Maybe after you watch the Mets,Cubbies,Brewers,Braves…and any other pretender that is out there on a regular basis…you will get a better appreciation for the Gigantes chances. After this weekend…only the Brewers on the above list will have scored more runs than the Gigantes…and Miller Park is a launching pad.

I would match Pablo against anyone…except Bonds. Even the Thrill.

Talk about extreme make-overs! The Dodgers have an incredible pen ERA of 3.20 vs 3.38, but the Dodger Pen has put in 289 innings compared to the Giants 234. Thats almost an additional 100 innings over the course of the season. Lots of wear and tear.

Lets keep our fingers crossed that nobody wants to help them out with a trade. Already Belisario one of their two featured relievers in late inning relief has just been placed on the 15 day DL after making appearances in almost half of the Dodgers’ games.

August could get very interesting. In a good way hopefully.

A more recent and a more reasonable comparison might be made with the 1988 Dodgers who couldn’t hit much but had a team ERA of 2.96.

The 2009 Giants team ERA is 3.51 right now. The last Giants team to have such a great pitching staff was the 1981 squad with Vida Blue and Doyle Alexander They didn’t make the playoffs because they Could. Not. Score. Runs. They were on a pace to score 623 runs if the strike hadn’t shortened the season.

The 2009 Giants are on a pace to score around 675 runs. Wild card contender? Eh, maybe. Will I hold my breath? No. Because the uneven performance of many of this team’s players does not inspire confidence.

The Giants don’t have one single everyday player that matches up to the level of a Will Clark, a Jeff Kent, a Robby Thompson, a Matt Williams, let alone a Bonds. The idea that this Giants squad might get to the World Series via the Wild Card makes me slightly indignant, but come October I doubt I’ll have to worry about that.

I need some bats added, and Freddy Sanchez ain’t enough. A ridiculous home/road split and .600 record against sub .500 teams mask a lot. The difference is a vastly better bullpen, a decent Zito, and Pablo, but you can’t be a serious contender with a .312 OBP and almost no power. This team reminds me of the 2003 Dodgers, 85-77, 2nd place with the best pitching in the league but a woeful offense.

The second best record in the league is worth something, of course. Based on last nights run production in their 9-3 face-slapping win over the Padres, and with 77 games left in the season, the Giants are now on a pace to score 1047 runs and go on a 74-3 tear to finish the season 60 games over .500 at 121-41.

Unfortunately, they will still end up a game behind the Dodgers.

Seriously though, you’re right. On a scale of 1 to 10, the Giants are about a 5.53. Definitely more better and funner than the Alou versions and Bochy 1.1 and 1.2. Sandoval, to my minds eye, is the most interesting player next to Manny Ramirez to watch. They both have so much fun playing the game. Ramirez is interesting in the same way Bonds was. A swirl of controversy accompanied by incredible ability, and a sense of the dramatic. Sandoval just attacks the game constantly and relentlessly. Just what one would expect of a bear

In spite of my constant state of grumpiness when it comes to most things Giants, watching Sandoval play, both in the field and at the plate (his little routines before he steps in have me rolling on the floor the way he uses his bat to beat the shit out of his spikes, his helmet, and the batters box) is like watching one of your kids grow up. I don’t think it is possible for anybody to have a better time playing baseball than Sandoval. Manny comes close, but still not as much as Sandoval.

I’ll drink to that.

Frandsen is snake bit. Never seen a guy who is struggling…hit so mnay line drives that are caught. Getting on Frandsen period…is not in good form….and I never believe in heckling at a funeral…unless it’s mine.

Bowker is up…let’s see what he can do. I would also bring Velez up…and release Lewis.

First leg of the sweep coming.

Pablo got robbed.

Getting on Frandsen at the yard would be bad form however. It would be like heckling pallbearers.

Anyway, here’s to Lincecum shoving it tonight.

Hang in there dude. It’s all good.

Don’t throw us all under the bus. I’ve been calling the wild card ours for almost two months. +mia like playing the Devils Advocate…which keeps OBM an interesting and thought provocaing site. It’s all in good fun. Like he says…he’s never happy unless he’s bitching about the orange and black. w/o +mia and his blogs…I would most likely not frequent this site as much. No offense John.

I think the Gigantes can make the playoffs with less than 700 runs…it’s just going to be that much harder…and with their pitching they could dominate a short series.

By the way…in a moment of sentimentalism…+mia got me to start watching the Gigantes again. For the most part…I’m glad he did…just tends eats up too much of my time….and drive me to increased alcohol consumption.

By the way…no more sheeshing.