Scutaro still a few days away from spring debut

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Giants second baseman Marco Scutaro is still at least a few days away from his first appearance of the spring. The 38-year-old has made -- in manager Bruce Bochy's words -- "slow progress" in his return from an ailing back.

Scutaro has started taking soft toss, but he likely won't be ready for live batting practice until sometime next week.

"He's taken some swings, so he's gradually coming around," Bochy said. "We still have time. If you ask me at the end of next week, and he's not playing or very close to playing, we're certainly going to have to have another plan."

As for now, the plan is for Scutaro to get 30-35 at-bats in Spring Training before he can be ready for the regular season. To go along with back trouble last season, Scutaro also dealt with neck pain and a surgical insertion of a pin in his left pinkie finger. But those injuries are no longer bothering him.

If Scutaro's back continues to bark, one option at second base is Ehire Adrianza, one of the club's most impressive players this spring. Adrianza, a shortstop, hadn't played second base since rookie ball in 2006. He played three innings there on Friday, but didn't see any action.