The Braves and Reaction

The Giants blew the first game of the Braves series but kept their composure to take the series 2 games to 1.

The First Game -  When the Giants hits four home runs and blow a six run lead much was said after the game. I would like to highlight two things that weren't said.  The failure of Cain has to worry the Giants.  He looks smooth and easy when he pitches but the Braves knocked the ball all over the lot and its pretty sad when you can't protect a six run lead.

I am starting to lose patience with Adrianza.  He came up in the  fourth inning with the Giants leading 6-0 with runners on first and third and one out.  He takes a half swing at the first pitch and hit an easy double play ball to end the inning.  Getting a seventh run could have made all the difference in that game.  To me it  didn't look like he was consecrating at the plate.

Congratulations to the newest Giant Kelby Tomlinson for getting his first major league hit in his first at bat.  He wears glasses which use to mean that he is very intelligent and today means 'I can't see'!

2nd Game - The Giants bounced back to win the second game of the series.  Duffy, a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate, had four more hits and Peavy the surprise of the pitching staff went another solid six innings.  However it was again Pence who stole the headlines with his three run homer in the top of the eighth to give the Giants the lead and victory.  He also had an rbi earlier in the game when the Braves first baseman thought there were two out instead of one and when he fielded a grounder ran to first instead of throwing home to get a force.  Don't pay those guys millions for nothing.  Or do they?

Glad to see Arias cleared waivers is back in organization playing at Sacramento.  I am sure we will see him as a Giant in September if not before depending on Panic's recovery.

3rd Game -  Bumgarner pitched well and Duffy got a big hit late in the game but the real hero in the Giants victory was the new rookie infielder Tomlinson.  In his first at bat he got a two out single to dive in two runs and then in his next at bat drove in a third run with a single. 

There is a report the tests have discovered the problem with Panic's back.  That's the first step back.

Reaction

The last post brought a number of responses covering the Warriors, Giants, First Names and Religion

My old friend Leo O of Moraga let me know that I called the Warriors Green Dallas in my article.  As I have mentioned preciously I have trouble with first names and that is the reason I have left them out in the past.  Green had a Dodger baseball cap on and I guess I just thought of an old baseball manager Dallas Green.  Being my age allows me to make stupid mistakes.  That's called  'playing the age card.'

Active blog reader Pat O agreed with me regarding the Warriors future and Russ J from Texas the Giants - Rangers ninth inning.  As I mentioned K & K my favorites were touting the arms of the Ranger outfielders.  I asked on the last post how many games Hamilton has played in left field.  Sunday was the Rangers 104th game of the season of which Hamilton has played 30 mostly in left field.  He has one assist.  The Giants were afraid to run on one assist.  Looking at the record then it should have been no surprise that he over threw the catcher by 20 feet. As Bochy would  say, 'we're are not doing the little things'.   I would say the Giants aren't doing the big things either!

It was suggested to me to keep religion off the sport pages.  Not a bad idea but the temptations are great.  I have battled them all season and finally Satan got his wish so I asked everyone's forgiveness and will do everything in my power to avoid these temptations getting the best of me in the future.  I have reactivated an old  blog of mine  to handle my religious comments.  I thought it would be  ready today but we still have a few glitches that need to be ironed out.  About six weeks ago a blog member VR asked me to provide some information about Fatima.   It is very difficult to limit 13 years of study into a few pages.  I am not sure I have done it justice but for those interested the report will be found on my religious site in a couple of days.  I apologize for the delay.

Pictures

Those blog members that get the Saint Ignatius magazine the Genesis will note that my picture with classmate and blog reader George L can be found on page 71 under Births.  Blog member  Dennis R is found on page 66 with class mate Skip MacDonald.

Family

Barbara and I will be celebrating our 49th wedding anniversary usually referred to as  the Rusty Pic on August 6th by attending " The Phantom of the Opera" at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.  We have seen Phantom four times in past Los Angeles in 1992, San Francisco, Orange County and Las Vegas. 

Treat

For my anniversary I fixed myself one of my old favorites I remember from my youth a toasted donut.  When I was young we usually had the choice of plain or raised sugar donuts.  Let the plain donut get stale for a few days then cut it in half like two tires.  Put it in the toaster and make sure it starts to burn a little.  Let the butter melt and enjoy.