By Andrew Baggarly
abaggarly@mercurynews.com
Posted: 03/18/2010 06:53:18 AM PDT
Updated: 03/18/2010 06:53:19 AM PDT
PHOENIX — Travis Ishikawa's chances of making the Giants roster were enhanced by a factor of two Wednesday.
At the Giants' minor league camp in Scottsdale, Ariz., Ishikawa played on both sides of the ball for the first time this spring. He logged four innings at first base and got four at-bats in a camp game.
Down the road at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, the results favored Ishikawa, too. That's because first baseman Aubrey Huff made a bad decision that turned a force play into an infield single for the A's Ryan Sweeney. Huff roamed too far off the bag in pursuit of Sweeney's grounder, which second baseman Juan Uribe easily fielded.
Every time Huff makes a defensive mistake, and there have been several this spring, it makes Ishikawa's presence on the roster seem all the more vital. Manager Bruce Bochy has said he plans to use a lot of late-inning defensive substitutes this season.
But can Ishikawa be healthy in time?
"Oh yeah, absolutely," said the smooth fielding first baseman, who arrived in camp with a badly sprained left foot. "I'm not far behind these guys. The last couple days, I've caught up."
Ishikawa began playing against minor leaguers Monday, leading off every inning. He was 5 for 11 over his first two games and said his foot responded when he stretched a single into a double.
"I still feel it, but that was a good test," he said.
The Giants are off today, but Ishikawa will play on both sides
in another camp game. He plans to make his Cactus League debut sometime this weekend.
Ishikawa is out of minor league options and could be lost on a waiver claim if he isn't on the opening day roster.
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