All signs point to shakeup

The past 72 hours provided ample evidence that this will not be a quiet last couple of weeks and offseason around AT&T Park, where the Giants take pride in their stability.

Giants President Larry Baer foretold a major shakeup, at least on the field, during an appearance on KNBR on Thursday. When players returned to work Friday they learned the club had fired longtime strength and conditioning coach Carl Kochan, a move that would have happened after the season but was accelerated to allow him to get shoulder surgery.

With the Giants about to finish consecutive losing seasons for the first time in a decade, one has to assume the strength coach will not be the only casualty, even if Executive Vice President Brian Sabean, manager Bruce Bochy and other higher-ups with contracts through next year get

one more shot.

A nervousness has to pervade the clubhouse as well. It’s human nature, especially with team executives signaling that the club’s core might be busted up to put a different kind of team on the field in 2019.

“You know what? I’m sure it does,” Bochy said. His job, along with that of veteran players, is ensuring that none of the outside noise pervades the field over the final games. Anyone who has worked for a company or industry dealing with a shakeup can relate.

“I’m not hearing any talk about it,” Bochy said. “They came out and played a really

good game last night. It goes with the territory sometimes. Whatever you’re dealing with, it’s not just our sport, but other sports and other businesses as well.”

Belt MRI: Brandon Belt’s season is not over. Bochy said the first baseman will get more starts after another MRI on his right knee revealed inflammation, but not enough to shut him down for the final two weeks.

Belt has expressed a strong desire to keep playing, but Bochy said after Belt was pulled during Friday’s game that the club might have to shelve him. Although he will require a

cleanup surgery after the season, the medical staff believes he can play.

Briefly: Chris Stratton’s shutout Friday night was just the seventh thrown in the National League this season, the third in the West. Arizona’s Patrick Corbin and Clay Buchholz each had one, the former against the Giants. Just two years ago, NL pitchers threw 21. … Bochy said during the losing streak he and his staff contemplated using a reliever as an “opener,” just to shake things up.