"Randy Johnson Activated from the 60-Day D.L."

  Bruce Bochy announced after Tuesday night's Giants' win that Randy Johnson is back on the active roster.  To make room, Justin Miller was moved to the 60-day D.L. with elbow inflammation.  Miller has been a solid contributor all season with an ERA around three, but hasn't been quite the same in recent weeks.  Most notably, Miller was one of the pitchers who gave it up in the bottom of the 14th-inning in that disastrous loss to the Rockies in late August at Coors Field. Johnson is already making a contribution in the dugout and the clubhouse, helping to mentor a whole stable full of baby-Giants.  It'll be great to see RJ back on the mound, even if it's just in relief.  It makes you think he may want to come back for another year.  Dan Runzler, meanwhile, has already proven to be a valuable bull pen addition as an extra lefty to compliment Jeremy Affeldt.

  Barry Zito is earning his keep with yet another strong outing:  7IP, 5H, 2ER, 1BB, AND NINE K'S!  The curve ball looks as sharp as Zito's best when he was with the A's with Hudson and Mulder.  Since the end of May, Zito has gong a respectable 9-and-6 after starting the season 1-and-6.  Last year, Zito started the season 0-and-8, but finished at 10-and-17. Zito's ERA, which had balooned to 5.01 back on July 12th, has since been widdled down to 3.94.  

  Giants' fans are hoping to finally get some return on the team's 7-year, $126-million-dollar investment in the former Cy Young Award Winner, and it appears the tide has finally turned.  Zito still has a shot at 200-innings (currently at 178), and has a two-to-one strike-out to walk ratio.  His walks are way down this year compared to last, but the WHIP is still a little high at 1.32.

  What a one-two-three punch on the mound since Sunday with Penny, Lincecum, and Zito the last three games.  It's up to Matt Cain to pitch the game of his life tonight.  The Cainer is just 1-and-3 in his last nine starts.

  Keep the offense coming.  The last three games - 15, 10, and 10 hits - that's 35 hits and three wins, and how about mixing a few walks in there too.  Some Giants (Winn, Sandoval, Velez, Sanchez) were actually working the count, and taking some walks against Ubaldo Jimenez last night, knocking the Rockies Ace out of the game in the third inning after throwing 92 pitches!  Jimemez did strike out six in just two-and-two-thirds-innings, but he also allowed six runs on six hits.

  Whatever is going on with this particular line-up, don't screw around with it!!!  That's why it's a bit unsettling to know that Edgar Renteria will likely be back at short stop tonight instead of Juan Uribe.  No, Uribe will definitely be in there at third base, which means Pablo at first, and no Travis Ishikawa (who had two more RBI's last night).  It's impossible to sit Uribe right now.  He had two hits and three more RBI's last night, boosting his average to .289 on the season.  Uribe has four homers and 12 RBI's in his last 10 games.  Bochy needs to right that hot-hand as long as possible.

  Finally, thanks Buckos.  The Pirates had the Dodgers on the ropes twice Tuesday night and blew it twice, losing 5-4 in 13-innings on an Andre Eithier walk-off homer.  A golden opportunity to gain ground on the Dodgers lost.  Pittsburgh has a nice symmetrical 55-and-88 record on the season if you need 'em.