INSIDE BASEBALL

Keep an eye on the San Francisco Giants. They’re a longshot to catch the Dodgers in the National League West but could have staying power in the wild-card race, especially if General Manager Brian Sabean gets them a hitter. Matt Cain, who lives in the shadow of pitching teammates Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito and Randy Johnson, is having a great season (8-1, 2.55 earned-run average) and could pitch his way into Cy Young Award consideration. . . . Could Derrek Lee be the hitter the Giants need? Sabean at least ought to see whether Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry would consider approaching Lee about waiving his no-trade clause, as the Cubs have first base options with Micah Hoffpauir and Jake Fox. . . . Drew Storen, the closer Washington selected with the 10th overall pick in the draft, could get to the big leagues before August. The Nationals’ bullpen is horrible. . . . The Manny Ramirez suspension has caught up to the Dodgers. They had scored 36 runs in their last 13 games before the weekend. . . . Pitchers should like working in at least one of New York’s new parks. There have been only 48 home runs hit in 29 games at the Mets’ Citi Field, compared with 105 in 29 games at Yankee Stadium. Even Mets Manager Jerry Manuel joked about wanting to hit in the interleague series there this weekend. “I might try to swing a couple of times or two,” said Manuel, who hit three homers in his career.

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