* The Giants' quaint little playoff hopes are doomed.
Mathematically, not even close. They're four back of Colorado with 38 games to play, 22 of them at home where the Giants have the best home record in the N.L. Six of those games are against the Rockies, with none left at Coors.
* But psychologically they're doomed. After last night, how could they not be devastated?
Because they're professional athletes. They have a way of shrugging off tough losses. Not all the time, of course; they're not robots. But these guys wouldn't be playing at the pinnacle of their sport if they let every setback derail them. There's a funny word for it: compartmentalization. You put the crap in a box, seal it up, and move on.
* They have to find another hitter.
In a perfect world, yes. It won't be easy with all the waiver-wire gamesmanship going on. And unless they pull a Kenny Williams and grab an expensive veteran whose salary is being dumped, the Giants will have to give up good players to get one. Is it worth it?
* Is it worth it?
Good question. In mid-July it certainly was. In late August.....
* You're not going to answer, are you?
Hey, did Barry Zito sack up last night, or what? His biggest game as a Giant, and by rights, without Uribe's error, he should have breezed through that one bad inning and perhaps would have gone eight or nine. Next time I see him at the yard, I'm giving him a standing O. Same for Justin Miller. He's done stellar work all year for the Giants, and for one horrific meltdown, even on the year's biggest stage (call it his Bobby Jindal moment), I'm not going to throw him under the bus. I'll save that fate for myself.
* Either that or laugh laugh laugh.
Exactly. The Giants of the Absurd. And tonight's it's Matt Cain v. Dan Haren. Maxiumum runs and hits combined: Six. Minimum number of innings: 12.
