LA Dodgers beat San Diego last night...standings now read:

SD Padres - 58-40 (.592) - - -
SF Giants - 57-44 (.564) - - 2.5 GB
LA Dodgers - 54-46 (.540) - - 5.0 GB
Col Rockies - 51-49 (.510) - - 8.0 GB

Division records...

Padres, 19-16
Giants, 15-21
Dodgers, 25-8
Rockies, 21-16

Orange County Register article on Padres and Dodgers push to the pennant...

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/black-259619-maybe-padres .html

L.A. manager Joe Torre placidly insisted that his club still "controls our destiny," with 13 games left against the Padres, and 49 others against everyone else.

They've (Padres) surprised me," Torre said. "You look in the spring, at the teams that have lost the most players and brought in the most players, and they were at the top of the list. Those teams don't usually do that well, but this one has."

Rockies are reeling, and we cashed a big 'Dog winner with the Pirates last night (+190). Pittsburgh pitiful on the road (12-38), but returning home from 11 game road trip the Rockies have really been struggling. Batting just .208 last 13 games and that includes 7 games against modest starters in hitting parks at Philly and Cincinnati. De Le Rosa just one good outing in three starts since returning from DL, lifetime ERA over 5.20, Rockies struggling and laying 2-1 last night...come on now.

Pirates catching big price again tonight with Ohlendorf on hill. Just 1 win, but he's better than overall numbers and Rockies still overvalued tonight. Ohlendorf has four quality starts last five outings allowing 2 runs or less 4x. Didn't come back with Pittsburgh as a play, but careful with Colorado. Cook more than capable tonight and possesses tough mentality to help come out of funk, but still he's allowed 32 hits in 22 innings with BAA of .337 in four July starts.

5-straight losses and counting for my Dodgers since Fairway Jay posted this. They've fallen below the Rockies, who have won 4 in a row after losing 8-straight.

Maybe trade for Lilly, Theriot and Dotel will help! Article on trade. Ted Lilly was drafted by the Dodgers in 1996, and now returns to True Blue. He starts Tuesday against Padres.

"My dream from when I was signed was to pitch for the Dodgers."

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dodgers-fyi-20100802,0,5 133496.story

Another article on players in trade...Cubs/Dodgers. Lilly didn't want to leave Chicago despite past comments about playing for LA Dodgers.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/07/reports-lilly-t heriot-traded-for-dodgers-dewitt.html

Theriot batted .284 with 10 doubles, two triples, one home run and 21 RBI in 96 games with the Cubs, and was switched from shortstop to second after Starlin Castro's arrival in May. He took the Cubs to arbitration last winter, which utlimately sealed his fate with the organization, even though he lost.

Joe Torre shuffled lineup and bats were bad again in 2-0 loss to Giants...SF sweeps. Andre Ethier returns tonight after missing last two games.

Torre said he was expecting right fielder Andre Ethier, who left the team for the last two games for the birth of his second child, to return to the lineup for the series opener against the Padres on Monday.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dodgers-giants-20100802, 0,1312974.story

The manager also received a report that left fielder Manny Ramirez, who is on the disabled list because of a calf strain, was taking live batting practice and running at the Dodgers' spring-training complex in Arizona.

Ramirez could be sent on a rehabilitation assignment in the next few days

Dodgers look like they're waiving the white flag, not pushing for division title...ugggh. No urgency at all.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dodgers/2010/08/dodgers-fall -nine-games-back-as-losing-streak-hits-six-in-105-loss-to-pa dres.html

The Dodgers fell deeper into their hole, the light growing still dimmer after they suffered their sixth consecutive loss, falling 10-5 to the Padres.

The Dodgers collected 14 hits, their most in a game since July 3, and they weren't even close to earning their first victory in six games.

The Dodgers managed seven hits in the first three innings alone -- yet failed to score.

Meanwhile, San Francisco (61-45) is taking Giant steps. Now just two games behind the Padres (62-42).

Giants are 20-5 last 25 games, including a 13-3 road run. Surprisingly, San Fran has a losing division record.

