With favorable slate, Dodgers lead Super League at All-Star break

It was hard for the Dodgers to get into the Super League, but now that they're in, they've taken a pretty easy draw to the league lead at the 2021 All-Star break.

By couple of whiskers, the Dodgers missed out of the first season, 2019, of what we then were calling the Elite Division, but now are calling the Super League.

The Dodgers finished fifth in the 2018 First Division and barely lost out on the National League traveling championship. In each case, their downfall was the Arizona Diamondbacks, who finished barely ahead of the Dodgers in the First Division and the traveler. The main culprit was Arizona's 9-4 record against the Dodgers in games for the lineal title.

The Dodgers crept into the Super League for 2020 with their fourth-place finish in the 2019 First Division. Of course, we didn't actually play the Super League in 2020 (coronavirus, and all of that), so the 2021 Super League really is the 2020 Super League, a year late.

Here, the Dodgers received a quite favorable draw. They came to the All-Star break 20-9 in the Super League, first place. This occurred largely because about half of their games, 14 of them, came against the bottom two teams in these Super League standings, the Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals. The Dodgers were 13-1 in those games, so 7-8 against the rest of the Super League.

Hard to argue against the Nationals being in this Super League. They did, after all, win the World Series in 2019, the year from which they qualified. But we're picking it up two years later, rather than the usual one, and the Natties aren't the same team. 

The Rockies aren't one of the illustrious teams in the game, but they have been in both Super Leagues, 2019 and 2021, qualifying the first time in the pyramid and this time with a lineal championship. They barely finished last in the 2019 Super League (then called the Elite Division) by our adjusted winning percentage, but ended up one-half game out of the basement in that column, buttressed by the Boston Red Sox. This time, they are buttressed by the Nationals.

There's still a race here, but barely. The Dodgers had 23 games remaining in the Super League, 12 of them against Colorado. They also were slated for two games with the Houston Astros, three with the Philadelphia Phillies, three with the Atlanta Braves and, at the very end of the season, three at home against the Milwaukee Brewers. Those last four named are the next four teams in the standings, all coming to the break between  3½ and 4½ games behind the Dodgers.

Rockies rise to 2019 NL traveling title

The Colorado Rockies secured a berth in the 2021 Super League by winning the 2019 National League traveling championship on criteria.

Trying to work out the best way of determining the best lineal championship performance at the end of a sports season has proved, not surprisingly, to be a continuous process. Difficulties lie in many folds, for there are many ways to value these performances.

So, we'll keep tweaking until we think we have it right, or close enough to it. For the league-wide lineal baseball championships in 2019, we decided to make a slight adjustment, not in the criteria for determining the year's champion, but in the criteria for deciding which teams get to be considered.

For 2018, the first year, the requirement was at least two championships and at least three defenses, or one championship with six defenses. Second thoughts have ensued, complaining that the criteria under-valued championship defenses, which amounted to over-valuing championships (relative to defenses). Ideally, we want criteria that equally values challenging for the championship successfully, defending the championship successfully and competing successfully against the top contenders.

Anyway, the decision was made now to reduce the number of necessary defenses for a team with one championship down from six to four. So, two championships and three defenses comes to the same as one championship and four defenses. Either way, it's five series wins for the championship.

Along the same lines, then, we'll put the other qualifying levels at three championships with two defenses, four championships and one defense, and five championships with no defenses. In addition, however, any team that has won at least one championship will have its number of required defenses reduced by one if it has never failed a championship challenge. In other words, a team that only had one chance to challenge for the championship and succeeded needs only three defenses to qualify. A team with one title in two challenges still would need four defenses.

Tedious, we know, but it needs to be on the record. Going forward, that's how we'll run the lineal championships in baseball. We already have, however, published the inter-league championship for 2019, so we did that one the old way, but it would not have changed the outcome. In the National League, though, it amounted to two teams qualifying for the 2019 stat-off that would not have made it otherwise, and it made a difference.

Take a look again, if you'd like, at the standings and results from the National League in 2019, or any league in any year, and ask yourself which team should be named the champion. It's usually not obvious. We used to just eyeball it, but now we need a defensible decision method so we can have a more defensible decision, as the result of that decision determines a Super League berth for the next year.

First, as we've explained before, we have to decide which teams go into the criteria mix, in effect, becoming the finalists for the annual lineal championship. By the criteria we have just laid out, we get four clubs -- the Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals.

Now, we set out the criteria. All four teams are considered by each criterion. The best team gets the full point for the criterion. If two or more teams finish tied at the top in some category, they split the point evenly. We have seven criteria. The team with the most criteria points wins. If it's tied, then we go to head-to-team among the teams that are tied. If it's still tied after that, we declare co-champions and the Elite Division berth goes to the team that has gone longest since being in the Elite Division. If it's still tied after that, then we declare a co-champion and no team goes to the Elite Division.

Next, we lay out the criteria and list the team that won, with the winning total, or average, if that's what it is:

1. Most championships. (Colorado, 4).

2. Most title defenses per championship. (Washington, Milwaukee, four each).

3. Best winning percentage in traveling championship games. (Atlanta, .641).

4. Most victories per time playing for the championship. (Milwaukee, 2.375).

5. Most games as champion per time playing for the championship. (Washington, 2.43).

6. Fewest failed challenges. (Colorado, 0).

7. Head-to-head record in traveling championship games (Colorado, 10-4. Others were Atlanta 7-8, Washington 4-5 and Milwaukee 3-7).

Add it all up and the Rockies won three categories of the seven, Milwaukee and Washington each won 1.5 and Atlanta won one. 

Thus, the Rockies win the championship for the season, and the Elite Division berth, which they needed, as they didn't qualify in the pyramid.

We like the criteria system because if you ask the criteria why the Rockies won the championship, the criteria gives you a straight answer: Because the Rockies won the most titles, they won the title every time they challenged for it, they demolished the other contenders head-to-head for the title and no other team can make an equivalent case. All of that is right there in the information provided by the standings and results, but we need criteria to put that information through relevant questioning.

The Rockies did most of their work in April, taking the prize from the San Diego Padres on the road, then defending the championship four times. It would be the only four title defenses the Rockies would register all season, but three of them were against Atlanta, Milwaukee and Washington, saddling each with a failed challenge. That would loom huge on Criterion No. 6, which Colorado won almost entirely through that run of games.

The Rockies held on for 17 games of defense before losing it to the Arizona Diamondbacks in May. The Braves immediately snatched the prize from Arizona and tore out four defenses amounting to 15 games of title defense, pulling nearly even with the Rockies.

However, the Washington Nationals who took the championship with a two-game sweep from Atlanta May 28-29, then mounted a 17-game defense before the Braves took it back by winning two of three in Washington June 21-23. With the victory, the Braves not only stopped Washington at 17, but they also picked up the four games of defense, bringing themselves to the  lead at 19, when they immediately split four with the Chicago Cubs, who took the tiebreaker.

