And while it might seem like shuffling deck chairs on the you-know-what, Bochy is thinking of swapping the two players in his batting order. The manager said he pulled Renteria aside over the weekend and told the 33-year-old veteran to be prepared in case he's asked to hit eighth.

"I don't think you come to any conclusions in the first seven games, but yeah, I've talked to Edgar about it," Bochy said. "We took a look at Manny in the two hole (on Sunday), just to see what it looked like. Hitting there takes on some responsibilities, too."

Of course, no lineup change will make any difference if the Giants' rotation fails to mend a horrific first week in which starters averaged 42/3 innings and combined for a 7.71 ERA. Another seven games of that and the Giants would be buried in the NL West before the marshmallow chicks go stale.

While everyone is feeling the pressure of a 2-5 start, Burriss has dwelt in his personal circle of hell. The eighth one, to be precise. It's a tough spot in the order, and with the pitcher usually standing in the on-deck circle, it requires particular attention to game situations.

That makes it a difficult place for someone like Burriss, who is little more than a rookie.

"It's a challenge," said Burriss, who has noticed fewer fastballs. "There's a lot more to hitting eighth than people realize. It's something I've got to get used to, but I'm sure I can take care of it."

Giants third base coach Tim Flannery hit eighth for roughly a third of his plate appearances in 11 major league seasons. He said No. 8 hitters often buy into the notion that they won't get anything to hit.

"I'll tell you where you can get 'em," Flannery said. "Sometimes he'll be pitching around you, but when he gets to two strikes, he gets greedy. You'd be surprised how often the pitcher gives you something good."

In some scenarios runner at third, two outs it's up to the No. 8 hitter to be more aggressive and pick up an RBI. Other times require more patience. If the No. 8 hitter draws a walk with two outs and nobody on base, there's value in turning over the lineup and starting the next inning with the leadoff man.

For the same reason, the No. 8 hitter shouldn't try to steal with two outs and the pitcher up.

"It's knowing the game and the situations," Bochy said. "When to bunt, when to take, when to swing. It's pretty simple, really. The game will tell you."

Renteria started 45 games in the No. 8 spot last year, but that came in the American League with Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge hitting behind him. Over his 11 seasons in the National League, Renteria started in the eighth spot just three times.

"No matter what, I take the same approach," Renteria said. "You stay patient and wait for a mistake."

Bochy has tried the hit-and-run a few times with Renteria, but Burriss' speed and switch-hitting abilities could make the Giants less static at the top of the order.

Swapping them would have one other consequence: It would provide ammunition to those who criticized Renteria's two-year, $18.5 million contract. The Giants already have dropped Aaron Rowand to seventh just one season into his five-year, $60 million deal.

"That wouldn't come into play at all," Bochy said. "We're all about putting our best lineup out there."

The Giants still believe Burriss belongs in that lineup. But should his struggles continue, there is one other unspoken truth: Triple-A second baseman Kevin Frandsen is just a phone call away.

Contact Andrew Baggarly at abaggarly@mercurynews.comtoday: Giants (Matt Cain 1-0) at Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw 0-0), 7:10 p.m. TV: Chs. 11, 31. Radio: 680-AM