It was all down to Barry Zito, and he delivered. What a game he pitched, and now the Giants have grabbed some momentum in the National League Championship Series.

This postseason has been a lot like Friday night. Just when you think you have it figured out, something changes. The Reds were the best team in the world, and then the Giants took three at Cincinnati. The Tigers had the A’s against the ropes and then had to fight for their lives. And we don’t even have to go there on the Cardinals in their NLDS comeback, do we?

Out of all of it, the most gutsy outing by a starter this postseason might have been turned in by Zito on Friday. He worked in that curveball like he hadn’t in years, making a mid- to high-80s fastball look a lot faster. It was exactly what the Giants needed, and for the guy to come up big in this situation puts to rest a lot of struggles, from the ERA and salary being very high to being left off the postseason roster in 2010.

And so it’s back to San Francisco for Game 6. Should be electric orange.

With the hours ticking by toward Game 5 of the NLCS, it’s a lot easier to imagine the Cardinals closing it out than the Giants hanging on. Not that it’s a done deal by any stretch, but it seems that way.

It’s just that the Cardinals’ top-to-bottom offense presents a challenge to any pitcher right now, and you have to wonder a.) what that will mean for Barry Zito, and b.) what the Giants can possibly do if they have to cut him short again like in the Division Series. Some early offense off Lance Lynn from the Giants wouldn’t hurt, either — obviously.

While the Giants have proven their resiliency in a trying season and that amazing comeback in Cincinnati, it really should be noted at this point is just how resilient the Cardinals are as an organization. They really must have had a post-Pujols plan, because it’s working out quite well — using a lot of homegrown talent. With free agent Carlos Beltran hobbled, in steps Matt Carpenter, and so on.

All things considered, it really seems like it’ll come down to whether the Giants can keep the Cardinals’ merry-go-round from spinning like it did in Game 4.

We’ll see how it turns out. Either we’ll have a World Series matchup set with a Tigers team that’s suddenly very tough to beat, or we’ll have a Game 6 in San Francisco on Sunday with a big momentum swing toward the Giants.

Memories …

A #FollowFriday for @JohnSchlegelMLB from the @NYDNSportsITeam sparked some memories of the Clemens trial, a 10-week journey into America’s legal system, the life and career of one of baseball’s most celebrated pitchers and, well, whatever else you might make of it after an across-the-board acquittal.

The days were long at times, and the rhetoric thick, sometimes with phrases repeated by attorneys enough that those who watched the whole thing could almost predict when they might be said. Here’s a top 10, actually created during some of the rain delays at the bench back in D.C.:

The Top 10 Things We’ll Be Glad We Won’t Have to Hear Again Once the Clemens Trial is Over

10.) Court’s indulgence.

9.) Objection! Asked and answered!

8.) Someone has a doctor’s appointment/teaching commitment/relative’s graduation/trip to Europe.

7.) Competent tribunal.

6.) 50-50.

5.) Ate Vioxx like Skittles. (Or Napercin like M&Ms.)

4.) Mr. MacNaMay.

3.) It’s not like I was doing heroin or something crazy.

2.) I want to talk to you a little bit about pus.

And the No. 1 thing we’ll be glad we won’t have to hear again once the Clemens trial is over…

1.) Booty shot!

Somewhere there’s an alternate version of K.C. and the Sunshine Band’s “Shake Your Booty” but perhaps that’s better left up to the imagination.

Yakyu haiku                            

Yakyu means baseball in Japanese, and haiku means fun in English. Well, not literally.

Tigers’ roar echoes

Fall Classic a Motown hit

Beware of the stripes

Shameless plugs

A few more links to stories under this byline in the last few days:

Tigers feeling great as they wait out NLCS

Stormy weather sets up double shot of Game 4s

Tigers aware it’s no cinch to clinch in postseason

Confessions with FJ

Hey, blogging’s hard. Kudos to those who keep it going every day or close to it.

