Vogel-Strong!!

These 30 pitch first innings are becoming de-rigeur for the Giants staff and that has to stop, but other than that......Vogel-strong. He's positioning himself ahead of the Walking Wounded - Peavy, Hudson, Lincecum and now Mike Leake.

Leake needs to come back strong and Cain needs to have a start where he announces his presence with authority. Right now, Cain would likely be out of any post-season starting rotation and that is unfortunate.. The stuff looks OK, the command is just not there. It comes and goes and when it goes the ball flies.  Given that he is pitching with a "new" elbow, that makes sense, but it simply has to come around soon.

from CSN Bay Area:
Rewind: Vogelsong embraces pressure, leads way for Giants | CSN Bay Area:

Bochy had the right man ready when Mike Leake's hamstring couldn't answer the bell Tuesday. Vogelsong pitched six shutout innings, allowing just two hits. He shook off a slow start -- a 30-pitch first inning -- and thoroughly dominated with a fastball that was so lively that Bochy wondered if he was even going to use his secondary pitches. Vogelsong retired 16 of the final 17 Cardinals he faced, striking out the side in the third inning and setting the Cardinals down with ease in his final frame.

"He's a warrior," Bochy said. "This guy will give you all he has, and that's all you can ask. He's well-prepared and he has a great focus. That was a long first inning and that's kind of been his niche, but he responded."

'via Blog this'