Freese Cardinals: Paul Sullivan's dad

Showing posts with label Paul Sullivan's dad. Show all posts

Friday, October 28, 2011

Sharing an all time classic with my dad

The Game 6 classic was truly one of the greatest baseball games I ever saw in my life. It was insane. It was bonkers.

By the 6th inning with all the errors I thought "This is one nutty game."
Then the home runs...
Then the Cardinals came back down to their last strike...
Then Hamilton homered...
Then the Cardinals came back down to their last strike AGAIN...
Then they won.

It was so obviously a classic. I was kind of shaking when the game was over. And I desperately wanted to talk to someone.

I called my dad. Now I had no idea if my dad was watching the game recorded.
"Yeah."
"Dad, how much time did you leave at the end?"
"Normal length. Why did it go long?"

I paused. I knew there was NO WAY he was going to record the whole thing. He would be watching it and somewhere it would run out.

"Yeah dad. It went long."

So I proceeded to tell my dad all about the game.

I could build the suspense and hear my dad saying "No!" or "Oh my god!" as I told him how the Cardinals kept creeping closer and coming back.

And then I described the finale.
Long pause.

My dad said "Wow."

And then we started talking about the greatest World Series games we ever saw.

Clearly this was a top 5 game for me.
And my dad experienced it with me telling him the highlights by cell phone.

And in a wonderful way, I got to experience it again... but this time it was a gift to my dad.

And THAT is a Fall Classic.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Mirrors by the Bay

My dad is currently shaking his head in wonder over yet another win by the Giants.

"It's amazing. They win with mirrors. They have a bunch of nobodies but they find a way to win. It's absolutely criminal."

I am at my parents place for a few days and I get few joys quite like watching my dad watch the Giants win... because let's face it. They've had so many close games and walk off wins and nail biters that a few bounces here and a dribbler there and they would have a losing record, let alone have a 3 1/2 game lead.

"Bochy just knows what he is doing," my dad said. "He gets everyone involved in every game."

And he's right. In a 4-2 well pitched game, the Giants used 17 of 25 players including 6 pitchers.

I said "They could use another hitter."

"Where?" my dad asked.

"An outfielder," I suggested.

"Nate Schierholtz went 3 for 4 with a go ahead hit. Torres got an RBI hit. How could another outfielder do better than that?" He countered.

Can't argue with that.

"Get our team a lead in the 7th and just go home. Amazing." My dad is currently a wonderful combination of total bewilderment and a giddy realization that his team is currently having a wonderful run.

The Giants may never be more fun than they are now.

I never said better. I said more fun.

They are winning with insane luck, mirrors and lots of agita for the fans.

My dad wouldn't have it any other way.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Giants... play a boring game... for my DAD'S sake!

Look, the heart stopping wins are great, Giants. But it is getting a bit rough on my dad.
EVERY SINGLE NIGHT he has to watch a great pitcher, like Bumgarner tonight, throw a gem with zero wiggle room and wait for late game heroics.

Sandoval's go ahead double was amazing and Crawford's game ending double play was the coolest play of the year because I was convinced it was a game winning walk off hit for the Tigers.

But understand my dad watches every inning.
And tonight he was mumbling things like "We should harness the wind caused by our bats and we'd solve the energy crisis" and kept saying that Bochy has been SENTENCED to the job of Giants manager.

The Giants are defending their World Series title in as exciting a manner as I can remember.
But we have guests coming over this weekend. I'd like to see my dad relax a little.

Thanks a bunch.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

I am jealous of my dad

He is currently sitting at AT&T Park watching the Defending World Champion San Francisco Giants take on the Cleveland Indians.

Late afternoon game... Madison Bumgarner on the mound... have fun dad.

Friday, June 24, 2011

4 1/3 no hit innings from the bullpen?

Not too shabby.
Those orange shirts? Still not a fan.

But as long as the Giants keep winning, then I know my dad is happy.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Jealous of my dad

The Giants just won a come from behind game against the Rockies.

It was a great game...

And my dad, the huge Giants fan was as thrilled as any fan for the 8th inning game winning rally.

Where did he watch the game?

Club level at AT&T Park!

Hope you had fun Poppy!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

It's not a bad stadium... but AT&T Park is better

For the first time since the mid 1950s, my dad is a fan of the defending World Series Champs. And who knows? They are in first place by themselves again and there could be another fun October this year.

It's my dad's birthday and everything I wrote a couple of years ago still stands.

The main thing that is different is I got to watch part of the World Series with him last year. We've both had recent World Series winners and for a long time it seemed like NEITHER of us would see our teams win.

I am still curious to see what would happen in a Giants - Red Sox World Series.
Maybe this is the year.