Colorado returned to the fray in July rather fortunately. After winning the prize from the Reds, the Rockies immediately lost four straight to the San Francisco Giants. So, they get dinged for failing to defend, but they still claimed four games of defense, launching ahead of the Braves with 21.

Another victory in late August added seven games for the Braves, bringing their total to 26 before they visited Colorado on Aug. 26 to make up a game postponed by weather in April. By simply winning that game, 3-1, on a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth, the Rockies also added four games of defense despite being immediately swept four games by the Pittsburgh Pirates, so now they were up to 25, needing one more to tie the Braves. In addition, the Rockies stopped the Braves from accumulating more numbers.

Within a week, the Milwaukee Brewers won the title with a four-game sweep of the Florida Marlins, starting a torrid 15-2 title run with four title defenses that took them all the way from nowhere to the criteria leader before they visited Colorado for the final series of the regular season, Sept. 27-29.

The stakes were clear. The winner of the series would win the lineal title for the year. After the Rockies claimed an 11-7 win in the opener, they clinched the next day with a 3-2 win on Trevor Story's tenth-inning homer against Matt Albers.

Giants consolidate Northwest lineal championship

Shortly after the All-Star break in 2019, the San Francisco Giants consolidated the Northwest Conference lineal championship. The playdown went down quickly and evenly.

If the play-down for the Northwest lineal baseball championship in 2019 is an indication, this is going to be an even competition.

By the time the championship was decided in late July, the Colorado Rockies, Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins and San Francisco Giants had each won four series with championship shares on the line. With only two exceptions, all the the lost series for the four leading clubs were against each other.

As the Giants and Rockies began a three-game series in San Francisco June 24-26, the Rockies held four shares of the Northwest lineal and the Giants held three. By winning two of three, the Rockies assumed seven of the eight championship shares. At that point, the only other share belonged to the Chicago White Sox.

The Chicago Cubs took that share away on total runs with a two-game split against the White Sox July 6-7. Ten days later, the Giants swept Colorado in Coors Field to take over those seven shares. The Giants and Cubs met with all the shares the next week in San Francisco, and the Giants won two of three to inaugurate the Northwest Conference lineal championship.

The Giants and Rockies traded the title back and forth, so the Giants ended the season holding the title. Because coronavirus compromised the Major League Baseball schedule considerably in 2020, this championship will resume in 2021.

 

Florida nudges Kings in continental hockey chase

The Florida Panthers assembled three continental traveling hockey championships in 2017-18. Though they did not defend them for long, the Panthers still totaled enough championship wins to lead the standings in the end.

Unlike most other sports, long winning streaks probably won't carry you through the continental traveling hockey championship, because long winning streaks almost never happen.

The longest winning streak in the history of this chase is a 12-game run by the Minnesota Wild in 2016-17. A handful of other teams have won six straight, but that's what passes for a long run of winning in pro hockey.

In 2017-18, the Kings and Colorado Avalanche each turned out streak of six wins. It wasn't enough for either of them to finish at the top of the continental standings. That position went to the Florida Panthers, who did it with volume. The Panthers led the standings with three championships, totaling nine games. The Kings and Avalanche each won two titles, with the Kings lasting for eight games and the Avs for seven.

A three-game championship for Florida ended with a 5-4 overtime loss at Tampa Bay on March 6. From that point, the top of the standings never changed as the title rattled around through the also-rans for the last month of the season. Among the contenders, only the Panthers even had  crack at the title, but they lost, 4-0, on the road to the defending champion Columbus Blue Jackets on March 22.

Nor did any of the other remaining games impact the all-time standings, which were tight at the top through 2017-18. The Wild held the most wins with 18, but the Panthers and New York Rangers were right there with 17, followed by Colorado with 15 and the Kings with 14.

BoSox, DBacks win Second Division bids for 2016

The Boston Red Sox rallied and the Arizona Diamondbacks held firm to finish 2015 as the top two clubs in the Third Division and win promotion for 2016. But the Colorado Rockies and Oakland Athletics are going down.

The Boston Red Sox won five of their last six games in the Third Division and rallied to the championship in 2015, overtaking the Minnesota Twins for promotion.

The Red Sox finished 16-10 in the Third Division to prevail over the Arizona Diamondbacks (21-16)  by one-half game.

The Arizona Diamondbacks finished second in the Third Division to take the second promotion to the Second Division for 2016. Ordinarily, placement is decided by winning percentage, but the Diamondbacks made it in on a rule that went into effect before the season to compensate for the inequities in baseball scheduling.

The rule says that if the third-place team by percentage finishes within one-half game of the top, plays 150 percent as many games as the second-place team by percentage, finishes ahead of that second-place percentage team in the games column and is within 20 percentage points of that second-place percentage team, then that third-place team by percentage gets second place and the promotion.

In this case, the Diamondbacks played 37 games, compared with 24 for the Twins. The DBacks finished one-half game behind the Red Sox, while the Twins finished one game behind. The Twins had the better winning percentage, .583 to .567.

The rule isn't ideal, but we have to work with what's really there. The Diamondbacks participated more fully in the Third Division than the Twins (or the Red Sox, for that matter) and won at a rate just below the Twins. We can argue with the rule, but we can't argue that the Diamondbacks don't deserve promotion.

The Twins led for much of the year, but stumbled out of a promotional spot by losing three of their last four while the Red Sox surged. The Chicago Cubs also came up fast, winning six of their last eight games.

The Cubs (12-10) and Seattle Mariners (22-20) finished in fourth, two games out.

The Colorado Rockies and Oakland Athletics were, without contest, the two lowest teams in the Third Division. Both are being relegated to the Fourth Division in 2016. Coming up from the Fourth Division are the New York Mets and the Chicago White Sox.

While the Red Sox and Diamondbacks go up to the Second Division in 2016, the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers are coming down from the Second Division to the Third Division.

Henry Aaron Award: Dodgers go for streak record

The Dodgers are making an impressive run with the Henry Aaron Award, defending it five straight times entering this weekend's series against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers now lead all clubs with 13 Aaron game victories and 15 games defending the championship.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly is leading his club to its best run of games ever with the Henry Aaron Award (pvsbond/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license).

By BILL PETERSON
Big Leagues in Los Angeles

The Dodgers were never particularly been a player in the Henry Aaron Award before 2015.

Entering this season, the Dodgers had won it five times — twice in 2011 and once each in 2012, 2013 and 2014. But in all those years, they only defended the prize twice in seven attempts.

