Matty Mo makes Six In A Row

Matt Morris had a three hitter going with one out in the eighth, leading 5-1. The Bums got a couple hits back-to-back and then Bochy called for Hennessey. Brad, not the cognac. He promptly gave up a single to Kent and it was suddenly 5-3. Then Taschner, who has been very good since that post awhle ago where he had a sucky game, came in to get the ground ball he needed for the DP and to end the inning.

Big ol' Mando came in, and let a couple of guys get on base to give the kids a thrill, then got his 5th save. 5-3 winner.

I told the coolest baby in the world that The Giants beat the Dodgers tonight and he said...."Oh Rih-hih hih hih hilly...."

In honor of the Giants win, here's the Coolest Baby In The World....

Nothing can shock me anymore...

Just when I thought that The Great White Father could not get any dumber or more out of touch with reality than he has been regularly, he is "reassured" by AG Gonzalez' smirking, stuttering, univerally ridiculed performance before the Senate last week. He might be the only one so impressed, save maybe Mother Gonzalez. Memo to the President's handlers: His tinfoil hat seems to be on the fritz. Do something.

Our President is as dumb as a baby sucking on paint chips. Good thing he's so fricking LOYAL.

"Yer doin' a heck of a job there, Alberto."

The strongest nation in the world has a functional illiterate at the helm. I have not seen a Bush speech in years that isn't marked with ceaseless stammering, interjections of "Uh....." and that strange little chortle he uses when he's trying to make a point.

History shouldn't judge this President, it should judge us as a nation for letting him sit in that office for eight years.

At this point, I'd almost prefer President Kerry, who might be a little less wealthy, but likely just as big a moron as the current office holder.

Happy Monday everybody. Here's Al, selling you a very poorly maintained used car:

Cain completes the sweep...Five in a row...

Matt Cain finally got enough run support to win a game this season. The Giants shelled the Diamondbacks for two runs today, and the youngster used them both, pitching a complete game to win 2-1 today. Pete Happy and Barry Bonds provided the offense, with each getting a solo HR.

In honor of my father's 85th birthday, Barry hit #740 into the center field gallery. It should be noted that my dad is NOT a huge Barry fan. But I am.

Barry is on fire right now, running like he did five years ago and driving the ball with the old power. He's getting pitches to hit, because people can't believe he's not slowing down. But the intentional walks should be rearing their ugly heads soon enough once they find out. It's all in the knees, man. And those knees are HEALTHY.

Must be those new undetectable PED's, the ones made from the ground up bones of orphaned or stolen babies. I'm surprised the media isn't all over this!

But back to that starting pitching. Cain had a one-hit shut-out going into the ninth, but a couple of ground balls made it through the infield to set up first and third with nobody out. This provided a true sphincter-clenching moment, as Armando Benitez was lurking, ready to go in the pen. And Cain was over 100 pitches. Now Benitez has NOT blown a save yet, but there is still enough residual ill feeling from the last couple of years fror me to not have much confidence in him, especially with two men on and no out, and a mere two run lead. But Cain got another ground ball, this one right to Ray Durham, who fed Omar for the 4-6-3 double play. The run scored, spoiling the shut-out, but now the bases were empty and the D'backs were down to the last out. Tony Clark scorched a grounder to the right side but Durham managed to stop it and throw Clark out from his knees. Five game homestand, five games won. Now it's another road trip, starting Tuesday night in Teh Latrine, against those hated Bums.

It doesn't seem to matter so much that the offense takes a day off with this team---the starting pitching has been outstanding.

Here's 740:

Barry + Barry = 4 in a row....

Today's 1-0 victory was the perfect sample game for those who wish to defend the cash outlay for the Two Barrys this past offseason. Barry Zito pitched seven shutout innings for his second win in a row, and the winning and only Giants run came on Barry Bonds' 739th home-run, a huge fly to deep center.

The Giants have made it back to ground zero after starting the year 1-7. Four in a row, six of seven and some very, very good starting pitching. The bullpen lately has been walking the high-wire lately, getting out of jams and preserving leads. Armando Benitez got another save of the sloppy variety, but a save nonetheless. Which is lots better than seeing (BS) after his name in the pitching line.

Tomorrow Matt Cain goes for the Giants as they try for the sweep and go above .500 after the dismal start to the year.

Tonight's victory spin:

Radiohead's first album, "Pablo Honey"

Whaddya know, Three In A Row...

The Russ Ortiz Comeback Player Of The Year Campaign gained early momentum tonight when he pitched seven strong innings against the Diamondbacks, who tonight paid him to beat them.

The Giants won for the third time in a row, and they've won five of their last six. A very exciting ninth tonight with Benitez finally nailing down the save after giving the fans some thrills.

In the post-game radio interview, catcher Benjie Molina said that he's got to ride Benitez on every pitch to try and keep him focused. So far it's worked I guess. Molina was the perfect replacement for Mike Matheny, and I think he'll really help the pitching staff this year.

In celebration tonight, I am having a nice cocktail, a rip or two, and listening to one of the best Jazz albums ever.

Miles Davis In A Silent Way

Flashback To Good Times....

Hokie Smokes, is it 2002 again? Bonds launches one into the cove to tie it, then after some stomach churning extra innings, Rich Aurilia drives one into the gap to win it 6-5 in 12 over the Cardinals.

Tonight's designated Bullpen Suck was Jack Taschner, who provided the nightly carnage by walking in the go-ahead run in relief of Matt Morris in the 7th.

Not so sucky was Armando Benitez, who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth in a non-save situation. Jonathan Sanchez provided some angst but got out of his jams and pitched three innings for the win.

Pujols had a big game for the Cards, but was cut down attempting to steal home to end the top of the 12th.

In honor of the Giants win, I'm posting a picture of a very young Nervous Red Dog, licking the hand that feeds him.

A Win, 3 Rainouts, and another Win...

That makes for an undefeated road trip so far. Bwah. The layoff didn't seem to hurt, as the offense stayed alive. Durham and Benji Molina got their first homeruns of the season tonight, and Zito got his first win as a Giant. He went six innings, and didn't surrender any runs and gave up only three hits. Color me whiney, but I'd like to see the #1 Starter go more than 6.

In honor of the victory, I've posted one of my first Giant heroes as a kid. One of those inexplicable things a kid does when he's just starting to learn baseball. I picked the guy on the strength of how much he looked like he might be a good ballplayer in the picture on his baseball card. The guy was Ron Herbel, and he never did do much more than long relief in his career, but he was a back-end of the rotation starter on the first Giants team I followed religiously. (1965) He did set a big-league record, but I'm not sure if he still holds it. He is (or was) the worst hitting pitcher of all time (minimum 100 AB) Ronnie went 6 for 206 over his career. Final batting average? .029 He had a major league jawline though.

Lots of baseball left, like the whole season. And as my girl Britney Spears says, "They's people ahead of us.... But I like the 8-0 win at Coors. I do.