ANAHEIM -- As Bruce Bochy often says, there's no getting around it.
This was a slow news day. Perfect time to ask for a Freddy Sanchez update, right?
Turns out there's nothing new. Sanchez remains in Arizona where he is doing some baseball work, but back soreness continues to limit him. His surgically repaired shoulder is fine for now, but it remains to be seen how it will respond whenever he's in condition to start competing in games again. There remains no timetable to restart his rehab assignment.
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The same is true for left-hander Eric Surkamp and his sore elbow.
At least there is progress to report with left-hander Dan Runzler, who hit 92-94 mph while throwing an inning for Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday. Runzler might not need many innings to be ready. He has a minor league option, so the Giants won't be compelled to bring him up when his rehab assignment reaches the maximum 30 games. It'll be a baseball decision, Bochy said.
Runzler hasn't pitched because of a strained lat muscle in his shoulderupper back region. He did a number on it in the final regular-season game last year and he aggravated it this spring.
As for Aubrey Huff, he is walking around better on his sprained knee and will rejoin the team on Friday. He's eligible to come off the DL on Tuesday. But Bochy said there are no concrete plans to activate him. The Giants won't need a DH after the Oakland series, and with the way Brandon Belt has taken charge at first base, it appears the Giants have little use for Huff.
San Francisco Giants
What about Brad Penny, you ask?
It looks like he's not close to helping the situation, either. The 34-year-old right-hander gave up three hits and two runs in an inning Wednesday for Triple-A Fresno. It was his fourth outing for the Grizzlies. At least Penny hasn't issued a walk since his rough debut June 12, when he gave up five runs (three earned) and retired just one batter.