It appears the National League West race could go down to the final day of the 2010 season. If last night was any indication, we could be in for a whale of a finish.

The San Diego Padres snatched back first place in the NL West last night with a 3-1 win over the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants inexplicably dropped a 2-0 decision to the Chicago Cubs and the Colorado Rockies fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-4.

Those results moved the Padres to the top of the NL West by a half game over the Giants, and three over the Rockies.

The Padres got a great pitching performance out of Tim Stauffer, who tossed six innings while allowing three hits, one run and two walks while striking out five.

Heath Bell came on in the ninth inning to notch his 43rd save in 46 chances, and his 30th in a row.

San Diego trailed 1-0 early, but got three runs in the top of the third, a two-run home run from Miguel Tejada was the difference. It was the 300th home run of Tejada’s career.

Tejada, a completely overlooked piece the Padres added on July 29, has been fantastic with the Friars. Tejada has essentially become San Diego’s everyday shortstop, and despite most experts saying he couldn’t hack it there anymore, he has been sound defensively.

On the offensive side, he’s hit eight home runs, driven in 27 runs and hit .273 since coming to the Padres.

So a throwaway trade at the deadline for a mid-level prospect has netted the Padres a key cog for the lineup and more protection for Adrian Gonzalez in the middle of San Diego’s lineup.

Great move by first-year general manager Jed Hoyer.

Cody Ross is headed from the Florida Marlins to the San Francisco Giants after the Bay-Area team claimed him off waivers. Apparently, the Marlins wanted to promote Cameron Maybin back up to the majors since the team’s playoff hopes are fading faster than Jennifer Aniston’s career.

And since we’re all experts on the Giants’ roster (wait, you’re not?), you must have thought, “but wait, the Giants already have Pat Burrell, Aaron Rowand, the newly-acquired Jose Guillen, and two backups who have both appeared in over 100 games! WHY would they get Cody Ross too?!?!” I’m so glad you asked.

Apparently, the Giants were worried the first-place San Diego Padres would claim Ross from the Marlins and moved to block them. I mean, I can’t totally blame them. The Padres do have something of a historical fetish for white, quasi-powerful outfielders (see: Giles, Brian; Klesko, Ryan; and Ludwick, Ryan). And that’s just the point. The Padres already HAVE enough outfielders for their playoff run. How many guys hitting in the .260′s does one team need, after all?

Usually, teams that move to block other teams from acquiring players don’t end up making the deal, but definitely make it clear that there’s no way their rival is getting said player. The Giants never thought they’d actually GET Ross, but here we are, and now the Giants are on the hook for the rest of Ross’s salary and have to make room on their roster, which means moving one of their other outfielders.

I’m not saying the Padres are in the Giants’ heads, but when a team thinks Cody freaking Ross is worth worrying about and even absorbing into their already full roster, you know they’re grasping at straws. I’ve been worried the whole season about the Padres’ chances at actually winning the West and making the playoffs with their current roster, but this is incredibly encouraging to see. Apparently, the Giants are just as nervous about this as I am.

So welcome to San Francisco, Cody! Please help the Giants win the Wild Card and stay very clear of first place.

Sunday afternoon the San Diego Padres finished a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks, opening the second half of the season with a bang. The Friars outscored Arizona 26-10 over the weekend and have shown more life offensively over the past few weeks than they have for most of the season.

Despite the fact that on July 19 the Padres have the best record in the National League 54-37, ESPN (for the third straight day) did not run a headline about San Diego in its list of top baseball stories of the day. Above is a screenshot of what ESPN thought the top stories in baseball were yesterday.

Apparently the fact that the Dodgers were swept is important and a note about Roy Oswalt being sort of injured is more important than a team extending its division lead to four games by a sweep, and moving to the third-best record in baseball.

The Padres are certainly the biggest surprise of the Major League Baseball season thus far. ESPN ran 100 simulations of the season back in Spring Training, and the Padres won the National League West zero times. Zero. San Diego only won the Wild Card once in those simulations, and ranked as the 29th-worst team in baseball. Sports Illustrated also ranked the Padres dead last in the N.L. West in its 2010 baseball preview.

At this point, the Padres have allowed just 314 runs, best in the majors and 24 ahead of the second place team (San Francisco Giants at 338). San Diego also carries a run differential of plus-88, third best in baseball.

