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Pablo Sandoval News & Rumors

Sandoval could be back in 2 weeks
May 26
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"In 140-character dribs and drabs, Pablo Sandoval is keeping everyone apprised of his rehab through Twitter. On Friday he said he took 50 swings with a regular bat left-handed and 25 right-handed. He also is taking grounders and throwing to first and second base. The bigger question of when Sandoval will rejoin the Giants he cannot answer, but manager Bruce Bochy tackled it. "He's getting better," Bochy said. "We're probably looking at a couple of weeks if all goes well and there are no setbacks, which is good news for us." Friday marked three weeks since Sandoval had his fractured right hamate removed. If he returns in time for a home series against Texas, he will have missed five weeks,"
Freddy Sanchez could play 3rd in Panda's absence
May 9
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Third baseman Freddy Sanchez? The Giants are examining it and will give manager Bruce Bochy that option until Pablo Sandoval returns. Sanchez played third base in an extended-spring training game against the A's in Arizona on Tuesday as he continues what has become an arduous rehabilitation from shoulder surgery in August. The natural question is how Sanchez could make the long throws from third to first if he continues to struggle physically throwing from second. He told the organization the throws from third are easier on the shoulder than the more awkward throws across the body that a second baseman makes on balls up the middle or on double-play relays."
Giants lose Pablo Sandoval to hand injury, lose game to Marlins
May 4
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The good news for Pablo Sandoval and the Giants is that humans have only two hamate bones, and both are removable. The bad news: Sandoval now has fractured both of them. The All-Star third baseman will have surgery on his fractured left hamate bone Friday, nearly a year to the day after he had the same procedure on his right wrist. Sandoval was put on the 15-day disabled list and is expected to miss four to six weeks. He had his right hamate bone removed last May 3 and missed 41 games. The Giants are hopeful that the rehab process will move more quickly this time since the surgery is on Sandoval's non-throwing hand. Conor Gillaspie was called up from Triple-A Fresno and started at third"
Pablo Sandoval - same injury, other hand
May 4
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"One year to the day after Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval underwent surgery to remove a fractured hamate bone from his right hand, the team announced that Sandoval fractured the same bone in his left hand and will be lost four to six weeks, a ferocious blow to a team already gasping for offense. Sandoval will undergo surgery in Palo Alto on Friday. Last year he missed 41 games over nearly seven weeks after surgery, but head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner said there is "hope for some optimism" that he can return sooner this time because the fracture occurred in his non-throwing hand. For the second consecutive season, the Giants are bedeviled with significant injuries to some of their"
SF Giants' third baseman Pablo Sandoval to undergo surgery Friday, lost 4-6 weeks
May 3
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Pablo Sandoval will undergo surgery in Palo Alto on Friday to remove the fractured hamate bone in his left hand, manager Bruce Bochy said. Bochy said Sandoval will be out four to six weeks. Last year, he needed the entire six weeks and then a few days, but head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner said there is some hope he can return sooner now because this time it's not his throwing hand. "Tough news for us and Pablo," Bochy said. "I feel for him, particularly the way he has been playing and swinging the bat. … You just don't replace a bat like Pablo's. He was on the All-Star team last year. There are few guys in Major League Baseball who can do the things he can do with the bat." The Giants"
SF Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval has hamate fracture
May 3
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Almost a year to the day after he fractured his right hamate bone, an injury that required surgery and six weeks on the disabled list, Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval has fractured his left hamate bone, The Chronicle has confirmed. He injured the hand swinging the bat in Wednesday night's 3-2 loss to the Marlins. We will get an opportunity to talk to the trainers and manager Bruce Bochy to get an official prognosis, but clearly this is another major, traumatic blow for a team that already has lost closer Brian Wilson for the season. The hamate is a small, hook-like bone at the base of the hand, near the wrist. Surgery is usually the prescribed treatment option."
