Giant Steps...to Oblivion?

Dr. X posts this from the bleachers in Candlestick Park:

"The SF Giants this year represent a bold attempt to build a winning team in a way that few have dared tried before. Unlike the A's, the Giants have no ability to identify or develop superior young players, so they have relied on astute free agent signings to keep their decrepit team in contention.

"Over the winter they rolled the dice again, and picked up pitcher Barry Zito, for a cool $126 mm. Zito's a good pitcher - I was at the park and saw him carry a no-hitter into the late innings one time against Seattle, and was awed by his breaking stuff. And he's durable - never misses a start.

"Too bad he loses all the time. So far, the $126 mm is getting the Giants 0-2 with an 8.2 ERA. Watching Zito go down 5-1 against the Padres, one scout said 'it's over.' 'Yeah, that's a tough deficit,' came the reply. 'No, I mean the season.'

"Here is the Giants' opening day lineup, annotated with their best year for offensive performance (measured by OPS):

"Roberts, cf - 2001
"Vizquel, ss - 1999
"Bonds, lf - 2004
"Durham, 2b - 2006
"Aurilia, 1b - 2001
"Molina, c - 2006
"Feliz, 3b - 2003
"Winn, rf - 2002

"So, apart from your second baseman, catcher, and 43 year-old left fielder, every player on the team is three or more years off his peak. Well, you say, they're wily veterans, they know how to get on base and score runs. Well, maybe, but the Giants are last in the major leagues in runs scored per game so far this year, and second-to-last in team OPS.

"We're just seven games in, and it's a long year, and all that. But stick a fork in 'em. The Giants are done."