But that is speculation for the future.
For today, all I can say to the man my kids call "Poppy" is Happy Birthday. Let's have a lot more.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

The Giants start and fact checking

It is early... but it is also safe to say that if the Defending World Champion San Francisco Giants lose the Division by a game, these 2 one run losses in Chavez Ravine will hurt.

My dad, the biggest fan of the champs that I know, waved his hand. "We started the season last year being swept by the Astros. It turned out all right."

I didn't remember that being the case. "No, they started awfully" my dad assured me. "4 games in people were calling into KNBR screaming."

So that was going to be the general premise of this post. But before I started typing, I decided to double check it.

No, the Giants didn't get swept by the Astros to start the 2010 World Championship season.

THEY swept the Astros! And then won a 13 inning thriller in Atlanta. They started the season 4-0... 6-1... 7-3...

But that is the trust I have in my dad. He said it so convincingly that I took it on face value that the Giants started the season 0-4.

Damn facts getting in the way of what was going to be a very funny post!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Off sync with the Giants and my parents

I called my parents the second Juan Uribe won the game for the Giants last night to get their thoughts on the Giants somehow taking a 3-1 lead.

SULLY:
Some game! Up 3-1!

SULLY'S DAD:
I love it.

SULLY'S MOM:
It's great but watching it out of sync is driving me crazy.

SULLY:
(As confused as you)
Wait. Are you watching it live or on DVR? Do you not know how it ends?

SULLY'S MOM:
Oh we watched the ending. But it's all out of sync because Poppy has the radio on.

SULLY'S DAD:
I have to hear Kruk and Kuip.

(Kruk and Kuip refer to Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper, the wonderful Giants announcers on KNBR.)

SULLY:
But dad... if you are listening to the radio, you are hearing it before you are seeing it.

SULLY'S DAD:
The delay isn't bad.

SULLY'S MOM:
It's AWFUL. It's 30 seconds.

SULLY'S DAD:
It's NOT 30 seconds. It's about 11 seconds.

SULLY:
11 seconds? It might as well be a minute! You could be hearing "Long drive and it is GONE!" while the visual is the pitcher picking up the rosin bag.

SULLY'S MOM:
It drives me crazy.

SULLY'S DAD:
I just can't take Joe Buck and Tim McCarver.

SULLY:
I know it is rough. I had to hear them call two Red Sox World Series titles. But you've got to bite the bullet on this and watch it live.

SULLY'S MOM:
Thank you!

SULLY'S DAD:
But baseball is basically a lot of talk and a highlight here and there. So most of the time it is fine to be out of sync. It only affects it on the big plays.

SULLY'S MOM:
Yeah, it only is annoying at the most exciting moments of the game.

SULLY:
Dad. Why don't you go into the living room and listen to KNBR and let mom watch the game without her feeling like she is watching a Godzilla movie?

SULLY'S DAD:
Maybe I will.

Today I found out that my dad "figured out how to get the radio in sync with the TV." I am sure it will work fine.

So Poppy... if you want to see the end of the game with the KNBR guys in SYNC... CLICK HERE.

And if you want to share my mom's experience, watch this movie:

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Nobody focuses on the Giants like my dad

My dad (aka Poppy) can tell you anything you want to know about the Giants.
He can casually rattle off the 1954 Giants' roster...
He can give you a scouting report on the current team...
When new players come up from Fresno, he is anticipating their arrival...
When prospects are tearing up San Jose, he has his eye on them.

He is NOT a casual baseball fan. Far from it.

But he is unique.
He has Giants tunnel vision.
I used to think he only knew about the National League.

But he really only knows the Giants and whomever they are playing THAT DAY.

A case in point.

Today the Yankees clinched the Division Series as the Twins did a brilliant impersonation of the Polish Army circa 1939.

The Yankees of course are chocked full of Superstars and many played today.

A-Rod, Jeter, Teixeira, Cano and Rivera all played.

So did All Stars Swisher and Hughes.

And former All Stars Posada and Hughes.

They had a GALAXY of stars... and stormed into the ALCS with the biggest marquee names in the show.

I got an e mail from my dad tonight.

"The Yankees
I hardly know who most of the players are!!
Should I?"

No you shouldn't Poppy... not until they play the Giants in the World Series.
(And if that happens, nobody will be able to tell you more about the Yankees than my dad.)

Sunday, October 3, 2010

No person I'd rather watch a clinching with than Poppy

My dad was in town this weekend and we watched a lot of baseball. That wasn't the original plan... the plan was we'd watch his Giants clinch on Friday night and spend the rest of the weekend in L.A. County with my kids.

