For those of you who think the San Francisco Giants are rapidly in danger of becoming a perennial also-ran, think again! Chris Haft of MLB.com reports that the club’s starting pitchers have hatched a plan to reclaim respectability in the National League West.

The starters intend to wear stirrup socks, a staple of bygone eras, as a demonstration of solidarity amongst themselves. Noah Lowry and Tim Lincecum displayed the look Friday while throwing off bullpen mounds. The pitchers’ sartorial expression is consistent with the refreshed clubhouse atmosphere the Giants insist will prevail this year — thus enhancing, they believe, their on-field cohesion.

“Refreshed” of course is another way of saying, NO. BARRY. BONDS..

No surprise that it was Barry Zito’s idea to have all five starters wear the “sartorial” socks. He’s even gone so far as to confirm that potential fifth starters on the team agree to the knee-highs.

Zito said, “This is fun. We need to start having some fun.”

Right, especially if forced to look at the NL West standings in August, in concert with Zito’s pay stub.

Sadly though, the lefthanded guitar picker said, “They won’t let us wear the orange sanis. I think [pitching coach Dave] Righetti would kill us.”

We wonder if this trend will soon lead Manny Ramirez to do the same with long-panted party he’s been throwing in the Red Sox outfield for some time now.