As the sun sets on San Francisco and Game 1 gets under way to end a baseball week like no other, a few of the indelible images this postseason already has imprinted on the mind, in order of appearance:

Brandon Phillips channeling Derek Jeter circa 2001, making a diving backup play at first base to save a couple of bases in NLCS Game 1 for the Reds.

Bronson Arroyo sticking that leg out straight and throwing everything crooked

Coco Crisp dropping a routine fly one day and making as spectacular a running, leaping catch as you’ll ever see the next

The A’s crowd, practically lunging at the field like animals, going rabid over the tying and then winning runs in Game 4 against the Tigers. Amazing.

Mat Latos not being able to even watch and catcher Ryan Hanigan turning his head in disgust as Buster Posey’s grand slam is out at the crack of the bat.

Justin Verlander receiving a well-deserved Champagne dousing in the Tigers’ clubhouse after a brilliant Game 5 performance.

Joe Girardi pinch-hitting for A-Rod, and Raul Ibanez delivering homers not once but twice.

That super slo-mo zoom of the foul pole at Yankee Stadium showing Nate McLouth’s ball sure looking like it nicked the foul side of the pole.

Jeter down, carried off and out of the postseason. Enough said.

Robinson Cano mouthing the word as he walked through the dugout after falling to 0-for-25 on the postseason: “Wow.”

Girardi finally letting loose of some seriously pent-up emotion and frustration on Jeff Nelson, and you really don’t need replay to know why.

Sergio Romo, who has been the designated receiver of ceremonial first pitches the last few years and almost never misses an assignment, jogging out a little late for Game 1 of the NLCS because the Giants were busy doing their scrum thing in the dugout.

And there’s much more to come …

Yakyu haiku

Yakyu means baseball in Japanese, and haiku means fun in English. Well, not literally.

Bayside wind chills bones

October bathed in orange

Red clashes, danger

Shameless plugs

Links to stories under this byline in the last week or so:

If ALCS opener is any indication, more fun awaits

After thrilling Division Series, more surprises await

T.I.G.F.: Thankful It’s Game Five-day in AL, NL

Despite loss, A’s not hanging their heads low

Ninth-inning rallies are nothing new to plucky A’s

FJ’s confession

This is really when the Grind grinds along, day after day of amazing baseball. But this 2012 postseason has been off the charts so far. Wears one out in a very good way.

 

Groundhog Day: In this business, you’re always preparing for the clinch when the series is on the brink. On Monday, both the Giants and the A’s were up against it, and the “obit” thoughts start swirling. You know: Ah, tough way to end it, but there was a perfect game and a likely MVP performance. And, oh, what an amazing array of A’s rookies did to overtake the two-time American League champs.

  Uh, call the rewrite desk — they’re both still alive, and they both did it in a fashion that showed they can stand up to adversity with pluck. The Giants couldn’t hit, but they could score just enough — and they definitely pitched. The A’s shut down and shut out a powerful offense with clockwork pitching and excellence in the field, adding just enough offense.

  Listen, they’re still on the watch today as both play in a Game 4, the Giants on the road and the A’s at home. But both certainly showed under Game 3 pressure that they’re up to the task.

• Hunter for October: You know, you could see Hunter Pence being that guy who flies into a speech like he did before Game 3 in Cincinnati, just has that look in his eye like he’s about to go off, in a good way. Sounds like we know where he stands about this club, and Giants should think seriously about installing him in right field this offseason.
• 4 Jump St.: Coco Crisp’s catch was the only flyout Brett Anderson gave up with his six strikeouts and 11 groundouts. If not for Crisp, Prince Fielder’s shot might have flown right out and changed the game hugely. Full speed and outstretched as high and long as he could go, Crisp made one of the sweetest plays of the year — and much more indicative of his defensive talents than the drop in Detroit.
• DatDude: Speaking of great plays…this one from a few days ago: Brandon Phillips’ amazing backup at first base in NLDS Game 1 belongs in the same category as the Jeter play from 2001, just dialed down a couple of notches in terms of situation and location on the field. But, wow, great baseball both mentally and physically.
• Rage for the Machine: It’s just impossible not to laugh when watching the crazies above the right-field scoreboard at the Coli when Grant Balfour comes in the game, raging. They’re in full-on thrash metal mode, arms punching away in completely spastic windmills…and a few of them made it through the whole song. (No giggling in the press box!)

