San Francisco Giants Morning Commute: Final Roster Spots, Senor Buster Posey, Aroldis Chapman

Mar 17, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Jean Machi (63) pitches in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The Angles won 8-7. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco Giants are back in action tonight after a day off yesterday. They will be facing the San Diego Padres in the Padres’ Peoria Sports Complex at 7:05 PM tonight. Including tonight’s game, there is exactly one week left, and 7 games, before the Giants head back to the Bay Area and start the pre-season exhibition games with the Oakland Athletics.

From around the Cove this morning:

Henry Schulman – San Francisco Chronicle: Competitions heat up for final Giants roster spots

"A fizzling fifth-outfield competition might be heating up, but the infield and bullpen fights have intrigued all spring and the Giants have candidates aplenty."

The bullpen spots are going to be an interesting battle. Personally, I’d just as soon tell Jean Machi and Dan Runzler goodbye and take my shot with George Kontos and Heath Hembree. Either way, I wouldn’t expect a decision until the last possible minute.

As for the infield, it’s a no-brainer for me. I have Joaquin Arias and Ehire Adrianza. I’m not ready to see Brandon Hicks, but, like Schulman, if Marco Scutaro starts the season on the DL, then we may very well see him.

The outfield I don’t see as an issue at all. Juan Perez is your fifth man, no questions asked.

Got plans Friday night? Cancel them. The Giants will be on television tomorrow night. They’ll be playing the A’s, too, so what more could you ask for?

The Giants release their pre-season commercials tomorrow and I have a feeling we’re in for a treat. Here’s a snippet of Sergio Romo and Buster Posey, er, I mean, Señor Romo y Señor Posey.

And WHAT is going on with that soul patch Buster is sporting? No. Just no. Let’s hope it’s just there for the commercial.

Finally, on a serious note, Aroldis Chapman of the Cincinnati Reds got hit by a line drive last night. Looks like he never lost consciousness, but it’s still always scary when it happens.

I would fully expect pitcher safety to come back to the forefront of discussions this season.

Buster Olney of ESPN blogged about it this morning: Pitcher safety back under the microscope