25-year old switch hitting 2B Emmanuel Burriss will be in a walking boot for the next four weeks due to having a fractured toe. That pretty much means that Burriss will start the year in AAA. He played in 61 games for the Giants last season and he was 48 of 202 (.238 avg, .560 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 13 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Burriss was likely going to have a hard time making the Giants’ opening day roster anyway.

Starting shortstop Edgar Renteria is done for the season as he will need elbow surgery shortly. He played in 124 games for the Giants this season and he was 115 for 460 (.250 avg, .635 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 5 homers, 48 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. The Giants expect much more out of Renteria next season as he disappointed them in 2009.

31-year old righty swinging 2B Freddy Sanchez has been shut down by the Giants as he will have surgery on his left knee next week. Sanchez played in 25 games for the Giants and he was 29 for 102 (.284 avg, .619 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 1 homer and 7 RBIs. He played in 111 games total this season with the Pirates and Giants in which he was 134 for 457 (.293 avg, .742 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 7 homers, 41 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. The Giants want to re-sign Sanchez because if they don’t they will look really bad for trading Tim Alderson to the Pirates for him.

UPDATE: The Giants hold an option on Sanchez for the 2010 season worth $8 million bucks or they could buy him out for $600,000 bucks and try to re-sign him to a smaller deal.

UPDATE II: The Giants have re-signed Freddy Sanchez to a brand new 2-year deal through renegotiation rather than buying him out.

San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum has been battling back spasms and missed his last start.  Many have thought that Lincecum is too worn down and has nothing left in the tank this year.  Many thought his back spasms would cause him to miss at least a few starts.  Others say his mechanics are terrible and he wont last.  They point out his recent drop in velocity (only a few mph) as a reason to count this guy out.

People need to stop doubting this kid as he came back tonight as good as ever, getting the win in the Giants 9-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies Monday night.  Lincecum went seven strong innings, giving up only one run on six hits with 11 K’s.  Yeah he wasn’t throwing 98 mph, but he consistently hit 92 on the gun and topped out a few times around 94-95. Lincecum doesn’t need to be a fireballer, as he has a nasty curveball that drops off the table and a devastating change-up to complement his lively fastball.

Lincecum is now 14-5 with a 2.30 ERA and leads the NL in K’s with 244 on the season.  In other Giants news, future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson is nearing a return for the Giants.  His role will probably be a limited bullpen one, as Johnson says he is playing through a torn labrum.  “The Big Unit” could be a big asset out of the bullpen for the Giants in the playoffs.

The San Francisco Giants reigning Cy Young Award winner, Tim Lincecum, was scratched from his Tuesday night start.  As of right now it seems like just a pre-cautionary thing, as they are hoping to have him back very soon.  The pitcher apparently felt a lot of discomfort in his lower left back after his last start, but has been feeling better each day.  The Giants are hoping he will be able to go in his next start, but a lot of people around the baseball world have been expecting an injury from the 5′10″ 170lb fireballer.  His mechanics are unorthodox to say the least, but he is know as “The Freak” for his amazing athleticism and his ability to throw the ball close to 100 mph despite his small stature.  Lincecum is 13-5 with a 2.34 ERA and the Giants can not afford to lose him as they are right in the middle of wild-card race and are two games back of the Colorado Rockies.  In the meantime the Giants called up their top prospect, 20-year-old Madison Bumgarner to replace Lincecum.