Unconfirmed, but source says Buster Posey is on his way to San Francisco

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Andrew Baggarly

A very good source just told me that the Giants will recall a position player before Saturday’s game and it will be none other than Gerald Demp “Buster” Posey.

This tip came to me after 11 p.m. and I haven’t been able to confirm it at this late hour. So please, please, please take it for what it is.

But if true, it makes complete sense.

Posey started at first base for the second consecutive time Friday night. Cuuurious. It’s a pretty safe assumption he was doing more than just resting his knees from catching. He was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and an RBI, lifting his PCL average to .349.

Plus GM Brian Sabean personally scouted Posey last week and told KNBR that “the kid’s really improving.”

Added Sabean: “But when we bring him here, we want to make sure he’s on the field at least five days a week.”

As you know, Posey is the Giants’ best position prospect since the days of Will Clark and Matt Williams.

I think Posey will get most of his starts at first base, with Aubrey Huff moving to left field. But Bengie Molina was hitless again Friday night and extended his streak to 19 games without an RBI. He’s hitting just .203 in May.

So Posey might steal a few starts behind the plate, too. But probably not when Jonathan Sanchez or Tim Lincecum is pitching.

It should be an interesting day.

A few other much less significant postgame notes…

–Freddy Sanchez reached safely in seven consecutive plate appearances before a fly out in the seventh inning. He also made several more defensive plays that won’t make the highlights, but were a little beyond routine. I had no idea that Sanchez would be playing this well just a week after his season debut. It’s definitely a good sign, as long as he remains healthy and on the field.

–Tim Lincecum worked on his slide step during his bullpen session today. He said everything went well, but I didn’t have a chance to stop him for more than a few seconds because he had to do a photo shoot after batting practice.

–It’s official: Lincecum will get Ubaldo Jimenez on Monday. I asked Bruce Bochy if facing the league’s top pitcher might be a good thing to sharpen Lincecum’s focus. Bochy said no, he wasn’t a big believer in that. Lincecum will be focused on the Rockies lineup, not the opposing pitcher. But I do think it might be a good thing, in a way. We know Timmy is capable of raising his game. It’s something he’ll have to do Monday.

–Jeremy Affeldt is improved but remained unavailable. He could be back on the “go” list Saturday, though. Whenever Affeldt is ready to pitch, the Giants will send out another reliever and add a position player.

And it’s looking like that will happen before Saturday’s first pitch.

Andrew Baggarly

Andrew Baggarly has documented the most eventful era in San Francisco Giants baseball history, having covered the team since 2004 for three major media outlets including the San Jose Mercury News and the Oakland Tribune. This is his 20th season as a baseball writer. Baggarly is the author of the bestselling book, A Band of Misfits: Tales of the 2010 San Francisco Giants, and the newly published Giant Splash: Bondsian Blasts, World Series Parades and Other Thrilling Moments By the Bay. Baggarly’s other notable life accomplishments include running as the Bratwurst in the Milwaukee Sausage Race and becoming a three-time Jeopardy! champion.

Andrew Baggarly

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