Flawed Fundamentals

Top of the 7th vs. San Diego
D. Cruz ------ struck out swinging (3 pitches)
D. Mohr ----- struck out swinging (6 pitches)
N. Perez ----- struck out swinging (3 pitches)

There's work to be done by the bay -- beginning, perhaps, with a change in expectations. Calls of a new closer coming to town should be forgotten. It is time to close the door on the 2004 campaign.

The creases that need ironing in San Francisco are beyond the fabled mustering of Brian Sabean. On the back of their success against the worst teams in the majors, the ballclub has limped into contention. Against Colorado, Arinzona and Montreal, the Giants are 8-5, 9-4 and 2-0 respectively. The Giants' overall record of 56-48 is not only third in their division, but sixth in the league. Minus Jason Schmidt's starts, the team is 43-41. Even in Schmidt's starts there has been room for three bullpen-blown gems -- one each in May, June and July.

Inconsistency, no doubt, will be the Giants' epitaph this season. Tosh. They have played as well as the experts (including you) predicted. From the April outset, they have made mistakes in characteristic fashion. In 104 games, they have committed 64 errors, ninth best in the National League. The teams with tighter defense -- Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Minnesota and Oakland -- tend to end up playing baseball in October.

Meanwhile, the Giants have hit into 102 double-plays. The league average is 80. They have stolen 29 bases. The league average is 50. And despite leading the National League in on-base percentage (.352) they have scored only the third most runs. 561 strikeouts might be the second fewest in the National League, but the Giants need to learn that it takes more than putting the ball in play to score runs. With a lack of selectivity at the plate, and flexibility on the basepaths, this offense will continue to sputter. The addition of a left-handed bat might do enough to convince us that the post-season is still a possibility. It's remote, but it has been done.