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Bocock at SS???


Baseball America correspondent Andy Baggarly reports that Giants manager Bruce Bochy said there is a "legitimate" chance that he might use Brian Bocock as his starting shortstop on Opening Day.

    "We're looking for a strong defensive team," Bochy said. "That's the direction we want to go - pitching and defense."

With Omar Vizquel out for the beginning of the season due to knee surgery, Bocock could end up as the surprise starter at shortstop. Bocock, the No. 11 prospect in the Giants system, hit just .220/.293/.328 with 105 strikeouts in 398 plate appearances last year in the hitter-friendly high Class A California League after going .292/.354/.379 in 178 plate appearance with low Class A Augusta. While Bocock's bat appears to be far from major league-ready, he should at least provide the fielding skill that Bochy said the team will emphasize this year. Bocock, who turns 23 on Sunday, is a 65 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale, and managers voted him the best defensive shortstop in the California League last year.

now tell me that nate schierholtz cant find a starting spot but this guy can

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No one but himself
now tell me that nate schierholtz cant find a starting spot but this guy can

Ok, Nate can't find a starting spot. Bocock will be up for a cup of coffee until Vizquel is good to go. Unless Scheirholtz is going to be playing regularly in SF it would be better for him to get his hacks in Fresno.

by wilriv21 on Mar 9, 2008 2:46 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
I wonder what the chances are the Bockock would just plain be more valuable than Vizquel at SS for the entire year? Probably slim since his hitting seems to be so far behind the curve... but Vizquel could just be a complete disaster, too....
He is Vengeance. He is the Knight. He is Dave Righetti. PRAY TO HIM!

by howtheyscored on Mar 9, 2008 3:07 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
Actually couldn't it'd be better if Vizquel came back and they split the job?  Then couldn't Vizquel critique and give tips to Bocock on his fielding, kinda like Snow to Ortmeier except Vizquel's not retired?

by boonitez on Mar 9, 2008 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
Shiny silver lining BONUS:

Vizquel doesn't get enough starts and the option on his contract doesn't vest.

Barry Zito: Throws until there's nothing left -- which is usually around the 3rd inning. Barry's a GAMER!!!

by Woody Wins on Mar 9, 2008 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Vizquel splitting time with Bocock
Which is why Omar would hate the idea.
"I think I'd trust Amy Winehouse to guard my bag of coke before I'd trust Sabes to build my offense." -Dan Szymborski, Baseball Think Factory

by Lyle on Mar 10, 2008 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
Just think of what this kind of platoon would do for Bocock's wardrobe!

by bgunn on Mar 10, 2008 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
Bocock needs much more help with his HITTING than his fielding.

by sharksrog on Mar 10, 2008 10:57 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
Nate Schierholtz can't find a starting spot but this guy can.

by boonitez on Mar 9, 2008 3:10 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
Cos the Giants have 8879798 OF, and not a heck of a lot in the way of MI.
Democracy is lovely but baseball is more mature. BVCE supports Manny Burriss and SF Dugout.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Mar 9, 2008 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
But how many 3B do they have?
You deserve to be struck out, when your first name's a verb.

by Cookyman on Mar 10, 2008 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
If this is about Nate....
Democracy is lovely but baseball is more mature. BVCE supports Manny Burriss and SF Dugout.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Mar 10, 2008 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
I guess trading for someone who's played in AA or AAA is completely out of the question?
The 2008 San Francisco Giants: Years of neglected rebuilding, continued.

by jasomack on Mar 9, 2008 3:23 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
Now don't be ridiculous. That's ridiculous talk, there. Time for somebody to get off the crazy train. Whoo Whoo! Final Stop for the crazy train! Everybody off!

I mean, really. Trading for somebody with useful experience? I've never heard anything quite like it. On the other hand, though... it might just be crazy enough to work....

Nah, no way. What was I thinking?

He is Vengeance. He is the Knight. He is Dave Righetti. PRAY TO HIM!

by howtheyscored on Mar 9, 2008 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
This is all politicking.

