SCOTTSDALE — As Joe Panik walked past the lineup card on Sunday morning, he was asked if he would try to steal a base against the Cubs since he was hitting leadoff.
“No,” Panik said, shaking his head, “I’ll just wait on the guys behind me.”
Panik was followed by Andrew McCutchen in the two-spot, and Buster Posey and Evan Longoria, both of whom were making their spring debuts. It’s a smart baseball decision to let those guys swing away and try to drive you in, but is it one that Panik will get to make during the regular season?
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Bench coach Hensley Meulens, managing because Bruce Bochy was at a memorial service for Kevin Towers, said it's one option being considered. Panik's ability to get on base makes him an option as the leadoff hitter, and the Giants also want to take a long look at Austin Jackson this spring. No matter what the top looks like, the Giants do seem to be leaning toward having McCutchen, Posey and Longoria hit third through fifth.
Bochy usually likes to break up lefties and righties when he can, but the offseason additions might have altered that preference a bit. McCutchen has always hit better against lefties, but over the past three years he has a .807 OPS against right-handed pitching. Posey has a .801 OPS against righties during that span, and Longoria actually hit right-handers (.760 OPS) much better than left-handers (.677) last year.
"They're all proven right-handed hitters against righties," Meulens said.
There are perhaps other reasons to split the three right-handed hitters up — most notably, the fact that Brandon Belt might end up leading the team in a lot of hitting categories — but Bochy doesn’t have to worry about having McCutchen, Posey and Longoria lined up against a right-handed reliever late in a game.
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For now, the Giants are still mixing and matching. Jackson and Brandon Crawford won't play until March 1, at which point the spring lineups should provide additional hints.