Just Amazing!
The Daily News
1 Wow. I'm still reeling from the Sharks game. What a fun time, epic, as many have called it.
2 I found myself missing San Jose a lot and wanting to be down there, right in the thick of it. Fortunately, a bunch of my Sharks' peeps enjoyed it online and put me there. Such great fun. Many thanks.
3 The Sharks knocked the marbles out of those fellows. Their entire approach to dealing with Nashville switched. I criticized the Sharks a bit the previous game for not controlling the puck, and for not taking enough shots.
4 What a difference.
5 I'm glad they listened to me.
6
7 I did have fun while enjoying that game. I still had that brief fear of the Sharks' losing it somehow, but this team brought the old guys forth, and had an underrated goalie who played the game of his life. The rest became history.
8 Where it goes from here no one knows, but what a glorious moment yesterday was, if I may speak an offshoot of Yoda-ease.
9 And if I may add fuel: It is extremely difficult for any sports' team to win a championship, so all the talk of the Shark's not making it are words.
10 I could go on, but I lived it right along with everyone last night.
11 The game went fast, even though the clock moved slowly.
12 I had posted insta-pics as the game flew by.
13 Magic trick.
13 Magic trick.
14 Haha!
15 Doesn't matter. We had a blast. I did have to hide a hat in one pic, but I won't tell you which one. Sharp-eyed Sharks' fans caught it, no doubt.
16 It was all a lark. What a night!
17 AND there are LOTS more games. Maybe a whole bunch of more games. And with a lot of you, I'm riding that wave.
17 AND there are LOTS more games. Maybe a whole bunch of more games. And with a lot of you, I'm riding that wave.
18 Something magic is happening at the Tank. But I shall say no more.
19 Ya gotta love it.
20 Moving On, Part One: Through all of this, it saddens me a bit that on May 27, the DN will close its doors forever.
21 And on May 27, The DN will close its doors forever. I think the time is right. It is more work than it looks, and I need to move on with other things.
22 So enjoy all this while you can. I write it late at night, in the middle of the night, early mornings and sleepy afternoons. I drive my family nuts, but it is something I have to do, and I that I have to finish, and finish strong.
23 Will I miss it?
24
25 Yeah. But just a bit. But yeah.
24
25 Yeah. But just a bit. But yeah.
26 Moving On, Part Two: It is moving into the one a.m. The Giants re-play is happening, and I'm watching last night's game. It's weird, because time once again has distorted. I had watched the post game show when they played the "highlight" of Bochy removing Santiago Casilla from the game. I had heard it on the radio last night while I quick-walked around a Target to put some miles on my feet. When I got home, I saw the video.
27 My jaw dropped. I might understand a younger pitcher being a little upset, but Casilla is a 35-year old veteran. He completely exploded on his coach, and stormed off the field, even though the decision should have been a no-brainer.
28 Andrew Baggerly, who knows the Giants as well as anybody, wrote this last night. This is from this morning's Merc News:
PHOENIX - Bruce Bochy came to take the baseball from his closer. Santiago Casilla punched it into the manger's hand.
The bases were loaded Thursday night. So were tempers. And although the Giants preserved a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks when left-hander Javier Lopez got Jake Lamb to ground out, the visible and emotional exchange in the ninth inning was the kind that can lead to days of clubhouse fallout.
Especially when the player in question doubles down in his postgame comments.
"I think I can pitch to the lefty," said Casilla, through interpreter Erwin Higueros. "But it shows the manager didn't have faith in me."
Bochy siad Casilla "got a little emotional" and that he would talk to his closer. But Casilla said he saw no reason for a discussion, and offered nothing resembling an apology for showing up his manager.
"I understand we have an excellent option in Lopez," Casilla said. "But if you're going to take the ball, at least talk to me. Tell me the reason, 'You've been pitching too much.'
"Don't just take the ball and say nothing. It is not a kid. It is a man on the mound."
Casilla had issued a four-pitch walk to Paul Goldschmidt to load the bases with two outs, stormed off toward the dugout as Bochy approached the mound, then flapped his arms and did an about-face when Bochy snapped at him.
"Come back here!" Bochy told him. "Now you can go."
There was no way that Bochy would let Casilla face Lamb, who owned two home runs in six at-bat against a right-hander, including a tying shot in the ninth inning of an eventual 9-7 loss on April 18.
Lamb also entered the game hitting .303 against right-handers and .130 against lefties.
Casilla acknowledged his frustration was fueled in part because he desired another shot at Lamb...
