WS rotation?

[HiRez]

This should be interesting, the Giants are certainly at disadvantage. On the broadcast they were speculating it's going to be Zito for Game 1 (unofficial). Vogelsong can't go in Game 2 without being on short rest and obviously Cain can't go then either. That leaves either Bumgarner or Lincecum. They said Bumgarner had solved some mechanical issue he had since he last pitched, but who knows what that means. So it'll probably be Lincecum, and leaving MadBum to start one game in the middle.

Maybe something like this?

1. Zito
2. Lincecum
(day off)
3. Cain
4. Vogelsong
5. Bumgarner
(day off)
6. Lincecum/Zito/anyone else who can eat innings
7. Cain/Vogelsong (short rest)

Kind of a crappy setup, but that's what you get for extending to 7 games, I guess.

[El Turco]

i wouldn't put Lincecum out here, put him as a setup man where doesn't have as much pressure seems to be doing well. i trust bum more than lincecum this season.

1. Zito
2. Bum
3. Cain
4. Vogelsong
5. Zito
6. Bum(if he looks good game 2, if not Cain)
7. Cain( or Vogelsong)

[gethigh]

Not a Giants fan persay but I follow a lot of baseball over the season.

I think you'd be better pitching Lincecum in Game 2 against the Tigers as opposed to Bumgarner.

Tigers are right handed heavy in their lineup, they punish LHP. Look what they did to CC Sabathia in ALCS. Bumgarner would get hammered, imo.

[RIPskaterdude]

It's certainly going to be interesting. The Tigers have a clear advantage in their rotation right now due to us starting our best pitchers in game 6 and 7 in the NLCS. Zito had probably his best game in a SF Giants uniform, in what was his biggest game of his life, but I'm still scared to start him in game 1 in a Tigers lineup that eats up left handed pitchers (sound familiar?). That being said, we don't really have any other choice. I don't think the Giants want to start with two left handed pitchers, so I would assume it will be something like

Game 1: Zito
Game 2: Timmy (Bum with long relief if Timmy goes wild early)
Game 3: Voggy
Game 4: Cain
Game 5: Zito/Bum (whoever pitched better in game 1/2)
Game 6: ???
Game 7: Voggy/Cain/everyone

Voggy has been our best pitcher, so he should be the one to make two starts in the series. We could also start him in game 2 on short rest and bring in Timmy for long relief if he needs it, then start Cain in game 3. But Bochy has never been one to start a pitcher on short rest, so I doubt we do that.

[RIPskaterdude]

Well, guess he went with what I was saying.

Barry Zito gets Game 1. That’s no surprise. He will pitch on his fifth day coming off his season-saving effort in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series.

Manager Bruce Bochy wanted to tell Zito formally today, a proud moment given that two years ago Bochy had to call Zito into his office to say he was not going to be on the World Series roster at all.

But you know what they say about left-handers . . .

“I tried calling him today,” Bochy said. “But he left his phone at the ballpark.”

Bochy also announced that Madison Bumgarner will get the Game 2 start over Tim Lincecum. Bumgarner and the staff believe they have found the cause of his late-season and playoff struggles, and Bochy said Lincecum can be a greater weapon out of the bullpen.

Ryan Vogelsong will pitch Game 3 and Matt Cain Game 4.

The order of those two right-handers is significant because Vogelsong, and not Cain, could get two starts and pitch Game 7 if needed. Bochy could have used Friday’s off day to swap the too.

Having Vogelsong pitch the first game in Detroit on Saturday night over the staff ace speaks to how dominant he’s been in the postseason.

“If Vogelsong gets the last start I have no problem with that,” Bochy said.

No roster decisions to be announced today.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland formally announced that 2011 American League MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander would start Game 1.

“He told me he was pitching Game 1, so I said OK,” Leyland joked.

I’ll be writing up a full story on Game 1 between Zito and Justin Verlander, plus all the whys and wherefores of the rotation decisions.

Can't believe Bochy is going with two left handers to start the series, weren't the Tigers crazy good against left handed pitching?

[TheLowlySquire]

Nope, Baggs said they were just one game above .500 against lefties and hit about 20 points lower

[HiRez]

Latest from SFGate, first 4 starters confirmed. Lincecum starts in the pen.

1. Zito
2. Bumgarner
(day off)
3. Vogelsong
4. Cain

Then, we can maybe assume:

5. Zito? Lincecum?
(day off)
6. Bumgarner
7. Vogelsong

Sure hope they're right about MadBum correcting his mechanics (and not just being exhausted).

http://blog.sfgate.com/giants/2012/10/2 ... -rotation/

[RIPskaterdude]

Nope, Baggs said they were just one game above .500 against lefties and hit about 20 points lower

Maybe I was just thinking about their DH Young, who is above .350 against lefties and something like .250 against right. Guess Bochy wants to force the Tigers to put him in the outfield, then see if we can get some errors from him and Fielder.

[El Turco]

i was right about Bum over Lincecum. i think Cardinals were the best team in the league against lefties, and Zito did a good job against them.

[RIPskaterdude]

Actually, I think we were the best team against lefties, and they were #2.