Game Six

By Staff

Wow. Never give up on the Angels. With the Giants up 5-0 going into the bottom of the seventh, the Giants fans were counting the outs until they got the ring. They figured nine more outs six of those outs. The Angels put up three runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth against a bullpen that had been invulnerable so far in the World Series. Some thoughts:

• For as great as he's been at the plate, Barry looked terrible in the outfield tonight. On the two key hits to left late in the game, Bonds had the dropsies. He never had a great arm, but was able to play at a Gold Glove level for years because of his speed and intelligence in positioning himself. But how can a guy with the skills that Bonds has shown over the years have so many problems picking up a baseball?
  
  
• There isn't too much second-guessing when it comes to pulling Russ Ortiz. He was up around 100 pitches and was missing the strike zone. Perhaps trotting out Felix Rodriguez for the sixth time in six games was the bad move. The three-run jack he gave up to Spiezio turned the game. After that the Giants were on the ropes. Credit Mike Scioscia for managing a take-no-prisoners style that helps the Angels in their comebacks.
  
  
• We'll find out how Bonds gets pitched to in a Game Seven. Tonight saw an intentional walk with a man on first and two outs in the first and an excuse-me walk that turned into a double play in the fourth. Things got interesting in the sixth when he went head-to-head with K-Rod. This time Barry figured out the kid and put one deep into the seats. His last at bat, also against K-Rod, saw him strike out on a pitch that fooled him badly. If I am Scioscia, I make Santiago beat me.
  
  
• After seeing the two starters implode in Game Two, it was nice to see them master the batters tonight.
  
  
• Giants fans no doubt are flashing back to 1987 when the team went to St. Louis up 3-2 in the NLCS, only to lose in seven games.
  
  
• Granted that Fox has NFL commitments, but it should be written into the TV contract that Game Seven should be a day game. Here we will have a deciding game, and kids on the east coast and in the Central time zone will have to stay up way past their bedtimes on a school night. Most young Angels fans are probably in the Pacific time zone, but those who aren't probably went to bed thinking that the Giants had finished off their team.