28 Andrew Baggerly, who knows the Giants as well as anybody, wrote this last night. This is from this morning's Merc News:
PHOENIX - Bruce Bochy came to take the baseball from his closer. Santiago Casilla punched it into the manger's hand.
The bases were loaded Thursday night. So were tempers. And although the Giants preserved a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks when left-hander Javier Lopez got Jake Lamb to ground out, the visible and emotional exchange in the ninth inning was the kind that can lead to days of clubhouse fallout.
Especially when the player in question doubles down in his postgame comments.
"I think I can pitch to the lefty," said Casilla, through interpreter Erwin Higueros. "But it shows the manager didn't have faith in me."
Bochy siad Casilla "got a little emotional" and that he would talk to his closer. But Casilla said he saw no reason for a discussion, and offered nothing resembling an apology for showing up his manager.
"I understand we have an excellent option in Lopez," Casilla said. "But if you're going to take the ball, at least talk to me. Tell me the reason, 'You've been pitching too much.'
"Don't just take the ball and say nothing. It is not a kid. It is a man on the mound."
Casilla had issued a four-pitch walk to Paul Goldschmidt to load the bases with two outs, stormed off toward the dugout as Bochy approached the mound, then flapped his arms and did an about-face when Bochy snapped at him.
"Come back here!" Bochy told him. "Now you can go."
There was no way that Bochy would let Casilla face Lamb, who owned two home runs in six at-bat against a right-hander, including a tying shot in the ninth inning of an eventual 9-7 loss on April 18.
Lamb also entered the game hitting .303 against right-handers and .130 against lefties.
Casilla acknowledged his frustration was fueled in part because he desired another shot at Lamb...
**********
29 I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't highlight one of Casilla's quotes. Baggerly reports these words: "Don't just take the ball and say nothing. It is not a kid. It is a man on the mound." Really?
30 Look. Casilla is 35, has decent stuff, but always seemed to me nervous about every pitch, often jumping up in the air when unsure of a pitch just thrown. 35 to me is clearly a grown man who shouldn't have to ask his manger why he is being taken out. It was obvious why he was taken out to every Giant fan in the world. And then sticking to his ridiculousness during the post-game interviews was bush league, especially when coming from the mouth of a guy whose salary is $4.5 million. And THAT statistic is a Wiki especial from 2014. With all due respect, dude. Nothing personal, but you came off like a complete moron. Your coach has taken the Giants to three world championships in five years. You might want to re-assess your words. Part of earning $4.5 million is to know when to fold 'em. As a man, and I don't mean that as a sexist comment, but as a man, you should know not to do that to your coach, your team, and your fans.
30 Look. Casilla is 35, has decent stuff, but always seemed to me nervous about every pitch, often jumping up in the air when unsure of a pitch just thrown. 35 to me is clearly a grown man who shouldn't have to ask his manger why he is being taken out. It was obvious why he was taken out to every Giant fan in the world. And then sticking to his ridiculousness during the post-game interviews was bush league, especially when coming from the mouth of a guy whose salary is $4.5 million. And THAT statistic is a Wiki especial from 2014. With all due respect, dude. Nothing personal, but you came off like a complete moron. Your coach has taken the Giants to three world championships in five years. You might want to re-assess your words. Part of earning $4.5 million is to know when to fold 'em. As a man, and I don't mean that as a sexist comment, but as a man, you should know not to do that to your coach, your team, and your fans.
31 The trouble with what he did is this: He is now an attitude in a clubhouse.
32 That dog don't hunt.
33 It wouldn't surprise me if the Giants send him packing. You have Sergio Romo, and there is still some talk of bringing in Tim Lincecum, who has made it clear he does not wish to be a reliever.
34 In that case, bring in Romo and tell Jeremy Affeldt to put down the mic.
35 End of rant. And I was half-serious about Affeldt.
36 Moving On, Part the Thoid: I need ice cream.
37 Then I need sleep. I don't earn anywhere near $4.5 million. Neither does Bochy.
38 It is still last night, so understand the time-travel elements of organizing the DN. I still need ice cream. Pure and simple. It is well into he one a.m. so I might just consider this breakfast.
39 Not that I've never had ice cream for breakfast. My niece Amy has had an Ice-Cream-For-Breakfast day in Tahoe for the past couple of years, and the participants are all the kids.
40 AND all the parents and grandparents. Great way to start your day.
41 Hail Amy, who should get $4.5 million on that idea alone. GREAT way to start your day.
42 Great way to end your day as well.
43 Gottago.
44 Have a GREAT day.
45 See you again. Fun stuff always. But gottago.
46 Peace.
~H~
fin.
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