The Padres have done all of that with No. 1 starter Chris Young out all season and with starting outfielders Will Venable and Kyle Blanks currently on the Disabled List.

How have they done it? By having someone new step up every night.

On Sunday reserve outfielder Chris Denorfia went 4-for-4 with two home runs, two RBI and three runs in San Diego’s 6-4 win.

Saturday night it was catcher Yorvit Torrealba playing the hero by going 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in an 8-5 win.

Friday night the whole lineup stepped up in a 12-1 rout, in the team’s first game after the All-Star break.

Yet on none of those days did the Worldwide Leader mention anything about the Padres in their headline section.

And another thing, why is Heath Bell still listed in ESPN’s Rumors Central as one of the relievers potentially available for a contending team? Since when is a division leading team’s closer on the market? When was the last time a playoff-bound team traded its closer? ESPN has crossed Bobby Jenks off the list because the White Sox are now in first place in the A.L. Central, but haven’t done the same thing for Bell.

Will ESPN ever give the Padres the respect they deserve? At this point in the season the team’s success can’t be just a fluke.

Maybe they should ask Heath Bell what he thinks about ESPN and Baseball Tonight. Oh, wait, we already know.

There are only five words that come to mind when thinking about the first half the 2010 San Diego Padres just finished: What the hell just happened?

I seriously feel like Phil in The Hangover, when he wakes up the morning after with that “I can’t remember a thing so that must have been really great” grin on his face. Sadly, if the last few days are any indication, the first week of the second half will be the Padres’ “There’s a jungle cat in the bathroom!” moment. Hopefully we can avoid such things.

Just for a primer, remember that the Padres opened the 2010 season with the second-lowest payroll in Major League Baseball. At $37,799,300, San Diego ranked above only the Pittsburgh Pirates ($34,943,000). The Friars were also picked to finish dead-last in the National League West by every major publication, scouting service and expert out there.

They then went 3-6 to open the season before ripping off eight wins in a row and winning 16 of their next 21 games.

The Padres played excellent baseball for the rest of the first half and on July 4th they had the best record in the National League. Entering the All-Star break they sit at 51-37 in first place in the National League West by two games over the Colorado Rockies and just one game behind the Atlanta Braves for the best record in the N.L.

Uh, so what exactly just happened?

Yeah, we all knew the Padres could pitch. In fact, they currently lead all of baseball with a 3.21 ERA (second place is St. Louis at 3.41), and a .237 batting average against. But San Diego has put those numbers up without staff ace Chris Young who only started one game this season.

The reason for the Padres’ success this year has been guys like Jon Garland (8-6, 3.56 ERA), Clayton Richard (6-4, 3.33), Wade LeBlanc (4-7, 3.30), Luke Gregerson (3-5, 19 holds, 2.91 ERA, 0.74 WHIP) and Mike Adams (2-1, 22 holds, 2.19 ERA, 0.94 WHIP). While LeBlanc’s record might not be sparkling, he’s filled in beautifully since Young’s injury. He’s pitched far better than anyone imagined he could and has solidified a rotation spot.

As noted above with Gregerson and Adams’ numbers, it’s obvious that the Padres’ bullpen has been fantastic. Throw in All-Star closer Heath Bell’s 4-0 record with 24 saves (in 27 chances), along with a 1.88 ERA and you’ve got the best relief corps in baseball. Ryan Webb has also been a revelation for the Padres, as in 28 appearances he’s picked up a 3-1 record with a 2.27 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. And lefty Joe Thatcher has been steady in 26 appearances (1-0, 2.04 ERA, 0.74 WHIP).

The Padres have also gotten a stellar season thus far from 22-year-old righty Mat Latos. Latos – who was ridiculously left off the National League All-Star team – has been nearly unhittable this year. He’s put together a 10-4 record, with a 2.45 ERA and is second in the NL with a 0.97 WHIP.

Forgotten in all of the amazing pitching numbers is how the Padres offense – though still anemic at times – has come through with clutch hits and performances time and again.

Led by Adrian Gonzalez (.301, 18 home runs, 58 RBI, .397 OBP, .930 OPS) who is having an MVP-caliber season, the light-hitting Padres have gotten contributions from up and down the roster.

