You Talkin' to Me?

There aren't very many things in this world more pathetic than the fragile egos of baseball players. The Giants get into first place, and it's payback time, baby!

"It sends a message to those who gave us up for dead," manager Felipe Alou said. "There were many who were saying it was getting too late for us."

All right, who was saying that? It's baseball! No one in their right mind writes anyone off till August. "Many" were saying this? Who? Come on, out with it!

"It seemed like a lot of people were starting to write us off early in the season, and I'd like to know what they say now," Hermanson said.

Me too! That is, if we can find these "many" folks ... wait, I think I remember one ...

"I haven't seen play like this since we took over in November of 1996," he said. "I can't ask our fans to ride it out when I'm not certain we can ride it out. Felipe is more patient than I am, but there's only so much he can take."

Who is that man? Brian Sabean! What you got to say now, huh, punk?

(Alou and Hermanson quotes from John Shea's Chronicle report.)