Results tagged ‘ SF Giants ’
Pablo’s Hogging all the Hits
A reporter after the game asked me what the big headline would be in the Venezuelan newspapers tomorrow.
“I think the big headline will be about my two catches.’’
That made him laugh. Obviously it’s going to be about Pablo. None of us could believe what Pablo did tonight. Even Pablo couldn’t believe it. In the dugout after the third consecutive home run, he said, “I feel like I’m dreaming right now.’’
He had three major factors against him tonight: Verlander, AT&T Park and the World Series. It’s tough to hit a home run facing any one of those, and he conquered all three. Three times!
I can’t even hit a single and he hits three home runs and a line drive.
I remember watching the Pepsi Home Run Derby on TV two years ago. It’s a big competition in Venezuela, and Pablo won it that year. He just blasted one home run after another. Nobody had seen anything like it. He put on a show for the whole country. Tonight he put on a show for the whole world.
He was already a big star at home. When he got off the airplane after the 2010 World Series, when he didn’t even play very much, there were so many reporters he could barely move. Now it’s going to be unbelievable. People will be mobbing him everywhere he goes. Maybe he won’t go back!
As for me, I hope I hit better tomorrow. But if I don’t, I always know I’ll contribute with defense. I cover a lot of ground in the outfield. I love that. It’s really fun to run down a ball and making a diving catch and hear the crowd explode. I can’t begin to describe what that feels like.
Part of the reason I get to so many fly balls is that I get a great jump. I have it in my mind what’s going to happen when the hitter makes contact. I can see the catcher’s sign so I know what pitch is coming. I know the hitter either from facing him before or watching video. Is he a pull hitter? A line drive hitter? A slap hitter?
Sometimes I’m moving before the pitcher even throws the ball
Am I wrong sometimes? Yes, but not often.
Today before the game, my dad and brother were filling me with advice on how to face Verlander. “He’s going to challenge you with his fastball,’’ my brother said. “Try to bunt!’’ I tell them, “Don’t tell me too much! Just let me play!’’
Tomorrow is the sixth anniversary of the day my mother died from brain cancer. She also had breast cancer and ovarian cancer in the years leading up to her death. So I was really touched that I could hold up her name on the Stand Up To Cancer sign. I wrote, “MaMa, this is for you.’’ I believe she saw it and was really proud. Tomorrow I’ll light a candle in memory of her.
No Doubts. No Regrets.
All we’re thinking about right now – and what we’ve been thinking about since the end of the season – is playing game by game. It sounds so simple. But that’s what it takes. You can’t think about tomorrow’s game. Or that you need three wins in a row to move on to the next round.
Just one game.
This team always believes it can win one game.
There was no doubt in our minds we would win tonight. You could see the confidence in every face right from the start. Everyone’s relaxed. There wasn’t even a speech before the game because we’re already on the same page. We’re playing hard for each other and we’re having fun
Even when I struck out today in a big situation, I didn’t worry about it. I knew someone would step up. I didn’t know it would be Vogey, but there you go. That’s our team. He makes the Cardinals pay for walking Crawford intentionally. He smacks a grounder that the shortstop misplays, and suddenly we have our second run in and we’re teed up for Marco to drive both runners in with a double to left.
That’s how it works with us.
We’re 27 outs away from being in the World Series. Just saying that out loud is amazing. I know I say this a lot but that’s because I think about it every day – I’m so thankful to the Giants for giving me a chance. I feel so blessed to be here right now. It’s been the best experience of my life.
And it’s not over. We have no doubts going into Game 7. None. We know that we can control only one thing: How hard we play for each other. When we do that, we can have no regrets.
Go Giants!
