SAN FRANCISCO -- Dave Roberts hasn't played since April 7 and
won't be ready to resume playing until July at the earliest. But
he's still striving to help the team.  Roberts, who's recovering
from left knee surgery, has drawn upon his veteran's wisdom to
help the Giants' younger players. Sometimes he'll provide
lessons that are meant to offer long-term help, such as when he
sat down infielders Emmanuel Burriss and Eugenio Velez in mid-
May and reminded them of the importance of anticipating certain
game situations. Frequently he'll offer advice about a
particular pitcher, as he did Sunday, when he gave Brian Horwitz
a quick synopsis of San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman.  "Dave came
up to me and told me he works away, away, away," said Horwitz,
who concluded his first Major League start in fine fashion by
singling off Hoffman to help fuel San Francisco's game-winning
three-run rally in the ninth inning.  Roberts, 36, is only too
happy to share what he can.  "It's a tough game," he said
Monday. "If I can give some