Article: Spander: On-rise Giants need Zito to arise

SAN FRANCISCO -- This is one way to look at it. If Barry Zito had two victories, the Giants would have had a winning record the first month of the season. This is the way the Giants look at it: Zito will help them when they really need him.

Ambivalence. The Giants are not the disappointment we predicted they would be.

Nor are they the surprise management hoped they might be.

Confidence. A young team believes it has to improve.

"We're playing good baseball, and we're in games," Rich Aurilia pointed out. "That's all you can ask for."

Not quite all. You can ask for Zito to regain his fast ball. You can ask for first baseman John Bowker to hit at least .200. You can ask for a little more ...

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