On The Agony Of The Giants' Nakedly Marginless Path

"How long, o lord, how long?" -- a lament oft quoted by Dr. Hunter S. Thompson.

Had it. This San Francisco Giants fan has bloody well had it.

After last night's pitiable blown save against the toothless-but-for-Adrian-Gonzalez San Diego Padres, we have seen this pathetic pattern play out too many times before our eyes: another game bled away by lack of SFG run support.

Photo Credit: San Diego Padres' Scott Hairston, center, celebrates with teammates Kevin Kouzmanoff, right, and Everth Cabrera after his game winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Padres their sixth straight victory with a 3-2 win over the San Francisco Giants in their baseball game, Thursday, May 21, 2009 in San Diego. Image via AP.

Last night's result squandered a sterling quality start by the preternatural Tim Lincecum. It feels as though Giants fans must pray to win each game by a 2-1, 2-0, or 1-0 squeaker.

This is intolerable.

The blame for this miserable state of affairs does not fall with manager Bruce Bochy, who is doing the best he can.

The blame for this miserable state of affairs does not fall with the personnel on the team, who are doing the best that they can. Even underachieving 1B Travis Ishikawa, bless his heart, who has not showed any sign that he might possibly blossom into the next J.T. Snow, as the Giants might've hoped he would. And that underscores the glaring problem at hand:

The blame for this miserable state of affairs falls squarely upon the Giants' front office and ownership, who decided that after having built an enviable pitching staff that putting juuust enough players of whatever quality on the field was an adequate move.

It's not.

And anyone taking the most cursory glance at this squad can see this result playing out, game by agonizing marginless game.

Losing games this way kills the fans. You watch your franchise's potential wither and die right before your eyes. It's particularly disheartening.

Now, calling up IF prospect Jesus Guzman as the Giants did yesterday is not an answer. They need players who have already proven their worth. In fact, the Giants could have made a play for the monstrous left-handed slugger 1B/OF Adam Dunn before the season began, but deigned not too. Dunn himself was surprised, according to the Chronicle. And as of today he is tied for third-most home runs for the 2009 season, playing for the dead-last Washington Nationals.

The Giants must stop playing marginless baseball. The "braintrust" must make a move to upgrade the team's offensive firepower as this season drags its recurrent nightmare before the remaining SFG fans. How many more excruciating losses will it take?

How long, o lord? How long?

Photo Credit: San Francisco Giants starter Tim Lincecum winds up to throw a pitch to San Diego Padres' Brian Giles in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 21, 2009 in San Diego. Image via AP.