The 2012 World Series is here and it will pit the Detroit Tigers vs the San Francisco Giants. With the National League winning the MLB All-Star Game back in July, Game 1 goes Wednesday night in San Francisco. The Odds for the 2012 World series have Detroit favored at -160, while San Francisco is dogs of +140.
The San Francisco Giants eye their second World Series title in three years, as they kick off the 108th edition of the Fall Classic against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday at AT&T Park. This time around San Francisco enters the Fall Classic with a ton of momentum following a seven-game win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS, which saw it rally from a 3-1 series deficit. Resiliency has been the Giants' calling card this October, as they also became the first team in NL history to rally back from an 0-2 hole and win a Division Series with a five-game win over the Cincinnati Reds. The Giants had to overcome the loss of Melky Cabrera, who was suspended for violating baseball's Drug Policy on Aug. 15. The Giants didn't skip a beat, though, and went an NL-best 30-14 after that and turned a one- game deficit in the NL West into an eight-game lead and a division crown. San Francisco won in 2010 thanks to an incredible pitching staff. That rotation seems to be finding itself again at the right time entering this series, as the Giants closed out the Cardinals by allowing just one run over the final three contests. Lefty Barry Zito started the remarkable comeback with a sensational effort in Game 4 that saw him throw 7 2/3 scoreless innings. He'll get the call in Game 1, as the Giants have won in each of his last 13 trips to the hill. Bochy has some decisions to make for Game 2. He could opt to go with Ryan Vogelsong on short rest and have two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum ready to go in relief, a role he has flourished in this postseason, or he could start Madison Bumgarner, who won 16 games during the regular season, but has pitched to an 11.25 ERA in his two postseason appearances. He may also go with Lincecum in game 2, while game three starter is all set with Matt Cain. The Giant relievers have been lights out in the playoffs and have combined for a 2.63 ERA in 41 innings, with a 2-0 record.
The Giants offense was paced in the regular season by MVP candidate Buster Posey, who was the NL's leading hitter at .336 with 24 home runs and 103 RBI during the regular season. However, he is hitting just .178 with six RBI in the playoffs, while Hunter Pence has also struggled hitting just .188 in the postseason. With those two struggling, the Giants got a huge contribution from Scutaro, who was 3-for-4 in Game 7 and batted .500 (14-for-28) with six runs scored and four RBI.
The Detroit Tigers have been idle since finishing off a four-game sweep of the New York Yankees in the ALCS on Thursday. Its road here may not have been quite as difficult as the Giants, but they are back in the Fall Classic for the first time since 2006. Detroit's last World Series appearance ended with a five-game game loss to St. Louis and the franchise hasn't won it all since besting the San Diego Padres in 1984. After beating the Oakland Athletics in five games of the ALDS, the AL Central- champion Tigers had a much easier time than anyone would have thought against the Yankees, as they took the first two games in the Bronx before sealing the series with two straight wins in Detroit, including an 8-1 thrashing over CC Sabathia in the clincher. History may not be on the side of the Tigers, but they must still like their chances with perhaps the best pitcher on the planet in Justin Verlander, who will start Game 1 on eight days' rest and could potentially throw three times if needed in this series. If there was a knock on the great Verlander it was that his postseason success hadn't matched up to his regular-season production. Not True this year as the AL's reigning MVP and Cy Young Award winner has 3-0 with a 0.74 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings in this years postseason. It hasn't been just Verlander this postseason either. The Tigers' starters as a whole have been tremendous, as righties Doug Fister, Anibal Sanchez and Max Scherzer have combined with Verlander to post an amazing 1.02 ERA in nine postseason starts. Doug Fister will get the start in Game 2, while Anibal Sanchez will be Leyland's Game 3 starter. Leyland does have some concerns, specifically a bullpen that has seemingly removed Jose Valverde from the closer's role. After Valverde blew big leads against both Oakland and then New York in Game 1, Leyland opted to go with a closer by committee, but lefty Phil Coke seemed to be his go-to-guy against the Yankees. Coke will hasn't allowed a run in 7 1/3 innings this postseason and saved two games in the ALCS.
Offensively, the Tigers are paced by maybe the best 1-2 punch in the league in the middle of the lineup in Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera and slugging first baseman Prince Fielder.With a batting average of .330 along with 44 home runs and 139 RBI, Miguel Cabrera led the American League in all three categories and finished tops in both leagues in homers and RBI. It's the 14th time in major league history that a player has accomplished the feat. Cabrera isn't the only masher in the Tigers' lineup. He moved over to third base this year to accommodate Fielder, a free agent addition who enjoyed his first year in Motown by hitting .313 with 30 home runs and 108 RBI. Fielder, though, hasn't been able to get it going in the playoffs and is hitting just .211. The Tigers did get a lift from ALCS MVP Delmon Young, who hit .294 with two home runs and eight RBI against the Yankees.
Prediction: Well rested teams don't generally do well in the World Series, but I expect that to change this year. I feel Detroit has the pitching advantage as their starters have a 1.02 ERA in their 9 postseason games, plus Detroit also have the clear advantage at the plate. The Giants do have Cain and Vogelsong, but beyond those two they have a suspect staff that has struggled in the post season. Having Zito start game 1 vs Verlander should put them in a 1-0 hole, which should send the series back to Detroit at least 1-1. If Detroit takes both games in San Fran it could be a sweep, but for now i will call for Detroit in 6.
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