NEW YORK -- Conor Gillaspie is ready for his close-up, which has double meaning for a third baseman forced to play in uncomfortable proximity to hitters. Not to mention the 60 feet, 6 inches separating him from pitchers.
Gillaspie has excelled both defensively and offensively since Eduardo Nunez, San Francisco's primary third baseman, was sidelined Sept. 25 with a strained right hamstring. Platooning with the right-handed-hitting Kelby Tomlinson, Gillaspie helped fill the void that Nunez's absence created. In the regular season's final week, Gillaspie batted .500 (7-for-14) with two doubles, a home run, four runs scored and five RBIs.