When the Padres and Giants square off in a 4-game series beginning September 9^th, unexpected implications will be on the line. Only a season ago, the San Diego Padres finished the regular season a full 20 games back in the National League West. To the see Fathers atop the standings at this late juncture is a surprise to many, perhaps even San Diego fans themselves. Just a year after trading away Jake Peavy, their ace over the past few seasons, a wide selection of analysts and writers across the country expected the Padres to take a step backwards in 2010, though so far the San Diego ship appears to be sailing along, full steam ahead. Their closest competition for divisional supremacy comes out of San Francisco where the Giants are in the midst of an impressive turn around in their own right. While the Giants faired slightly better than the Padres over the course of the 2009 season, sporting a winning percentage of .543 and finishing just 7 games back of the pennant and 4 out of Wild Card berth, San Francisco fans haven’t enjoyed post season play since they won the West in 2003. In 2008, the two teams finished 4^th and 5^th within the 5 team division.San Diego is paced in almost every hitting category by first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who in spite of the clubs struggles in recent seasons, has established himself as a consistent middle of order bat. Mat Latos has provided the Padres with a surprising lift off the mound in only his second year of exposure to The Show, pacing the Padres in Wins, ERA and strikeouts. San Francisco’s offense has been powered by an unexpected resurgence from 33-year old veteran Aubrey Huff, who leads the Giants in average, home runs, RBIs and OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). The Giants have been the recipients of the same steadily dominant play out of Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, once again among the league’s best young arms. It should be noted that both the Dodgers and Rockies are still very alive in the NL West race, though a few games out, well within conceivable striking distance.