Jun 26 2009
Giants starters a formidable rotation in 2009…led by Big Three
The San Francisco Giants 2009 success so far has been because of their pitching, mainly their starting rotation. The Giants (39-32) feature the 2nd best record in the National League, are 1st in the Wild Card, and our 2nd in the NL West behind the MLB Wins-leader and Divisional rival Los Angeles Dodgers. It has been due to some strong starting pitching, good defense, and timely hitting.
The Giants formidable rotation feature a Big Three in ace Tim Lincecum, Randy Johnson (Big Unit) and a rising star in Matt Cain. The Big Three of the Giants combine with a record of 23-8. However, their bottom of the rotation of former Cy Young Barry Zito and Jonathan Sanchez combine with a record of 6-15. Conversely, Zito has been pitching better than his record indicates due to a low-run support when he pitches, but Zito is 4-7 with a 4.54 E.RA. and is 3-1 in the month of June after a 1-6 start. Sanchez, however, is the achilles heel of the Giants rotation as his 2-8 record and 5.54 E.R.A indicates. Sanchez is dealing with consistency and battling to keep his job in this strong starting rotation of the Giants. Sanchez has tons of potential and has great stuff, but lacks command. Hopefully he can turn it around and help anchor this rotation the rest of the season.
Going back to the Big Three (Lincecum, Johnson, Cain) they are ranking up there to the best trio of any rotation in the major leagues today. First, ace Tim Lincecum and reigning NL Cy-Young Award winner is 7-2 with a 2.57 E.R.A and leads the majors in strikeouts with 124. The Big Unit, Randy Johnson is 7-5 with a 4.68 E.R.A. and is 2-1 with a 2.93 in June. And the rising star and another ace of the staff Matt Cain, is having a Cy Young type of season and is almost a shoe-in this year’s All-Star Classic next month as he is 9-1 with a 2.28 E.R.A.
So for the Giants to continue their success and stay in contention for playoffs, they will need their Big Three to stay strong and for their bottom of the rotation to pick it up a little bit.
What’s on Tap: Matt Cain takes the ball for the Giants as they go on the road to face the Milwaukee Brewers, who are second behind them in the Wild Card race. Cain is searching for his 10th win and to be the 1st 10 game winner in the National League. He will be opposing Brewers young ace, Yiovanni Gallardo, who is 7-4 with a 3.00 E.R.A.
