Are the Giants in for another 2011?

I'm often negative about the Giants, especially when they're in slumps like they are right now (lost six of seven games). I'll say things like "they're the worst team in the majors", being semi-sarcastic while also thinking to myself that even the Houston Astros could score 4 runs against Barry Zito (what an awful, awful start he had today) and probably also Tim Lincecum while shutting down the Giants' anemic offense and win a three-game series. It's not healthy, I know, but Giants baseball is torture, as Duane Kuiper reminds us.

So my negative thinking mixed with their recent struggles got me wondering if the Giants are heading down a path similar to the one they went down last year when they blew a division lead they had going into August and missed the playoffs.

I decided to make two categories: one that lists reasons why the Giants might meet a similar 2011-like fate and the other that lists why they might finish strong and make the playoffs. We'll end on the positive list so myself and anyone who reads this will leave with happy thoughts that will help make the Giants' inevitable collapse more bearable ... I'm sorry, I should really just watch this clip instead of Giants games from now on.

Negative Signs

• The Giants were 61-44 though 105 games last year. 56-49 through 105 games this season currently.
• They had a +18 run differential at that point last year. -3 right now. 
• The pitching staff has given up 58 more runs through 105 games this year than last year at the same point.
• The Diamondbacks were 4 games back with a +24 run differential through 105 games last year. Right now, they're 2 games back with a +44 differential. And that's with 2011 MVP candidate Justin Upton and 2011 Cy Young candidate Ian Kennedy having much worse years.
• Last year, only the D-backs were contending with the Giants for the division. This season both the D-backs and the Dodgers are within two games of the Giants, and the Dodgers aren't likely to go away after the trades they made.
• Lincecum had a 2.80 ERA through July last season. This year, he's been just a bit worse. 
• Brian Wilson was healthy last year. 
• Brandon Crawford wasn't the everyday shortstop last year. 

Positive Signs

• There's one more Wild Card spot than last year, and right now they're four games worse than second Wild Card leader Atlanta.
• They've scored 37 more runs at this point than through 105 games last year.
• Buster Posey was not healthy last year.
• Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, and Ryan Vogelsong have all had about the same performance at this point of the season as they did last year.
• Barry Zito, as inconsistent as he's been this year, has actually had a better season than last year (shows how bad he was last year). Last year he was oft-injured and had to move to the bullpen for a time because he was, well, below replacement level. It's a good thing he isn't costing the Giants too much money... (Sorry, I'm being negative again. I'll stop. Promise.)
• Lincecum can only improve from here (one would hope), which would make this already scary pitching staff even scarier.
• Other than Sandoval and Beltran, no one in last year's lineup struck fear in opposing pitchers. This year, even before Hunter Pence arrived, the 3-4-5 punch of Cabrera, Posey, and Sandoval was a middle of the order any team would be happy with. Adding Pence gives the Giants four above-average hitters, given they perform up their ability. A healthy Sandoval would also be nice.
• Scutaro was an underrated pickup, in my mind.
• A lineup of Pagan, Scutaro, Cabrera, Posey, Sandoval, Pence, Belt, and Theriot (my ideal lineup) looks very solid on paper.

There are countless more positives and negatives we could find, but I think those are substantial lists for now. How will the season turn out? Tune in to KNBR 680 to hear every Giants game during this exciting playoff race!*

*I'm interning with the KNBR promotions department this summer, so shameless plugs are basically my job, OK.