So, the Dodgers are making history for themselves in 2015 with their present run of five straight title defenses entering this weekend's series against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers have established themselves as the team on top of the Aaron so far this year, 13-5 with 15 games of title defense entering the weekend.

The path hasn't exactly been challenging for the Dodgers in the last couple of weeks, which have included series against division cellar dwellers Colorado and the Milwaukee Brewers. But the Dodgers are beating those teams they have to beat and, when they don't beat them, they almost do. From the time the Dodgers won the Aaron from the San Diego Padres April 26-28 through May 14, the Dodgers lost five games, four of those by one run.

Against the Rockies, the Dodgers are going for their sixth straight Aaron title defense, which would tie the all-time record. The St. Louis Cardinals, who won the Aaron from the Texas Rangers in the 2011 World Series, defended it in their first attempts of the 2012 season, a total of six times.

In 2013, the Boston Red Sox won the Aaron by beating the Dodgers two-of-three at Dodger Stadium Aug. 23-25. The Red Sox then defended the title six straight times before losing it to the Baltimore Orioles two-of-three Sept. 17-19 in Baltimore. The Red Sox went all the way to win the World Series, but they didn't have the Aaron with them and the award retired with the regular season for the only time in its history.

2015 Henry Aaron Award results 

Total run tiebreakers, if applicable, are given at the end of the results.

San Francisco 2, Arizona 1 — April 6-8 at Arizona.
San Diego 3, San Francisco 1 — April 10-12 at San Diego.
San Diego 2, Arizona 1 — April 13-15 at San Diego.
San Diego 2, Chicago (NL) 1 — April 17-19 at Chicago.
San Diego 2, Colorado 2 — April 20-23 at Denver (San Diego, 26-16).
DODGERS 2, San Diego 1 — April 24-26 at San Diego.
DODGERS 2, San Francisco 1 — April 27-29 at Los Angeles.
DODGERS 3, Arizona 0 — May 1-3 at Los Angeles.
DODGERS 2, Milwaukee 2 — May 4-7 at Milwaukee (DODGERS, 28-16).
DODGERS 2, Colorado 0 — May 8-10 at Colorado.
DODGERS 2, Miami 1 — May 11-13 at Los Angeles.

2014 Fourth Division standings and summary

The Minnesota Twins and Colorado Rockies aren't for long staying in the Fourth Division. They finished one-two in the bottom tier in 2014, securing their advance back to the Third Division for 2015. The New York Mets, once again the second-place team, once again didn't win the 10 games they needed to advance.

By BILL PETERSON

Big Leagues in Los Angeles

The Minnesota Twins and Colorado Rockies must be joined at the hip. At the least, they are joined in the last three years of these standings.

The Twins and Rockies both were demoted from the Second Division to the Third Division for 2013, then from the Third Division to the Fourth Division for 2014.

Now, they're both headed back up to the Third Division  for 2015. The Twins won the 2014 Fourth Division outright at 18-14. The Rockies actually finished third, behind the New York Mets. However, the Mets, again, didn't win enough of their few games to earn promotion. They finished 9-7 and would have advanced with one more win. But they didn't get it.

Once more, the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox failed to advance, meaning the Astros will spend their fifth straight year in the Fourth Division, and the White Sox will be there for the fourth straight year.

2013 Third Division standings and summary

The Toronto Blue Jays finally are moving up from the Third Division after three straight near misses. They are joining the Cleveland Indians, who romped through this group. On the other side, the Minnesota Twins and Colorado Rockies are being demoted together for the second straight season. They're both headed to the Fourth Division in 2014.

By BILL PETERSON

Big Leagues in Los Angeles

The Toronto Blue Jays are the perennial bride's maids in the Third Division, never finishing more than two games from promotion in the first three years of these standings.

At last, they move up. The Jays finished 22-18 in 2013, second place in games (five behind), though third in winning percentage (.550). The Pittsburgh Pirates finished 9-7 and would have nosed out the Jays if they had won one more game.

The Cleveland Indians trounced through this group with a 28-14 mark, so they receive the first promotion to the Second Division in 2014. The Indians have climbed slowly, but steadily, needing two years to pass though the Fourth Division, then another two years to pass through the Third Division.

The Minnesota Twins and Colorado Rockies have become partners in futility. Both are being demoted for the second straight year, so they are headed to the Fourth Division in 2014. The Twins have fallen from the First Division to the Fourth Division in the shortest possible time, taking three straight demotions.

2012 Second Division standings and summary

As former Commissioner Bud Selig said, at least once, "Controversy is good." And was there ever controversy at the top of the Second Division in 2012. The Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves are going up in 2013, but the Los Angeles Angels had a complaint.

By BILL PETERSON

Big Leagues in Los Angeles

The Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers each won the Second Division, in some sense, during the 2012 season. Both are going to the First Division in 2013.

The Braves (14-7, .667) had the best winning percentage, but the Rangers finished two games ahead of the Braves. By the rules, the Braves and Rangers are being promoted, but the Los Angeles Angels have a gripe. They finished 1 1/2 games behind the Rangers, but their winning percentage was .590. In a case with one team winning the division by percentage points and another winning it by games, those two teams are promoted.

However, as the Rangers won in the games behind column and thereby won the first promotion, Angels supporters point out that the Angels then should be the second team promoted, as they finished ahead of the Braves. 

So, it was tough luck for the Angels. 

On the bottom side, the Minnesota Twins and Colorado Rockies finished in a tie for last place, so those are the teams being demoted in 2013.  The Twins are being demoted for the second straight year. The Rockies, an original First Division team in 2010, were quickly demoted for finishing last that year, and their fortunes have not improved.

2010 First Division standings and summary

The Boston Red Sox didn't go to the Major League playoffs in 2010, but they won the First Division, thanks largely to a combined 12-1 record against the two Los Angeles teams. The Angels barely escaped relegation to the Second Division for 2011, but the Dodgers weren't so lucky.

By BILL PETERSON
Big Leagues in Los Angeles

The eight clubs that went to the 2009 Major League playoffs were assigned to the First Division for 2010. Three of them — the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies — returned to the playoffs in 2010.

But it was the Boston Red Sox winning the 2010 First Divison by four games.

The Red Sox cleaned up on the Angels (9-1) and the Dodgers (3-0), then broke two games better than even against the rest of the First Division.

The Angels barely escaped relegation to the Second Division for 2011, but the Dodgers and Colorado Rockies did not. The Dodgers were 2-10 against American League teams in the First Division, sealing their demotion. The Rockies finished the Major League season 83-79, but they had losing seasons against every First Division team they played, except for their 2-1 mark against the Red Sox.

NL West: Dodgers, and no one else, according to WAR

The 2013 season went badly for most of the National League West. Only the Dodgers prospered and, if we subtract that 42-8 period, it wasn't so great for them, either. But the Dodgers are back with obviously the strongest team in the NL West for 2014, according to the 2013 WAR values of their 2014 players.

