Idiots Write About Sports

This was an interesting week to be a Giants fan.

First came the two blown games in Pittsburgh. And let’s be clear — those games were blown by both teams. The Giants blew it, the Pirates blew it, and then the Giants blew it again. Or the other way around. Or both. But in the end, the Giants’ combination of untimely hitting and bad relief pitching led to two Pirate wins.

My wife and I stopped by our daughter’s day care center last Thursday night — a rarity for me, since I work in the city and my wife is just down the road. Ryan, one half of the husband and wife combo who run the day care, is a Giants fan. He mumbled something about the wild card.

“Not gonna happen,” I said to him. So clearly I’ve finally given up, and in public, too.

Then several amazing things happened. First, Neifi Perez was released. And I danced a little jig. Because as most fans would tell you, Neifi is the human personification of an Out. He doesn’t hit for average, doesn’t walk, doesn’t have power. And as I pointed out six days ago, if the ex-Gold Glover isn’t really that great a fielder, well, that’s another reason for his release.

Cody Random, he’s still with the team. Well, two out of three ain’t bad.

Next came the visit to Philadelphia, where the Giants spelled the beginning (okay, middle — okay, late middle) of the end of Larry Bowa’s tenure by sweeping the Phillies in their own park. That’s sweet — and as my lovely, intelligent, and 9 months pregnant wife Lauren would point out, the Giants would currently be on a seven-game winning streak were it not for those two faceplants in Pittsburgh.

The sweetest part of this weekend’s games in Philly? The continuing incompetence of Felix Rodriguez, the guy who throws it so hard and straight that it’s easy to hit. After Saturday’s game I walked into the back of our house and declared to Lauren, “Well, Felix Rodriguez loses the game again.” She turned to me as if saddened, and then realized… hey, he was traded! To the Phillies!

And so I danced another little jig. And a third, when Felix coughed up an inherited run on Sunday. Not to delight in the misfortunes of others, but it was nice to be on the receiving end of Felix’s unique gifts for once.

So, all in all, an interesting week to be a Giants fan. Although my celebration in the misfortune of two former 2004 Giants says all you need to know about the overall value of this season to date.