The Giants are beginning to groom prospect John Bowker at first base, according to Andrew Baggarly of Medianews.  After Bowker’s torrid start to his major league career, the organization is employing the services of Ex-Giant J.T. Snow to teach him the finer points of the position in hopes that he will stay in the every day lineup.  Bowker got his first major league experience at the position on Wednesday when he was shifted to first base in the ninth inning after starting the game in right field.

• Rick Eymer of MLB.com reports that John Bowker made his first appearance in the big leagues on Saturday and became the 8th player in Giants history to hit a home run in his major league debut. Bowker had 4 RBIs and another home run in his second game the next day as the Giants went on to beat the Cardinals 7-4. Pretty impressive stuff, and needless to say, the Giants’ lineup could use a little power boost.
• Brian Bocock has been a solid replacement at shortstop for the injured Omar Vizquel, although his performance at the plate has left something to be desired (.200 with 2 RBIs). Still, he’s played every inning of every game so far this season. Bocock attributes some of his struggles to simply not being familiar with the pitchers he’s faced, so he’s been spending a lot of time watching film of the pitchers he will be facing in upcoming games, writes Chris Haft.

Earlier this week we listed the top prospects getting cut from the Rays, Indians, Pirates, Nationals, Rockies, Rangers, Red Sox, Twins, Angels, and Orioles.  We’ve listed below a handful of prospects who have been cut since then.

• Beau Mills, 3B/1B, Indians
• Trevor Crowe, OF, Indians
• Matt LaPorta, OF, Brewers
• Phillipe Aumont, RHP, Mariners
• Robinzon Diaz, C, Blue Jays
• Charlie Morton, RHP, Braves
• Tyler Flowers, C/1B, Braves
• Brett Sinkbeil, RHP, Marlins
• Lance Broadway, RHP, White Sox
• Rick Porcello, RHP, Tigers
• Dexter Fowler, OF, Rockies
• Chris Nelson, SS, Rockies
• Jeff Samardzija, RHP, Cubs
• John Bowker, OF, Giants

• Andy LaRoche had surgery on his right thumb and is expected to be out for 8 to 10 weeks. The third baseman injured the thumb when a pickoff throw ricocheted of a runner and hit him in the hand. Not great news for a Dodgers infield that is already down a starter (Jeff Kent, although his injury is considered minor) and struggling to find healthy replacements.

• Clayton Kershaw got a few pointers from legendary lefty Sandy Koufax.

• Nate Schierholtz hit a two-out, two-run homer in the 7th to pull the Giants ahead of the A’s on Friday. Although Schierholtz has made excellent progress in San Francisco organization, Rick Eymer of MLB.com writes that the 24-year-old might find himself the low man on the outfield totem pole. Barring a trade of some kind that frees up a spot, the Giants are likely to use Schierholtz last minor league option and have him start the year at Triple-A Fresno.

• In other Giants news, four players were sent down to Minor League camp: Clay Timpner (who hit .301 at Triple-A Fresno last season), outfielder John Bowker, and pitchers Osiris Matos and Kevin Pichardo.

• The competition is heating up for the fifth spot in the Oakland A’s rotation. Greg Smith, acquired from the Diamondbacks in the Dan Haren trade, has had a great spring, including Tuesday’s four inning outing: 2 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, and no earned runs. Also in the running are Dana Eveland (also acquired in the Haren deal), Lenny DiNardo, Gio Gonzalez (acquired from the White Sox in the Nick Swisher trade), and Kirk Sarloos. Further complicating the starting pitching situation for the A’s is the injured Chad Gaudin, who is likely start the season on the DL. Thus, there would be two vacancies in the rotation, at least for a while.

This post marks our new feature, the “Daily Pepper”.  In this feature, we will quickly cover a handful of prospects under one post.  Pepper is that game we all used to play as a pre-game warm up: One person hits quick grounders and liners to a group of fielders standing close by, who then promptly throw the ball back to the hitter, who then hits it back to the fielders…  It’s pretty much the same thing right?

• The Royals’ Luke Hochevar faced six hitters and got six outs, without the ball ever leaving the infield.  Great start to his Spring.
• Giants’ OF John Bowker is trying to parlay his great season at Double-A last year into a strong Spring showing, and potentially a big league gig.
• Cubs’ catching prospect Josh Donaldson has the skills to be a big league catcher, and he thinks his unusual training regimen has something to do with it.  It looks like Geovany Soto might be blocking that position for a while though.
• A couple of the Yankees’ top pitching prospects are having trouble keeping up with old man Andy Pettitte.  Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain and Philip Hughes are all training with the veteran, and already seeing the effects.
• A first-round draft pick in 2003, the Royals’ Chris Lubanski is opening some eyes at camp.  He’s still only 22…