In March of 2011 I had the opportunity to go to Scottsdale, AZ and interview a number of former Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. The Giants had just won the World Series and getting to hear how things had changed for the players during the offseason was fun. However, there was one former Salem-Keizer Volcanoe’s player who wasn’t a part of the team in the World Series. Ryan Vogelsong had spent the previous season in Japan trying to show major league teams that he was worth a second chance.
While I interviewed Ryan he talked about the home run he hit off of Kazuhisa Ishii in his first game in Japan and some of the memories he had growing up playing baseball and even during his time with the Volcanoes. However, the thing that he kept talking about was his desire to earn a spot on the Giants roster. He did more than just that in 2011. He made the All-star team and now, almost two years later, he was the starter for game 3 of the World Series for the Giants.
Vogelsong went 5.2 innings allowing zero runs. Following Vogelsong on the was Tim Lincecum and Sergio Romo, both former Salem-Keizer Volcanoe players, with 3.1 innings total allowing no runs. For the second straight game the Detroit Tigers offense was held without a run. To put that into perspective, the Tigers were only shut out twice the entire regular season.
Now I don’t know if the five days off made the Tigers offense rusty, or if the Giants pitchers are just that strong. Regardless, the Tigers offense has looked horrible this series. Now I’m not saying the Giants offense has looked that much better, but the bottom line is the Giants are putting runs on the board and the Tigers are not.
With the Giants one win away from winning their second World Series in three years I’m a little bit shocked by how dominating they have looked. I thought for sure this series would go at least six, and although it still may go six, I don’t get the feeling that the Tigers are going to put up enough fight to win even one game this series.
Do I think the Tigers are done? Well I just watched the 30 for 30 documentary on the Red Sox come back against the Yankees in 2004, so no they aren’t done, but I’m not going to run and place a bet for them to win right now either.
The Giants are going to win this series but the real question is will the Tigers put up enough of a fight for the Giants to win the series at home, or on Detroit’s field?
You can check out my recaps of Game 2 and Game 1 as well.