Nl West

Arizona Diamondbacks Manager: Bob Brenly 2002 record: 98-64 (first) What's new: The Diamondbacks acquired No. 3 starter Elmer Dessens in a four-team December trade, but they are largely the same team that won the National League West title in 2002. Their title defense will again depend on the performance of top two starters Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, who combined for a mere 48 percent of the club's victories last year. On the spot: The veteran nucleus of the club, which includes several players - particularly Matt Williams and Mark Grace - who are in the twilight of their careers.

The White Sox cross their fingers that this is the year Jake Peavy will pay dividends. But Clayton Richard and the Padres play on house money. Peavy prompted the Padres to trade him because he didn't think he could get back to the playoffs with them. Low payrolls in the wake of owner John Moores' divorce and the sale of the team to a group led by agent Jeff Moorad left the 2007 Cy Young Award winner thinking it was time for a change. Yet the Padres rode a surprisingly strong pitching staff to 90 victories in 2010, their most since going to the 1998 World Series.

This is what baseball used to be all about. The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers will go head-to-head this weekend with the National League West title hanging in the balance.It is the only divisional showdown on the final weekend of the regular season, and -- unfortunately for the Padres -- the pressure won't be distributed evenly on both teams. But that's the price Major League Baseball had to pay for a three-tiered playoff format.The Dodgers already are guaranteed at least a tie for the wild-card berth and need to win one game this weekend to assure themselves of the NL West title.

1 Waiver bye-bye: Major League Baseball's waiver trade deadline ends at midnight. Will Aubrey Huff (left, 17) still be an Oriole at 12:01 a.m.? 2 We're talkin' about practice: NFL teams can fill out their practice squads. With so many Ravens injuries, fans of the home team might want to familiarize themselves with their practice players. 3 Mild West: It's mediocrity at its best, as the two best teams in the NL West - the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks - meet at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

HOUSTON - For one night, at least, the Barry Bonds home run chase took a back seat to the National League pennant race. The San Francisco Giants arrived at Enron Field last night desperately seeking to overtake the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West, but their 4-1 victory over the Houston Astros only allowed them to hold their place two games off the pace with five games to play. The Astros' situation is not quite so urgent. They fell into a first-place tie with the surging St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central, but need just one victory over the Giants to become the first NL team to clinch at least a wild-card playoff berth.

With the baseball season down to its final weeks, it's time to determine who will prevail in the only races remaining -- the AL East and NL West.In the AL East, will Toronto hold on? Or will Boston, 3 1/2 games back, or Detroit, 5 1/2 behind, make a last successful run despite not facing the Blue Jays the rest of the season?In the NL West, will Atlanta hold the 1 1/2 -game lead it earned this weekend by winning two out of three from Los Angeles? Or will the Dodgers even the score in their upcoming series in Los Angeles and go on to win the pennant?

The Sun's national baseball writer, Peter Schmuck, ranks the major leagues' 28 teams.Rank, Team, Previous Rank, Comment1. Cleveland Indians, 5, No joke. The mistake by the lake has been corrected.2. Baltimore Orioles, 6, Once sporatic O's have caught stride. Look out.3. Atlanta Braves, 3, Great team has been sputtering lately, but no serious setbacks.4. Cincinnati Reds, 4, Two Ohio teams are combined 56-22 at home.5. New York Yankees, 1, Had to cool off sooner or later. Still to be reckoned with.

Who's hot Jeff Kent of the Astros is 11-for-23 (.478) lifetime against Kerry Wood of the Cubs. Who's not Kip Wells of the Pirates gave up four home runs in six innings. Line of the day Dontrelle Willis, Marlins P IP H R BB SO 2 6 7 3 1 He said it "There's been concern from so many people about my age and what happens if we make the playoffs. I feel sorry for the people who bring that up." Felipe Alou, 68-year-old manager of the Giants, who lead the NL West by 11 On deck Roy Halladay of the Blue Jays goes for his major league-leading 17th victory today, facing the Mariners.

1. Red Sox: Everything falling in place. 2. Mariners: Getting surprise challenge from Angels. 3. Yankees: Waiting for Red Sox to swoon in June. 4. Diamondbacks: Not rattled by strong Giants' start. 5. Giants: Particularly pesky at Pac Bell. 6. Angels: Recent 16-2 run best in club history. 7. Reds: Holding their own at top of NL Central. 8. Marlins: Fresh fish haven't floundered. 9. Twins: Soft road record could be trouble. 10. White Sox: Southsiders are headed north. 11. Dodgers: Waiting for an opening in wild West.

When Orioles catcher Javy Lopez left the Atlanta Braves as a free agent last fall, he knew he was subjecting himself to a new way of life as a baseball player. After all, not every team can win a division title every year. Oh sure, the Braves had losing streaks. Last year, they had a few three-game skids. In 2002, they suffered through a four-game drought. In 2001, they even endured a six-game slide. But in his 12-year major league career, Lopez had never experienced a seven-game losing streak.

Who's hot Jeff Kent of the Astros is 11-for-23 (.478) lifetime against Kerry Wood of the Cubs. Who's not Kip Wells of the Pirates gave up four home runs in six innings. Line of the day Dontrelle Willis, Marlins P IP H R BB SO 2 6 7 3 1 He said it "There's been concern from so many people about my age and what happens if we make the playoffs. I feel sorry for the people who bring that up." Felipe Alou, 68-year-old manager of the Giants, who lead the NL West by 11 On deck Roy Halladay of the Blue Jays goes for his major league-leading 17th victory today, facing the Mariners.

MINNEAPOLIS - After five frustrating years waiting for Sidney Ponson to reach his potential and four glorious months watching him blossom into a top pitcher, the Orioles cut ties with the affable Aruban yesterday, trading him to the San Francisco Giants for three pitchers. Thirty minutes before the non-waiver trade deadline, the Orioles completed the first significant deal of the Jim Beattie-Mike Flanagan era, acquiring two members of the Giants' Opening Day starting rotation - right-hander Kurt Ainsworth and left-hander Damian Moss - and Single-A left-hander Ryan Hannaman.

Arizona Diamondbacks Manager: Bob Brenly 2002 record: 98-64 (first) What's new: The Diamondbacks acquired No. 3 starter Elmer Dessens in a four-team December trade, but they are largely the same team that won the National League West title in 2002. Their title defense will again depend on the performance of top two starters Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, who combined for a mere 48 percent of the club's victories last year. On the spot: The veteran nucleus of the club, which includes several players - particularly Matt Williams and Mark Grace - who are in the twilight of their careers.

Team Peter Schmuck's comment 1. Yankees (2) Should be able to cover payroll tomorrow. 2. Braves (3) Suddenly seem unstoppable. 3. Mariners (1) Not out of the woods in AL West. 4. Red Sox (6) Can't afford to let Yankees out of their sight. 5. Twins (9) Clearly don't deserve to exist. 6. Dodgers (4) Starting to cool off. 7. Diamondbacks (5) Just lying in the grass. 8. Athletics(13) So pitching really is everything, huh? 9. Giants(8) Creatine Kid almost jacks two in Milwaukee. 10. Angels(7)

NEW YORK - The latest buzz created by interleague play will be the loudest this weekend in the Bronx. It will silence the passing 4 train, and perhaps the many detractors of a format that has undergone a significant change this year. For the first time, teams in the American League East will play the National League West, which puts the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camden Yards beginning tonight. What are the chances that images of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale will appear on the video screen, a reminder that the Dodgers haven't been in Baltimore since the 1966 World Series?