Is This Really Happening, Again???

This is getting really hard to watch.  What is going on with the San Francisco Giants?  Five game losing streak?  Cody Ross batting leadoff?  The abyss that is Aubrey Huff still starting at first base?  And a first place lead that seemed to be safe in mid July now hangs in the balance in the NL West.  On paper, the Giants are the more talented team than the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have managed to close the first place gap the Giants once maintained to a mere one game lead (after tonight, that lead is no more, as the Giants just lost to the Diamondbacks 6-1, now tied for first place).  The fact that I am evening typing out this blog post on my laptop, instead of picking up the pierces of it after threwing it against the wall is a miracle onto itself.  The Giants, after making major changes to their team at the trade deadline with the acquisitions of Carlos Beltran, Jeff Keppinger, and Orlando Cabrera, still need to make major changes, and I have four of them.  (For credit purposes, the numbers used belows are provided by ESPN and their splits figures.)

First Change - Decrease Aubrey Huff At-Bats.
I understand he was a big part of last season's magical run, but he has provided the Giants with nothing this season and is now becoming a detriment to the team.  He is batting .240 for the season, with 10 Hrs, and 49 RBIs.  He has a 2-1 strikeout to walk ratio, with 67 strikeouts and only 32 walks on the season so far.  Last season, Huff had a 1-1 strikeout to walk ratio, with 91 strikeouts and 83 walks.  He is not taking pitches either, as only 46 of his 387 at-bats so far have come with 3-1 or 3-2 counts, 11%.  Plus, you have a capable first baseman in Brandon Belt on the bench.  Yes, he is 23.  Yes, this is his first season in the majors.  Yes, his batting average is only .218.  But he will give you better at-bats than Huff will right now.  Of Belt's 77 at-bats this season so far, 16 of those came with 3-1 or 3-2 counts, 20%.  He is a plus defender as well.  Benching Aubrey Huff may be a little extreme and gives off a bad impression, but the Giants should seriously look into giving some at-bats to Brandon Belt.  Where is a red thong when you need one?

Second Change - Move Nate Schierholtz Back to Right Field.
Some people just aren't to accepting of change.  Case in point, Nate Schierholtz.  In the past 7 days, coincidentally about the same time the Giants traded for Carlos Beltran and gave him right field and moved Schierholtz to left, Nate has been hitting .154 with 7 strikeouts and 1 walk in 26 at-bats.  While I'm sure Nate doesn't mind playing left field and is happy just getting at-bats, ball players are creatures of habits and routines.  Nate was accustomed to showing up to the ballpark and expecting to play his position, right field.  Now he has to relinquish it to the high-priced rental?  Let's get Nate back in his rhythm and move Beltran to left.  Beltran is perfectly capable of playing a much easier left field at AT&T Park.  Nate knows those walls in right too well to not play him there. 

Third Change - Barry Zito Never Starts Another Game This Season.
I know, how obvious is this change.  Well, not very according to Giants Manager Bruce Bochy, as he kept running Zito out to the hill every 5th day, and we had to watch him get lite up for a combined 19 earned runs his past three starts.  His fastball is back at a beach ball speed of 83 MPH, and he is leaving all of his pitches up in the strikezone.  Pre All-Star break, he was throwing the fastball at 85-87 MPH and down in the zone, giving him a 3-1 win/lost record and a 3.18 ERA.  But post All-Star break, Zito is 0-3 with a 10.91 ERA.  The Giants finally put Zito on the DL earlier this week with a "right foot sprained" also known as "suckiness" and put him out of his misery.  It is clear, now that Jonathan Sanchez is fully healthy from his arm injury, Zito is going to be apartment hunting in scenic Fresno. 

Fourth Change - Get Andres Torres Back In The Line-Up.
I am of the baseball mindset that a good leadoff hitter with speed is just as valuable as a run-producing power hitter.  By no means is Andres Torres a good leadoff hitter this season, but the fact that he is our only true leadoff hitter on the roster, makes it even more necessary to start him.  Duane Kiper said in an interview with Murph and Mac the other morning, "the Giants will only go as far as Andres Torres will take them."  That couldn't be a more true statement.  Andres needs to be batting leadoff and playing his above-average defense in center field.  And when he gets on base, he needs to be running as well.  He only has 12 stolen bases this season so far.  They need him getting on-base and getting into scoring position.  I understand trying to find at-bats for Cody Ross, but it shouldn't be in center field.  If you wanted to replace Torres in center field, you should have traded for B.J. Upton.  Wait, you would have suggested that (two thumbs pointing at this blogger)?

I know it's only August 2nd and their is still a lot of baseball left, so their is no need to pull the rip cord and eject, but this is getting ridiculous.  In the last 7 games, they have lost 5 in a row, have scored a combined 15 runs total, and the team has a batting average of .191.  So much for those trade deadline deals providing that offense spark they were suppose too.  I know it wouldn't be Giants baseball without a little torture, but is this really happening, again?

Mr. Armchair Speaking