Let the games begin: The Giants open the Cactus League today with Barry Zito facing the Cubs in Mesa, Ariz., but with Barry Bonds, Ray Durham, Rich Aurilia and Armando Benitez staying in Scottsdale. Manager Bruce Bochy wants to debut Bonds and Durham at home Friday against Milwaukee, and Aurilia caught the flu that has hit camp.
Bochy said the staff has not scheduled Benitez's first appearance. Early in camp, Benitez said he was not in a hurry to pitch competitively because he wanted to get closer to 100 percent physically after rehabilitating his right knee over the past six months.
"He's real close," said Bochy, who has no shortage of pitchers to take Benitez's innings to help settle what will be the fiercest competition. Eleven pitchers -- Benitez, Brian Wilson, Steve Kline, Jack Taschner, Jonathan Sanchez (if he does not win a starting job), Kevin Correia, Scott Munter, Brad Hennessey, Vinnie Chulk, 25-year-old prospect Billy Sadler and nonroster invitee David Cortes -- appear to have a legitimate shot for seven jobs.
Benitez is a wild card. If he is traded or his knee betrays him again, the bullpen calculus would change considerably. The front office will have some tough calls to make, with or without Benitez, which means the candidates must impress early.
"Obviously, Kline and Benitez are in a different boat than the rest of us. They're the guaranteed-contract guys," Taschner said. "Benitez has his own stuff to deal with, with the injuries and stuff. Basically, for the other five spots, there are 10 of us going for it. If anyone here thinks they have one locked up, they're faulting themselves.''
Briefly: Starters Matt Morris and Lowry also ran into the flu bug that caught Aurilia. ... The Giants are holding another Fan Fest at China Basin on Saturday at which 2007 single-game tickets will go on sale. In a unique promotion, fans can trade Zito A's merchandise for tickets to a Bay Bridge exhibition game against Oakland.
