SAN FRANCISCO — When the Giants spent $126 million on Barry Zito, they touted his ability to take the ball every fifth day.

But now, barely more than one season into a seven-year deal, they aren't sure they want to keep giving it to him.

After another erratic and utterly hittable start in a 10-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday at AT&T Park, Giants Manager Bruce Bochy all but declared he would skip Zito or demote him to the bullpen.

"We've got to do something," said Bochy, after Zito allowed a six-run first inning. "We can't keep doing what we're doing and getting what we're getting."

Here is what the Giants have received from their opening-day starter: an 0-6 record in six starts, a 7.53 ERA, a growing soundtrack of boos at home and no sign of a break in the clouds.

Second baseman Eugenio Velez dropped a pop fly, but the misplay was almost incidental as Zito lobbed belt-high fastballs and struggled to control the break on his once-magnificent curveball.

His pains in April are nothing new, but they have never been so acute. The 2002 Cy Young Award winner had never lost six consecutive decisions in his career, let alone taken defeats in six starts in a row. He has allowed 41 hits in 28·innings and his ERA is the highest over any six-start stretch in his career.

Zito acknowledged that he is hurting the team and that his confidence "isn't great." Although he wants to keep taking the ball, he said he wouldn't begrudge Bochy and the front office if they decide otherwise.

"I've brought it on myself," said Zito, who hasn't missed a start in his eight-year career. "It's not like they're acting rash in a situation that wouldn't call for it. Whatever they want to do, I'll go with it. And on a personal level, I've got to keep grinding, keep fighting.

"I didn't come all this way in my life and my career to have anything drastic happen at this point."

What constitutes drastic action? It isn't cutting Zito loose, as the Pittsburgh Pirates did with former Giant Matt Morris on Sunday. The Pirates swallowed more than $10 million with that maneuver; they don't make mouths big enough to eat the roughly $112.5 million that Zito is guaranteed.

But his celebrated streak of 261 starts has never been more imperiled.

"He's so important for us to get him straight," Bochy said. `No question, (the bullpen) is an option. We've got to get this guy right. I'm sure there's a lot on his mind....We've got to get some help for him."

The Giants do not play on two of the next eight days and could survive with a four-man rotation until May 10. But it's not a simple matter, because No.5 starter Kevin Correia landed on the disabled list Sunday and is expected to miss a month with a strained rib-cage muscle.

If the Giants demote Zito, they would replace him with left-hander Pat Misch, who joined the club Sunday and made an immediate contribution by throwing six solid relief innings.

Zito pitched three innings, allowing at least one run in each, in his shortest start as a Giant. He was lifted for pinch hitter Emmanuel Burriss, who reached on an infield single and scored the Giants' only run. Hard-throwing Edinson Volquez (4-0) was dominant for the Reds, striking out 10 in seven innings.

There was little new in Zito's analysis. He faulted himself for not being aggressive enough, but said he hasn't "delved into the intricacies" of why he has failed to do so.

Zito has consulted many pitching gurus throughout his life and Giants officials have felt at times that the left-hander had too many people whispering in his ear — especially when he arrived in spring camp last year with a totally new delivery that was soon scrapped.

But Zito said he is working only with Bochy, pitching coach Dave Righetti and bullpen coach Mark Gardner.

"I'm not going out there knocking down anyone's door looking for solutions," Zito said. "The solution is inside me and it's up to me to turn it around. Nobody can tell me a magic key that's going to turn it. It's me and my own will and my strength."

Said Bochy: "If it was easy to fix, it would have been fixed."

The Giants have six years, in theory, to find something that works.