Most of the veteran hitters are now in camp, minus one: Melky Cabrera. The Giants have asked all position players to arrive by Thursday with full workouts beginning on Friday.
The big news today, of course, is how well Tim Lincecum is holding up after he couldn’t go yesterday because of a stiff back.
Timmy participated in cardio and stretches with the rest of the team on the field today and then threw off flat ground, airing it out at times. According to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, The Freak could resume his bullpen sessions tomorrow.
Buster Posey was originally scheduled to catch a bullpen session for a second consecutive straight day but ended up working on agility drills instead.
Closer Brian Wilson did not pitch as scheduled (every third day), but according to Comcast SportsNet’s Andrew Baggarly, it was just a change of schedule and not a reason for concern. AP writer Jane McCauley noted that Wilson (and lefty reliever Dan Runzler, who is recovering from a left lat strain he suffered in September) will throw tomorrow instead.
Mike Fontenot arrived in camp today. He and Emmanuel Burriss are the two position players closest to the bubble, if you get my drift. Fontenot was in a light mood when he arrived asking no one in particular, “Why do they have to put me right next to Ryan Theriot?”
Fontenot and Theriot have close ties, with both men playing at LSU and as teammates with the Chicago Cubs.
Theriot was also in camp today getting his physical, along with Aubrey Huff, Gary Brown, and Conor Gillaspie.
Chris Haft of MLB.com noted that Huff looked to be in good shape, even if he does need a haircut. According to McCauley, Giants manager Bruce Bochy, upon seeing the “fit and trim” veteran, announced to everyone in the locker room that “Huff Daddy’s here! Playin’ third base, hittin’ in the three-hole.”
Speaking of fit and trim, Pablo Sandoval will officially weigh in tomorrow, according to McCauley. Anyone care to take a guess at how much he’ll come in at? I’ve got 240.
Still no word on a Matt Cain contract extension. Comcast SportsNet’s Andrew Baggarly wrote up a nice piece last night comparing Cain’s situation to that of Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels. Both pitchers have similar resumes and it seems like both are waiting on the other to sign an extension and provide some guidelines on a fair deal.
In case you’re wondering how some of the former Giants are doing this spring…
ESPN.com reports that manager Terry Collins has all but locked in Andres Torres as the Mets leadoff hitter. Wow. Quite the christening, Terry. You do know that he hit .221 last season, right?
In Kansas City, Jonathan Sanchez didn’t begin camp on time. He’s still nursing that severely sprained ankle that he suffered with the Giants back on Aug. 16—nearly three months before the Royals acquired Mr. Damaged Goods in a trade for Melky Cabrera.
Edgar Renteria, 35, is leaning toward retirement, according to MLB.com’s Cash Kruth.
Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post writes that Mark DeRosa’s wrist seems to have calmed down and that DeRo, 37, is hoping for a productive season with the Washington Nationals.
Oh, and in case you missed my late-night rant on Red Sox outfielder Cody Ross and his bitterness towards the Giants, check that out here.
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