The Jesus Guzman Experience got unplugged yesterday after 10 at-bats, which probably wasn’t a bad idea. There’s no place to play him on a regular basis. Better to give him his regular work in Fresno, both at the plate and in the field.
He’s got plenty of options, so the Giants can bring him up and down as they wish this year — perhaps for the next interleague series on the road, June 22 to 24 at Oakland — without fear of losing him to another team. And if he continues to crank with the Grizzlies, we should expect to see him a lot more in August and September unless he’s part of a trade package.
I’m eager to see if Andres Torres can pick up where he left off before his injury — playing great defense, stealing a few bags, hitting with some pop— things the Giants could desperately use from their bench. They don’t have much talent in the upper minors, so Torres could prove a valuable fourth OF for the next couple of years. Of course, I thought the same thing about Rajai Davis.
The injury to Pablo Sandoval also mucks things up, as the Giants say he might mainly play first base for a while to protect his tender elbow. If that’s the case, Rich Aurilia will get even fewer at-bats. As I mentioned when the Mets were in town, I think Aurilia is creeping ever closer to getting released. He’s had two months to show the Giants he can be a pinch-hitter extraordinaire, and it hasn’t panned out. No doubt his bat has a few game-winning hits like this one left in it, but the roster is getting too crowded.
Sergio Romo is due back any minute — he’s already with the team — and the Giants say they want to expand the bullpen. That means a position player will give way, and the two most likely candidates are Kevin Frandsen and Aurilia. Like Guzman, Frandsen gets little benefit from a bench role, collecting a few at-bats a week. And with Uribe playing a solid 3B and getting hits here and there, Frandsen won’t dislodge him anytime soon as the main utility guy.
Even if Frandsen is sent down for now, I’m starting to comb my memory bank for great Richie moments — here’s another — in preparation for a final good-bye. And yet another, for which I can’t find video: final game of the 2002 NL Division Series vs. Atlanta, bottom of the ninth, tying runs on base, Chipper Jones hits a hard shot up the middle off Robb Nen, Aurilia ranges far left to snag it and start a game-ending double play. I think that’s how it went.
