There are very few everyday players left from the Giants’ 2010 World Series team. Only Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval and Aubrey Huff remain.
For Sandoval and Huff, the roles are reversing. Two years ago, Huff was the everyday first baseman and Sandoval had fallen out of favor, playing in just one of the five World Series games against Texas.
This year, Sandoval is an integral part of the Giants success while Huff has been relegated to the bench.
But while Huff has only had 85 plate appearances this season, the Giants still see some value in his left-handed bat. It’s very likely that manager Bruce Bochy will include the Water Buffalo — at this point, he’s closer to a water snail — on the 25-man National League Division Series roster.
In September, Huff has had just 11 plate appearances, but he’s reached base seven times and even managed to leg out a double.
Bochy has been happy with what he’s seen:
“Well, you have to like his at-bats. He’s doing a great job with that. It’s so valuable for a club to have a good left-handed pinch hitter, especially against a closer with the game on the line.”
Looking at the Giants roster, they don’t have another choice. They don’t have another left-handed bat on their bench. Gregor Blanco might find himself on the bench occasionally if Bochy decides to start Xavier Nady in left.
Hector Sanchez is a switch-hitter, but the Giants will likely carry just two catchers during the playoffs, so Sanchez would only come in during do-or-die or emergency situations.
Giants fans may not be happy with Huff’s production when compared against his salary, but the self-proclaimed Water Buffalo could still be a valuable asset for the Giants in the postseason.
Water Buffalo likely on Giants playoff roster: Aubrey Huff hasn’t contributed much to the 2012 Giants, but he’s … http://t.co/t7Dl9DSS