SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Even though Bob Howry is no longer a closer, he still thinks like one.

"Just because you are not getting the final three outs doesn't mean that you are not coming in at a crucial time," said Howry, one of the most successful setup men over the past four seasons.

"Who knows? Who's to say the guy coming in in the seventh and eighth innings is not going to face the 2-3-4 or 3-4-5 hitters in the opposing lineup? It is still a critical point in the game if you have a lead to hold onto."

San Francisco signed Howry to a one-year, $2.75 million contract to hold down the eighth inning this season, bringing his career full circle after the team selected him in the fifth round of the 1994 draft.

Howry left the organization on July 31, 1997, in what came to be known in Chicago as the white flag trade, when the contending White Sox traded three starting pitchers to the Giants for six minor league prospects that included Howry and Keith Foulke.

Howry had 28 saves as the White Sox's closer in 1999. Since then, he has been primarily a setup man.

"There is not a whole lot of glory in it, at least no glory as far as the public is concerned," Howry said. "I think the guys on the team realize the value, and true baseball people see that value."

Howry signed a three-year, $12 million deal with the Chicago Cubs before the 2006 season.

Since 2005, he has 87 holds, a statistic determined with the same formula used to calculate saves. That is the fourth-highest total in the majors.

Howry's 313 appearances since 2005 are second in the majors, one fewer than Arizona right-hander Chad Qualls.

"Only in the last three or four years have teams really started to see the importance of having good setup men ...," Howry said. "It does you no good to have a great starter and a great closer if you can't bridge that gap."

The Giants' bullpen failed to hold five leads for Tim Lincecum last season. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he plans to use Howry mostly in the eighth inning, with left-hander Jeremy Affeldt more likely to pitch the seventh inning as the primary setup man to closer Brian Wilson.

"It is hard to say during a season how many times a game is determined in the sixth, seventh or eighth innings, but they are," Bochy said. "You have to have guys there who can stop them with that closing mentality, too."

Howry had the worst statistical season of his 11-year major league career in 2008, when he was 7-5 with a 5.35 ERA and gave up a career-high 13 home runs in 70·innings. His career record is 42-43 with a 3.68 ERA.

Notes:

Newly acquired left-hander Randy Johnson will throw his first live batting practice Saturday after being originally scheduled to work Friday. Manager Bruce Bochy said there were no health issues involved, but the team made the adjustment after Johnson and pitching coach Dave Righetti talked. Johnson is still in line to start the Giants' Cactus League exhibition home opener Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Scottsdale Stadium. ... Infielder Eugenio Velez and pitchers Merkin Valdez and Joe Martinez missed Friday's workout because of the flu. ... NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum is to start the Giants' exhibition opener against Cleveland in Goodyear on Wednesday, Bochy said. The Indians are not expected to reciprocate by starting AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee. ... The Giants will play an intrasquad game on Tuesday in order to get pitchers some work, Bochy said, and are considering another on Monday.