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Bruce Bochy explains plan for Posey in 2019, what it means for Belt

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SAN DIEGO – In his final season with the Giants, Bruce Bochy is managing a team of veterans who have decades of combined time in the majors, and players who are making their first MLB appearances. The combination has left Bochy with an early plan to mix up his lineups in order to evaluate how the new talent fits in with the old.

Bochy said that Posey will play first base today, leaving Belt on the bench. He also made clear that Posey will be playing back-to-backs behind the plate, but is sure to mix in games at first. This could mean reduced time for Belt, but Bochy affirmed that Belt is the team’s starting first baseman.

“I think he understands that Buster will be playing some first, especially against some left-handers, but Belt’s our first baseman,” Bochy said. “I don’t want that message to ever come across that he’s going to be platooned. He’s not. He’s going to play first tomorrow and we’re playing a left hander. Like I said, the plan is to give these guys (veterans) three out of four (games) here and we’ll try to stick with it. But I think it’s fair to say that if it’s easier to keep Buster in the lineup, he’s going to mix in a few more games at first.

One wrinkle thrown into this is the prospect of Belt getting some time in left field. While it only happened eight times last season, Belt has played 75 games in left throughout his career, and, as he would tell you, has the athleticism to play out there.

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