The game stopped for nearly 10 minutes.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Victor Robles lay in agony. He had just hurtled over the wall and into the netting, making one of the most spectacular catches you'll ever see at a speed most of us could never reach.
Robles's herculean effort offered little reward. He secured the out, yes. But the winning run advanced to second because Robles catapulted himself out of play. He left the field on a cart, leaving me and everyone else to think. And feel. And wonder.
How do you reconcile the thrills of an incredible play with the sobering sight of an staggering to his knees? How do you square that with the anticipation of a walk-off hit? And what happens when it comes on the very next pitch?
One moment the ballpark sat silent and numb. The next it pulsated over a seventh straight win, the previous 10 minutes a distant memory.
There's no right or wrong response, just a nod that you may never see a sequence like that ever again.
ICYMI: I’m doing a Giants podcast with KNBR’s Kerry Crowley. Listen to the first episode of Giants Postcards wherever you get your podcasts, and expect to hear from us every week throughout the season.
Up next: In one of those weird schedule quirks, the Reds are back, and it’ll be an Opening Day rematch: Hunter Greene vs. Logan Webb. First pitch tonight at 6:45 pm.
Also listen to Calling All Halos! Sam explains well how decisions are made (ex: IL players): FO, manager or owner. Delving into Angels’ relationship w/city was interesting too. I enjoy that you/Kerry are hard core Giants fans, but not thru rose-colored glasses.
Beyond W/L, paying attention to the margins matters (duh). Melvin’s 2023 Padres = Melvin’s 2024 Giants: No identity.
2024 Padres: ShildtBall as described by Kevin Acee:
“Having watched the team in 2023 and I reluctantly say this, but I’m saying this to get my point across, because I don’t want to blanket the team, and I don’t want to get too much in the past…Essentially put their uniforms out their some nights and thought they would win in 2023. And the people in charge there, in terms of the coaching staff and the manager, kind of thought that would be the case too. How are we not winning more with all this talent. Mike Shildt wins at the margins.” - Kevin Acee on Hot Lava podcast
2025 Giants: BusterBall. Similar to Shildt: creates identity, detail oriented. Uber prepared. Old school fundamentals. No excuses when shit happens (sloppy ball, injuries, long road trips).
https://www.si.com/mlb/padres-contact-hitting-old-school-mike-shildt-victor-rodriguez
During ST/early season 2024, Giants beat writers doubled down that Melvin and his old school coaches improved fielding drills and pre-game. Only Eno Sarris correctly called it “eyewash.”
https://x.com/enosarris/status/1777846888534090238?s=46
Melvin whines a lot: “It’s a long road trip, so it’s going to feel like we’re there a month.”
Padres played 18 games in 18 days in August/September 2024, starting in Denver (fun fact: Rockies own Padres; win season series). Shildt: “Winners find solutions.” Refused to blame long trip. Every team does it. When injuries happen to star players, it’s next man up. “Grit Sqad.” Sounds hokey, but Draymond said Warriors lost to Spur: “It was lack of grit.” Posey signed players to long term contracts who have history of playing with grit.