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The "Rap" .......
About Baseball & More......
by Tom Cole
© 2005
September 8, 2005
A Return to Reality
Another Losing Streak & Barry Bonds Gets Ready
| In ancient India, life is regarded as “maya”, an illusion. The Giants season has been all too revealing and painfully real for more than five months and for a few days, the illusion of contending was entertained like a mass hallucination at a 60's rock concert. The 3.25 staff ERA that had carried the Giants through August and the first days of September, though, is not an illusory apparition in the night, but was very real. The key word, of course, is “was”, and the late inning runs yielded by the previously unyielding staff accounted for two heartbreaking late inning losses to their southland rivals. Led by Jeff Kent and a cast of nameless, faceless unknowns, the Dodgers have dealt a | major setback to the Giants' hopes for the post season. Leading 8-5 going into the bottom of the 8th, ex-Giant Jose Cruz crushed his second home run of the night to bring his new team within two runs and the deed was completed in the bottom of the ninth when Oscar Robles, a lithe, slick fielding shortstop, lofted a simple fly ball down the right field line off Armando Benitez, one barely sneaking over the 3' wall near the foul pole to tie the game. Later, a bases loaded single with one out and both the infield and outfield pulled in to choke off a run at the plate, Mike Edwards lined a single to right centerfield, and the game was instantly over, as may the season be for the suddenly struggling Giants. |
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After allowing four runs in the first inning, Jason Schmidt settled down, only to have to leave with an injury in the fifth. Escorted from the field under the watchful eye of Giants trainer, Stan Conte, Schmidt is the key to any hopes for the division.
(AP Photo/Matt Sayles) |
| Two losses in a row, at this precarious point in the season, may be considered a slump, a losing streak, disastrous, however you may wish to term it. But with three weeks left in the season, seven games left with the front running Padres, the Giants hardly feel their season is over. Bonds will re-join the team Friday night in SF and it will undoubtedly be one of the most anticipated games of the season, not only by those fans in SF but for baseball fans around the country. Finally the 24/7 ESPN Bonds watch will come to fruition with something other than a status report on Bond's website. Bonds will bat, if not actually start the game, and in spite of what how he |
is perceived by the media, the public and his teammates, it will be a welcome occasion. TV cameras focused on Bonds in the dugout last night, sharing a few laughs with injured Giants rookie outfielder, Jason Ellison. He was also filmed yesterday, coaching hitters in the batting cage, offering hints to young players on their technique, and who would not listen to the most prolific hitter of the last 20 years? Bonds may be selfish, he may have used steroids in 2001, he may be arrogant and aloof with the press, but he is a baseball player, first and foremost, and his knowledge and love of the game is unquestioned. Except by those who make a living writing or speaking about the worst aspects of any individual or situation. |
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(AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
| The Giant return to SBC to host their former manager, Dusty Baker, and the perennially underachieving, struggling bunch known as the Chicago Cubs. Baker is under intense scrutiny in Chicago by the second guessing press and fan base, a situation that Baker, for all his attributes as a manager, does not handle well. He is much better with the players and accountable to them, which is why he is known as a “player's manager”. Perhaps, he will find solace, commiserating with manager Felipe Alou before they oppose each other on the field. |
With Jason Schmidt suffering a groin injury, Kevin Correia out with a bruised shoulder, and a suddenly ineffective late inning bullpen, the Pitcher of the Month in August, Noah Lowry, will attempt to contribute a solid effort, save the bullpen and once again inject some much needed life into the Giants division hopes. He has to be careful though, as fostering the illusions of hope en masse to the Bay Area fans might be interpreted as criminal if it evaporates into yet another temporary, mass hallucination. |
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second nightin row, after giving up the game winning base hit.
(AP Photo/Matt Sayles)