This has been the most rumor-free offseason I can remember when it comes to the Giants, probably because it seems like they're mostly interested in retaining their own free agents. That's not sexy. Where's the 12-way trade for Giancarlo Stanton? I've figured out a way the Giants can do that, and all they have to give up is Jose Mijares. All I need is the phone numbers of the other 11 GMs, a bottle of bourbon, and about two uninterrupted hours.
As such, there will probably be some need for filler threads. This is one of those filler threads.
But the good news is that MLB.com is getting better about putting their old stuff up for public consumption. The video up there is one of those newish old videos. At least, I remember looking for this for an extended period of time not that long ago, but it wasn't on MLB.com and (of course) it wasn't on YouTube. They showed the clip a billion times during the NLDS, but they missed the best parts, such as Darren Baker doing a leg-first slide into the other bat boy when he tries to take the bat away.
We're 10 years and change away from that moment. Darren is a young man now, and if you were an adult when the play first happened, you probably felt old when you saw a current picture of him. But there are a couple of things that stand out about the play.
First, Kenny Lofton hit the snot out of that ball. I remember thinking right about then, for the very first time, that the Giants were going to win the World Series. I was right! On a geological scale, I was really, really close with my prediction!
Second, I just remembered Ben Weber, who used to be my personal Armando Benitez before Armando Benitez filled the role. Then I looked, and I find that he pitched eight innings in the Giants career. Man, why was I so against that guy? It's a good thing I didn't have a blog back in 2000. There would have been some hysterical overreaction to link to.
Third, we can all admit that it's really strange to have a three-year-old bat boy, right? I have a four-year-old right now, and I think this is the first time I've watched this clip with her in mind. She spends most of her time not listening to me and/or throwing projectiles at me. I'd rather have her intern with a rodeo clown than run out onto a major-league field while the game is going on.
At the time, I didn't get what the big deal was. Now ... yeesh. That probably wasn't a good idea.
Anywho, I'm just going to cull through those MLB.com archives for a bit, looking for some of the older stuff I've been looking for. Until they get some One Flap Down antics or the Barry Bonds/Ricky Botallico fight, though, the struggle will endure.