LOS ANGELES -- Being 28 and enduring 10 Minor League seasons have given outfielder Carlos Moncrief perspective as well as patience.
So when Giants manager Bruce Bochy summoned Moncrief to pinch-hit for Ty Blach in the eighth inning of the Giants' 2-1 defeat Saturday at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Moncrief wasn't overanxious. He drew a walk from reliever Luis Avilan and even worked the count full.
"You have to dream of hitting a home run your first AB," Moncrief said. "But once I got in the box, it was me versus the pitcher and let's go from there, one pitch at a time.
"It was more nerve-wracking on deck. I was like, 'You don't know how you're going to feel,' so I got in the box and looked around, like I normally do, [to] slow the game down a little bit. 'I got it. Let's play.'"
Moncrief, who was summoned by the Giants last Wednesday from Triple-A Sacramento, played 839 Minor League games for numerous affiliates in the Indians and Giants organizations to record that walk.
He also played winter ball frequently to gain experience and earn a paycheck. That, too, furthered Moncrief's ability to draw Saturday's walk. Occasionally, he noted, he wouldn't play for three or four consecutive days, which forced him to analyze each game and comprehend baseball more deeply.
Naturally, he won't rest on his debut.
"I know that everything's a stepping-stone, regardless of what the road is," Moncrief said. "I don't think there's a destination, so to speak. I just think it's like a continuous journey. I'm not thinking like, oh, I finally made it. Keep moving, keep working and keep getting better every day. I'm just glad the Giants gave me an opportunity."
Moncrief said his wife, Brandy, and their four sons, ages 1 1/2 to 6, were at Dodger Stadium to witness his debut. His children are part of his ongoing story.
"They give me more motivation," he said.