Your 2010 Giants are 12-9: D-Rox are DLed

After winning the series from the two top NL teams of recent ilk, the Giants face probably their biggest hurdle in the NL West, Colorado.  Though they are not currently the leader in the division, they did make the World Series recently and when Tulo is producing, they have been probably the Top NL West team over the past few years (unfortunately for them, he's not always healthy).

Game 1:  Aaron Cook vs. Barry Zito

Aaron Cook has a 5.01 ERA this season, and Barry Zito is not even close, and fortunately now on the good side of not even close.  However, Cook has been searching for that mystical something and found it in his last start, throwing a good game, earning a 4 PQS but with only 4 K's, not necessarily will repeat, particularly because he's been so wild thus far this season, in terms of walks and lack of strikeouts.  He has also done well in SF, 3.72 ERA career with a 3-3 record, but horrible walks and strikeout ratios, any way you want to slice it, plus gave up more hits than IP.

Plus, given how well Zito has pitched, earning a "Barry Barry Barry" chant at his last start in AT&T - who would have even thunk that would ever happen? - we should win this game.

Game 2:  Esmil Rogers vs. Matt Cain

Esmil Rogers is not even announced for this game.  Andy Baggarly speculated on it.  In any case, it is going to be a minor leaguer who will be facing the Giants.  Rogers is #9 on BA's Top 30 prospects list and #11 in Minor League Baseball Analyst Top 15 list in Colorado's farm system (remember, on average around 4 prospect from any season, or so it's been guesstimated by BP's Goldstein, ever amount to anything at the major league level), and the latter projects him to be a #4 starter.  Plus FB (89-94 MPH) and Plus Slurve
but no other even average pitch.  "Lacks a quality erd offering - not enough velocity difference on change - and has difficulty maintaining velocity deep into games, which may result in a move to relief."  They noted he's "diminutive".  He was beat to a pulp in AAA last season, but was good in AA.  He's been good so far in AAA this season but he's never been one to strike out many.

We better win the game with Cain going for us.

Game 3:  Jhoulys Chacin vs. Jonathan Sanchez

Chacin is one of their top prospects for years now.  Only 22 and he pitched well in AA and AAA last season plus thus far in AAA this season.  He's also pitched a little in the majors last season, doing OK, striking out a lot while not giving up many hits, but walking a lot.  He wasn't the strikeout guy in the minors, but appears to be catching up with hitters the past year, but also going very wild as well.  Even if their starters didn't go on the DL, he probably would have been pushing to be added to the rotation, he's been great so far in the minors.

He's going to be a very tough pitcher once he figures things out.  The Giants get to find out whether he has or not, in his first start this season in the majors.  Sanchez, however, seems to have figured things out, and I expect him to continue to be dominant the rest of the season.  We should win this game, barring Chacin's enlightenment..

Giants Thoughts

We are situated well in each game, but things can go off the rails in any of these games for any reason, so I won't be thinking sweep, particularly because they have always played us tough generally.  They are currently 11-11, so they are not that tough either.  Plus I read somewhere that they didn't win often in SF in recent years.  So I think a series win should happen, giving the Giants wins in all three series in this homestand.

The starting pitching is humming along, and maybe Bochy needs to bring in the bullpen more often so that they don't get rusty waiting.  The offense also did nicely in the Phillies series, beating up on Roy Halladay in particular, and hopefully can build on that in this series.  Hopefully Schierholtz will hit higher in the lineup and get the opportunity to drive in more runs.