Bad news is always easier to take if you're prepared for it, so this won't be easy: Tim Lincecum didn't start against the Phillies during the series opener on Tuesday.
He was's a late scratch from the game due to the flu.
In his place? Barry Zito.
Yup, Zito. And it didn't go well. The Giants lost and Zito got pounded.
(AndLincecum news happened -- I kid you not -- no less than three hours after I asked our upcoming preview participant whether or not the Phillies would make excuses about Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee not pitching in this series.)
Zito normally isn't half-bad against this current crop of Phillies.
He's faced everyone on the roster but Domonic Brown, Ross Gload and John Mayberry over the last five years, and no one's absolutely dominated him.
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In fact, in 72 plate appearances, the Phils have taken him yard just twice, and only Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez have more than two hits against Zito since 2006.
Those numbers did not get any better in Tuesday's loss for Zito. He allowed six runs and six hits in seven innings while striking out four and walking two.
After the loss, manager Bruce Bochy said he wasn't sure if Lincecum would be available Wednesday either.
Stay tuned.
