Jul. 18--Beginning the post-Barry Bonds Era in such Bad News Bears fashion, you half expected to see a Chico's Bail Bonds sponsorship logo emblazoned on the back of the their jerseys, as the Giants stumbled out of the gate by losing six of their first seven games.
Then San Francisco bumbled into the All-Star break by dropping six of seven. At least the Giants are consistent, and at least they're in the putrid National League West.
Sitting 15 games under .500 at 40-55, the third-place Giants are a mere seven games behind the pace-setting Arizona Diamondbacks and, in a season which many observers thought a 100-loss season was a possibility, the Giants believe they have a legitimate shot at winning the division.
Because despite $126-million man Barry Zito's trials and tribulations, as well as his 4-12 record and 5.62 ERA, starting pitching has been the foundation for the Giants and has to remain the constant going forward. The Giants lead the N.L. in strikeouts (741) as Tim Lincecum (a league-high 135), Matt Cain (121) and left-hander Jonathan Sanchez (115) are the first trio of Giants to hit the century mark before the All-Star break since the franchise moved west from New York in 1958.
In the N.L., the Giants have also allowed the fourth-fewest homers (86) and are 10th in ERA (4.29). Their fielding percentage (.985) ranks fifth. All-Star closer Brian Wilson has a league-best 25 saves, in 27 opportunities.
Enough to lay claim to the West? Stranger things have happened, right?
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