NL West Report |
Arizona (19-25, 4th, L1, 10.5 GB)
Last Week: 3-1 @ Marlins, 2-1 @ Athletics.
This Week: 3 game series vs Padres, 4 game series vs Braves
News: Arizona DFA'd IF Josh Wilson, and San Diego promptly claimed him up.
Due to Brandon Webb's injury, Webb is unlikely to be traded, but Jon Garland could be a trade chip.
A list of other possible trade candidates: Eric Byrnes, Augie Ojeda, Tony Clark, Doug Davis, Jon Garland, Felipe Lopez, Chad Tracy, Scott Schoeneweis, Jon Rauch and Tom Gordon.
Los Angeles (30-15, 1st, L1)
Last Week: 3-0 vs Mets, 1-2 vs Angels
This Week: 3 game series @ Rockies, 4 game series @ Cubs
News: Jason Schmidt had a AAA rehab start this week and pitched flawlessly for two innings. Then Schmidt was beaned in the head by a line drive. He left on his own power and did not go to the hospital, so he should be fine.
LA got Krebs from the Pirates. RHP Eric Krebs is the PTBNL to complete the Delwyn Young deal.
Ned Colletti also signed two Korean pitchers, 22-year old Ji-Mo Lee and 38-year old Hyang-Nam Choi.
San Diego (22-22, 2nd, W9, 7.5 GB)
Last Week: 3-0 vs Giants, 3-0 vs Cubs. The last five Padres' series have been sweeps - the first two were losses, the last three wins. They seem to be feeding off Petco and Jake Peavy wanting to remain a Padre.
This Week: 3 game series @ D-Backs, 3 game series @ Rockies
News: Kevin Towers failed to complete the Jake Peavy trade with the White Sox (thanks to Peavy), but don't think that means he'll be in San Diego for the rest of the season, despite their recent surge. The Cubs are still interested and Peavy hasn't completely shut the door on the White Sox.
The Brewers remain a possibility, and Peavy apparently has decided that he is partial to "Middle America."
Brian Giles is having a terrible season, but Giles is not close to retiring. At least on his own terms.
Tony Gwynn will be a Padre OF again. At least Junior will be. The Padres gave up CF Jody Gerut for Gwynn Jr in a recent trade.
San Francisco (20-23, 2nd, L1, 9 GB)
Last Week: 0-3 @ Padres, 1-2 @ Mariners. The Giants have continued their freefall out of second place by losing three straight series and 11 of their last 13 games.
This Week: 3 game series vs Braves, 3 game series vs Cardinals
News: GM Brian Sabean has realized the Giants' bats are not playoff caliber. After losing 4 straight one run games last week (despite allowing only 10 runs in those games, the Giants are actively trying to trade for a bat. They have inquired about Dan Uggla, though such a trade would probably require trading Matt Cain or Jonathan Sanchez, as they are resitant to give up top end minor league talent.
The San Jose Mercury News' Andrew Baggarly reports that Sabean is actively dangling Matt Cain specifically to see what can return. Other bats Sabean may be targeting include Nick Johnson, Aubrey Huff, Mark DeRosa, Paul Konerko, Matt Holliday, and Felipe Lopez.
LHP Noah Lowry hasn't pitched since August 2007, and his agent blames the Giants. Damon Lapa asserts that theGiants had Lowry get the wrong surgery and complete the wrong rehab. Naturally, the Giants deny it.
Pablo Sandoval has a sore elbow. Luckily, San Francisco was on the road for interleague, so Sandoval was able to DH. It's something to keep an eye on.