With the Giants stumbling ever downward towards the midpoint of the season, we decided to check in with El Lefty Malo and McCovey Chronicles to get their opinion on a season that is rapidly approaching the point where "are you ready for some football?" will be the motto of the second half of the season.

Before we start, we should mention that this was conducted days ago, before the recent stretch of suckiness that put the Giants way behind the 8-Ball, the 8-ball being the Rockies.

SFist: Okay, question #1- is this season so far about what you expected, worse than what you expected, or better?

McCovey Chronicles: About what (was) expected. The offense had a lot of question marks, and only a few of those became exclamation points. Ryan Klesko, Bengie Molina, and Randy Winn have been fantastic, but that's where the good news ends.

El Lefty Malo: I'd say we're right on target. We knew it would be a pretty darn good rotation and a pretty darn weak offense and a mystery bullpen. The biggest surprise for me is Molina, who should be nicknamed the Spanish Inquisition. You know, because no one expected what he's doing.

The Giants lead the majors in quality starts (starts with at least six innings pitched and three or fewer runs allowed), and yet they're still hovering around the .500 mark. That's just gross. Quality starts aren't a perfect stat, but they at least give you an indication that your starting staff is giving you a chance to win.

If the Giants had the Red Sox' offense and the Padres' bullpen, they'd be 245-3 right now. Those extra wins would be implied wins, which is a new stat that I've been working on for a while. And by "a while", I mean "while drunk."

SFist: Love calling Molina "the Spanish Inquisition" btw Between that and calling Linceum "the Enchanter," at least you can say the Giants are rather Monty Python-like this season. Maybe there'll be a fish slap between Barry and Bochy when Barry once again refuses to play into a game. Or maybe you could call Feliz "the Minister of Not Walking."

Next question-- will this season be more of the same, better or will it just go downhill from here?

El Lefty Malo: Or the Minister of Silly Swings.

I'll answer this a different way. The whole notion of contention has been a marketing gimmick for the Giants. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports interviewed Magowan at this week's draft, and Magowan refused to use the "R" word -- rebuild. But that's what's happening. The Giants are rebuilding, but they can't come right out and say it for fear of turning off the fickle fan base and watching attendance plummet, Jacobs Field-like, from 3 M to 1.5 M a year. That's what happened when the Indians came out and said, "Bear with us for a few years while we rebuild."

So instead of a fire sale, the Giants have decided to rebuild one component at a time. This year it's the pitching. The rotation's already sorted out. The bullpen's in flux, but it's a good thing: all these young guys showing what they can do under pressure.

Next year it's time to start fixing the offense.

McCovey Chronicles: I'm hoping for "better"; I really am. But who are they going to have at third? Short? Is Durham just not going to hit again? Are they still going to have a center field bat in right? Catcher and first base have been pleasant surprises, but are Klesko and Molina really going to hit this well for the rest of '07, much less '08? And, of course, Bonds? Still good? Still old? Still here?

There isn't one reason to be optimistic for a good offense in 2008. Unless the Giants sign A-Rod -- who wouldn't exactly be a panacea -- every position is just going to be the same or worse. There aren't going to be enough free agents with which to build an offense.

There aren't many chances for an average offense next season. One scenario would be to trade some veterans at the deadline for a Hanley Ramirez ready-to-go kind of prospect or three. Another involves Nate Schierholtz and othersr taking the Matt Holliday pill of instant big league productivity. Possible? Always. It's baseball. Likely? Phppppt.