SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Giants fans waited a whole winter -longer than that, really - to see a closer like Mark Melancon. In his first game Saturday, he pitched a perfect inning that meant nothing and everything at the same time.
That Melancon got three outs against the Cubs, or a spring facsimile thereof, added to the symbolism. Chicago knocked the Giants out of the postseason last year for want of a Melancon.
"I get it, but I have such a different lens than that," Melancon said. "It doesn't matter what I do out there right now.