E.K. NATION

1:06 p.m. I see empty seats in the bleachers at Pro Player Stadium. Nice turnout for a playoff game. And Ray just lined a crisp single into center to lead off the game. Good start. Marquis, you haven't gotten a hit yet in this brief series. Lay one down. Let's get on the board, put someone in scoring position for Barry. We bunt him over, Barry will get up in the first inning. That's a good thing to have happen. Good strategy, yeah?

1:09 p.m. But no, he struck out. I'm irked.

1:13 p.m. So they are indeed pitching to Barry, with one on and two out. But he grounds right to second for the inning-ending out. Damn.

1:21 p.m. So Pudge just went deep and right away it's 2-0 Marlins. Is this what I have been waiting all year for? To lose to the wild-card team in the first round AGAIN? Especially after a 100-win season? I can't take any more of this in my life.

1:23 p.m. As you can see, I am a baseball fan who recognizes when things are not going his way. You know, that feeling in your gut that you get when you just know it's not going to be a good day for your team? I'm having that feeling right now. I don't remember the last time my team won a game when I had that feeling.

1:28 p.m. Well, Fonzie just doubled to lead off the second. Okay, maybe we can bounce back quick. But it mustbe quick.

1:34 p.m. There's that feeling. Leadoff double, and nobody scores. It's beginning to look a lot like 1997 all over again. Thoughts right now are rushing through my head. We won 100 games, had the division locked up in July, and now we get to the playoffs and all a team that finished in second place has to do is beat us three measly times? It's at this moment when I realize it's going to happen, and I am not happy about it. Yes, I took it when it was given to us last year, but I would have forgone it if we could have gone back to the two-division format.

1:42 p.m. Yeah, I'm a pessimist. Wanna make something of it???

1:47 p.m. Rich just walked, giving Barry a chance with two outs in the third. Nice at-bat.

1:47 p.m. Barry hit the warning track. GOD DAMMIT.

1:54 p.m. Dude, Castillo is mashing right now. Two doubles in a row. And here comes Pudge again.

1:56 p.m. That walk to I-Rod is okay. No damage done. But we need to get Lee right here. "it's your future, E.K....I see...a...double off the wall..."

2:00 p.m. See? Pessimism is good! I envisioned a double and was prepared for a 4-0 deficit. But Lee struck out. Nice! (The 4-0 deficit will come later, I'm sure...)

2:15 p.m. Is it just me, or do the Marlins have, like, three of four guys who all look like Devon White when they stand up at the plate? This is not a good image to have as a Giants fan.

2:20 p.m. I'm already counting outs, now. And we just wasted our 15th-to-last out on a foul pop by Cruz. Yuck. But hey--I just glance over and I see Rueter standing on first as the result of...what? Oh my, it was a popped-up bunt that Lee couldn't get to in time. Boy, did that look ugly. And I look over again and there's a fly ball out. This is going way too fast.

2:24 p.m. Good hustle by Rueter to get to third on a single by Marquis. Now fer cryin' out loud let's keep the rally going for Barry. One more hitter to go.

2:25 p.m. Could I have predicted that Aurilia would pop up to end the inning, stranding two runners, and force Barry to hit leadoff next inning? Jeez, no, I...uh...forgot my secret decoder ring.

2:35 p.m. Niiiice! Barry just laced a screaming line drive into left field for a base hit...well, okay, it was a weak tapper that Redman had trouble fielding off the mound. Whatever. It's all the same in the box score....

2:36 p.m. Okay, and there's Fonz really lacing a liner into left for a single. First and second, no outs. You have got to get these runs across, guys. Let's go...

2:37 p.m. Ooooh, Redman just botched a comebacker double -play ball, and they only got ANdres at first. Second and third, one out. Come on, Benito....

2:41 p.m. He walks. Bases loaded, one out. I'll give my left kidney for a game-tying single.

2:42 p.m. Okay, that nearly sucked. Cruz hit a double-play grounder--the worst thing you can possibly do in this situation--but he beats the relay to first, and it's now 2-1. I'll take it, but we need more. Boy, he beat it by inches.

2:46 p.m. Yesssssss. Pedro ties it up with a single to left! But I must clarify I would have given my kidney for a game-tying single prior to that at-bat. This one, the bet was off. Heh heh. I still have a kidney to trade. Let's save it for later. That botched double-play grounder looms large now.

2:50 p.m. After five-and-a-half innings, it's 2-2. Is there any way I can stress enough my belief that after that long, excrutiating time at bat by the Giants, the Marlins will immediately and suddenly take the lead back on a home run? Can I stress this enough? If I say it, will I prevent it?

2:53 p.m. Good move here, I think, to relieve Woody with Herges. There were just too many slow balls going over the plate, too easy to capitalize on. We need a bit more heat now; hopefully it will provide an effective contrast.

2:57 p.m. Lee just doubled, and now he stole third without a throw. Pay attention, G-Men...Fly ball and we're back to where we were a few moments ago.

2:58 p.m. Yes, sir, that was a huuuge strikeout by Herges on Encarnacion. Just outstanding.

3:01 p.m. And one more huge strikeout, this time on Lowell, with some nice salsa from Herges! That runner is stranded and we're still tied. The fastball was working this inning. The Marlins didn't know what hit them. Except for Lee, of course.

3:06 p.m. So I come back into the room and I see the replay starting. Rich watching the ball fly away, long shot of the left field line. And there's Conine leaping up and catching it near the top of the fence. Can I please get a break?

3:44 p.m. Good move by Felipe to get rid of Nathan after one batter, four shaky pitches. Now let's see if Felix can stop Pudge.

3:46 p.m. Nice play by Felix to get the force on the attempted sacrifice, and they almost turned two. Yikes.

3:53 p.m. So Felix comes in and shuts the door but not before Neifi gets steamrolled at second by Ivan on the ground ball. As Chris Berman just said, anytime the catcher gets to put the lumber down on an infielder on a double play ball, it's nice payback. On to the ninth and Barry's up third...

5:04 p.m. It's been a while since I posted. The Giants just went ahead. And Cruz just dropped the ball. This is my last post of the evening. I can't take it anymore. Either way, I'm in for a long night of beer-drinking.