probably the next two also, and then win the last four in a row. I don’t know why, but that’s the way the Giants have been doing things in San Francisco lately.

“Barry Zito 1st Game 2012 World Series”

You all know I don’t write about the game per se, or the scoreboard or statistics because they’re so readily available but there’s always some little thing that stands out, something that grabs my attention. And there was a lot of that surrounding those wild and crazy Giants tonight; Pablo Sandoval’s incredible first three at bats ending in three home runs, Barry Zito’s revival with one of the best curve balls in the game (what a performance!) and Gregor Blanco’s two incredible diving catches in right field and much more as they came together perfectly as a team.

“Verlander with pitching coach, Jeff Jones, in 3rd Inning”

But I’m still smiling when I think of Justin Verlander standing on the mound in the bottom of the 4th inning, when Manager Jim Leyland walked out of the dugout, to the mound, and asked Verlander for the ball. All the time Leyland was walking from the dugout towards Verlander, the cameras were on Verlander and all that time he had a smile on his face. And it wasn’t a smirk. It was a smile as if to say, “Wow, where the hell did these guys come from?” because I think he was just as surprised as the rest of us were. I’m a Giants fan and I’m sure I’m supposed to act like I knew they were going to do this, but I didn’t. I don’t think anyone did, except maybe the Giants themselves. I’ll bet the bookies in Vegas were sweating through the entire game because when I read the odds in the paper this morning it said “Tigers over Giants ~ Odds: -178, or something like that. I don’t even know what that means? Who’s ever seen odds like that anyway? This is the same Tiger team who beat the New York Yankees in 4 straight games in best of 7 this year to win the AL Pennant and get to this World Championship Series.

What I liked about Verlander’s attitude was his calm, cool and in-control demeanor. Here’s a guy that’s a two-time Cy Young winner, had an incredible season and is probably used to everyone patronizing him and agreeing with everything he says and does. But he didn’t appear angry or upset or anything, even though I’m sure he was disappointed. He appeared to take it all in stride, like “It’s okay. I’ll get them next time”. And there’s a good chance he will. And with a smile he walked to the dugout to watch the rest of the game.

I love my Giants and they played a fantastic game tonight, and I’ll watch it again, maybe twice, before I go to bed. And tonight they beat the Detroit Tigers fair and square by a score of 8-3. But I sure wasn’t expecting it. It was a surprise.

And I sure hope I’m surprised three more times just like this in the remaining games of the 2012 World Series. Way to go and thank you Giants. Whatta game it was!

So much fun! Watching the Giants win by not making errors, incredible defense, speed on the base paths on and on defense, amazing pitching, and the new record holder of the “hit ‘em where they a’int approach,” Marco Scutaro! I think the Giants were last or close to last in home runs in the majors this year. I think they are ushering in a new era baseball where the home run, extraordinary feat that it is to hit a ball so long and hard, falls into place as just one approach to winning. Makes everty little play and every pitch just a bit more riveting! And then there Pablo’s THREE! ~michael burton

Thanks for the comment Michael. I think most analysts are of the theory it’s the regular routine singles that make it work. Bases loaded HR’s are nice, but rare. Giants keep plugging away, day after day at the little things, and the small plays with no real heroes, though that’s starting to change. Whew, sure glad we had a day off. It’s not just the players that need it ~ we fans work really hard.

"The best possible thing in baseball is winning the World Series. The second best thing is losing the World Series." - Tommy Lasorda

"You teach me baseball and I’ll teach you relativity.... You will learn about relativity faster than I learn baseball." - Albert Einstein

"Baseball is a game of race, creed, and color. The race is to first base. The creed is the rules of the game. The color? Well, the home team wears white uniforms, and the visiting team wears gray."
Joe Garagiola

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DISCLAIMER

GARLICFRIESANDBASEBALL is written by a long-time fan who simply loves the game. I write my own articles (hence the grammar and occasional misspellings). If I include an article from another source, credit is given to that source and will include links when appropriate. The opinions are my own.