"By all accounts, Barry Zito has been the consummate teammate during a postseason in which he has not been allowed to participate. He continues to work hard in case he is needed and his public comments have been gracious. Still, one must wonder how he will react after a winter to think about things.

The number of digits on a player's contract does not matter. On a stage this grand, he wants to participate.

General manager Brian Sabean, manager Bruce Bochy and pitching coach Dave Righetti considered Zito for the World Series roster but decided to use the same roster they had in the Division Series and NLCS. Guillermo Mota remains the long reliever.

Bochy was asked if more thought was given to including Zito in the Series.

"I'd say yeah," Bochy said. "He's a big reason why we're here. Not just 'Z' specifically, but Chris Ray and Dan Runzler (who also are not on the roster). Mota didn't pitch in either series. It's not like he pitched his way out of it. We decided to stick with the same roster because it's worked."

Goofy: The Giants' chemistry and kookiness is getting a lot of play in the national media. It helps to have characters such as Brian Wilson and Aubrey Huff willing to share their eccentricities.

During media day Tuesday, Huff said of Wilson, "He looks stupid but he's not. He's a lot smarter than I am. He's a great competitor. I don't know where the beard came from, but it's grown on San Francisco."

On Wednesday, Matt Cain was asked about Huff as a clubhouse character.

"I'd say he's probably a notch below Wilson," Cain said. "I think Wilson is better because he's a little wittier. But Huff has been a huge attribute that we've had from spring until now. He's been a guy who's not afraid to liven stuff up in the dugout, on the field and in the clubhouse.""