Sportsview: National League worst is the worst
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-28 09:24

"You don't want to be a loser and a winner at the same time, I guess," San Diego's Robert Fick said last week.

That's precisely what the Padres will be, unless they find a way to win at least four of their last six games. Then again, they could just as easily collapse entirely and allow the Giants to sneak in even though San Francisco has already lost 82 games and can't finish over .500.

After what happened Monday night in San Diego, when Giles nearly made a great catch but then dropped the third out to allow the Giants to win the opener of a four game series, that's within the realm of possibility, too.

"Unfortunately, it provided a little bit of momentum for these guys going into tomorrow," Hoffman said.

The loss was the fifth in seven games for the Padres, who aren't exactly peaking heading into the final games of the season. Last week they lost a game 20-1, and have only five hits in their last two games combined.

Still, they were clinging to a three-game lead over the Giants, who have gone 10-4 since Barry Bonds returned to at least spice up the race a bit.

Things weren't supposed to be this bad, even in a division that was widely viewed as mediocre before the season began. The Dodgers figured to contend even after losing Adrian Beltre, Shawn Green and Steve Finley; the Giants added Moises Alou to protect Bonds in the lineup; and the Padres thought their starting pitching led by Jake Peavy and Adam Eaton would carry them.

Even the Arizona Diamondbacks upgraded, adding Green and Troy Glaus to the lineup.

Bonds was out before the season even started, though, and both the Diamondbacks and Dodgers faded after quick starts. Moneyball may have worked in Oakland, but Dodger general manager Paul DePodesta underestimated the importance of team chemistry when he signed loners Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew in the offseason and the team never jelled.

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