Acknowledging chase for playoffs is ‘tough’
Q: We talked after you lost the series to the Dodgers and you said, “We’re good. We’ll be fine.” Well, you guys have continued to struggle since that series and I’d like to know what the feeling is inside the clubhouse; you guys still optimistic? A: To be realistic, you know, you just kind of sit there and say, “It’s tough.” We’ve put ourselves in a really tough spot, and those guys that we were chasing have just kept going. We’ve been really competitive and we’ve been in every ballgame, but we’re just that one hit away or that one pitch away and it’s kept happening. It’s been up and down for us; one day the ball bounces for us and the next it doesn’t and this just keeps repeating itself. It’s really tough right now, I have to admit. Q: Is there a sense in the clubhouse when you see the injuries that, “Man, we’re not going out there with a full squad”? A: Well, we’re in September now and there’s really no team out there that’s 100 percent or fully healthy; that just doesn’t really happen. But for us, for me personally, yeah, I notice that. I remember when (Matt) Duffy rolled his ankle a little while ago and we were worrying about that. We were worried about (Hunter) Pence. (Nori) Aoki. You know everybody — (Andrew) Susac. Everybody just kind of seemed to be getting nicked at one point or another. ... It’s hard not to notice that your key guys, your guys that have proven to be contributing factors — it’s not that I think we’re lacking confidence; it’s just that it’s hard to go out there every day not 100 percent. Q: What are your thoughts on Tim — just had his surgery — what do you think of a future with Tim Lincecum? A: Timmy’s been around since I’ve been around. Tim’s got a few more years in the league than I do, so Tim was one of those guys that would show me around and congratulate me on making the big leagues. He’s just one of those guys who’s like, “This is how it goes.” He’s been a real solid friend to me, one of my best friends on the team since the day I got called up. Yeah, I definitely texted him and seeing how he was, how’s he feeling. He’s been really optimistic himself. He feels the procedure went well; it’s going to help him out. Do I see a future with him playing baseball? Yes. Do I see a future with him playing baseball in San Francisco? Yes. It’d be really weird not to see that 55 in orange and black going out there and suiting up. Q: Could you speak to Tim’s toughness? A: He’s very tough, very well prepared. Physically he’s in a great shape. You’d be surprised just how strong he is. It’s amazing what he’s been able to withstand given what he puts his body through. He’s someone who doesn’t complain; he’s just mentally and physically tough. To have that drive to come out there every day just proves he’s one of the toughest dudes out there.