Pablo Sandoval hurt as SF Giants lose in 10
May 3
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The Giants staged a wild ninth-inning rally Wednesday night without Pablo Sandoval, who was receiving treatment in the trainer's room at the time. They rallied for a 2-2 tie but lost to the Marlins 3-2 in the 10th when Santiago Casilla surrendered a home run to Giancarlo Stanton. Afterward, manager Bruce Bochy explained why Sandoval exited after his sixth-inning at-bat, a groundout to third base."
Pablo Sandoval plenty good, but getting better
May 1
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Perhaps Pablo Sandoval was too anxious to extend his 20-game hitting streak when it ended in an 0-for-4 Saturday night. He made first-pitch outs in three of his four at-bats and saw six pitches. Overall, Sandoval is trending in the right direction. According to Fangraphs, Sandoval has swung at 55.2 percent of pitches in 2012, 2.6 percentage points lower than his career low for a full season. His 3.64 pitches per plate appearance is a shade higher than his career-most 3.50. Although those numbers might make nouveau-stat folks shriek, Sandoval is a good enough bad-ball hitter to do more with less patience than most."
Willie Mays applauds Pablo Sandoval's hit streak
April 26
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The 1960 Giants broke in Candlestick Park, and Willie Mays doubled to right in the third inning of the opener, beginning a 16-game hit streak, matching the second-longest to start a season in franchise history. Then along came Pablo Sandoval. "It's great for the young man," the Say Hey Kid said of the Panda, who ran his season-opening streak to 17 games with a ninth-inning single Tuesday and made it 18 with a third-inning hit Wednesday. "When I see him, I'll congratulate him. He's always been one of my favorites." With his hit Wednesday in Cincinnati, Sandoval matched the franchise record set in 1945 by Johnny Rucker of the New York Giants. "I think it's great for the ballclub, great for"
Pablo Sandoval's catching concerns
April 7
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Pablo Sandoval is ready to be the emergency catcher for the good of the team. Doing something and enjoying it are two different matters. A day after manager Bruce Bochy told Sandoval to start catching bullpens, the Panda was asked if he missed anything about catching. He laughed and said, "Nothing. If I catch here, the next day I'm going to be super sore. I know that." Before he gets behind the plate Sandoval needs to find some catching gear. He hasn't caught since 2009. "It's going to be tough when I've got two, three years that I don't catch," he said. "Hey, I've got to be ready for anything." Numbers game: When players gather along the baselines for Opening Day introductions, Barry Zito"
Pablo Sandoval's winning HR a welcome sight
March 27
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Spring training or not, Pablo Sandoval's walk-off homer in Monday's 4-2 victory against Kansas City was a sight for sore eyes. Giants hitters have struggled to score runs, and Sandoval's average had dipped to .200 before his three-hit day ended with his two-out, two-run blast against Greg Holland in the ninth. Sandoval made a good guess against the right-hander, who is vying to be Kansas City's closer after leading the American League by stranding 31 of 33 inherited runners in 2011."
San Francisco Giants star Pablo Sandoval reports early, looks 'good'
February 22
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Pablo Sandoval's arrival at Scottsdale Stadium didn't carry as much weight as it did a year ago, when the Giants third baseman's waistline was one of the subjects of the spring. But with Sandoval, the number on the scale will always be scrutinized just as much as the numbers on the back of his baseball card. The man who most closely keeps an eye on those numbers, manager Bruce Bochy, was happy with what he saw Tuesday. "I thought he looked good," Bochy said. "We've still got two or three days here before we crank up (the position players), but he's here early and getting some work in. That's always a good sign." It was a far cry from 2010, when his weight ballooned and his production"
Giants give Pablo Sandoval 3-year deal; Tim Lincecum asks for $21.5 million
January 18
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The Giants and Tim Lincecum might have grabbed baseball industry headlines Tuesday when they exchanged record-setting figures in arbitration, but the club made its most declarative investment of the day in All-Star third baseman Pablo Sandoval. The Giants signaled their confidence in the Kung Fu Panda's conditioning and commitment, agreeing to a three-year contract that guarantees Sandoval $17.15 million. The club offered Lincecum $17 million and the two-time Cy Young Award winner asked for $21.5 million -- both figures setting records for a player with less than six years of service time."
