NL West

By Dr. Jekyll,

NL West

The most exciting division in baseball, as opposed to a few years back when they toiled in mediocrity, now all teams are equally viable as top tier clubs. Top to bottom this is a good division, with only the bottom team really missing any truly noticeable pieces.

San Diego Padres: If anyone you know says they had the Padres making the playoffs, they lied. Really, no one saw this coming. As I write this I’m waiting for them to fall out of the top spot. And I still think they will by the end of the year. But that’s how you get the “us against the world” mentality that breeds Cinderella stories like this. Adrian Gonzalez deserves this team. This rotation of journeymen and young guns deserves the success. But the feel good story can’t go on, right?

San Francisco Giants: Matt Cain. Tim Lincecum. Barry Zito being a respectable number three. Aubrey Huff turning it on back like he used to with the Rays. And all this success with Kung Fu Panda slumping. The Giants are doing all they can to keep in this race, and they’ll probably be able to grab a playoff spot, be it in a wildcard showdown with their own division and the folks out east or a final over the hump push to the division crown.

Los Angeles Dodgers: This was a power hitting lineup that short circuited. Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsly need to stay strong to make the necessary run at the playoffs. This powerful outfield has been struggling a tremendous amount, and injuries to Manny Ramirez certainly don’t help that cause. Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, and James Loney are as solid a middle as anywhere in the league. If the pitching can stay strong til Manny gets back, they’ll make a nice playoff run.

Colorado Rockies: Ubaldo Jimenez was all-time good. Like, absolute incredible for-the-ages good. And then the all-star break happened. The early year Dark Horse Cy Young emerged as one of the best pitchers in baseball. But that sort of dominance, with modern day players and scouting reports, isn’t going to last a season. The Rockies are a slightly above average team with a great foundation to remain competitive over many seasons. But with the Dodgers doing so well while struggling and the unbelievable year in San Diego, Colorado looks like tough luck losers. Carlos Gonzalez and Ian Stewart are both young foundation players who will be the envy of the league a few years from now, but just not this season.

Arizona Diamondbacks: This pitching staff has the worst ERA in the bigs, and nowhere near the offense to make up for that. Dontrelle Willis proved he’s still a bust after that one year in Florida, the bullpen blows leads like they’re paid by the earned run, and Dan Haren has had a year to forget. Apart from using for former member of Oakland's "big 3" as trade bait, the desert is out of good story lines until football season.

Double header plus and a no-no

By Dan Rodgers

Today, April 17, happened to be a very special day in baseball.

Colorado Rockies @ Atlanta Braves

Colorado Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez pitched the first no-hitter in franchise history, recording a 4-0 win in Atlanta against the Braves. Jimenez walked six batters in the no-no, all of which happened in the first five innings. He also struck out seven in the historic outing.

Troy Tulowitzki sacrificed in a run in the first. Jimenez then helped his own cause by singling in a run in the fourth. This was followed by a two-run double by lead-off man Carlos Gonzalez. From then on, the game was just smooth sailing.

News York Mets @ St. Louis Cardinals

However, another incredible game on this day, was a 20-inning game between the New York Mets and the St. Louis Cardinals. This is easily the longest game I have ever seen before in person or on television.

The scoring didn't get started until inning number 19. Jeff Francoeur hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the inning, and that is all the Mets could manage with the bases loaded and only one out. In the bottom of the inning, Ryan Ludwick walked, but was caught stealing on what looked to be a hit-and-run with Albert Pujols at the plate. Then, with a 1-2 count, Pujols doubled to left. Kyle Lohse, a pitcher playing left field, grounded out to short stop advancing Big Al to third. Yadier Molina hit a line drive just over the glove of Luis Castillo to tie the game.

Unfortunately for the Cards, in inning 20 Angel Pagan singled and then Mike Jacobs singled to send Pagan to third. Jose Reyes hit a sac-fly to give the Mets the lead. In the bottom of the inning, after two consecutive outs, the Cards made it interesting with a single and a walk. However, then Ludwick grounded out to end the game. Unbelievably crazy game in which: Mets closer K-Rod got the win, starter Mike Pelfry got the save, and Cards back-up center fielder Joe Mather got the loss.

In this game:

• Cards utility-man Felipe Lopez pitched a scoreless inning
• First time since 2002, a no-hitter and a 20 inning game in the same night (I'd bet it won't happen again for a really long time)
• Met 3-4-5 hitters went 1-20
• Six Mets and five Cards played the whole game
• 19 pitchers were used
• Over 650 pitches were thrown
  

Well, let me tell you that it is only April and baseball is already treating us to some special moments...gotta love it, enjoy the rest of the season

Rodgers That