PHOENIX – Giants manager Bruce Bochy plans to space out playing time for Joe Panik, who is back on the roster but not in the Labor Day lineup against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Panik’s inflamed lower back is playable. But it’s not 100 percent, and he won’t be pushed hard over the final month of the season lest it flare up again.
“I’m good and I’m ready to go,” said Panik, sidestepping a question about whether he felt any lingering back discomfort. “Nobody at this time of year is 100 percent. I’m happy to be here and contributing. That’s the main thing: I’m back and ready to go.”
The encouraging part: Both Panik and the Giants are confident that the back issue will resolve itself fully with an offseason of rest and strengthening work.
“It’s not going to be a chronic thing,” Panik said. “It;s going to clear up. I’ve just got to stay on top of it and be diligent moving forward. It shouldn’t hinder me in years to come.”
Said Bochy: “We feel the same. Right now, we think it could come back if we overplay him. This winter will give him time to strengthen his core. He’s aware of it now.”
Panik hasn’t played in a major league game since Aug. 1 at Texas. He came out of his third rehab game at Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday with no setbacks. Bochy opted against running Panik out there right away against left-hander Patrick Corbin. Kelby Tomlinson is starting at second base, instead; Panik will start on Tuesday.
“I can’t run Joe out there every day,” Bochy said.
Panik’s back held up fine on Thursday at Sacramento, when he slid on the grass while reacting to a ground ball deflected by first baseman Kevin Frandsen. Panik reached across his body to make a barehand snag, and then trickled a throw to pitcher Ty Blach covering the bag.
“I talked to (Brandon) Belt and we’ll have to work on that one in spring training – the old deflection slide,” Panik said. “Any time you have a play like that and can continue on, it’s always a good feeling.”
Panik’s back injury interrupted a terrific sophomore season in which he was hitting .309/.374/.443 and was among the NL leaders in hits.
“The at-bats (at Sacramento) are a little different there preparation-wise,” said Panik, who was 1 for 9 in three games there. “But I’m the same guy. … With what I’m dealing with, you have to be smart with it. At the same time, it’s that time to make a push.”
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Last year, Bruce Bochy became the first manager in history to hand the baseball to his son to pitch in a big league game. They’ll be able to share that father-son moment again a few times this September, now that the Giants purchased the contract of Brett Bochy from Triple-A Sacramento.
The 28-year-old right-hander had a solid season, posting a 2.95 ERA in 58 innings over 43 appearances. He also cracked a double last week off Reno right-hander Archie Bradley. So maybe he’ll be a stealth pinch hitter, too.
“Yeah, he’s still talking about that,” the elder Bochy said. “I’m very proud of him. He had another nice year in Sacramento. It’s special, it is. I talked about it last year a lot and I don’t want to overdo that. But it’s special to have him up here. This helps make up for all those months you miss.”
The Giants transferred Tim Lincecum to the 60-day disabled list to create a 40-man roster spot for Brett Bochy.
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Jeremy Affeldt (lake accident) will be activated when eligible on Tuesday. Matt Cain, who is scheduled to throw two innings or 35 pitches in Sacramento’s season finale Monday, is scheduled to be activated on Thursday.
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Jackson Williams gets his first start as a Giant as Buster Posey slides to first and Brandon Belt moves to left field. Gregor Blanco needed a day because he is generally beat up, Bochy said.
The lineup: CF Pagan, 2B Tomlinson, 3B Duffy, 1B Posey, RF Byrd, LF Belt, SS Crawford, C Williams, P Leake.
And Arizona: CF Pollock, RF Inciarte, 1B Goldschmidt, LF Peralta, C Castillo, 3B Lamb, 2B Gosselin, SS Ahmed, P Corbin.
The post Giants notes: Joe Panik not 100 percent, but lower back shouldn't become a chronic issue; Brett Bochy rejoins roster, etc. appeared first on Giants Extra.