Giants' Durham won't concede second-base job

DURHAM STAKES HIS CLAIM TO SECOND BASE

By Andrew Baggarly - Mercury News

Ray Durham wasn't bothered one bit to hear that Kevin Frandsen intends to be the Giants' second baseman on opening day. There's nothing wrong with confidence, Durham said Monday.
Then the veteran made a bold statement of his own: "Nothing against him, but I don't see myself losing this job."

If this sounds like a warring feud, like two players who exchange only frosty glances across the clubhouse, think again. Five minutes after Durham strolled into Scottsdale Stadium for the first time this spring, he and Frandsen hugged and shared a few laughs.

The incumbent and the upstart agree on two things: They expect the competition to last deep into the spring or beyond, and they will remain buddies regardless of the outcome.

"He's a great baseball player, or will be, and he's also a good friend," said Durham, 36. "You hate to go up against your friends, but it is what it is. . . . I honestly feel if I do what I know I can do then I won't lose this job."

Even with the Giants eager to promote youth, Durham has a few major advantages. He is two years removed from a 26-homer, 93-RBI season, which is mouth-watering for a club without a legitimate cleanup presence. And if Durham wins the job, the Giants could carry one fewer infielder - making it possible to keep an extra outfielder or catcher while breaking camp with 12 pitchers.

Plus Durham is in a contract drive, which is another reason the Giants are keeping an open mind.
"The best thing about this game is that every year is a clean slate," Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said.

Durham inexplicably hit in a fog all last season, batting .218 with a career-worst .343 slugging percentage; if not for teammate Omar Vizquel (.316), Durham would have been the lightest-slugging everyday player in the National League.

"Last year was not me," Durham said. "I wasn't the player who's been in this league for 14 years."

Durham watched video and didn't notice any significant changes from past seasons, though he worked this winter to ensure his hands were in the correct position instead of dropping them as he begins his swing. Durham usually focuses on general conditioning and takes some swings against a machine, but this time he dragged out the hitting tee.

"I worked this off-season, I actually worked," he said.

If he is faced with a bench role, Durham said he wouldn't request a trade. His $7 million contract is practically immovable, anyway.

"If he beats me out, he beats me out, and I'll do whatever I can to help this team win," Durham said. "And again, nothing against him, but I don't see myself losing this job."

• Durham would appear to be a conundrum for Carney Lansford, but the Giants' new hitting coach said he expects the veteran to be one of his easier projects. Lansford said he had a similar hitting approach as Durham's, which is not surprising because former hitting guru Walt Hriniak coached and influenced both players.

"Ray had him with the White Sox and he was my hitting coach in Boston," Lansford said. "Ray is a student of Walt's theories: use the entire field, keep your head smooth, eyes down at the point of contact, and let the ball travel a little deeper instead of trying to pull off of it.

"I'll talk to him about what he thinks happened. I'll guarantee whether it was pitch selection or a mechanical problem, it started off as a little thing that became a lot bigger in his head."

• Right-hander Henry Sosa, one of the most promising pitchers in the Giants system, had surgery after last season to repair a torn patella tendon in his left knee. Sosa is throwing but he will not take part in the organization's minor league mini-camp, trainer Dave Groeschner said. If all goes well, Sosa could be cleared to compete in mid-April.

Sosa was the Giants' World Team representative in the All-Star Futures Game last July.