Marco Scutaro designated for assignment, then released (thank Matt Holliday)

Perhaps more a career shortening injury rather than a career ending injury? Hard to say since Scutaro did march on like a good soldier into the World Series, as well as the next season....but still. The residual effects of The "so-called" Slide had to be pretty significant.

Marco Scutaro designated for assignment, will continue rehab - Giants Extra:

Shortly before attempting a comeback last season, Scutaro conceded that his back and hip problems could be due in part to a brutal collision with Matt Holliday in the 2012 NLCS. The Cardinals outfielder came in hard and late with a slide to second base, sending Scutaro’s body in two different directions.

“Who knows? I wish I would know,” Scutaro said last June. “When he hit me, it literally felt that day like he grabbed my leg and pulled it out of my hip like a chicken.”

'via Blog this'

IMO, still a dirt-bag play by a dirt-bag player. The slide doesn't even start until Holliday is clearly past the bag. This would be an illegal block/tackle in football, I'm still disappointed that nobody on the staff didn't drop Holliday. That fat melon of his had to have been on the radar as far as I'm concerned.

Matt Holiday should be so proud of himself today.
http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2015-01-28/giants-release-marco-scutaro

No more "Blockbuster" for the Giants?

Well, there you have it. Perhaps no more "Blockbuster" for the Giants. 

from Mercurynews.com
http://www.mercurynews.com/giants/ci_27190634/marco-scutaros-career-giants-may-be-over?source=infinite

If Scutaro is done, he'll forever be remembered not only for his hits in the 2012 postseason but also his skyward pose in the driving rain during Game 7 of the NLCS. Romo was on the mound as Scutaro enjoyed the downpour and threw the final pitch of that series and season.

 

They don't win in 2012 without him. They don't win without him coming over late season 2012 and spraying hits all over the yard. They don't win without him overcoming Matt Hollidays' dirt-bag slide in the NLCS that year and persevering long enough to dance in the rain and advance to Detroit. The great thing about it as I reviewed the You Tube below of that night was it was Matt Holliday's pop-up to Scutaro that precipated ( no pun intended ) the celebration, added a page to Giants lore as well as the Giants - Cardinals rivalry. The baseball gods were dancing in the rain that night as well. 

from mlb.com
http://m.mlb.com/video/v25415817

Was Matt Holliday's takeout slide of Marco Scutaro in the first inning of NLCS Game 2 a dirty play?

• 55%
  Yes
• 45%
  No

 (Total votes: 127,077)

I Love a Rainy Night with the San Francisco Giants

Lots of great memories in Marco's short time with the Giants, he was a consummate professional. 

Scoots, your time with the Giants was too short, but your accomplishments and the memories are enough to last a lifetime. A great competitor and a great Giant. 

Where in the world is Marco Scutaro?

It appears as if we are about to find out. No surprise given the comments from the brass, it appears very likely that where in the world Marco Scutaro will not be in 2015, is anywhere near San Francisco.

from HardballTalk:
Giants’ training staff preparing an update on Marco Scutaro | HardballTalk:

In his column for the San Francisco Chronicle, John Shea reports that the Giants’ training staff is preparing an update on second baseman Marco Scutaro, and adds that it likely isn’t a good sign.  Scutaro was only able to play in five games during the 2014 season due to recurring back problems. The Giants owe him $6 million in 2015, the final year of a three-year deal he signed with the club back in December 2012. The 39-year-old veteran was productive for the Giants in 2013, posting a .726 OPS. Shea notes that the Giants never considered him as a potential replacement at third base once Pablo Sandoval left.

'via Blog this'

To my knowledge, he never appeared on the bench this season during his rehab, as did Cain, Pagan, Morse, etc. Sabean's cryptic comment along the lines of "we have his phone number around here somewhere" was telling, as was the "we have no viable internal options to replace Pablo at 3B".

We know they don't want to play Posey at 3B,  but it's not much of a stretch to suggest that Scutaro, a former major league SS, could make the switch if healthy.

Combine those two statements and you get the impression that Scutaro will not be ready, willing and able to play anywhere for SF in 2015. Another $6M in salary flushed down the toilet.

