Who is the Answer For the Giants?

Six weeks into the Giants' season it was thought that one bat wouldn't make a enough of a difference in a playoff push, and I agreed. The last thing smart Giants fans wanted was for the Giants to trade any of their considerable minor league talent for a bat that wouldn't get them into the playoffs anyway. 

As we approach the All-Star break, I am singing a different tune. Despite "the contract that shall not be named," they have some financial wiggle room to add a big bat.

There are a few realistic candidates (Jermaine Dye, Nick Johnson), but none better than Victor Martinez.

He is still relatively young (30), and his team has just about put a 42-cent stamp on 2009. Also he is not a band aid (see: Dye, Jermaine). He isn't a free agent until 2011 and will only make $7 million in 2010 leaving plenty of opportunity to sign him to a long-term deal. Furthermore, he's from the same country as emerging star Pablo "Kung-Fu Panda" Sandoval (not Pablo Sanchez, ESPN...).

Add all that to the fact that we have the minor league pieces that The Tribe might be looking for (RHP Tim Alderson and 1B Jesus Guzman or 1B Angel Villalona?). 

The Future

Here is the projected lineup for 2012 for Los Gigantes (according to BaseballAmerica):

Catcher	Buster Posey
First Base	Angel Villalona
Second Base	Nick Noonan
Third Base	Conor Gillaspie
Shortstop	Ehire Adrianza
Left Field	Fred Lewis
Center Field	Aaron Rowand
Right Field	Nate Schierholtz
No. 1 Starter	CyBiscuit
No. 2 Starter	Madison Bumgarner
No. 3 Starter	Matt Cain
No. 4 Starter	Tim Alderson
No. 5 Starter	Barry Zito
Closer	Brian Wilson

We know a couple of things. First, Fred Lewis is close to getting put on waivers, because he is stinking up the joint and is out of options. Second, Conor Gillaspie will have to find another job because the Panda is here to stay. Other than that, we have some room to maneuver, and a very realistic shot at the playoffs this year. 

How does this look:

Catcher	Buster Posey
First Base	Victor Martinez / Adrian Gonzalez
Second Base	Nick Noonan
Third Base	Kung-Fu
Shortstop	Ehire Adrianza
Left Field	John Bowker
Center Field	Andres Torres
Right Field	Nate Schierholtz
No. 1 Starter	The Freak
No. 2 Starter	Mad Bum
No. 3 Starter	Matt Cain
No. 4 Starter	Barry Zito
No. 5 Starter	Who Cares...?
Closer	Sergio Romo / Jonathan Sanchez

That is a World Series lineup....

I also think we need to act before this team starts slumping. We are hot right now and if we bring in a stud like Martinez, it will only serve to further energize this club. We need to take advantage of the fact that we have the best pitcher on earth, performing at his best.