Barry Zito Starting Game 4* (*If Necessary)

Imagine, in Game 3, Ryan Vogelsong spinning one of his patented, seven-inning, two-run, three-walk games, in which he teases hitters with pitches just off the plate, and grinds, grinds, grinds his way to success.

Then imagine Santiago Casilla coming in and immediately allowing runners in the eighth. Imagine Bruce Bochy going lefty/righty/lefty/righty for two innings. It's easy if you try.

Imagine a 14-inning game that the Giants somehow figure out a way to win. After four-and-a-half hours, nine pitching changes, and 21-percent hair loss, it'd finally be over. Whew. It's over, everyone. Whew.

Your reward would be Barry Zito against the Reds in an elimination game at Great American Ballpark.

...

Alright, hell, I'll try anything once. I'll just be thrilled to get to a Game 4.

Bochy points to how Zito pitched recently. "When you win the last. 11 games your pitcher starts, it's a pretty good thing."

— John Shea (@JohnSheaHey) October 8, 2012

Mmmm-hmmm. Sure thing, skip.

And on October 8, 2012, we know that Barry Zito and Ryan Vogelsong are in the playoff rotation instead of Tim Lincecum. It'll be weirder when Jeff Suppan and Kurt Ainsworth are in the 2014 playoff rotation over Madison Bumgarner, though.