SAN DIEGO -- For much of the season, the notion of Omar Vizquel returning to the Giants next season seemed far-fetched.

But lately, it has become more and more difficult to imagine Vizquel not being with the Giants in 2008.

Retaining the 40-year-old Vizquel would contradict management's announced intent to build a more youthful team. However, Vizquel has displayed the energy of a much younger player on defense, simply outperforming most shortstops of any age. Although defensive excellence is difficult to quantify, Vizquel appears at or near the top of all possible rankings, traditional or progressive, whether it's fielding percentage, range factor, zone ratings or noted statistician John Dewan's plus/minus system.

Privately, even several younger Giants have urged that Vizquel, whose three-year contract ends this season, be re-signed. Vizquel, whose preseason wishes for a contract extension were silenced when he slumped offensively early in the year, realizes that the decision is not his.

"I hope that they can keep me in their plans," he said on Friday. "It just depends on what they want to use me for."

Vizquel might chafe if it's as a late-inning defensive replacement, because he feels capable of much more.

"I don't want to sound selfish about the situation. I'm saying that I feel I can still play every day," he said. "I want the shot to play every day. I will be ready to play every day."

Vizquel has been emboldened by his recent hitting surge, which raised his average from .238 to .257 in his last 11 games entering Friday. But he knows he must sustain this improvement to convince the Giants or another team to sign him.

"I need to finish strong," he said. "Just because I had a good month doesn't mean I'm proving anything."

What if he won his 12th Gold Glove Award?

"Wow. It would mean another year on my contract, maybe," Vizquel said, prompting laughter from reporters.

Full houses: Come Saturday, the Giants will have played before 25 consecutive sellout crowds, an obvious byproduct of Barry Bonds' pursuit of Hank Aaron's home run record. They last performed before a non-capacity crowd on July 5 in Cincinnati, where 30,080 showed up at 42,000-seat Great American Ball Park.

This streak could end on Sunday, since approximately 4,000 seats remain available.

Accustomed to blocking out the crowd mentally under any circumstance, the Giants appreciate the attention but aren't carried away by it.

"At home, we always sell out, or it's at least close. It's something you almost come to expect," left-hander Jack Taschner said. "It's almost more noticeable when we don't get [a big crowd] now."

The Bonds factor is undeniable, according to outfielder Randy Winn.

"Ever since I've been here, Barry's been a big draw," Winn said. "You come to watch him, to cheer him, or you come to watch him to boo him. When I was in the American League, the Yankees were like that."

Outfielder Dave Roberts wants to savor the experience for as long as it lasts.

"There's a lot of energy. It's been fun," he said. "I think, as a player, that's the way you have to look at things and enjoy the moment."

Looking ahead: Bonds will have few experiences to draw upon when he considers the opposing starting pitchers in the Giants' four-game home series against Washington beginning on Monday.

A pair of rookies making their third career starts, left-hander John Lannan and right-hander Joel Harahan, will pitch Monday's and Thursday's games, respectively. Tuesday's starter is left-hander Mike Bacsik, against whom Bonds is 0-for-2 with an RBI. Former Houston Astros right-hander Tim Redding, who has limited Bonds to a double in five at-bats while walking him twice, will pitch on Wednesday.

Angel in the infield: Third baseman Angel Villalona, a 16-year-old prospect from the Dominican Republic, hit .375 (9-for-24) during a recent six-game hitting streak for the Giants' Arizona Rookie League club.

Coming up: Left-hander Patrick Misch is likely to be recalled from Triple-A Fresno to start Saturday night's game at San Diego. Right-hander Clay Hensley is scheduled to start for the Padres.