If the Padres Killed the Giants' 2009 Season, At Least It Got Its Last Rites

Never let it be said that my fear of the Baseball Gods' wrath is phobic. Exaggerated perhaps, but certainly not unfounded or illogical. "As a die-hard San Francisco Giant fan with a long memory pockmarked by devastation, I'm trying not to get too excited. But it's getting harder and harder ..." I wrote those words to end an article about Brad Penny's resplendent debut against the Philadelphia Phillies. It was the morning of Sept. 3, the Gents were 73-60, and were staring down the barrel of their season with the gleam of a sterling rotation in their eyes. In truth, the center held for a bit—although Penny's gem would be the only victory of the three-gamer in the City of Brotherly Love, the fellas would traipse through Milwaukee and take two of three from the Brewers. Then came the anarchy, and blood-dimmed tide while innocence and conviction fled. Just when you least expected it. Los Gigantes should've been riding a crest of momentum with the l...