Monday, April 4, 2011

Fielding Question Marks

Huffy looks lost in right field. 

I mean, let's not beat around the bush -- it seems that in the Giants infinite quest for decent hitting, they've found themselves a little overrun by decent hitters and a little under run by decent fielders.

All due respect to Pat the Bat -- whom, BTW, I totally like and don't want to lose because he's our Adam Dunn -- the Giants could have saved themselves a little heart ache (and a lot of head ache) by cutting him loose in the off season and going with Belt and/or Huffy in left field.

But, again, Pat the Bat was one of three offensive bright spots in the first weekend of play (the other 2 being Panda Bear and Belt -- oh what the hell, let's say Rowand who went 3 for 6 with a ding dong and 2 runs), and we truly do need a guy smoking Marb Lights and drinking Bud Light in the dugout.

The John Daly of the Giants, if you will.

That still leaves the problem of Huffy.  OK, so, when Ross comes back, one might say we'll just put Huffy in a more "natural" position (left field) and sit the Bat. 

Well, I don't like that one bit -- you have to give Burrell 500 ABs.  That's all there is to it.  He's got to be your cleaner-upper and non-regular at bats will pretty much make him useless.

Unless you trade him.  If the Giants can move Burrell, that'll be the only logical solution -- assuming Belt plays well enough to stay in the lineup.  He only makes $1M, he's only signed for a year, it would take out thump, but if there are a couple power-hitters from AA coming to our side in the deal, that'd be just fine.

But to keep Burrell on the bench, just to bring him up in the 7th inning with the game on the line, like Giambi in Colorado, is a waste of assets and opportunities.  Burrell is still a young man, he does actually play left field competently and he's got a lot more to offer. 

So, again, what about Huffy?  I'm told Belt plays left field, can he play right?  Huffy plays first well enough, he can pick he can stretch -- ok he's right handed -- but better to have a right handed 1B than a right fielder who dives after low liners that should be singles and go for triples (I mean, Jamey Carroll?  Really?)

2 games in San Diego is not going to make matters any easier for Huff: 2 3:30 starts will beam the sun directly into his right eye, and that stubby corner could mess with him something awful.

Of course we're early, and he can accustom himself to the irregularites of his new position.  He's probably got at least 10 more games pout there.

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