The big news from Bruce Bochy’s pre-workout media session is that the rotation has been juggled, meaning Jonathan Sanchez will start Game 2 in Philadelphia Sunday and Matt Cain will start Game 3 in San Francisco Tuesday.
Plenty of reasons why this makes sense:
– Sanchez, not Cain will have to deal with Citizen’s Bank Ballpark, which is kind of a bandbox. The Phillies hit 94 homers at home this year, compared to 72 on the road…and Cain is slightly more of a flyball pitcher than Sanchez.
— Sanchez has been flat out better the last few weeks. He was 4-1 with a 1.01 ERA in Sept/Oct, compared to Cain’s 3-1, 3.29. Sanchez also struck out 11 and gave up just two hits over 7 1/3 in a 3-2 Game 3 win in Atlanta (although Cain was very good in Game 2, as well).
— Bochy’s also mentioned that he wanted to “break up the righties.”
— Sanchez won in Philly in August, allowing one earned and two hits over eight innings.
More from the Giants’ workout session:
— Bochy said there is no tactical difference in this seven-game series (compared to the five-game NLDS) because of all the off days. Also mentioned that there’s no need for a fifth starter, and agreed that it was likely that the Giants have to face Roy Halladay three times if the series goes seven games.
Halladay will start Saturday, and then could come back Wednesday for Game 4 on three days rest. He would also be on three days rest for Game 7, if it went that far and the Phillies chose to play it that way (which you imagine they would).
— The Giants could do the same with Tim Lincecum, but at the moment, Madison Bumgarner is “penciled in” to pitch Game 4. Looking way too far ahead, Lincecum could pitch Game 5 on normal rest, and Sanchez would have an extra day of rest before Game 6. If the Giants keep a four-man rotation with Sanchez going second, Cain would be scheduled to start a potential Game 7 on normal rest.
— That’s a whole lot of speculation, but it’s what you do on off days. Speaking of looking ahead, all 10 of ESPN’s “experts” have the Phillies winning the series, with only three of them having it getting to seven games. Not that that means anything at all, just gives you a good sense of how the national writers feel about this series. As Bochy said, “we’re here because we’re pretty good too.”
— Pablo Sandoval will be on the roster for the NLCS, but Bochy’s words didn’t really make it look like he’d play a whole lot. The skipper said this would “be a good learning experience” for Pablo. Bochy also said, “when you have a player that’s fighting a little, searching, it’s time for a break.” Pablo showed no signs of anger or disappointment, saying “it’s the manager’s decision and I’ll be there to help my team no matter what. I’ll do my best every moment.”
— Bumgarner was running the bleachers as the media arrived, something that Cain does as well. Here’s what Cain said about the rookie’s work ethic: “He’s better with that than I was at 21. He’s so adaptive and responsive to what you need to do up here.” Cain said Bumgarner has mimicked what he’s seen the other starters do, in terms of work between starts, and added it’s “great that he’s so spongy.”
— Barry Zito also worked out on the field before the rest of the team, and threw a bullpen session. He’s keeping ready, just in case…
— Cody Ross said he thought the postseason outfield rotation would look like the September rotation, meaning Ross would come off the bench and Jose Guillen would start. He was surprised when he became the starter, and said he “had to try and hold in all the excitement and emotions to not upset other people.”
— More Ross, on Philadelphia: “You don’t fear playing any team. They’re good, but you have to have that mentality that you can go in there and beat them.”
— As I sit here typing, Juan Uribe hit two BOMBS over the wall in center. Nothing wrong with that swing. Might we see Uribe run into one soon?
— I’ve been running our live chats during the postseason games, and lots of people ask about Aubrey Huff’s struggles. Well, he’s wearing a wrap on his right calf, similar to the one Buster Posey wore when he injured his forearm a couple months ago. Nobody is healthy this time of year, but it appears Huff (who is 33 and played 157 games this season at three positions) is a bit more banged up than most.
— More to come, as the Giants continue their workout from AT&T.
