CINCINNATIThe Giants might have advanced to the NLCS bywithstanding the Reds on Thursday, but they arent going anywhere at themoment.
The club checked back into their downtown hotel inCincinnati after Thursday's clinching, 6-4 victory and might be there for two more nights. Thats because theWashington Nationals won Thursday to extend the other NL Division Series. Adecisive Game 5 will be played Friday night.
If the Nationals win, the Giants would play Sunday atWashington. If the Cardinals win, the Giants would open the NLCS at homeSunday.
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Not wanting to criss-cross the country if they must go toWashington, club officials decided to park the charter and wait. Club officials said they might not fly until Saturday morning, although that remains undecided for now.
Much is yet to be determined about the pitching rotation inthat series, but you can start with this: Matt Cain wouldnt be fully resteduntil Game 3. The Giants would be lined up to open with Madison Bumgarner andRyan Vogelsong, although manager Bruce Bochy has said its a matter of when,not if, Tim Lincecum will be folded back into a prominent role after his 6 13 dynamicrelief innings in the NLDS victory over the Reds.
It seems likely the Giants will go with one of these threecombinations to start the series: Bumgarner-Vogelsong, Vogelsong-Bumgarner orVogelsong-Lincecum.
But they dont have an opponent yet, and they dont know iftheyll open at home or on the road. So the rotation map is still very muchunfolded.
San Francisco Giants
For now, well ... we're pretty sure Cincinnati has a mall and a movie theater.