Excitement takes place of nerves for Aubrey Huff

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Aubrey Huff's "rally thong" will spend its foreseeable future stashed with other underwear, in a sock drawer or wherever idle thongs go to rest.

Huff has placed his fabled thong on irrevocable waivers. The red fashion accessory that he wore late last season as the Giants accelerated their march to the World Series will not accompany him in his efforts to help the club defend its championship.

"That's in a bag. It's retired," Huff said of the thong Thursday before an informal workout at the Giants' Scottsdale Stadium complex. Position players are due to report Friday, with the first full-squad workout scheduled for Saturday.

Huff's thong attracted nationwide attention after word leaked that he wore it daily during the stretch drive. The first baseman/outfielder was enthusiastic about the garment then. But he indicated that it could be a distraction if he brought it back this year.

Huff said he intends to "just play baseball this year and try to keep the antics at home." That wasn't the case last Nov. 3, when Huff reached into his jeans and whipped out the thong while speaking at the ceremony following the World Series parade through San Francisco.

Huff said that baseball's Hall of Fame asked him for the garment to place in an exhibit. Brad Horn, the Hall's senior director of communications and education, cited the generosity displayed by Huff and other Giants who donated items to the shrine. But, Horn added, the thong was not among the requested memorabilia.

"That's one bare essential we do not need," Horn said.

Manager Bruce Bochy jokingly welcomed the thong's disappearance. "It wasn't easy on the eyes," Bochy said. "I can go in the clubhouse a little more now."

After batting .290 and leading the Giants with 26 home runs and 86 RBIs, Huff wants to experience the rush of advancing through the postseason all over again. That partly led him, during a brief dip into the free-agency pool, to spurn an offer from the Dodgers and sign a two-year, $22 million contract to rejoin the Giants. After spending most of his career with Tampa Bay, then a non-contender, and still-struggling Baltimore, Huff reiterated his appreciation for San Francisco's success.

"It's not about the ring for me," Huff said. "It's about the competition and getting in the playoffs and competing at that level with all the excitement. That was so much more fun than I can ever imagine. That's what you play for your whole life, getting in situations like that. I was starved for that for nine years. [I] never had an opportunity to taste that kind of competition in baseball."

Asked how the Giants can avoid complacency, Huff replied, "It's a good question. Throw everything out the window. My motto is, live in the now. I can't look to the future or the past. Try to get ready for this season. Everybody's going to be gunning for you. We're not going to sneak up on anybody this year."

If Huff believes some of his teammates need to adjust their attitude, he'll probably tell them. "He was one of our captains and leaders on and off the field," right-hander Sergio Romo said. Huff often worked in concert with left fielder Pat Burrell, his University of Miami teammate, to police the clubhouse and motivate teammates.

"If they had something to say, they said it," Romo said. "And it was usually productive."

When Huff needed to spur himself to exercise this offseason, he'd watch a DVD replay of the final out of the World Series. "Sometimes you don't want to work out, so I'd pop that on," Huff said. "Then I'd go get my workout in. It's definitely a rush, something they can never take away from you -- ever."

Huff's regimen included certain arm exercises to help his throwing. He started 57 games in left and right field last year, and could play outfield again if rookie Brandon Belt emerges as the Opening Day first baseman. Said Huff, "The old arm started barking just a tad toward the end. I did a little adjustment this year." Huff's outlook also has changed since last February.

"Yesterday, on the way here, I was thinking to myself how nervous I was coming here," Huff said. "But this year it's excitement. I've never been more excited to start a Spring Training."



(mlb.com)