Pablo Sandoval, Giants reach $17.15 million deal
January 18
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"In a statement of faith that seemed so unlikely 14 months ago, the Giants agreed Tuesday to a three-year, $17.15 million contract with third baseman Pablo Sandoval that rewards not only his production on the field, but his dedication in the training room. After the World Series ended in November 2010, the Giants threatened a badly overweight Sandoval with a demotion to the minors the following year if he did not get into shape."
Giants, Sandoval reach three-year agreement that stands as a huge statement of faith
January 17
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The Giants just announced they have reached a three-year deal with third baseman Pablo Sandoval that will buy out all three years of his arbitration eligibility and take him to free agency after the 2014 season. This is a remarkable turn of events considering that after the World Series in 2010, the Giants threatened to send Sandoval to the minors in 2011 if he did not get in physical shape. He did just that, and with this contract the Giants are saying they have faith that Sandoval will stay in shape. He is under team control for three more years. They did not have to give him anything more than a one-year deal."
Pablo Sandoval corrects eyesight, keeps working on fitness
December 3
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Pablo Sandoval has a clear fitness goal in sight. The rest of his vision is a bit clearer, too. The Giants third baseman received the results he wanted after undergoing LASIK surgery in November. The procedure successfully corrected a 20/40 impairment in his left eye, said Sandoval's agent, Ryan Morgan. "Pablo hasn't been tested yet but he says his vision is as good if not better than his right eye, which is 20/20," said Morgan, adding that the surgery should vastly improve the switch-hitting Panda's production from the right side. "He was relying on one eye," Morgan said. "I think it would be wrong not to admit there's a correlation there. It's a combination of not picking up the ball as"
Pablo Sandoval has laser eye surgery
November 19
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval underwent Lasik corrective surgery on his left eye in San Francisco on Friday, hoping to solve a long-term vision problem. "It was a very simple Lasik operation in the left eye, just 30 minutes," Sandoval told Beisbol por Gotas, a Spanish-language blog written by San Francisco-based Manolo Hernandez Douen. "I have had eye problems since 2010, so I decided to have surgery today in San Francisco. I'm fine." Sandoval had attempted to correct the vision in his left eye with contact lenses and goggles, but those hampered him on the field. His vision issues might have contributed to his struggles hitting right-handed, as the left eye is the first to pick up a"
Sandoval still plans trip home
November 12
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Despite renewed fears of player safety in Venezuela following the kidnapping of Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos, Giants officials have not asked Pablo Sandoval to call off a return to his home country next month. The Giants' All-Star third baseman had planned to leave Dec. 10 and play 10 games for Navegantes de Magallanes near his hometown of Puerto Cabello in Carabobo state. "We are aware of the situation (with Ramos)," Giants vice president Bobby Evans said. "Everyone is cautious about the safety of their players." Major League Baseball often dispenses information and guidance to its clubs on travel and safety measures, but has issued no directives, Evans said. Sandoval stated"
Pablo Sandoval rejoins trainers to prep for '12
November 10
San Francisco Chronicle
 
""Beautiful morning in Arizona," Pablo Sandoval's Tuesday morning tweet said. "Operation Panda (begins) again today. Time to get better for next season." Just days after Sandoval returned from the Major League Baseball exhibition tour in Taiwan, the Giants' third baseman reported to Triple Threat Performance in Tempe, Ariz., the private facility that whipped him into shape last winter. Head trainer Dave Groeschner said Sandoval also hit in a cage at the Giants' facilities in Scottsdale on Tuesday."