By WAR, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was the best player in the NL West for 2013, carding a 7.9 (kla4067/Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license).

By BILL PETERSON
Big Leagues in Los Angeles

If we're just looking at 2013 player value, there's no one else to look at but the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West this season.

If we're just looking at payroll, it's the Dodgers, who hold the new all-time record at $234 million. If we're just looking at 2013, it's the Dodgers.

The Dodgers certainly have areas of vulnerability, but they have no match within the NL West.

Following is a list of each team in the division, giving each club's "top half" position players by 2013 WAR, its "second-level" position players, its top-level pitchers and second-level pitchers. For the top-half position players, we give the player's position and where he ranked at the position across big league baseball in 2013 WAR, then the actual WAR value for the player. For every other category, we give the player's overall 2013 WAR ranking, understanding that pitchers and position players are ranked separately.

More about all of this, including some important clarifications, can be found here. Bear in mind, though, that the 2013 WAR totals for each club only include these top players, and every club will have players with little, no or negative WAR value that actually would drag down its totals.

Los Angeles Dodgers (50.1 in 2013 WAR)

Top-half position players — 1B: Adrian Gonzalez, 10, 3.9; SS: Hanley Ramirez, 2, 5.4; 3B: Juan Uribe, 7, 4.1; RF: Yasiel Puig, 3, 5.0; C: A.J. Ellis, 12, 2.3. Totals: five players, 20.7 WAR.

Second-level position players — Andre Ethier, 90, 2.7; Carl Crawford, 154, 1.8; Scott Van Slyke, 214, 0.9; Justin Turner, 215, 0.9. Totals: four players, 6.3 WAR.

Top-level pitchers — Clayton Kershaw, 1, 7.9; Zack Greinke, 25, 3.9; Hyun-jin Ryu, 37, 3.3; Kenley Jansen, 62, 2.6; J.P. Howell, 118, 1.6. Totals: five players, 19.4 WAR.

Second-level pitchers — Paco Rodriguez, 126, 1.5; Jamey Wright, 188, 0.9; Chris Withrow, 214, 0.7; Brian Wilson, 230, 0.6. Totals: four pitchers, 3.7 WAR.

With three starting pitchers among the top 37 by 2013 WAR, the Dodgers are loaded in front of their pitching staff. With six relievers on this list, they are loaded in their bullpen.

Who would have ever thought the Dodgers would put four outfielders on these lists, and none of them would be Matt Kemp?

These categories show us that the Dodgers still have areas of need, particularly second base, where they are trying Dee Gordon at the moment. But they still have fewer holes than anyone else around.

Arizona Diamondbacks (42.9 in 2013 WAR)

Top-level position players — 1B: Paul Goldschmidt, 2, 7.0; 3B: Martin Prado, 15, 2.3; RF; Cody Ross, 12, 2.5; CF: Gerardo Parra, 4, 6.1; A.J. Pollock, 11, 3.5; LF: Mark Trumbo, 14, 2.2. Totals: six players, 23.6 WAR

Second-level position players — Mark Trumbo, 125, 2.2; Cliff Pennington, 151, 1.8; Aaron Hill, 198, 1.1. Totals: three players, 5.1 WAR.

Top-level pitchers — Patrick Corbin, 57, 2.8; Bronson Arroyo, 66, 2.5; Brad Ziegler, 109, 1.7. Totals: three pitchers, 7.0 WAR.

Second-level pitchers — Wade Miley, 135, 1.4; Addison Reed, 161, 1.2; J.J. Putz, 197, 0.9; Josh Collmenter, 200, 0.9; Will Harris, 206, 0.8; Matt Reynolds, 219, 0.7; Trevor Cahill, 225, 0.7; Joe Thatcher, 231, 0.6. Totals: eight pitchers, 7.2 WAR.

This everyday lineup has nice depth, though the Diamondbacks need a big bounce-back season from catcher Miguel Montero, barely a replacement player last year with 0.1 WAR. Also, Cody Ross is out of the picture right now as he tries to come back from a nasty hip contusion.

The starting rotation is weak, especially with Corbin missing the entire season with Tommy John surgery. Fortunately, the Diamondbacks signed Bronson Arroyo, who was about as good last year.

Colorado Rockies (43.1 in 2013 WAR)

Top-half position players — SS: Troy Tulowitzki, 3, 5.3; 3B; Nolan Arenado, 3.9; LF: Carlos Gonzalez, 2, 5.0; C: Wilin Rosario, 13, 2.3. Totals: four players, 16.5 WAR.

Second-level players — Michael Cuddyer, 137, 2.0; Justin Morneau, 138, 2.0; Brandon Barnes, 159, 1.7; DJ LeMahieu, 179, 1.4; Charlie Blackmon, 224, 0.8; Corey Dickerson, 230, 0.7. Six players, 8.6 WAR.

Top-level pitchers — Jhoulys Chacin, 9, 5.9; Jorge De La Rosa, 19, 4.3; Tyler Chatwood, 33, 3.4; Adam Ottavino, 78, 2.2. Totals: four pitchers, 15.8 WAR.

Second-level pitchers: — Wilton Lopez, 195, 0.9; Boone Logan, 225, 0.7; Matt Belisle, 239, 0.6. Totals: three pitchers, 2.2 WAR.

There is some talent here. The Rockies have 10 position players between the two position player lists, where the average club would have eight. And, because WAR accounts for park factors, these players aren't inflated by Coors Field. The Rockies should score some runs.

The Rockies have three All-Star level performers in Tulowitzki, Gonzalez and Chacin. They've got value throughout the lineup. Behind Chacin in the rotation, the Rox are in good shape with De La Rosa and Chatwood, but they could use a couple more. The bullpen has some nice performers, especially Ottavino.

It doesn't seem that there's quite enough here. In particular, there's to be no obvious relief closer. But this is a decent club that could rally to a playoff spot, if all breaks right.

San Diego Padres (32.2 in 2013 WAR)

Top-half position players — 2B: Jedd Gyorko, 2.2; SS; Everth Cabrera, 11, 2.8; 3B: Chase Headley, 11, 3.4; RF: Chris Denorfia, 6, 4.3; CF: Will Venable, 15, 3.2. Totals: five players, 15.9 WAR.

Second-level position players — Carlos Quentin, 140, 2.0; Yonder Alonso, 189, 1.2; Nick Hundley, 211, 0.9; Tommy Medica, 225, 0.8. Totals: four players, 4.9 WAR.

Top-level pitchers — Joaquin Benoit, 53, 2.8; Andrew Cashner, 70, 2.4; Alex Torres, 96, 1.9. Totals: three pitchers, 7.1 WAR.

