In 2010, the San Francisco Giants won the World Series with a top-of-the-line rotation featuring four great starting pitchers, including two-time Cy Young-winner “big time Timmy Jim” Lincecum and his 231 strikeouts.
Each member of the Giants fab four have an ERA in the threes with Lincecum and Sanchez recording over 200 strikeouts.
Madison Bumgarner has emerged as the Cole Hamels of their staff with a 3.00 ERA in 18 starts.
Speaking of Cole Hamels, the Philadelphia Phillies have become a force in the National League with their version of the fab four, just with bigger names: Roy Halladay vs. Tim Lincecum, Cliff Lee vs. Matt Cain, Roy Oswalt vs. Jonathan Sanchez and Cole Hamels vs. Madison Bumgarner.
That leaves former ace Barry Zito.
Zito’s move to the National League hasn’t been good for him lately and he hasn’t matched his 16-win total that he had in his last year in the American League with the Oakland Athletics. He did, however, post a decent first half which had many believe that he was back to his old self.
But sadly, things went completely south in the second half, in which he won one start after the All-Star break.
But there is still hope for Zito. Being in the fifth spot will only benefit him. And he will have to be somewhat close to his old ace self if the Giants are to have an advantage over the Philadelphia Phillies.
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