What is it about the San Francisco Giants that makes them so tough in October?
The Giants struggled all season long to produce runs, finishing 12th in baseball averaging just more than four a game.
But we all know that championships are won with pitching and the Giants have plenty to go around. Matt Cain would be a No. 1 starter for nearly every team. Tim Lincecum struggled this season but still can go out and shut a team down on a given night.
Those two are a big reason why the Giants were in the National League Championship Series but it’s two others that are the reason why they are in the World Series.
Barry Zito’s performance in game five was just short of masterful. For a soft tossing left-hander to go out, after the past few years he’s had, and pitch like that was amazing. Zito threw 7 2/3 innings in the 5-0 win.
To top that, Ryan Vogelsong may be one of the best pitchers in baseball you’ve never heard of. The 35-year old right hander won 14 games this year and had a 3.37 ERA. But his last two outings, he was almost unhittable. Vogelsong threw seven innings in a game two win and followed that up with another seven inning performance (with nine strikeouts) in a game six win.
To hold the Cardinals to just one run during the final 28 innings of the series is beyond impressive. Its downright comical how good the Giants’ pitching was.
The Giants’ offense – outside of Buster Posey and (Kung Fu Panda) Pablo Sandoval – doesn’t scare anyone. But their pitching scares everyone. With the Tigers have almost a week off in between games, don’t be a bit surprised if the Giants win its second title in three years.
Then again – speaking of pitching – Detroit does have Justin Verlander.
