© Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Brandon Belt’s knee injury is no secret. It is likely the veteran first baseman will need surgery on his right knee, which suffered a bone bruise that sidelined him from July 27 to August 14. Belt made his intentions clear two days ago, saying that he intends to finish the season.
While he said his play hasn’t suffered from the injury, it’s clear he’s hurting. Belt had to be removed from Friday night’s 2-0 win over the Colorado Rockies after the sixth inning because the knee was bothering him.
After the game, Bruce Bochy said Belt’s situation isn’t viable in its current state.
“I’m concerned there,” Bochy said. “As far as discussions, I will after I’m done here. I’ll get with Dave Groeschner and Belt. We have to be smart about this.”
Bochy said he wouldn’t hesitate to sit Belt if his condition fails to improve.
“You get caught where it’s a diminishing return area, where you’re starting a guy, then he has to come out of the game now,” Bochy said. “So we need to stay away from that. So I know he wants to get out there and he’s trying to get out there and help out the ballclub, but if it’s that sore, and you can’t get through nine, then it’s a case where you can’t start him. So we’ll have a talk about that and we’ll figure out what he do the rest of the way.”