SAN FRANCISCOThe Dodgers are in town, but that made no difference. Neither didthe fact Barry Zito is pitching, or what the horoscope says in the newspaper.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy decided that Buster Posey neededa day off. And so his cleanup-hitting catcher is receiving one Monday, as theGiants begin their first home series of the season against their archrivals and the NL West leaders.
All other factors aside, Bochy said that Poseys surgicallyreconstructed left ankle needed a day.
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I did talk to him and hes doing fine, butI know hesfeeling it a little, Bochy said. Hes honest. He doesnt want to sit but heknows its better for him occasionally to get off his ankle a little bit.
You have to remember its June. You dont ever want to weara player down to where hell need a couple days (to rejuvenate).
Bochy even acknowledged the possibility that Posey could sitfor two of three games in this important series against the Dodgers, who leadthe NL West. The manager could have Hector Sanchez catch Tim Lincecum onWednesday afternoon; Sanchez worked with Lincecum in his last start Friday atOakland to change things up for the struggling right-hander.
Poseys health would be the primary factor in deciding whowill catch Lincecum, Bochy said. That goes for Zito, too.
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Really, I was close to catching Buster (Monday), Bochysaid. Its more that Buster needed a day. Really, I was thinking aboutchanging it up because Barry has had three rough ones.
Of course, it should be pointed out that Posey might have been able to catch all three games againstthe Dodgers if Bochy had rested him on Sunday, one day after the 2010 Rookie ofthe Year caught a four-hour, 15-minute game. But that decision has been made already. Posey was in Sundays lineupand hit a two-run home run while making several nearly game-saving defensivecontributions in the Giants ultimate 4-2 loss to the As
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In other pregame news, Santiago Casilla is unavailable afterthrowing in all three games at Oakland, Bochy said. Casilla gave up runs in allthree outings and served up the walk-off, three-run home run to Derek Norris onSunday.
Bochy said hell use a committee and go with matchups if theGiants have a save situation in the late innings
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Bochy said he spoke with Brad Penny on Sunday and that adecision would be made soon about whether to add the veteran right-hander tothe roster. Penny pitched on consecutive games for Triple-A Fresno last week butBochy said the club would like to stretch out his pitch count a little further.
In a couple days well have to make a call, Bochy said,referring to an opt-out clause in Pennys minor league contract. You neverknow what can happen.
Pennys opt-out clause has no specific date, just wheneverhe and the club feels hes ready. The Giants wouldnt stand in Pennys way ifhe wanted to leave to seek other opportunities.
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Dodgers manager Don Mattingly and GM Ned Colletti said itsdoubtful Matt Kemp will play in the All-Star Game. Kemp remains on the DL witha hamstring issue.
Thats good news for the Giants, and specifically, for MelkyCabrera. If Cabrera falls out of the top-three in balloting, he still couldsnare a starting spot as an injury replacement for Kemp if the Dodgers star centerfielder stays among the leaders.