DETROITGiants manager Bruce Bochy is leaning towardswitch-hitting catcher Hector Sanchez as his designated hitter for Game 3 ofthe World Series at Comerica Park.
I could change my mind tonight, but thats how Im thinkingright now, said Bochy, whose club holds a 2-0 edge in the series over theDetroit Tigers. Hes a switch hitter and hes had a pretty good year with thebat when hes out there. Hes my DH right now.
The Giants understand that nothing will be given to them.The Tigers have won eight consecutive games at Comerica Park while hitting .302as a team with eight home runs. And right-hander Anibal Sanchez, who wasacquired from the Florida Marlins over the summer, is 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA infive career starts against the Giants.
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Theres some risk in starting Hector Sanchez at DH because hesthe only backup catcher on the roster. Giants would lose the DH if they had toinsert him at catcher for any reason. Bochy said his concerns were mitigatedsomewhat because Pablo Sandoval could suffice behind the plate in an absolute emergencysituation.
Although Bochy isnt likely to change his mind, he might beswayed by the fact that right-handers hit .291 against Anibal Sanchez, whilelefties, counterintuitively, struggled to a .243 average.
Bochy has plenty of right-handed options to DH, including Sandovalwith Joaquin Arias at third base.
Tigers manager Jim Leyland is expected to return Andy Dirks, a .322 hitter in the regular season, and Quintin Berry to the lineup after they sat in the first two games against left-handed starters. The Tigers, who will get Ryan Vogelsong in Game 3, were 62-49 against right-handed starters in the regular season. Their 50-31 home record matched the A's and Rangers for the second best among AL clubs.