CSN Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Matt Duffy was shocked when he turned on an ESPN talk show this week and saw himself. Duffy and his cat, Skeeter, were featured in a “winners and losers” segment, and during what has otherwise been a losing stretch for the Giants, Duffy and Skeeter were deemed “winners.”

The extra attention has come because Skeeter is huge — 35 pounds with a belly that sways as he walks. But Duffy is in the spotlight on the field, too, thanks to a hot start at the plate and defense that improves daily. 

Duffy is 6-for-20 with three walks in eight games, and he has the only RBI of the homestand thus far. Most importantly for the Giants, Duffy has been more than adequate at third base, allowing them some peace as Casey McGehee recovers from a bone bruise. He has shown improved instincts and the athleticism and arm to capably handle the spot. 

Duffy, a shortstop by trade, spent much of the spring working on his hot corner defense as he tried to make the team. He has spent just about every day since working with Ron Wotus, Shawon Dunston and Will Clark. Duffy was originally uncomfortable with how close a third baseman stands to the batter at times. 

“On those ones, I felt like I could touch the batter,” he said. 

Clark, a former first baseman, helped Duffy get comfortable with charging closer to a man getting ready to swing a bat. 

“I learned a lot from Will,” Duffy said. “He told me to get lower. The lower you are, the slower the ball looks.”

The whole game looks like it’s slowed down for Duffy, and he said he has “gotten way more comfortable” over the past week thanks to the early work every day. Against lefty Tyler Matzek on Wednesday, Duffy replaced fellow young infielder Joe Panik in the No. 2 spot. 

“I like Duffy in the two-hole against lefties,” Bochy said. “We’re trying to think of ways we can see if we can spark the offense. Tomorrow I’m not sure which way I’ll go, but we’re talking about it.”

This is a pretty big change for the Giants, one brought on by Panik’s slow start, the offensive struggles in general and Duffy’s good at-bats. McGehee could be back in the lineup on Wednesday, but with the way Duffy is playing, Bochy still will find a place for him. 

“You guys have heard me say it: They really determine their playing time with how they’re playing,” Bochy said. 

That mantra pulled a few players out of Wednesday’s lineup. The Giants have seven runs during a five-game losing streak and Bochy said the staff is discussing other ways to mix up the order. At some point, though, it’s up to the guys on the field.

“It’s not going to work unless guys start swinging the bat,” Bochy said. “It doesn’t matter what order you put them in. Right now we’ve got a few guys that it wouldn’t matter what kind of batting order you put out.”

Bochy is hopeful Duffy can provide some of what’s missing. He has already provided some off-field entertainment for a team that has little going right at this point. Duffy, who previously became Twitter famous for his Duffman bat decals, said the photo of Skeeter is up in a back room in the clubhouse. Teammates joked that it’s rare that a cat weighs more than his owner. 

“We took him to the vet,” Duffy said, smiling. “He said he’s healthy.”