Here’s every time the Giants couldn’t come back in the ninth inning

Why would I do this to myself? Why would I do this to you? Because it was there. That’s why.

See, the Giants haven’t come back in the ninth inning once this year, and I’m fascinated by that. It’s enough to make you twitchy, even without the contrast of them allowing more comebacks than any team in baseball. Once you add them together, it becomes extra fascinating. Also fascinating in this case is a synonym of whatever the German word is for "chewing on a set of car keys until you can’t feel your tongue."

But we’ll focus on the dearth of ninth-inning comebacks this year. It’s not just that the Giants aren’t getting that one hit right when they need to. It’s not just that they’re incapable of hitting the home runs that could tie or win the game, even though it’s the Year of the Home Run for 29 other teams. It’s that they’re not even getting games handed to them by the other team. They aren’t running into that closer with a wild hair up his nose, or they aren’t getting the muffed grounder at just the right time.

Or if they do, the other team manages to pull the fedora from under the closing door just in time. Phew! What a save.

At least, that’s what it’s felt like. So that meant going back to the 45 times the Giants’ opponent saved a game against them and seeing if my perception matched reality.

The Giants had the tying run at the plate at some point in 32 of the 45 saves recorded against them. I don’t know if that’s an abnormal ratio, and I’m not going to spend a day trying to figure that out. I do know that every team has at least one ninth-inning comeback, though, so I’m comfortable suggesting that this is an unusual season.

Not one homer when it could have tied the game. Not one single with a runner in scoring position, even if it came on a leadoff double. Not against closers who have since been replaced. Not against closers who were just filling in because of an injury.

The list of final outs doesn’t help us a lot, but I made it, so here:

1. Brandon Crawford - 9
2. Denard Span - 7
3. Buster Posey - 4
4. Eduardo Nuñez - 3
5. Trevor Brown - 3
6. Eight players tied with 2

The only player who’s been with the team for most of the year who hasn’t made the final out of a save situation? Gregor Blanco. So listen to this wacky ninth-inning comeback plan I have, it starts with ...

If you’re not already disgruntled, consider that the Giants have had 41 plate appearances this season with runners in scoring position in a save situation. Here’s what they’ve done:

Three hits
.079 batting average
.146 on-base percentage
.079 slugging percentage
Two runs batted in

Remarkable. Here’s every situation where a single broken-bat bloop or a grounder just under someone’s glove could have tied the game for the Giants in the ninth inning.

Also remarkable! There is no solution, other than "get a hit with a runner in scoring position next time." This is a team with players who have come back in the past, who will come back again.

This should be a good team, you know. I can't stress that enough, so I'll just keep typing the words.

It’s just not a team that’s come back once in the ninth inning this year. And I can’t explain it, probably because it doesn’t want to be explained. There are four games left in the regular season. Somehow this team is still in charge of a postseason slot, too. So don’t wallow in your own misery just yet.

Just marvel at what a special team this is. You’ll never see another one like it, and that’s probably for the best.