Uncertainty Abound in Giants Infield Entering Cactus League Play

During the Giants fall from World Series greatness in 2011, many questions were raised about the future of the organization. The most pressing of them being that maybe the glory of 2010 was an aberration, that they were simply the hottest team for six weeks and rode an amazing pitching staff to a championship. The "future of the organization" is now, and there is plenty of uncertainty entering the 2012 season.

After countless one or two-run efforts cost Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Co. many key victories last season, Brian Sabean and the Giants front office added speed and pop to the line-up with the additions of outfielders Melky Cabrera and Angel Pagan. But as the Giants enter Cactus League play this Saturday, the major questions lie with their infield, one which doesn't lack depth as much as distinction.

Let's go around the horn:

Third Base: This is the one infield position that seems to have its everyday player solidified with All-Star Pablo Sandoval. The Panda proved his work ethic and commitment to remaining on the Major League roster by slimming down in a much publicized fitness regimen last off-season, and his stat line improved along with his physique. As long as Sandoval remains committed to his conditioning coming into the season, he should be penciled in every game as the No. 3 hitter at third base.

Shortstop: The addition of Ryan Theriot complicates what seemed to be a commitment to Brandon Crawford entering the season as the starter at this spot. There's nothing wrong with having a back-up, especially with a veteran utility man coming off a World Series championship. But what the addition of Theriot indicates is that manager Bruce Bochy won't hesitate to platoon Crawford and Theriot if Crawford's batting average walks the Mendoza line as it did last season. Even batting in the low-pressure No. 8 spot, the Giants know they can't afford to squander any opportunity for the sake of Crawford's excellent defensive play.

Second Base: A healthy Freddy Sanchez owns this position entering the season, but the question is will a healthy Freddy Sanchez be the one walking through the door everyday? It seems unlikely at this point in the 34-year old's career that he can be an everyday starter, especially with the San Jose Mercury News reporting today that he is stuck in a stalemate with back problems to go along with his surgically repaired right shoulder.

The key word the report used was "impatient", which may be an understatement. A realistic projection would place both Theriot and Mike Fontenot in competition for at-bats in place of Sanchez if and when he goes down or needs a day-off. Giants fans are hoping Sanchez can come back at full-strength and fill the No. 2 spot with an average pushing .300 like the first three months of last season, but that just isn't going to happen.  

First Base: This is the most crucial of all infield scenarios for the Giants. Aubrey Huff will get his due diligence at first base, but for how long? Usually a player with his career stats and big money contract would get chance after chance to prove his place in the line-up, which he did in 2011, with very poor results. Huff even proclaimed he did not put the kind of effort into his conditioning that a Major League player should, and it showed.

Huff will likely have a short leash at the start of the season, especially with Brandon Belt and Brett Pill waiting in the wings and Giants fans hungry to see one of them break out like Buster Posey did in 2010. While that may be asking a lot of Pill and Belt, the Giants expectations are to return to the post-season and to make significant noise while there. To do so, first base needs to be a key run-producing position, and it's up to Huff, Belt and Pill to contribute in that role.

Needless to say, Bruce Bochy is in for another season of head-scratching and a pile of line-up cards none of which are the same.