Pablo Sandoval rejoins trainers to prep for '12
November 9
San Francisco Chronicle
 
""Beautiful morning in Arizona," Pablo Sandoval's Tuesday morning tweet said. "Operation Panda (begins) again today. Time to get better for next season." Just days after Sandoval returned from the Major League Baseball exhibition tour in Taiwan, the Giants' third baseman reported to Triple Threat Performance in Tempe, Ariz., the private facility that whipped him into shape last winter. Head trainer Dave Groeschner said Sandoval also hit in a cage at the Giants' facilities in Scottsdale on Tuesday."
Pablo Sandoval gives Bochy assurance on weight
November 8
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Pablo Sandoval looked bigger when he got to Taiwan for a just-concluded Major League Baseball exhibition series, not only on television, but in person. Bruce Bochy, who managed the team, said he thought Sandoval had gained weight since the season ended, but got a denial. "I mentioned to him that he did look a little bigger," Bochy said Monday. "He said, 'No, I'm very close to where I was.' He thought it was the uniform that made him look bigger. He's going to do what he did last year. ... He assured me he's right around where he finished the season."
Pablo Sandoval worlds apart in baseball spotlight
November 1
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval could make news on either side of the International Date Line today. On this side, he might win his first National League Gold Glove award for his play at third base. He is one of three finalists, the winner to be announced on an ESPN2 telecast at 7 p.m. PDT. On the other side, Sandoval is participating in the first of five exhibitions with a Major League Baseball All-Star team in Taiwan. That, too, will be televised, at 6 p.m. on MLB Network. Rawlings, which sponsors the Gold Glove awards, will announce them on television for the first time."
SF Giants' Bochy, Sandoval to go to Taiwan
October 18
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"If there were offseason baseball cards, the Giants would love Pablo Sandoval's to say, "bats left, eats right." Manager Bruce Bochy will get to monitor the Panda early next month, traveling halfway around the world to do it. Bochy accepted an invitation to manage an all-star team that will play four or five games in Taiwan starting Nov. 1, against a Taiwanese all-star team and the Chinese national squad. Sandoval is part of the U.S. team, and Bochy acknowledged Monday that being able to be a mother hen to the Giants' best hitter will be a big benefit of managing."
Pablo Sandoval to scale back offseason training but only slightly
September 29
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Pablo Sandoval will train with Triple Threat Performance again this winter, and yes, he'll heave himself up those same Arizona mountain paths. But he'll scale it back a little. Instead of six-a-week workouts, he might train four days and spend the other two doing baseball work. "I want more and more and more to have a great year," said Sandoval, acknowledging he has gained back 10 of the 38 pounds he lost last winter. Giants trainer Dave Groeschner said he plans to check in often with Sandoval, whose left shoulder should improve with rest and rehab before he leaves Nov. 1 to go on an all-star tour of Taiwan."
SF Giants' Pablo Sandoval might need surgery
September 21
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Manager Bruce Bochy on Tuesday acknowledged that third baseman Pablo Sandoval might need surgery after the season to repair the left shoulder he strained while swinging the bat in Atlanta last month. Sandoval still cannot hit right-handed and did not start Tuesday night's game against the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw. Sandoval struck out in a pinch-hitting appearance in the eighth against right-handed reliever Kenley Jensen and stayed in the game to play third. Another left-hander, Dana Eveland, pitches for Los Angeles tonight. That leaves the Giants without one of their two big hitters in one, perhaps two, critical games."
