Giants not standing so tall now.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Byline: Kevin Baxter

MIAMI _ After winning 100 games and the National League West Division title last year, the San Francisco Giants are on pace to lose more than 90 games and finish in the division cellar this summer, just two seasons removed from a World Series appearance.

April was the franchise's first sub-.500 month since May 2001, ending the longest streak in the majors and sending the team into May with the second-worst record in the National League. Much of the blame for that lies with the team's awful pitching. Despite playing home games pitcher-friendly SBC Park, the Giants' staff ranks next to last in the N.L., ahead of only the Colorado Rockies, who play in the launching pad that is Coors Field.

Only second-year pitcher Jerome Williams, among starters, has an ERA below 4.00, and left-hander Kurt Rueter, the team's opening day starter, has been particularly awful. After averaging 13 wins a season over the past seven summers, he has started this year 0-3 with a 6.12 ERA and just one quality start in his first five outings.

And despite the return from the disabled list of right-hander Jason Schmidt, last year's league ERA champ, the pitching situation could get worse before it gets better. Closer Robb Nen, who the team was counting on when it let Tim Worrell go over the winter, was transferred to the 60-day DL with a troublesome shoulder last week. The former Marlin, a three-time all-star, is trying to recover from three shoulder operations that caused him to miss the entire 2003 season.

"They need somebody right now and I'm not helping," Nen said.

Offensively, the Giants have been nearly as bad, ranking 26th in the majors with a .249 team average heading into the weekend. Imagine where they'd be without Barry Bonds, who leads baseball with a .490 average and 10 home runs, more than half the team's total. They won't have to imagine where they'll be without second baseman Ray Durham, third on the team in hitting, slugging and on-base percentage. He strained his left patellar tendon last week against the Braves and was placed on the 15-day DL.