Huff ready to clean up in S.F.

Aubrey Huff is a heart-of-the-order hitter, a big man with a big swing. Six times, he topped 20 home runs. Twice, he topped 30. He has more career homers (203) than any Giant since Barry Bonds' departure.

Even his sense of humor is vast. Asked about hitting at China Basin, which has been tough on lefty swingers, Huff said, "If Barry Bonds can hit home runs there, I can, right?"

The Giants made the Huff signing official Wednesday (one year, $3 million) and said he'll play first base and bat fourth in a lineup they envision looking like this, 1 through 5: Aaron Rowand (.341 on-base percentage in 50 games leading off last year), Freddy Sanchez, Pablo Sandoval, Huff and Mark DeRosa, who's targeted for left field.

"I think we have a chance to have more of a set lineup," general manager Brian Sabean said. "With Rowand as the leadoff hitter and Sanchez the second hitter, all of a sudden you have five guys in a row you're comfortable with and have a track record. I think the offense has improved, but it still has to translate on the field, and the players have to respond."

Before Huff's arrival, Sandoval was penciled in at cleanup, but now the Panda returns to the No. 3 spot, where he spent most of 2009 (97 games). Huff hit fourth 94 times last year and has hit there 517 times in his career.

"I personally feel your all-around best hitter should be in the three hole," manager Bruce Bochy said.

The 6-7-8 hitters, in no particular order, would be shortstop Edgar Renteria, right fielder Nate Schierholtz (unless John Bowker or someone from the outside wins the job) and the catcher. Sabean seemed confident he could sign a catcher (Yorvit Torrealba and Rod Barajas are unsigned) to give Buster Posey more seasoning.

Huff, 33, is looking for a bounce-back year after hitting .241 with 15 homers and 85 RBIs with Baltimore and Detroit. In 2008, he hit .304 with 32 homers and 108 RBIs and won a Silver Slugger Award as the American League's top DH.

No first-base platoon is planned, but Huff could see time in the outfield on days Travis Ishikawa plays first. Though he's considered sub-par defensively, Huff said, "I've always been pretty good at first base. Once you get that label of not being able to play good defense, which is what happened at third base early on in my career, it's hard to shake it."

At the Giants' park, Huff is 4-for-12 with a 2002 home run off Livan Hernandez.

Sabean confirmed Sandoval gained a few pounds in Venezuela since graduating from "Camp Panda," his 10-day, Arizona-based workout in November. But Sabean said he expects Sandoval will return to his "target weight" to start the season.



(sfgate.com)