Sandoval hits for the cycle in San Francisco Giants' 8-5 win over Colorado Rockies
September 16
San Jose Mercury News
 
"A half-hour after becoming the first Giant in four years to hit for the cycle, Pablo Sandoval huffed and puffed away on a stationary version in the center of the clubhouse. Giants manager Bruce Bochy hopes the Panda will keep pushing the pedals all through the offseason, too. "It's all because of what he did in the winter," said Bochy, after Sandoval's cycle powered the Giants to an 8-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday at Coors Field. "He's got to see it that way and do it again this winter, because he's quite a talent, and he's getting better. ... He had a great game, and he's a great player." Sandoval smacked a two-run home run in the first inning, singled in the second,"
Pablo Sandoval hits for the cycle in SF Giants' win
September 16
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"With the Giants all but finished in the postseason hunt, it was hard to imagine them accomplishing anything at Coors Field on Thursday night to upstage all of the intrigue in the executive suite back home. Then Pablo Sandoval did it. In the sixth inning of an 8-5 Giants victory, their fifth in a row, the Kung Fu Panda huffed and puffed and demanded that his season-worn legs move as fast as they could around the bases toward third base. With a head-first slide, Sandoval had a triple to complete a cycle, the 25th in franchise history and the first by a Giant since Fred Lewis' at Coors Field in 2007. Sandoval also had the second in the majors this season. Milwaukee's George Kottaras"
SF Giants' Lincecum gushes about Sandoval, Sanchez
September 15
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"After shutting down the Padres to the tune of one unearned run on four hits in seven innings Wednesday, Tim Lincecum spoke mainly about a rookie catcher and an acrobatic third baseman. Lincecum (13-12) gave up that run in the first and then kept San Diego off the board in his final six innings. Lincecum said he and catcher Hector Sanchez got on the same page after the first inning. Said Lincecum: "I was shaking off a lot of pitches" in the first inning. He said Sanchez then "made a big adjustment. ... He did a really good job back there and allowed me just to get my really good rhythm from the second inning on.""
Giants beat Padres; Pablo Sandoval homers twice
September 6
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Cameras caught Pablo Sandoval in deep conversation with his baseball bat as he prepared for his first plate appearance Monday, delivering a motivational speech to his tar-slathered lumber. "Just get some hits," Sandoval said. "That's what I told him." Did his bat talk back? "Yeah, he said something back when I hit it," said Sandoval, who posted his first two-home run game since 2009 in the Giants' 7-2 victory over the San Diego Padres. Sandoval's honey-maple bat wasn't the only one following instructions. Manager Bruce Bochy said he and general manager Brian Sabean canvassed the clubhouse after Sunday's crushing loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, reminding select players that seven games"
Sandoval, Bumgarner power Giants over Padres
September 6
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"General manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy invited several players into Bochy's office after Sunday's loss against Arizona to make sure they understood that even if the outside world has written them off in the National League West, management expects them to keep fighting. "This is when you find out about players," Bochy said. "If there's anytime you come out with the warrior spirit, it's now." The Giants came out with something at Petco Park during a Labor Day matinee and swamped the San Diego Padres 7-2. Pablo Sandoval had his third career two-homer game, Cody Ross drove in two with his second double and Madison Bumgarner struck out a career-high 13 over 8 1/3 innings in the"
Sandoval and Belt lead SF Giants past Astros, 6-4
August 22
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist John Shea
"Many players were physically battered. All were mentally taxed. The 10-game trip was near-disastrous on so many fronts. So no way Pablo Sandoval wasn't going to throw out Jason Bourgeois for the final out of the Giants' 6-4 victory over the Astros on Sunday. The game lasted 11 innings and ended after 3 hours and 54 minutes when Sandoval nicely scooped the grounder and threw a strike to first base. He pumped his fist and quickly high-fived teammates. Then he went straight to the trainers' room, the Giants' home away from home, for treatment on his shoulder and foot. "Everything's still sore," said a smiling Sandoval, whose two-run homer in the top of the 11th decided what manager Bruce"
X-rays negative on Pablo Sandoval
August 16
San Jose Mercury News
 
"On deadline, but a quick update on Pablo Sandova after he fouled a ball off his right foot in the first inning… X-rays were negative. Sandoval said he is very sore. He was "fighting to stay in the game, fighting for everything, like always," but realized it just wasn't going to happen."
