Giants entered a Harper field lacking too many contenders

SAN FRANCISCO When the Giants first started dreaming of Bryce Harper, they did so as contenders, thethree-time champs with a roster full of players who could realistically join the slugger in another run through the postseason.When they actually sat down with him this week, they did so with a new face in the roomfor a key reason. Farhan Zaidi was one of three team higher-ups to travel to Las Vegas. He is in this position, of course, because the previous regime lost 187 games over the past two seasons.