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April 18th. That’s the date I’ll start to freak out.
This site isn’t usually a beacon of optimism. The official languages are snark and cynicism. This is true in 2008, and it’s true after a championship. But, man, I just cant get down on this team after these losses. I’m watching Buster Posey look silly on two pitches before battling back to a full count. I’m watching Brandon Belt make loud outs when he isn’t taking balls out to dead center. I’m watching Pablo Sandoval square up the bad balls he was missing last year, showing better range at the same time. I’m watching Jonathan Sanchez look like a complete pitcher, giving up runs only on bloops, dinks, dunks, and brain leaks. And a walk to Chad Billingsley. Oh, my word, that was inexcusable.
Give me two weeks. Maybe three. Somewhere between two and three. That’s long enough to be prudent, but rash enough to risk looking like a total idiot by the All-Star break. That’s when it’ll feel right to freak about about this steaming pile we’re watching at Sample Size Theater.
This team is good. When I watch Buster Posey and Brandon Belt work pitchers who should be dropping mad, veteran science on them -- even when they make outs -- it feels like I’m watching a lineup that could finally be a proper complement for a fantastic pitching staff.
One-hundred-and-sixty games to go. If you’re ready to freak out, by all means, go for it. But if there’s a proper organizational analogy for this team, though, maybe it’s 2000:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/2000-schedule-scores.shtml
When that team was losing, it was beyond frustrating because it was obviously a good, complete team. The April was a dud, but there was a reason not to freak out: the roster. The assembled collection of talent. So what I’m saying is that you should cheer up. The Giants are going to win a few games, maybe even winning the division. And if they win the division, some Hawaiian goof is going to break their hearts, just like in 2000.
Yeah, right. As if there’s another player of Hawaiian descent, just waiting to hit an extra-innings bomb to shame the Giants.
You know, if that happens in the World Series this year, I’m pretty sure I’d be okay with it.
Forgot what we were talking about. Oh, right. Beat L.A.. Tomorrow, if possible. And the next day. Yer killing me, Giants.