- Sabean says that the Giants haven't gotten what they thought they would out of the leadoff spot. Giants leadoff hitters are batting just 245/.311/.356 on the year.
- If Brandon Belt hits, where does Aubrey Huff fit in? Sabean thinks Huff does need time off to get a "breath of fresh air." He says, "We're prepared to play Belt as much as he can stay on the field and contribute."
- Is Emmanuel Burriss the odd man out? Sabean says he doesn't know, as his switch-hitting, pinch-running, and ability to play both second base and shortstop are useful to the team.
- Freddy Sanchez will start DHing on Monday, but he might return some time in late August. Sabes says it's "wishful thinking" that they get Freddy back in "fast fashion."
- On trade options: "A lot of these teams, believe it or not, hold hope longer than in the past, which means it's gonna come down to the last 48 hours."
- Would you be more willing to eat contract or give up prospects? The former. Sabes is firm in that the Giants will not trade their untouchables, and they have flexibility to eat payroll.
- When does Jonathan Sanchez re-enter the fold? He's going to start Friday in Fresno and get to 75 pitches, and they think he'll get one more start before evaluation. Sabean will know more after Friday. The tendinitis is no longer an issue for Sanchez; it's just about "how he can get back in the mode of throwing strikes." The Giants are trying to get him more compact/streamlined in his delivery.
- Cody Ross may be used in centerfield; as Sabean says, it could come to that because the Giants have to be open to getting the best lineup on the field.
- On Huff/Belt, Sabean says that it could come down to Belt playing a little more at 1B and Huff playing a little in the outfield.
- Do numbers like WHIP mean as much when you're talking about a closer? Sabes says yes, in that Brian Wilson is throwing more pitches per inning, per outing. How taxing it is matters. Part of it is probably dealing with the workload of last year and what it means, and the stress innings they've had this year.
- "The whole staff needs to throw more strikes. You can't have that* from a closer on a consistent basis."
- At the beginning of the year, Sergio Romo and Javier Lopez kind of shared the eighth, but now [Romo's] "getting more proficient against left-handed hitters."
- In some respects, to try to get Huff going, that's when the Giants got "resortful and decided Nate could hit fourth."
*leadoff walks, etc.
