Spring Training Notes

Most all of the Giants' 40-man roster had arrived in camp Monday, with the first full squad workout of the spring scheduled for Tuesday morning. Not much new news to talk about yet, but that should change Tuesday when the whole calvary goes to work. Most of the talk around the camp so far has been about the Giants' impending second base battle as well as their new philosophy on running more as a team. It seems like they have been talking about running more every year for a while now, but this year they are actually going to have to do some things on the bases in order to produce runs. Outside of Aaron Rowand and Bengie Molina, I would be pleasantly surprised to see any other player on the current roster top 15 home runs or 75 RBI's this year, so they are going to have to manufacture runs and taking extra bases will be crucial. Everybody in the Giants projected starting lineup is a threat to take a base except for Molina so they have the pieces to enforce that kind of baseball if they so choose.

Both Ray Durham and Kevin Frandsen seem to be taking the forthcoming battle for the starting second base job very well as they were both joking around on the field Monday. I will be surprised if Ray Durham doesn't rebound and claim the everyday job this spring. It would benefit the Giants as well to give Durham the chance at getting his stroke back. Ever since Durham signed with the Giants, prior to last year, he's arguably been the Giants' second most important hitter besides Barry Bonds. If he can regain some of his pre-2007 form, he would not only help out this teams' punchless offense, but he also would give them a nice trading chip come June and July. There also is the chance that Frandsen could start the year as the starting third basemen if the Giants don't make any additions this spring. Eugenio Velez is another guy that needs to be given strong consideration at getting a roster spot and time at second base. It would be interesting for Bochy to have the option of playing Frandsen at third base and Eugenio Velez at second. Velez could very well be the fastest player in the Giants' organization and he has come to camp and impressed management early on.