We know Pablo felt disrespected. Now we may be learning that apparently somebody also pissed in Scutaro's Wheaties. Maybe spend some of the savings for not chasing / finishing in second place chasing James Shields for some sensitivity training for all Giants front office personnel and staff. Or start signing emotionally tougher players. Sheesh!!

Giants try lineup Switcheroo, need more Baseball Bugs

Scutaro IS probably the Giants most patient hitter, HOWEVER, his AB's do not generally end in walks as much as the ideal lead-off hitter. Paradoxically, Hunter Pence who was moved into the #3 hole, walked three times yesterday (and it wasn't so they could get to one B.Posey in the lineup).

from Yahoo Sports:
San Francisco Giants - Team Report - MLB - Yahoo! Sports:

2B Marco Scutaro was moved up one spot to the leadoff slot in the batting order Monday, and manager Bruce Bochy assured this was more than a one-night audition. OFs Gregor Blanco and Andres Torres have floundered atop the order pretty much ever since regular leadoff man, CF Angel Pagan, suffered a hamstring injury May 25. Scutaro, who has a .306 batting average, was considered an ideal candidate for a leadoff trial in part because he's probably the most patient Giants hitter. Scutaro entered Monday's game 29th in the National League with 3.85 pitches per at-bat. Only two Giants (1B Brandon Belt, 4.04, and C Buster Posey, 3.97) had better figures than Scutaro. Maybe it's a curse: Scutaro went 0-for-5 in his leadoff debut.

'via Blog this'

My problem with this lineup configuration is that now TWO guys are batting in less than their ideal spots in the order -- you've displaced Scutaro AND Crawford ( to the # 2 spot ) whereas just moving Pence to the lead-off spot, ( and did I mention Pence stole a base as well? Something else a lead-off hitter does ) and leaving Scutaro in the #2 hole, only puts one guy in a strange spot. Crawford has generally been floating around the mid to bottom of the order all season. I'm just not sure that Crawford or Blanco or Torres move the ball around ( or runners ) and are as adept at situational hitting ( the productive out ) as Scutaro is.

Pence also puts some pop at the top of the order and IMO if you're going to go unconventional with the lead-off spot by taking away some Judy, then add some PUNCH!!

Hey, I have a crazy idea!!! Why not Posey in the lead-off spot, like they do in Little League. Put your best guy in there and get him more swings, it's only a six inning affair with the little shavers, but heck the way the Giants turn the old batting order over, we may have to really go off the reservation.

Ideally, this is the model for How to Optimize Buster Posey.

from wimp.com: (original Baseball Bugs episode) 
http://www.wimp.com/bugsbunny/

Just a thought. Here are some more baseball classics for Bruce and the Boys to implement, since we are in the experimental stage of the season.

Bugs Bunny Baseball:



Baseball Bugs:



Cartoon Baseball:

Bochy tired of losing, Pence wants to lead-off and Pagan is missed

The Rays did a great job of torching my "2 out of 3" strategy to get back in the race this weekend, winning games using the same model the Giants used to win championships -- timely hitting and just enough of it and great pitching both starting and bullpen -- and lots of it.

On the back of that series, now Hunter Pence wants to lead-off to throw a spark into the spark-less Giants.

Although he would be a rather unconventional lead-off hitter due to his lack of patience, I think I would rather see him moved than have Scutaro move up one slot and have to replace him in the #2 spot, where I think he is perfectly suited for this team.

from Yahoo Sports:
San Francisco Giants - Team Report - MLB - Yahoo! Sports:

Bruce Bochy is tired of losing, tired of seeing the same old hapless performance at the top of his lineup.

Tired of watching Gregor Blanco and Andres Torres make outs.

The Giants manager is going in another direction in the leadoff position.

And why not? Blanco is batting .077 (3-for-39) since the All-Star break, Torres .182 (6-for-33).

Bochy said either Marco Scutaro or Hunter Pence will be leading off sooner rather than later, filling the spot vacated by Angel Pagan, who has been shelved with a hamstring problem that warranted surgery.

"We're not getting any production from our leadoff hitters. They're going through a tough time," said Bochy, whose Giants lost to the Rays 4-3 Sunday.

Scutaro is known as a contact hitter and has ample leadoff experience, 359 games worth. Pence has batted .393 (24-for-61) since the All-Star break and is 15-for-15 in stolen-base attempts on the season.