A pair or road games at Colorado tonight and Wed. SF lost 3 of 4 at Coors Field in early July. Jonathan Sanchez did not pitch that series for SF, and I'll take him and the Giants as 'Dog tonight. The lefty can dominate when he throws strikes, but obviously struggles with control at times.

Aaron Cook is tough-minded, but he's not pitching too well. Last 18+ innings covering 4 games, Cook has been roughed-up for 31 hits and 15 earned runs for an ERA of 7.23 a WHIP of 1.93 and an OBA of .371. The start prior to those four was at home against these Giants, and Cook allowed 3 runs and 7 hits in 6+ innings for the win. Giants batters have seen him enough and Cook's career numbers against SF are poor...ERA near 5.0 and BAA of .301.

Note that Cook was taken to the hospital for X-rays after he took a foul ball off his foot during batting practice Saturday. Five-inning play also worth a small-shot off the tee too.

Nice cash with Giants (+115) as they crush Cook and rough up the Rockies 10-0. Sanchez 6 IP, 3 hits, 9 K's. He struck out 7 consecutive batters.

After the first inning, they were swinging on pitches not over the plate—in the dirt. I was getting ahead the whole time, so they had to swing.

SF is hot, and Giants are 14-3 last 17 road games and most would be surprised to know that the Giants led the NL in runs scored in July.

Ted Lilly gives Dodgers big boost in 2-1 win over Padres. But offensive woes continue.

Dodgers Blog...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dodgers/2010/08/one-victory- cant-masquerade-the-dodgers-offensive-woes.html

In their last 13 games, the Dodgers have scored two or fewer runs 10 times. The Dodgers have scored exactly one more run all season than they’ve allowed. Remember, the Dodgers led all of baseball in run differential last season.

"We’re very uneven right now," Torre said. "We need the top of the order getting on base, because they’ll have to pitch to the middle of the order."

The Dodgers offense needs a lot of things right now. Rafael Furcal missed Tuesday’s game with a strained lower back and will sit out Wednesday’s too, at the least.

Part of this can be blamed on key injuries -- Manny Ramirez, Andre Either, Rafael Furcal -- but the Dodgers lost Ramirez for 50 games last season due to his drug suspension, and their offense just kept rolling.

More Dodgers news...

The pregame news was all bad for the Dodgers on Tuesday, and that was besides the six-game losing streak.

-- Manny Ramirez, rehabbing his latest leg injury in Phoenix, suffered what Manager Joe Torre described as a setback. The Dodgers hoped he could start a minor league rehab assignment this week, but now he has been pushed back again.

-- Seems there is an explanation for the decline of right-handed reliever Jeff Weaver after all, the Dodgers putting him on the disabled list with right knee tendinitis and calling Ramon Troncoso back up. Weaver was 3-0 with a 1.13 earned-run average in June. He has a 9.22 ERA since. He finally confessed to the knee tendinitis after giving up five runs in two innings Monday.

-- Of most concern, shortstop Rafael Furcal, possibly their most valuable player this season, was held out of the lineup because of a strained lower back. Furcal, who had lower-back surgery in 2008, was scheduled to have an MRI exam.

Blog post...Fairway Free Play on SF Giants.

http://www.sportsmemo.com/blogs/view/?blog_id=4785

Add other thoughts, insight, notes as needed.

Super series in San Francisco between the Giants and Padres. San Fran wins 3-2 in 11 innings last night after San Diego took game 1 by 3-2 score.

Padres still producing and big bucks for their backers as well. San Diego holding a 2.5 game lead while also sporting the best record in the NL, 68-47.

I see some notes about the Padres dominance over the Giants this season (8-2) and some silly record about their 11-1 mark last 12 Sunday games. Tim Lincecum has lost his last two starts and been roughed up a bit.

Daytime baseball and runs a little easier to come by at AT&T Park during the day. Note that Giants starters have not registered a victory in their last 11 games, as San Fran's starting staff has posted a 0-6 record, 5.49 ERA and .311 BAA. Opponents have gon 20-23 in stolen bases against Lincecum, and the 20 allowed are 3rd most in NL.

