SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.Bruce Bochy stopped short of namingEmmanuel Burriss his opening-day second baseman. But the Giants manager madeit clear that Burrisss terrific spring contributed to the difficult decisionto place infielder Mike Fontenot on release waivers.
Theyre always tough, and Mike in particular, Bochy said. Hesvery popular. I talked to him, thanked him for all he did to help us. With howthe numbers were falling, we just couldnt find a spot.
RELATED: Giants place Fontenot on waivers
The Giants saved three-quarters of Fontenots 1.05 millionsalary by cutting him before Fridays deadline. They have not made such moveswith two others with partially guaranteed deals, infielder Ryan Theriot and right-handerClay Hensley, who both are on the travel squad to play the San Diego Padres inPeoria, Ariz.
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In other words, Theriot and Hensley are on the team.
Bochy said he and the staff have discussed the need forcarrying more than one backup middle infielder, perhaps a clue that JoaquinArias will make the club. But the Giants also continue to consider Brett Pill,who went to minor league camp to play third base for the second time in threedays.
Asked what factors made Fontenot expendable even with secondbaseman Freddy Sanchezs health an unknown, Bochy touched on Burrisssemergence.
You look at everything: the spring, the previous year,Bochy said. A guy like Manny is coming off a very nice year and hes out of(minor league) options. You look at all these things -- the right- or left-handedbat and the need the club has. It all came into play.
San Francisco Giants
In other news, Buster Posey is scheduled to catch all nineinnings for the first time this spring. With the knowledge that it's March 30, I still find it hard to believe theGiants will carry just Eli Whiteside or Chris Stewart on the roster and leave catcherHector Sanchezs hot bat in Fresno. Do you really want Posey to catch all nineinnings of a regular-season game when its 8-0 in the fifth?
Also, Brian Wilson threw his inning in minor league camp his first time going back-to-backand Bochy received a positive report. Wechecked off that box. Hes ready, Bochy said.
Heres the lineup for Peoria. Note Brandon Belt at firstbase and Aubrey Huff in left field. The Giants wouldnt go with thisconfiguration this late in the spring if they werent considering itor alreadydecided on it.
CF Pagan
RF Cabrera
3B Sandoval
C Posey
LF Huff
1B Belt
2B Theriot
SS Crawford
P Zito