Hello,
Everybody clear out, the Dodgers are on fire. LA has won two games in a row and are so close to catching the NL West's 4th place team San Diego. This could be the highlight of the rest of the season. Obviously I'm being sarcastic, the Dodgers still have lost 8 of their last 10 games. They also remain 7 games behind first place San Francisco.
Chris Capuano had a decent game for the Dodgers. In 6.1 innings he gave up 5 hits, but only 1 run. He also struck out 7 Marlins and lowered his season ERA from 10.38 to 6.60. Now if he could only drop his ERA 4 more runs........ :) If I remember correctly, Capuano was an effective pitcher last season. I'd love to see him develop into the fourth starter. With Zack Greinke looking to come back Wednesday, Kershaw and Ryu doing well they could move Beckett to long relief and an occasional spot starter. Would it be too much to ask to see if they could trade Ted Lilly for at least a solid prospect?
While Capuano had a good game, Brandon League had another rough game. The Dodgers only gave up 1 run in the first 8 innings. Then their projected closer, Brandon League, pitched the 9th inning. He gave up 3 hits and 2 runs in one inning of work. His ERA is now 6.28, which is horrible for a major league pitcher but especially a closer. When the Dodgers signed League in the offseason to a 3 year-$22.5 million dollar contract, many called the contract into question. I wasn't one of those as honestly I don't know enough about baseball and Brandon League. But I'm starting to understand the people who openly questioned the Dodgers agreeing to this contract. League isn't getting stronger as the season goes on, if anything he's going the other way.
Is it time for the Dodgers to go to Kenley Jansen? Jansen has a 2.29 ERA, 7 holds and 1 save. If he gets the chance how will he respond to being the closer? One good thing going for Jansen is that he has 27 strikeouts to League's 7 strikeouts in a little over 5 more innings pitched. Mattingly is hinting that he's considering to go with Jansen as the Dodgers closer. If League has another poor outing, I suggest it's time to make the move.
Dee Gordon was just called up from Albuquerque and he just hit a home run. Scott Van Slyke was called up from Albuquerque and he hit a home run today. Can the Dodgers now call up Yasiel Puig up from Chattanooga. It seems Dodgers pitching, at least the starting pitching is rounding into shape, now they need to get some offense to compliment that pitching.
A brief update on a couple of my other teams. The Boston Red Sox used to have the best record in MLB. However their most recent home stand turned into a disaster, they lost 5 of their last 6 games at Fenway. Overall the Red Sox have lost 8 of 10 and have slipped to third place in the AL East. Also things aren't getting easier for the Red Sox. They now travel to Tampa to play the Rays in a 3 game series Tuesday through Thursday.
The Pirates aren't completely knocking anyone's socks off, but they're continuing to play a steady brand of baseball. The Pirates went into New York and took 3 of 4 from the Mets. Pittsburgh was able to win on Sunday even with Mets pitching prodigy Matt Harvey (4-0, 1.44 ERA) taking the mound. The Pirates were able to scratch out 5 hits and 2 runs against Harvey. Meanwhile 5 Pirates pitchers were able to hold the Mets to only two runs. Jason Grilli was able to get his 15th save of the season and his ERA is a minuscule 1.15.
The Pirates seemed to have made the right move with their previous closer, Joel Hanrahan, as they traded him to the Red Sox. Hanrahan is injured and out for the season.
Pittsburgh is 21-16, but still only third place in the NL Central. They trail the second place Reds by a 1/2 game. Pittsburgh trails the first place Cardinals by 2.5 games, no shame there as St. Louis is tied for the second best record in MLB.
themusicaddict
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