SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Jake Peavy's variety of skills does not include self-restraint. He reminded onlookers of this Sunday when he bellowed some indelicate words after doing nothing more than throwing a poor pitchout as he finished tossing his session of Giants batting practice.
However, following a season in which surviving more than twice through the batting order was a challenge, Peavy knows he must pitch more intelligently to maximize his effectiveness. This means not throwing every pitch as if it were his last.
"You dial back on the effort, but the intensity and focus are still there," said Peavy, 34. "I'm just going to find the right effort level for each occasion. I think the situation the team's in on that given night, how we're coming off the last few games and what energy needs to be established will have a lot to do with which energy/effort level you might need to bring that particular night."
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Peavy, who exceeded six innings on six occasions in 17 starts after he returned from his early-season back injury, will consider another factor: his predecessors in the starting rotation. If his turn to pitch arrives after Madison Bumgarner, Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto have worked deep into ballgames and kept the bullpen fresh, there will be no holds barred. In those instances, Peavy said, "I'm emptying the tank for six innings."
Earlier in Peavy's 14-year career, it wasn't always thus.
"If I didn't go seven, I didn't do my job," he said.
• June 12, 2009, was probably one of the more electric "Orange Friday" games in AT&T Park annals as the Giants and A's opened a three-game Interleague series. Tim Lincecum, embarking upon a season in which he won his second straight National League Cy Young Award, opposed Oakland right-hander Vin Mazzaro, making his third Major League start after winning his first two with 13 2/3 shutout innings. Lincecum blanked the A's, 3-0, but Mazzaro recalled the buzz at the ballpark.
"It was an exciting game. I enjoyed it a lot," said Mazzaro, a non-roster invitee in Giants camp. He has metamorphosed into a reliever and has pitched for the Royals, Pirates and Marlins since leaving the A's after the 2010 season.
"I've been all over, it feels like," Mazzaro said. "But that's part of the game. You get used to it and it gets easier."
The challenge of making the Giants' staff doesn't face Mazzaro, 29.
"It's a winning atmosphere, a great group of guys and I heard a lot of good things about the team and the organization. I'm just excited for the opportunity," he said.
• Sunday marked the final day of live batting practice. Most pitchers will receive at least two days to rest their arms before Wednesday's exhibition opener against the Los Angeles Angels. At least six pitchers, likely rookies, will perform in Tuesday's three-inning intrasquad game.
• Manager Bruce Bochy said the Giants' plans for right fielder Hunter Pence remained unchanged. Pence, who missed Sunday's workout with right Achilles tendinitis, will be evaluted Monday to determine his next course of action.