Texas, You Have a Problem

The San Francisco Giants are heading to Arlington, Texas with a 2-0 lead in the World Series. There, I said it. It sounds odd, like talking about flying cars or time machines. It is one of those things that just never seemed like it would happen.

The Philadelphia Phillies were supposed to run roughshod through the National League playoffs. Right? Cliff Lee is invincible in October. Right? The Giants can count on their hands the number of times they scored more than four runs in the last two months. There is no way they can keep up with the mighty and lethal bats of the Rangers Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Ian Kinsler, and Michael Young. Right? To quote ESPN’s Chris Berman, “THAT’S…why they PLAY…the games!”

Thus far, everything in this series has defied logic. Two time National League Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum and Mr. October on the Mound, Cliff Lee, were both relieved after fewer than six innings pitched. A total of 18 runs were scored in Game 1. Tonight in Game 2, C.J. Wilson of the Rangers and Matt Cain of the Giants, solid starters but neither having a “lights out” reputation, provided the tense pitching duel that the baseball world expected last night (until the wheels came off and Texas completely quit, for the second night in a row, in the 8th inning). 

A BLISTER? SERIOUSLY? What a tough way to have an otherwise BRILLIANT World Series start cut short.

Both pitchers seemed nearly unsolvable, only to have Wilson be forced from the game with a BLISTER on his finger. What are the odds of that happening to a Major League pitcher, who throws a ball with ferocity thousands of times per year for a living? And what are the odds of that happening in the World Series…?

In a series in which much of the sporting world, fans, media, and otherwise, expected the big hits in the series to come from the bats of Hamilton and Cruz, the at-bats of Cody Ross, Buster Posey, Juan Uribe, and Edgar Renteria brought fans to their feet and heart rates to their maximums. Wait…EDGAR RENTERIA??? The Florida Marlins hero of the 1997 World Series…? He’s still ALIVE? Yes, the ageless 35 year old shortstop is and so is his bat.  His 5^th inning solo home run (only 3 dingers in the regular season) put the Giants on the board and up for good. 

The World Series is special for a number of reasons. It is the signature event of one of America’s favorite pastimes. The best of the best face one another in a pitch-by-pitch chess match on the diamond. Legends are made. Previously unknown players, possibly obscure career journeymen, rookies, and career role players, become heroes in pivotal situations. In a highly competitive World Series, which is what we have, thus far, in 2010, baseball fans can expect the unexpected.  

It seems fitting, after mentioning Renteria and his 1997 heroics, to summarize the 2010 Fall Classic with this song lyric from 1997: “How bizarre. How bizarre.”   

Yeah, wiseguy! I'm still alive! What the heck is a "Daily Hat Trick" anyway? Goober...!

Images from Yahoo! Sports