Posey sits, but that’s not the worst news
SAN FRANCISCO >> It makes no sense to get too worked up over catcher Buster Posey missing his second straight start when there are so many other health issues to worry about for the Giants.
The hope was Posey would resume his duties at catcher in the second game of the Bay Bridge Series at Oracle Park after missing the opener with stiffness in his back. It didn’t happen.
“(He) said his back was still a little bit locked up,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said in his pregame press conference. “He’s been going in for treatment. He’s doing much better, but obviously not in the lineup. We wanted to give him one more day.”
Posey last played Wednesday, catching all 13 innings in a 9-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels. He also played the night before. It’s not something the Giants have done with Posey this season. But with scheduled days off in the mix, Posey was in the lineup. An error in judgement? “He didn’t come out of that game not feeling good,” Kapler said. “He was in yesterday’s lineup, figured he would be totally fine. Went in the cage, felt a little tightness and we got him out of there. I don’t have concerns about this being a major porblem at this time but we’re going to monitor it.”
The Giants didn’t bring up a catcher, and Kapler believes Posey could play if something happened to starter Curt Casali. But if Posey can’t play in Sunday’s series finale, the questions will continue.
In the meantime, the Giants health outlook continues to have more sour notes than good ones.
First baseman Brandon Belt, Kapler said, will see specialists in Los Angeles and Stanford to further examine his right knee inflammation. Whether Belt needs surgery, and whether it would be arthroscopic or something more serious, is an open question. But it’s clear he won’t be back any time soon.
Infielder Tommy LaStella, meanwhile, has been out since May 4 with a hamstring strain. Just when it appeared LaStella could be nearing a return, he injured his thumb. A second look at that thumb, Kapler said, revealed a crack.
“He’s going to be in a splint for a week,” Kapler aid. “It will probably be two weeks before he’s back and moving at full speed again.”
Other health updates:
• Starting pitcher Logan Webb (right shoulder strain) will throw a 20-pitch simulated game Sunday morning.
• Starting pitcher Aaron Sanchez (right biceps tendonitis) is having issues with blisters and may not be able to make his next rehab start. THE POSTGAME SCENE >> The post-fireworks aftermath of the Giants’ 2-0 win over the Athletics on Friday night before 36,928 fans was a memorable one, with fans from both teams in no hurry to leave the area in part because of a massive traffic jam and in part because everyone seemed to be having a good time.
Kapler, who said he doesn’t own a car, either walks or rides a bike he appropriated from Evan Longoria from his home in the city. It was much different than making his way home from last season’s games with no fans in his first season as Giants manager.
“Having the context and perspective of a lot of nights walking or riding home with kind of an empty street on the Embarcadero, it was really, really cool,” Kapler said. “I think maybe I got out of here maybe at 11:15 or 11:30 and it was still pretty backed up. People were out having a good time.”