With June in full swing and the All-Star break coming up fast, the NL West continues to look like a two team race between the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks. The Giants have been seriously besieged by injury but have still managed to find ways to win, most of the time via their exceptional bullpen, or something short of an act of God. But let's take a closer look at the standings and see where this division in heading.
The Giants fell in extras to the D'backs on Thursday, leaving them with only a 1.5 game lead instead of a possible 3.5 game lead. The Rockies remain in third place looking to make a charge, 5.5 games behind the Giants but winners of their last two. The Dodgers continue to struggle after losing their last three games, dropping 8.5 games back and eight games under .500 at 31-39. And unlike the magical 2010 Padres, the 2011 Padres 'are who we thought they were' as Denny Green would say, a full ten games under .500 and 9.5 games back of the Giants.
Interleague play could really throw a wrench in the works of the NL West with the Rockies taking on the Tigers, Diamondbacks taking on the White Sox, Dodgers taking on the Astros, Padres taking on the Twins, and of course, Giants taking on the A's. Should be a great weekend of baseball. Can't wait!
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