Second-level pitchers — Tyson Ross,155, 1.3; Nick Vincent, 170, 1.2; Huston Street, 183, 1.0; Eric Stults, 210, 0.8. Totals: four pitchers, 4.3 WAR.

As always under manager Bud Black, the Padres have to pitch, run the bases and play defense. They can put a lineup together just from these lists, which is more than some other last place clubs from 2013 can say. However, the game does involve hitting, and the lack of a big bat is poison, even if the Padres are playing in a pitcher's park.

When you play in a pitcher's park, though, it helps to have pitchers, and the Padres are short on pitchers who can take the ball at the start of the game. Andrew Cashner is a big arm in front of the rotation, but he only has 33 career starts, including the 2014 opener against the Dodgers, and there's not much behind him. The bullpen has some achievement between Benoit, Torres, Vincent and Street. However, the last couple spots in the rotation and the bottom shelf pitchers in the bullpen stand to lose games for the Padres before their better relievers will be able to save them.

San Francisco Giants (35.2 in 2013 WAR)

Top-level position players — 1B: Brandon Belt, 7, 4.4; 2B: Marco Scutaro, 12, 2.4; SS: Brandon Crawford, 14, 2.4; 3B: Pablo Sandoval, 14, 2.5; RF: Hunter Pence, 8, 4.1; C: Buster Posey, 2, 5.2. Totals: six players, 21.0 WAR.

Second-level position players — Gregor Blanco, 101, 2.6; Juan Perez, 196, 1.1; Angel Pagan, 212, 1.0; Joaquin Arias, 219, 0.8. Totals: four players, 5.5 WAR.

Top-level pitchers — Madison Bumgarner, 26, 3.9. Totals: one pitcher, 3.9 WAR.

Second-level pitchers — Santiago Casilla, 176, 1.1; Tim Hudson, 180, 1.0; Jean Machi, 181, 1.0; Javier Lopez, 186, 1.0; Sergio Romo, 214, 0.7. Totals, five pitchers, 4.8 WAR.

We always say the Giants will go as far as their pitching takes them. If that's true, based on these lists, the Giants can't go far.

Starting pitchers Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Ryan Vogelsong aren't even on these lists. Their decline in 2013 explains plenty about how the Giants fell so far last season. If they can rebound, that changes everything. But we have to see it first.

Good everyday lineup here with six players in the top half of their positions across the big leagues. And the Giants always bring fire out of their bullpen.

Bruce Bochy is about as good as it gets for a field manager. And it remains that the Giants have won two of the last four World Series. See how it goes.

Editor's note: All numbers in this piece are from or are extrapolated from Baseball-Reference.com, unless otherwise indicated.

50 wins on July 1: Playoffs likely for Boston, Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox each have 50 wins on July 1. History says that means each will last to at least the playoffs. History also says the World Championship is an unlikely outcome for either club.

Boston's Dustin Pedroia, left, and Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen, right (Keith Allison/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license).

By BILL PETERSON

Big Leagues in Los Angeles

At the start of business on July 1, we note two major surprises on top of the baseball standings. The Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates not only are both in first place, but both already have banked at least 50 victories.

The Pirates are, 51-30, the best record in the game. The Red Sox, 50-34, hold the best record in the American League.

Neither team has significantly invested in free agent signings. Nor has either team been through what we might call a phased rebuilding.

The Pirates have lurched along without a winning record for 20 years. In 2010, they won 57 games for the whole season. However, in the last few years, after going on nearly two decades of drought in their player development system, they have produced quality performers such as Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez and Starling Marte. They have improved themselves around the edges by adding in the likes of Russell Martin, Gaby Sanchez, Wandy Rodriguez and Francisco Liriano. The Pirates brought in a firm rotation anchor with the A.J. Burnett acquisition, in which they helped the New York Yankees dump part of a salary. They really have improved by inches, rather than miles. And they finally found a manager, Clint Hurdle, who has a winning touch. Put it all together and the Pirates lead a very competitive National League Central division.

The Red Sox were a force in the American League from the start of the present divisional alignment until September 2011, when they had their infamous collapse with a 7-20 finish. They figured out last year, when they won 69 games, that their clubhouse was too wealthy and complacent. They shed salaries and brought in veteran war horses like Stephen Drew, Shane Victorino and Mike Napoli, really not exciting anyone. But all of those players have a little bit of magic this year, and huge contributions from bit players like Daniel Nava, Jose Iglesias and Mike Carp have made the Red Sox a deep club. And they have two stars, Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz, who are playing like it.

Neither team walked in with blue prints making so much sense that anyone could see that they just had to work. But the standings tell us they're working. And history suggests something more: they're probably going to keep working. At least to the playoffs. Starting with 1996, the first full season under the present divisional alignment, 23 teams have arrived on July 1 with 50 or more wins. Only four have failed to reach the playoffs. All but six ended up winning their divisions. Of those 17 division winners, nine reached 100 or more victories.

Once the playoffs begin, though, it's a different story. Of the 23 clubs starting from 1995 that reached 50 wins by July 1, only six reached the World Series. And only two of those won it. In 1998, the New York Yankees had an incredible year, finishing 114-48 and winning their first of three straight World Series. Then, we saw a flash in the pan, the 2005 Chicago White Sox, who started strong and ended strong, sweeping the Houston Astros in a four-game World Series, little to be heard from again.

Here's the list, year by year.

1996: The Atlanta Braves were 50-30 on July 1, but only three games ahead of the Montreal Expos in the National League East. The Braves ended 96-66, won the NL East, then lost the World Series to the New York Yankees in six games after winning the first two in New York by a combined score of 16-1.

1997: The Baltimore Orioles were 51-27 in July 1, 5 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees in the American League East. The Braves were 52-29, 3 1/2 up on the Florida Marlins in the NL East. The Orioles held on and won their division by two games over the Yankees at 98-64. But the Orioles lost the American League Championship Series (ALCS) in six games to the Cleveland Indians. The Braves continued their surge to finish 101-61, nine games ahead of the Marlins in the NL East. However, the Marlins got the better of the Braves in the National League Championship Series (NLCS), then beat Cleveland in a seven-game World Series.

1998: The Braves, again, were dominant, 54-29 on July 1, 8 1/2 games ahead of the New York Mets in the NL East. But the Yankees were legendary, 56-20, 10 games ahead of Boston in the AL East. Both teams continued their dominance through the regular season. The Braves finished 106-56, 18 games in front of the Mets. But they lost to the San Diego Padres in a six-game NLCS. The Yankees finished 114-48, the best 162-game record in history to that point, 22 games ahead of the Red Sox. The Yankees went on to enjoy an 11-2 postseason, including a four-game sweep of the Padres in the World Series.

