This just in: According to Baggs, Bruce Bochy has outlined the likely 25–man roster. Schulman has a similar list (see below) and this important caveat: “None of this is set in stone.”
The highlights: Kevin Frandsen has been optioned to Triple-A. Manny Burriss is the opening day second baseman. Other moves: Jesus Guzman, Brandon Medders and Justin Miller are all re-assigned to the minors.
SP
Lincecum
Cain
R. Johnson
Zito
Sanchez
RP
Wilson
Affeldt
Howry
Hinshaw
Valdez
Perdomo
a long reliever TBD
C
Molina
IF
Ishikawa
Burriss
Renteria
Sandoval (also backup catcher)
Aurilia
Uribe
OF
Rowand
Lewis
Winn
Schierholtz
Torres
Velez
Rough one for Frandsen and Steve Holm. The Sandoval Experiment should be interesting. What happens when Sandoval leaves a game due to injury, or gets double-switched out, or can’t play with the flu? The Giants will have no backup catcher, and no opportunity to pinch-run for Molina late in the game. Schulman wrote this: “Bochy acknowledged that means he might pinch-run less for Bengie Molina.”
Remember the last game of the 2003 playoff series vs. Florida, with JT Snow as the tying run on second base? How’d that turn out?
I’m pleasantly surprised about Perdomo making the team. Rule 5 Power! He has to stay on the roster all year or get shipped back to St. Louis.
Baggs has added a FAQ to his post. My cheap instant analysis: This might be the opening day roster, but it’ll be fluid all year long. Come June 1, I won’t be surprised if five or six of the names above are no longer on the team.
