By Morris Phillips

It’s official. The Giants are a good team gone bad.  But half the season remains and there’s time to rebound a make a run at another World Series berth.

Nothing else will do for an organization bent on a run at a third world title in five years. But how do they get from here to there?  And how do they blunt the momentum of the Dodgers who have been playing better baseball for one, and surely are galvanized by their rapid ascent in the NL West.

For the Giants, the answer might not surprise you: pull out all the stops and make the biggest splash at the trade deadline.

The Giants grabbed all the headlines when they traded coveted prospect Zach Wheeler and emptied their wallets for Carlos Beltran in 2011. That didn’t work out so well, but the intent was there:  Grab the nearest available superstar, plug him in and see if the team catches fire.  But while Beltran was pretty good, the team couldn’t use the boost to get over the hump.

In 2012, Marco Scutaro and Hunter Pence were brought in to bolster the Giants’ chances. And this time it worked: Pence was constant presence holding down right field and while providing an offensive upgrade.  But Scutaro was simply fantastic, hitting for a high average, getting big hits to win games and providing a consistent offensive treat at the top of the order.

This time, the Giants not only are going bad, but the Dodgers have really picked up since June 8 when the Giants led the NL West by 9 ½ games.

So what would make the biggest difference in a race that on the surface looks like it goes to the hated rival down south?

Acquiring one or more top flight upgrades of top trade deadline like Jeff Samardzjia or David Price for one might do the trick. The Giants figure to be in the mix if they offer top pitching prospect Kyle Crick and are willing to pay a big salary.

Smaller names could help too, but in combination.   The Giants don’t have holes in their everyday lineup to fill exactly, but upgrades could be had.  Start at second base where Chase Utley could be available.  A fourth outfielder who can hit and play defense could improve the team.  Maybe even a talented third baseman that could displace Pablo Sandoval.

Whatever players are made available at or after the trade deadline will be possibilities for a team that has money, feels they can win now and relishes the competition with the Dodgers. The Giants didn’t wait this long to get good to let it all go

Especially let it go to the Dodgers.

On Tuesday, the Giants send Tim Lincecum to the mound in his follow up to last week’s no-hitter, and Marco Gonzales goes for the Cardinal at 7:15pm.