1999: The Indians were 50-26 on July 1, leading the AL Central by 12 1/2 games over the Chicago White Sox. They finished 97-65, 21 1/2 games ahead of Chicago, but fell in a five-game divisional series to the wild card Red Sox.

2000: This time, it was the White Sox turn to start fast in the AL Central, reaching 50-29 on July 1 for a 9 1/2-game lead on the Indians. The Indians surged in the second half, but the White Sox still won the division at 95-67 before losing the first round of the playoffs in a three-game sweep by the wild card Seattle Mariners.

2001: It was all about the Mariners, who were 58-21 on July 1, a full 20 games ahead of the Oakland Athletics and the Anaheim Angels. The Mariners did not let up in the second half and finished 116-46, the best record ever for 162 games. But the Athletics were even better in the second half, 64-19, ending with 102 wins and the wild card berth with the AL's second-best record. Both teams knuckled under to the Yankees in the playoffs, the A's in the first round and the Mariners in a five-game ALCS. But the Yankees couldn't complete the run in the shadow of Sept. 11, falling to Arizona in a seven-game World Series.

2002: A very strange year, with four teams hitting 50 wins before July 1. Two of them didn't even reach the playoffs.

In the American League, it was the Yankees (50-31) and the Mariners (51-30). In the National League, it was the Braves (51-30) and the Dodgers (50-31). With their great start, the Mariners still led the Angels by only 3 1/2 and the Athletics by only five games in the NL West. Both teams rallied in the second half. The A's put up a 57-24 and took the division with 103 wins. The Angels claimed the wild card with a 52-30 second half and a 99-63 overall record. The Mariners were only 42-39 after July 1, finishing 10 games behind the Athletics and missing the playoffs completely. The Yankees led the Red Sox by only two on July 1, but kept it up and finished at 104-57, winning the division by 10 1/2 games. The Minnesota Twins beat the Athletics in the first round of the playoffs, while the Angels cut out the Yankees. The Angels beat the Twins in a five-game ALCS before defeating San Francisco in a seven-game World Series.

In the National League, the Braves were off to their typical start and led the Expos by 8 1/2 games in the NL East on July 1. The Dodgers were a similar story to Seattle, leading the NL West by only 1 1/2 games on Arizona and 4 1/2 games on the Giants on July 1. The Dodgers were 42-39 in the second half, during which the Giants and Diamondbacks each won 50. Arizona won the division and San Francisco claimed the wild card. The Dodgers finished third in the division at 92-70. The Braves put up another 50 wins in the second half and finished 101-61, 19 games ahead of Philadelphia. However, the Giants beat the Braves in the divisional round and ultimately lost the World Series to the Angels.

2003: A lot of themes that we've seen in these last few years repeated themselves one final time here. On July 1, the Mariners (53-28), Yankees (52-30) and Braves (51-29) were cruising with comfy divisional leads. Once again, it was not to be for the Mariners. Oakland, down seven games on July 1, were 50-31 from that point, while the Mariners were 40-41. The A's won the AL West at 96-66, three in front of the Mariners, who again  missed the playoffs. The Yankees kept it going, though, winning the AL East by six games at 101-61. The Yankees ultimately won the AL pennant,  beating the wild card Red Sox in a seven-game ALCS. The Braves finished 101-61, winning the NL East by 10 games over the wild card Marlins. But the Braves lost their first playoff round to a Chicago Cubs team that finished the regular season only 88-74. The Marlins, for the second time in seven years, took the wild card to the World Championship, beating the Yankees in a six-game World Series.

2005: The White Sox were 53-24 on July 1, leading Minnesota by 10 1/2 games in the AL Central. Cleveland played a 51-34 second half and put a scare into the Sox, but it was only temporary. The White Sox won the division at 99-63, then finished off an 11-1 postseason by sweeping the Houston Astros in a four-game World Series.

2006: A super hot race took place in the AL Central. On July 1, the White Sox were back at 52-27, but they trailed 55-25 Detroit by 2 1/2 games. The Twins sat in a distant third, 11 games down. But the Twins were 53-31 in the second half and won the division at 96-66, one game ahead of the Tigers. The White Sox fell out of it completely at 90-72. The Tigers went to the World Series, where they lost in five games to an 83-78 St. Louis Cardinals club.

2007: The Angels were the hot starters, 50-31 on July 1 with a four-game lead on Seattle in the AL West. The Angels also had the division's best record for the remainder of the season and won it at 94-68. But the Angels lost in their first playoff round to the Red Sox, who ultimately beat the Colorado Rockies in a four-game World Series.

2008: A new team made the scene here. The Tampa Bay Rays were 50-32 on July 1, 1 1/2 games ahead of Boston in the AL East. In the National League, the Chicago Cubs were 50-33, 2 1/2 up on St. Louis in the NL Central. Both clubs continued their winning ways through September. The Rays won the AL East at 97-65, while the Cubs won the NL Central at 98-64. But the Cubs lost to the Dodgers in the first round of the playoffs. The Rays went all the way to the World Series, where they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games.

2011: It was all Phillies through September. On July 1, they were 51-31. At the end of the regular season, they were 102-60, winning the NL East by 13 games on Atlanta. But the Phillies fell to St. Louis in the divisional round, then the Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers in a seven-game World Series.

2012: The Rangers were tearing it up on July 1, 50-29, 6 1/2 games ahead of the second place Angels. But the Athletics were 57-26 after that point to finish 94-68, one game ahead of Texas for the AL West title. The Rangers settled for the second wild card and their dismal finish ended with a one-game loss to the Orioles.

Where we've seen clubs win 50 by July 1, only to lose the division, the circumstances usually involved close competitors who heated up in the second half. As far as the Pirates and Red Sox are concerned, the close competitors part of it is in play. The Pirates are only two games ahead of St. Louis in the NL Central, while the Red Sox are only 2 1/2 ahead of Baltimore in the AL East. Furthermore, the Red Sox and Pirates also have to watch for real challengers from down in the division. The Cincinnati Reds are positioned as the NL's second wild card, though they're 5 1/2 behind Pittsburgh in the NL Central. In the AL East, there is no team that can be counted out.

Thus, the Pirates and Red Sox both are susceptible to being caught. But history says it is unlikely. Until the World Series. If they get that far.

Dodgers become the whipping boys of NL West

Many believed the Dodgers would win the National League West in 2013. Most of those who didn't thought the Dodgers would, at least, contend. The few who are left over figured the Dodgers would at least win a few within the division. As it turns out, everyone has been wrong about the Dodgers, who are 9-22 against the National League West.

(KennethHan/public domain image)

By BILL PETERSON

Big Leagues in Los Angeles

As it happens, there is one factor that accounts, more than any other, for the failure of the Dodgers in 2013. And everyone on the West Coast knows what it is.

