Giants are Biggest Threat to Dodgers
Chris Bahr - SportingNews.com
Aug 20, 2009
Not too long ago, most thought the NL West already was won. Entering August, the Dodgers had an eight-game lead and appeared to be on cruise control. And that was after they had lost four of five to close July. However, all they are cruising toward now is their first losing month of the season and a possible collapse. Entering Thursday's play, Los Angeles' lead is down to 3 1/2 games over Colorado and 4 1/2 games over San Francisco. So, which gaining competitor should concern the Dodgers more?
Stan McNeal argues that the Rockies are the team L.A. should fear, but Chris Bahr makes his case for the Giants:
In the end, Los Angeles still should win the NL West. Despite some cracks in their rotation, the Dodgers have a better all-around team than the Giants or Rockies. Every team hits a rough patch at some point in the season, and this is the rough patch for Los Angeles. Sure, a month-long cold spell is alarming, but the Dodgers still entered today's play with the best record in the National League. The team's success in its first 100 games was no accident.
That said, there is plenty about the Giants that should strike fear in the Dodgers:
Pitching: Not only do the Giants have the best team ERA in the majors, they also have the best rotation ERA and bullpen ERA. That kind of top-to-bottom dominance can completely shut down an opposing offense for an entire series, let alone a game. San Francisco is far and away the major league leader with 16 shutouts this season. No team in the National League can match the 1-2 punch of Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain (though the Cardinals come close with Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright). Given a one-run lead, the Giants' staff can make it stand. The Rockies' pitching, while improved, can't carry the team if called upon to do so.
Improved offense: The nonwaiver trading deadline acquisitions of second baseman Freddy Sanchez and first baseman Ryan Garko didn't wow anyone, but there has been a noticeable change in production. Before Sanchez and Garko joined the lineup, San Francisco averaged 3.9 runs per game. Since their arrival, that number has jumped to 4.5. The Giants still don't compare offensively to the Dodgers or Rockies, but with a far superior pitching staff, San Francisco doesn't have to score five-plus runs per game. Therefore, even a slight offensive improvement can go a long way.
Schedule: The Giants, Rockies and Dodgers all have some cupcakes on their schedules in the final weeks of the regular season, but the Giants potentially could play their final 13 games against non-playoff teams (if the Cubs are out of the picture by then). After this weekend's four-game set at Coors Field, the Giants play their final six games against the Rockies at AT&T Park this season. In fact, San Francisco, which has more home wins than any other NL team, plays 19 of its final 34 games at home.
One note about the Rockies: Should the Dodgers really fear a team they have beaten 10 times in 12 meetings this season, and outscored 79-48 in the process? Colorado and San Francisco both have six games remaining against Los Angeles, but that actually figures to hurt the Rockies more than it helps them.
Chris Bahr is a senior editor for Sporting News. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
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