The World Series

I know, I know.  Game 1's already in the books.  Let's forget that for just a moment.....  And forget that I got both LCS wrong, while we're at it.

Starting Pitching
Verlander, Fister, Sanchez, Scherzer
vs
Zito, Bumgarner, Vogelsong, Cain

Advantage: Tigers

Verlander-Zito is probably the mismatch of the series.  Zito has been the pitching equivalent of Vernon Wells the past few years, and yet here he is, starting game 1 of the World Series with a possibility of getting a second ring.  It's crazy, and yet here it is.  Verlander, however, has been the most dominant pitcher of this postseason, and the potential to see him three times in this series, however slim, really tips the scales.  Vogelsong has been a revelation in his own right, and he's got the edge in his game, but that's the only one where SF has the decided advantage.  Cain is amazing, but Scherzer has been smouldering, himself.  Bumgarner has all the talent in the world, but hasn't shown it of late.  It's a close one, but the Tigers have to take this.

Verlander >>>> Zito
Fister > Bumgarner
Sanchez << Vogelsong
Scherzer < Cain

(And of course, Verlander gets torched game 1.  Hooray small sample sizes!)

Bullpen
Valverde, Benoit, Coke, Dotel
vs
Romo, Affeldt, Casilla, Lincecum

Advantage: Giants

I simply cannot get behind a team that relies on Valverde right now.  I've been shouting from the rooftops that he's not that good ever since his days in Houston, but I didn't see an implosion like this coming.  Conversely, Lincecum moving to the pen has strengthened this unit to the point of impenetrability.  Brian Wilson?  Who needs him?

Lineup
Jackson 8, Infante 4, Cabrera 5, Fielder 3, Young 7, Peralta 6, Garcia 9, Avila 2
vs
Pagan 8, Scutaro 4, Sandoval 5, Posey 2, Pence 9, Belt 3, Blanco 7, Crawford 6

Advantage: Tigers

This is another tough one, considering how the Giants have hit in the past few games, but Cabrera and Fielder are better than anything the Giants would put up there.  Granted, Posey's next, and he's pretty darn good, but then I'd probably put AJax, and 3 of the top 4 is enough to swing things toward the Tigers.  Defensively, the Giants have a pretty big advantage in skill, but all small-sample caveats apply.  Yeah, the Tigers are more likely to gaffe, but that doesn't mean they will.

Prediction:  Giants in 6

After all that, I still think the Giants win.  Call it a feeling, and say what you want about momentum, but the Giants sure feel like they're the chosen team this year.  I picked them to lose both round 1 and 2, and yet here they are.  Why not a couple more wins?