Eight more games in April, and my spidey-sense tells me roster moves are going to happen in the next couple weeks. Here are a list of possibilities:
* Starting May 1, the team plays 17 days in a row. Bengie Molina will not be able to play all 17, so it figures someone else will have to start at least two of those games. At the current rate, Pablo Sandoval might not even be the backup. He’s barely strapped on the shinguards since camp.
Unfortunately, the guy everyone expected in March to be the Opening Day backup catcher, Steve Holm, is 0 for 18 so far at Fresno. If that keeps up, the Giants might bypass him, but the only other catcher in AAA is Eli Whiteside, a 30–year-old journeyman not even on the 40–man roster. Unless the Giants do something wacky — Them? Nah! — and, say, bring up Jackson Williams from AA, it’s likely to be Holm. Whom would he replace? Nearly every bench guy is expendable right now. I’d pick Eugenio Velez, who still has options.
* Sergio Romo might be ready in early May, according to today’s Merc notes. God knows the Giants need relievers who throw strikes. Alex Hinshaw, you’re the first to go even if it leaves the team with one lefty.
* The Giants have tried to alter Manny Burriss’s point of view by moving him to the #2 spot. If the change doesn’t help his .189 / .286 / .216 line soon, the Giants will have to swap him with Kevin Frandsen. Frannie couldn’t do any worse.
* I guess he could do worse — he could have Travis Ishikawa’s April. Although Ishikawa has been miserable at the plate, I think the team will be more patient with him. First, he’s out of options. Second, he’s got some power potential. Third, there’s no good alternative right now. No one wants to see Rich Aurilia starting at 1B full time (probably not Bochy, either), and no one in AAA is ready to come up. Spring phenom Jesus Guzman, who’s trying to hit AAA pitching for the first time and play a decent first base, is not doing well so far.
Any other moves you’d like to see? Tinker away.
