by Eric Johnson
Oct. 3, 2014—I sent this email to a friend Wednesday after the Giants beat the Pirates 8-0 in a one-game Wild Card Playoff, a game he had predicted they'd lose in a "maybe next year" email:
"I'm not surprised we won. And I think we have a chance against the Nats. And yes I think we have a chance of going all the way. And yes I am a homer.
This is an emotional team and this kind of win can fire a team up. We've got a bunch of guys who've been there. And Pence probably has the young guys believing they're on a team of destiny.
He and Posey are nails. Belt looks like he's on it. For Pablo, this is a make or break career series. That's a pretty tough middle of the lineup.
I don't hate Peavy's odds Friday. Hudson plus relievers Saturday? Might be okay. I'd bet on Mad Bum Monday at home. Petit has proven he's great when he's good. Bochy can manage a bullpen better than anyone ever, and he's got a great bullpen.
So… It could happen."
After the first inning of today's game I sent another note to my friend in Vegas, who weeks ago was promising to visit if the Giants got in the playoffs: "You'd better grab a ticket now, because after they win today the prices are going to skyrocket."
I'm writing this in Hilltromper headquarters at Cruzioworks, and as of this writing the Giants are up 3-2 against the Nationals. The game is on in the Cruzioworks Atrium and I've been checking in every half-hour or so—it's a work day after all. With the exception of two solo homers it seems that the Giants have outplayed the Nats pretty handily -- so far, fingers crossed.
I wasn't surprised that the justly celebrated Stephen Strasburg was not able to dominate the Giants' hitters as predicted -- last time we faced him we knocked him out of the game in the fifth.
If we get past the Nationals and face the Dodgers -- I think we can beat 'em. Yes the Dodgers spent hundreds of millions of dollars just to create a Giants-killing team. And yes they've been kicking our butts since the All Star Break. So what? Our 2014 record against them is 9-10. I'm not afraid of the Dodgers.
In 2010 oddsmakers counted the Giants out until they won the division on the last day of the season. They were picked to lose every series of the playoffs and won them all.
In 2012 pundits called the Giants league championship a fluke and predicted the Detroit Tigers to win the World Series easily, and the Giants swept.
This year is different—several key players are out due to injury. That's been the story all year. And the Giants are in the playoffs anyway.
They're cheering in the Atrium. Here we go.
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