Interleague was intended as an opportunity to boost ticket sales and provide an extra aspect of interest in the middle of summer. Miguel Cabrera will be returning to Coors Field for the first time since he was a Marlin, and his manager is returning for the first time since posting the only sub-.500 record in Rockies history, twelve years ago.
That attempt is well-intentioned, but interleague time has devolved into a predictable course of complaints about the DH and a myriad of realignment ideas. Making this interleague season even more operose in these parts is that - other than Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers - none of the teams visiting NL West parks this season are particularly ticket sellers. No Yankees, no Red Sox, no Rays, no Jose Bautistas, no Rangers.
The Tigers and Twins are the most common foes, each playing four NL West clubs this season. The White Sox, Indians and Royals are next, taking on three of the five teams in the division. I bet you are sensing a theme here. Arizona has been pegged with playing six interleague series, and the Rockies are the only club not to partake in the AL festivities yet.
As noted at the tail end of the above table, the collective win percentage of all interleague foes is below .500 for every team in the division...except the Rockies. The lowest win percentage? The Giants and Diamondbacks, who are ahead of the Rockies. Perfect. Of course.
It should be noted that Arizona and San Francisco have directly contributed to that, as both swept their initial interleague series last month, but both would still seem to have an edge over the Rockies in the interleague schedule.
This weekend, the Rockies host the Tigers and the Diamondbacks welcome the White Sox. The Giants travel across the bay to play Oakland again, and San Diego gets their first taste of Target Field while matching up with the Twins. Los Angeles will play the lone all-NL series, against the Astros.
NL West Report
Arizona (38-32, 2nd, W1, 1.5 GB)
Last Week: 4-2. 3-0 @ Marlins. 1-2 vs. Giants
You Should Know:
Divisional Change: Lost one half game to first place San Francisco.
This Week: 3 game home series vs White Sox. 3 game road series @ Royals.
News: Top ten overall and first round pick (oh wait I should specify) Seventh overall pick RHP Archie Bradley is due to visit Chase Field today. 3rd overall pick Trevor Bauer has already visited. Though neither have signed, indications are very strong that both will.
With Juan Miranda and Xavier Nady providing an uninspiring platoon at first base, Tim Dierkes pegs Arizona as a contender in need of help at first base. They could always try Brandon Allen, though he has been getting the Chris Nelson treatment in Arizona, never really getting a long look at the MLB level. If the D-backs want to go off the map, they could call up Paul Goldschmidt, who has been mashing in AA Mobile:
It remains to be seen whether Arizona can stick as a contender into July, but Kevin Towers is already operating as if they will. The D-backs GM is targeting on 20 players, and has already been making calls in preparation for the trading deadline. Towers comments that scouts will likely be sent out to "sit on guys" soon, and the previous link also provides a bit of input on the aforementioned Goldschmidt.
With all the talk of realignment, baseball fans in Arizona (there has to be a few) have a right to be worried. Alongside Houston, the Diamondbacks are the most frequently pegged franchise for a move to the American League. With no real long-term rival in the NL, Arizona could make a fairly seamless transition to the AL West.
Transactions: Called up RHP Brian Shaw and optioned LHP Zach Kroenke (6/10). Lost LHP Leyson Septimo on waivers to the White Sox (6/13).
Injuries: RHP Sam Demel threw his second bullpen session Wednesday in an attempt to return from shoulder tendinitis. That same day, IF Geoff Blum took batting practice and fielded ground balls. Demel is close to retruning, though Blum will likely be activated in July.
Los Angeles (31-39, 4th, L3, 8.5 GB)
Last Week: 2-4. 2-1 @ Rockies. 0-3 vs. Reds.
You Should Know: The Dodgers are eight games under .500 for the first time since July 26, 2006.....Matt Kemp hit his 20th home run in the Dodgers' 67th game - the only Dodger to reach that mark faster was Gary Sheffield in 2000, in 66 games. h/t Eric Stephen.
Divisional Change: Lost three games to first place San Francisco.
This Week: 3 game home series vs. Astros. 3 game home series vs. Tigers.
News: The McCourts have reached a divorce settlement! It is contingent on the FOX television deal being approved by MLB; leave it to the McCourts to find a new creative example of "messy divorce."
Chad Billingsley is struggling. He is the first Dodger pitch to allow 8+ hits in four consecutive starts since Derek Lowe, four years ago. That was a fantasy choice that burned me.
Molly Knight tells us that the Dodgers owe $8.33million to Manny Ramirez by June 30. The trade that created Mannywood sure seemed like a steal at the time, but it might literally and directly bankrupt the owner of the franchise. In light of the financial troubles, Tom Krasovic suggests the Dodgers look at the Marlins or Rays for how to frugally operate.