Yakyu haiku                            

Yakyu means baseball in Japanese, and haiku means fun in English. Well, not literally.

Nation’s capital sunsplash,

only eight decades.

Natitude adjusts.

Shameless plugs

Links to stories under this byline in the last week or so:

Despite layoff, Anderson proves he was ready to go

Griffin’s rise leads to A’s biggest game yet

Playoff debut to validate Anderson’s comeback

Giants need to follow 2012 script in NLDS

Lincecum steps up in unfamiliar relief role

Bumgarner short on birthday candles, long on talent

Giants, A’s bring playoff fun back to busy Bay Area

Confessions with FJ

Starting this stuff again, the thought occurs: How do people keep up with these things and Twitter all the time, it’s a lot of effort. Perhaps it’s a good exercise in focus and organization…eh, not that that’s a problem around here. Ahem, right.

It’s been a while, but let’s get back to the Grind:

Paradise City: This is going to be an unbelievable weekend in and around San Francisco, and the Giants’ playoff games are just part of it. Blue Angels, America’s Cup, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Niners, parade in North Beach, the list is incredible. All that, and you have to find a way to watch the A’s in Detroit. (Wrote a little story about it the other day.) Heading down to cover the NLDS and ready for anything/everything…

Capital gang: From one who spent half the season in Washington, D.C., a tip of the cap goes out to the Nats, who played well as the Clemens trial began, stayed hot right through the acquittal and, sure enough, ran off with the NL East while the Rocket was pitching for a team called the Skeeters. Not sure you can make that up. Seriously, great job by Davey Johnson and a fascinating squad.

Skippers: One of the privileges of the job has been to cover some excellent managers, and Bruce Bochy and Dusty Baker are right there at the top. Having covered Bochy off and on since he first was hired by the Padres in 1995 — guess who asked then-GM Randy Smith whether Bochy would get a big head over his promotion (rim shot!) — it’s hard not to be happy for the big guy with the dry and sharp wit and the Marlboro Man walk. As for Dusty, there simply is nothing more important than the fact that he’s back managing with a clean bill of health. One of the game’s true singular personalities, Baker deserves as loud an ovation at AT&T as anyone Saturday.

Ahem, attention: Um, speaking of managers, but shouldn’t Bob Melvin get a bump from his team winning its division? No knock on Buck Showalter, but BoMel took a team with beaucoup rookies and an all-rookie rotation at the end of the year to the promised land. MOY stuff, right there.

Great sight: Billy Beane, absolutely doused and pied by the A’s players during a postgame interview Wednesday. Biggest smile we’ve seen from Billy since Brad Pitt was cast — ha, we kid. Great moment in A’story, seriously.

A’s-Tigers: Right where they left off in the 2006 ALCS, right? Well, no. No players are left on the A’s that were there then. The Tigers? Justin Verlander, Omar Infante back after many travels, it’s Delmon Young instead of Dmitri. Oh, and Brandon Inge is on the other side in green and gold, although injured.

Yakyu haiku

Yakyu means baseball in Japanese, and haiku means fun in English. Well, not literally.

Wild Card Friday, leaves fall soft

Take a swing, one shot

Two dream, others awaken

Confessions with FJ

This is weird, but something just seemed right about starting up the blog again. After a while, it was that awkward, too-long-between-calls thing like when you haven’t talked to a friend forever. Then it really gets to be too long and, well, somebody finally has to pick up the phone. Well, here’s to picking up the phone again. The aim is to at least get some thoughts out about the most wonderful time of the year — October baseball — and go from there. Happy Postseason to one and all.