'via Blog this'

Andrew Baggarly        ✔ @CSNBaggs

Pence wants to lead off. "I'm an aggressive swinger. You can set a little bit of a tone, u know?" Sounds like he backchanneled idea to Bochy

4:26 PM - 4 Aug 2013

The problem Bochy faces here really highlights the effect that the loss of Angel Pagan has had on the Giants offense. After Pagan's last game, a loss to Toronto on May 15th the Giants fell to 23-17 (.575 pace) for the season. Since then they have limper to a 26-44 (.371 pace) mark to close at 49-61 as of yesterday.  

Granted that five days later Ryan Vogelsong pitched his final game for the season to date for the Giants. The rearranging of the deck chairs that Vogie's injury precipitated changed the Giants starting rotation for the worse and as a result the bullpen mix was weakened as well.

The Giants have limped at a .370 pace since then which, in case you haven't noticed is approximately a 100 loss season. Two injuries ( albeit significant ) and the team falls from a 90+ win team to a 100 loss team.

The record clearly demonstrates the value both players ( especially Pagan's value to the offense ) brought to the team.

Marco Scutaro returns for three years, $20 million - McCovey Chronicles

The boys are back in town, the boys are back in town!!!

Looks like the Giants are going to defend with most of the same cast as last year intact. Good news. Three years may a stretch, but if he fades he becomes a higher priced, slightly older Theriot. Given what Victorino received from the Red Sox, this and the Pagan deal may seem like relative bargains in very short order.

from the McCovey Chronicles:
Marco Scutaro returns for three years, $20 million - McCovey Chronicles:

"YOU DON'T LIVE IN A WORLD WITH ABSOLUTES, YOU SPOILED PERSON. This is not a deal to hate without hesitation. This is not a deal to love unconditionally. This news that the Giants have re-signed Marco Scutaro for three years and $20 million is quite the wonderland of ambiguity."

'via Blog this'

Giants, Pagan agree to 4-year deal - Yahoo! Sports

Sabean and the Giants are busy checking off most of the post-season boxes necessary to bring back the same crew to defend the title. Gone are the dreams of Josh Hamilton patrolling CF, but OK. As long as Pagan produces at the same rate, the deal is good for both sides. If he goes all Aubrey Huff on us -- ring the register and forget to produce at the same level -- and any or all of these deals can backfire.

The ball is squarely in Scutaro's court now. He may get more interest from the AL big spenders but given his age, a three year deal may be more reasonable. It may be easier to replace Scutaro internally -- if Panik or Nick Noonan are ready for prime-time-- another IF utility guy would be needed in regardless of where Scutaro ends up if neither of the two prospects prove ready.

Busy, busy, busy.

from Yahoo Sports:
Giants, Pagan agree to 4-year deal - Yahoo! Sports:

"SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Giants general manager Brian Sabean can check two big boxes off his winter to-do list. San Francisco and free-agent center fielder Angel Pagan agreed to a $40 million, four-year contract Monday as the winter meetings got under way in Nashville, Tenn."

'via Blog this'


Fan Graphs weighs in with an Aubrey Huff comparable.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/angel-pagan-not-aubrey-huff/

It's on the mind of every Giants fan out there. Guaranteed!!

Giants Notes: Huff, Scutaro, Pagan, Affeldt: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

You would think they could wait to announce some of these roster moves until AFTER the parade, but I guess there is some procedural requirement that they announce the contract options immediately in order to benefit the player.

The fans seem to be enjoying themselves and generally staying busy anyway. Perhaps SF should schedule the parade ASAP before some of these guys kills themselves or tear down the city. Stay classy, SF.

from MLBTradeRumors.com
Giants Notes: Huff, Scutaro, Pagan, Affeldt: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com:

Giants general manager Brian Sabean has the makings of a dynasty centered around strong pitching and affordable young position players such as Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval and Brandon Belt, writes Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca. Here are some links surrounding the team that captured its second World Series title in three years last night...

• The Giants will decline their $10MM club option on Aubrey Huff, tweets Andrew Baggarly of CSN Bay Area. The news isn't much of a surprise given Huff's injuries and struggles at the plate since 2010. Huff's contract contains a $2MM buyout.

• MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez spoke to several members of the Giants organization about the impact that Marco Scutaro had on the team following his acquisition from the Rockies.

