NL West

The San Francisco Giants heard it throughout 2010.

“Not enough hitting. There’s no way they’ll even make it to the postseason with such a stagnant offense.”

92-70, NL West Champions.

“So what, they made the playoffs. Let’s see them try and score runs against Derek Lowe, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt…”

NLDS: SF – 3, ATL – 1
NLCS: SF – 4, PHI – 2

31 years after the Summer of Love, Major League Baseball decided to stage a little summer smoochfest of their own in 1998.

This would find full grown adults in colorful clothes who would consume illegal drugs to their hearts' desire, all under the approving eye of both the owners and the commissioner. McGwire in Cardinal red would amicably bump chests with Sosa in Cub blue, and all was right with the world.

Embarrassing, pathetic, futile. These are words that come to mind so far this season while watching my Padres become the WORST hitting team of all time. EVER.

San Diego leads all of baseball in several pitching categories, as well as being dead last in almost every offensive statistic. It might be the ballpark, it might be the players, it might be the coaching, and it might be all three of these things, brought together in the perfect storm of hopelessness.

Lets take a quick look at some Padre starters and the numbers they have compiled so far in 2011...

If one thing is certain, it's that the San Francisco Giants will need good starting pitching throughout the entire 2011 season if they have any hope of repeating as world champions.

Barry Zito, who was the team's fourth starter, has been below average to say the least for the past few years, and he didn't get off to a great start again this season.

In 13 innings, Zito has allowed nine earned runs while only striking out six and has a record of 0-1.

As the San Francisco Giants attempt to repeat as World Series champions, there are a some major concerns that face them. 

In 2010, GM Brian Sabean did a remarkable job infusing the team with players who helped lead the Giants to their first ever world championship in San Francisco.  Sabean may very well need to work his magic again in 2011. 

Tim Lincecum is the face of the San Francisco Giants, but in a time where team loyalty is down and money is king, is it possible that he and other beloved Giants will end up elsewhere?

If there was ever a pitcher in baseball who deserves a lifetime contract extension, it would be Tim Lincecum.

There’s no way around it or no easier way to put it: A lack of offense has resulted in a lack of wins for the San Diego Padres.

With over 20 games of the season now in the books, the second Skill and Skunk awards add a little more color to the overall picture. The Skill awards suddenly have a little more flash, spit and polish, while the Skunk awards smell a little more like the loaf of Limburger left in the sun.

There is no doubt that the Colorado Rockies offense is under performing.

They say lightning never strikes the same place twice.

The Colorado Rockies almost disproved that in the span of five days.