Sabean FTL: Nationals 6, Giants 3

I'm pinning today's Giants loss squarely on Brian Sabean. He's the one who gave away Shairon Martis, the rookie who's gone 5-0 to start the season while pitching for a team with only 11 wins, and who held the Giants to 2 hits to keep them from sweeping the Nats. It was 2006 when Sabean traded Martis, fresh off a no-hitter in the WBC that Spring, for crusty vet Mike Stanton in a foolish attempt to make a stretch run. The Giants were barely at .500 and were several pieces away from serious contention, but Sabean made a Sabeanic move by trading the future for a futile shot at the present.

Today, the rookie, pitching for the major-league minimum, beat one the highest paid starters in baseball, Barry Zito. And that's saying something these days. Again, Zito pitched well -- though his line is great because he tired in the 7th, and had some his runners score after he left -- but he wasn't as good as Martis. The Giants could get the sweep, but took the series to keep their streak alive, and prepare for a weekend series against the Mets -- including two nationally-televised games (FOX Saturday, ESPN Sunday).

TOMORROW: Jonathan Sanchez tries to find his groove as he takes on John Maine.