Moves The Giants should make before the deadline

So far to start the 2014 MLB season, the Giants have had a solid and surprising start. In the offseason , Giants made minimal moves in signing Tim Hudson and Mike Morse which has translated into making noise. Hudson is playing some of his best ball at age 38, and Morse is leading the Giants in RBI's after a horrendous 2013 season. Morse is playing beyond his one year deal the Giants gambled on. Although the Giants are getting production out of their free agent signings, some regulars are underperforming this year or are battling injuries. Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain who have been anchors to that pitching staff for years are starting to show signs of inconsistency and could be a sign of things to come. Angel Pagan and Marco Scutaro who were vital pieces to the 2012 World Series team have been battling injuries. Brandon Hicks emerged out of spring training as a nice safety cushion for an ailing Scutaro , but over the past month offensively has taken a dip and rookie Joe Panik has claimed the starting spot. Through the month of June, what the Giants have seen as a comfortable 9 game lead has reduced to a 4 game lead as of June 24. The offense is not producing and the pitching staff is relying on Bumgarner and getting no help from the other starters and bullpen. It is not a catastrophic collapse but there is a minor tune up needed to boost this Giants team that showed signs in the first two months of being a World Champion team. Here are a few trade options the Giants should consider making to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Daniel Murphy, 2B New York Mets

Murphy has been an electric part of the Mets offense for the past 3 years. He's not flashy with power and home runs and not named David Wright, but he has been a vital part to a Mets team that should be better than they are. He can bat anywhere in the lineup and knows how to get on base. Not an elite defender, but plays defense enough to get the job done. Murphy has success on the base paths and knows how to score. Generally, that is Pagan's job for the Giants, but without him in the lineup, Giants are struggling to get runners on base. Daniel Murphy would fit perfect in spacious AT&T park, where his extra bases total already thrives. Giants would only have to give up some minor leaguers which I think the Mets wouldn't mind and try to rebuild. This move should be a no brainer for the Giants with inexperience at second base currently. Also on the upside, Murphy is still in his 20's, and could stick around for awhile.

Jason Hammel, SP Chicago Cubs

According to Jon Morosi from FOX, Giants tried to sign Hammel  this past off season but failed to sign him. Cubs signed Hammel and it has paid off for them, even though the team's results haven't showed it. Hammel has a superb ERA and WHIP as well as a winning record. Cubs are looking to the future and Hammel's success could bring in a couple prospects for their future. Giants could finally get the guy they wanted via trade as opposed to free agency. Tim Lincecum has been an inconsistent pitcher the last couple years, and in 2012 it found him being placed in the bullpen for the playoffs. It paid dividends and Lincecum looked stellar. Giants should consider him as a long relief pitcher and a spot starter. Acquiring Hammel could boost the rotation and his numbers should continue to stay the same in pitcher-friendly AT&T park. Lincecum would make an already solid bullpen even stronger. It is a win-win situation.

The Giants do not need a David Price, Cole Hamels, Jeff Samardzija to get over the hump. Giants are caught in a rut, but are capable of getting out. Scutaro will be back shortly but he seems to be a bench option and pinch hitter for the rest of his career. Panik is a bright spot for the future in the infield, and is gaining experience. If Giants make the push for Daniel Murphy and Jason Hammel, I believe we can forget about the dreadful June they have been playing.

MLB All-Star Game Voting

With less than one month left, MLB fans have the power to vote their favorite position players into the All-Star game.  The purpose of the MLB All-Star game is to get your favorite team's players into the game or the best major league players at that point of the season.  What is not necessarily great about that method is fan's favorite players aren't always the best players in the league.  With the players who are deserving to make the All-Star squad, sometimes they are left off due to less votes.  Injuries to players who were voted for could open the door for the ones left off the rosters, but in reality there needs to be a better structure for fan voting.  For example, the American League shortstop spot is currently filled by Derek Jeter. Historically speaking, Jeter deserves to be in that spot for the success he has had in his career.  For 2014 being his final year, I am opposed to him starting the game, but I would vote for him to make the roster to play some innings in the All-Star game. I feel there are three ways the fan voting for the All-Star game can change.

1) Reduce the amount of votes counted by the fans, but still allow them to vote who they want in the game. Also include the current major league players to vote and have a 50/50 split. 

2) Select a panel of sportswriters across the country for each team in the league, and let them cast who they feel should make the All-Star game. Split fans and writers votes 50/50.

3) My last potential idea would let the fans continue to vote like normal, but just vote for them to make the All-Star game. For the American and National League, let the respected manager decide for the starting lineup for the game. 

Of the three possible scenarios, my last scenario would make the most sense. The managers already decide their starters for pitching and what pitchers make the roster.  For the starting line up, why can't the same be done? For the fans to not feel left out for a game they support and pay money to watch, let them continue to vote the position players into the game. Voters should vote for two of each position, except you vote for one Designated Hitter and five outfielders. I think this kind of structure would spice up the game.

If I were to vote for starters for each position, here is who I would vote, based on my proposal.

National League

C - Jonathan Lucroy (MIL)/Yadier Molina (STL)

1B -  Paul Goldschmidt (ARI)/Freddie Freeman (ATL)

2B - Chase Utley (PHI)/Dee Gordon (LAD)

3B - Anthony Rendon (WAS)/Nolan Arenado (COL) (Injured)

SS - Troy Tulowitzki (COL)/Brandon Crawford (SF)

OF - Giancarlo Stanton (MIA)/Yasiel Puig (LAD)/Carlos Gomez (MIL)/Charlie Blackmon (COL)/Justin Upton (ATL)

American League

C - Salvador Perez (KC)/Brian McCann (NYY)

1B - Miguel Cabrera (DET)/Edwin Encarnacion (TOR)

2B - Brian Dozier (MIN)/Robinson Cano (SEA)

3B - Josh Donaldson (OAK)/Kyle Seager (SEA)

SS - Alexei Ramirez (CHW)/Jose Reyes (TOR)

OF - Jose Bautista (TOR)/Michael Brantley (CLE)/Mike Trout (LAA)/Adam Jones (BAL)/Alex Gordon (KC)

DH - Victor Martinez (DET)

If I had the power to choose the pitchers, this is who I would choose:

National League

SP: Clayton Kershaw (LAD), Madison Bumgarner (SF), Stephen Strasburg (WAS), Zack Greinke (LAD), Johnny Cueto (CIN), Tim Hudson (SF), Adam Wainwright (STL), Kyle Lohse (MIL), Jeff Samardzija (CHC), Gerrit Cole (PIT), Julio Teheran (ATL)

RP: Huston Street (SD), Francisco Rodriguez (MIL), Craig Kimbrel (ATL), Jean Machi (SF)

American League

SP: Felix Hernandez (SEA), Yu Darvish (TEX), Masahiro Tanaka (NYY), Dallas Keuchel (HOU), Corey Kluber (CLE), Scott Kazmir (OAK), Sonny Gray (OAK), Max Scherzer (DET), Jon Lester (BOS), Phil Hughes (MIN), Rick Porcello (DET), Mark Buehrle (TOR)

RP: Greg Holland (KC), Joakim Soria (TEX), Koji Uehara (BOS), Zach Britton (BAL)