SAN FRANCISCO -- As he gave the update, Bruce Bochy started cracking up. You can't blame him. It was hard for the manager to keep a straight face as he told reporters that Pablo Sandoval will take ground balls at shortstop to audition to back up Brandon Crawford.
How did the Giants get here?
Well, Sandoval was already backing up second base, and when Joe Panik returned on Friday afternoon and slipped back into the leadoff spot, the Giants optioned Kelby Tomlinson back to the minors. Tomlinson has served as Crawford's backup.
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So, the staff is juggling two different plans. If something happens to Crawford in the middle of a game, they can move Panik -- drafted as a shortstop -- over and put Sandoval at second base. They also could play Sandoval at short and keep Panik at a position where he has won a Gold Glove. Bochy was wary about weakening two defensive positions by moving Panik.
"That decision hasn't been made until we take a look at Pablo taking a few groundballs at short," Bochy said, smiling.
The Giants hope this never comes into play. Crawford is durable and almost never needs a breather, but you never know ... so, Sandoval will add to his versatility. He already backs up Evan Longoria at third and Brandon Belt at first and serves as the emergency catcher. He has made two starts at second base. He pitched an inning in a blowout.
(It's at this point that we should note how ridiculous this all is. The Giants want to carry 13 pitchers because they can't get a starter through five innings and they're unwilling to shake up the veteran outfield mix. So, they're playing with one backup infielder. That's not exactly how you're taught to build a roster.)
San Francisco Giants
All of this will change when Alen Hanson returns from a hamstring strain, but Bochy said that won't happen this weekend. For at least two or three days, the possibility exists that Sandoval will add to the tool belt.