Vogelsong not satisfied with his debut inning

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Ryan Vogelsong didn't retire any of the first four hitters he faced Friday afternoon, but that wasn't the frustrating part about his first game action in 2012.

"I threw one inning and I'm not tired," he said, after facing an A's minor league squad at Indian School Park. "So it's hard to be done."

Vogelsong gave up two doubles, a single and walked a batter before he got a called strikeout and a fly out to right field. He was pulled at that point with 24 pitches -- barely half of what he'd been throwing in live batting practice sessions.

The Giants are being cautious with their ERA leader from last season's rotation. Too cautious, in Vogelsong's estimation.

"Whether it's here or whether it's a major league game, it's kind of stupid to start the game and pitch one inning and have somebody else come in behind me," said Vogelsong, who strained his back in the weight room the first week of February.

Vogelsong said he felt fine and was happy with his movement and velocity. He credited the swing-happy minor leaguers for hitting a couple of good pitches; the single was on a ground ball and one of the two doubles wasn't hit particularly hard.

"It's coming out of my hand well, it's moving well," Vogelsong said. "I'm happy with where I'm at. Everything feels good. It's just hard to throw one inning because you don't really get a chance to settle in. But it's a step in the process. What are you going to do? Just get it out of the way and move on to the next one."

When is the next one, and how long will it last?

"You're asking the wrong guy," Vogelsong said. "My universal answer is, 'I don't know.'"

Vogelsong said he wasn't fretting over the fact the Giants break camp in barely more than a week. It's obvious to everyone, though, that it'll be hard to build him up to 70 pitches or five innings in the amount of time remaining before the season begins.

It's increasingly likely that Vogelsong will start the season on the disabled list, allowing the Giants to carry an extra player on the roster. The club has a day off during the season-opening road trip and can operate without a No. 5 starter until the ninth game of the year, on April 15.

Vogelsong could be backdated, making him eligible to pitch that day.

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