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Sanchez suffers dislocated shoulder
By Chris Haft / MLB.com | 06/11/11 2:30 AM ET
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants' lengthy injury list gained an unwelcome addition
Friday night as second baseman Freddy Sanchez, one of their top all-around
performers, dislocated his right shoulder.
Sanchez almost certainly will go on the 15-day disabled list, though the
severity of his injury won't be known until he undergoes a MRI on Saturday.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy already has steeled himself for the worst.
"Obviously, it's not good news," he said.
Sanchez hurt himself as the fifth inning of San Francisco's 3-2 victory over
Cincinnati began. He dove to his right for Brandon Phillips' grounder up the
middle and gloved it before his momentum caused him to slide several feet on
his right side. That extra movement apparently caused the injury to Sanchez,
who could be seen howling in pain on television replays as he skidded.
Bochy and assistant athletic trainer Mark Gruesbeck hustled out to check
Sanchez, who remained prostrate on the outfield grass until they helped him
up and led him toward the dugout.
"When a guy can't get his words out, I knew it was something serious," said
Manny Burriss, who was an eyewitness from his post at shortstop.
Sanchez, 33, appeared destined to become the fifth member of San Francisco's
Opening Day starting lineup to go on the disabled list. The others were third
baseman Pablo Sandoval (fractured right hamate bone), catcher Buster Posey
(fracture and torn ankle ligaments in left leg), center fielder Andres Torres
(strained left Achilles) and first baseman Brandon Belt (hairline fracture in
left wrist). Outfielder Cody Ross (right calf), who likely would have been in
the Opening Day lineup, and closer Brian Wilson (strained left side) began
the season on the DL.
Despite this adversity, the Giants have found a way to scramble into first
place in the National League West.
"I like to think that we're a pretty tough team," right-hander Sergio Romo
said. "Our mentality doesn't waver."
Said Bochy, "It's a different group. It's a special group. They don't make
excuses. They keep moving forward, and that's all you can do."
Who might step forward to replace Sanchez on the roster is unclear, though
Burriss likely will become the starting second baseman. Bochy said that
neither Sandoval nor infielder Mike Fontenot (left groin), who are in the
midst of injury rehabilitation stints with Triple-A Fresno, is ready to leave
the DL. No obvious candidates for promotion exist in the upper Minors.
Before his departure, Sanchez went 1-for-2 to lift his batting average to
.289, tops among active Giants with more than 50 at-bats. He led all National
League second basemen with 15 doubles entering Friday.
"It's never good to lose a player of the caliber of Freddy Sanchez," Romo
said. "You can't replace him. He's been the most consistent guy on our team
on both sides of the ball."
Giants ponder some catching for Sandoval
SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants manager Bruce Bochy admitted Friday that he and the
Giants braintrust have considered using Pablo Sandoval occasionally at
catcher, a position he hasn't played extensively since 2008.
In his daily pregame media briefing, Bochy cited the possibility of playing
Sandoval, who's likely to be activated from the disabled list next week, at
first base. Bochy then added, "I think he'd be fine behind the plate, too.
Don't think we haven't discussed that. It's not something we've ruled out."
In fact, Bochy said that he and San Francisco's other key decision-makers
might raise the subject among themselves again, particularly with Buster
Posey sidelined for the season.
Bochy emphasized that Sandoval probably would catch about twice a week, if he
were to catch at all. Sandoval himself has expressed no desire to return
behind the plate.
Sandoval caught in 83 of 112 games for high-Class A San Jose and Double-A
Connecticut in 2008 before he was promoted to the Giants in mid-August. He
caught 11 games for San Francisco that season and three in 2009.
Bochy expressed the belief that Sandoval would need only a game or two to
"get the feeling back" of catching. Sandoval is currently testing his
surgically repaired right hand on a Minor League injury rehabilitation
assignment with Triple-A Fresno.
Speier gives Crawford stamp of approval
SAN FRANCISCO -- Chris Speier, one of the most accomplished shortstops in
Giants history, formed a positive first impression of Brandon Crawford when
he watched the rookie man his former position in Thursday's San
Francisco-Cincinnati series opener.
Crawford recorded four assists and one putout, hardly an unusual performance.
But he did enough to capture the attention of Speier, Cincinnati's bench
coach.
"He looked really polished," said Speier, the only Giants shortstop besides
Alvin Dark to make as many as three All-Star teams. "Sometimes you see
younger guys who move fast. He doesn't. He slows the game down a little bit.
He has good actions."
Crawford also has jersey No. 35, which Speier wore during his first Giants
tenure (1971-77). Rich Aurilia also distinguished himself at shortstop while
wearing the same number.
"We're just kind of passing it down," Speier said.
Tejada's surge could pose puzzle for Bochy
SAN FRANCISCO -- If Miguel Tejada maintains his recent performance level,
Giants manager Bruce Bochy might have to resort to creative means to keep him
in the lineup once Pablo Sandoval is activated from the disabled list.
Tejada entered Friday batting .223 overall. But he owned a season-high
six-game hitting streak, during which he was batting .320 (8-for-25), and he
extended it to seven games with a first-inning double Friday. Tejada might
have to keep hitting to force Bochy's hand.
"As far as what we're going to do on a consistent basis, I won't know until
Pablo gets back," Bochy said Friday.
Sandoval, playing with Triple-A Fresno on an injury rehabilitation assignment
to test his surgically repaired right hand, is expected to rejoin the Giants
during their June 14-16 series at Arizona.
Third base will belong to Sandoval, thus displacing Tejada, who made two
outstanding plays while manning third Thursday night. Bochy already has said
that rookie Brandon Crawford will continue to receive significant playing
time at shortstop. So returning Tejada to that spot, where he has started 27
games, appears unlikely.
Bochy mentioned that Sandoval conceivably could play a game or two each week
at first base to rest Aubrey Huff, thus vacating third base for Tejada.
Tejada has never played first base, second base or the outfield during his
15-year Major League career.
Worth noting
Left-hander Dan Runzler, a reliever with the Giants, started Thursday for
Triple-A Fresno and worked 3 2/3 shutout innings. Bochy said that Runzler
conceivably could provide valuable depth if he proves capable of starting.
... Bochy said that outfielder Darren Ford (left ankle) received a cortisone
shot, which will delay his recovery a couple of days. Infielder Mike Fontenot
(left groin), who is rehabilitating with Fresno, could rejoin the Giants
along with Sandoval, Bochy said.
Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the
approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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