Joseph impresses Bochy with two HR day

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- As a catcher, Tommy Joseph has a long way to go to passBuster Posey on the Giants depth chart.But after a two homer game Saturday in Scottsdale, Joseph is starting to makehis manager take notice.Wow, Bruce Bochy said after watching Joseph deposit two fastballs over the left-field fence in a split squad win over the Brewers. Hes making the most of theat-bats hes getting and what a day for him. A 20-year-old kid that reallyhandles himself well here and hes getting quality at-bats.Joseph is getting more at-bats as Posey is eased back into regular playingtime, and hes taking advantage. Hes also learning a lot from the Giants starcatcher. After getting hammered in the helmet by teammates following his 3rdinning home run, Posey gave Joseph some advice.RELATED: Giants split; beat Brewers, fall to Angels
Buster was giving me a hard time, Joseph said. He waslike you gotta learn to take your helmet off before you get in the dugout soyou dont start getting wailed.The way he was smiling after the game, Joseph will gladly take a beating if itmeans more days like Saturday.

It feels really good, Joseph said. Scottsdale is my home so I get to do itin front of my friends and family everyday. So to do that in front of them wasreally special.Joseph said he had eight friends and family members at Scottsdale Stadium for agame in which he started as the designated hitter. He was moved to catcher inthe seventh inning and told me that he was glad to get the chance to playdefense as well.I have more funcatching than hitting or anything else, Joseph said. Its way more fun tocatch a no-hitter or a shutout, you know, to do things for your pitcher I thinkis cooler than hitting home runs.NEWS: Wilson set to make Cactus League debut Sunday
Joseph admitted hes never had the honor of catching ano-hitter, but if he make it to the big leagues, hed be working with astarting staff that would give him a good shot at it. While his youth andposition hurt his chances of making the roster, theres no doubt that hes madean impression on Bochy, a former catcher himself.We think a lot of him, Bochy said. Ive talked about these young catchers,and hes certainly one of them, that we think a lot of. I like the way hescatching too, not just swinging the bat, and its good for him to get someat-bats up here and get some confidence.Joseph, who now has four hits in nine at-bats with six RBIs this spring, was happy that he could put on a show in front of Bochy.Its always nice as a minor leaguer to do it in front ofthe big-league manager, Joseph said. Im just trying to stay within myselfand work on things and just learn. Thats a huge part of being up here with allthese guys. I try to take things from everybody. Success is just a plus.

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