Then again, isn't that expected of someone who was Microsoft's lead attorney for nearly 25 years?

While his predecessor, Peter Magowan, sometimes spoke more like a fan than an owner - remember when he said the Giants were good enough to win the World Series, which might have been the kiss of death for Dusty Baker? - Neukom is more calculated.

Even when asked if he likes beating the Dodgers.

That was Wednesday night's story down at Third and King, a 9-4 Giants' victory in which Tim Lincecum overpowered the division leaders for seven innings and Edgar Renteria, one of the most second-guessed free-agent signings of the winter, got four hits.

"I love to win games against the Dodgers," Neukom said. "I respect what they do, and they do it well, but I want us to be better."

Neukom didn't bite on a vote-of-confidence question, which every owner is asked when times are tough. Not that a .500 record suggests these are tough times. But too often this season, the Giants have been inefficient at the plate, on the bases and in the field.

So the question was posed before Wednesday's game: Are manager Bruce Bochy and general manager Brian Sabean, both in the final years of their contracts, safe through the end of the season?

"I just don't think there's a story here," Neukom began. "The first week I was here, I said we've got a lot of work to do. We want to play winning Baseball. Let's concentrate on that. Plenty of time to evaluate at the end of the season. Unless something wild and crazy happens, we want to find a way to play winning Baseball and play the season out."

Whoa. Wild and crazy?

Neukom didn't elaborate. But, apparently, that could mean if the Giants go in the tank. Or if Bochy loses the faith of his players. Or if someone swipes Neukom's bow-tie collection. He wasn't wearing one Wednesday.

Otherwise, he implied, Bochy and Sabean are here through September.

"The story is Baseball," Neukom said. "We've got a team out there trying to get back to .500 and beyond .500 and be a contender in this division. We're hard at work. There's no multitasking here."

Neukom said he sees an upside to an offense ranked last in the National League in runs, home runs and OPS on-base percentage plus slugging percentage, which in many ways is being masked by a pitching staff with the majors' best ERA since April 17.

"It's been a very small sample," said Neukom, noting the Giants are 20 games into their schedule. "I think this lineup has the potential to score more runs. Whether they do, we'll have to wait and see."

Asked who impressed him, Neukom gave a laundry list but added, "We'll keep watching all aspects of the game. I think we can do a better job of hitting, a better job of catching. The starting pitching has been very good. To be competitive at this level, you've got to do all parts of the game right."

Neukom said at the winter meetings he had no intention to "make a splash" by signing a marquee free agent such as CC Sabathia or Manny Ramirez, preferring to let younger players develop, though he admitted Wednesday, "There could've been a situation where one or both those guys could've been accessible to us. It didn't come out that way. The counterpoint is, I think the best ticket in minor-league Baseball this month is about 45 miles from here in San Jose."

That would be your Class A Giants - Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey, Angel Villalona and the gang - the Bay Area's most successful pro outfit now that the Sharks are done.

"They're loaded," said Neukom, referring to his team in San Jose but maybe wishing someday he could say it about his team in San Francisco.