Pablo Sandoval's streak hits 22 games
July 15
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Ron Kroichick
"Pablo Sandoval swung at the first pitch he saw in the season's second half. Surprised? Sandoval also smoked the pitch into right field for a line-drive, first-inning single off San Diego's Aaron Harang. The single stretched Sandoval's hitting streak to 22 games, the longest by a Giants player since Jack Clark hit safely in 26 consecutive games in 1978. That's the San Francisco record. Sandoval's streak also is the fourth longest in the majors this season, behind Andre Ethier of the Dodgers (30), Hunter Pence of the Astros (23) and Ryan Braun of the Brewers (23 and counting). "Hopefully, he keeps this thing going," manager Bruce Bochy said. "Once you get past 20 games, you start watching it"
Sandoval, Vogelsong, Gonzalez happy All-Stars
July 12
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Nobody appreciates being an All-Star more than a first-timer, and Pablo Sandoval and Ryan Vogelsong of the Giants and Oakland's Gio Gonzalez demonstrated that Monday. They were like kids at their big brothers' Little League game, dancing around the field, talking ball and soaking it in. Long after the National League finished batting practice at Chase Field, Vogelsong remained on the field. The American League was well into its B.P. as Vogelsong, with his All-Star teammates in the clubhouse, bounced from interview to interview. "I've never seen this many media people in one place at one time. I don't want to go inside," Vogelsong said before moseying to the cage and receiving a hug from"
Pablo Sandoval named by Bochy to All-Star team
July 11
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"As Pablo Sandoval wheezed and huffed the pounds off his body this winter, he and his trainers talked about two goals to make all the sweat, pain and even vomit worthwhile. One was being an All-Star. The other was winning a Most Valuable Player award. Now, Sandoval has one of the two. Manager Bruce Bochy woke Sandoval with a phone call Sunday morning to tell his third baseman that he was joining four Giants pitchers on the National League All-Star team. Bochy selected Sandoval and Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero to replace injured infielders Jose Reyes of the Mets and Placido Polanco of the Phillies. Bochy also picked Pittsburgh's Kevin Correia to replace the Phillies' Cole Hamels and"
Pablo Sandoval added to N.L. All-Star team
July 11
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Time to affix some stars to those Panda hats. Pablo Sandoval is going to the All-Star game. Giants and All-Star manager Bruce Bochy added Sandoval to his N.L. roster as a replacement pick after injuries to Jose Reyes and Placido Polanco thinned his infield. Although Cincinnati third baseman Scott Rolen by rule must start the game because he was higher on the players' ballot, Bochy designated Sandoval as his utility player -- meaning he will be eligible to re-enter the game under a new rule this year. "He'll get some playing time," said Bochy, who phoned a joyous Sandoval to give him the news Sunday morning. "I couldn't be happier telling anyone he was on the All-Star team. He has the"
Pablo Sandoval named by Bochy to All-Star team
July 11
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"As Pablo Sandoval wheezed and huffed the pounds off his body this winter, he and his trainers talked about two goals to make all the sweat, pain and even vomit worthwhile. One was being an All-Star. The other was winning a Most Valuable Player award. Now, Sandoval has one of the two. Manager Bruce Bochy woke Sandoval with a phone call Sunday morning to tell his third baseman that he was joining four Giants pitchers on the National League All-Star team. Bochy selected Sandoval and Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero to replace injured infielders Jose Reyes of the Mets and Placido Polanco of the Phillies. Bochy also picked Pittsburgh's Kevin Correia to replace the Phillies' Cole Hamels and"
Pablo Sandoval looking most valuable for SF Giants
July 10
