Since last night, I've watched the clip of the Brian Wilson's last strikeout of Nelson Cruz maybe 25 times. It was a gorgeous swinging strikeout on a cutter inside, which was nice to see after the called strike three at the knees to Ryan Howard to end the NLCS, and the close call at first base to end the NLDS in Atlanta. It was a no-doubter. And it also hit the perfect dramatic note of being thrown on a 3-2 pitch. It's my favorite moving image of all time.
But I did something strange the last couple of times I watched it. I paused the clip. But not after the strikeout. Not on Wilson's gesture to the sky or Posey running out to greet him or the whole team celebrating. I hit pause on the moment right before he throws the pitch.
It's the last moment for this franchise, in this city, as a team that has never won the World Series. The last moment where a Giants fan is a long-suffering fan. The last moment where we are like the Cubs and the Indians and not like the Red Sox and the White Sox. The last moment where we can't think about 2002 or 1989 or 1962 because we don't know whether or not it will all turn out okay. The last moment where Dodger fans could email the picture of the San Francisco Giants empty trophy case to each other and laugh.
Do I just enjoy lingering on painful memories? No! Get your mind out of the gutter, sicko.
But all of the realities that that last moment represents - right before being wiped away with Nelson Cruz' swing and miss - were a huge part of the identity of the San Francisco Giants. And their identity is changed now. Our identity is changed now.
What is this the start of? Will this turn into a dynasty, or will this be a one-time thing? Does this team stay intact with a strong core of players or are we the 1997 Marlins? Will we become like Yankee fans that everyone resents? Or will we be like Royals fans still waiting for that second title 25 years later?
We're headed somewhere, and no one knows how many championships, or years without one lay ahead. So savor this one, fans. Enjoy it. There will never be one like the first one.
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