The Padres and Diamondbacks represent both ends of the quality spectrum in National League Baseball. One is very good and one is very bad.

First the good.

The Padres are among the most well balanced teams in baseball. They have built their club to play efficient, effective baseball in one of MLB's greatest pitcher's parks. In fact though, the Padres still hit home runs in their spacious home park. But that certainly isn't all they do. They pitch well, they have timely hits and they run with efficiency and at the right times. That balance has landed them at the top of their division.

The pitching staff includes young phenom Mat Latos who I wrote glowingly about during spring training. Latos is on the shelf now with an oblique injury, having injured himself sneezing. He's a 10 game winner with remaining upside. Latos has a sparkling 2.45 ERA and has yielded 75 hits in 106.2 innings. You'd take that any day of the week. The rest of the staff includes a rejuvenated Jon Garland, Kevin Correia, Clayton Richard and Wade LeBlanc. Richard came over from the White Sox in the deal for Jake Peavy. LeBlanc is a soft-tossing, change-up throwing lefty who is just finding himself. They feed off the success of one another and they aren't afraid to go up against the best hitters in the game. Can they sustain this success as a starting staff? There isn't anything to suggest that they'll fold, although Latos, Richard and LeBlanc are really young. Chris Young is a veteran starter, but he is sidelined with a bad shoulder.

Then there's the bullpen. The only real household name belongs to Heath Bell, the very reliable flame throwing closer. But Luke Gregerson is having a great season as the set-up man and when healthy, Mike Adams (strained side muscle) does a great job as well. Early relievers include Ryan Webb and Tim Stauffer along with Edward Mujica, an Indians castoff. Joe Thatcher is the lefty specialist in the pen.

Who said the Padres can't hit? Of course we all know what a vital force Adrian Gonzalez represents in the middle of the order. If the Padres keep winning, Gonzalez should get MVP consideration. But the rest of the cast isn't folding their tents and waiting for Gonzalez to do everything by himself. The Hairston brothers, Scott and Jerry have contributed big hits at the right time. Neither has an impressive batting average, but they just put pressure on the defense. Tony Gwynn, Jr. can run. Chase Headley can hit and has power. If you've never seen Luis Durango play, you owe it to yourself to try and watch a Padres game if they ever get on national television. He can just flat out run. He has tremendous instincts on the bases. If he gets on first, he'll be on second that quickly. Veteran Matt Stairs and David Eckstein bring stability and experience to the young club. Kyle Blanks is injured with a bad elbow and the club is progressing even without his power. Chris Denorfia is a castoff from other clubs with some pop in his bat. Outfielder Aaron Cunningham was once a....Diamondback.

Why do they win? They limit their pitch count by throwing first pitch strikes and not nibbling in one of the biggest parks in baseball. The hitters take the opposing pitchers deep into counts by being selective and getting a piece of the ball while not striking out in record numbers (unlike the DBacks.) They run when practical and they don't get thrown out. Their defense is good, but not great. They don't beat themselves or give the opposition extra outs.

I don't know if the Padres can sustain their momentum and win the West. I do know they are a fun club to watch. They play the game the way it was designed to be played.

As recently as August, 2009 they were a miserable team with little to no pitching and only Adrian Gonzalez as a hitter. Now they are a complete team playing hard for manager Bud Black. They are tired of losing. I think they'll be in the race the entire season.

The other side of the coin? The Diamondbacks.

It's very difficult to watch the Diamondbacks play. They repeatedly make mistakes. At bat. In the field. On the bases. But especially on the mound. They try to be too fine with their pitches and they get clobbered with regularity. The bullpen may end the season as one of the worst in history. The offense may strike out this season more than any single team in history. That parade to the pines is led by Mark Reynolds, Justin Upton and Adam LaRoche. I have hope for Upton. He is showing signs of life in his last three games. The ball is coming off his bat well and he may be waking up. Reynolds? I regret I see little change in his approach at the plate.

Chris Young has played well in the field since he arrived in Phoenix. This year he is finally showing the offense many felt he would bring to a big league club. He is not chasing the slider down and away with the same frequency as the past. In addition, he is beginning to use the entire field. If you are looking for stolen bases in the second half, Young may be your guy. He is running every time he gets on first. He doesn't get thrown out often, either. An All Star? No way. But he's getting better. Especially on the bases.

Stephen Drew has never shown the bat that was supposed to come with his high draft status and mega-contract. He's a reliable fielder. He makes all the plays with good footwork and acceptable range. His arm strength is enough to get the job done from shortstop. But the power is virtually non-existent. He has warning track, 5:00 (batting practice) power at best. He does get to the gap upon occasion and they result in doubles. But the DBacks don't drive in runs and he usually ends up left on base.

Gerardo Parra is learning how to play left field since the trade of Chris Jackson to Oakland. Parra has a gun for an arm. He makes spectacular catches because he takes weird routes after balls hit in the air. I see him as an average hitter with some pop in his bat. If he wants to stick, Parra will have to bring his entire game up a notch.

The problem for the DBacks? In one word it is spelled b u l l p e n. That's it. The club can't hold a lead. The pen can't keep its team in the game.

Names such as Juan Gutierrez were supposed to throw gas and miss bats. Wrong. He's throwing home runs instead. Ditto Aaron Heilman. Chad Qualls is the on again off again closer. It isn't a good sign to see the dugout praying when the call to the bullpen is given by new skipper Kirk Gibson. Esmerling Vasquez has a power arm, but his pitch selection remains a work in progress. He can be very good and very bad. But that's the same as the entire pen.

Starting pitching? I like Ian Kennedy, but if you have him on your fantasy team, beware. He's running out of gas and I think he'll get skipped more as the second half progresses. I don't know who can take his place, but this team won't put excessive innings on his arm.
I like what Rodrigo Lopez has done keeping his team in games. Unfortunately, the bullpen has consistently blown his leads.
Dan Haren has a history of wilting in the second half. That process of melt down has begun. His last start began to build the base of the tinderbox. It could blow up by August or sooner. Be careful if you won Haren. He's a good pitcher. Not great. When he tires, the ball stays up in the zone. In Arizona that means....jack time. Edwin Jackson has a good arm for one time around the batting order. He is inconsistent in his velocity and his approach to hitters. He's a good 5th starter. The DBacks expected more than 6 wins by the break.
Finally, newcomer Barry Enright is promising. He throws a good sinking fastball but he really struggles the second and third time through the order. He'll get better.

To date I have seen no difference between managers Kirk Gibson and A.J. Hinch. None. Lineup is the same. Bullpen roles seem the same. The free swinging looks the same. The indifference on defense seems the same. The selfish approach to at-bats seems the same.

Contrasting the Padres and DBacks is quite simple.

At this point, it looks like the Padres enjoy coming to the park and playing the game correctly. They show tremendous excitement and pride in their product.

The Diamondbacks are a sluggish team that lacks polish and fundamental aptitude. They have potential but they leave it in the clubhouse. They have a lethal combination going for them. They can't score runs and they give up runs in bunches. To good teams and bad. At home and on the road.

Again, I don't know if San Diego can continue to run with the bulls in this marathon. However, they are a franchise that can teach many, many other clubs that positive change can take place in a short period of time. Good management and execution of a plan by skilled players with passion can lead the way out of the doldrums of baseball ineptitude. It can even happen to the Diamondbacks if they get the right management and create the right plan moving forward. That's a big, big if.