Since the epic three-game sweep of the Rockies capped by Edgar Renteria's grand slam, the Giants are 4-5, and the Rockies are 8-1, a home hot streak against three palookaville opponents. There's your four-game deficit right there.
I'm not making excuses or whining. The Giants could have fattened up on the likes of Wade LeBlanc, San Diego's starting pitcher yesterday, who instead baffled them for seven innings. They could have eked out a run or two more in Philly or Milwaukee to make a 3-3 road trip spectacular. But wishing the Giants to score more runs is like hoping, perhaps, maybe, this will be the summer the fog stays offshore and nights are balmy in my neighborhood. It's not a constructive way to spend your valuable time. If only Bochy would bench Renteria and move Uribe to short and put Schierholtz in right and FREE BUSTER POSEY and... sorry. It's not going to help.
But wishing for offense is not the same as wishing for wins. And whether they notch enough wins to vault into the playoffs or not, we'd all like at least enough to make the last two weeks of the season relevant. If they can take two of three from L.A. this weekend while Colorado loses two of three to the suddenly competitive Padres, the Giants will be three back heading into their final three-game showdown next week against Colorado. Another sweep would be miraculous, but stranger things have happened. And voila -- wild card tie. Even two of three against the Rockies would put the Giants two back, not a terrible place to be with 12 games remaining.
If I had to make odds, well, I certainly won't put a number to it. But seeing how hot the Rockies have been -- and yes, I concede they're a very good team -- I wouldn't bet Miss Monkeypants's college fund right now on a Giant playoff appearance.
One more thought on this busy day: Willie Mays has The Catch. (And Dwight Clark has The Other Catch.) Bobby Thomson has The Shot Heard 'Round the World. Now Kevin Frandsen can join the Giant pantheon with... The Popped-Up Bunt! I feel terrible for the guy, but it's nearly absurd how long that little black raincloud has been hanging over his head. I'd like to see one nice thing happen for him before the season ends.
