truebluefan

Matt Cain couldn't have thrown a better pitch. It arrived high and tight, around 93 mph, right on the inside edge of the strike zone. Most hitters are stymied by that challenge, but Garrett Atkins is no ordinary player. Colorado's young third baseman hit a rocket into the left-field bleachers Sunday, a stunning combination of quickness and strength.

Just as the Dodgers and Diamondbacks are stocking up on prospects, Atkins gave the Giants a stark look at what they don't have for the future. The more this season cascades into mediocrity, the more obvious it becomes that the Giants' build-around-veterans game plan has reached a dead-end street.

There's a way of looking at the Giants' future without sinking into deep depression. It's all about change, a windfall of available funds and a dramatic shift in draft philosophy. If the Giants play their cards right, they can add star quality to the mix. It's not unreasonable to start thinking about Alfonso Soriano and Andruw Jones, or the man known as Ichiro in a year's time. You get the feeling that Peter Magowan and Larry Baer have no intention of "rebuilding" -- translated, a painfully young and vulnerable team -- and with the proper strategy, they can remain competitive in a most appealing way.

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