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Ask Pablo Sandoval about his hitting streak, which reached 20 games in Saturday night's 3-1 victory against the Mets, and he stops just short of holding his hands over his ears and screaming "la la la la la." When told that he had just matched the longest streak that Willie Mays had during a single season in San Francisco, the Panda smiled and extended his hands as if to say, "Stop it!" Sandoval might want to keep his ears open today. Manager Bruce Bochy could be stopping by to make him an All-Star. After the Giants evened their series against the Mets and assured that they will go into the break leading the National League West, Bochy repaired to his office for a phone call with league"
Pablo Sandoval still is an All-Star possibility
July 10
San Jose Mercury News
 
"It's come down to the last day, but Pablo Sandoval still might have a chance at making the National League All-Star team. Much depends on the status of Philadelphia Phillies infielder Placido Polanco, who is looking highly doubtful for Tuesday's game because of a bulging disk in his back. Giants manager Bruce Bochy, the N.L. skipper, said declaratively Saturday night that Polanco "will not be available for the All-Star game." But no official announcement has been made yet regarding Polanco. In a report out of Philadelphia, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said that if Polanco didn't play in Sunday's game against Atlanta, he would not play in the All-Star game. That could be the big break"
Pablo Sandoval sizzles while most Giants flounder
July 5
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"On a team of hitters trying to find their swings, Pablo Sandoval has a near-perfect one. "I feel a lot better, but not 100 percent," said Sandoval, who broke a bone in his right hand, underwent surgery and was activated June 14. How close to 100 percent? "Ninety-eight," he said. Good enough. Sandoval went 3-for-4 with a homer into McCovey Cove and double, extending his hit streak to 15 games and his extra-base hit streak to nine games, tying a San Francisco record reached by Willie Mays in 1963 and Orlando Cepeda in 1961. Sandoval, hitting .302, said he understood Bruce Bochy's decision to leave him off the All-Star roster, considering he missed 40 games with the injury. He plans to remain"
Pablo Sandoval leaves game but expects to play against Chicago Cubs
June 27
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The Giants have dealt with more than their fair share of disheartening injuries this season, but they appeared to catch a break Sunday. Pablo Sandoval was replaced in the seventh inning of a 3-1 victory over Cleveland because of a tight left quadriceps muscle but said afterward that he expects to be back for Tuesday's doubleheader in Chicago. "I'm going to be good," Sandoval said with a wide smile. "I'm just trying to be smart. I don't want to be on the (disabled list) again -- I just want to be ready for Tuesday." Sandoval said he first felt tightness when he was running the bases after a third-inning single. The Giants elected to be cautious with Sandoval, who returned from a 40-game"
With Pablo Sandoval back, SF Giants have just enough offense
June 15
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Flag Day was Christmas Day for Pablo Sandoval. Like a child anticipating that bull rush toward the tree on Dec. 25, Sandoval went to bed at 9 p.m. Monday because he wanted Tuesday to come faster. As Tuesday night drew to a close, the Panda wore a smile that writers had not seen all season, and why not? He played in a Giants uniform for the first time since April 29 and contributed mightily to a 6-5 victory that prevented scorching Arizona from wresting first place in the National League West and lifting San Francisco to a season-best nine games over .500. "That was tremendous," Matt Cain said after grabbing the staff lead with six victories. "He had a great game today." Sandoval, batting"
Giants ponder some catching for Sandoval
June 11
MLB.com
 
"Giants manager Bruce Bochy admitted Friday that he and the Giants braintrust have considered using Pablo Sandoval occasionally at catcher, a position he hasn't played extensively since 2008.In his daily pregame media briefing, Bochy cited the possibility of playing Sandoval, who's likely to be activated from the disabled list next week, at first base. Bochy then added, "I think he'd be fine behind the plate, too. Don't think we haven't discussed that. It's not something we've ruled out."In fact, Bochy said that he and San Francisco's other key decision-makers might raise the subject among themselves again, particularly with Buster Posey sidelined for the season.Bochy emphasized that"
Hey, Panda, do you still have that catching gear?
