Giants show why they need help

GM Brian Sabean has little time to try getting the San Francisco Giants back on track.

With the trade deadline on Tuesday and the Giants scuffling, he might have amped up his pursuit to improve a team that has lost five straight games, including Monday night's 8-7 decision to the Mets in 10 innings.

Yes, the Giants could use a hitter.

Yes, they could use a reliever.

For proof of the latter, turn to Monday's series opener in which the bullpen blew a 4-2 lead. Sergio Romo was the culprit, giving up a two-run homer to Scott Hairston that tied the game in the eighth, and the Mets rallied for four runs in the inning.

Another reliever, closer Santiago Casilla, gave up another Hairston homer in the 10th.

While there was a lot of buzz about the Giants acquiring Philadelphia outfielder Hunter Pence, there also remained talk of bullpen help. One name to scratch off the list is Brandon League, the Seattle setup man who was dealt to the Dodgers.