Everyone in the N.L. West is looking up at the Arizona Diamondbacks (19-8) and The Blue Crew had a chance to gain ground last Wednesday, but when the dust settled on a 5-1 week, the Dodgers (13-13) sit atop a list that’s six or more games back of the best record in the MLB…
LAST WEEK:
[ Wednesday, April 23rd, Dodgers 8, Diamondbacks 3 ]
Is there a better shortstop in the NL than Rafael Furcal? I don’t think so. Young Furc singled to lead off the game, stole second, stole third, and came in to score the first of two runs in the top of the first. Meanwhile, Derek Lowe pitched well into the fifth, but had to leave early due to elbow soreness. Joe Torre had a private team meeting before the game. It’s a nice change of pace to see a Dodger manager’s words actually inspire a team. (J. Loney/ 2-5, 2 RBI)
[ Thursday, Dodgers 4, Diamondbacks 6 ]
Chad Billingsley has a nice looking box score with 12 K’s, but the five earned runs next it’s like putting a pinto in a five-car garage. The kid, who’s ERA is nearing seven, pounds the strike zone, or can’t find the plate. The potential is there though, for sure. Nomar Garciaparra replaces Blake DeWitt at third, and on the roster, and scores two runs. (J. Kent/ 2-3, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB)
[ Friday, Dodgers 8, Rockies 7 ]
Late in a tight game, Nomar reaches for a line drive and pulls a muscle. They should leave up the “Nomar Back on DL” story on the Dodger website for the rest of the year. In a bizarre twist after a very familiar sight, “H”ussell Martin shed the catching gear and took over at the hot corner. He later drove in the wining run on a sac fly, going 4-for-4 on the night. Ladies and gentlemen, the next great Dodger catcher… (C.H. Park/ 3.0 pitched, 2 H, 0 R)
[ Saturday, Dodgers 11, Rockies 3 ]
Matt Kemp’s first career grand slam capped off a first inning where the Dodgers sent 13 men to the plate, and scored 10 of them. Brad Penny cruised again, while making some time for a few good swings. (B. Penny/ 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 R)
[ Sunday, Dodgers 3, Rockies 2 ]
The home stand started with Loney driving in Furcal, and it ended the same way in the 10th as the second walk-off hit of the weekend delivered the Boys in Blue their first sweep on the year. Esteban Loaiza pitched five innings of two-run ball, something that could give him the upper hand in the battle for the fifth pitching spot. (Furcal/ 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, .363)
[ Tuesday, Dodgers 7, Marlins 6 ]
The Dodgers won another close one, their fourth in a row, in the first game of a six-game roadie. Lowe showed no ill effects of his arm soreness, until getting touched up in the fifth. Jeff Kent drove in Andre Ethier in the top of the ninth, and Takashi Saito collected the save. (Ethier/ 2-3, 3 R, 2 BB)
THIS WEEK:
After playing mostly familiar faces for most of April, the Dodgers will now face more out of division opponents. They only play three NL West teams in the next two months, and don’t play the D-Backs until after the All-Star break.
NOTES:
– The Dodgers and the McCourt’s are planning to give Dodger Stadium a makeover. Check it out if you haven’t already.
– Blake DeWitt needs to stay up. I don’t care if that means rolling around with 11 pitchers. The kid strokes, has a good glove, and is a kid! Why send down the future so Nomar can reach for a foul ball and tear a hamstring?
– Speaking of the minors, that’s where Jason Schmidt will be soon, as he works his way back from serious shoulder surgery. Is anyone expecting anything from this guy? Who has a better year, Schmidt or Barry Zito?
– I’ve got an idea; send Andruw Jones to the minors. I’m half serious because anything less shocking won’t work for the (.165, 1 HR) slugger. This guy just can’t see the ball. Yes, it looks like he’s trying to hit the ball back to Atlanta every time he goes to one knee after a huge cut. But, even when it’s obvious he’s trying to just poke the ball, he still isn’t making solid contact. You put a struggling Zito in the pen, where do you put a struggling Jones?
– Oh yea, if anyone hadn’t heard, the Giants sent their multi-million dollar ace, Barry Zito, to the bullpen before his ERA reaches double digests. If I didn’t point and laugh, I wouldn’t be a Dodger fan.