NL West Update

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Spring Leaders

Hits - 2 tied with 24
Home runs - 2 tied with 4
RBIs - Russell Brayan 17
Stolen Bases - Willie Bloomquist 4
Innings - 2 tied with 22 1/3
Strikeouts - 2 tied with 15

News:  Kip Wells was signed to a minor league contract by Arizona on Thursday. Wells played for the Long Island Ducks of the Independent Atlantic League  in 2010 after pitching in parts of 11 different major league seasons for the White Sox, Pirates, Rangers, Cardinals, Rockies, Royals, Nationals and Reds. He has appeared in 289 games (212 starts) going 67-99 with a 4.71 ERA. He had 10 or more wins in each season from 2001-2003.


COLORADO ROCKIES

Spring Leaders

Hits - Jonathan Herrera 20
Home runs - 2 tied with 3
RBIs - 2 tied with 11
Stolen Bases - Willy Taveras 6
Innings - Esmil Rogers 25
Strikeouts - Esmil Rogers 16

News: Esmil Rogers will break camp as the number five starter for Colorado this season in place of the injured Aaron Cook. Rogers who has made 29 appearances including 9 starts for the Rockies over the past two seasons has pitched well this spring going 2-0 with a 4.32 ERA over a team best 25 innings. The 25 year old right hander will join Ubaldo Jimenez (19-8 2.88), Jorge De La Rosa (8-7 4.22), Jhoulys Chacin (9-11 3.28) and Jason Hammel (10-9 4.81) to round out the Colorado rotation.


LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Spring Leaders

Hits - 2 tied with 17
Home runs - Matt Kemp 5
RBIs - Matt Kemp 15
Stolen Bases - Tony Gwynn Jr. 6
Innings - 2 tied with 22
Strikeouts - John Ely 18

News:  Backup catcher Dioner Navarro will start the season on the disabled list after tearing his right oblique muscle and will likely be out at least a month. This leaves the Dodgers with a question of who will open the 2011 season as the backup behind starter Rod Barajas. The two remaining candidates are A.J. Ellis and Hector Gimenez. Ellis is batting just .161 this spring (5/31) while Gimenez is batting .300 (12/40) with 3 home runs. Ellis has appeared in parts of 3 season with the Dodgers including a 44 game stint last year where he hit .278 whereas Gimenez has not appeared in a major league game since 2006 with the Astros. Gimenez spent 2010 in AA Altoona where he hit .305 with 16 homeruns.


SAN DIEGO PADRES

Spring Leaders

Hits - Chris Denorfia 21
Home runs - 8 tied with 2
RBIs - Jorge Cantu 12
Stolen Bases - Will Venable 5
Innings - 2 tied with 19 2/3
Strikeouts - 2 tied with 18

News: Tim Stauffer has been named the Padres opening day starter for 2011. Stauffer, a former first round pick back in 2003, had shoulder surgery back in 2007, missed all of 2008 and it looked like he might never realize his potential, but finally in 2010, Stauffer really established himself at the major league level. In 32 appearances (7 starts), Stauffer had a 1.85 ERA over 82 2/3 innings. He has been strong this spring as well going 2-0 with a 3.66 ERA over 5 starts.


SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Spring Leaders

Hits - Aubrey Huff 20
Home runs - Aubrey Huff 5
RBIs - Aubrey Huff 14
Stolen Bases - Darren Ford 9
Innings - Barry Zito 21 2/3
Strikeouts - Madison Bumgarner 25

News: Brian Wilson has been insistent that he will be ready to go come opening day as he continues to recover from a mildly strained oblique muscle. Wilson, who tore the muscle back in 2006, is not being rushed back as a tear would require significantly more time to rehab from. Wilson led the majors in saves last year with 48 and added 6 more in the postseason.