RealClearSports: When Baseball Teams Give Up

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

It's a business. That inescapable point has been drummed into us as long as there have been professional sports. At no time, however, does the idea become as apparent as that tidy little period at the end of July, baseball's trading deadline.

Teams in contention desperately go after the player or players they believe will make them champions. Teams out of contention basically throw up their arms and throw out their stars, although nobody involved ever would concede they, well, have conceded. Even though it's obvious they have.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2012

RealClearSports: Halladay Outduels Struggling Lincecum

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

SAN FRANCISCO — He gave up five runs, yet his ERA fell. Not much. It still is embarrassingly high, 10.54, but maybe Tim Lincecum has regained some of that edge with the slider and some of that swagger in his manner.

The possibility was enticing. Lincecum, the San Francisco Giants' two-time Cy Young Award winner, against Roy Halladay of the Phillies, also twice a winner of the Cy Young, if once in the American League.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2012

RealClearSports: Phillies' Lee Leaves Giants Helpless

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

SAN FRANCISCO — This is what the San Francisco Giants do to the other team, what the Philadelphia Phillies did Thursday night to the Giants, leave them hopeless and helpless, leave them without a run and very few clues.

The breeze and chill swirled about AT&T Park, leaving the fans as cold as the Giants' bats. The 54th straight sellout crowd, 42,013, watched the home team get baffled by Cliff Lee, the man who got $120 million to try to make the Phils champions.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2011

RealClearSports: Reluctant Giants Return to Philly

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- The bats were being banged together in the clubhouse as they went into travel bags to be sent to Philadelphia. It wasn't the sound the San Francisco Giants wanted to hear. It wasn't the trip the Giants wanted to make.

This was the night fireworks were to explode. The night sparkling wine was to be sprayed.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

SF Examiner: How sweet the torture is

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

SAN FRANCISCO — Sweet torture, indeed. Sweet success. Sweet joy.

They had allowed the lead to slip. And all you could think of was how close the Giants came. How they they were six outs away. How the dream had vanished.

And then against Roy Oswalt in the bottom of the ninth, the dream came true.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company