AP file photo: San Francisco Giant reliever Santiago Casilla delivers against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 15th at Chase Field is looking to get more saves before September is over

On the Giants podcast with Miguel, to barrow a phrase from great Charles Dickens, it’s a tale of two seasons it was the best of times and the worst of times then it became the worst of times. The Giants beat the Padres in nine straight in the first half of the year. Then the All Star break happened and then they lost six in a row to the Padres. The first nine were unusual but tenable the last six have been explicable.

Starting with the ninth inning collapse after a come back and then losing the game when your closer falls off the mound (Santiago Casilla) and his name isn’t Stu Miller and the wind is not blowing it’s not Candlestick Park. The sweep by a next to last place San Diego Padre team can’t help but not have an effect on the Giants. We acknowledge that this is true in hockey, football, and basketball teams get a lead then suddenly take their foot off the gas pedal they start playing not to lose rather than playing to win. The Giants were in those situations during their series with the Padres. They got a feel good game with a victory over the St Louis Cardinals in the opening game of a four game series 6-2 behind the fine pitching of Giants starter Johnny Cueto who completed the contest on Thursday night.

Michael has your Giants podcast each week right here at http://www.sportsradioservice.com