Inside October: Giants open at home minus All-Star MVP

• The Giants have World Series homefield advantage thanks to Melky Cabrera's All-Star MVP performance
• Cabrera's 50-game suspension for testosterone expired but he is not part of the World Series roster
• The grounds crew at AT&T Park worked all day Tuesday to ready the field after Monday's downpour

Marco Scutaro was regaling a large crowd of news media members in the afterglow of his MVP performance in the National League Championship Series, sharing the joy that came with his 14-hit performance in the San Francisco Giants' seven-game conquest of the St. Louis Cardinals.

It only took mere mention of Melky Cabrera's name to dim Scutaro's mood Tuesday.

No, Scutaro said, shaking his head, he has not spoken with Cabrera since the outfielder's 50-game suspension in August for using testosterone.

Tonight, the Giants will open the World Series in their home ballpark, a designation due in no small part to Cabrera's MVP performance in the All-Star Game, earning the NL an extra home game.

That they're reaping the benefits of Cabrera's handiwork despite his conspicuous absence makes things a tad strange.

"It's awkward, obviously, not having him be around," said reliever Javier Lopez, who also wasn't aware of any teammates who had been in contact with Cabrera. "But he gave us the home-field advantage. You can't take that away. He's a big reason why we're here. As far as being an everyday thought, well, we were trying hard just to get here."

Cabrera's suspension expired after the Division Series, but Giants manager Bruce Bochy gave little thought to reinstating the outfielder for either the NLCS or World Series. Cabrera's .346 average at the time of his ban was second in the NL.

"We felt as far as losing him, the club played very well, and the guys that we had been putting out there have done the job; they've earned this," Bochy said Tuesday. "It would be, sure, tough for Melky to get game ready, but more importantly, it was how we played and how the guys did out in left field, and they deserve to be out there for the postseason."

— Gabe Lacques

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY

The Tigers walked into AT&T Park on Tuesday afternoon expecting a major league-quality field to play on. They don't know how lucky they were to find one.

Barely an hour before they arrived, the grounds crew finally was satisfied with the condition of a field that looked more like a swamp 18 hours earlier.

"I wasn't thrilled, but you just grin and bear it," said head groundskeeper Greg Elliott, who stood next to the field in a downpour Monday night.

"We have a drainage system like the one at Augusta National. But that doesn't do much for the dirt part."

The Giants and Cardinals played the ninth inning in the rain. Then a stage was wheeled behind second base for a trophy presentation, which kept Elliott's crew from covering anything but the mound and home-plate area as the rain continued.

The crew worked for several hours, using squeegees and shovels to clear the puddles. They added drying agents and finally covered the field after midnight.

Then they returned at 8 a.m. and kept working into the afternoon.

— Paul White

MINOR STAR, MAJOR DREAM

Tigers outfielder Quintin Berry had come to the grips at the end of last season with the idea that his chances of ever getting to the major leagues were gone. He was 26 years old and had played just four games at the Class AAA level during his first six seasons of professional baseball.

Yet a year later, Berry finds himself in the World Series.

"It's really unbelievable," Berry said. "I guess you really do never know. I never expected to be in this position."

Berry was the Philadelphia Phillies' fifth-round draft pick in 2006 from San Diego State and also played in the minor leagues in the San Diego and Cincinnati organizations. Berry decided to press on for one more year when the Tigers pursued him as a minor-league free agent last November.

"I really thought Class AAA was going to be it for me," Berry said. "I came to the point where I didn't even think about the major leagues. I just figured I'd play at least one more year and see what happened."

The 27-year-old Berry wound up playing in 94 games for the Tigers during the regular season and hit .258 while going a perfect 21-of-21 on stolen base attempts. He has gone 5-for-18 (.278) in the postseason with two steals.

— John Perrotto

HAIRY SITUATION

Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder has had a beard all season, but he looks across at the Giants and can't help but be jealous.

"Good beards in this series," Fielder said. He was referring to Giants injured closer Brian Wilson and reliever Sergio Romo.

— Bob Nightengale