In these Dog days, bark is worse than bite

SAN FRANCISCO -- Bow-wow.

Three outs away from moving into first place all by themselves Saturday night, and the Choking Dogs rolled over and played dead.

The Dogs did something monumental here, losing two games in a row to the Eugenio Velez Giants, something most teams have failed to accomplish this season.

The Dogs had a chance to sweep, and they gagged, blowing a lead Saturday night, then again Sunday. It was like watching the Lakers in the playoffs.

If for some reason the Dogs still make it into the playoffs, and they are playing in the National League Worst, if they can't handle the Giants with the pressure on -- how do you like their chances against teams with winning records?

That's who the Dogs get to play this week, two teams with winning records, the next seven games against teams that are above .500 -- 11 of the next 14, while Arizona takes on three different losers.

"Let's go see," said Manager Joe Torre, the Yankees bravado still occasionally making an appearance even though that's Angel Berroa at short instead of Derek Jeter.

"These guys are playing hard," Torre said, and playing hard they couldn't even beat the Giants.

A good team would've put away the Giants early.

"I like what I'm seeing -- nobody is hanging their head," Torre said, proud, I guess, they could play the Giants so tough.

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PAGE 2 has been encamped with the Dogs since the All-Star break, the last 10 straight games, and while there is obvious improvement -- Juan Pierre is on the bench -- most of it is measured in baby steps.

Torre had to be convinced early in the season to make a starter out of Matt Kemp, and then Kemp had to be convinced to treat this as a profession.

Both have made marvelous strides.

Torre had to be convinced to make a starter out of Andre Ethier, the last few days raving about Ethier's approach at the plate, and he probably thinks it was his idea to play him more.

Casey Blake has added an air of professionalism to the proceedings, booting a double play ball against the Giants that would've won it for the Dogs, but handling the aftermath with class.

He's such an improvement over Andy LaRoche or Blake DeWitt, and enjoy him while you've got him because he will probably be playing elsewhere next season.

Andruw Jones and Pierre are now spectators, so the Dogs really are improving, but GM Ned Colletti blew it at the trading deadline when he didn't find a shortstop better than Berroa.