Giants lose first game - Now the heat is on them?

GOOD JOB, KID. WE GOT THIS THING - OOPS!!

Strange as it may seem, it appears that yes, the pressure is now as much or more on the Giants to win one more game than it is on the Padres to win three more games. The momentum turns to the Padres side now that they have won the first games of the series. For the Pads, maybe for the first time in a month and a half, the feeling has to be that finally they can play loose.

When I coached, we used to say "you don't have to win three games, you have to win one game - three times". And that's the approach the Pads should have from here on out. Keep the games simple, one game, one inning, one at bat, one pitch at a time - win the battle.

The Giants on the other hand, can feel the pressure of getting the hardest out of the game - the last out. The hardest game to win in a divisional, championship or World Series is the ALWAYS last game.

Not to go all Chris Berman on you, but in the immortal words of Cat Stevens - later covered by Rod Stewart -

I still want you by my side
just to help me dry the tears that I've cried
cause I'm sure gonna give you a try
and if you want, I'll try to love again
but baby, I'll try to love again, but I know

The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest

the Giants are finding out that if indeed The First Cut is the Deepest then truly the last game is the hardest. We'll be back. Because Giants fans know all too well, that yes...

The first cut is the deepest, Baby I know —
The first cut is the deepest
'Cause when it comes to being lucky, she's cursed
When it comes to lovin' me, she's worst
But when it comes to being loved, she's first
That's how I know
The first cut is the deepest.

WHAT!!!! COME ON MAN!!





The Giants know all this stuff only too well after the Dusty Baker - Russ Ortiz debacle. The teams fortunes and its fans outlook can go from fantastic to fatalistic on a dime now.

from Yahoo Sports, Steve Henson:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=sh-giantspadres100110

San Francisco fans have never celebrated a World Series title since the Giants moved west from New York in 1958. They aren’t as fatalistic as Chicago Cubs fans, but they can turn from adoration to disgust with startling rapidity. It will take a tenacious effort to keep their interest throughout the game Saturday, and tenacity isn’t the first word that leaps to mind when Giants starter Barry Zito’s(notes) name is mentioned.

Even the home town paper noticed the sense of premature celebration in the air prior to the game.

from San Francisco Chronicle, Henry Schulman

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/02/SPLN1FNDRB.DTL

Something did not feel right around China Basin before Friday night's game. Too many folks outside the clubhouse were discussing a clinching victory as if it were fait accompli, too many "whens," not enough "ifs" and way too little respect for a desperate Padres team with 88 wins.

As fans were filing in, a promotion for a Comcast news show ran on the big stadium video board. The announcer said loudly enough to be heard on Potrero Hill, "Will this be the night the Giants pop the Champagne corks?"

A well pitched game will cure everything and make Giants fans wonder what all the fuss was about. Tonight would be a good time for Zito (9-13) to go all zen-master over Stauffer (5-5) who has been a world-beater of late. Zito, meanwhile has won only one of his last ten starts. EEEKKK!! Is that the sound of rivets popping? is the bridge collapsing?

LOOK OUT BELOW!!!