SF Giants Press Clips Tuesday, March 14, 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Buster Posey’s absence means more work for Giants’ backups John Shea SURPRISE, Ariz. — Life without Buster Posey continues for the Giants’ pitchers. It could be a while before they get their All-Star catcher back. “Hopefully,” Jeff Samardzija said. Not that Samardzija doesn’t like having Posey around. He’s just rooting for Posey and shortstop Brandon Crawford to play deep into the World Baseball Classic. The Americans advanced past the first round, meaning Posey and Crawford will continue suiting up for the United States at least through Saturday. Meantime, backup catcher Nick Hundley is getting extra work with the pitching staff, probably a good thing for the newcomer who signed a one-year deal in January. On Monday night, he caught Samardzija for the first time. The right-hander worked his pitch count to 76 but gave up seven runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks in 32/3 innings against the Rangers. “It’s always good to work out those kinks,” Samardzija said. “It’s good to have him back there so he can know what I shake (off pitches) to, what we’re on the same page with, getting a better idea of what we throw.” It was Samardzija’s fourth start. He has thrown to Posey twice and Trevor Brown once. His ERA is 9.82. 1 “Overall, it felt good. I was strong until the end,” Samardzija said. “You always care about results. It’s not the defining factor in spring training, but obviously you want to have good days. I think we were really close.” The big hit was Carlos Gomez ’s grand slam in the second inning. Samardzija fell behind 3-0 before throwing two called strikes. Gomez took the next pitch over the right-field wall. In an earlier at-bat, Samardzija struck out Gomez on a 3-2 slider, one of his four strikeouts. There should be plenty of time for Posey to refamiliarize himself with the staff. Even if the U.S. advances to the final game, March 21 in Los Angeles, the Giants will have another week of exhibitions in Arizona and three against the A’s in the Bay Area. “The good thing about Buster,” Samardzija said, “is he doesn’t need all that much work to be back to where he needs to be with his pitchers.” Roster trimming: The Giants cut 12 players, optioning infielder Miguel Gomez and pitchers Kyle Crick , Ian Gardeck , Chase Johnson , Reyes Moronta and Daniel Slania . They also reassigned infielder Ryder Jones , catchers Aramis Garcia and Matt Winn , and outfielders Wynton Bernard , Steven Duggar and Austin Slater . John Shea is The San Francisco Chronicle’s national baseball writer. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @JohnSheaHey Rangers 7, Giants 1 Notable: Michael Morse exited after two plate appearances because his wife was in a minor automobile accident. Bruce Bochy said after the game that she was fine. … In the left-field competition, Mac Williamson went 2-for-4 one day after Jarrett Parker went 3-for-3. ... Leadoff man Denard Span stole his first base and got his second hit, a double. He scored the Giants’ only run on Hunter Pence ’s first-inning single. ...The Rangers’ first two runs were unearned after shortstop Jimmy Rollins ’ error. ... Reliever Will Smith , who is overcoming elbow inflammation, threw to hitters Monday and will make his Cactus League debut as early as Friday. Quotable: “I wouldn’t have sat out here without that screen.” 2 — Bochy on a screen that was placed in front of the coaches during the game, permitting them to sit in their usual spot outside the dugout. Surprise Stadium is where coach Jose Alguacil sustained multiple injuries when hit in the face by a foul ball March 4. Tuesday’s game: Giants at Indians, at Goodyear, Ariz., 1:05 p.m. San Francisco Chronicle Giants’ Joe Panik getting his offensive groove back John Shea SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The ball was hit high in the Arizona sky, and no fewer than three Giants defenders drifted behind second base and were in range of making the catch. