If Your Team's Still In It, Here's How It Can Win the Pennant

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Positive

In first place by seven games and you have the best record in baseball.  You added Manny Ramirez to a team that was already winning.  Russell Martin, James Loney, Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier compliment veterans Casey Blake, Orlando Hudson, Juan Pierre and Rafael Furcal perfectly. 

It is a perfect mix of young and veteran talent.  This gives you the seventh-ranked offense in runs scored and their defense helps to make them second in team ERA.  The highest ERA amongst Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw, and Randy Wolf is 3.45.  Ramon Troncoso and Jonathon Broxton have been lights out for the bullpen as well.

Directions To Champagne

Better numbers out of Russell Martin would help.  Eric Milton getting healthy would help along with Hiroki Kuroda finding his 2008 form to solidify the back end of the rotation.

San Francisco Giants

The Positive

Although seven games back of the division lead, you are leading the NL wild card.  You have the best pitcher in the National League and maybe all of baseball in Tim Lincecum.  You certainly have the best one-two punch of any rotation with Lincecum and Matt Cain. 

This accounts for being second in all of baseball in ERA.  Pablo Sandoval is also one of the best young talents in baseball.  

Directions To Champagne

Aaron Rowand and Bengie Molina cannot make up the middle of any lineup which accounts for the ranking of 24th in runs scored.  Barry Zito started off extremely hot, but has cooled off significantly. 

If Zito, Jonathan Sanchez, recently coming off a no-hitter, and a healthy Randy Johnson can give even the slightest of help to Lincecum and Cain, the Giants could be brutal to face in the playoffs.  Imagine facing Linecum and Cain four times in a playoff series.  Jeremy Affeldt has also been lights out setting up Brian Wilson.

All together, kids, pitching...wins...championships.

Colorado Rockies

The Positive

You are two games behind the Giants for the lead in the wild card.  Troy Tulowitzki, Todd Helton, Clint Barmes, Brad Hawpe, and young Dexter Fowler are as hot as can be.  You are eighth in runs scored.  

Directions To Champagne

Pitching.  You are 21st in team ERA.  Jason Marquis is known for his second-half flopping, Aaron Cook is finally starting to come around after a slow start, and Ubaldo Jiminez has been very good, but Jorge De La Rosa has been terrible and Jason Hammell has been mediocre. 

Cook has to step things up because the Marquis collapse is inevitable.  The bullpen also needs to get healthy.  Huston Street, Franklin Morales, and Josh Fogg have been extremely good for the bullpen, but the rest has been pretty bad.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Positive

Watching Dan Haren pitch is pretty amazing.  Between Haren, Max Scherzer, Doug Davis, and Jon Garland, your rotation is pretty good.  With Brandon Webb, it would be extremely good. 

Directions To Champagne

Not this year.  Not one pitcher in your bullpen has below a 4.00 ERA except Clay Zavada and Chad Qualls who has an unimpressive 3.64 ERA as a closer.  Justin Upton, Mark Reynolds, and Felipe Lopez are the only good hitters in the lineup with Stephen Drew, Eric Byrnes, Chad Tracy, and Chris Young completely flopping this season. 

This team seemed to die once Webb got hurt.

San Diego Padres

The Positive

Adrian Gonzalez is really good.  Heath Bell has also been a nice surprise.  

Directions To Champagne

Not this year.  Ranked 26th in ERA and dead last in runs scored won't cut it.  Three starting pitchers are hurt (Jake Peavy, Chris Young, and Shawn Hill).  Kevin Correia currently has the lowest ERA in the starting rotation at 4.50. 

Kevin Kouzmanoff has been nowhere to be found this year leaving Adrian Gonzalez as the only weapon on offense due to injuries to Marcus Giles and big-bopping David Eckstein.  

This team really needed to trade Jake Peavy.  

Always remember, the only time crying is allowed in baseball is when you get champagne in your eyes.

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