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 More Giants NewsBarry Bonds has been reluctant to return to the third spot, but explained he is more eager to try it with Dave Roberts atop the order creating more run-producing opportunities earlier in the lineup. "The last leadoff hitter we had who steals bases was Kenny Lofton," Bonds said. "(Roberts) is going to go out and steal you a lot of bases. For me to (bat third), I need somebody who wants to run. Get on base and steal. That's the key ... and hitting third is different than before." If Roberts steals second, opponents might walk Bonds, but Bochy likes those odds because he will have two runners aboard with one or no outs. "Numbers have shown that walking Barry is not advantageous," Bochy said. "It's putting more runners on base. We're not going to change our game. If we decided to (bat Bonds third), we've got a good hitter (Ray Durham) behind him. It might break a game open doing this. We don't want to take the bat out of Barry's hands. Now, if it looks like this is taking it out of his hands a little more than I want, I can switch him." |
