One year ago today, the NL West standings looked like this:
| Team | Record | GB | Pythag Rec |
| D-Backs | 21-9 | --- | 20-10 |
| Dodgers | 17-13 | 4 | 19-11 |
| Giants | 14-17 | 7½ | 11-20 |
| Padres | 12-19 | 9½ | 11-20 |
| Rockies | 11-19 | 10 | 11-19 |
Fast forward one year, and a different juggernaut is ahead of the pack:
| Team | Record | GB | Pythag Rec |
| Dodgers | 18-8 | --- | 17-9 |
| Giants | 12-11 | 4½ | 11-12 |
| Padres | 11-14 | 6½ | 10-15 |
| D-Backs | 11-14 | 6½ | 11-14 |
| Rockies | 9-14 | 7½ | 12-11 |
The Dodgers' foundation seems a bit more solid this season, relative to the division, than that of the Diamondbacks last season. This season's Diamondbacks make their first visit to Dodger Stadium tonight, for a brief two-game series.
Tonight's game, featuring Eric Stults vs. Doug Davis, starts at 7:10 on Prime Ticket.
Perhaps I'm being overly sensitive, but I have seen a lot of complaining about Juan Pierre's nonzero playing time of late. However, only the Phillies and Astros have started their top three outfielders more often than the Dodgers this season:
| Team | Top 3 OF Starts | Backup OF Starts | Top 3 Start % |
| Phillies | 65 | 1 | 98.5% |
| Astros | 71 | 4 | 94.7% |
| Dodgers | 73 | 5 | 93.6% |
| Brewers | 70 | 5 | 93.3% |
| Giants | 63 | 6 | 91.3% |
| Marlins | 68 | 7 | 90.7% |
| Braves | 63 | 9 | 87.5% |
| Mets | 60 | 9 | 87.0% |
| Padres | 63 | 12 | 84.0% |
| Pirates | 59 | 13 | 81.9% |
| Rockies | 55 | 14 | 79.7% |
| Cubs | 57 | 15 | 79.2% |
| D-Backs | 59 | 16 | 78.7% |
| Cardinals | 59 | 16 | 78.7% |
| Reds | 55 | 17 | 76.4% |
| Nationals | 52 | 17 | 75.4% |
| NL Totals | 992 | 166 | 85.7% |
If the Dodgers were to start their backup outfielder(s) at the same rate as the NL average, Pierre would have started 11 times by now. Instead, he has started five games. There is no need for the pitchforks anytime soon.
Get your guesses in for our May contest, "Just A Bit Outside," by clicking here.