Injuries to guys like Kyle Blanks – who may or may not figure out how to hit in the big leagues,  Will Venable – who was starting to figure things out before hurting his back, and Everth Cabrera have hurt production and continuity all season, but somehow the Padres have pulled through.

On top of all that, if anyone has a vote for a skipper other than Bud Black for Manager of the Year honors, they’re insane. Completely, utterly, throwing their own feces at a wall insane. The man has been phenomenal.

The question is, will this last?

Honestly, I have no idea, I’m just kind of enjoying the ride while it lasts. Sure, deep down inside I have a sinking feeling that this team will disappoint me like it always does (see: the last six games of the first half), but hey, I’m a fan so I’m holding out (completely irrational) hope that maybe, just maybe, this is my team’s year!

Aw crap. I’m gonna have to take a tiger back to Mike Tyson’s place aren’t I?

Last year my beloved San Diego Padres sent their ace, Jake Peavy, to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for four young pitchers. I hated the move. I liked the players the Padres got in return, but I couldn’t stand thinking of a future without Peavy pitching for my team.

I’m here to admit that I was wrong and that former Padres general manager Kevin Towers is a genius. A freaking genius.

On Tuesday night Peavy was forced to abandon his outing against the Los Angeles Angels after just 1.2 innings and 28 pitches. An MRI later revealed that Peavy had a detached latissimus dorsi muscle in his back. So, dude threw his body around so hard that he detached a lat.

Ouch.

Peavy is likely done for the year due to that injury and it’s going to cost the White Sox a hefty price. The right-hander is scheduled to make $15 million this year, then a further $34 million over the next two seasons. That’s a lot of cash being tossed at a guy with major recent injury issues.

On top of that, Peavy hasn’t been his usual dominant self this season. His numbers at the time of the injury aren’t anything to write home about.

So far in 2010 the 29-year-old has compiled a 7-6 record with a 4.63 ERA, and a 1.23 WHIP. In 107 innings he has allowed 98 hits, 55 runs (all earned), 13 home runs, and 34 walks, while striking out 93 batters.

In comparison, Clayton Richard – one of the pitchers the Padres received in the Peavy deal – has been excellent this season. The 26-year-old lefty has a 6-4 record to go along with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. In 108 innings he’s allowed 101 hits, 37 runs (36 earned), eight home runs, and 42 walks, while striking out 87 batters.

Richard is also making just $423,700 this season.

So while the Sox now have to be cautious and closely monitor Peavy’s rehab and recovery, the Padres have a young lefty throwing exceptionally well. The Friars also have relievers Aaron Poreda and Adam Russell in Triple-A right now and both are ready to contribute when called upon.

Thank you Kevin Towers.

Back in Spring Training, the San Diego Padres had a great battle for the fifth spot in their rotation. Sean Gallagher, Tim Stauffer and Mat Latos all pitched phenomenally, but when push came to shove, the Friars went with the 22-year-old Latos. The organization has been richly rewarded for the faith it has showed in its top prospect.

During the Padres 8-2 win Tuesday night Latos rolled through the Toronto Blue Jays to earn yet another win. In 6.2 innings, the 11th round pick from the 2006 MLB Draft allowed two runs on just four hits and one walk, while striking out seven. Latos also retired the first 11 batters he faced on the night.

The kid is now 7-4 on the season with a 3.19 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. His WHIP is second in the National League behind Ubaldo Jimenez’s 0.97. Not bad for a guy in his first full season.

Latos has always had the stuff, but somehow he’s figured out how to work hitters now. Credit Padres catcher Yorvit Torrealba and Nick Hundley for keeping the 6’6, 225-pound right hander’s emotions in check and teaching him the proper way to set hitters up. And pitching coach Darren Balsley’s involvement can’t be overstated. Balsley’s shown an uncanny ability to take young pitchers to the next level, Latos is just the latest example.

Latos has also shown great control this season, striking out 71 while walking just 21. He has also given up just 57 hits in 79 innings. He’s keeping opponents off the bases at an incredible rate.

Latos is having a sensational 2010. He’s a big reason why the Padres have the National League’s best record in mid-June.

Tuesday night in San Diego St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright and Padres righty Jon Garland engaged in a good, old-fashioned pitchers duel. And Garland won. Wainwright, who many experts love for the Cy Young in 2010, made one big mistake and it was blasted for a solo home run by Jerry Hairston Jr. And that was it for either pitcher in a 1-0 win for the San Diego Padres.

