Buzz By The Bay

As a Giants fan, you couldn’t have asked for a better opening series. The Gigantes absolutely manhandled the Astros at Minute Maid, picking up right where they left off in Spring Training.

Perhaps you were concerned about Timmy’s sub-par spring? How does zero earned over seven sound? Was Renteria really hurt last season or is he getting old like the rest of our team? The guy posts a ridiculous .727 batting average on the series. Are we going to get second half of 2009 Barry Zito, or the version from the five halves before that? Dude turns in a gem.

Of course, three starts and a handful of swings against a lowly Houston squad means about as much as those extra few seconds of lap dance that some stripper gives you at the end of Cherry Pie — nothing. Yet, it’s still hard to imagine this was all just good luck.

Maybe, just maybe, the Giants got it right this off-season. Defense be damned, perhaps the DeRosa and Huff signings will do some good. DeRosa’s hitting .333 and Huff had possibly the biggest knock of the series when he drove in the first run of Game 2.

I’d also bet that most Giants fans are thrilled to see Bowker out in right over Schierholtz. Bowker destroyed minor league pitching last year with some serious power numbers, and was never really given a fair shot once he made the major league club. On a team where home runs should be few and far between, the Giants can afford to give Bowker an early season test drive. Then again, I’m sure fans would be even more pleased to see Schierholtz take over in center too (But even Rowand got four hits today! All right, maybe things have gotten a little fluky).

But I’m not quite drinking the Kool-Aid just yet. While the Giants inch closer and closer toward what I can only assume will be a 162-win season, some important personnel decisions must be made along the way if this team wants to remain in contention.

1) What to do with Buster Posey

Let's just say come early June, the Giants are in the thick of the NL West playoff race. Let's also suppose Bengie Molina is chugging along at his usual sub-.300 OBP clip (the decline over his last three seasons is as follows: .322, .285, .250). Finally, let's go ahead and guess that Posey is tearing up minor league pitching like he did last season.

If all three of these very feasible scenarios come to fruition, the Giants will have a dilemma on their hands, with three possible scenarios to follow.

(a) They bring up Posey, and let him assume the catching throne while Molina becomes one of the highest paid pinch hitters this side of Boston (see Lowell, Mike). As an added bonus, the Giants increase their team speed tenfold through a rather significant addition by subtraction.

(b) They bring up Posey, and have him split time with Molina behind the dish, with Posey garnering the rest of his AB’s from first base or left field.

(c) They leave him down in Fresno until the rosters expand September 1, letting the young backstop develop behind the plate while delaying his arbitration clock.

One day in June, Sabean is going to hit his breaking point. It’ll probably come after watching Bengie jog toward first after hitting into his major league-leading 900th double play, at which point I can only presume Sabean will proceed to yell: “F--- it! It's Posey time!” Here’s to hoping Sabean chooses (a) over (b). This move will keep DeRosa and Huff in the lineup — both of whom generally have similar HR and RBI totals to Molina with twice the walks — while also easing Posey into the starting catching gig for the future.

2) 5th Starter Spot

Right now, Todd Wellemeyer is penciled in at the back of the rotation. Just like most Sabean signees, Wellemeyer probably won't be very good, however he was great two years ago. If Wellemeyer can somehow revert to 2008 form, there obviously won’t be an issue. But if he struggles out of the gate, the Giants will need a Plan B. If Bumgarner continues to improve, he will likely be the go-to guy. If he keeps losing velocity though, and struggles like he did in Spring Training, the Giants will have to look elsewhere. While there are still guys like Pucetas and Martinez on the farm, the Giants would probably prefer to find a more experienced starter on the open market for the stretch run, a la Brad Penny last season.

3) Leadoff Hitter

Aaron Rowand is not a leadoff hitter by any means. His OBP isn’t terrible, but its been declining steadily over the last few years. He doesn’t steal bases. He strikes out a ton. He looks like a centaur. Unfortunately, there really aren’t any better options in the starting lineup.

The biggest mistake the Giants made this off-season was not signing Chone Figgins. In their search for a “big bat” they failed to pursue a player to consistently get on base for said power hitter. Angel hatred aside, Figgins would’ve been the perfect catalyst to this offense, as well as a talented and versatile fielder who could’ve instantly been our best defender at probably four different positions.

Now we’re stuck with Rowand until we sign someone else or make a trade. I have no suggestions for this beyond using some kind of Hot Tub Time Machine to go back and not cut Rajai Davis. I just really can’t bear to watch Rowand as our leadoff hitter all season. And to those who’ve been clamoring for Velez — the guy can’t take a walk, and it's real hard to steal bases if you’re never on them. I’ve never missed Marvin Benard so much.