I don't wish to alarm you, but...

The San Francisco Giants, a forgotten team that spent two months of this season in last place, have perked up since the All-Star break.  And by perked up, I mean they have played seventeen games and lost just three, in the process becoming the hottest team in baseball and leaping into playoff contention.

They are doing this in their usual way, with pitching, defense, and even a base hit now and then.  They specialize in one run games and extra inning affairs, including six of their last ten - all of which they won.  This is...unusual.

The #SFGiants are now the first MLB team in the live-ball era to win six extra-inning games in a 10-game span (via @StatsBySTATS). pic.twitter.com/zWt8N2bhMI

— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) July 27, 2019

It feels like magic, but the sober-minded analyst understands that these things even out.  You can't play .700 baseball in one run games over a whole season...but so far they have.  You can't consistently dominate in extra innings over a whole season...but so far they have.

Throw out the analytics: for this stuff you need astrologers, mystics, interpretive dancers.  Logic has left the building.

They were in San Diego tonight, score 1-1 in the 11th.  Pablo Sandoval, old and washed up, batting from his weak right side, drilled a home run...



...which was caught by a man in a Willie Mays jersey holding a baby...

...and the Giants won again. 

There is one thing we say to the gods of analytics:  "not today."

Giants fan catches Pablo Sandoval's game-winning homer while holding a baby - (link)