The Giants website recently reported that left field is kind of a crowded area this spring training. Crowded with what? Blades of grass? If it's crowded with potential starting left fielders, like Bruce "Open Mind" Bochy seems to think it is, then some people in this crowd need to move it along.
While it does appear that there are a handful of potential starting left fielders, appearances can be deceiving. Let's take a look at the "candidates."
Pat Burrell, who made a home for himself in left field last year, though he had a dreadful World Series.
Aubrey Huff, because he may move to left if Brandon Belt wins a starting job at first.
Belt, because apparently, Huff and Belt are as interchangeable as Amy Adams and Isla Fisher, and can just be flip flopped defensively.
Mark DeRosa, who might be healthy. Might.
Oh, and Nate Scheirholtz, because he's willing play any outfield spot. So either left field, or we'll trade him. One of the two.
If Bochy isn't just playing it close to the vest, he should be more clear that Burrell is his front-runner, because it's clear he's the one who should be occupying that spot.
I would be fine with Huff in left field based solely on his ability, but he is our first baseman, and belongs there to start 2011. He would only move from there if Belt somehow has an unbelievable spring or needs to be on the starting roster because of an injury somewhere. Belt winning a job is looking increasingly unlikely, though. For one, Bochy said he would start the season in Fresno. If that wasn't definitive enough, there's the fact that they would need to make room for him to even fit on the 25-man roster should he make the squad. This would be tricky, except in my pipe dreams where Aaron Rowand and his contract are beamed into a space ship and transported to another time, like the humpback whales in Star Trek IV.
Nobody seems to know what DeRosa’s health status is right now. Everybody, however, does know that he hasn’t played in a major league game since May 2010. Seeing him hit balls off a tee is encouraging for someone whose wrist was filled with melted ice cream as of a few months ago, but it doesn’t convince me he should be starting. Unlike some more vocal local fans in the Bay Area, I don’t wish for DeRosa’s absence. It's true that he is old and is coming off of a bad injury, but so was Freddy Sanchez last year at this time. Plus his versatility means that he could cover most of the infield as well as be an outfielder. We may need him to spell Tejada, Sandoval, or Fontenot, who can’t back up all of the infield by himself. Perfect utility candidate - yes. Starting left fielder - no.
Finally, I love Scheirholtz’ defense and his willingness to play all of the outfield spots. And that’s exactly where he is valuable: as a late-inning defensive replacement. Not really any upside to his bat.
It's as simple as this: Burrell is the only candidate here who provides the offense we need and isn’t needed elsewhere. Left field party’s over. It’s late, Bochy. Pat's had a long day and he's got to go to work in the morning. Get them all out the door.
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