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins called for it. So did second baseman Joe Panik. As they looked up and extended their gloves, they bumped into each other. Panik, because he’s taller, caught the ball. At that point, Panik drew a line on the ground with his foot and told Rollins to stay on his side. Jokingly, of course. It was a gag Brandon Crawford once played on a younger Panik, who was paying it forward to Rollins, 12 years his elder. “Craw called me off and he’s, like, ‘Listen, you don’t cross that line,’” Panik said. “So I was having a little fun with Jimmy.” These days, Panik is so comfortable in his own skin and in his own role that he can mess with a 17-year veteran who has been an MVP and won four Gold Glove awards. Rollins, for his part, is cool with it. 3 After his bummer of a finish in 2016, Panik is in good spirits this spring and in a nice groove. His concussion, caused from a beaning by then-Tampa Bay pitcher Matt Moore, not only shelved him a month but made it difficult to rebound once he returned in late July. Panik hit .215 his final 57 regular-season games but produced in the Division Series, going 6-for- 10. After the series loss to the Cubs, he rested several weeks before returning to baseball conditioning. He worked with his brother, Paul, the batting coach at Iona College in New York, to revive his mechanics. Despite going 0-for-4 against the Royals on Monday, Panik is making good contact in spring training with eight hits — and several line-drive outs — and two strikeouts in 27 at-bats and seems determined to play like it’s 2014 or 2015. He batted .305 and .312 those seasons. “I’m not going to let my second half of last year define me as a ballplayer,” said Panik, who finished last season hitting .239. “This spring, I’ve been feeling good. I’ve been feeling like myself.” Panik’s injury was one reason the Giants, a majors-best 57-33 at the All-Star break, weren’t the same in the second half (30-42). A healthy and productive Panik in 2017 would figure to be a difference-maker. He hasn’t gotten much spring training work with Crawford, whose United States squad advanced to the second round of the World Baseball Classic, but has been enjoying opportunities as Rollins’ double-play partner. Panik, 26, actually has helped Rollins, 38, adjust to a new life as a utilityman. The three-time All- Star shortstop and 2007 MVP with the Phillies is playing some games at second and eventually will get a look at third. Panik, who was raised in New York a Yankees fan, recalled seeing Rollins when attending a 4 game in Philadelphia with a couple of buddies his senior year in high school. “I don’t want to make him feel old, but it’s pretty cool because I watched him growing up,” Panik said. “He’s very calm, very smooth out there. The transition from my eyes is going pretty well.” Turning double plays is far different as a second baseman, from positioning to footwork to arm angles to avoiding the runner. Panik has been a valuable resource for Rollins. “When nobody’s on base, everything looks normal,” Rollins said. “You get a runner on first, you’re split way over toward the middle for the double play, it feels like there’s a Grand Canyon between you and the first baseman.” Panik knows the drill. He was drafted as a shortstop and was moved to second as a minor- leaguer. Smart move. He won his first Gold Glove last season despite starting just 118 games. Now, he’s returning to form offensively, which hasn’t gone unnoticed among teammates, including the fellow who beaned him last summer. “Joe’s such an awesome guy,” said Moore, who was traded to the Giants on Aug. 1. “He didn’t try to make me feel bad about it — though they asked if I was going to apologize 30 seconds after I walked in (after the trade); it was a teasing moment, all in good fun. To see what he’s done in this camp is very impressive. I’m glad he’s on our side.” 5 San Jose Mercury News With Posey at WBC, Nick Hundley catching on quickly with Giants’ pitching staff Carl Steward SURPRISE, Ariz. — It’s a wonderful thing for the Giants that Buster Posey is playing in the World Baseball Classic. It may be even more wonderful for Nick Hundley that Posey’s off at the WBC doing his patriotic thing. The Giants’ new No. 2 catcher has been getting almost all of Posey’s No. 1 duty since he departed March 6, and it’s allowed Hundley to accelerate his knowledge and comfort level with the pitching staff, particularly the starting rotation. Hundley has already caught Madison Bumgarner three times, Matt Cain and Matt Moore twice, debuted with Johnny Cueto on Saturday and finally completed his first round with the starting staff by catching Jeff Samardzija Monday night against the Texas Rangers. Hundley has also re-familiarized himself with closer Mark Melancon, whom he hadn’t caught for 12 years — since they were teammates at the University of Arizona way back in 2005.