Struggling Posey gets a change of scenery
SAN FRANCISCO » Buster Posey is suffering through the worst offensive season of his career, but manager Bruce Bochy is maintaining faith in his veteran catcher.
Bochy dropped Posey to the fifth spot in the Giants’ lineup ahead of their series opener against the San Diego Padres, but he’ll still hit in a position typically reserved for a top run producer.
“Somet imes you change things up a little bit just for a change of scenery,” Bochy said. “It’s still in the heart of the order and Buster and I talked yesterday, he doesn’t care. He’s good with anything.”
Posey has only batted in the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 spots in the order this season, but after recording just two hits in his past 26 at-bats, Posey hit fifth for the 15th time in his career Thursday.
The manager and his longest-tenured position player had a discussion regarding the change at Posey’s BP28 Gala on Wednesday, which was held at Oracle Park and benefits supporting new research and treatment for kids facing cancer.
Bochy said Posey was understanding of the decision and offered his full support of the move.
“He said, ‘Don’t ever hesitate. If you think you need to move me, move me.’” Bochy said. “He’s good with it.”
It’s been 367 days since Posey underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip, which alleviated much of the pain the catcher dealt with during a challenging 2018 season. At times this season, Posey has shown an ability to handle high-velocity fastballs and use an all-fields approach, but he’s also
struggled with consistency at the plate.
Both Bochy and Posey are aware that his .246 batting average and .311 onbase percentage are significantly below his career averages, but the Giants manager believes Posey remains one of the team’s best options when it needs a quality at-bat.
“He still has a knack of getting on base and doing some good things, and like I said, these are the guys we’ll win with that you’ve got to lean on and stay behind,” Bochy said.
• Honduras native Mauricio Dubon spent his high school years watching videos of Giants infielders Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik turning double plays.
In his Giants debut Thursday, Dubon became Crawford’s new double-play partner.
The rookie infielder, who was acquired in a July 31 deal with the Brewers that sent pitchers Drew Pomeranz and Ray Black to Milwaukee, was called up to the Giants’ major league roster Tuesday.
Bochy said Dubon nearly made his first appearance in a Giants uniform as a pinchrunner in Tuesday’s loss to the Diamondbacks, but decided instead that Dubon would bat eighth and play second base against the Padres on Thursday.
“I’m looking forward to his start,” Bochy said. “I’m going to mix him in at short and second.”
Bochy said second base is Dubon’s secondary position and he’s more fluid as a shortstop, but the Giants will play him at both spots over the final month of the season.
• The Giants are remaining optimistic that infielder Pablo Sandoval can return from the injured list for a brief stint as a left-handed pinch-hitter before undergoing surgery later.
Sandoval is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in Los Angeles next week, but if he’s physically capable of swinging from the left side, the club would welcome him back in a pinchhitting capacity on Sunday 1, when rosters expand to 40 players.
Bochy said the Giants are hopeful Sandoval could begin swinging from the left side within the next day or two, and it’s possible he could make more than one appearance as a pinch-hitter if he’s able to do so effectively.
• Veteran Johnny Cueto will make his sixth and final rehab start Saturday for the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. Cueto is expected to throw between 70 and 75 pitches for Sacramento before he rejoins the Giants’ rotation at the end of next week. The Giants can activate Cueto from the 60- day injured list Sunday and hope he’ll make his 2019 debut next weekend against the Dodgers. Cueto had Tommy John surgery in August 2018.
• San Diego has hit 191 home runs as a team this season, while the Giants have 144. Hunter Renfroe leads the Padres with 31 homers, averaging one every 12.8 at-bats. He also leads the team with 51 extra- base hits and has 62 RBIs. Kevin Pillar leads the Giants with 19 homers, 55 extra-base hits and 72 RBIs.