Everything you could possibly want to know about the Giants lineup changes and youth movement
Posted by Andrew Baggarly
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:06 am


Tonights game was a tough one to cover.

I decided to devote most of the game story to pregame developments: the lineup changes and upper management's latest pledge to go young. I figured that angle would be more significant than anything that happened on the field. (I made sure both teams had a hit first, though.)

The problem: Not only did the game turn out to be compelling, but the outcome involved Eugenio Velez and Ivan Ochoa, two players in the middle of the Giants push towards youth. And Tim Lincecum, who is impossible to ignore in entirety.

I ended up having to delete a lot of the pregame lineup news I'd planned to flesh out.

So I present the reportage/analysis/observation/quasi-opinion here, in Q&A form:

Q: Hi, Baggs. Why is Fred Lewis hitting third instead of first?


A: Because the Giants want to determine whether Lewis can thrive as a middle-of-the-lineup hitter. It would be a huge boost to the organization if he succeeds because GM Brian Sabean isn't likely to unearth multiple power hitters this winter to address the heart of the order.

It's more for his development,” Sabean said. He needs to cut down on his strikeouts, especially the called third strike, but that may happen because he's hitting down in the order. He won't (feel inclined) to take pitches. If he gets a nice fastball with men on base, it's a different story.”

Lewis did the job in his first plate appearance Friday, driving in a run with a sacrifice fly to deep center field at Petco Park. As we all know, that's a moon shot into the upper deck in most other parks. (Or over the fence, anyway.)

The next two at-bats, Lewis looked like a leadoff man as he legged out infield hits.

Lewis was limping after the game; the bunion on his right foot really bothers him, though treatment helps to keep him on the field. There's a decent chance he'll have corrective surgery after the season.

(By the way, if Dave Roberts starts a game in left field, don't start inhaling paint fumes. It's likely that Lewis just needs a day off.)

Q: Why go with Ivan Ochoa at shortstop and Emmanuel Burriss at second base instead of vice versa?

A: Are you asking that question before or after Ochoa's game-saving play at short Friday night?

OK, well, fine. We asked Bochy before the game. He said Burriss will get occasional starts at shortstop, but the organization sees him as a potential standout defender at second base and wants him to get comfortable at the position.

Bochy also said Friday's alignment makes the Giants the best possible defensive team. (At least, when they don't have 11-time Gold Glover Omar Vizquel on the field.)

Both Burriss and Ochoa will get an extended look, Sabean said.

It's about time we give them some due respect, especially Burriss,” Sabean said. He's been up here for awhile biding his time and he needs to get out there on a regular basis.”

I'll be interested to see what Burriss can do in the lineup every day. It's easy to forget that he finished last season at low-A Augusta. This is a quantum leap and he hasn't looked overmatched yet. But playing every day has a way of exposing players weaknesses. Can Burriss make adjustments? Oh wait, I'm not asking the questions…you are.

Q: Why didn't Eugenio Velez start Friday? And if he's still a bench guy, why not send him back to Triple-A Fresno?

A: Excellent question, I'm glad you asked. Bochy and Sabean were very frank in saying that they'll play it by ear the next few games, but after that, they'll have to decide if it's worth it to keep Velez with the team. It all depends on how much time they can give him.

Sabean said Velez has received some major league at-bats (when he flamed out in April and got picked off base a billion times), while Burriss and Ochoa haven't gotten any kind of chance. So the organization owes it to give them the first look.

Q: If this is a youth movement, where is Nate Schierholtz? And, for that matter, get Pablo Sandoval up here!

A: That second part isn't a question, pal. Schierholtz is on the U.S. Olympic team and the Giants are going to let him have that chance. I hear it's lovely in Beijing in late August. The smog makes for some gorgeous sunsets.

If the Giants decide to demote Velez, I wouldn't be shocked if they replaced him with Sandoval. (He's the switch-hitting catcher/first baseman who is the hottest thing in Double-A. It's harder to tear up the phone book than the pitcher-happy Eastern League.)

Bochy said his current plan is to play first baseman John Bowker every day, including against left-handers. For now,” he said.

I take it that his plan would be amended whenever Sandoval joins the club.

Q: Is Sergio Romo OK?

A: Yes, the Giants think so. Just a knee tweak, but I'll check on him tomorrow. There's a funy Romo story that I'll relay at some point, too. Maybe on the blog, maybe in Giants notes. Haven't determined which yet.

Q: I'll be as tactful as possible: How long do I have to watch Jose Castillo play every day?

A: A long time. Think Malcolm McDowell in A Clockwork Orange.” Except without the machine that forces your eyelids open.

Seriously though, it's either Castillo or Rich Aurilia at third base. (Nobody else has started a game there for the Giants this season.) Maybe that changes in September, if brass decides Ryan Rohlinger merits a call-up and they have a spare 40-man space. But right now, the Giants don't have any other options. That includes Velez, whose third base experiment was aborted faster than a Space Shuttle launch in a downpour.

And besides, Castillo isn't in his mid-30s. He's 27. There's a chance that his best seasons, whatever they might be, are in front of him. Not so with Aurilia.

Q: I like Aurilia. He's the last link to better times (the 2002 World Series team) and a good guy who has been unfairly maligned by many Giants fans just because he happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. If he isn't traded in a waiver deal, will he ever play again? Or will Murph reissue his No.35 before he's even off the team?

A: Yes! (To the first question, not the second one.) He entered Friday night as a defensive replacement for John Bowker, who is having a pretty rough go of things at first base in recent days. Bochy said he'll make that move often as long as Aurilia is at his disposal. Aurilia will average at least two starts a week at third base, too.

By the way, your question in no way reflects my personal sentiments.

Q: Why does Bruce Bochy keep pulling Tim Lincecum after seven innings and his pitch count over 110?

A: Because it's the right thing to do. If you don't understand why, read this.

http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2008/7/29/581986/apologies-for-the-sulfur-s

I couldn't express it any better. Also, Lincecum used the word jelly” to describe how his legs felt after seven innings Friday. There's a bad joke about jelly and preserving” Lincecum somewhere in there, but I'll spare you. You're welcome.

Q: This Q&A is getting silly. You really shouldn't write after 1 a.m., Baggs. But I guess life could be worse. I could be a Padres fan, right?

A: Yes, you could. The Giants might be offensively challenged, but … gahhhh.

Not to suggest the Padres lack athleticism, but they stole one base in July - by 42-year-old pitcher Greg Maddux.

There. Feel any better?