Zito penciled to start potential Game 4

For the last time, Giants Nation, we aren’t out if yet.

Plenty of teams have gone 0-2 in the LDS and have come back to win the series. While these last two starts have been less than stellar — let’s be real, they’ve been down-right anger-inducing — it shouldn’t shake our perception of what the team has to accomplish in Games 3 and 4.

On that note, it really has, however, caused Manager Bruce Bochy to re-think his already-heavily-interesting starting rotation.

We as fans were already thrown our first “curveball” in Game 2 when he sent Big Time Timmy Jim to the bullpen. (I know, I know, we got shelled during that game. But how damn good did Lincecum look?!)

His performance in the sixth and seventh innings were stellar, so reminiscent of the Timmy of old, that Bochy reportedly said he would consider giving the Freaking Franchise the start in Game 4 in Cincinnati.

Then, Chris Haft and Corey Brock of MLB.com are reporting that Bochy might be muddling with the rotation again, and could possibly put Matt Cain back on the bump for Game 4.

Fans and critics are asking what position that puts lefty Barry Zito in.

The asking is over: CSNBayArea broke the news Monday afternoon that Bochy had selected Zito to be his starter should the Giants dodge elimination Tuesday against the Reds.

Even with the break-out season he just had, Zito doesn’t have a strong record pitching in Cincy: He’s 0-2 with a 6.10 ERA in six career starts at Great American Ballpark, a stat that might’ve encouraged the skipper to put the Horse back on the bump.

And then there’s all that business with Zito only wanting Hector Sanchez to catch him, which would take Buster Posey’s MVP-candidate bat out of the line-up.

Bochy told SFGiants.com prior to the news breaking:

“We’re doing all we can to win the game.”

Let’s hope that includes Vogelsong silencing the Reds bats Tuesday night so Zito gets the chance to take the mound this postseason.

Zito was cut from the 2010 post-season roster due to poor performance. His career post-season record is 4-3 with 3.25 ERA in seven starts.