Good points, Bad points

Without beating a dead horse, and after digesting a bit, here's some of my major points of discussion from Game 1.

• Lincecum pitched well.  And it was nice to see him take a piece of Uribe with him.  Listen, 1 unearned run, 5 h, 3 BB and 5 k's in 7 is a decent game.  He was humping the ball into 94-95 territory, and he is notoriously terrible in adrenaline games.  Except Game 5 on 11/1 and now we can add 2011 opening day.
• Tejada -- o'fer with an error -- not going to cut it bro, you best pick it up.
• Burrell ding dong was nice, but he fouled out with a runner on in one pitch with a runne ron int he 6th.  Would like to see him execise patience, but nothing breaks a 5 month-long slump like going yard.
• I heard today from John Shea on Twitter:
  

  Stat o' the night: Dodgers threw 135 pitches, 29 to Belt. That's 21 percent to one guy. Great plate discipline by the kid.

  
  Absolutely flabbergasted.  Belt's got much need discipline in an unruly lineup and he's got poise in the field.  BTW, this was his first game in a very hostile environment.
• Andres Torres, epic 12 pitch AB.  Apparently he swung at a pitch after Kuo threw 6 balls in a row.  Lead off man's got to be more patient, but Torres is an aggressive guy -- game 1, we'll cut him slack
• Same goes for Posey.  The error was not mental, you take chances and you get burned sometimes.  Seemed like he had nerves
• In fact, nerves is the word of the night.  2 first timers for opening day, and everyone but Burrell is new to title defense.  Tonight things should be more calm
  ('course, Sanchez is tossing, so maybe not)

Game 1: Giants Lose Opener to Dodgers 2-1,

Lincecum pitched 7, allowed 0 earned runs, 5 k's but loses due to walks and shady defense.

Burell goes yard.  Dodgers' Kershaw looks good.  Not scary good, but way decent good.  Latos-good.

I listened to the first 3 on the radio in the car, on my way to buy a new ukulele.  Then sort of followed the game on my phone and peeking around the corner into the bar at Noriega Pizza. 

aside from what looked like butterflies, thought they looked good.  Belt looked good, 1 for 3 with a walk, worked a couple counts.  Sandoval seemed to be playing light on his feet at 3rd.

All in all, a positive loss.  2-1 is just a pitchers' duel and Timmy was a little less perfect than Kershaw.  Dammit.

Time to get ready for a long season.  Oh, BTW, we got Jonathan Sanchez tomorrow, it'd be nice to take 3 out of 4, I'll settle for 2 on the road though (Z's pitching Sunday and he got a bonked head).

T-minus 53 minutes

Opening Day Lineup

Torres CF
Sanchez 2B
Huff RF
Posey C
Burrell LF
Tejada SS
Belt 1B
Sandoval 3B
Lincecum P

Final thoughts before first pitch

The Giants tap into something awfully primal in my soul.

Every year, the Giants are vastly underrated.  Sometimes they underachieve, sometimes they get hurt, and sometimes they disappoint, but my expectations are alwayts high.

I was nervous that a world championship would institute a sort of indifference in my attitude towards this team.  After all, once they've won, where would that fervent desire and chip on ym shoulder come from.

AND THEN, I PUT UP ALL OFF SEASONM WITH NATIONAL D-BAGS TALKING ABOUT HOW THE BEST PITCHING STAFF IN THE MLB WAS COMPOSED OF 4 GUYS THAT ALL LOST TO THE GIANTS IN THE POST SEASON!

So, there's that.

Fact is, I'm more expectant than ever now.  2008 was a season that compeltely lost my interest by late July.

2009 brought tears to my eyes with SAnchie's no-no and Panda Bear's incredible hitting.  And Timmy's Cy Young.

2010 started with the expectation for play-offs.  I cursed DeRosa early, I cursed SAbean and Bochy.  Then I lauded them for Posey.  I struggled with Timmy in August, and, after one loss to the Dodgers in September, I cried in agony into a pillow for about 30 minutes -- without shame -- in front of my wife, in front of my dog (luckily my son was already in bed) because the Giants were 1.5 out of first and I thought the season was over.

(1-0 is my least favorite score)

And, then history, unlikely history, happened unexpectedly.

This season promises more of the same, and its the same team so they better effin' win!

Dodgers' Opening Day Lineup

From John Shea

Lincecum"s foes. Uribe sixth. RT @Dodgers Furcal 6, Gwynn, Jr. 7, Ethier 9, Kemp 8, Loney 3, Uribe 5, Barajas 2, Carroll 4, Kershaw 1

Opening Freaking Day