Notes & Quotes — Dec 24

–LF Fred Lewis‘ numbers in 2009 (four homers, 20 RBIs in 122 games) are the reason the Giants are looking for other options in left field. At the winter meetings, manager Bruce Bochy said it’s possible Eugenio Velez could play left and lead off, perhaps sharing time with Andres Torres. But the Giants remain on the prowl for outside help in the outfield, too. OF/INF Mark DeRosa has been on their radar this winter.

–RHP Bobby Howry remains in the Giants’ sights. He joined the team as a free agent on Dec. 3, 2008, and GM Brian Sabean said he’d be interested in re-signing Howry — if the reliever is available later in the offseason — to complement RHP Sergio Romo in the relief corps. Howry, 36, had a 3.39 ERA in 63 outings, third most in the Giants bullpen. Howry originally was drafted by the Giants in 1994 but was traded as a minor-leaguer to the White Sox and broke in with Chicago in 1998.

–C Eli Whiteside, amid weeks of talk over who’ll be the opening-day catcher, is considered nothing more than a backup by the Giants. Then again, the team is pleased with his work as a reserve. He caught five of the Giants’ 18 shutouts, including LHP Jonathan Sanchez’s July 10 no-hitter. He started 33 games behind the plate and threw out eight of 28 potential base-stealers, 29 percent. He hit just .228.

–RHP Brian Wilson’s 2.74 ERA was lowest by a Giants closer since RHP Robb Nen’s 2.20 in 2002, the World Series year. It was Nen’s final season. Wilson appeared in a career-high 68 games. Of his 38 saves, eight required at least four outs, the most in the majors. Showing his effectiveness in longer outings, he posted a 0.84 ERA in those games.

BY THE NUMBERS

22 — Games won by the Giants when they scored three or fewer runs this year. The only other teams in the majors winning more games with so few runs were the Cardinals (25) and the Mariners (23). It speaks volumes about the Giants’ pitching. Their hitting, too.

QUOTE TO NOTE

“We’d hate to give up pitching unless it’s for a sure thing offensively.” — GM Brian Sabean, who repeatedly has said he wants to keep LHP Jonathan Sanchez, even when the Marlins are dangling 2B Dan Uggla.