Giants' Freddy Sanchez counting his blessings

By Andrew Baggarly
San Jose Mercury News
http://www.mercurynews.com/sports
Posted: 03/22/2011

San Francisco Giants' Freddy Sanchez hits an RBI triple off Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tim Redding during the first inning of their spring training baseball game in Scottsdale, Ariz., Saturday, March 12, 2011. At right is Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Rod Barajas. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Freddy Sanchez's baseball life has taken a few wary, unexpected turns, including two trades that he met with initial reluctance.

But now the Giants' second baseman is a World Series champion. He is entering the season with two relatively healthy shoulders and knees. He knows he is blessed.

Every time he sees non-roster right-hander Jeff Suppan in the clubhouse, he's reminded just how much.

Sanchez was a hot prospect who was nevertheless blocked in the Red Sox system when he was traded in July 2003 to the Pittsburgh Pirates -- a deal that sent Suppan to Boston. A week earlier, the teams had a different trade worked out, but reliever Brandon Lyon failed his physical and the Pirates rescinded the deal. Ultimately, talks expanded to include Suppan, a two-month rental for the Red Sox, and Sanchez. Thanks in part to Lyon's fraying elbow ligament, Sanchez went to the Pirates -- where he got the opportunity to play every day.

"I think about that sometimes," Sanchez said. "You don't know what might have happened if that trade doesn't get made. The Red Sox had Todd Walker, Bill Mueller and Nomar Garciaparra in their infield. Where was I going to play?"

That wasn't all. Sanchez was a shortstop in those days. The Red Sox had another young prospect, Hanley Ramirez, playing a level below him.

"Oh yeah, everyone knew," Sanchez said. "They had a special player there."

The Red Sox eventually traded Ramirez, too, for pitcher Josh Beckett. The Florida Marlins gained one of the game's most talented players. Sanchez turned into a star in his own right, winning a batting title with the Pirates in 2006.

He hasn't contended for batting crowns in his season and a half with the Giants, but now the No. 2 hitter is excited at the prospect of entering the season without any significant aches or pains.

Sanchez is hitting .256 this spring with two homers, a double and a triple among his 11 hits. He said he doesn't pay attention to numbers in the exhibition season, caring only about seeing pitches and getting his body prepared for the grind of the season.

He confessed to a fit of bat-throwing rage, though, after striking out with one out and a runner on third base Sunday.

"That was crazy -- just crazy," Sanchez said, smiling. "Especially for me. I just had a bad approach, swinging at a slider away. I wasn't seeing the ball. I wasn't frustrated that I struck out. It was the way I struck out."

The blowup gave manager Bruce Bochy a chance to show his sardonic side. After Sanchez already had stormed back into the clubhouse, Bochy calmly said, "I think that's enough for today, Freddy."

Sanchez will be a free agent after this season, and while there haven't been any substantive talks this spring about an extension, he said he hopes to be a Giant beyond 2011.

"I don't think it's a secret that I'm happy here," said Sanchez, who wasn't initially thrilled when the Pirates traded him in July 2009. "I feel part of the Giants family. This is a place I'd love to retire. But they've got to feel that way, too.

"I'm not going to worry about it. If I stay healthy and play the way I can play, things will take care of themselves."

A glance over at Suppan's locker provides all the encouragement he needs.

"Yeah, we both knew when we first saw each other," Sanchez said. "We talked about it a little bit, but not in depth. You look back at what could have happened, and you just think, 'Wow.' "

abaggarly@mercurynews.com