Marco Scutaro Still Not Ready For Spring Games; Hunter Pence, Michael Morse Day-To-Day
By Phil Watson
September 5, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants second baseman Marco Scutaro (19) hits a single in front of Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero (26, left) during the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco Giants second baseman Marco Scutaro has yet to play in the Cactus League this spring and manager Bruce Bochy said he’s at least a week away.
"“If you ask me at the end of next week and he’s not playing or close to playing, we’ll have to have another plan here,” Bochy told CSNBayArea.com."
Scutaro’s balky back and hip were an issue all season in 2013 and he was also slowed by a finger injury, playing in just 127 games. He hit .297/.357/.369 with 57 runs, 23 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 31 RBI and earned his first career All-Star Game selection.
Scutaro, 38, has yet to take live batting practice this spring.
In his stead, a trio of Tony Abreu, Nick Noonan and Brandon Hicks have been getting the bulk of the playing time at second base in Arizona.
Hicks is 5-for-12 with four doubles but has struck out six times. Abreu is 5-for-18 with two RBI and Noonan has struggled to a 3-for-17 start this spring.
Abreu and Noonan are on the Giants’ 40-man roster, while Hicks was a non-roster invitee.
Abreu, 29, played in 53 games for the Giants last season after being claimed on waivers from Kansas City in February 2013. He hit .268/.301/.442 with 21 runs, 12 doubles, three triples, two homers and 14 RBI while playing primarily at second base, although he did start two games at shortstop and one at third base. He also played in 22 games at Triple-A Fresno.
Noonan, 24, was a first round pick of the Giants (32nd overall) in 2007 out of Parker High School in San Diego. He made his major-league debut last April and hit .219/.261/.238 in 62 games, with 12 runs, two doubles and five RBI. He only made 17 starts, 11 at second base and six at third base, and also played 48 games at Triple-A Fresno.
Hicks, 28, signed as a free agent in November after spending most of 2013 at Triple-A Las Vegas in the Mets organization. He hit .283/.348/.450 with 11 homers and 49 RBI in 95 games with the 51s, but struck out 111 times—a recurring problem in his minor-league career.
Hicks last played in the majors with the A’s in 2012, hitting .172/.243/.391 in 70 plate appearances, with three homers and 31 strikeouts. He also spent parts of 2010 and 2011 with Atlanta.
Meanwhile, the Giants are down a couple of outfielders, although neither injury is considered serious. MLB.com reported Saturday that Hunter Pence is day-to-day with a sore left elbow, saying he felt it initially Saturday morning. Michael Morse came out of Saturday’s loss to the Mariners in the fourth inning after hurting his calf against Kansas City on Friday.
Both are doubtful for Sunday’s split-squad doubleheader.
"“We got Morse out in time,” Bochy said. “He probably could play, but it’s just a little sore. We think a couple days with him will be fine. With Pence, we’ll wait until tomorrow and see how he’s doing.”"