San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants can no longer fall back on the Cinderella story line. They have the third best record in the league, and lead the wild card chase by two games.

They are fourth in the league in hitting and first in pitching.

They have one of the best young hitters in the league in Pablo Sandoval, and two of the best starters in Lincecum and Cain. Their closer is tied for the league lead in saves and their bullpen has been excellent of late.

The lack of power excuse no longer holds water as they are among the league leaders in home runs since June 9.

"Feel the wind and set yourself a bolder course...you'll sail the perfect line...in your time."

—Bob Seger, "In Your Time"

It should have been this year, 2009, but it's coming for Pablo Sandoval.  Sooner or later, he will get his due and the entire baseball world will realize how special this player is.  Until then, I'll do my best to hasten that day's arrival.

With that in mind...

What's the matter, Charlie Manuel?  Couldn't figure a way to get Matt Stairs and Carlos Ruiz on the team?

Let's just be honest, nobody around baseball figured Jonathan Sanchez would be the first San Francisco Giant to throw a no-hitter since 1976.

If anyone was willing to venture a guess, the most likely Giant would be either Tim Lincecum or perhaps Matt Cain. Even double-A prospects Madison Bumgarner and Tim Alderson were more likely to throw a no-hitter than Jonathan Sanchez.

The no-hitter Friday night by San Francisco Giants hurler Jonathan Sanchez is a reminder that one of baseball’s most hallowed accomplishments is not just reserved for pitchers with lofty career statistics. Instead, for one night anyone (even a pitcher with a 16-26 career record) can look like a Hall of Famer and stamp himself a place in baseball immortality.

No-hitters have a special place in baseball lore because, while there are other accomplishments that occur with less frequency, a no-hitter is one feat that can seemingly come out of nowhere.

A few weeks ago, Bay Area sports personality Shooty Babitt attributed Jonathan Sanchez’s lack of success to his lack of nickname. San Francisco has The Freak (Lincecum), Cainer (Cain), the Big Unit (Johnson), Big Z (Zito), but Sanchez is sans-pseudonym so far this year.

What a way to make history.

On a night that he wasn't even supposed to start, Giants lefthander Jonathan Sanchez tossed the first no-hitter in team history since 1976, when John "the Count" Montefusco did it at Atlanta. It was also the first no-hitter in the majors this season.

His dad, Sirgfredo, chose the perfect time to go to San Francisco and watch his son pitch.

"Right now I'm just going to go home and hang out with my dad," Sanchez said afterwards. "I was pumped that he was here watching the game."

In a first half of mostly pleasant surprises for Giants fans, Jonathan Sanchez's no-hitter is by far the best story. Sanchez's struggles and demotion were all forgotten for nine magical innings, made much more special for Jonathan by the presence of his father, who joined his son in the dugout after the game against the San Diego Padres.

Just 24 hours ago, a pretty good portion of San Francisco Giants fans were wondering what the heck Jonathan Sanchez was doing back in the rotation after struggling so mightily before his demotion to the bullpen.

But because Randy Johnson was placed on the disabled list and, with much fanfare beforehand, Sanchez was put back in the rotation for the immediate future. It was one last shot to either show he is a valuable trade commodity or an arm that can stick with the club through the rest of the season.

With all the talk lately about Bowker coming up, Sandoval getting screwed in the All-Star vote, Schierholtz getting his chance to play almost every day, the Big Sadowski, Tim Lincecum, and Matt Cain doing so well, I believe that we are forgetting someone who is quietly producing for the Giants.

Travis Ishikawa.

Most of his accolades concern his stellar fielding, which is possibly the best in the National League. Hell, maybe in all of baseball.

But I'm here to talk about his bat. Yes, you heard me right, his bat.

After raking a three-run triple in his first at-bat of the season, Giants first baseman Travis Ishikawa was seemingly invisible at the plate for nearly six weeks.

But on May 25, Ishikawa had a career game that jump-started not just his season, but perhaps his Major League career.

Ishikawa powered the Giants to a 8-2 victory by going 4-for-4 at the plate, scoring three runs, and launching his first home run of the season, a three-run shot in the seventh inning.