September 18th, 1988

We finish in Houston today and they are pitching John Candelaria (15-9, 2.83).

The Giants have Eric Show (14-13, 3.28).

I have gone 5 for 29, or .172 against Candelaria.

I kicked things off by grounding out to Rance Mulliniks at 3rd.

The Astros struck early when Harold Baines hit a one-out, two-run homer in the 1st.

Astros lead 2-0

I led off the 4th by striking out.

We made a nice Thompson - Priske - Aldrete double play to get Glenn Davis and Mulliniks in the 4th.

I made a tough play on a Candelaria grounder for the last out in the 5th.

I came up in the 6th with one out and Alan Cockrell on 1st. I hit into a double play.

I took care of a Mulliniks grounder for the 1st out in the bottom of the 7th.
I did the same to Dave Gallagher for the 3rd.

We evened things up in the 8th when Jim Presley and Ruben Sierra both singled and scored on a pinch hit single by Chris Brown.
With me standing at the plate, Chris was picked off 1st for the 3rd out.

Game tied 2-2

Scott Garrelts came in for us to pitch the 8th.

I led off the 9th, now facing Anthony Kelley. I grounded out to Bill Doran at 2nd.
That inning Ruben came up with the bases loaded and hit a three-run double.

Giants lead 5-2

Mark Davis came in to close things out.
I took care of a Baines grounder for the 1st out. Mark ended up giving up only a single and we had the win.

I went 0 for 4.

We eliminated the Astros from the playoffs, but we still trail the Padres by seven games. Statistically we have a 0.1% chance of making the playoffs.

13 games left.

Tomorrow we are in Atlanta.

September 19th, 1988

We are in Atlanta and the Braves are pitching Johnny Cash (13-15, 3.47).

The Giants are going with Bruce Ruffin (14-9, 2.87).

I have done very well against Cash, going 8 for 20.

I led off the game by earning a walk.
I went to 3rd on a Mike Aldrete single. Then Chili Davis walked, loading the bases with none out. I ended up scoring on a Gary Sheffield error. Then Mike scored on a Ruben Sierra sac fly.

Giants lead 2-0

I came up in the 2nd with one out and Phil Oullette on 1st. I replaced him with a fielder's choice but got no further.

In the 3rd both Chili and Rob Deer scored on a Robby Thompson single.

Giants lead 4-0

I led off the 4th by legging out an infield single! Stolen base #136. I went to 3rd on a groundout by Mike and scored on a groundout by Chili.

Giants lead 5-0

In the bottom half, Sheffield scored on a single by Ken Griffey Jr.
We ended the inning with a sharp Priske - Thompson - Aldrete double play to get Andres Galarraga and Nelson Santovenia.

Giants lead 5-1

In the 5th we turned another Priske - Thompson - Aldrete double play to get Brad Komminsk and Andres Thomas.

I came up in the 6th with Bruce on 1st and Marty Clary pitching. I took my second walk of the game. We were both left on.

I came up next with one out in the 8th and I got my second infield hit of the game, which was also my 150th hit of the season!
Stolen base #137
I was left.

I took care of a fielder's choice by Griffey Jr. for the 1st out in the bottom frame.
With two out and a man on, Jim went to Scott Garrelts.
He pitched the rest of the game, including a Thomas grounder I took care of for the last out in the 9th, and we had the win!

I went 2 for 3 with two singles, two walks, two runs scored, and two stolen bases.

That is four wins in a row. We may be on the ropes, but we aren't laying down.

September 20th, 1988

It is the 2nd game in a quick two-game set in Atlanta.

The Braves are pitching Len Damian (5-6, 3.31).

The Giants have Willie Fraser (6-10, 3.48).

I have gone 4 for 12 against Damian.

I led things off by flying out to Brad Komminsk in left.

We opened the scoring in the 2nd when Rob Deer crossed on a Bob Brenly sac fly.

Giants lead 1-0

I got the last out of the inning off a Komminsk grounder.

I came up with one out in the 3rd and managed an infield hit down the 3rd base line.
Stolen base #138
With two out, Chili Davis walked but we were both left.

I made a very nice play on an Andres Galarraga grounder for the final out in the 4th.

I led off the 6th by grounding out to Ron Gant at 2nd.

