What Now?

As the Giants find new ways to lose and disappoint an increasingly despondent fan base, the games are becoming excruciating to watch, writes Henry Schulman. The G-Men are offering little resistance to one of the worst teams in baseball, and it finally seems that the distractions have caught up with Barry Bonds. Though desperate to come back to the club, catcher Mike Matheny is finding it difficult to watch the team. "I try to watch the games as much as I can. It wears me out emotionally as much as it does physically." Tell me about it, Mike. At least his replacement, Eliezer Alfonzo, decided to show up for the road trip.

While the present seems bleak, there is always the future. John Shea considers a Felipe Alou-less Giants.

The acquisition of sage reliever Mike Stanton would suggest that the Giants are still planning to challenge for the NL West crown. Are there any other deals out there for the Giants? As GM Brian Sabean mulls over his options, Kevin Baxter ponders the wisdom of the midseason shakeup. At least one man is not happy about the Stanton acquisition, which led to the demotion of lefty Jonathan Sanchez and his 1.37 ERA for more seasoning. Here's hoping that we do see Benito again, albeit not behind the plate in a Giants uniform.

If the Giants are going to make a play before tomorrow's trade deadline, don't count on a move for former San Francisco hurler, Salomon Torres. The ex-Giant ex-phenom wants no part of a deal that would send him back to the Bay. Clashes with Bonds in San Francisco created trying times for the young pitcher; apparently, he cried himself to sleep many nights. Well, Salomon, let's just say it's a two-way street. Torres famously ruined one of the greatest Giants seasons and pennant races of all-time on the last day of the 1993 season. It's safe to say that not all Giants fans are eager to relive the days of Salomon Torres.

Sell! Sell! Buy?

As pointed out by many, the Giants, in typical 2006 form, have dropped five straight after winning five in a row. While the short term future is virtually non-existent, GM Brian Sabean brought in left-handed reliever Mike Stanton (3-5, 4.47) in a trade with the Washington Nationals, fresh off a sweep of their trade partners. In exchange the Giants gave up 19-year-old right-hander Shairon Martis (6-4, 3.64) from Class A Augusta, not a highly touted prospect but he showed a flash of his potential in the World Baseball Classic.

The horrendous record against last place teams, combined with the feebleness of the geriatric roster has Andrew Baggarly calling for a yard sale, pointing to Jason Schmidt and Ray Durham as potentially attractive merchandise to playoff contenders. In the AAAA National League and weak NL West, however, the Giants remain in the race for October. But, as Bruce Jenkins illustrates, setting our eyes on the playoffs only masks the fact that the Giants are in the worst shape of any team out there.

Aside from the free-falling record and an inability to capitalize in any situation, Giants fans can take solace in the fact that another city outside the Bay Area still shows Barry some love.

Striking fear in the face of Mets fans is always a plus also.