Wainwright was nearly flawless, striking out 12, walking one and giving up just four hits over 7.0 innings. Garland’s line was impressive as well: 7.0 innings, six hits, no runs, two walks and seven strikeouts. The thing is, while his line wasn’t as pretty, Garland might have been even more impressive because he won without his best stuff.

Since two rocky outings to open the season (both ended in losses), Garland has won six straight decisions while not allowing more than four runs. He’s currently 6-2 with a 2.10 ERA. Those six wins rank third in baseball, and the 2.10 ERA is sixth best league-wide.

All of this from a guy that Padres GM Jed Hoyer found on the scrap heap in late January.

So why was Garland available? Despite being in his 11th season, he’s only 30-years-old. He’s an innings-eater with a World Series ring and a career 4.34 ERA. He’s also gone over 190 innings in a season eight times.

Garland is making $5.3 million this season and somehow the Padres were able to grab him while everyone else was asleep. The 6’6 righty has a filthy, low 90s sinker that often helps him get out of trouble and he’s only given up three home runs in 60.0 innings so far this season.

But Garland is on a ridiculous roll right now for the Padres. In his past eight starts he has given up just eight earned runs against the Cardinals, Dodgers (twice), Astros, Brewers, Marlins, Giants and Diamondbacks. Those are pretty good offenses and – for the most part – Garland has breezed through them.

In May, he has started five times, and is 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA, 26 hits, 14 walks and 18 strikeouts in 32.0 innings.

Simply put: Jon Garland is dealing right now and very few pitchers are getting it done any better. He’s a huge reason the San Diego Padres (yes, those San Diego Padres) have the second-best record in baseball at 27-18.

After sweeping the Giants in San Francisco last week, the San Diego Padres positioned themselves 3 1/2 games ahead of the rest of the National League West. They were pitching as well as anyone in baseball and were getting timely hits from up and down the lineup. This was starting to look like a team of destiny. One that could defy the odds and the experts and make a run for a pennant.

Then on Friday night the Los Angeles Dodgers came to town, and San Diego’s inevitable collapse began.

The Padres were swept by the Dodgers, losing 4-3, 4-1 and 1-0. So for those math wizards out there, they were outscored 9-4 in three games. Four runs in three games. What the hell boys? While the Friars were busy dropping three straight to their primary rival, the Giants swept the lowly Houston Astros, to climb back to 1/2 game behind the Padres. Basically the Padres’ failings this weekend and the Giants’ successes completely wiped out the three game sweep last week.

On Sunday things were just completely awful. Starting pitcher Wade LeBlanc went toe-to-toe with Chad Billingsley. LeBlanc – who has been phenomenal since being recalled from Triple-A Portland earlier this year – went 7.0 innings, allowing just two hits, and one run, while walking three and striking out four. He was fantastic. And he lost 1-0. The Padres mustered just four hits, no runs and one walk in support of him.

The Padres offensive woes this weekend has pushed their numbers to the bottom of the National League. They are currently 15th in batting average (.235), 14th in runs (150), 14th in on-base percentage (.317), 15th in slugging percentage (.353) and 14th in OPS (.670). They lead the NL with 44 stolen bases, but what good is speed if you can’t get anyone on base?

I’m holding out hope (completely in vain) that they’ll get their crap together and start actually hitting the dang baseball.

I’ve been hoping that for several years now and have been disappointed thus far.

Ah the life of a Padres fan.

The San Diego Padres, predicted by almost every scouting service to be one of the worst teams in baseball this season, currently sit atop the National League West with a 16-9 record. The Friars are just two games behind Tampa Bay for the best record in baseball, have won 13 of their last 16 games and just finished a weekend during which they shutout the Milwaukee Brewers in three of four games. The same Brewers team that led the NL in runs entering the series. The Padres outscored Milwaukee 21-2 over the four game stretch.

What the hell? Why do the Padres think they have any right to pretend to be good and just tease me long enough to believe in them before predictably breaking my heart? They can’t just do that to me. It’s not right.

The Padres ended April in first place in the NL West for the first time since 1998, the year they won the NL Pennant. They’ve got a pitching staff that’s blowing away virtually all opponents and it doesn’t even have its ace, Chris Young, who is currently on the disabled list.

