San Francisco Giants

It looks like the Giants are the only NL West team heading for the playoffs. (Unless a miracle occurs in L.A.) So for now, they’re just gearing up for the postseason, getting their pitching in order and preparing for what they hope will be a long run into October.

The big story for the Giants are the contributions of both Hunter Pence and Marco Scutaro who were both acquired via trades in July. Scutaro has collected 41 RBI in 56 games while hitting an astonishing .361 as a Giant. And while Pence may not have Scutaro’s lofty average he has 39 RBI in 53 games with the Giants.

Both players have been a big part of the Giants run toward the postseason and have helped to alleviate the absence of Melky Cabrera.

» Continue reading “NL West Recap: Giants In. Everyone Else (Most Likely) Out.”

Standings via MLB.com

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have managed to reclaim the top spot in the division after going back and forth from sharing 1st place to 2nd place. They haven’t lost steam since the All-Star Break ended and they’re 6-4 in their last 10 games. Sweeping the Giants also helped in their pursuit to regain 1st place.

In the past few weeks, the Dodgers acquired Hanley Ramirez from the Miami Marlins before the trade deadline and Joe Blanton from the Philadelphia Phillies on the waiver wire. Ramirez has been hitting .308/.382/.436 with an OPS of .818, OPS+ of 126, BABIP of .348, and an ISO of .128 in 20 games and 89 plate appearances.

To state the obvious, it’s safe to say that the Dodgers are doing all they can to find ways to strengthen their team for a playoff push and it shows.

For more on the Dodgers, visit Foul Territory. » Continue reading “NL West Recap: Back To The Top For LA”

Standings via MLB.com

San Francisco Giants

After losing their place at the top of the standings, they’re back at the top of the standings. They swept the Astros and took two of three from the Braves for a 5-1 post-All-Star Break record. Their way of winning has been … very odd, to say the least, winning games that seem unwinnable, but they won.

There’s also been some positives with the club lately: Tim Lincecum churned out his best start of the season, going eight innings, giving up five hits, zero runs, and one walk, while striking out 11. It may not be a solidified comeback, but it’s encouraging for the Giants nonetheless.

For more on the Giants, visit Third Street Kings. » Continue reading “NL West Recap: There’s A New Leader ‘Round Here”

Standings via MLB.com

Los Angeles Dodgers

Though the Dodgers are still in first place today, that wasn’t always the case for the past two weeks. They were swept in San Francisco — and also shut out for every game in the series — and then lost possession of the top spot in the standings. But, they managed to get a win streak up to three games and reclaim first place while the Giants couldn’t hold on.

Matt Kemp is still on the disabled list, and Andre Ethier was just recently placed there too. But they keep finding ways to win when they need to, despite a You Can’t Predict Baseball-ish lineup being thrown out there every some odd night.

For more on the Dodgers, visit Foul Territory. » Continue reading “NL West Recap: It’s Getting Interesting Now”

Standings via MLB.com

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are still in first place, so that means whatever they’re doing is going right. They also have the best record in baseball at 37-21.

However, they have been plagued with injuries. Clayton Kershaw has been dealing with plantar fasciitis, Javy Guerra has a small meniscus tear and will be out for four to six weeks, Matt Kemp was placed back on the DL with a strained left hamstring and is expected to be back in late June or early July.

They have been trotting out You Can’t Predict Baseball-esque lineups every day, yet they still manage to win. They also have not regressed much, so who knows what they’re going to do next? They also just swept the Phillies, so there’s that.

For more on the Dodgers, visit Foul Territory. » Continue reading “NL West Recap: Same Ol’, Same Ol’”

(Photo: dannebrog/Flickr)

Today, the Colorado Rockies designated 49-year-old lefty Jamie Moyer for assignment.

Rockies designate Jamie Moyer for assignment.

— Tracy Ringolsby (@ROOTSPORTS_TR) May 30, 2012

In ten starts for the Rockies this season, Moyer went 2-5 with an ERA/FIP/xFIP line of 5.70/5.44/4.70.

Prior to the DFA, Moyer was in his 26th season as a major league pitcher and was the oldest active player in all of baseball.

There has been no word as to whether or not this is the end of his career.

