SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Giants catcher Buster Posey, who was sidelined for the second straight day with a stiff neck, hopes to play Friday against Oakland and thus further his preparation for the World Baseball Classic, San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday.
Posey has been expected to combine with Jonathan Lucroy and A.J. Ellis to form the catching corps for the United States squad. But Posey has appeared in just two Cactus League games and is 0-for-3 with a walk in four plate appearances.
:: 2017 World Baseball Classic ::
Conventional wisdom indicates Posey must be able to play a nine-inning game for Team USA, which will convene in Florida early next week. Bochy said Posey should be able to gain enough stamina if he can withstand a quick buildup of activity this weekend.
"Right now, he has not shown any concern about not being able to catch nine innings," Bochy said. "If he can [play Friday], probably take a day off and catch one more game -- get six or seven [innings] out of him -- I think he'd be good to go. My bigger concern, obviously, [is] you'd like to send him off having his timing at the plate."
Posey underwent treatment Thursday, one day after he was scratched from San Francisco's lineup before a Cactus League game against the Dodgers.