"Giants Bid Farewell to WBC-Bound Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford.

"Giants Bid Farewell to WBC-Bound Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford.

Shortstop Brandon Crawford reached into his locker and produced a red, white and blue baseball glove with his name stitched on it. He plans to field grounders with it when the U.S. team practices in Florida on Tuesday, then decide whether to use it in the World Baseball Classic.

The tournament became a star-spangled reality for Crawford and Posey yesterday, when they played their final Cactus League game for the Giants before departing.

“I’m ready to go,” Posey said after going 2-for-3 with two RBIs in Sunday’s 4-3 loss to the Royals. “I was getting tired of answering questions from my teammates asking when I’m leaving.”

Manager Bruce Bochy was relieved, too, not to see Posey depart for as long as 18 days, but to see him physically ready after being slowed by a stiff neck.

Posey played 3 consecutive games, one as the DH, and leaves with 13 Cactus League plate appearances. If not for those games and the innings he caught over the weekend, Bochy would have worried about Posey getting hurt in the WBC.

“I’m more comfortable here than I was four or five days ago,” Bochy said.

Posey will be a key player for the United States as it tries to win the tournament for the first time.

He will catch pitchers with whom he has not worked and face hitters he has not seen. His experience from four All-Star Games could be handy. The challenge is essentially the same.

Posey caught Bumgarner for three innings Sunday. Posey also was glad to catch Mark Melancon one more time, particularly after the new closer allowed three baserunners and had to work out of trouble (which he did, with a double play). A battery uses different pitch sequences with runners on base.

Bumgarner plans to plant himself in front of the TV when the United States opens the tournament against Colombia on Friday.

“It’s going to be fun to watch,” he said. “I was looking forward to being a part of it, but the timing is just so tough on pitchers. I’m looking forward to it knowing (Posey) is going to take care of himself and be ready.

“I’m more comfortable here than I was four or five days ago,” Bochy said.

Posey will be a key player for the United States as it tries to win the tournament for the first time.

He will catch pitchers with whom he has not worked and face hitters he has not seen. His experience from four All-Star Games could be handy. The challenge is essentially the same.

“I’m just not making hard contact,” he said. “I’m saving it for the tournament.”

Asked if he was excited to be leaving for the U.S. team, Crawford said, “I was excited about it when I got invited. I’m definitely excited to get out there and put all that red, white and blue stuff on.”

Briefly: Bochy expects Johnny Cueto to make his first Cactus League start Saturday, a day after Bumgarner’s next start, placing him in his regular-season slot. The Giants made their first cuts. They optioned reliever Ray Black to Triple-A Sacramento and four nonroster players — pitchers Carlos Alvarado and Andrew Suarez and infielders C.J Hinojosa and Juniel Querecuto — were assigned to minor-league camp."

— Henry Schulman, SF Gate, 3/5/17