1) Very nice price (+155) on a team that has home field advantage.
2) Speaking of home field advantage, very rarely does a road team win a game seven.
3) The bullpens. Don't discount the bullpens when 'capping a seven game set, (and in my opinion this should go all seven games) SF has much better relievers. If Zito has another gem in him and keeps this game at 2-2 or 2-1 in the eight inning, I'll take my chances with the Giants 'pen over the Tigers 'pen.
I can see Valverde or Coke (and his God awful 12 hits per nine ratio) puking up a Verlander gem.
The bullpen will cost the Tigers the championship, I can see this coming up Broadway.
4) The starting pitching match ups.
Game 1. Edge to Verlander over Zito, a casual fan can tell you that, however, like I just mentioned, if the game is tied, and Verlander gets lifted late in the game for a pinch hitter, SF can steal game 1 if the Tiger pen gags yet again.
Game 2. I give Bumgardner the edge, especially at home over Fister.
Bumgardner is the better starter. His WH/IP was a very impressive 1.11 and he did win 16 games. Nobody is disrespecting Fister, but Bumgarnder is the better starter.
Game 3. Vogelsong can beat Sanchez on the road. Not saying he will, but he matches up very well in that spot.
Game 4. Max is a strike out artist, I get that. Strike outs are sexy, I get that too. Max is not a better pitcher than Cain, and if one even suggests Max is the better starter than Cain, than one is baseball ignorant.
Max's base runner ratio (WH/IP) is almost 1.30, that's ordinary, Cain was 1.04, that's outstanding, that's almost 3 base runners less. Max had a nice season, but his numbers are bloated, Cain is clearly the better pitcher, Cain can strike out double digits just as well as Max can.
If I can get Cain at + money in that game 4 in Detroit, I'll be all over it like Oprah on a honey glazed ham.
5) No DH for four games.
That means Tigers pitchers have to hit, and more importantly, that means Delmon Yong has to play left field.
He is a butcher in the outfield with an ordinary arm, and I can see two brain farts from him on defense.
Young in left is a liability.
6) Don't fade a magic carpet ride.
SF has faded six elimination games. This is a team of destiny.
Just like the 1990 Reds were.
I am well aware of Miggy and his triple crown, I am well aware of Verlander and his lofty pitching achievements.
Prince can mash, I get that too. Tigers are flawed in the bull pen, and on defense too.
Pagan is pesky, Posey can go long, Panda too.
Cain is nasty, SF starters match up well in this series.
Are the Giants are lock? Hell no.
Detroit should be at the most - 115 in this series, I'm getting +155, I'll take that eight days a week here.
SF in seven games.