San Francisco Giants alter rotation for World Series
The San Francisco Giants have decided to alter their pitching rotation in the World Series against the Texas Rangers. Matt Cain was bumped on Monday to the second spot in the rotation, he’ll start Game
2. Jonathan Sanchez, the usual number two pitcher, will move to third in the rotation and pitch Game 3.
Tim Lincecum will start Game 1 on Wednesday, and rookie left-hander Madison Bumgarner is expected to pitch in Game 4.
San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said that he had contemplated starting Cain in the series opener against Texas ace Cliff Lee, but decided against it figuring, Lincecum wouldn’t be as distracted that
he’s pitching against one of baseball’s best pitchers.
“He doesn't think about who he's going against as much as doing his job, and that's going out there and giving the team a chance to win,” Bochy said. “He's going against a tough lineup, that's his only
thought. He can't think about who he's going against. He's got enough responsibility going out there and trying to pitch well and win the ballgame for us.”
It’s a surprise that Bochy decided to move Cain to the number two spot. Sanchez did have a rough outing in his last start, Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, but Bochy said that was not
why he decided to drop the pitcher in the rotation.
“Johnny just threw and Matt's one of our guys, too, so we're just trying to keep things in order,” Bochy said. “Timmy's got the first one and Matt is a guy that's a little bit fresher. We're excited wherever
we put these guys because of the job they've done for us.”
In the third inning of Sanchez’s last start, Chase Utley was hit by a Sanchez pitch. The two exchanged words before Utley tossed the ball back at Sanchez, at which point both benches cleared. Sanchez was
pulled from the game immediately.
Still, Bochy is insistent that he has full confidence in Sanchez.
“A guy has a hiccup now and then, but we're here because of Jonathan Sanchez and the way he pitched down the stretch,” Bochy said. “He had an off night. That's going to happen.”
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