I took care of a Milt Thompson fielder's choice for the 1st out in the bottom of the 6th. Then Ken Griffey Jr. hit into a Thompson - Priske - Aldrete double play.

In the 7th Robby Thompson smashed a two run homer.

Giants lead 3-0

The Braves got on the board the tinning when Gant crossed on a Jeff Blauser sac fly.


Giants lead 3-1

I came up with one out in the 8th and took a walk.
Stolen base #139.
I advanced to 3rd on a fly out by Mike Aldrete, but got no further.

In the bottom of the 8th Griffey Jr. smacked a double to score Gerald Perry and Gary Sheffield. I took care of a Ganr grounder to end the threat, but they had tied it up.

Game tied 3-3

I handled a Galarraga grounder for the 1st out in the bottom of the 9th.

I came up in the 10th with two out and pinch hitter Ruben Sierra on 1st. Duane Ward was pitching. He walked me bit we were both left on.

Mark Davis came in to pitch for us.

I came up with two out in the 12th. Robby was on 3rd and pinch hitter Jessie Reid was on 1st. Steve Farr was pitching. I walked for the 3rd time this game. Mike struck out and we left them loaded.

Jeff Robinson took over for us in the 12th.

We tore things open in the 13th.

Bob Brenly came up with one out and the bases loaded. He singled, scoring Rob and Jim. Then Alan Cockrell singled, scoring Robby and Bob.
I came up with two out and flew out.

Giants lead 7-3

Goose Gossage came in to try to finish things off.
Three batters later, we had our fifth win in a row.

I went 1 for 4 with a single, three walks, and two stolen bases.

We are now ahead of the Dodgers but still trail the Padres by five games. They have a Magic Number of seven with eleven games to go.

Now we are off to Cincinnati.

September 21st, 1988

We are in Cincinnati to take on the Reds.

Every game is crucial if we want to cling to any scrap of hope.

Today the Reds are pitching Scott Terry (6-17, 5.12).

The Giants have Frank Viola (18-9, 1.99).

I have gone 4 for 7 against Terry. I am hoping for a good game.

I led things off by grounding out to Fred Manrique at 2nd.

I got the last out of the inning off a Kal Daniels grounder.

I caught a short fly by Nick Esasky for the 1st out in the bottom of the 2nd.
Then a made a great diving play on a Tim McIntosh grounder but threw the ball away for an error.
Grrrr.
Nothing came of it, thankfully.

I then came up with one out in the 3rd and grounded out to Esasky at 3rd.

I caught a Will Clark flare for the last out in the inning.

Then came the 4th.
Wow.

Jim Presley led off with a single.
Robby Thompson walked.
Bob Brenly singled, loading the bases.
With one out, Frank singled and Jim scored.
I singled and Robby scored.
Bob scored on a sac fly by Mike Aldrete.
Chili Davis then blasted a three run homer.
Rob Deer made it back-to-back dingers.

Giants lead 7-0

I took care of an Esasky grounder for the 2nd out in the bottom half.

I came up in the 5th with two out and Bob on 2nd. Jeff Fischer was now pitching.
He walked me.
We were both left on.

I handled a Beau Allred grounder for the 1st out in the bottom half.

The Reds got on the board in the 6th when Al Newman scored on a Daniels sac fly.

Giants lead 7-1

I came up in the 8th with one out and Ronald Warren pitching. I singled to left.
With two out I grabbed Stolen Base #140.
Then Chili walked. We tried a double steal but Chili was thrown out.

I took care of a Gary Redus grounder for the 1st out in the bottom half.
With two out and the bases loaded, Jim went to Bryan Hickerson. He got the out. He also got three more in the 9th and we had our sixth win in a row.

I went 2 for 4 with two singles, a walk, an RBI, a run scored, a stolen base, and an error.

The Padres lost so we are now out by four games and the Magic Number has not changed.

September 22nd, 1988

We end the road trip today and the Reds are throwing a rookie named Curt Hasler at us (0-0, 0.79).

The Giants have Rick Sutcliffe (17-10, 2.54).

This is Hasler's first start in the Majors, after pitching 11.1 innings in relief.

We have won six in a row.

I kicked things off by flying out to Kal Daniels in left.
Two batters later, Chili Davis smacked a home run.

