Giants give struggling Hicks break from starting

SAN FRANCISCO -- Hoping to ease Brandon Hicks' mind and fix his hitting mechanics, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Saturday that he plans to rest the slumping second baseman for a couple of days.

Hicks' eight homers have helped bolster the Giants' offense. But he's hitting only .177, including .125 (8-for-64) in his last 22 games. The right-handed batter has struck out in seven of his last 10 at-bats, increasing his team-high total to 70. Hicks entered Saturday's game as part of a double-switch in the seventh inning and fanned in his lone plate appearance.

"He's probably fighting it and pressing," said Bochy, who noticed that Hicks was "pulling off the ball" when he swings. Bochy guessed that as he spoke before Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Rockies, Hicks likely was in the batting cage, trying to fix his swing. But, Bochy added, "Sometimes less is more, as we say."

Bochy said he talked to Hicks and assured him that he wouldn't get stuck on the bench. Bochy also indicated that the Giants have no imminent deal for a second baseman, though speculation has linked them to Philadelphia's Chase Utley.

"Nothing's happening right now," Bochy said.

Ehire Adrianza replaced Hicks at second base for Saturday's game against Colorado. Joaquin Arias was another candidate, but Bochy, who values Hicks' defense, noted that Adrianza possesses more fielding range than Arias.