It’s a good thing Sean McGowan doesn’t hold a grudge.

McGowan says he harbors no ill feelings toward the San Francisco Giants, who released him near the end of spring training.

“You want to have success whether it’s the Giants, Yankees or whoever you’re playing against,” said McGowan.

Regardless, McGowan went 11-for-21 (.524) in his first six games against the Giants’ Double-A affiliate, the Norwich Navigators.

“I was surprised that they gave up on me so early,” said McGowan, who hit .304 over four minor league seasons with the Giants.

But things couldn’t have worked out better for the 26-year-old Burlington, Mass., native.

After sitting by the phone for the better part of a month, McGowan got the call he had been hoping for four years earlier on draft day.

It was from the Red Sox, who were looking to plug a hole

in the organizational depth chart.

“I’ve always wanted to play for the Red Sox,” said McGowan.

McGowan starred at Boston College and hoped to make the short move to Fenway Park and the Red Sox organization after completing his career with the Eagles.

But it was the Giants who tabbed the 6-foot-6, 240-pound first baseman in the third round of the 1999 draft, sending McGowan packing for the West Coast.

After just two years, he had already reached the Triple-A level, where he hit .286 with 14 home runs and 65 RBIs for Fresno of the Pacific Coast League.

His manager that season was current Navigators’ skipper Shane Turner.

“Sean was a great guy to work with,” said Turner. “His power was developing and he had a knack for driving in runs. I loved having him on the club.”

The following season McGowan spent time at all three levels of the Giants’ system, playing 57 games at Triple A, nine at Double A and 55 with Single-A San Jose.

Near the end of spring training this year, he was released.

“It was just one of those situations where fortunately, it wasn’t dragged out,” said McGowan. “They wanted to go in another direction. I’m glad they didn’t hang on to me when they didn’t have plans for me.”

At home in April for the first time in a long time, McGowan sat and waited for an offer to come.

Days turned into weeks and McGowan began to get antsy.

“Sitting at home every day thinking about the same things, the days seemed to get longer,” said McGowan. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. But with what I’d done in my previous 3 years, I knew I’d eventually get a job.”

McGowan was finally signed by the Red Sox and sent to Class-A Sarasota.

Injuries opened the door for him in Portland, where he has seen time at first base, in left field and as the designated hitter.

McGowan struggled initially at the plate, but has shown signs of returning to his old form recently, raising his average to .295.

“I think he just put too much pressure on himself initially,” said Portland manager Ron Johnson. “He’s relaxed now and in that comfort zone.”

With the Sea Dogs on the road next weekend, McGowan will miss out on a unique opportunity.

His brother-in-law, Jay Pandolfo, is a member of the Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils and per tradition, Saturday is his day to do what he’d like with the hallowed trophy.

“That will be the second time I missed that,” said McGowan, who was playing in San Jose when the Devils won the Cup in 2000.

Come September, McGowan hopes to be hoisting some hardware of his own over his head.

It’s a good situation here,” said McGowan. “Hopefully I can do what I’m capable of.”

Mr. Clutch

While his teammates continue to struggle producing with runners in scoring position, Tony Schrager has thrived in those situations.

Schrager is hitting .308 with runners in scoring position while the team average stands at .243.

“He’s a money player,” said Johnson. “That’s what a money player does to me, a guy that collects RBIs when there’s two outs.”

Schrager’s average jumps to .333 with runners in scoring position with two outs.

Bad choice

When the Sea Dogs beat Eastern League leading Akron in the rubber game of a three-game series at Hadlock Field on June 25, the P.A. system blared Queen’s “We are the Champions.”

The Sea Dogs then proceeded to lose 13 of their next 20 games and fell out of first place for the first time since May 10.

Road warriors

Following today’s game against Norwich, the Sea Dogs will play 24 of their next 33 games on the road.

They will be home for only seven days between now and Aug. 18, with doubleheaders scheduled against Trenton on July 28 and 29 at Hadlock Field and in Binghamton (Aug. 1) and New Britain (Aug. 16 and 17).

“It’s going to be a tough stretch,” said Johnson.

Crime pays

This from Sea Dogs radio announcer Todd Jamison.

Portland catchers have thrown out just 27.3 percent (34 of 127) of would-be basestealers, which ranked them 10th out of 12 in the Eastern League.

Kelly Shoppach was at a respectable 33.8 percent (23 of 68).

Back-up John Nathans had nabbed just 10.7 percent (3 of 28) of the runners while the recently activated Brian Loyd was 0 of 5.

Around the minor leagues

Former Sea Dog third baseman Heath Honeycutt has been released by the Cincinnati Reds. Honeycutt was hitting .259 at Single-A Potomac. He hit .221 over three seasons in Portland….Another former Sea Dog, pitcher Vic Darensbourg, was cut loose by the Colorado Rockies. Darensbourg, an original Sea Dog, was 2-2 with a 3.57 ERA at Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Bill Foley is assistant sports editor who can be reached by e-mail at bfoley@sunjournal.com

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