Bocock doing fine while filling in at shortstop for injured Vizquel

3/17/2008 4:52 PM

By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -An informal poll of the San Francisco Giants and a few of their opponents showed that a surprising half had never heard of Brian Bocock.

And this kid's probably the opening-day shortstop.

Teammates Omar Vizquel - the 11-time Gold Glover Bocock is temporarily replacing - and Dave Roberts didn't know of him at all. Same goes for Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin, Arizona ace Brandon Webb and his pitching coach, Bryan Price.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy knew Bocock's name and little else. Rich Aurilia and Randy Winn also had only heard of him. Only Giants relievers Steve Kline and Tyler Walker had true scouting reports of Bocock, the team's 2006 ninth-round draft pick out of Stetson University in Florida who's never played above the Class-A level.

But everyone will agree on one thing: He is already a major league-caliber shortstop at all of 23 years old.

``Bobock?'' Price said, trying to read the back of Bocock's No. 29 jersey through the batting cage at Scottsdale Stadium the other day. ``He's like pulling a Matt Williams back in '87 and they went on to the World Series.''

Maybe so, but Williams was the third overall pick by the Giants in the first round of the 1986 draft. His team won the NL West in '87, played in the 1989 World Series, and he was named to five All-Star games and earned four Gold Gloves in 17 big league seasons. Bocock is a non-roster invitee who is a quick fix for early 2008 until Vizquel returns from left knee surgery.

That's just fine with Bocock.

``It's a good opportunity for me to see what it's like and play and get a lot of time right now until 'O' gets back,'' Bocock said. ``I'm going to take the opportunity and try to run with it and see what happens from there. Other than that, I don't really worry about it. I will play hard and do the little things they want me to do as far as hitting, moving runners and bunting.''

He sure is making a good impression with his reliable defense.

Bocock has shown he has soft hands, a quick release and poise beyond his years. Whether he can swing the bat with any kind of consistency is what scouts and others are most wondering about.

``He doesn't play ball, he plays with the ball,'' said former San Francisco manager-turned-special assistant Felipe Alou, who meant it as a compliment about Bocock's defensive timing and good hands.

On Sunday, Bocock charged in on a short bouncer over the mound by the Angels' Robb Quinlan. The shortstop hit the ground and released the ball while off balance to just miss making the play at first.

Bochy was impressed by Bocock's ability and athleticism on that tough play. Walker wasn't surprised.

``He's a major league-caliber shortstop right now,'' said the reliever, who played with Bocock for a bit last summer for Class-A San Jose while coming back from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery.

Most of the Giants found out about Bocock in the first days of spring training when he was asked to stand up and introduce himself one morning in the clubhouse.

``He's kind of like an unknown person. Who is this guy?'' Vizquel said. ``It's good. People can get to know him.''

Melvin, meanwhile, did some last-minute research of San Francisco's fill-in shortstop before a recent Cactus League game.

``Was he?'' Bocock said, chuckling.

``I know he's a heckuva defender,'' Melvin said. ``I know he could be their starting shortstop. I know if he's an option for them they must think very highly of him.''

Bocock's name is eighth on the list of infielders written on the dry-erase board in Bochy's office, ahead of two other non-roster invitees: Emmanuel Burris and Justin Leone. He's even behind little-known roster players Travis Denker and Travis Ishikawa.

``I had heard his name,'' Winn said of Bocock. ``You hear names. (Tim) Lincecum was the same way. Some come as advertised. He was just in A-ball.''

Bocock played only at the Class-A level in his first two years as a pro, including for Single-A Augusta and San Jose in 2007. His first year of '06, he helped the short-season Salem-Keizer club win the Northwest League title.

He earned a spot on the U.S. squad for the Futures Game during All-Star game festivities in San Francisco last July, then finished fourth among Giants minor leaguers with 41 stolen bases.

The Giants are committed to going young, and Bocock is committed to being patient and waiting his turn - which he hopes one day is as the 40-year-old Vizquel's replacement.

Lots of friends and family are starting to call about being in the stands for opening day, but Bocock doesn't want to get ahead of himself and assume he'll be starting the opener March 31 at Dodger Stadium just yet.

He is more focused on being himself and contributing to the Giants' youth movement.

``For me, if they want to go young, I'm in a good spot as far as my position in the organization. Omar's getting older and he'll play until he's ready to quit. He can. He kind of writes his own ticket because of the things he's done in his career,'' Bocock said. ``When he's ready to step aside, hopefully I'm their guy.''