Giants lead 2-0

I took care of a Will Clark grounder for the final out of the inning.

I came up in the 2nd with two out and Robby Thompson on 2nd and Rick on 1st. I reached with an infield single to load the bases.
Unfortunately, we were all left on.

In the bottom half, Daniels scored on a Kurt Stillwell double. Rick then walked the next two guys, pushing Ernie Whitt across! He struck ou the next two guys but then Stillwell and Beau Allard scored on a single by Fred Manrique. Then Clark doubles, scoring Ken Dowell.

That was enough for Jim as he went to Butch Henry.

It didn't get any better as Butch was called for a balk, scoring Manrique.

Reds lead 6-2

I got the 2nd out in the bottom of the 3rd off a Stillwell grounder.

I came up in the 5th with Butch on 1st. I flew out to Allard in centre.

In the bottom half, Clark scored on a Whitt single. Then Daniels scored on a Stillwell single. Whitt scored on an Allred single.

Reds lead 9-2

In the 7th Jessie Reid pinch hit and got his first Major League home run!
I came up next and Hasler hit me with a pitch! And then he mouthed off!
I am not going to lie, this game, in the midst of our last ditch attempt to get to the playoffs, had stressed me out and I was on edge.
I snapped and charged Hasler.
The benches cleared. Punches were thrown. We were both ejected.

We ended up losing 10-5.

I went 1 for 3 with a single before getting tossed.

I got word after that I would be suspended for four games.

This is my first ever suspension.

We are four games out, tied with the Dodgers. The Padres have a Magic Number of six, and I have to sit.

This was stupid.

September 23rd, 1988

We lost 3-1 to the Dodgers.

The Padres won.

September 24th, 1988

We lost 4-1 to the Dodgers.

The Padres lost.

September 25th, 1988

We lost 6-4 to the Dodgers.

The Padres lost.

September 26th, 1988

The Giants beat the Reds 4-2

The Dodgers beat the Padres.


My timing was disastrous.

The Padres have a Magic Number of Five and lead the Dodgers by One game. The Giants trail by Four.

Our season is hanging by a thread. Five games left and we MUST win them all to have ANY chance.

September 27th, 1988

The Reds are in town and pitching Freddie Tolliver (0-3, 7.13).

The Giants are going with Rick Sutcliffe (17-11, 2.74).

And I am sitting.

With our season on the line.

WHAT THE HELL.

I GET that the suspension was stupid, but WHAT THE LIVING HELL!!

They put me in as pinch runner and I got caught stealing on a pitchout.

That was it.

We lost 3-2.

We are eliminated.

I am not sure I can get over this. I was wrong to get suspended but Jim Lowe is a petty little man.

September 28th, 1988

I am sitting again, but now it is different. We are out.

I came in as pinch hitter in the 7th and stayed in. (I grounded out.)

Giants lead 4-3

Mark Davis came in to pitch the 9th for us, after Eric Show went 8.
I got a Tracy Johns grounder for the last out and we had the win.

September 30th, 1988

We finish the season with a three game set against the Dodgers. They need to sweep, and the Padres need to lose all their three against the Astros or San Diego clinches.

I am sitting again.

I got a fruitless pinch hitting opportunity, but that was it.

The Giants lost, 7-5, but the Padres won. L.A. is out.


Chili Davis was named the NL Hitter of the Month for September. Good for him.

Oh, while I was out, Frank Viola got his 20th win. Good for him.

October 1st, 1988

The Dodgers are pitching Mike Witt (19-7, 2.78)

The Giants have Frank Viola (20-9, 1.94).

I am starting. I have gone 2 for 8 against Witt.

I opened the game by hitting one into the right field corner for a double.
With one out I got Stolen Base #141.
I scored on a Chili Davis double.

Giants lead 1-0

I took care of a Benito Santiago grounder for the final out of the inning.

I came up next with one out in the 3rd and popped out to Dave Anderson at short.

I got the 2nd out in the bottom half off a Brian Harper grounder.

In the 4th Chili scored on a Bob Brenly single.

Giants lead 2-0

I came up with one out in the 5th and popped out to Anderson again.

In the 6th Bob scored on an error.