Ken Rosenthal thinks Jamey Carroll deserves to be an All-Star.
MLBTR's Dan Mannella points out that Hiroki Kuroda will be one of the more underrated free agents this off-season,again.
If you thought it was strange last weekend when Rafael Betancourt was awarded the win despite entering the game with the final score intact, there was another obscure rule enacted in a Dodgers game that will spin you even more. Matt Guerrier was charged with two earned runs in an inning, but the runs were "unearned" to the Dodgers' staff, per MLB rule 10.16(i). The rule states:
When pitchers are changed during an inning, the relief pitcher shall not have the benefit of previous chances for outs not accepted in determining earned runs.
So essentially, a pitcher cannot enter the game with two outs in an inning in which an error has been committed (thereby meaning the inning should be over), give up 12 runs and get off scott-free. It actually makes sense. Sure enough, Guerrier gave up a 3 run home run (one runner inherited) with two outs in an inning that started with an error by Dee Gordon.
Eric Stephen is peeved that Don Mattingly continues to use his catchers as pinch-hitters, not for fear of injury to either back-stop, but because both are terrible hitters.
Transactions: Outrighted C Hector Gimenez to AA Chattanooga (6/10).
Injuries: 3B Casey Blake received a cortizone injection for a stiff neck, while RHP Vicente Padilla had surgery on his neck yesterday and could be out for the season. RHP Kenley Jansen is eligible to come off the DL today but may make another rehab appearance. LHP Hong-Chih Kuo has looked less "anxious" in his rehab outings. RHP Jonathan Broxton made a rehab appearance Wednesday and is due to return sometime in July. RHP Rubby de la Rosa is day-to-day with a forearm strain he suffered Sunday at Coors Field.
San Diego (30-40, 5th, L2, 9.5 GB)
Last Week: 1-5. 0-3 vs. Nationals. 1-2 @ Rockies.
You Should Know: San Diego is 16-14 on the road. That matches the Phillies' mark, and only the Braves and Pirates in the National League are more than two games above .500 away from their home parks.
Divisional Change: Lost three games in the division.
This Week: 3 game series @ Twins. 3 game series @ Red Sox.
News: Jon Paul Morosi posted a Father's Day feature on Heath Bell. While the piece is predictably sappy/corny (corn syrupy?) - especially the last line - it does provide insight to how difficult raising a family can be while being stuck to the MLB schedule.
Jorge Cantu was designated for assignment yesterday. The 29-year-old had started 21 games for the Padres hitting third or fourth, but he just couldn't hit, especially at PetCo Park, where he hit .172/.196/.264 in 92 PA.
Transactions: Called up RHP Anthony Bass, optioned C Kyle Phillips, and designated LHP Aaron Poreda for assignment (6/13). Optioned RHP Anthony Bass to AA San Antonio and called up LHP Wade LeBlanc. Designated IF Jorge Cantu for assignment (6/16). LHP Aaron Poreda and UT Eric Patterson cleared waivers and were outrighted to AAA Tucson.
Injuries: Placed RHP Aaron Harang on the 15-day DL and activated CF Cameron Maybin from the 15-day DL (6/13). 2B Orlando Hudson began a rehab assignment Tuesday, and 1B/RF Brad Hawpe is nursing a sore elbow. RHP Dustin Moseley is on schedule to make his next start Sunday after missing his previous start.
San Francisco (39-30, 1st, L1)
Last Week: 4-2. 2-1 vs. Reds. 2-1 @ Diamondbacks.
You Should Know: The Diamondbacks walked off on the Giants last night with an extra inning one run win. Sounds strange. Dating back to last season's playoffs, the Giants have won 24 of 34 one-run contests.
Divisional Change: Lost one half game off their lead in the division.
This Week: 3 game road series @ Athletics. 3 game home series vs. Twins.
News: You asked (if not out loud), and Mike Fast has delivered. How the hell is Ryan Vogelsong doing it? The good news is that his success isn't completely sustainable (no surprise), but the bad news is his success is legitimate. His transformation has come from trusting his stuff and utilizing it with elite control. Scatter plots of every pitch he has thrown shows he has stayed consistently out of the middle of the plate, and his low curveball has generated a lot of weak contact.
Transactions: Signed UT Bill Hall (6/11).
Injuries: Activated 3B Pablo Sandoval from the 15-day DL (6/14). Freddy Sanchez has opted for rehab over surgery for now, deciding it gives him the best shot at returning this season. Barry Zito has looked very effective in two rehab starts.