DL Decision for Panda on Friday

Friday is D Day. Or DL Day maybe -- that's when the Giants will decide whether or not Pablo Sandoval needs to hit the disabled list for the hamstring he strained on Tuesday stretching to finish off an impressive double play in a win against the Padres.

The Giants, as CSNBayArea.com's Jeopardy Giants Insider Andrew Baggarly wrote recently, the Giants gave Sandoval "aggressive" treatment on his hamstring Wednesday and are planning to do the same thing on the off day Thursday.

The hope is that the treatment and rest will get Panda right enough to avoid a trip to the disabled list. But if the hammy doesn't respond by Friday, Sandoval could be headed to the DL.

"I'm just trying to hang in there," Sandoval said Wednesday.

Panda also said, per MLB.com, that his hamstring was "still a little sore" and guaranteed he wouldn't need to hit the DL. But that's not exactly his decision to make.

"You do have to be careful with these hamstrings," manager Bruce Bochy said. "You don't want any setbacks, obviously. At the same time, if he makes a lot of improvement over the next two days and looks like he could be a week, then we could keep him off the DL possibly. But that call will made Friday."

And, as Baggs notes, if Panda has to hit the disabled list, it could very well mean the return of Aubrey Huff to the roster. Huff's knee is doing better, and he could replace Panda if the hamstring treatment doesn't help.

It's also possible the Giants just rest Sandoval, hope his hamstring recovers on its own, cross their fingers that no one else gets hurt and roll the dice on a limited bench.

That's a bold play, considering the Dodgers are next on the schedule. But it might be the only move. Either way, we'll find out Friday.

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