Dodgers… Back on track?
After an abysmal first week roadtrip that found the Dodgers with a 2-4 record with losing series to both the Pirates (a team that is on nobody’s post-season prediction list) and the Marlins, the Dodgers look to be righting their ship, by winning back to back series against the Diamondbacks and the Giants at home. Manny Ramirez closed out the ever-exciting series with the Giants with a two run blast in the eighth inning to win the game and the series. The Dodgers are back to .500, but there are still reasons to be concerned.
Let’s take a look at the numbers…
First the areas of concern:
Pitching, pitching and pitching!
Team ERA: 5.30 (worst in the NL West)
Blown Saves: 2 (in 3 opportunities)
Starting Rotation
Padilla: 8.04 ERA
Billingsley: 5.73 ERA
Haeger: 7.20 ERA
Kershaw: 3.18 ERA (thanks in large part to a stellar performance against the Giants on Sunday.)
Kuroda: 1.20 ERA (now there’s something to cheer about!)
The relievers aren’t giving much relief these days either. Russ Ortiz was FINALLY dumped from the lineup after giving up 8 earned runs in 6 innings pitched. Sherrill has been equally pathetic with 6 earned runs in 4 2/3 innings pitched. Ramon Ortiz (the Ortiz that is still on the pitching staff, for now) has given up 6 earned runs in 7 innings pitched.
There are actually a few things to cheer about regarding pitching. Jonathan Broxton notched his first save against the Giants and continues to dominate with no runs in 5 2/3 innings pitched so far. Troncoso is sitting at a 2.84 ERA and looks to be an important middle reliever.
In other pitching news, as noted above, the Dodgers dumped Russ Ortiz (don’t let the door hit you on the ass…) and have recalled RHP Jon Link from the Isotopes. Link pitched a few innings in Glendale this spring, not giving up a run in his appearances. Of course, Spring Training is a LONG way from Regular Season play. So we’ll have to keep an eye on Link as he gets his chance to shine. Also, Hong Chih Kuo is expected to return to the team after being on the DL for the starting two weeks of the season.
And now for the good news!
Hitting, hitting and hitting!
When it comes to hitting, Dodger bats are solid top to bottom. The team batting average ranks at the top of the NL with a .303 average, second only to the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central. Of the starters, Ethier, Belliard, Ramirez, Furcal, Kemp, Blake and Loney all sit above the .300 mark. And Russell Martin (who struggled throughout the 2009 campaign) is close behind at .290. When it comes to hitting, the Dodgers are rock solid!
