"Ahhhhhhh...FREAK OUT!" Chic: le Freak
What a game! Did you see it?! Oh man....it was a thing of beauty! Not just because there were amazing pitching duels and tons of drama, but because the San Francisco Giants won the World Series against all odds. They won it against a team who looked way better on paper, and they did it without guys named Mays, Bonds and Clark.
Since I stopped watching baseball 15 years ago because of the whiny egos running rampant in the sport, it was the MOST refreshing thing to see the "castoffs, misfits and ragtags"....the no-names....win the series so decidedly. Just a bunch of guys playing. And playing GREAT!
What a great thing to see Aubrey Huff make the first sacrifice bunt of his 10 year career! Taking it for the team! And Pat Burrel, who did much to bring the Giants to the Series in the first place, couldn't hit a ball to save his life during the Series. Instead, it was an "old guy" who made the difference......Edgar Renteria redeemed his 2004 Series losing out, by hitting a three run, game-clinching homer last night to help win the 2010 World Series! And what about watching Cody Ross race home on Renteria's homer? Ross, who was cut by Florida earlier in the season proved to be one of the most integral parts of the Giants' winning team! Freddy Sanchez became one of my favorite players to watch....not a home run king....but a solid double hitter guy. Every single guy made a difference....with little or no hoopla about them coming up to the start of the World Series. Overlooked, unappreciated, and unknown. I love it!!!!
But the guy who is the Poster Child for skinny geeks everywhere, should have the biggest smile this morning. King of Overlooked, Tim Lincecum, the right-handed sensation who looks like a 16 year old 90 pound weakling gave everyone something to think about. Even Lincecum's dad put all his efforts into his older, bigger brother. Lincecum was 4'11" and 85 pounds when he was a freshman in high school. He shot 12 inches by his junior year, when he made the varsity team. Even though he consistently made all-star teams, he often played the spectator, as no one believed he was the real deal because he was so scrawny. Even when he started proving his consistent pitching success, no one trusted what they saw. The first year he was eligible for the MLB draft, he was chosen in the 48th round....he went to college instead, where he kicked baseball butt. Even so, the next time he was eligible for the draft, he was selected in the 41st round....he stayed in school. It wasn't until a couple of years later that the Giants took a chance on "Tiny Tim" and signed him, sending him through their farm system. He has astounded would-be hitters ever since! Who can believe it? He is freakishly little for a major league golden arm....but he doesn't seem to care. It is a good thing for the Giants, he never saw himself the way everyone else did.
I like Lincecum. He reinforces the idea that no matter what you look like, it is your heart that counts. He gives incentive to shake off what others say we can't do. He reminds me that after a lifetime of avoiding exercise, 40 year olds can still overcome the couch-potato syndrome and run 5K's!!!! What is it that Junior Asparagus says? "Little Guys Can Do BIG Things, Too"!!! Yeah, Lincecum proves that, too!
I am so excited for the whole San Francisco team this morning. I'm sold. I am a fan.
I am Freakin' Out!!!!
2 comments:
Delicious!!!
I love this post and I agree completely. It was great to win it all with a rag tag bunch that nobody wanted. There are no *'s by anyone's name and there is no doubt that they earned it fair and square. It was fun, too, to talk to my dad after every game. He has been cheering for the Giants for over 60 years, and he finally got a win. He was sooooooooo excited! Dan sent him a World Series Champion baseball hat, so even though my sister is getting married in a couple of weeks, I think Dan has favorite son-in-law status nailed down for good.......even if Seth does write good poems:-)
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