Playoffs!?

As the great Jim Mora once said...Playoffs!?
Yes, this is way in advance seeing as how the season is only half way over, but it is half way done so this is relevant to a degree. After watching the SF Giants blow the lead in the 9th and then blow it again in the 13th with a chance to really put it away in the 12th I am reminded of last year when all they needed was one win for the NL West. Well, if they do lost the NL West this year due to one game, this game could be the one everyone looks back on as the one that should have been. Giants baseball is a one run lead in the 9th with two outs and Wilson throwing that third strike to get the save. Today, it was a HR he gave up to tie the game at 1-1. No matter, Giants baseball this year has also been coming back in extra innings to get that one run and the bullpen get's the win. Well, we had that, bottom of the 13th, two outs and bam! A three run homerun and it's 5-2 Cubs win. That is two games in a row the Giants bullpen has blown the save and lost. It is also the umpteenth game the OFFENSE had runners in scoring position (RISP) with less then two outs and couldn't get the runner home. The Giants maybe in first place but how long can the realistically keep this high wire act up? It worked once but can it really work again?
That is the question for this season isn't it? Yes they are in first place by 2 games and they have a better record than last year at the point (10 games over .500 this year, 2 games over .500 last year) but is it going to be enough. As we saw with last year, they needed one game to win and it took them game 162 to do it. So will today's loss that really shouldn't have been but was, cost them the division and playoffs this year? What moves need to be made for this team to finally start generating some offense? Do you trade a J. Sanchez for a bat? No, because you have no one who can take over his position (Zito is not the answer) Do you shell out big bucks for a one season rental? No, business wise it makes no sense to pay some guy 10 million for half a season to see him leave afterwards. Do you hope you can get another Pat Burrell or Cody Ross? Sure, there might be someone like that out there but personally I doubt it will happen again. So what is the answer?
The answer is right in their (yours, mine, ours) backyard, the rookies, minor league guys. Look, the trade market this year is not that great, it wasn't great last year either even though the Giants got lucky with Burrell and Ross. But for that to happen again is highly unlikely and you cannot bet a entire season on that. The Giants have young talented players in their farm system right now that could help this team. The number one guy is here already, Brandon Belt. Yes he's hurt but when he's healthy he should be put in as the starting LF and given a chance to play. He cannot do any worse then these guys are doing now. If anything, he has shown that he can take a walk or two a game and that is better then striking out (Burrell) or grounding out (Tejada). By August we should know who these Giants really area and who these players really are. And if players are not producing (offensively or defensively) there is no reason I can see to put them in day after day. If I had my way, this would be my lineup come August first:
CF Torres/Rowand, 2B Burriss, 1B Huff, 3B Sandoval, LF Belt, RF Schierholtz/Ross, SS Crawford, C Whiteside/Stewart, P
Yes, no Freddy because I honestly do not think he will be back this year (if at all) until the end of the season. I also do not think the Giants will find a catcher any better then what they have now unless they are willing to give up a pitcher or big money (which they wont). I do believe Ross and Nate would split time at RF depending on the match ups and who is hot. Rowand I do believe will get more time in CF if Torres keeps struggling like he is. Tejada needs to sit, offensively and defensively he is a big liability and I could see him traded or released by August. Pat will stay, he is still a threat off the bench (which they need at least for show) and a good leader. As for the pitchers go I see this:
Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez, Bumgarner, Vogelsong
Wilson, Romo, Affeldt, Lopez, Ramierez, Casilla, zito
Yes, Zito they are not going to let him go but he will not be the started unless Sanchez is so bad they put him in the bullpen and start Zito. Mota I believe is the one pitcher they would part with, but the others they would not.

So Playoffs!? I do not know, but the Giants for as messed up as they area at times, are probably the most stable team in the NL West. The Dodgers (Ha!) have no chance, too much drama (even for LA), the Padres are back to being the Padres, Arizona I don't believe can keep it up past August. Colorado will make a run but their pitching has become a problem and the Giants seem to own them. Yes, so did San Diego last year to the Giants but I don't see the Giants losing 10 in a row and collapsing like they did. The Giants for all their flaws/problems/etc are a resilient bunch and have a knack for coming through when they need to.
So Playoffs!? Yes, unless it comes down to one game then today's loss to the Cubs could be the one that got away (even though it shouldn't have)