[lex24]

[quote="BobK" pid='310326' dateline='1615737463']
Hal Lanier was the Giants 2nd baseman 1965-66 and SS 1967-70.  He was a very good fielder but a non hitter who also seldom walked

Tito Fuentes was the Giants 2B mostly although more different infield positions SS and 2B until 1971 when he was the regular 2B for 4 years

Loved Tito.  I’d do hit bat flip at home plate.

Same here.  Third in RoY voting in 1967.  Basically an average player, decent second baseman (really good range, but led the league in errors as 2B four times).  Fun to watch.

Not only the bat flip, but flipping the ball (I saw him do it with ball-in-glove, and also back-handed with the meat hand) to Chris Speier to start the DP.
[/quote

Tito and Speier worked well together.  I remember Tito backhanding a ball well up the middle, flipping from glove to Speier who barehanded and got the runner at first.  No one was on first.  Tito couldn’t have made throw. Speier could.  Course today the ball would have been hit right at someone due to the shift.  Another reason it should go.  It takes away infielders brilliance.

[lex24]

[quote="BobK" pid='310326' dateline='1615737463']
Hal Lanier was the Giants 2nd baseman 1965-66 and SS 1967-70.  He was a very good fielder but a non hitter who also seldom walked

Tito Fuentes was the Giants 2B mostly although more different infield positions SS and 2B until 1971 when he was the regular 2B for 4 years

Loved Tito.  I’d do hit bat flip at home plate.

Same here.  Third in RoY voting in 1967.  Basically an average player, decent second baseman (really good range, but led the league in errors as 2B four times).  Fun to watch.

Not only the bat flip, but flipping the ball (I saw him do it with ball-in-glove, and also back-handed with the meat hand) to Chris Speier to start the DP.
[/quote

Tito and Speier worked well together.  I remember Tito backhanding a ball well up the middle, flipping from glove to Speier who barehanded and got the runner at first.  No one was on first.  Tito couldn’t have made throw. Speier could.  Course today the ball would have been hit right at someone due to the shift.  Another reason it should go.  It takes away infielders brilliance.