• Gonzalez's colleague, Chris Haft, writes that the Giants and Scutaro will "likely forge a deal" this offseason, as the 37-year-old is too valuable both on and off the field to let go.

• Haft also writes that Angel Pagan is expected to receive a multi-year contract with an average annual value perhaps in the $10MM range in a thin free agent market. Sabean will need to determine if Pagan is worth that to his team.

• Haft goes on to say that Jeremy Affeldt could be in line for a multi-year deal on the free agent market. That, along with the presence of Jose Mijares could mean that Affeldt will find himself wearing a new uniform come 2013.

'via Blog this'

World Series title awaits Giants after historic dominance of Tigers - Yahoo! Sports

Prince Fielder walks back to the dugout after striking out. (AP photo)

From a probability standpoint, the Giants have simply improved their odds of winning about an 80/20 chance
to 97/3 chance, based on past history of teams coming back from down 2-0 versus down 3-0.

However, they know better than most this post-season that it can be done. The Tigers can, if they choose, decide to be the first WS team to come back from a 3-0 deficit. The Red Sox did it to the Yankees some years back in the league playoffs.

The mind-set has to change from viewing it as an unconquerable mountain of winning the next four games to simply winning one game at a time, three times in a row -- and forcing a Game Seven -- where momentum swings to their side.

Psychologically, momentum probably shifts to their side somewhere around the middle to end of Game Six, if they are ahead. And a come-from-behind victory in a Game Six would provide unbelievable momentum entering Game Seven and bring up the spectre of an epic, historic choke.

Sometimes, the mountain isn't as large as it is perceived.

I'm with Marco Scutaro (quote below), we ain't done nothing yet.

from Yahoo Sports:
World Series title awaits Giants after historic dominance of Tigers - Yahoo! Sports:

DETROIT – The World Series ended Saturday night. They will play a Game 4 because they have to, and they may play a Game 5 if the Detroit Tigers find some semblance of competence. Anything beyond that is not happening if we're to believe history, and we're inclined to, even if the San Francisco Giants have reminded us all this postseason that history isn't always the sage it's cracked up to be.

History, for example, told us that the Giants weren't supposed to claw back and win three straight games on the road in the division series. No team ever had done that until San Francisco. And history, remember, gave the Giants a flyweight's chance against a heavyweight facing a 3-1 series deficit to St. Louis until they went jab-jab-uppercut.

Most of the Giants took the lead of Marco Scutaro, their fireplug second baseman, who declared: "We haven't done [expletive]."

"I think I'm spoiled a little bit," Giants catcher Buster Posey said, and he certainly is: To be behind the plate for a run of this magnitude – four shutouts in their last six games, 52 scoreless innings in their last 55 – is to crouch 60 feet, 6 inches from history.

"You ask your pitchers to give you a chance to win, and they're actually winning the games," Giants utilityman Ryan Theriot said. "They're as advertised. They're amazing. Look at Timmy. What a weapon."

'via Blog this'

Gregor Blanco's catch near the wall in the ninth inning helped the Giants close out Game 3. (AP)

from Yahoo Sports:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/smallest-giant-becomes-world-series--unlikeliest-hero-27221909.html

Every once in a while a story like this appears in the World Series. A player comes from nowhere to be a star. Blanco was not supposed to be a big part of this Giants team. He was a fringe major leaguer, someone who played a bit in Atlanta and Kansas City before injuring his hand last year and spending most of the 2011 season in the outfield of Washington's top minor league team – the Syracuse Chiefs.The only reason the Giants signed him to a contract and brought him to spring training is because their hitting coach Hensley Meulens said they should. Meulens was managing the Bravos de Margarita in the Venezuelan winter league last year when he saw something new from the player who had been drifting through various big-league clubhouses for a few seasons. He saw strength. Blanco was hitting line drives. His hits were getting into gaps for doubles and triples. The Giants' stadium, AT&T Park, has a big outfield, Meulens thought. He needed hitters who could get the ball in the gap for doubles and triples.

Meulens understands hitting, obviously, but years in the Venezuelan leagues taught him to understand something else. Hunger. He knows when a player is desperate to make the major leagues. He is sure Blanco was humbled by playing for the Syracuse Chiefs and he could see how much Blanco wanted to make it back to the big time.

