Bochy Ponders Who Giants DH Will Be For Game 3
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy is contemplating who to use as his designated hitter when the World Series shifts to Detroit for Game 3 on Saturday night.
Bochy is said to be leaning toward backup catcher Hector Sanchez to DH for Game 3. He already has said he plans to have All-Star Buster Posey catch every game.
Bochy could also have Pablo Sandoval DH and shift slick-fielding Joaquin Arias to third. Aubrey Huff and Ryan Theriot are also options to DH.
While playing in San Francisco, Detroit decided to put designated hitter Delmon Young in left field. Andy Dirks and Quintin Berry had split time in left most of the season.
"I think it's different for your pitcher not only in that he's pitching a game, but now that those moments that he takes underneath to sit and relax between innings, now he's hitting," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "Now he's scuffling to get his helmet. Now he's worried about am I going to bunt or what am I going to have to do here? There's another element that comes into play that affects the pitcher, I think, in a lot of ways."
But as an NL manager, Bochy might argue differently than the AL's Leyland.
Entering Game 2 on Thursday evening, San Francisco was the first team to have a pitcher with an RBI in four consecutive games in the same postseason. Barry Zito, who batted .075 with only two RBIs all season, had a pair during the streak - including an opposite-field RBI single to left off Justin Verlander in the fourth inning of Game 1.
"It's been huge," Bochy said. "Pitchers can just help themselves in different ways, whether it's hold runners, fielding their position or find a way to get a bunt down or even drive in a run. I mean, they're part of the offense, too."
(Copyright 2012 CBS San Francisco. Wire services contributed to this report.)
