Rodney Dangerfield

[stoutfellow]

One of my regular websurfing stops is Baseball Musings, but I'm beginning to reconsider that. About a week ago, its author posted a brief look at the Padres, headlined "How Is This a First Place Team?" Well, okay; their no-better-than-average offense is not exactly news. But....

Yesterday, in a "Games of the Day" post, he recommended several games: Yankees/Toronto, Detroit/Seattle, Atlanta/Florida, Tampa Bay/Minnesota, and Arizona/Dodgers. He concluded by saying

Tim Lincecum and Roy Oswalt also pitch tonight, so it should be a great night for lovers of good pitching. Enjoy!

Oswalt did, indeed, pitch last night. His opponent was Mat Latos of the Padres. Latos is leading the league in Batting Average Against and tied for the lead in Walks/Hits Per Inning Pitched. His ERA is significantly better than Oswalt's; his W-L is much better; and though Oswalt has more strikeouts, on a per-inning basis they're about even. (Oswalt and Latos both pitched seven innings of shutout ball, as it happens; the Padres scored three off the Astros' bullpen and won 3-0.)

How is this a first place team? Because they've got the best damned pitching staff in baseball, is how.