Giants lead 3-0

In the bottom half, Witt scored on a Kent Hrbek single. Then Steve Sax and Santiago scored on a Dave Winfield single to tie the game.

Game tied 3-3

I led off the 7th by flying out to Winfield in left.

Then, in the bottom half, Winfield hit a Grand Slam.

Jim brought in Bobby Thigpen after leaving Frank in for a couple of batters too many.

Dodgers lead 7-3

I came up in the 9th with one out and Craig Lefferts pitching. I walked on four straight.
With two out, Chili singled, moving me up a base.
Rob Deer walked, bringing the potential tying run to the dish.
Robby Thompson then tripled, scoring all three of us!
Bob Brenly doubled, tying the game!

Game tied 7-7

With Brian Giles making the last out and Chris Brown in as a pinch hitter, Chris stayed and Mark Davis took over on the mound for us.
I caught a Tim Wallach pop for the 2nd out.

I came up with one out in the 10th, facing Rick Honeycutt. I grounded out to Wallach at 3rd.

I caught a Kent Hrbek floater for the 1st out in the bottom frame.
Then I got a Winfield grounder for out #2.

In the 11th Rob Deer singled, stole 2nd, and scored on a single by Robby.

Giants lead 8-7

Mark gave up a baserunner in the bottom half but that was it and we had the win.

I went 1 for 5 with a double, a walk, two runs scored, and a stolen base.

All ten divisions have been decided. It will be the Mets vs the Padres and the Brewers vs the A's.

October 2nd, 1988

The last day of the season.

For us, anyway.

The Dodgers are pitching Orel Hershiser (19-10, 2.53).

The Giants have Rick Sutcliffe (17-11, 2.74).

Let's keep Hershiser from hitting 20, shall we?

I have gone 10 for 49, or .204, against Hershiser.

I led off by walking on five pitches.
Stolen base #142. My new best.
I moved to 3rd on a Mike Aldrete groundout, but was left there.

I got the 1st out in the bottom of the 2nd off a Benito Santiago grounder.

I came up next with two out in the 3rd and grounded out to Kent Hrbek at 1st.

I took care of a Dave Anderson grounder for the last out in the 4th.

I led off the 6th with my second walk of the game.
I went to 2nd on a single by Mike and 3rd on a flyball by Chili Davis.
I was left on 3rd for the second time in the game.

Santiago broke the stalemate in the 7th with a solo homer.
I made a really good play on a Hershisher grounder for the last out of the inning.

Dodgers lead 1-0

I led off the 8th by grounding out to Tim Wallach at 3rd.

I got the 1st out in the bottom half off a Steve Sax grounder.
I got the 2nd out off a Dave Winfield fielder's choice.

We were unable to score in the 9th and lost 1-0.

It is a shame things had to go down like this in the end.

I am no fan of Jim Lowe. If he is around next season, I need to make peace with that.

We ended up 85-77, in 3rd place in the division, 6 games back of the Padres.

Lee Mazzilli announced his retirement. I played with him for a year and a half.

The Oakland A's beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4 games to 1 and will be going to the World Series.

It went seven games but the Padres beat the Mets and will be facing Oakland in the World Series.

Wow. In Game Five of the World Series, Mark Langston threw a No Hitter.

Amazing.

The Padres lead 3 games to 2.

The Padres won the World Series in six games.

October 24th, 1988

Today was the day Chili Davis officially declined his option.

I mean, we all knew it would happen, but losing him would be a big blow to the team.

Goose Gossage also missed his vesting option but we knew that as well. (Apparently he wants to run for Congress now...)

After that was made official, he announced his retirement. Mike Easler also made that official.

A whole bunch of guys re-signed.

Chris Brown, Brian Giles, Fran Mullins, Tom O'Malley, Jim Presley, Jeff Robinson, Brad Wellman, Mike Aldrete, Robby THompson, Bruce Ruffin...

Some of the guys near the end of that list are key to the team, so that is really important.

All are one year deal except Robby who signed a FIVE-YEAR extension! I guess I know who my double-play partner will be for a while!

Scott Garrelts signed... and so did I.

$1.12m

That is more money than I can even...

I made $268,000 last year. This is incredible.

I won my fourth straight Gold Glove and my first ever Silver Slugger!

Frank Viola was the runner-up to Doc Gooden for the Cy Young.