Here is the opening to my Friday column about the Giants-Tigers in Game 2:
SAN FRANCISCO
Is it really this easy? The Detroit Tigers are scary, right? They’re supposed to be world-class terrors. They have Miguel “Triple Crown” Cabrera and Prince Fielder and the pitching staff from hell, and they ran the Yankees right out of the postseason.
But they are just rolling over for the Giants. Rolling over. No one expected this easiness.
To read the entire column, please click here.
Nancy R
I like pussycats and toothless tigers! The Tigers look bigger than the Giants. Gulliver is being tied down by the lilliputians. Lilliputians are more agile, adept and adroit than gallumping Gulliver.
October 26th, 2012 3:44 am
lameduck
Our guys have played some great defense. Blanco in game one was amazing especially compared to the converted DH the Tigers threw out there.
Now we have the DH question. I’ll leave that to Bochy since he’s been spot on so far.
The best move I thought was sending Pagan after Scutaro struck out so they walked Panda to face Posey. Posey walked and finally the Reverend came up big.
October 26th, 2012 4:59 am
Tommy CostaRica
Lowell, I thought the best part of Leyland’s quote was after he said, “So, I thought that was a no-brainer, to be honest with you. I can’t let them open the game up.” He continued, “We couldn’t of been happier the way things turned out, that they only got one run.” Am I missing something here? Couldn’t of been happier? He sounding a bit like an ole’ football coach we used to have around here, the Rev.
October 26th, 2012 6:00 am
Mark M
c’mon, where are the crouching tiger hidden dragon analogies? Been waiting for it from someone.
Enjoyed your take on Leyland, the plumber, whom I consider a great manager. But our country bumpkin personality Bochey is out coaching him too.
October 26th, 2012 9:26 am
mike
Let’s not count the chickens before they come to roost because Detroit figures to get at least one if not two wins at home. Weather will be a factor because it is a bit chilling to pitch in 39 degree weather.
Also, I think the Tigers were wrong to send “the Prince” home because he does not have the speed to guarantee he can get there and you never want the first out of an inning to be a “thrown out at home” result Detroit could have had runners at 2nd and 3rd, and then the ballgame is totally different because one hit potentially score two.
The throw and tag coming from left field is a bit easier because of angles and distance than the throw and tag coming from right field. Coming from behind the runner, the throw allows the catcher to be more in line with the base runner and make the tag along the same lines as from where the runner is coming, but if the throw is coming from right field, the angles for the catcher are much tougher. Plus, the runner can see the throw coming from right field and has a chance to take a better angle into the plate away from the catcher.
October 26th, 2012 9:33 am
Steve
I see the logic in holding Fielder and the stats back it up (2.2 runs when second and third with no outs). But let’s not overlook the incredible series of plays that made it possible to throw out Fielder. Blanco getting to the ball in the corner very quickly, overthrowing the first cutoff man (Crawford), but Scutaro being in the exact spot to make a perfect throw to Posey. Posey being positioned to make an incredible swipe tag and the umpire getting the call absolutely correct on a bang-bang play that I had to watch in Hi-def super slow-mo on a large screen TV to see that Fielder was indeed out. Baseball at its finest! And Leyland truly is a class act.
October 26th, 2012 10:29 am
Dave T
The series is far far from over. Though I like their chances with Vogelsong and Cain taking mound the next two nights, and even *gasp* Zito in a potential game 5, in cold air, with no carry and that huge ballpark. If the Giants continue to pitch and play strong defensively, they have a real chance to bring home their seond championship in three years.
And if they do go to game 5 and Zito and Giants close it out, with another gem by Zito…is her your World Series MVP?
October 26th, 2012 10:48 am
Stan
Everybody’s winning. I don’t have much to say to that.
October 26th, 2012 1:18 pm
Johnc
It is a bit shocking to see how eaaily the Giants are shutting down good teams. I have to say it starts with Angel Pagan. He sets the tone right from the beginning of every game. He is confident, aggressive and playing wih attitude.
October 27th, 2012 12:08 am
Neal
Not one word about the the pitching sensation of Madison Bumgarner to me that was the story, after pitching pretty crappy the last 7 or 8 outings
October 27th, 2012 1:05 pm
CohnZohn
Neal, Sometimes you are kvetchy. Bob Padecky wrote his column about MadBum after Game 2, which means my paper had an entire column on the guy. I wrote what they call the big picture. Its a necessary division of labor.
October 27th, 2012 1:10 pm
Neal
haha Lowell, got ya, I just read the Father and Son act on here.
October 27th, 2012 1:16 pm