For the stretch run, I would call-up MadBum and start him every 5th day, dropping JoeMart. I would also drive the Panda straight to an Overeaters Anonymous meeting.

I would not trade any of the pitching. I like them. The offense could use some help, but I think they will be fine with the great SP and pen we have.

Longer-term, I keep drafting the same way. I would sign a big bat (outfielder) as a free agent next year. I need a big lefty to send baseballs into the Bay. I want that excitement back we had when Barry came to the plate.

Initially I would check into the status of Cliff Lee. Would be willing to package a deal around Jonathan Sanchez and prospects. The Giants could possibly receive compensation picks after offering Lee arbitration in the winter. Next season Madison Bumgarner should be ready to take a place in the rotation.

From the offensive side Pablo Sandoval is key. The organization must get Sandoval back in form with his hitting and slugging. A revived Sandoval changes the entire lineup. I like the addition of Pat Burrell to the lineup.

The team lacks team speed so as long as Andres Torres is contributing he remains at the top of the lineup.

There is little if any help at the high minors:
Madison Bumgarner is only 20 yrs old, first season in 5-man rotation and still developing so I would not rush.
John Bowker is currently blocked by another LHH Nate Schierholtz. I would do my best to not trade Bowker.
Manny Burriss can play middle infield and could help with his speed.

AA Richmond squad has no one who can help the Giants at this time.

Possible trade target:
David DeJesus
Jose Guillen

Wonder if there’s a market for Bengie Molina- if you can pull a decent hitter back for him on a bad/mediocre contract swap and move Posey permanently to catcher…

Otherwise, I’d probably go for a corner OF bat and a middle infielder. Maybe call the O’s and inquire on Ty Wigginton (he can’t be that much, can he?).

1st move I make is I fire Bruce Bochy.

2nd move is I try to trade Bengie Molina, but if there are no takers I DFA him and make Buster Posey the everyday catcher.

I move Aubrey Huff back to 1st and recall John Bowker and make him the starting LF-or possibly platoon him with Burrell.

Then I try and look for another OF-maybe David DeJesus or Luke Scott

I would also try and fine a solid #5 starter and another reliever to sure up the bullpen-Maybe try and get Zach Duke and Octavio Dotel from the Pirates.

I’d start using the old-school cursive logo at the top of this post more. And dump Molina into McCovey Cove.

I’d first admit to myself that the Giants don’t have a chance to win the World Series this year without adding at least 4 pieces to the team (2 quality relievers, 1 quality starting pitcher, and 1 quality power-hitting corner OF/IF bat), and getting rid of as many as 3 veterans, all at the cost of mortgaging our future. And then I’d admit to myself that the odds of getting the right 4 pieces would be astronomical, even after mortgaging our future - everything would have to fall magically into place. Sure, I could make some ill-advised trades now and we’d probably make the playoffs this year, and maybe even advance into the 2nd round. But, the cost would be prohibitive and even then there would be no great guarantee of success. Therefore, I would not do anything desperate in the short-term, and I would concentrate on building a team that can win it all in the near future (1-3 years).

Here’s some of the specific steps that I would take:

1. Have a meeting with manager Bruce Bochy and explain to him the conclusions that I came to, as explained above, and lay out my plan to him. Tell him that Aaron Rowand is now the #5 outfield option, Buster Posey will catch at least 4 games a week and start at 1B when he’s not catching, Bengie Molina will catch no more than 2 games a week, and Edgar Renteria is the #2 SS. If he has a problem with that, then I fire Bochy and hand the job to Fresno Grizzlies manager Steve Decker.

2. Try like mad to trade Molina starting right now. If I have no takers by the middle of August, then I DFA him. Also, I try to trade Aaron Rowand beginning now and continue trying until his contract expires at the end of the 2012 season. I offer to pay up to 80% of his remaining salary this year, and up to $9M of his $12M salary for each of the 2011 and 2012 seasons, if the return is at least a B-level prospect; or up to 50% of his remaining 2010 salary, and up to $6M in each of 2011 and 2012, if I get back a bag of balls.

3. Demote Dan Runzler to AAA Fresno (he still has optons left) with the instructions that he will pitch often, and get in as many innings as necessary to get his confidence and groove back.