It should be Ivan Ochoa, everyone is aware of this.  But this decision comes from the same thinking that let Pedro Feliz go:

"This team needs a change and to go young."

Bocock is a prospect (At least, the major media and vast majority of fans seem to think so).  Ochoa is not.  By letting Bocock play, the team would be emphasizing its new emphasis on young players where the dropoff in production would be as minimal as possible.

(Why not Burriss?  Because Burriss is a better prospect, and burning an option on him now would be crazy.)

Similarly, Feliz would fit a defense-first team profile.  But Feliz is an unwilling symbol of the Giants of the past, the time management wants to forget with no young players and frustrating hitting.  Feliz became the final fall guy after Bonds' departure officially ended that era.

There are worse fates for this team, but not many.

We'll see how this works out, but the shortstop picture will be a bigger issue later in the season, and we'll need to see if Burriss or Bocock find a way to step up.

SFDugout.com is BACK! See the SFDugout.com Top 50 Giants Prospects.

by BruteSentiment on Mar 9, 2008 3:39 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
You forgot to mention how Feliz misrepresented his age. That didn't buy him many supporters (at least, not among fans dedicated enough to pay attention).
Fool me seven times, shame on you. Fool me eight or more times, shame on me.

by Bhaakon on Mar 9, 2008 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
The part that irks me is that our shortstop choices are so few that we'd start the options clock on Bocock two years early -- all for what could be a one-week stint.  And by the time he'd be ready for a full-time job, he'd have to pass through waivers.  On what planet does that make any sense?  Promote Ivan Ochoa and suck it up for a week or two.  Sheesh.

If this goes down, chalk it up as yet another effed-up decision by the front office.  

Honestly, the best thing that could happen here is for Bud Selig to take action on Magowan and Sabean, forcing the former's step-down and the latter's resignation.

Grrr.

-D

by MiGigantes on Mar 9, 2008 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not only option clock
Whoever SF selects - Ochoa, Bocock or Burriss - to begin the season as the opening day SS they will need to be added to the 40-man roster. Currently the Giants have 39 players on the 40-man roster so only one spot is available. Say sayonara to Yabu,  adios to Capellan, ciao Leone y adios Fortunato.

by wilriv21 on Mar 9, 2008 6:14 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Not only option clock
One of those guys would slip through waivers and make it to Fresno. But starting Bocock's options clock way too early (he barely handled high A-ball last season) -- for the sake of a week or two without Omar -- could have far-reaching ramifications.  It would yet another blunder-head move in a mountain of blunder-head moves made since that late October evening over five years ago.  

Double grrrr.

-D

by MiGigantes on Mar 9, 2008 8:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Not only option clock
It's hard to imagine Bocock or Burriss will ever be good enough to worry about their options clock IMO.  That said, for a week's fill-in it's really inconceivable to use anybody but Ochoa -- that's the entire reason for stocking AAA with Ochoa-type players.  On the other hand, Vizquel is over 40 years old. Even if he hits the optimistic recovery time estimate, he's certainly going to need some frequent days off (both for recovery and just for playing his way into game shape) and reinjuring or reaggravating isn't at all to be unexpected over the course of the year. So in the end it probably isn't a one week fix. (Of course, that does bring us back to the problem of Bocock's expected .080 average capabilities).
My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Mar 10, 2008 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Not only option clock
http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_8518649

Just sayin'

Adopted father of Brian Bocock, Brad Boyer, Sharlon Schoop, Shane Jordan and Jeremiah Luster.

by RichH on Mar 10, 2008 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Not only option clock
Actually it's at 39 players with Capellan.
2008: The year the Giants begin to stop sucking.

by EliminateMe on Mar 10, 2008 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
Burriss against Bocock? Ochoa!

by 2X2L on Mar 10, 2008 1:23 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
I doubt that either Brian Bocock or Manny Burriss is the long-term answer at shortstop.  Unless Nick Noonan is able to remain there, I consider it an organizational weakness, although it is a position that does have great depth (Bocock, Burriss, Schoop, Culberson and Noonan, at least for now).

