LOS ANGELES While everyone was wasting breath over the Manny Ramirez contract saga this winter, the Dodgers quietly signed another important player.
Second baseman Orlando Hudson could've been a Giant, too and for a lot less money. But Hudson, who hit for the cycle against the Giants on Monday, reportedly received interest from only the Dodgers and Washington Nationals before signing a one-year, incentive-filled contract that guaranteed him $3.4 million.
Instead, the Giants spent their middle-infield money on shortstop Edgar Renteria, giving him a two-year, $18.5 million contract that was panned throughout the industry.
It's only a week into the season, but Renteria is 4-for-25 and rookie second baseman Emmanuel Burriss is 2-for-20. Combined, the two middle infielders are hitting .133.
Giants officials felt they needed a proven shortstop after Burriss struggled at the position in the Arizona Fall League. But Burriss was slowed with knee tendinitis at the time; he appeared to play a solid shortstop in limited innings this spring.
No free passes
Evidence that the Giants are pressing at the plate: They have failed to draw a walk in three consecutive games, the first time that's happened since June 4-6, 1976, in a series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Candlestick Park. The Giants' last walk came when Fred Lewis led off the eighth inning in San Diego on Friday. They have had 73 plate appearances since then.
Stay away from Manny
Will Ramirez get the Barry Bonds treatment this season? It sure looks that way. Before the game, Giants manager Bruce Bochy basically said he'd use the 10-foot-pole approach whenever Ramirez comes to bat. "Sure," Bochy said. "Pitchers are going to be careful with him. He's a great hitter with a great zone. I think you'll see Manny get walked a lot." Ramirez drew two walks (one intentional) Monday. He has 11 walks (two intentional) in 34 plate appearances this season and a .529 on-base percentage.
Short hops
Hudson's cycle was the sixth by a Giants opponent and the first since Eric Byrnes did it for the A's in 2003. ... A consequence of the Giants' lack of a true backup catcher: Bengie Molina and Pablo Sandoval had to play all nine innings of Monday's blowout loss. ... Bay Area native and diehard Giants fan Steve Perry, the former lead singer of "Journey," attended the Dodgers' home opener. Coincidentally, the Dodgers took the field to Perry's timeless hit, "Don't Stop Believin'."
Andrew Baggarly, MediaNews staff
