Surely you're aware that Freddy Sanchez left last night's game with a injury to his left knee. I am serious and will call you Shirley.)  He's scheduled to have an MRI today according to Baggs.  How severe the injury is is critical for a couple reasons:

• It'll likely determine whether Sanchez is done for the season
• It'll likely determine how the team considers their decision about Sanchez for next season

The team has an $8.1 million option on Sanchez for next season that did not automatically vest because of his PAs or a $600,00 buyout.  As Kuip said on KNBR this morning, the Giants are probably seriously considering NOT exercising the option now that Sanchez will miss games for the third time in his short stint with the team.

It presents quite the dilema as $8.1 million is a big chunk of change for a guy whose availablility is now in serious doubt.  Perhaps the best option is to negotiate a cheaper 1-year deal to give Sanchez a chance to prove he can stay healthy and re-establish his value.

The Giants could also decide to give Sanchez his $600,000 and let him walk.  Where they might have been previously hesitant to do so before, his injuries give them an excuse to change their mind about keeping him.  Either way, they're bound to take a lot of heat for giving up Alderson for 25 games of Sanchez.

Personally, I like Sanchez, but not at $8.1 million.  If a cheaper 1-year deal can't be worked out, I'd rather stick Velez there and put that money toward a Bay/Holliday/Crawford type of player.

Comment starter: What would you do and what do you think the Giants will do?

For the umpteenth time this year, there's an "it's over" pessimism sweepting our community.  Not to blown sunshine up your collective asses, but how about we not give up quite yet.  If there's one thing this year's team has taught us, it's that it's very easy to write them off when they still have a heartbeat.

Last night's game was tough, but as Kuip said, it really wasn't "must win", because that would mean the loss it finished the team's chances.  Hardly.

Props to i wish we were good and kitspool for figgerin' out that that catching the Rockies is feasible:

The Giants could go 12-4:
win 1 of 3 vs LA
win 2 of 3 vs ARI
win 3 of 4 vs CHI
win 3 of 3 vs ARI
win 2 of 3 vs SD

The Rockies could so 7-8:

Rockies lose 2 of 3 in Arizona
Rockies win 2 of 3 at home against Padres
Lose 2 of 3 at home against Cards
Win 2 of 3 at home against Brewers
Lose 2 of 3 in Los Angeles

As Kruk said last night, the Rockies are leaking oil.  Hell, they gave up 22 runs in three games to our stinky offense, so let's stay on this thing.  With their surprising success this season, we're playing with house money.  I'm all in!

Since everyone is in a bad mood, I thought I'd just pile on with a little story that'll bum you out even more.

A friend of mine from work, who's from LA and a Dodger fan (he's ok though) was in Phoenix on business.  He went to an evening D'Backs/Dodgers game.  When he got back to the hotel, he saw Manny Ramirez sitting in the hotel lounge area.  Manny looked up and saw my friend in his Dodger shirt and gave him a thumbs up. 

My friend went over, and almost apologetically, asked Manny if he'd mind signing an autograph for his son.  Manny not only said "Sure!  No problem!" but he proceeded to chat for a while with my friend.  Then he said, "Do you have a camera? We can take a picture if your kid would like that."  My friend was bummed and said he left his Iphone in up in his room.  Manny said, "Well, go get it...I'll wait."

So my friend goes up to his room, gets his phone and goes back down there and Manny's still there waiting.  the problem was that there was no one to take the picture so they hung out and chatted a while and a cocktail waitress comes along and Manny asks her to take the picture.  They stand up and Manny puts his arm around my friend's shoulder and she takes the pic.  Manny told my friend to check the pic and it was all blurry, so he asked the waitress to take another.  That one turned out crappy too, so he had her take 3rd, which turned out well.  They chatted a little more and that's the end of the story.

My friend was pretty amazed at how cool Manny was in an era where so many players have no appreciation for the fans.  Not only was he more than happy to sign an autograph, but he was happy just to hang out and chat then went above-and-beyond in insisting my friend end up with a picture.  I want to hate Manny because he's a Dodger and because he's Manny, but now it's pretty hard after hearing this story...goddamn it!

Giants are winning...yay!

Goofus can't remember how to link it to the other overflow threads...boo!

Last night's home run by Molina was huge, dramatic and, for most of us, utterly and totally unexpected.  We were all bitching about Bochy's decision to have Molina up there and when he went 0-2, we all looked right.  Little did we foolish mortals know!

Memorable sports moments are even more memorable when they have a simple name that people instantly asscociate with that moment.  Cal's "The Play", The Steelers' "Immaculate Reception", The Niners' "The Catch" and The Giants' "Shot Heard 'Round The World" are etched in our collective conscience.

To properly memorialize Bengie "Big Money" Molina's 2-out, 3-run homer that perhaps ends up being the key moment of the 2009 season, I propose we officially name it. Naturally, since this is McC, it needs a name that's appropriately inappropriate.

I put it to you Greg Marmalard and McCoven, can we call it "The Big Money Shot"?

I saw the new Giants' commercial yesterday  and thought, "That's it!" The Giants have found a catch phrase that we can rally around like "Dustiny" or the Warriors' "We Believe" season.  (I'm in marketing, so I dig this stuff.)

"We're in the this thing!" brilliantly captures the excitement of being in the post-season chase when pretty much no one was expecting it.  It kind of reminds me of "Major League" when they show fans talking about the Indians and how they're not so bad after all.  Along with the "I'm in" that they use in the ads, it's a perfect way to capture the groundswell of enthusiasm that's building up.

If they haven't done so, the Giants would be smart to make t-shirts that say "We're in this thing!" on the front and "I'm in!" on the back. I'd definitely buy one.

So after the 6-1 home, where is the McCoven's mindset?  Everyone, take a look at my huge poll!

I haven't seen an in depth discussion of the return of Velez.  Since being called up, he's actually been contributing to wins.  His impressive numbers(211 OPS+) can easily be attributed to small sample size, but to me he looks like an entirely different player.  He's playing smarter and with more confidence, both at the plate and in the field.

I think the general consensus is that he was a player with some tools but just didn't have an aptitude for the game.  Seeing him since he returned, it looks like someone put a new brain in his head.

Could it be that Velez could actually be a part of this team on a go-forward basis?  If he keeps getting on base like he has been, he could be catalyst at the top of the order and perhaps playing LF.  I know people normally like to have a slugger at that position, but I'm reminded of Alan Wiggins (late father of basketball star Candice Wiggins) on the Padres in the 80s, a skinny speedy LF/2B who helped set the table and contributed to a pennant.

The thing the jumps out at me about Velez and makes him so intriguing is his ability to hit the ball hard. He's hardly a slugger, but his game doesn't rely on bloops and seeing-eye grounders like Burriss.  Along with his speed, it makes him a hard guy to give up on.

So what do others think?  Is he teasing us with fool's gold or has he perhaps settled down and found himself?