The Dodgers are the whipping boys of the region. They can't win in their own neighborhood. No wonder they're in last place. No wonder they're the only team in the National League West that isn't within three games of the top.

We might be willing to give the Dodgers a pass for their 6-3 loss in San Diego Thursday evening. The Dodgers flew across country from New York overnight to reach San Diego, where the Padres greeted them with defensive gem after defensive gem. It just wasn't going to be for the Dodgers. In every team's season, there are about 50 games per year that are going to be losses, no matter what, and Thursday was one of those days for the Dodgers.

But the Dodgers can't be passed for their work, generally, against the Padres this season. Nor, for that matter, can the Dodgers be passed for their work against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Colorado Rockies or the San Francisco Giants.

The Dodgers are 9-22 now against the National League West. That's not a misprint. A good many people thought the Dodgers would win this division in 2013. Even those who didn't expect the Dodgers to win this division figured they would at least compete for the title. And the very few left who didn't even think the Dodgers would compete for the division title were certain that the Dodgers would win their fair share of games within the division.

Instead, we're getting 9-22. 

Offensively, this year, the Dodgers are scoring 3.56 runs per game with a .697 OPS. Both of those numbers are in the bottom half of the National League.

But against NL West competition, the Dodgers are even worse. 

Against the Diamondbacks, the Dodgers have a .720 OPS, but it does them little good, as they have scored only 29 runs in nine games, averaging 3.22 runs per game. The Giants have held the Dodgers below their meager league marks in both categories. The defending World Champions have kept the Dodgers to a .680 OPS and 20 runs in six games, and average of 3.33 runs per game. 

The Dodgers play half of their games against Colorado in Coors Field, known far and wide for inflating offensive totals. And so it goes for the Dodgers, to some degree, for they have scored 26 runs in six games against Colorado, an average of 4.33 runs per game. But their OPS against Colorado still is only .689. Against San Diego, the Dodgers have a .762 OPS, their best mark within the division. But putting people on base and hitting doubles seems to not help the Dodgers score against anyone, and the Padres are no exception. Dodgers have scored 33 runs in 10 games against the Padres, 3.3 runs per game. 

Pitching hasn't been as awesome for the Dodgers as they had hoped, but it hasn't been the root of their problem, either. The Dodgers have a staff ERA of 3.83, just a tick beneath the league average of .3.80. Then again, when you look at the Dodgers' offensive scoring averages against the NL West, you know that giving up 3.8 earned runs per game is going to lose a lot more games than it will win. 

Unfortunately, Dodgers pitching isn't even that good against the NL West. Their ERAs against NL West opponents this season are 4.37 against Arizona, 6.09 against Colorado, 5.11 against San Diego and, finally, against the Giants, a respectable 3.44.

The Dodgers have fallen to their low water mark this season, 11 games below .500 at 30-41. They remain tantalizingly close, only 8 1/2 games out of first place in a division where no team has been able to take command. But that's no reason to think the Dodgers can put together a surge and jump into the race.

Not unless or until they can beat the teams within the division.

A brief comparison of the Dodgers and Angels

The Angels and Dodgers finally meet Monday through Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. Both clubs are hot and in the hunt. They also have common opponents and circumstances, enough so that we can all-but-directly compare them a bit before they step on the same field.

By BILL PETERSON
Big Leagues in Los Angeles

In this corner, it's harder to live with interleague play between the two leagues than with the designated hitter within one. But we must live with interleague play, so you shall here witness one man's desperate effort to make a virtue of a necessity.

The Angels and Dodgers will meet for three this week at Dodger Stadium and three more next week at Angel Stadium with a real question before us right now about which club is better. Both are in the tie on top of the major leagues at 19-11 in their last 30 games. The Dodgers have maintained the best record in baseball without Matt Kemp. The Angels are actually hotter than that, 14-4 as they've surged to within three games of the Texas Rangers in the American League West.

These games should draw considerable interest across the baseball world, as they involve two of the game's sharpest clubs. We could just argue about which one is better, but now we'll have them play a few games first, then pick up the argument later.

Entering the series, due to the interleague play that makes it possible, we already have an interesting basis for comparing the two clubs, because they have played two of the same opponents under similar conditions in the last ten days. Both have played the Seattle Mariners with the designated hitter in pitchers parks, while both have played the Colorado Rockies without the designated hitter in the ultimate hitter's park, Coors Field.

We present, then, a few tables, just for the purpose of momentary compare and contrast, maybe to give us some clues about what to expect when the Dodgers and Angels meet. There's nothing of an evergreen nature to be learned here. They're just snapshots of the two teams in pretty nearly the same conditions at the same time.

The Dodgers played in Colorado June 1-3. The Angels played Seattle at Angel Stadium June 4-6. Then, June 8-10, the Angels played three in Colorado and the Dodgers played three at Seattle. The Angels have a slight advantage in playing Seattle at home. Checking the park factors, where 100 is average and the higher number favors hitters, Safeco Field's multi-year number for pitchers is 93, Angel Stadium's number for pitchers is 95, and Colorado's number for hitters is 117.

The uncommon opponents in the last ten days: The Angels played three at home against Texas June 1-3, while the Dodgers played four in Philadelphia June 4-7. Both teams were successful in those endeavors. The Angels won two of three to push their case with the Rangers, and the Dodgers swept the depleted Phillies.

So, just taking together the six games the Angels and Dodgers each played against Seattle and Colorado, here is how they hit.

Team	AB	R	H	HR	BB	SO	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	LOB
Angels	218	46	75	12	21	43	3	7	7	.344	.402	.569	.971	44
Dodgers	199	27	48	4	24	39	8	9	2	.241	.320	.367	.687	38

Doesn't seem to be much of a contest. The Angels are bashing the ball and the Dodgers are struggling offensively. Note the walk and strikeout totals. The Dodgers are supposed to be the club working the approach of Joe Torre's Yankees, taking the deep count and the walk get into the bullpen, while the Angels are supposed to be about working the good count to put the ball in play and making the game move. But, here, the Angels are close to the Dodgers in both of those categories, walks and strikeouts, and look at what they are doing offensively.

Cleveland leads the major leagues in walks per game at 3.81, followed by the New York Mets (3.68), Tampa Bay (3.62), Arizona (3.58) and the Dodgers (3.52). Pittsburgh (2.22) is the worst walking team, followed by Philadelphia (2.38), the Chicago White Sox (2.52), Kansas City (2.57), and the Angels (2.69). But here we see the Angels walking about like the Dodgers for the last week, and hitting better than the Dodgers have hit all year.

Breaking it down a tiny bit further, here is how both clubs hit against the Mariners in pitchers parks. Bear in mind that Safeco Field (multi-year park factor of 95 for pitchers) is, like Angel Stadium, a pitchers park.

