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So close, yet so far. The Dodgers cut their magic number to win the NL West to six this week thanks to everyone else in the division struggling. Let's take a closer look at how every played...
TEAM RECAPS:
Diamondbacks: Arizona was 3-4 this week. The Diamondbacks started off the week splitting a four game series with the Giants. The Dbacks then traveled to LA where they were nearly swept by the Dodgers after they lost the first two games (AZ won the third).
Despite having a potential MVP candidate in Paul Goldschmidt in the middle of its lineup, Arizona struggled at the plate. The Diamondbacks scored on average 2.3 runs per game. The Dbacks scored two or fewer runs four times this week. Arizona also never scored more than four runs this week.
Rockies: Colorado was 1-5 this week. The Rockies started off the week with an off day before getting swept on the road by the Padres. Colorado then traveled to San Francisco where they lost two of three.
The biggest problem for the Rockies this week was clutch hitting, but not necessarily in just the ninth inning. Of Colorado's six games this week, five were decided by one run. The Rockies ultimately went an unimpressive 1-4 in those five games. Against the Giants, all three games were decided by one run. The biggest thing to happen to Colorado this week however, was they were eliminated from the NL West race.
Giants: San Francisco was 4-3 this week. The Giants started off the week by splitting a four game series with the Diamondbacks. San Fran took two of three from Colorado at home.
Even though they had a better record then the Diamondbacks and Dodgers this past week, the Giants were officially eliminated from the division. San Francisco once again struggled at the plate this week. If you include their 9-8 loss to Colorado, San Fran averaged 3.4 runs per game. If you take out that loss, the Giants averaged 2.7 runs per game.
Padres: San Diego was 4-1 this week. The Padres started off the week with an off day before sweeping the Rockies at home. San Diego then had another day off before splitting the first two games of a three game series with Philadelphia.
Just like the Giants, the Padres were also eliminated from the division race this past week despite having a better record over the last seven days than the Diamondbacks and Dodgers. San Diego's offense was impressive compared to the rest of the divisions this week. The Padres scored on average 4.2 runs per game.
Dodgers: Los Angeles was 2-4 this week. The Dodgers started off the week with an off day before getting swept by the Reds on the road. LA then returned home and took two of three from the Diamondbacks.
In what could be a playoff preview, the Dodgers were dominated by the Reds. After taking three of four earlier this season from Cincinnati at home, the Reds got revenge. All three games were decided by one run, with Cincy winning two on walk-offs.
| National League West Standings | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W-L | Pct | GB |
| Los Angeles - Magic # 6 | 85-60 | .586 | --- |
| Arizona - Elimination # 6 | 73-72 | .503 | 12 |
| San Diego - ELIMINATED | 66-78 | .458 | 18½ |
| Colorado - ELIMINATED | 67-80 | .456 | 19 |
| San Francisco - ELIMINATED | 66-80 | .452 | 19½ |
WHAT'S IN STORE FOR THESE TEAMS NEXT WEEK?
Diamondbacks: Day off, three games against the Rockies, three games against the Dodgers
Rockies: Day off, three games against the Diamondbacks, three games against the Cardinals
Giants: Four games against the Dodgers, day off, two games against the Mets
Padres: One game against the Phillies, four games against the Braves, two games against the Pirates
Dodgers: Four games against the Giants, three games against the Diamondbacks
OVERALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Dodgers' infielder Hanley Ramirez. The shortstop/third baseman had quite the week at the plate. Ramirez hit .391 with three homers and six RBIs. He also scored six runs, walked three times, and struck out three times. Overall, Hanley's slash line of OBP/SLG/OPS was .462/.913/.1375. His SLG and OPS led the NL over the last seven days.
BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE:
Giants' pitcher Yusmeiro Petit. Last Friday, September 6th, against the Diamondbacks, Petit was one out away from a perfect game when he gave up a single to pinch hitter Eric Chavez. In the end, Petit threw a complete game shutout, gave up one hit, walked none, and struck out seven. The righty also managed to throw just 95 pitches.
OVERALL TEAM OF THE WEEK:
The San Diego Padres. The Padres had the best record over the last week at 4-1. As stated earlier, San Diego scored on averaged 4.2 runs per game while holding opponents to just 2.4 runs per game. It's kind of ironic that the Padres are this week's team of the week considering they were also eliminated from the division race and are two games away from being eliminated from the wild card race.
WORST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE:
Giants' pitcher Ryan Vogelsong. On Tuesday September 10th, the righty gave up five earned runs on eight hits over five innings to the Rockies. Vogelsong walked two and didn't strike out anybody. Once again, irony is in this article. San Francisco starting pitchers took both the best and worst performances of the week awards.