Giants ready to give Panik a long look as leadoff hitter
Giants give second baseman a look as leadoff batter
PHOENIX >> In nearly 450 games, Giants second baseman Joe Panik has stolen just 12 bases.
A natural No. 2 hitter, Panik doesn’t possess blazing speed, and he’s not the type of player who will bunt for a hit and run his way into scoring position. But for a Giants’ club without a prototypical leadoff hitter, Panik may slide into the table-setting role that Denard Span, Angel Pagan and even non-roster spring training invitee Gregor Blanco held in recent years.
After Panik rested in the Giants’ 10-10 tie against the Brewers on Wednesday, Bochy said he’ll have plenty of opportunities to lead off moving forward.
“Oh yeah, that’s (leadoff) where we’ve been putting (Panik),” Bochy said. “That’s why he’s been getting some action in that leadoff spot and (Thursday) that’s where he’ll be.”
Panik has 12 career starts as a leadoff hitter, but after acquiring Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen, the Giants now have a longer list of middle-of-the-order hitters who are proven run-producers. Panik’s career on-base percentage is .345, and if that holds steady in 2018, the Giants’ new additions could force Panik to think more about running from first to home on a double to the gap instead of trying to steal a base.
“If I get the green light, I’ll go,” Panik said. “But I’m very comfortable in going first to home, especially with those guys. They all can drive the ball. For me it’s about do what I do best, which is spraying the ball and getting on base.”
Though Panik said Bochy hasn’t discussed the leadoff role with him yet this spring, he maintains he’s open to the idea because of the way the Giants lineup is structured. Panik said he wouldn’t have to change the approach he normally brings to the second slot in the order, because he still works counts while trying to set up the players hitting behind him.
“To me, being a leadoff hitter is similar to being a two-hole hitter. My job is to get on base and let Cutch and Buster and Belt and Longo, let those guys do the damage,” Panik said. “So for me, I’d love to lead off just because like I said, the guys behind me. It’s something that as we roll on, Boch always likes to move guys around, seeing where they’ll be comfortable.”
• Johnny Cueto is the lone Giants starting pitcher who has yet to appear in a Cactus League game. Cueto threw a 35-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday and is scheduled to make his first start Saturday at Scottsdale Stadium against the Rangers.
“(Starting slowly) was more about being cautious,” Cueto said through translator Erwin Higueros. “I didn’t throw (bullpens) in the Dominican Republic during the offseason so I came here, and I just wanted to be cautious and just take it slowly and not run the risk of injuring my arm.”
Cueto missed six weeks in the second half of last season because of a combination of blister issues and forearm tightness. Mark Melancon followed Cueto and threw 20 pitches. Melancon missed three separate chunks of last season because of injury and had September surgery but was pleased to report he felt strong after throwing all of his pitches.
• Ty Blach pitched three innings against Milwaukee on Wednesday, allowing one unearned run while striking out five. “It felt good to kind of extend it out, get an extra inning in there and throw a few more pitches,” Blach said. “I got in a couple of different situations with some guys on base, making some pitches with runners in scoring position. It’s always good to get your feet wet.”
Brandon Crawford jammed his right index finger while diving back to second base on a pickoff attempt. Crawford has yet to play in the field this spring but might get in at shortstop Thursday.
• Mac Williamson hit his second home run of the spring and Jarrett Parker also went deep, but the Giants allowed seven runs in the ninth in the game that ended in a tie.