Giants pitching coming around

The strength of the Giants team before the season was no doubt their starting rotation.

But Tim Lincecum, Randy Johnson, and Barry Zito were hit hard in their first two outings.

Matt Cain has always been immensely talented but always lacked the run support he so desperately needed to get some wins and some breathing room on the mound.

Cain is quickly 2-0 and the whole rotation has been lights out since they returned home from an awful Southern California trip.

Starters Jonathan Sanchez, Lincecum and Johnson surrendered no runs in 21 2/3 innings and two Giants wins against Arizona this weekend (The Giants managed just four runs, and all three games were 2-0). Add in Cain's two runs last night against San Diego and seven scoreless frames from Zito this afternoon and that's two earned runs in 34 2/3 innings (0.58 ERA) on the homestand.

Zito-Sandoval Battery

Bruce Bochy gave catcher Bengie Molina the day off today, even though the Giants are off tomorrow something we grew accustomed to seeing with Bonds to be able to give the guy two full days off.

But I don't think it was a coincidence that Pablo Sandoval, a very skilled young backstop, was behind the dish with Zito on the hill.

Consider these numbers: 3-0, 3.21 ERA in five starts.

Those were Zito's 2008 numbers with Pablo calling pitches for him and after a 0-2 start with a 10.00 ERA, all the lefty did today was throw seven scoreless innings, giving up six hits, striking out five and most importantly walking none.

That's six starts - three wins and no losses and 2.70 ERA. In a Giants uniform with someone else behind the plate he is 18-32 with an ERA just under 5.

So why not run this pair out every fifth day? Molina is not exactly young and sprightly and playing 135-140 games is plenty. 

Sandoval is adjusting to life at third base but is so valuable because he can catch and with phenom Buster Posey waiting in the wings, Sandoval will be the perfect guy to spell the young catcher at the big league level.

Posey can run and his athleticism will be an asset that needs to be protected to the tune of 120-130 games max with the mask so cultivating Sandoval for this role now seems like a smart idea.

Then there's Zito to consider. The 30-year old has been by all accounts a $126-million bust. But if he can hammer the strike zone and effectively mix his fastball, curve and change like he did today with Sandoval back there what's not to like about that?

0-0 in the eighth, how bout those bats boys?