And how Blanco worked. He came to spring training talking about making the Giants' roster. He arrived to the ballpark early. He lifted weights. He ran. He had coaches hit fly balls. He took lots of batting practice. Tons of batting practice. And it worked. He made the team. He started the year in right field and was playing decently until he suddenly went into a horrible slump. Suddenly he couldn't hit anything.

Bonded by failure, Barry Zito, Tim Lincecum give Giants right stuff in Game 1 of World Series - Yahoo! Sports

So many Hollywood story lines to choose from, you wish this could have been the season-ender rather than a lid-lifter. But what a start!!

Panda walks with legends.
Zito -- and to a lesser extent Lincecum -- get their groove back.
Scutaro and Pagan continue their excellence at the top of the order.
Posey showing signs of coming back by grinding through a 2-4 night.
Belt can  make an 0-3 night look productive. Solid AB's.
Only Pence and Blanco appear lost with the bats right now and Blanco adds in with the defensive gems.
Crawford flashes solid leather and occasionally pops with the bat.

Still only one game, but a BIG game indeed. Assist to the Tigers pitching coach for inexplicably breaking Verlander's rhythm with that eye-opening mound visit. Even Verlander appeared startled and it seemed to momentarily get in his head.

The rest is history.

I liked the Game 2 match-up better from the get-go, Bummer  is a gamer and he has been through this "kink in his delivery phase" before. I was hoping to just press Verlander hard and have Zito pitch well enough to keep it close -- the moral victory angle -- but the Giants exceed expectations once again.

Let's see if they play as well from ahead as they do from behind. A 2-game lead will give the Tigers a very tough mountain to climb. A split in SF had to be the Tigers goal coming in and they can still get it. They know they will have a Verlander seeking vindication in Game 4 or 5, but this may shut down any "three starts by your stud and sneak another victory from somebody else" strategy. Verlander seemed a little out of sync all night, without the high 90's top end velocity. He just didn't seem able to put hitters away ('cept Hunter and Blanco).

THREE MORE LIKE THIS GUYS!!!

from Yahoo Sports:
Bonded by failure, Barry Zito, Tim Lincecum give Giants right stuff in Game 1 of World Series - Yahoo! Sports:

And yet it was real, so obviously real because of their affinity for one another. Zito and Lincecum had endured so many low moments. Damned if they weren't going to appreciate one like this.

"It's great for us to be able to share that together," Lincecum said. " … We're just riding the good times and enjoying this."

It was a buddy movie with all of the necessary elements. There was the explosion (Justin Verlander: five earned runs), the sidekick (Pablo Sandoval: three home runs), the salty boss (Bruce Bochy: at his growling best) and the beauty (Gregor Blanco: two sliding catches). And then there were the stars, Zito and Lincecum, playing off one another harmoniously.

'via Blog this'

Drink it up, Marco: Scutaro named NLCS MVP after hitting .500 | Big League Stew - Yahoo! Sports

Good choice. Marco stayed above the fray even when asked specifically about the slide by Erin Andrews after the game. Good for Marco. Stay classy.

Marco went MVP and Holliday simply went away after the slide -- so poetic justice, karma whatever you want to call it -- the end result is Marco Scutaro, NLCS MVP.

Marco may have felt like he got hit by a freight train called Matt Holliday in the beginning of the series, but he just got up and became the conductor of a freight train heading out of San Francisco that proceeded to flatten team St. Louis. That's leadership.

If you had told me before the series that Posey and Pence would hit what they did from the middle of the line-up, I would have been surprised if the Giants would win one game. Somehow these guys just get it done. It's not always pretty, but....it get's done.

Maybe the Giants should spot the Tigers a two or three game lead and just play from there. - JK

from Yahoo Sports:
Drink it up, Marco: Scutaro named NLCS MVP after hitting .500 | Big League Stew - Yahoo! Sports:

"Giants manager Bruce Bochy said adding Scutaro was integral to the Giants being in position to win another championship. And, as impressive as Scutaro had been before, he kicked into an even higher gear after the roughhouse Matt Holliday slide in Game 2.

"I don't know if it was possible for him to raise his game, but he did, after that slide," Bochy said. "He was determined to get to the World Series. He led us there.""

