Let SF Giants' Huff set terms to discuss anxiety

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Aubrey Huff is planning to come to AT&T Park either Friday or Saturday, presumably to address the anxiety disorder that has forced him to the 15-day disabled list. I'm picturing a large assemblage of writers and television crews milling around the Giants' dugout or interview room, waiting to hear the lowdown.

And that's simply wrong.

Huff owes his teammates an explanation, because they have no idea what's happening. Huff disappeared, communicating only by text with manager Bruce Bochy, and the Giants need to know the extent of Huff's treatment and how he views his future in the game.

But they need to know that in private. If we are to take Huff at his word, his crisis has no connection to a disabling injury or even a death in the family. There's nothing clear-cut about an anxiety disorder, nor are there any lessons to be learned, necessarily, from the cases involving fellow major-leaguers Joey Votto, Zack Greinke, Justin Duchscherer and Dontrelle Willis.

If Huff finds it therapeutic to hold a massive, soul-baring news conference, let it happen. I just can't imagine this rugged individualist wanting any part of that. If he wants to enlighten the public, he should sit down with the few journalists who regularly cover the team, including The Chronicle's Henry Schulman, who addressed his own bouts with depression in a revealing sfgate.com blog post and has "struggled," as he wrote, "whether to say this publicly."

Viewed in any context, Huff is in an awkward position. As great as he was in 2010, his grace period expired with the onset of this year's spring training, and he has performed like a player near the end of his career. The Giants would have absolutely no problem going forward without him, either handing Brandon Belt the first-base job or setting up a platoon with Brett Pill, not to mention Buster Posey's occasional stints at first base.

In short, this proud clubhouse leader has gone adrift. Once dependent on his skills, the Giants can afford to be cautious with Huff as they consider alternative plans. Let this one thing - a public forum - be handled on his terms.