| World Series 2012: Giants vs. Tigers |
| By Sally Haase October 24, 2012 We’re in the home stretch for the end of the baseball season, the World Series starts Wednesday night with the National League Champion San Francisco Giants hosting the Detroit Tigers. The Giants return to the fall classic after winning the series in 2010 and the Tigers return after a six year absence from the World Series. For the first time since the All-Star game was given significance both series teams had a hand in the All-Star game with Giants pitcher Matt Cain earning the win, Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander taking the loss and Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera earning MVP honors. Cabrera is still serving his 50 games suspension for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs and will not participate in the series. Cabrera’s suspension did not affect the Giants, catcher Buster Posey put up some crazy numbers after the suspension and ended up winning the batting title after Cabrera’s league leading average was deemed ineligible by Major League Baseball. There is also the injury to closer Brian Wilson that has forced the Giants to have a platoon at the closer position. The Giants have been the definition of resilience this post season; they were down two games to none against the Cincinnati Reds and came back to win the next three, and were down three games to one against defending champion St. Louis Cardinals and rallied back to win the National League pennant in seven games. The Tigers added to their already powerful lineup by signing Prince Fielder in the offseason but struggled to maintain a commanding lead in the American League central. Many expected the Tigers to have the division all wrapped up by September 1st, but the surprising Chicago White Sox kept pace with the Tigers until the Tigers won the division in the final week of the season. They had some issues with closer Jose Valverde in the ALCS, but Phil Coke showed that he can be called upon to close the game if Valverde struggles. Game one will feature the pitching match up of Verlander and Barry Zito. Zito pitched the Giants to a win to keep the team alive against the Cardinals. Verlander and Zito will likely be the game five match up if the series extends to five games, it is possible if Zito struggles that Tim Lincecum; who is in the Giants bullpen right now could get the game five start. The rest of the pitching match ups are: Game 2: Doug Fister (Det.) vs. Madison Bumgarner (SF) Game 3: Ryan Vogelsong (SF) vs. Anibal Sanchez (Det.) Game 4: Matt Cain (SF) vs. Max Scherzer (Det.) |
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