'via Blog this'

DIRTY!! But Holliday wakes up Giants bats...so yeah, there is that

Pretty clear it was over the line. The play was a little slow to develop and you know he was going to come hard, but past the bag and a guy gets hurt. Anyone with an IQ over room temperature can do the math. 

Nobody wants to call it dirty and Holliday is a good guy who plays the game hard, plays with a football mind-set -- but this is baseball. We already lost an MVP on a bush league play last year. I don't know how many guys we have to lose before the pitching staff starts protecting them. 

The solution is simple from a league standpoint. A guy gets hurt and misses time due to somebody elses reckless behavior like this -- or Cousins vicious non-slide from last year -- and you sit out until the other guy comes back. 

Or you could just do this:

It's a shame you had a major league umpire looking right at the play and call nothing. 

At least ring up the back end of the DP.  

McCarver and the Fox crew seemed perfectly content to agitate -- asking Cain about retribution -- McCarver erroneously attributing Pagan's salute as an "in your face" salute to the Cardinals when it was clear -- again to anyone with an IQ above room temperature -- that he was saluting his own bench while rounding third base. 

PAGAN'S SALUTE!! See the 3B coach Timmy? -- Giants dugout on 3B side knuckle-head!!

Know the game Timmy!! Dang Cardinal hack!! Actually two of them in the same booth, Bucky and Timmy. 

How about adding Kuiper or even John Miller for a little "fair and balanced". What do you say Fox?  

Where's Deion Sanders when you need him?

Scutaro coming up big for NL West-champion Giants - Yahoo! Sports

Scutaro coming up big for NL West-champion Giants - Yahoo! Sports:

"SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Marco Scutaro is no castoff or misfit. Not even close.

It just so happens he is having a major impact as part of San Francisco's run into the playoffs - the 2012 version of Cody Ross, if you will. Scutaro does it all: reliable defense, timely hitting, mentoring of younger teammates.

The Giants plucked Ross off waivers in August two years ago and watched him capture MVP honors in the NL championship series and help lead them to that long-awaited first World Series title since moving West in 1958. He was one of those ''castoffs and misfits'' as manager Bruce Bochy referred to them."

'via Blog this'

Bumgarner, Scutaro deliver as Giants win NL West - Yahoo! Sports

Giants are NAILS and in the playoffs. The MAGIC number is ZERO. Thanks Magic for keeping track.

Bumgarner, Scutaro deliver as Giants win NL West - Yahoo! Sports:

"The San Francisco Giants pulled on gray NL West champion shirts and white caps, then took a victory lap around AT&T Park slapping high-fives with any fans they could reach.

The Giants have needed every face in their clubhouse and every ounce of support from their city. They lost All-Star closer Brian Wilson in April to season-ending elbow surgery, and top hitter Melky Cabrera to a 50-game drug suspension in August. They lost Pablo Sandoval to the disabled list twice, and second baseman Freddy Sanchez for the year months ago.

And, still, San Francisco won and won"

'via Blog this'

Giants Acquire Marco Scutaro: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

I like Marco Scutaro. And in isolation, this is a good pickup. However, on the heels of the Dodgers acquisition of Hanley Ramirez, you have to ask yourself where this leads? They make a spectacular deal - we make a solid deal. Another one or two of these type of transactions and the answer to the question leads us to a position somewhere behind the Dodgers. So I have some mixed feelings.

Giants Acquire Marco Scutaro: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com:

"The Giants have acquired infielder Marco Scutaro and cash considerations from the Rockies in exchange for minor league second baseman Charlie Culberson.  The money will help pay a portion of the approximately $2.2MM that Scutaro is owed for the rest of the season.  According to MLBTR's Transaction Tracker, this is the first time since 2006 that the two NL West rivals have been trade partners.

Scutaro, 36, has a .271/.324/.359 line in 411 plate appearances with the Rockies heading into Friday's play, though he has just a .570 OPS away from Coors Field.  Scutaro has played mostly second base this season and has also seen some time at short in place of the injured Troy Tulowitzki.  The veteran could see time at either position in San Francisco, as shortstop Brandon Crawford and second baseman Ryan Theriot have little offensive value, though Crawford has a solid glove.  Scutaro also has experience at third base and could see time at the hot corner with Pablo Sandoval injured. "

'via Blog this'