Giants committing to youth movement
Club taking a closer look at rookies Burriss and Ochoa
By Chris Haft / MLB.com

SAN DIEGO -- Stop us if you've heard this one before, but the Giants renewed their intent to develop rookie infielders Emmanuel Burriss and Ivan Ochoa.

And if Friday's lineup against the San Diego Padres was any indication, the Giants mean it this time, since Burriss started at second base and Ochoa occupied shortstop.

"Their playing time is going to pick up from this point on," manager Bruce Bochy said after discussing the changes with general manager Brian Sabean and player personnel director Dick Tidrow.

The Giants also shuffled their batting order, as Randy Winn and Fred Lewis exchanged spots. Winn moved to leadoff while Lewis switched to the No. 3 position. The club's braintrust is curious to see how Lewis, who has displayed considerable offensive potential, might fare in a run-producing role.

Lewis has excelled at times in the leadoff spot, proving that he can run deep counts, as that role demands. But he also has struck out a team-high 98 times. The Giants theorize that Lewis might be better able to capitalize on his still-emerging power and avoid strikeouts if he were free to swing more aggressively.

The passing of Thursday's Trade Deadline left the Giants feeling freer to play Burriss and Ochoa, since they're no longer compelled to showcase infielder Rich Aurilia and shortstop Omar Vizquel for potential deals. The Giants wish to gauge whether either Burriss or Ochoa might fit in for 2009.

"I think it's about time we gave them some due respect. Especially Burriss," said Sabean, referring to the fact that Burriss joined the Giants on April 20 and entered Friday batting .278 yet had only 126 at-bats.

Bochy said that Burriss and Ochoa will share duties at second base and shortstop, although the positions they manned Friday probably will be the ones they'll play most frequently.

Aurilia and Vizquel reacted calmly to the likelihood of spending more time on the bench, although Bochy said that both would start occasionally.

"It's odd to have played a lot and then you might not play any more," Aurilia said. "But that's their decision. It's a weird situation to be in. You just have to deal with it somehow, and figure out a way to come in ready to play every day."

"I know where they're heading," said Vizquel, who called his .182 batting average "embarrassing." He added, "I know what the situation is. I know where I'm standing. I'm not going to be [angry]. I'm not going to change my face."

Both Aurilia, 36, and Vizquel, 41, believe they can continue their careers next season. "I still think I have a lot of baseball to play in my career," Aurilia said. "I'm not saying five or six years, but I feel like I have a few more years in me."

Said Vizquel, "I'm determined to play, no matter what."

Bochy twice stated in recent weeks that Burriss would soon claim playing time from Vizquel. But Bochy expressed some sympathy toward Aurilia, who's hitting .279 and is tied for third on the team with eight home runs. "Richie has done a great job," said Bochy, who informed Aurilia of his diminished status.

Left out of this maneuvering was utilityman Eugenio Velez, who probably will return to Triple-A Fresno in the near future to play regularly. "It wouldn't serve any purpose to have him up here as an extra guy," Sabean said.


Chris Haft