HUH? WHERE AM I? YOU MEAN, THE GIANTS STINK HERE, TOO?

Andrew note: I invited Daniel of Orange & Black Baseball infamy to contribute to Small Ball during the Cubs/Giants series...and beyond. I won't stand between you and his post, below, but to say, enjoy. Thanks, Daniel.

When opportunity knocks, one ought to make sure one can answer -- having your pants around your ankles whilst sitting daintily on the commode isn't the best position to be in.

For me, fortunately, I was only doing a #1, so I was able to shake n' jerk and answer the damned door when Andrew was kind (and foolish) enough to inquire as to my willingness to do a guest spot.

For the Giants, unfortunately, are doing a #2. And quite honestly, they've been doing that the entire season, and...lo and behold!...the very device upon which they are sitting is exactly where their season is going. (just remember to flush, guys)

Opporunity is/was knocking in the form of the...crappy...NL West and the teams within, all striving for the heights of mediocrity -- that is, if they can manage that annoying requirement of not being outscored by their opposition, that is.

Contrary to what the Giants front office may believe, the San Diego Padres will manage to win a game or two before it's all said and done. Or, worse yet, the other two teams in front of the Giants, the Diamondbacks and Dodgers, might go on a hot streak and start to win half of their games. If the Giants are truly to make a run in this division, they'd be making a run in this division. Right now.

Actually, two weeks ago.

You can sense the desperation, sure. Picking up Alex Sanchez. Letting Lance Niekro have more at-bats vs. right-handers. Using four relievers in one inning...wait, Father Alou always does stuff like that...moving on...finally putting Kirk Rueter into the bullpen. But F. Alou's hands really are tied -- he'd like to run, but with the two left feet Brain Sabean has given him (and no, his first name is not misspelled), it's next to impossible. He has to just keep hoping that if he keeps putting different dancers out on the floor, one of them will learn to waltz, even though the only dance they've ever done is the Texas Two-Step.

The writing is on the wall. This team must...yes, must gain at least four games on the Padres before months' end. Why, you ask? I would answer, but I'd rather point out the Giants schedule in August. Astros. Braves. Marlins. Phillies. Mets. Cardinals. These teams are either damned good (Cardinals), on a serious streak (Astros), solid already and getting players healthy (Braves), or around a different kind of .500 than the NL West. A .500 record in the NL East is courtesy of them beating each other up, rather than everyone else beating up on them, as is the case with the West.

You don't want to be more than 3 games back of the division leader with that arsenal of a schedule looking at you over the next 30 days.