As it turned out Cain got bombed and Barry Zito blew his chance to redeem his contract in the eyes of Giants fans.

So we were glued to the set today... and watching a game with my dad is an experience.

Sometimes he doesn't move. You wonder if he is asleep. Then when Guillen grounds out you just hear a "JE-sus... swinging on the first pitch." And then you know my dad hasn't missed a pitch.

Or then comes his predictions.
When Miguel Tejada came up in a key spot today, he grumbled "This is it... he's about to hit the home run that will haunt us forever." Then with added emphasis pointed at the screen... as if I were about to miss his seer like abilities.

Tejada grounded out.

Later when Aubrey Huff came up in a critical situation, he said "Watch. He's about to hit the home run that will forever cement his legend."

He also grounded out.

Back when Bonds was with the Giants, every time a pitcher threw to him, my dad would say "Gone."

And when the odds caught up to him and Bonds DID hit a homer, my dad would turn to me and say "I called it."

I would reply "You call EVERY pitch."

My dad would have it off and say "admit it... I called it."

And I couldn't deny it. I am thrilled for my dad this year. He follows the Giants closer than anyone who isn't currently employed by KNBR.

I remember in 2008 I was driving home and listening to a Giants/Dodgers game late in the season. The Giants were 100% out of it and it was a week night. Bengie Molina homered for the Giants and I called my dad.

He picked up the phone. He didn't even say "Hello?" He just said "How about Bengie Molina?"

Dedication to a team... my dad has it.

So I'm glad we could see the Giants win the West.

But today my dad asked me "if I can get World Series tickets, will you fly up?"

He's already past Atlanta, Cincinnati and Philadelphia.

Let's go Giants. My dad has paid enough dues watching this team to finally see another World Series title.

And I have a feeling he has many more predictions to make this post season.

Friday, September 10, 2010

ROOM AT THE TOP

Now my dad has always told me that when you look at the standings, you don't first look at the Games Behind column. You look at the loss column. A team can make up wins, but they can't take away losses.

So often I'll try to cheer my dad up by saying "The Giants are 3 games back" and he would mumble "4 back in the loss column."

So I know my dad is scanning the standings like crazy and now his Giants sit on top of the NL West with the Padres.

Now granted, the Giants are still one back in the loss column... but admit it, dad. It looks sweet.
The Giants at the top.
Games behind... ZERO.

As for the Padres... think of this. On August 19th, less than a month ago, they had just finished winning 10 of 11 games and opened up a 6 game lead in the Division.

As recently as August 28th, they still had a 6 game lead.

They are 6-14 since then. 5 of those 6 wins were against the sleep walking Dodgers and the terrible Diamondbacks.

With the Rockies winning streak continuing, there is a possibility that the Padres could fall all the way to third place in the Division.

The Rockies are only 3 back in the loss column.

Either way, tomorrow morning I want my many Giant fan friends to gaze at the standings. You guys haven't been in first place this late since 2003.

Savor it... and don't let that loss column bother you.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

For Bobby Thomson's sake... Let's pick it up Giants!

On August 11th, I wrote about how the Giants had about as good a chance as any to win the NL Pennant assuming they made the post season.

None of the other NL Teams were powerhouses and San Francisco could steamroll them through the NLCS.

The Giants have dropped 4 of the next 6 games including the brutal first few games of the Phillies series.

So now the Giants have fallen out of a playoff spot... they look lost and even my dad, the biggest Giants fan I know declared them dead.

But guess what? They looked dead in 1951 as well.

While I wrote about the Giants hopes on August 11th this year, on August 11th 1951 the Giants were 13 1/2 games behind the Dodgers before they completed the Miracle at Coogan's Bluff and Bobby Thomson hit the Shot Heard 'Round The World.

Thomson passed away this week and while that was nearly 60 years ago, the home run still resonates in baseball lore and should be looked on as hope for the current Giants club.

OK, there's no Willie Mays or Monte Irvin on this squad. And yeah, their starting pitching is in a huge slump.

There's no 13 1/2 deficit to overcome. In fact if the Giants and Jonathan Sanchez can beat the Phillies and Cole Hamels this evening, they'll be only 2 games back in the loss column with 40 games to play.

Making up 2 games in 40 games isn't a miracle. It's focus.

Come on Giants. You can still win the Pennant! You can still win the Pennant!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

October Collision Course

Two teams had walk off wins today that were thrilling and made me really hope they face off, for many different reasons.

The Giants won this afternoon thanks to a pair of home runs by Pat Burrell, a shot by Sandoval and a walk off by Torres.

I guess all of my begging and pleading for the Giants to sign Johnny Damon wasn't necessary. Torres has done the job just fine.

