Giants vs. Dodgers Series Preview

            Metallica Night, and Orange Friday at AT&T Park kicks off the best rivalry in baseball, Giants verse Dodgers.  This rivalry dates back 50 plus years when the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants were duking it out for New York City domination.  When the teams moved West in the late 50s, the rivalry took off from there and from then on the two teams have disliked eachother.  Throughout the years in beautiful California, there has been bad blood brewing in the ballpark.  People can recall games where Juan Marichal swung and hit Dodger catcher, John Roseboro, in the back of the head and Maury Wills, a Dodger outfielder during the 60s, said, "Anything can happen when the Giants and Dodgers are playing."

Today, the violence between the two teams has subdued, and with the recent success of the Giants, the Dodgers look to get back at the Giants and contend for a title of their own with the highest payroll in baseball.  At $220 million, the Dodgers are primed to win a title, but their experiment of buying players has failed.  It blew up last year when the Dodgers missed the playoffs after making a blockbuster trade, and the Dodgers come into rock and rolling AT&T Park with three of their five starting pitchers on the DL.  Chris Capuano aggravated his calf during a brawl with the San Diego Padres a few weeks ago, Chad Billingsley is out for the season after needing Tommy John surgery, and Zach Greinke, their top free agent signee, broke his collarbone during the same brawl.  Clayton Kershaw is still their ace and will be activated from the bereavement list, following the death of his father for today's start.  Korean sensation, Hyun Jin Ryu has not lived up to his expectations and has even been booed by his home crowd when not running hard to first base.  The Dodgers brought up Ted Lilly from AAA for Saturday's start, and Hyun Jin Ryu will start on Sunday. 

            The Giants come into the longest homestand with some momentum.  After the Giants were swept in San Diego, they followed up with a sweep of their own against the Diamondbacks.  They came from behind in all three wins, and even though it is nice to have this late game magic, the Giants need to start stronger and get more out of the starting rotation.  They have been decent, but starters Barry Zito and Tim Lincecum have been inconsistent, and ace Matt Cain, and Ryan Vogelsong have not found their pitching that carried them to a World Series title in 2012.  The most consistent starter, Madison Bumgarner will miss this weekend's series and start on Monday against the Phillies. 

            After enjoying a Warriors playoff series win last night, take a weekend off from intense playoff basketball and look forward to gorgeous weather in the Bay Area as the Dodgers come to AT&T Park for games 4 – 6 in this 19 game season series.