National League weekly recap

Recapping the NL's week ending April 6th

Here’s a look at the week in the National League by division.

The first week of the season doesn’t tell us anything decisive, but there were a couple of interesting showdown series, and some interesting individual performances.

In the West, the Arizona Diamondbacks swept a three-game set from the defending National League Champion Colorado Rockies in Denver, while the Dodgers took two-of-three from the Padres in San Diego,

The Central Division opened with a Milwaukee Brewers-Cubs series in Chicago, and the Brewers got the early advantage, winning two of three.

The Eastern standings were more bunched than the other two divisions, with all five teams within a game in the standings at week’s end.

NL WEST

Arizona 4-2 week (4-2 total) — Swept Rockies

Los Angeles 4-2 week (4-2 total) — Two-of-three from Padres

San Diego 4-3 week (4-3 total) — Three-of-four from Astros

San Francisco 1-5 week (1-5 total) — No punch in Bond-less lineup

Colorado 1-5 week (1-5 total) — Bats are Rockie Mountain cold

WHO’S HOT in the NL West

Rafael Furcal of LA — .435 BA (4 TH IN NL), 10 hits
Chris Young and Justin Upton of Arizona — tied NL lead with 3 HR
Jake Peavy of SD, 2 wins, 12 Ks and a 0.56 ERA

WHO’S NOT in the NL West

Colorado lineup with Troy Tulowitzki, Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe all hovering at .200
Padres relief ace Trevor Hoffman with a 0-2 record and 12.27 ERA
Giants lefty Barry Zito at 0-2 with 6.30 ERA, although he’s gotten no run support
Giants lineup with Eugenio Velez leading the way at .278

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NL CENTRAL

Milwaukee 5-1 week (5-1 total) — Booming bats and hot Sheets in Brewtown

St. Louis 5-1 week (5-1 total) — Lost opener and won five straight

Cincinnati 4-2 week (4-2 total) — Won home series from Arizona and Philadelphia

Chicago 3-3 week (3-3 total) — Started 1-3 with shaky relief pitching

Pittsburgh 3-3 week (3-3 total) — McLouth, Nady leading Bucs bat barrage

Houston 2-5 week (2-5 total) — Tough opening road trip to San Diego and Chicago

WHO’S HOT in the NL Central

Jason Kendall of Brewers leading NL at .467
Rick Ankiel (StL), Chase Utley (Phils) and Derrick Lee (Chi) with 3 Hrs each
Xavier Nady of Pittsburgh with 3HR and 9 RBI in first week; Nate McLouth at .429 with 12 hits and 7 RBI
Kosuke Fukudome of Chicago at .421

WHO’S NOT in the NL Central

Cubs’ Alfonso Soriano at .077 for first week
Injuries already bothering Houston’s Lance Berkman and Ty Wigginton

NL EAST

Atlanta 3-3 week (3-3 total) — Ended week taking two from New York

Florida 3-3 week (3-3 total) — Won series from Pittsburgh

Washington 3-4 week (3-4 total) — Started 3-0, then lost 4 straight

New York 2-3 week (2-3 total) — Santana good; Pedro Martinez hurt

Philadelphia 2-4 week (2-4 total) — Slow start for Phils despite Utley, Burrell bats

WHO’S HOT in the NL East

Phil’s Chase Utley and Pat Burrell both over .420, with 3 HR for Utley
Senators’ defense with only one error in first week, compared to seven last year
Mets Carlos Beltran leads majors with six doubles
Chipper Jones of Braves with .423 average

WHO’S NOT in the NL East

Paul LoDuca of Washington off to .167 start
Marlins Dan Uggla off slowly at .125
Florida pitching with Rick Vandenhurk (11.81 ERA), Lee Gardner (14.73) and Taylor Tankersley (15.00)

By Reed Nessel
ProBaseball-fans.com Guest Writer

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