And Pat Burrell has turned into the best mid season pick up for the Giants that I can remember since Rick Reuschel in 1987.

Meanwhile, across the country, the Giants arch rival Dodgers had their season basically end in a disastrous 9th inning that was partially caused by the spell and hexes cast onto the the L.A. Bullpen from this young Phillies fan.

As gruesome as the 9th inning was for Los Angeles and it seemingly will put a nail in the coffin of the Joe Torre era in Chavez Ravine, it also shows that the Phillies are peaking at a very advantageous time.

Any time you are down 9-2 in the 8th inning and can pull off the win, against a team with a winning record no less, it is time to pay attention.

I think the Phillies and Giants are on a collision course that will meet in October.

Now there is one problem with that prediction... as of this writing, both teams are in second place. The Giants and Phillies are tied in the loss column for the Wild Card.

Maybe that is where the collision will be.

Imagine a Wild Card play in game with Tim Lincecum versus Roy Halladay or Roy Oswalt.

But truth be told, I think both teams are making the post season. It will be only a matter of time before the Phillies leap frog the Braves.

And we'll see what happens with the Giants after this weekend's series with San Diego.

But Holy Cats, I want to see the Giants and the Phillies square off for meaningful games in October.

Not only will there be the intrigue of two teams with multiple aces...

Not only will there be the return of Pat Burrell to Philadelphia...

Not only will there be two passionate fan bases playing in new beautiful ballparks...

But my dad is a huge Giants fan.

And his brother, my uncle Don is a huge Phillies fan.

The potential fireworks between the brothers with meaningful games in October is too wonderful to avoid.

Now a potential Giants/Phillies showdown was thwarted before... in 1993 when the Giants won 103 games and missed the postseason because they were inexplicably in the same geographical division as the Braves.

So once again the Braves could stand in the way of a Giants-Phillies showdown.

Let's go Giants and let's go Phillies... if the Red Sox can't make it in October, I had better experience some other family fireworks!!!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Waking Giants... Pessimistic Dad

Some people can see the glass as half full.

Others see it as half empty.

And others see it not only empty but shattered on the floor.

After a dreadful 2 weeks, the Giants went into Milwaukee demoralized... and then did nothing short of pulverizing the Brewers.

They didn't just win. They swept a 4 game series... On the Road... by scores of 6-1, 6-1, 15-2 and 9-3.

It was a 4 game winning streak that was just what the doctor ordered. They are just 5 games in back of San Diego and they have kept pace with the surging Dodgers and Rockies.

Naturally I called my dad, the biggest Giants fan I know, to talk about his team's good fortune.

"Your guys looked good today."

"Ahhh, Zito didn't. He was so wild that he couldn't even finish the 5th inning."

"But you scored 9 runs... in fact your bats went berzerk."

"We could have used some of those runs against Colorado."

"But after all of this you are still within 5 games of an overachieving San Diego team, a Dodgers team that can't make a big trade and a Rockies team that has been up and down."

"Ah we blew it."

Let's hope the Giants can keep their winning ways against Washington.

Maybe an 8 game winning streak will get my dad excited.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Red Sox vs. Giants was fun... let's do it again in October

Lester came to the rescue today, but Heaven forbid the Red Sox have a game without an injury!!!

So with Dustin Pedroia, Clay Buchholz and Victor Martinez banged up, the Sox leave San Francisco with 2 wins.

I am glad about that... and I will root for the Giants in EVERY game for the rest of the season.

They are my National League team.

I went to high school in the Bay Area and I rooted for Los Gigantes in the 1987 and 1989 post season.

I would cut class from time to time and drive up to Candlestick Park and see Will Clark, Kevin Mitchell, Matt Williams and Big Daddy Reuschel play for the great Hum Baby teams of Roger Craig.

And I also have seen many games with Barry Bonds at both the Stick and on China Basin.

And then there is the matter of my dad and my son.

My dad is the single biggest Giants fan I have ever met in my life.

He is up listening to the post game show when the Giants are 20 games out.

He is the first to call me when a big Giants prospect has been called up.

He was a Giants fan way back when they were in the Polo Grounds and he has cheered them from Coogan's Bluff to Seal's Stadium to Candlestick Point to China Basin.

And his grandson, my son Aidan, whose middle name is also my dad's name, loves his grandpa (or Poppy as he is known) so much that with no prompting he has claimed the Giants as HIS team.

He doesn't know the players yet... but when asked what his favorite team is, with great pride he says "The GIANTS!"

So for the generation before and after me, I hope the Giants go all the way to the World Series.

And I hope the Red Sox are there too.

And I hope the Sox SWEEP!

(Love for family can only go so far)