Standings via MLB.com

Los Angeles Dodgers

Nothing much has changed since the season began and the Dodgers are still at the top of the division. Recently, they swept the St. Louis Cardinals and took a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Clayton Kershaw’s last game, which was against the Cardinals, was as solid as it could be — going the distance with a complete game shutout, allowing no walks, striking out four, and giving up six hits. A.J. Ellis has been a solid part of the lineup, hitting .327/.449/.513 with an ISO of .186, a wOBA of .411, and a BABIP of .398.

On the injury front, Matt Kemp is still on the DL. Mark Ellis was recently released from the hospital, thankfully with all limbs. Ellis had an emergency fasciotomy and could’ve lost his leg. The surgery was successful, however, and no legs were lost.

It’s clear that even with injuries, the Dodgers have been able to keep their position in the NL West standings. Will there be a regression? Who knows. Right now, the Dodgers are still in first without Matt Kemp.

For more on the Dodgers, visit Foul Territory. » Continue reading “NL West Recap: The Leader Remains the Same”

Standings via MLB.com

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are still on fire in the NL West. They’re currently tied with the Washington Nationals as the best team in the NL (which, okay, none of this could’ve been predicted before the season began, but it is still only May, after all).

They’ve lost their last two games and are 5-5 in their last ten games, but that hasn’t stopped them from keeping the lead. Matt Kemp is still putting up meteoric numbers: .404/.491/.851 AVG/OBP/SLG line with a wOBA of .542 and an ISO of .447. Not a small sample size anymore and golly gee whiz, those are some dang good numbers.

Ace Clayton Kershaw is putting up numbers just as stellar: 2.63/3.19/2.82 ERA/FIP/xFIP line with a K/9 rate of 8.12 and a BABIP of .225.

If the Dodgers can sustain this, there’s no telling how far they’ll go. » Continue reading “NL West Recap: Dodgers Continue To Win”

Standings via MLB.com

Los Angeles Dodgers

Well, who would’a thunk that? While they’re no longer the best team in baseball, they still are the best team in the National League, with a shiny 10-3 record to the right of their name. They won three straight series in a row before dropping two games to the Brewers. Some of their wins were just classic You Can’t Predict Baseball: a game against the Padres was a walkoff walk when four walks were issued in a row following two quick outs.

Obviously, the offense has been showing up just enough to score the runs necessary to get the wins. Clayton Kershaw has made three starts this season, though with a 0-0 record. His ERA sits at 2.35 and he’s only given up 14 hits in 15.1 innings pitched. Matt Kemp has been going crazy at the plate, with a .457/.500/.935 AVG/OBP/SLG line and a .471 ISO. If those aren’t crazy numbers (though small sample size), then I don’t know what is.

The Dodgers weren’t necessarily considered contenders in the offseason and it’s only a few weeks into the season, but it’s worth keeping tabs on the team to see if they can sustain this kind of success.

» Continue reading “NL West Recap: Dodgers Still Up Top”

His third start of the season was finally the one that put the Colorado Rockies’ Jamie Moyer into the record books.

The 49-year-old became the oldest player in MLB history to win a game with his seven innings pitched in the Rockies 5-3 victory over the San Diego Padres last night. Moyer allowed six hits and two unearned runs while striking out one and walking two — while never reaching 80 mph with any pitch he threw.

And 40-somethings everywhere applauded his accomplishment.

So did his manager, Jim Tracy:

”It’s a great night for the Rockies, as far as winning a baseball game. But it’s an historic night for one tremendous human being,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. ”It couldn’t happen to a better guy. A more professional person I don’t know I’ve been around.”

The win for Moyer was his first since June 27, 2010, with the Phillies. He suffered an elbow injury on July 20, 2010, that required Tommy John surgery.

Moyer’s wife, Karen, and seven of their eight kids were at the game, according to Thomas Hardy of MLB.com. The Moyers oldest son plays baseball at the University of California-Irvine and could not attend. But Jamie wasn’t focusing on the possible historical aspect of the night:

“For me to put that in front of the game really would be unfair to my teammates, unfair to myself,” Moyer said. “It would tell me also that my focus and my attention were in the wrong place. And as you saw tonight, the game’s not over until the last out is made. You have to respect and appreciate how this game is.”

With the victory, Moyer tied Jim Palmer on MLB’s all-time wins list at 268.


Christine Coleman is the senior St. Louis Cardinals reporter for Aaron Miles’ Fastball. Follow her on Twitter, @CColeman802, or follow @AMilesFastball for the latest updates.