Team and opponent	AB	R	H	HR	BB	SO	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	LOB
Angels vs. Mariners	102	18	33	6	11	21	4	1	1	.324	.385	.569	.953	22
Dodgers vs. Mariners	98	16	25	2	10	20	6	4	2	.255	.321	.357	.678	13

Clearly, the Angels hit much more in their games with the Mariners. Mix in a futile night for the Dodgers, who were no-hit by six Seattle pitchers on June 8. Yet, for the three games in total for each team against the Mariners, the Angels scored only two more runs. The Angels did not score as much as they could have for as much as they hit. Though they hit six homers in the three games, they only scored 18 and left 22 on base. The Dodgers homered only twice, but they scored 16 and left 13. The Dodgers' two homers were early daggers -- Andre Ethier's second inning grand slam on Sunday, and Jerry's Hairston's three-run blast in the first inning the day before then. For all that general advantage in hitting, the Angels lost two of their three to Seattle, against which the Dodgers won two of their three.

Perhaps how both of these teams batted at Coors Field gives us some idea of where these teams are at offensively. Or maybe not.

Team and opponent	AB	R	H	HR	BB	SO	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	LOB
Angels at Colorado	116	28	42	6	10	22	3	6	2	.362	.419	.569	.988	22
Dodgers at Colorado	101	11	23	2	14	19	2	5	0	.228	.319	.376	.695	25

Has anyone ever heard of a club going into Coors Field and stinking up the place offensively like the Dodgers in that series? That is embarrassing. Two home runs in three games at Coors Field? The Dodgers did a fine job of walking and not striking out, but they hit so little that they only scored 11 and left 25 stranded. The Dodgers were on such an emotional low, having just been swept four at home by Milwaukee, losing the cushion they built during a well-played run at home and learning that Kemp was going back on the disabled list. Not even Coors Field could cure their hitters. Just 11 runs in three games. And they still won one of them.

The Angels are just killing the ball, slugging .569 wherever they go. Torii Hunter might want to consider Colorado as his free agency destination this winter. He finished his Coors Field engagement nine for 15 (.600) with eight runs, three homers and nine RBI. Subtracting his homers so they aren't counted twice, Hunter scored or drove in more runs (14) in his three games at Coors Field than the Dodgers (11). By that measure, also, Hunter was half of the Angels offense in the Colorado series, a three-game sweep for the Angels concluded on Sunday.

So, that's the hitting in these six common games for each team. The Dodgers won three of theirs despite not hitting a lick, while the Angels lost two of theirs despite hitting like a lineup of Hall of Famers. Maybe the pitching has something to do with those outcomes. So, here is the composite pitching for both teams in the six common games.

Team	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA	IR	IS	SB	CS	GDP
Angels	54.0	60	32	30	18	43	10	5.00	6	33%	2	1	3
Dodgers	51	44	24	19	25	51	5	3.35	10	10%	5	2	3

That line for the Angels looks like it belong to a pitching staff that just did six of six games at Coors Field, rather than three of six. The pitching line for the Dodgers looks like it belongs to a staff that just did zero of six games at Coors Field, rather than three of six. What's funny about it is that these two pitching staffs did nearly the same at Coors Field.

Team and opponent	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA	IR	IS	SB	CS	GDP
Angels at Colorado	27.0	33	15	15	5	23	7	5.00	1	0%	1	0	3
Dodgers at Colorado	25.0	27	18	13	14	18	3	4.68	6	17%	4	1	3

For all major league teams this year, the combined earned run average at Coors Field is 5.79, nearly two runs higher than the era of 3.98 for all big league games at all parks. So, that 4.68 for the Dodgers is looking pretty good, and that 5.00 for the Angels isn't bad, either. Of course, both clubs have better than average pitching. The Dodgers stayed away from throwing the home run ball pretty well, apparently by staying away from throwing strikes. The Dodgers gave away an awful lot in their series at Coors Field. We already saw it with the hitting, and now we see it in their pitching and defense -- four stolen bases, just less than five walks per game and five unearned runs in the three games, of which they lost two.

Perhaps more than any other factor entering this week's games between the Angels and Dodgers, we look to the Angels pitching staff, which has been in a blue funk for the last week, ever since they completed their series with the Rangers. One might look at these Coors Field numbers for the Angels and say, "Well, that's Coors Field." However, just as the Dodgers and Angels have very similar pitching numbers at Coors Field this month, the Angels have very similar pitching numbers at Coors Field and their own home park this week. Here are the pitching numbers for the Angels and Dodgers during the last week against Seattle. The Angels played these games at home, while the Dodgers played them in Seattle.

Team and opponent	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA	IR	IS	SB	CS	GDP
Angels vs. Seattle	27.0	27	17	15	13	20	3	5.00	5	40%	1	1	0
Dodgers vs. Seattle	26.0	17	6	6	11	33	2	2.08	4	0%	1	1	0

Such a peculiar week it's been for the Dodgers. They began their road trip looking dead in Colorado because they didn't hit. But their pitching there, on the whole, was very effective. Then, the Dodgers received, perhaps, exactly what they needed. It seems like they've been playing the same teams and in the same places for two months. Suddenly, they fly across the country to Philadelphia and sweep four games, taking three of them by one run and allowing a total of 12 runs in the series. Next, they fly back across the country to Seattle and play the very next day. So, the Mariners threw a no-hitter at them. But the Angels, who had just played Seattle, beat into the Mariners bullpen a little bit. When the Mariners needed five relievers to protect a 1-0 win in the no-hitter, their pen had little left for the next two games against the Dodgers, who scored eight runs in each of them. In the first of those games, the Dodgers smashed left hander Jason Vargas for five runs in six innings using a lineup that alternated left- and right-handed hitters throughout. The same general lineup enabled the Dodgers to chase Philadelphia lefty Cole Hamels in an 8-3 win two days earlier. So, in the midst of their travels, the Dodgers might have discovered a lineup mix that can solve their troubles against left handers.

Meanwhile, pitching at home against a fairly light hitting Seattle club in a pitchers park, the Angels racked up a 5.00 ERA as they lost two of three to the last-place team in their own division. When the Angels were going badly, we were able to credit their pitching for keeping them in games. Now that they're going well, though, their hitting is terrific and their pitching takes them out of games. In this mix of Seattle games, the Angels got one dreadful start from Ervin Santana and a bad start from Jerome Williams. Despite scoring 21 runs in the three games, the Angels lost two of them.

Playing Monday through Wednesday at pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium, the Angels do not have hot pitching, but the Dodgers do. However, the Angels have hot hitting and the Dodgers don't. They say that good pitching beats good hitting. How does hot pitching do against hot hitting? Maybe, we're about to find out.