Chris Haft / MLB.com
Recess is over for the Giants. But in a way, it's just beginning
The offseason ends for the Giants on Wednesday when pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in Scottsdale, Ariz. Their first workout follows the next day. Position players are due to report next Monday, with the first full-squad workout set for Tuesday, Feb. 19.
Some players, however, may feel liberated without Barry Bonds on the premises. It's not a matter of lingering animosity; Bonds commanded a healthy respect among teammates. But younger players often believed that they couldn't be themselves in the commanding presence of the all-time home run king, whose moods tended to fluctuate.
"It was intimidating a little bit, like you always had to walk on eggshells," right-hander Brian Wilson said.
"People will be allowed to be who they want to be, not who they think they have to be," left-hander Barry Zito said. "Whenever there's one of the greatest players of all time on the team, players aren't going to be totally comfortable in their own skin, because a lot of them are kind of in awe."
"I think a lot of people will see a new Giants organization, a new Giants team," right-hander Matt Cain said. "Fifteen years they've been building around Barry. There's nothing wrong with that; that's the way it's been. Barry's a great player and he's always been. But it was time to kind of move on and I think we should surprise some guys with some young talent and guys to look up to down the road."
"We all know that in a lot of ways, Barry was bigger than life, on the field and in the clubhouse," general manager Brian Sabean said. "He's a very dominant personality. At least from the players I talked to, they're interested in making a statement."
A few players might be more interested in doing that than others. Four Giants are assured of starting jobs: center fielder Aaron Rowand, right fielder Randy Winn, shortstop Omar Vizquel and catcher Bengie Molina. Everywhere else, however, competition will reign to varying degrees.
Second base promises to offer the most spirited contest, pitting Kevin Frandsen against Ray Durham. "It's pretty even right now," manager Bruce Bochy said.
Third base is in a state of flux. Rich Aurilia probably would start there if the season opened now, but Frandsen could move to third if Durham wins the second-base job. Sabean also is continuing to pursue trade options, with Joe Crede of the Chicago White Sox most frequently mentioned.
Dave Roberts probably will claim left field. "He's the front-runner," Bochy said. But Rajai Davis could play his way into a platoon, and Fred Lewis and Nate Schierholtz also will push Roberts.
Although first base is Dan Ortmeier's to lose, he doesn't see it that way. "I'm trying to come into Spring Training to win a job," Ortmeier said.
Other than closer Brian Wilson, Tyler Walker and Brad Hennessey, bullpen roles also should be hotly contested. Eliezer Alfonzo and Guillermo Rodriguez can be expected to grapple for the backup catcher's spot.
All this will unfold amid an increased emphasis on defense, baserunning and situational hitting. Plenty of teams preach this every spring, but for the Bonds-less Giants, who are mostly bereft of power, mastering fundamentals will be essential.
"We're going to have to have that spirit and attitude where you can't sit back and wait for the home run," Bochy said. "We're going to have to play the game right, execute and do the little things."
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