The Infield

In this post I will discuss the possible starting lineups that Giants skipper Bruce Bochy will use throughout the season and the lineups that I would like him to use. Lets see how different our views are.

With the acquisitions of Edgar Renteria and Josh Phelps the Giants will have more potential power that the previous season. Bruce Bochy and Brian Sabean have said that the Giants will use the 21-year-old slugger Pablo Sandoval at third base. So this solidifies the left side of the infield to Renteria and Sandoval. Bochy chooses: SS – Renteria , 3B - Sandoval

Second base is up for grabs with Eugenio Velez, Emmanuel Burriss and Kevin Frandsen. Minor leaguer Jesus Guzman still has an outside shot for 2B as well after an impressive showing in the Venezuela Winter League as he led the VWL in RBI’s (67), and was only out hit by Pablo Sandoval for highest average. Guzman also earned the honor as the MVP of the league. Frandsen has earned the right to be considered for the starting spot even after he did not play all of last year due to a torn Achilles tendon. Frandsen had a very solid offseason in the Arizona Fall League and has hit at every level while in the minors. Burriss did an adequate job last year filling in at 2B and SS for San Francisco. Burris started the 2008 year in Low-A Augusta, High-A San Jose, then on to AAA Fresno while hitting .321avg - .165avg- .258avg respectively. While up in the bigs Emmanuel hit .283/.357/.329 while stealing 13 bases and playing above average 2B and average SS. I will not give Eugenio Velez mush press for the simple fact that I do not think he is nearly as good as either Frandsen or Burris. He is a below average hitter, and has the nickname of PickOffVonIronGlove. The only tool that Velez possesses is that he quick and has the ability to steal a base (considering if he is not picked off). Bochy chooses: 2B – Frandsen

First base is between Travis Ishikawa and Josh Phelps. Ishi started out last year in AA Connecticut posting a line of .289/.383/.461 while smacking out 8 homeruns in 64 games in the pitcher friendly park. Travis was then called up to AAA Fresno for a 48 game stint while he hit .310/.370/.737 with 16 home runs. While in Fresno, Ishi had an OPS of 1.107 which is very exceptional for AAA. He has done about everything right to give himself a legitimate spot at starting in 2009. Josh Phelps was signed to a minor league deal this offseason and has the tools to be a very key power asset to the Giants if he is penciled in over 60% of the staring lineup cards for the reason that he hit 31 homeruns for AAA Memphis (STL) and put up a line of .291/.373/.568 in 126 games. Phelps also posted a .993 Fielding percentage while only committing 7 errors. Bochy chooses: Phelps

 

 

So the way I see it, Bochy will have:

1B – Phelps

2B – Frandsen

SS – Renteria

3B – Sandoval

 

What yours truly would like to see:

1B – Sandoval (Phelps)

         I believe 3B is too much for a 21-year-old to handle. Pablo is a natural catcher and is being asked to start at the hot corned in the Pros which is definitely not an easy task. Even though Sandoval has proven to be very mobile and quick for a big guy, I feel much more comfortable with at First base where he can primarily focus on his hitting and not worry about learning a new position that is more demanding than 1B.

2B – Jesus Guzman (Frandsen)

          Jesus is a natural 3B but is very raw in his abilities from what he has shown in the minors, but has done much better at the 2B position. I want his bat in this lineup and I see that this is the only way to get that done.

SS – Renteria (Aurilia, Frandsen)

3B – Kevin Frandsen (Aurilia, Guzman)

          I like the idea of Frandsen at third base for the reason that he is a better hitter than and has a better arm than Burris and his name is not Pablo.

Either my way or Bochy’s way, the Giants infield will not be great but will not be horrible either. At least you do not see Brian Bocock’s name anywhere on either list.

There will be an odd man out on either one of these lists, and I would like to see Burriss and Ishikawa to play a full year of AAA, and Designate For Assignment Velez or tuck him away in the minors somewhere. There would be 6 infielders and Sandoval would backup Molina at catcher with Phelps being the emergency catcher, which would also allow the Giants to have a 13 pitching staff and a 5-man outfield.

 

Next time I will discuss the outfield….