Notes: Bochy Won't Hesitate to Use Giants' Starters in Relief Vs Mets

NEW YORK -- A day later, much of the talk at Citi Field revolved around the result in the American League Wild card Game. Anyone who has watched Bruce Bochy manage in a postseason knows that he would have used Zach Britton, probably for multiple innings. Answering a question about his roster on Wednesday, Bochy said this game is "like the seventh game of the World Series."

"You throw everything at them," he said.

Tonight, that includes Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija. Bochy said he would use the two starters "early, late, wherever. They are on board for anything we need them for."

Reading between the lines of Bochy's sessions with reporters, it sounds like Samardzija is the more likely of the two to come in for a batter or two. Part of the reason Cory Gearrin did not make the Wild Card roster was the ability of the starters to match up with right-handed bats. Bochy mentioned that Cueto, who has never made a big league relief appearance, could get the ball if the game goes extra innings, but the manager's history presents another option. 

What if Bumgarner runs into trouble early or in the middle innings? Could Bochy turn to the Sergio Romo-Javier Lopez-Will Smith-Hunter Strickland group to try and get deep, and then have Cueto go the final two or three innings? Remember what he said: "This is like the seventh game of the World Series." That's how the Giants got through Game 7 in 2014.

--- The Giants talked about keeping third catcher Tony Sanchez, but ultimately decided they preferred another arm. The backup, Trevor Brown, had a big smile on his face as he took the field for batting practice. Brown said his previous biggest game was the College World Series. 

--- Eduardo Nuñez never got all that close to making the Wild Card roster. "Nuney is coming around slower than we all had hoped," Bochy said. "I can't tell you beyond here when he'll be ready, but he's not ready now."

Nuñez took grounders on the field, but it sounds like it'll be a close call if the Giants advance. The NLDS starts in two days. 

--- There were some tough cuts for the staff, with Matt Cain, the longest-tenured Giant and a proven postseason performer, being left off. Jake Peavy was also left off this roster. Bochy said Dave Righetti spoke to both players about the situation. 

"I'll get with (Cain)," Bochy said. "This is one game. We don't know what we're doing the next (round). I'm very much aware of Matt's longevity and Peavy, what he's done. (Ty) Blach, what he did, but he had three days rest."

--- For some reason, Bochy was asked about Pablo Sandoval during his pre-game press conference. "I haven't really thought about it, to be honest," Bochy said. "He's not here."

--- Joe Panik, the New Yorker, got off easy on the ticket requests. He said there are three Paniks here tonight and four relatives of his soon-to-be wife, Brittany Pinto. Panik, by the way, did not grow up rooting for the Mets. Hopewell Junction is Yankees Country.

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