Let the prognosticating begin.
The San Francisco Giants trounced the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals 8-1 Monday night in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series to punch their ticket to the biggest stage in baseball.
The Giants’ opposition will be the American League Champion Detroit Tigers, who swept the New York Yankees in a series that concluded Oct. 18. The Tigers outhit, outpitched and outclassed (I’m looking at you, A-Rod) the Yankees.
While the Tigers were rolling when they put the final nail in the Yankees’ coffin, nearly a week has passed since the team suited up and took the field. Sure, there are obvious benefits to having a six-day layoff, but history has shown postseason hibernation doesn’t always yield World Series success.
Conversely, after finally laying the Cardiac Cardinals to rest by winning three-straight elimination games, the Giants will open the World Series brimming with confidence in front of a raucous home crowd.
Historically, the idle time works in the Giants’ favor.
In 2007, the Colorado Rockies clinched the National League pennant Oct. 15, completing a seven-game sweep through the divisional and league championship series. The ALCS, however, went the full seven games and the World Series didn’t get kicked off until Oct. 24.
Having won 21 of their last 22 games, the Rockies came out flat after a nine-day layoff and were subsequently swept in the World Series. When the games stopped coming, the Rockies and their World Series dreams fizzled.
When the Tigers step to the plate for the first time Wednesday night, we’ll see how much the time off affected the AL champion’s potent bats. Triple Crown-winner Miguel Cabrera and Home Run Derby champ Prince Fielder will have their say in the batter’s box, but the Tigers won’t need to light up the scoreboard to steal back home-field advantage in Game 1.
Detroit will send the 2011 AL MVP flamethrower, Justin Verlander, to the bump. In three postseason starts, Verlander has allowed two runs on 10 hits, while striking out 25.
The Giants will counter with Barry Zito (yes, Barry Zito), who was lit up in the divisional series against the Reds but bounced back to pitch 7 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 4 of the league championship series.
Beyond Game 1, the Tigers will have the advantage of a fully-rested set of starting pitchers. Doug Fister and Anibal Sanchez have been tabbed as the Tigers’ Game 2 and Game 3 starters, respectively. Fister and Sanchez both have two postseason starts and an identical 1.35 postseason ERA.
After shuffling their rotation in the postseason, the Giants will be scrambling to come up with pitchers, especially considering they have just one day of rest before hosting the Fall Classic.
Giants coach Bruce Bochy will go with Ryan Vogelsong and his 1.42 ERA and two postseason wins for Game 2, and left-hander Madison Bumgarner will get the nod in Game 3.
Matt Cain earned the Giants’ win in Game 7 of the NLCS and will start again in Game 4 of the World Series.
With a week off to rest and stability in the starting lineup, the Tigers have the advantage on the clear mound.
Giants catcher and NL MVP candidate Buster Posey could put a dent in the Tigers’ rotation that allowed just seven runs in four NLCS games, but as of late, the Giants’ spark on offense has come from an unlikely source.
Second baseman Marco Scutaro is the hottest hitter on the planet. The Giants snagged the veteran infielder from the Rockies at the trade deadline, and Scutaro has delivered.
In nearly three months in the Bay Area, Scurato batted .362, finished the regular season with a 20-game hitting streak and is riding a 10-game postseason hitting streak.
Scutaro batted an even .500 in the NLCS and was named the series’ MVP for his efforts.
The Giants will need a quality series from Scutaro, Posey, Pablo Sandoval and company should they hope to secure a second World Series in three years. And I think they’ll get it.
Despite a hodge podge rotation, a powerful Tigers lineup and Cy Young winner Verlander on the mound for Game 1, the Giants have the momentum and enough pluck to keep the World Series title in the National League for the third-straight season.
It’ll all be settled on the field, but my best prophesying has the Giants dog-piling in San Francisco on Nov. 1.
Scott Branson is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Austin, Texas.
San Francisco Giants right fielder Gregor Blanco, catcher Hector Sanchez, center fielder Angel Pagan and relief pitcher Sergio Romo celebrate on the field following Game 7 of baseball's National League championship series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, in San Francisco. The Giants won 9-0. (AP Photo/The Sacramento Bee, Paul Kitagaki Jr.) MAGS OUT; LOCAL TV OUT (KCRA3, KXTV10, KOVR13, KUVS19, KMAZ31, KTXL40); MANDATORY CREDIT
