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No one likes when someone gets injured. The only person that might kind of appreciate the open roster spot is the guy that shines as a replacement for the injured player. Just such a scenario is playing out for the San Francisco Giants in their need to replace Ryan Vogelsong. Chad Gaudin was the man they picked to spot start in place of the normal starter who had his pinky finger broken when the ball hit his pitching hand on a swing of the bat.
That is a painful picture and it sure looked like it hurt. Even so, Vogelsong was just getting things together about the time he got hurt and is determined to come back strong before the end of July. Between now and then we might get to see just how capable former reliever, current starter Gaudin is. He will get his second start of the season on Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. No pressure there. They are just the team the Giants are chasing for first place in the National League West.
Honestly if I am the Giants I would really look closely at the way Gaudin handles himself in the high pressure game. His first outing as a starter this year he pitched six innings. That was more than respectable and in fact is the reason he gets another chance. His mound opponent on Sunday for the DBacks will be another replacement starter Tyler Skaggs. Skaggs is taking the place of the DBacks injured Brandon McCarthy. His first appearance was great and his second wasn’t. Considering what is at stake in the big series finale, having two inexperienced starters will be quite the added drama on Sunday.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
