News and Notes 9/14

• John Bowker has made a good impression since he was re-called. The coaching staff were very impressed by his defense at first base on Sunday. They also expect to use him quite often the remainder of the season. 

“I’d like to give him a little bit more of a look,” Russell said. “He’s got bat speed, very direct to the ball, some power … instincts on the field.”

• Brad Lincoln has yet to be used out of the ’pen since being re-called a week ago but has continued throwing on the side.

“We’re making a lot of progress,” Ray Searage said. ”His neck, which had been stiff two weeks ago, is fully recovered.”

• Both Andrew McCutchen and Jose Tabata have been given the green light to steal. John Russell’s intention is to get the top two in the order to be more aggressive on the bases and for them to be considered as a “threat” for the 2011 season.

“That’s how you’re going to learn,” Russell said. “We can create a lot of really fun things with that. Once they start to get a taste of it — Andrew is going to keep going, and so is Jose. When you pull off a couple double steals, now they know. They’re going to be a pretty good tandem.”