by sharksrog on Mar 10, 2008 11:01 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
Ok, so that's SS, C, 3B, corner OF, ... we're really stockpiling those organizational weaknesses.
My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Mar 11, 2008 7:01 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

why not?
maybe we'll get a better draft pick in '09.
At least it's baseball season.

by nostocksjustbonds on Mar 9, 2008 4:11 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Re: why not?
Let the fantanking begin!

by KCE on Mar 9, 2008 5:34 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Typos spell out an awful truth
Presenting your Fantankic 2008 San Francisco Gitanks.

by Moggeee on Mar 9, 2008 5:44 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
I think we should field a lineup of 8 cfs and just see what happens
Frandsen for 3B (til July 08)

by NeifiChicken on Mar 9, 2008 4:43 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

how about these infielders
stuck on other teams depth charts or labeled AAAA types in upper minors

clint barmes
omar quintanilla
donnie murphy
gregorio petit
ben zobrist
russ adams
martin prado
alberto gonzalez

by rayver723 on Mar 9, 2008 5:00 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Re: how about these infielders
I think we can all agree that Alberto Gonzalez' career is pretty much over.
Barry Zito: Throws until there's nothing left -- which is usually around the 3rd inning. Barry's a GAMER!!!

by Woody Wins on Mar 9, 2008 6:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: how about these infielders
Seriously.  How many errors did he commit because he couldn't remember just who it was who called for that ball?
"When Jackson Williams thinks of how many times Madison Bumgarner has tried to kill Tyler Walker..."

by multiphasic on Mar 9, 2008 6:30 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
I just got back from Arizona about an hour ago, and let me just say:

Brian Bocock is absolutely AMAZING with the glove.  He's easily a Major League caliber shortstop in the field.  At the plate, however, I'd recommend you just shield your eyes.

Also, since I'm on the topic of ST, Jose Capellan is HUGE, has a very easy delivery, and has a ridiculously smooth pickoff move.

Brian Anderson: I can has spot in Fresno 'pen?

by Anticon23 on Mar 9, 2008 10:53 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
You should really be banned for that comment.  That's really uncalled for.
Coming to you from the Land of Many Beers

by WalrusMan on Mar 10, 2008 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
Hoping tk's recovery is faster than Raj going from first to third!

by Goofus on Mar 10, 2008 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Bocock at SS???
That's Goofus, always the peacemaker.
He is Vengeance. He is the Knight. He is Dave Righetti. PRAY TO HIM!

by howtheyscored on Mar 10, 2008 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Capellan at 1B???
"I think I'd trust Amy Winehouse to guard my bag of coke before I'd trust Sabes to build my offense." -Dan Szymborski, Baseball Think Factory

by Lyle on Mar 10, 2008 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Capellan at 1B???
Let's not make this personal, guys.  I'm sure you both have great hygiene.
Nate Schierholtz cannot play third base. Nate Schierholtz cannot play third base. Steve Kline is pretty okay. Nate Schierholtz cannot play third base.

by groug on Mar 10, 2008 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ben Zobrist
The Rays said that Ben Zobrist suffered a hairline fracture to the tip of his left thumb on Sunday and will miss about four weeks.

by wilriv21 on Mar 10, 2008 4:20 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Re: Ben Zobrist
Take that, Grant's surprisingly well-reasoned idea!
Nate Schierholtz cannot play third base. Nate Schierholtz cannot play third base. Steve Kline is pretty okay. Nate Schierholtz cannot play third base.

by groug on Mar 10, 2008 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Ben Zobrist
Apparently Grant's Optimism Week extends to other organizations. Beware the MCC Curse!!
"I think I'd trust Amy Winehouse to guard my bag of coke before I'd trust Sabes to build my offense." -Dan Szymborski, Baseball Think Factory

by Lyle on Mar 11, 2008 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Ben Zobrist
Wait... I think we can use this to our advantage! Anybody optimistic about Jason Schmidt this year? Chad Billingsley? Come on, Grant! Bring the full wrath of the NcCC curse down on their heads!
He is Vengeance. He is the Knight. He is Dave Righetti. PRAY TO HIM!

by howtheyscored on Mar 11, 2008 7:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

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