112 down. 50 to go.

Okay, everybody, time to take a step back from the cliff. It's one week, one road trip, six games, a very small sample size from which to deduce that the 2010 season has officially bit the big one. Please try to remember this is a marathon and not a sprint. Is it disturbing that the Giants' bats all tend to go cold at the same time? Yes. Is it frustrating that our pitching staff tends to wilt like a poppy in the heat and humidity of August's dog days? Yes. Is it discouraging that we had an opportunity to move into first place this weekend with a few more timely hits and yet fell flat? Yes. Don't I hate losing to the Braves as much as you do? Of course. But it was wrong for me to call the coroner in the first week of July, so I'm certainly not gonna join the doom-and-gloom brigade after one week in August. I don't know what causes the collective outbursts from our offense nor the requisite collective slumps. But is it too far fetched to think that, over time, a ballclub begins to function in a similar fashion to a group of women who see their menstrual cycles come into alignment while living under the same roof? It certainly puts a crimp on the whole winning ballgames thing when nobody can get a hit to save their life, but it is what it is, as they say, and I doubt we'll hear any bitching if everybody gets hot in September and October. As for the pitchers, there's not much you can do when you play your home games in the coldest winters ever experienced in the summertime and have to travel to places like Hot-lanta, Philadelphia, and St. Louis around the time of year when those cities turn into oversized saunas. A little wilting is to be expected, but still, the starters were not the problem in this series... Okay, so maybe "Dirty" Sanchez could have been better... No, the real problem is what it's always been: situational hitting. You cannot — CAN NOT — go 1-for-31 with RISP over a four game series and expect a split. Hell, you shouldn't even expect to win a single game with that stat hanging off your utility belt. But again, this is something that's plagued the Orange and Black for years, and while we all wanted the July explosion to stick around a little longer, we've just been reminded that this is a hit-and-miss offense. When they hit, they crush. When they miss, you may as well be watching Matlock if you're looking for excitement. And before you start ripping Sabean or Bochy for not making a deal for a hitter, look at the market. Ludwick was the steal of the show, and even that deal took a third team and almost didn't happen. There was no instant offense on the market. If there was, it would've been had by hook or by crook. I agree with the brass. The right move wasn't there. And instead of risking the future on a rental who may not work out (ahem, Sidney Ponson, Shea Hillenbrand, Ryan Garko), the brass decided to have confidence in the hit-and-miss offense and push on through with a team built around pitching and defense and just enough hitting — exactly their game plan coming into the past two seasons. It's worked out so far. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and see how this plays out on October 3rd.

BTW...

> Looks like Gerald "Buster" Posey had a little trouble getting it up in front of the hometown crowd. Let's hope his bat springs back to life at the Cove, or we're in for a long couple of months...

> What the hell is wrong with Freddy Sanchez? Dude needs to pick it up. He's the only guy whose bat didn't heat up in July, but at the time, his ineptitude was obscured by production from everywhere else in the lineup. Good thing is, the guy knows it, and he pushes himself out there. Good attitude to see from a millionaire every now and again...

> As if we needed a reminder of why Todd Wellemeyer is no longer in the starting rotation. Question: Whose bright idea was it for him to make his return to the bump on a road trip?...

> Only once this season has "Dirty" posted consecutive quality starts — back in April. Looks like he'll be platooning for Team Hopey Changey from here on out. And Big Time Timmy Jim may suffer the same fate if he can't figure out his mess...

> It should not be surprising to anyone who follows the team that our bats went cold against Tim Hudson or Derek Lowe, both dyed-in-the-wool Giants Killers. I'll leave the stat crunching to others who do that better. This blog is for the fan take, and that's my take. Pfft.