Sabean has been operating like this for 10 years. The entire cast that brought you 2005-2007 is back for 2008: Sabean; Tidrow; Hyatt; Bochy; Lefebvre; heck, Durham, Roberts, and Aurilia will almost surely be back, even though they are expensive and useless. The farm system is so barren that Vizquel and Feliz, who were among the worst regulars in baseball this year, are likely to be re-signed.

The Giants’ operation circa September 2007 reminds me of the Bush administration following the November 2006 elections. Confronted with a repudiation of his policy, Bush announced that he had “received the message loud and clear” from the electorate — but then he continued to do exactly what he had been doing, while everyone stood by helplessly. That is pretty much what I expect from the Giants in 2008. Perhaps they will switch from relying on old mediocrities to playing some of the young and middle-aged mediocrities, but that is the best we can hope for.

It ain’t my money. If Sabes, McGowan, and everyone can gedt it done. Grab A-Rod. Don’t pretend for an instant that we would be dramatically better with him on board. Don’t pretend for an instant that we’d all be pretty excited to see A-Rod in a Giants uniform.

Also, personally, don’t think for an instant that A-Rod will leave New York. Sad, but true.

But after having my heart broken in ’87 and ’89, enduring the 103-win second place finish in ’93, being shocked and frustrated by the quick playoff ousters of ’97, ’00 and ’03 and of course surviving the ultimate horrow — Game Six in ’02 — all I care about is seeing the Giants win a World Series. Seeing them be competitive for a playoff spot isn’t enough. Sure, it would be an improvement over the last three years, but to me the job of any owner and GM in any professional sport must always be to ask themselves whether what they are doing is contributing to the goal of winning a championship.

Given the last six years of Giants history and the track record of how Sabean and Magowan have chosen to build their single-superstar teams, I don’t believe signing A Rod to a $30 million-plus contract would move the Giants measurably closer to that goal.

Again, I’m not predicting that he’s coming. But, I don’t understand those who think that he shouldn’t come. The Giants have the money to spend on him. The matter is IF they’re willing to pull the trigger. I think that Zito gives us an indication that they ARE willing to pull the trigger.

The risk is that in two years, the team will be back to the single-superstar and 8 supporting players, which could easily lead right back to an imbalance like this year (although it doesn’t always not work).

I think A-Rod is worth it. His presence would raise the probability of other players fulfilling their upside potential, which would make their contracts appear much more reasonable and open the door for a playoff appearance.

If one took an approach of starting with rebuilding the farm system, then making strategic free agent signings to supplement the (theoretically positive) results of that effort as they reached the bigs, how long do people think it would take the Giants to be back in contention?