http://0rz.tw/sUTtl Belt progressing quickly in wrist recovery By Chris Haft and Adam Berry / MLB.com | 06/21/11 11:01 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO -- With all the disappointing injury news the Giants have dealt with this year, at least one of their ailments seems to be healing ahead of pace. Recovering from a hairline fracture in his left wrist, Brandon Belt had his cast removed Friday and said Tuesday he is continuing to feel better each day. He is already fielding and throwing, and Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he was hopeful Belt would be able to take some swings by the end of the week. Once he can swing without pain, the Giants will evaluate Belt and make a decision regarding a potential rehab assignment. "I didn't expect it to come along this fast. I think the main problem with it is it's just really tight from having the cast on, so it's still sore a little bit," Belt said. "I can't really go full out on anything, but like I said, it's getting better and better every day, and it's going a lot faster than expected. Hopefully I'll be ready to go here in a couple weeks." The left-handed-hitting slugger began throwing as soon as he had his cast taken off but could only toss the ball about 10 or 15 feet, he said. Less than a week later, he was fielding grounders at first during batting practice and putting a little zip on his throws to second base, admitting he was excited about how quickly he has progressed given how disappointed he was after sustaining the injury. "A little bit frustrated," Belt said. "But at the same time, I want it to get better, so I'm trying to be patient with it and just let it heal up completely so it'll be ready to go." Utility man Mike Fontenot, meanwhile, is still recovering slowly from his left groin strain. Bochy said Tuesday he hoped Fontenot could resume his rehab assignment in Triple-A Fresno by the end of the week. Fontenot has been hitting and fielding for a week and said he was feeling "a little bit better every day," but he didn't know for sure when he would be able to get back on the field. "It's their call. It's ultimately up to this," Fontenot said, tapping his thigh. Giants ink Minor League catcher Ramirez SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants signed catcher Max Ramirez on Tuesday and assigned him to Triple-A Fresno. Ramirez, 26, has bounced around the Minors since being signed by the Braves in 2002, most recently signing with the Astros, and he also spent time on the Rangers' Major League roster in 2008 and 2010. Ramirez was released by Houston on Thursday after hitting .229 with four doubles, three home runs, 19 RBIs, seven walks and 24 strikeouts in 35 Minor League games this season. The right-handed hitter has 140 plate appearances in 45 Major League games, batting .217 with a .343 on-base percentage and .357 slugging percentage. Since Buster Posey's season-ending injury, San Francisco has been relying on catchers Eli Whiteside and Chris Stewart, and neither has been productive at the plate. Whiteside is batting 15-for-79 with 20 strikeouts, while Stewart is 4-for-23 with five punchouts. While Ramirez may not make the immediate big league impact the Giants are seeking, he will at least provide organizational depth at a position in need of it. The Grizzlies added another player to their roster in outfielder Darren Ford, who was optioned to Fresno on Monday after returning from his rehab assignment. Bochy, Gardenhire share longtime bonds SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants-Twins Interleague series represented a reunion of sorts for managers Bruce Bochy of San Francisco and Ron Gardenhire of Minnesota. Bochy, a former catcher, and Gardenhire, an ex-infielder, were teammates on the Mets' Triple-A Tidewater affiliate in 1981. "We got to know each other pretty good," Gardenhire said. Referring to the Giants' World Series triumph last year, Gardenhire said, "I'll get a chance to say congratulations -- I missed him at the Winter Meetings -- and hopefully kick his butt." When Bochy managed Double-A Wichita in the Padres' system in 1992, Bochy rented a house from Gardenhire. "He overcharged me then," Bochy joked. "I still want my reimbursement for the cleaning deposit." Turning serious, Bochy had glowing things to say about Gardenhire, who has steered the Twins to American League Central titles in six of nine seasons. "He has done a great job managing the Twins," Bochy said. "They're playing very well right now. They're on a good roll after a tough start for them. They've been banged up similar to us. They play good baseball with good fundamentals. It looks like they're getting it going, so we're going to have to play our best ball to beat them." Affeldt's charity work paying off SAN FRANCISCO -- Jeremy Affeldt felt proud that the pregame ceremony he joined Tuesday night wasn't just a gesture. There has been considerable action. Affeldt participated in a ceremony designed to bring attention to the efforts of the Not For Sale/Free2Play Foundation, which is driven to rid the world of human trafficking, genocide and slavery, much of it in less-developed countries. David Batstone, president of Not For Sale, spoke during the event to thank Affeldt for his involvement in the campaign, which began after he became a Giant in 2009. Affeldt mentioned that Not For Sale has managed to build a medical facility for one of the first groups of people the organization rescued in Thailand. Through Free2Play, a basketball court was constructed for children in the same neighborhood. The left-hander also cited soccer fields built in South America and a school built in Uganda. "We've had a lot of good movement," said Affeldt, last year's Giants nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award. The honor is given annually to a player who combines baseball performance with philanthropy. Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. Adam Berry is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. --

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