We're Baaaaaack!

The San Francisco Giants are headed to the World Series.

I love writing that.

The locker room is still champagne drenched, twitter is still trending with S.F. Giants jargon, and I'm sure fans are still in and around AT&T park, but already a debate has begun across the nation and more importantly in the Bay Area. That debate is in regard to who will pitch for the Giants in the World Series?

We already know what the Tigers are doing;
Game 1- Justin Verlander (R)
Game 2- Doug Fister (R)
Game 3- Anibal Sanchez (R)
Game 4- Matt Scherzer (R)
Then (if necessary) Verlander would go in 5, Fister in 6, and Sanchez in 7 according to the MLB sources citing Detroit Manager Jim Leyland.

As far as the Giants line-up is concerned this rotation will be tough for them. It is a right-handed heavy rotation and the two big bats that hit #4 and #5 in the line-up are not hitting already right now. This means that the guy I've been calling out as the "key to the Giants success" is going to get a big opportunity. That would be Brandon Belt. Yes, Pablo Sandoval can bat left and should be a big factor against the Detroit righties, but Belt could really make a difference. I've been saying it for two years and now I'm going to call it; Belt is going to have a big role on this team in the 2012 World Series.

Back to our debate.

The consensus says Zito starts game #1. I think most people can agree with that choice. But what I'm hearing is that the Giants would bring back Vogelsong AND Cain on short rest to try and pitch them in Game #2 and #3. This would then set-up a combo of Bumgarner-Lincecum in game #4.
I don't like it. I don't like it one bit, and I'll tell you why;
These two pitchers (Vogelsong and Cain) are spent. They were your silver bullets and you used them to win the NLCS. I'm not mad that they were used, because let's face it, we wouldn't be here if they weren't. But, you can't risk bringing them in on short rest and having them pitch bad just so you can bring them back on short rest again in game #6 and #7 and hope they can pitch AGAIN on short rest well. That's too much hoping in my book. If anything you give them their normal rest and then bring them back early at the end of the series (if necessary) and use them up then. The Giants are at home for game #1 & #2. I say do this;

Game #1- Zito
Game #2- Bumgarner
Game #3- Vogelsong
Game #4- Cain
Game #5- Zito/Lincecum (depending on performance)
Game #6- Vogelsong
Game #7- Cain

In my scenario you get Lincecum as a reliever throughout the whole series (where he has had tremendous success) and then an option to pitch him in game #5. You also get a FRESH Vogelsong and Cain in game #3 & #4 while pushing them to the limit in game #6 and #7. I like this scenario much better for that one main reason; I'd rather have a fresh Vogelsong and Cain for one game and exhausted for one game then have them exhausted for BOTH games. It's actually simple logic.

We will wait and see what Bochy decides to do. In the meantime I should try to enjoy this moment a little more before I get too caught up in the Series. This is truly a great accomplishment for the Giants.

5pm Pacific Standard Time

Any S.F. fans have plans tonight?

I know that not all Niner fans are S.F. Giant fans, but the harmonious connection via Sergio Romo, Alex Smith, Bruce Bochy, and Jim Harbaugh, among others, has to get some of you crossing over a bit. There has been nothing but love flowing from one locker room, or dugout, to the other. Us fans that do follow both San Francisco team's have gotten a kick out of the public alliance. The Giants made an epic come back in the NLDS and the 49ers had over a thousand yards of offense in blowing out the Jets and Bills by a combined score of 79-3! We were flying HIGH!

Then Sunday Oct. 14th happened.

Cardinals 6  S.F. Giants 4  (Game 1 of the NLCS)

N.Y. Giants 26   49ers 3   (rematch of the NFC Championship)

And here's were I have to apologize. I screwed it all up. I wore my Giants hat with my Willis Jersey during the Niners game because I left my Niners hat back in L.A. (jinx #1). Speaking of which, I went to the Bay Area and that's where I watched the game (jinx#2). I forgot my son's Niners and Giants hat, so he wasn't representing either team (jinx #3). I had to listen to the Giants game on the radio as we drove back on the 5 to L.A. (jinx #4). Joe Buck (jinx #5).

Moral; I'm taking blame for what I did Sunday Oct. 14th, and I apologize. I am Sorry. Now all you other fans need to remember what it was you did that screwed our teams up so royally that day and don't do it TODAY! Because obviously it's not the players, it's US!!

All kidding aside this is a huge night for S.F. sports. The Giants are down 2-1 in the NLCS and could either tie it up 2-2 and force the series back to S.F, or they could fall to 3-1 and have to pray to the baseball Gods again. Plus some guy named Lincecum is getting his first start tonight in the post-season. Then you have the Niners playing their division rival Seattle Seahawks. Is everyone familiar with the Harbaugh no likey Carrol, no likey Harbaugh? Yeah? Good, I don't want to explain it. Just google "What's your deal?" if you don't know. Niners just got romped on Sunday and really need a strong showing to prove that they're not losing their edge. It's a long season and Super Bowl's aren't won in October (but baseball play-off series ARE S.F. Giants!) but showing a stretch of weakness against 2 NFC foes would be bad right now.

So rest assure 49ers and S.F. Giants fans, I'm back in L.A., I'm not mixing sports teams gear and I will have my remote set to toggle between Fox and NFL Network at 5pm tonight.

Anyone else amped up today?