4. Name Andres Torres as the starting CF, and Nate Schierholtz as the starting RF, with the understanding that they get the rest of the season to prove they should be starters. No more jerking them in and out of the lineup based on 3 hot, or 2 cold games.

5. Name Aubrey Huff the starting 1B, Juan Uribe the starting SS, and Pat Burrell the starting LF (but keep Burrell on a short leash). When Posey plays 1B, then Huff will start in LF.

6. Look for bargains in the trade market over the next 2+ months. Be ready, adaptable, and creative. If I get a chance at a blockbuster deal for a power 1B/3B/OF bat with a contract that we can control for at least through the end of 2012, then I pull the trigger. But no short-term rentals (anybody that’s a FA before 2012), unless I can pick them up for not much salary and a few minor prospects. Especially target guys that can perform as middle relievers and set-up men, and utility guys that have a power bat, because these types can often be had for very little in return at this time of year (remember how the BoSox were able to pick up Billy Wagner last year for next to nothing, and then got the #20 pick in the draft for him this year). Realize that going after guys like DeJesus or Guillen or Wigginton is a sucker’s bet at this time of the season. I’d be dealing from a position of weakness, while the other team is dealing from strength. Not to mention that these guys are performing at the top of their likely future performance level and will almost assuredly fall back to earth in the near future.

7. Sign Ian Snell to a minor league contract and have him try to work out his problems while pitching for AAA Fresno.

8. Promote Brandon Belt and Eric Surkamp to AA Richmond (EL), Carlos Willoughby to Augusta (low-A SAL), and Jose Casilla and Jorge Bucardo to A+ San Jose (Cal League). Demote Tommy Joseph from Augusta to Salem-Keizer (ss-A, NWL).

9. In the off-season I fire Bochy (if I didn’t already do this) and give the manager job to Steve Decker.

10. In the off-season I make no big-money, long-term FA signings. I do try to sign 1-year deals (possibly as long as 2 if the price is right and it’s a young enough player) with 4 to 6 players that are having trouble getting offers, or who really want to play for us. Nothing over $5M and noody over the age of 33 (except in very special cases). Once again, I would target relief pitchers, utility men, and power corner IF/OF bats.

11. In the off-season I continue to try for a blockbuster deal for a significant corner IF/OF bat, where I’d be willing to give up J. Sanchez + a 25-man roster guy + prospects, or just prospects + a 25-man roster guy. Although, once again, this would have to be a guy that we could control at least through the end of the 2012 season.

Try and trade for a good young SS, who may be available (ie Stephen Drew, Yunel Escobar). With the SS’s available in FA next year, and our prospects another SS would definitely be critical.

Improving the team for the stretch run would entail two moves: 1) Trade for Kevin Millwood. 2) Have Edgar Renteria break in a first baseman’s glove for utility purposes.

Promotions through the minors: 1) Move Thomas Neal up to AAA. 2) Fast track Chris Gloor. 3) Encourage Charlie Culberson to keep doing what he’s doing and not worry about the strikeouts.

Scouting: Invest in international scouting. That’s the ticket for a competitive team to bring in top-tier talent. Ideally, you want to be drafting as late on the draftboard as possible, at which point it makes sense to up the international budget.

Free agents: at this point, the only certain moves I can foresee are resigning Aubrey Huff and pursuing Jayson Werth.

mmmm, San Fran Bay Chinese food.

Trade for another starter? Why give up anything for a guy that probably won’t start in the playoffs if they do make it? They have four playoff type starters already.

See how MadBum does today and keep him as the five guy and if he fares well, keep him as a lefty in the pen down the stretch.

Any bat I target has to be a plus defender too, maybe a de jesus… No Luke scotts or another Burrel, I’m gonna maximize my pitching with plus D. There are already enough poor defenders in frisco that more cannot be added into the mix.

I fire Bruce Bochy and hire Steve Decker. I find a home for Aaron Rowand and Edgar Renteria for A or lower prospects. I move Molina to Boston along with whoever else they want for Daniel Bard. Acquire Evan Meek for a Kevin Pucetas/Joe Martinez/Eric Hacker and Eugenio Velez/Manny Burriss combo. Bowker, Torres, Schierholtz is the OF, Pablo, Uribe, Franchez, and Huff the IF, Posey the everyday C, the rotation stays the same, Wellemeyer is the long man, Meek and Bard move in, Bautista, Runzler, and Casilla are out.