NL West

What a difference a year makes.

After two consecutive trips to the NLCS in 2008 and 2009, Dodgers fans had even higher hopes for the 2010 season.

Folks in Dodgertown knew that the divorce between Frank and Jamie McCourt would have some type of effect on the organization, but nobody guessed the 2010 campaign would turn into a struggle on the field.

Regardless of whether the San Francisco Giants make the postseason, the 2010 campaign has already been a success.

The team is contending into September as it did in 2009, but the lads' chances look much better this time around the bend.

Even if they ultimately fall short of the second season, the squad will improve upon the '09 version's 88-74 record as long as they don't finish in a 10-12 skid.

Recently called up by the Los Angeles Dodgers to fill the vacated 40-man roster spot left behind by Ronnie Belliard, Trent Carl Wayne Oeltjen is an Australian-born outfielder with great speed and a high Triple-A batting average.

The Rockies just won't quit.

Since September 1st, the Diamondbacks have had two waves of call-ups, or bringing members of their minor league clubs to the major league level. The first wave was the largest, bringing on four players (Tony Abreu, Brandon Allen, Carlos Rosa, and Leo Rosales). The second wave saw Arizona add two players (Zach Kroenke and Mike Hampton).

From the start of Tuesday's game, the Giants' bats were working. Andres Torres - who had been struggling - led off with a double, and two batters later, Aubrey Huff hit a two-run homer. Buster Posey then doubled and scored off a Jose Guillen RBI single. With three runs of support, Tim Lincecum began dealing, not allowing a hit until the fifth inning. Through six innings, he had struck out nine; but in the seventh inning, it all collapsed for the Freak. Kelly Johnson led off with a triple, followed by a Chris Young home run.

From the start of Tuesday's game, the Giants' bats were working. Andres Torres - who had been struggling - led off with a double, and two batters later, Aubrey Huff hit a two-run homer. Buster Posey then doubled and scored off a Jose Guillen RBI single. With three runs of support, Tim Lincecum began dealing, not allowing a hit until the fifth inning. Through six innings, he had struck out nine; but in the seventh inning, it all collapsed for the Freak. Kelly Johnson led off with a triple, followed by a Chris Young home run.

Before our very eyes, the Giants are only one game back of the Padres.

This comes only two weeks after trailing San Diego by six games in the division.

The biggest change in the Giants' fortunes was not Tim Lincecum finding his composure once more. It was not Juan Uribe's bat coming alive in September.

As the calendar turned to September, the Padres forgot how to win.

The Padres had lost 10 straight games before beating the Dodgers 4-2 on Monday night.

Alright, I admit it: I had given up hope on these Rockies.

After an encouraging sweep of the Atlanta Braves at home, the final win coming on a nine-run come-from-behind victory, the Rockies went back on the road and looked lifeless again.

Luckily, they managed to run into a win in San Francisco, which kept their hopes briefly alive.

They weren't dead yet.

SAN DIEGO- The Padres entered Tuesday night's game against the Dodgers on a 10 game losing streak and needed a win to remain in sole position of first place.

Over the past 10 games the Padres have been losing ground to the San Francisco Giants, leaving the Padres a game ahead in the National League West. '

With one swing from the bat of Nick Hundley in the third inning of Tuesday night's game, relief seemed to take over the team.