Giants might have use for McClain after all

September 15, 6:14 AMSF Baseball ExaminerDavid Bush

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Scott McClain could be back with the Giants in 2009

Young players have fueled the Giants’ late season run of success, making the team enjoyable to watch and fueling some optimism for next year.

  The zest and skills of Pablo Sandoval, Emannuel Burriss, Ivan Ochoa, Eugenio Velez, Travis Ishikawa, Nate Schierhotlz and Fred Lewis, have brought a new attitude to the clubhouse and surprising results on the field. Even some younger players who did not enjoy all that much success in their early big league experience such as John Bowker,  Daniel Ortmeier and  Ryan Rohlinger, still show promise and will be candidates for roster spots in 2009.

   At first glance there would seem to be little room for the “feel good’’ story of late 2008, Scott McClain. The 36-year-old “rookie” has spent the last 18 years in the minor leagues and Japan, with just 50 big league at-bats to show for it. He had to believe the Giants had little use for him at the major league level as he pounded Pacific Coast League pitching in Fresno two straight seasons only to watch player after player get called to San Francisco. It was the same treatment he received from the Orioles, the Rays, the Rockies, the Cubs and the A’s.

   But when the roster limits came off on Sept. 1, the Giants brought McClain to the majors and he has produced in limited chances, including hitting his first two big league homers. Whenever a long-time minor leaguer hits the big time, journalists bring out the “Bull Durham’’ angle and McClain has seen his share of those stories in the last couple of weeks.

  But where McClain veers from that model is that, contrary to conventional wisdom, landing on a team in the midst of youth movement is a great situation for him. He could fit in quite well next year.

   Having already traded Ray Durham, the Giants definitely will not re-sign Omar Vizquel, and Rich Aurilia, and even Randy Winn might be dealt away. Dave Roberts has a year left on his deal, but the Giants would love to get out from under that and might find a taker. That would leave a dearth of veteran leadership with only Bengie Molina and Aaron Rowand having the stature to fill the void. McClain has already earned the respect of some of the younger Giants and would be a clubhouse asset for an inexperienced team.

   He has all the attributes teams seek in second-line players. He won’t raise a fuss about not playing every day. He is versatile, capable of better than average defense at both first and third base, and he probably would not embarrass himself in the outfield. He knows how to stay sharp during long periods of idleness, a difficult task for many players even those more skilled than McClain.

   And unlike the departing veterans, McClain will not be hard on the Giants payroll. He probably will earn closer to the major league minimum than the seven figure salaries paid to Vizquel, Roberts and Aurilia.

   McClain’s stay in San Francisco is unlikely to go much past 2009, but for a 36-year-old ballplayer, one year equals “A Future.’’