Giants Manager Bruce Bochy went to the mat to keep Brandon Belt and the skipper got his wish.
Alex Pavlovic just reported via Twitter that Belt was informed he’ll be
on the team. Check back for more updates, but Belt will be the starting
first baseman and he’ll make his major league debut on opening day for
the defending World Series champions. Oh, and the game is at Dodger
Stadium.
That’s a lot of pressure to put on a kid with one professional
season and just 13 games at Triple-A. But Bochy believes that Belt is
something special, both in terms of talent and temperament. So count on
Aubrey Huff moving to the outfield.
Belt said he cried when Bochy gave him the news that he made the
team. Already, the rookie is taking some hazing. “You crying yet Belt?”
Huff said. “Tear up…I’m going to be tearing up the rest of the year in
right field.”
The move to purchase Belt’s contract was unexpected as little as 48
hours ago simply because the Giants would have to designate another
contributing player. Travis Ishikawa, who scored the tying run in a
critical Game 3 win at Atlanta in the NLDS, is saying his goodbyes
right now. Ishikawa could go to Triple-A if he clears waivers; we’ll
see if another team snaps him up.
The Giants will have to part ways with another player — Aaron
Rowand? Nate Schierholtz? — in a few weeks when Cody Ross’s’ calf heals
and he’s ready to come off the disabled list. (Theoretically, it could
be Belt who gets subtracted for Ross. But Brian Sabean has said many
times that ideally, when the kid comes up, he never goes back down.)
Left-hander Dan Runzler also was told he’s on the team. Check back
for more from Alex on today’s big news, and I’ll meet up with the club
— Belt included — tomorrow at Chavez Ravine.
Via
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/extrabaggs/2011/03/30/breaking-news-brandon-belt-wins-spot-on-giants-opening-day-roster/
