Blanco joins list of ailing Giants with concussion

SAN FRANCISCO -- Without conceding that the Giants' postseason bid has ended, Giants manager Bruce Bochy admitted that he may soon have to decide whether striving to get the team's injured front-line players back in the lineup is preferable to letting them sit out the rest of the season to heal in peace.

"We're getting short [on time], so that does become a question at this point," Bochy said before Friday night's series opener against the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park.

San Francisco entered the game trailing first-place Los Angeles by 8 1/2 games in the National League West standings with 22 to play.

The considerable list of ailing Giants grew even longer when outfielder Gregor Blanco was diagnosed with a concussion, putting him on day-to-day playing status. Bochy related that Blanco thought he was shaken up when he slid into second base and collided with an infielder's knee during an Aug. 31 game at Los Angeles.

Blanco, who's batting a career-high .291, joined left fielder Nori Aoki (concussion), right fielder Hunter Pence (left oblique), second baseman Joe Panik (back), shortstop Brandon Crawford (left calf, left oblique) and catchers Andrew Susac (right wrist) and Hector Sanchez (ankle, foot, hamstring) in the group of Giants who are idled or extremely limited by injuries. Pence is "still in rehab mode," in Bochy's words; Crawford is "doing better" with his calf but is still on day-to-day playing status; Susac's done for the season; and Bochy did not indicate that either Panik or Aoki would return soon.

"It's really amazing, the number of injuries and the type of injuries we've had," Bochy said. "I'd never imagine we'd have this many."

As expected, right-hander Matt Cain (elbow nerve irritation) has been reinstated from the disabled list. Bochy said that Cain will pitch in relief "for the time being" but might receive a start before the season ends.