SAN DIEGO – Buster Posey was scratched from Tuesday’s original lineup because of hip and lower back soreness, but the Giants’ cleanup hitter anticipated being available off the bench and back in the lineup Wednesday.
And, hopefully, giving Bryce Harper some stiff competition for the NL batting crown.
“Yeah, you take a peek,” Posey said. “Last I looked, he had a pretty sizable lead. He’s put together an impressive year.”
Harper only led by a few percentage points a week ago, but he’s on another hot streak and has stretched his advantage. He entered Tuesday hitting .343 to Posey’s .327. Florida’s Dee Gordon was at .332.
Posey won a batting title in 2012, but that was after Melky Cabrera, serving a 50-game suspension, requested through his agents that MLB not tack on enough plate appearances to make him eligible for consideration.
Posey jogged in the outfield prior to the game before the Giants replaced him in the lineup.
“Just want to get my legs under me and be as strong as possible,” Posey said. “It’s nothing new – stuff I’ve dealt with, that everybody deals with. Nothing pressing.”
Said Giants manager Bruce Bochy: “I just thought he could use another day. We’ve had enough injuries. My guess is tomorrow he’ll be good to go.”
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Counting Posey, the Giants have five players on their bench. The list of injured position players is much longer: Hunter Pence, Joe Panik, Hector Sanchez, Andrew Susac, Gregor Blanco, Nori Aoki, Brandon Belt and now Juan Perez.
Perez had an MRI exam that showed a torn oblique after he injured himself while swinging at a third strike in the seventh inning Sunday. Even before doctors could give him a full exam, it was apparent to all that Perez would not play again this season.
Perez also dealt with Achilles’ tendon and wrist injuries this season. He was thinking of skipping winter ball in the Dominican Republic for the first time after playing six consecutive seasons there. Now the oblique injury cinches those plans.
“I’m going to get a little rest and prepare my body for spring training,” Perez said.
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The three Giants with concussions – Aoki, Blanco and Belt – did not make the trip to Petco Park. Belt is traveling to Pittsburgh this week and will see concussion specialist Dr. Mickey Collins on Thursday. There might be a greater concern with Belt because he also had a concussion last year, and that’s on top of the significant one he received in college.
As for the other concussed Giants, the clubhouse is crowded enough and there’s no real reason for them to be here. Pence, however, is on the trip. He's not going to give up on trying to return from his oblique injury until the 162nd game.
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With all the outfield injuries, could that plan to make Kelby Tomlinson a super-utility player get accelerated? No, Bruce Bochy said. He wants Tomlinson to focus on playing second base for now. The club has enough coverage in the outfield.
First base might be the biggest challenge right now, especially with Posey needing a day. Ehire Adrianza is getting the start there in Posey’s place. No, he’s never played first base in a major league game before.
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It was revealed after his last start that Mike Leake is dealing with some elbow stiffness. But he checked out and will be good to go on Friday, Bochy said.
So … no reason to move up Tim Hudson in the rotation!
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Lineups as the Giants try to win a Chris Heston start for the first time since Aug. 1:
CF Pagan, LF De Aza, 3B Duffy, SS Crawford, RF Byrd, 2B Tomlinson, 1B Adrianza, C Brown, P Heston.
1B Myers, 3B Solarte, RF Kemp, LF J. Upton, SS Gyorko, 2B Spangenberg, C Hedges, P Ross, CF Jankowski.
The post Giants notes: Buster Posey scratched with hip/back soreness but hopes to give Bryce Harper a run for the crown, Juan Perez out for the season, Brandon Belt goes to Pittsburgh, etc. appeared first on Giants Extra.