The thing is, the Padres have often had pitching, but they haven’t had the hitting to back up an often decent rotation and stellar bullpen. In 2010, they have shown the ability to hit, and that’s shocked everyone.

I knew this team would be better than the past few seasons, that much was obvious. San Diego added speed, athleticism and power by having Kyle Blanks, Will Venable and Everth Cabrera playing for a full season. The question was whether or not the team would come through, or struggle with the pressure on them now.

They’ve come through so far as the Padres are ninth in the NL in runs, 11th in hits, eighth in home runs, 11th in batting average, and 11th in OPS and showing the team’s emphasis on speed, the Friars lead the major leagues in stolen bases (29).

In addition to the whole roster stepping up, third baseman Chase Headley has stepped up to become the player everyone around the Padres organization knew he could be. The 25-year-old Tennessee product moved from left field to his natural position of third base in the offseason after the Padres dealt Kevin Kouzmanoff to make room for Headley. He’s rewarding San Diego’s faith in him by hitting .327 so far. He’s currently sixth in the NL in hits (32), and shockingly tied for second in stolen bases (eight).

Headley has become a perfect compliment to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who is having his typical excellent season so far despite a bit of a slump. Gonzalez is currently hitting .294 with six home runs, 17 RBI, a .408 OBP, .553 slugging percentage, 16 walks against 17 strikeouts and .961 OPS.

As mentioned before, the Padres have been tearing up the basepaths, with Headley (eight), Venable (six), Tony Gwynn Jr. (five), Cabrera (four), Scott Hairston (three) Jerry Hairston Jr. (two) and David Eckstein (one) committed to the new team philosophy of stealing bases.

So not only is the team young and athletic, they’re fun to watch too.

On the pitching side of things, San Diego ranks third in ERA in the NL (2.76), first in shutouts (six), second in batting average against (.229) and second in strikeouts (205).

Offseason acquisition Jon Garland had two rough starts to open the season but is now 3-2 with the NL’s eighth-best ERA at 2.06. Clayton Richard, acquired in the Jake Peavy trade last summer, has been excellent (1-2, 3.00 ERA), while Kevin Correia is on his way to having a second, consecutive career year (4-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.25 WHIP). Wade LeBlanc, who came up when Young went to the DL, has been nothing short of dominant (2-0, 0.52 ERA, 1.27 WHIP).

Meanwhile, the bullpen has been fantastic as always. Closer Heath Bell is 1-0, with seven saves in eight chances, a 1.80 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 10 appearances. Luke Gregerson (12 appearances, 3-2, seven holds, 2.03 ERA, 0.60 WHIP) and Mike Adams have also been nothing sort of stellar.

So why are the Padres so good right now? They pitch, hit just enough, can run and are young and hungry despite the 29th highest payroll in baseball. And they’re incredibly likable.

They’re totally going to blow this and break my heart as soon as I’ve talked myself into them. God I hate baseball.

Go Padres!

There’s not a whole lot to dislike about Kyle Blanks. The 23-year-old San Diego Padre is a 6’6, 270-pound outfielder who is incredibly likable, has light-tower power and actually runs well (three stolen bases and three triples this spring, and an inside-the-park home run last year). The only thing keeping him from being a household name is the lack of something quirky that would grab everyone’s attention. Sadly, up until spring training last year, Blanks had just such a quirk:

Behold the Blanks fro. It’s just the right mix of sweet hair and old-school cool that is currently missing from baseball. The look is so straight out of the ’70s you have to wonder if Blanks had been chillin’ in a Hot Tub Time Machine before being transported to the future so he could teach us all how to be cool.

I have no idea who told Blanks to cut that thing, but whoever it was made a huge mistake. Just look the picture on his Yahoo! information page. It’s seriously almost perfect. Too good to be true. What could be better than a mammoth outfielder with an afro that belongs on a 145-pound second baseman from the ’72 Pirates?

Blanks was awesome this spring in Arizona. He has hit .407, with two home runs, 11 extra base hits and 16 RBI. While we love him as a player, we’d love him even more if he’d go back to his former look.

So we are starting the movement here and now: Kyle Blanks, please, please grow back your Afro. We need it, you need it, the San Diego Padres need it.

More pictures after the jump if you aren’t already convinced of the Blanks fro’s awesomeness.