June 11
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"He might need it, because manager Bruce Bochy said he and his staff have toyed with the idea of getting Pablo Sandoval prepared to catch again, in the wake of Buster Posey's absence, not as the everyday guy, but as much as twice a week. This is thinking outside the box. Sandoval has not caught since 2009, and then only three games. His last days as a regular catcher were in 2008, his rookie season. Bochy said he doubts Sandoval would need much time to prepare. "It wouldn't take as long as you might think," he said. "Once you're a catcher, and you get back there for a game or two, you get the feel of it." Let's be clear, though. Sandoval is going to be the primary third baseman when he"
Giants might be close to cutting ties with Miguel Tejada
June 8
San Jose Mercury News
 
"A decision on activating third baseman Pablo Sandoval is expected to come any day now. That means making a decision on Miguel Tejada, too. With rookie shortstop Brandon Crawford holding his own at the plate and playing solid defense, there doesn't appear to be much use for Tejada once Sandoval rejoins the team. It was interesting Tuesday when Giants manager Bruce Bochy went with rookie Conor Gillaspie over Tejada to hit in the No. 2 spot. "He has a good eye at the plate and he's a line-drive hitter, so we'll see how it looks," Bochy said. Tejada insisted he is not thinking about a premature end to his season. Nor is he stewing over his .515 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentages), the"
Pablo Sandoval misses rehab game
June 6
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The Giants placed a small speed bump in front of what had been an express-paced rehabilitation assignment for Pablo Sandoval. He did not play in Fresno as hoped Sunday. Though manager Bruce Bochy cited the rain, Sandoval has soreness in his wrist and forearm from his rehab work that will keep him out until tonight or Tuesday. Bochy insisted this does not represent a "setback" in Sandoval's recovery from May 3 surgery to remove a portion of the hamate bone in his left wrist. Bochy did acknowledge the soreness. "Maybe (there's) a little because he's been working so hard to come back," Bochy said. "I just talked to Pablo. He's feeling better. He's feeling fine.""
Giants' 'Panda' is back in San Jose
June 4
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The "Panda" was back Friday night. Pablo Sandoval, the Giants slugger beloved for his Teddy bear-like physique and resurgent bat, suited up for a game for the first time since a fractured bone in his right wrist sidelined him April 30. But that wasn't a San Francisco emblem emblazoned on his jersey. No, the Panda's return to the big leagues began at Municipal Stadium in San Jose, in a San Jose Giants uniform for a reunion with the team -- and city -- that embraced the Venezuelan-born slugger when he started his path to the majors. "I've got good memories back here," Sandoval said before the game, his favorite being the California League title the team won in 2007. "When you come here, you"
Pablo Sandoval getting closer to rejoining lineup
May 30
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The Giants are desperate to reintroduce Pablo Sandoval's bat into their lineup. They might not have to wait much longer. Sandoval will take batting practice on the field in the next few days at St. Louis, swinging from both sides of the plate, and could be activated before the next homestand ends June 12, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "It'll be nice to have Pablo back, to have his energy," said Bochy, who also has dealt with the loss of catcher Buster Posey. "We're missing two guys who hit in the heart of our order." Sandoval had surgery May 3 to remove a fractured hamate bone in his right hand. That is the bottom hand when he swings left-handed, so it's debatable whether he will be"
Sandoval could be back as soon as two weeks
May 30
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Pablo Sandoval could return to the lineup as soon as the tail end of the next homestand, manager Bruce Bochy said Sunday, which would have to give the Giants' wan offense a boost. As always, Bochy couched his timetable with the words "if all goes well." Asked if the organization has a soft date for Sandoval to begin a minor-league rehab assignment, Bochy said it could be as soon as next weekend. Sandoval is expected to take batting practice on the field for the first time in St. Louis this week, hitting from both sides. When he is deemed ready to play in a game, he will be sent on the rehab stint. Optimally, he would get 20 to 25 at-bats. "We'll see how he's doing in the early going,""