Jonathan Sanchez: Number Two in the Rotation, Number One in Your Heart

While scouring the Internet looking for clips of Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford, or maybe even Slim Sandoval hitting the first home run of the spring (and coming up empty - why is the Internet allergic to Spring Training clips?), I thought I'd weigh in quickly on the recent announcement that Jonathan Sanchez would be the number two starter in the rotation this year.

I understand the reaction that since Matt Cain is better than Sanchez that Cain should be the second starter. Cain is more consistent, but Sanchez had an interesting 2010, and the story of that season makes me think that he will be better than some people think.

For most of '10, Sanchy was always one of those guys who could be dominant and strike out 12 in a game, or lose control and walk 12. And you usually knew early on which Sanchez you were going to get. But somewhere in September he began to work on his command and was arguably the best guy on the staff that month.

When the playoffs started, he had some standout performances, but not in a good way. He clearly ran out of gas. In the LCS and World Series he lost 2 of his three starts, and the no-decision was the infamous game where he lost control early and plunked Chase Utley. This made some fans forget how he was able to re-invent himself in September, and solidified his reputation as having command issues.

The moral of the story is that Sanchez finished the season with the lowest BAA in the majors, and his ERA and WHIP has gone down every year of his career. And we now know that he can adjust and find better command when he needs to. If Bochy wants to shuffle his lineup so that righties and southpaws alternate - which I think is kind of overrated anyway - the Giants will be more than fine, as long as they keep an eye on that WHIP.

Plus even if Sanchez is more likely to put in a short start, it will be easier on the bullpen if that short start comes in between the longer start from Lincecum and Cain.