Eight victories away from the World Series.
Between now and when that road starts on Saturday, there will be plenty of time to dissect, hope, critique, obsess, and recommend. There will be time to look toward the future and try to put some kind of frame around it.
Right now, I'm looking toward the past. To March, to be exact. Looking at a team with strong starting pitching, question marks everywhere else, and leadership in which I had minimal trust to provide answers. Since then, a lot of young players grew up, a lot of older players played like they weren't done yet, and a lot of people made decisions which - either through luck or foresight - worked out.
I don't know what's going to happen next weekend, but then again, I didn't know what was going to happen last March. The Giants exceeded my expectations. Jonathan Sanchez grew from a thrower with good stuff - who either walked a dozen or struck out a dozen - to a mature pitcher who could settle in after a rocky start. Freddy Sanchez went from a washed-up, streaky hitter to a permanent fixture as the second batter in the lineup. Bruce Bochy went from a haggard former catcher who seemed to be guessing when he filled out the lineup card to a shrewd game manager who had a penchant for putting someone like Cody Ross in the lineup at just the right time.
We're one series away from the World Series. Unbelievable. And although the Phillies are definitely a much tougher foe than the Braves, I have to believe that some yet-to-be-identified Giants will grow, transition, and become something tomorrow that they aren't today.
If enough guys do that, then we'll have an interesting series on our hands.
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