Still, the way the Padres lost yesterday and now having to face the Giants Ace is not favorable IMO. That win by the Giants last night will have them feeling both relieved and very confident to hit better and support their ace. San Diego starter Wade LeBlanc is nothing special and he's faced some sub-par lineups on the road recently while allowing more hits per inning in most and no more than 6 innings pitched. Padres will need strong support from their bullpen today, yet six relievers pitched yesterday. Believe the Giants can get out and take the needed rubber game by a comfortable margin. Big price on the Giants and Lincecum, and I'll shoot at a plus price with the Giants on the run line.

Dodgers blasted by Braves yesterday 13-1 and now send Billingsley to the mound against Tommy Hanson in the finale.

Hanson has thrown 5-straight quality starts and allowed 2 runs or less each outing...yet has no wins over that stretch. Despite some strong numbers, Hanson is just 1-5 his last 10 starts with four no decisions. Interesting to note that Hanson has allowed the most stolen bases in the NL (24).

Since July 16, the Dodgers’ starters had combined for a stunning 2.48 ERA. For all their struggles early in the season, their rotation had suddenly become their strength.

Only now the Dodgers can’t hit. Not against aces or middle of the rotation guys or just about anyone from the bullpen.

Their offensive struggles have been more acute in Atlanta. In the first three games of this four-game series, the Dodgers have scored a total of three runs. And none were driven in via a hit. In the three games, the Dodgers have zero hits in 16 opportunities with runners in scoring position.

Dodgers blow another game and find yet another way to lose...3-2 to the Rockies in 10 innings yesterday.

Newly acquired reliever Octavio Dotel...my gosh. Three walks, three wild pitches, stolen base

O. Dotel relieved H. Kuo
- M. Olivo struck out swinging
- M. Mora walked
- E. Young struck out swinging, M. Mora stole second
- M. Mora to third on wild pitch
- D. Fowler walked
- J. Giambi hit for R. Spilborghs
- M. Mora scored, D. Fowler to second on wild pitch
- J. Giambi intentionally walked
- E. Rogers ran for J. Giambi
- D. Fowler to third, E. Rogers to second on wild pitch
- T. Tulowitzki grounded out to shortstop

Hey, good news for Dodgers. Lilly is the nuts again in 2-0 win over Rockies...complete game 2-hitter and 11 K's. Since arriving in LA, Lilly is 4-0 with four quality starts covering 28 innings, 4 runs allowed, 12 hits, 4 BB and 26 K's.

Okay, three of four at home against Nats, Padres, struggling Rockies lineup and same offensive struggles for Braves at Atlanta, but still impressive.

Okay, so LA is out of the race...12 games behind. But they'll be involved in battling the Padres and SF Giants down the stretch, playing each team six times.

Good bounce back by the Giants last night to snap 3-game skid and beat Cole Hamels at Philly, 5-2. Jonathan Sanchez was terrific going 8 strong and allowing just 2 hits. Incredibly, despite the Giants strong starting staff, Sanchez became the first San Francisco starting pitcher to record a win in 15 games.

“The last thing you want to do is dig yourself too big a hole. I thought this was a big game for the guys,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We came out after a tough series against San Diego at home, then lost the first two here. To get this last one against a very tough pitcher is big for this club.”

Like the Dodgers, the Rockies have been reeling. They have fallen 11 games back and now travel to Arizona to take on the last place D'Backs. Colorado has alternated wins and losses every game this month, but in six of their last nine games the Rockies have had batting averages of .129, .133, .176, .182, .200 and 0.71 last night at LA against the Dodgers. Colorado scored just three times in three games at LA, and now send little used starter Esmil Rogers to the hill. In four starts, Rogers has allowed 29 hits and 18 earned runs in 20 innings. On the road overall, opponents are slugging .341 against him and now he has to try and have success at one of the top hitters parks in the Majors, Chase Field...good luck.

Along with the Rockies recent struggles at the plate, they will now go to bat without their top hitter, Carlos Gonzalez. He ran face first into the right field wall Wed. night and "can't even walk."

http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_15834526


Ian Kennedy has allowed opponents to hit just .230 at home and has been pretty solid his last two road starts. Kennedy is the elite pitcher of the two and a fair price as favorite on 5-inning line. Snakes in five.