Hello,
On Wednesday the Dodgers broke out in a big way. After struggling to score the last few games, LA exploded for 13 runs. With this one game outburst they moved from 21st to 16th in runs scored, which is probably about as high as they'll get this season. I'm glad the Dodgers exploded for all those runs, but it seems LA is the only team that could win 13-4 and not hit any home runs. This team needs to figure out a way to score at least 3 runs a game from here on out.
This was a great all around offensive game by LA, but only a decent pitching game for them. LA had 18 hits and Carl Crawford got in on the fun. He was 4 for 5 and raised his batting average to .293, he also had his 18th double and 19th RBI of the season. Andre Ethier also had a good game, he was 3 for 5 which raises his batting average to .273. He had 4 RBIs in this game, which gives him 41 on the season. Obviously that's one reason LA hasn't scored as many runs as they could this season, mediocre performances by people like Ethier. If the Dodgers will make noise in the playoffs, they need increased production from Crawford and Ethier. A fully healthy Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez are also crucial.
The part of the game that I watched I wasn't that impressed by Ricky Nolasco, I couldn't figure out who he was until I saw the back of his uniform. He had a decent enough game, he raised his record to 8-9, but he only lasted 5 innings. In those 5 innings, he gave up 7 hits and 3 runs. LA's starting rotation still has a few holes. Kershaw, Greinke and Ryu I feel comfortable with, but what would happen if one of those 3 pitchers get injured? I'm sorry, but I don't really want Ted Lilly to be called on to save the day.
The Dodgers continue coasting along, winning 8 of their last 10 games and have a 84.1% chance of reaching the playoffs. The Diamondbacks won last night, to remain 5 games back. However LA has won 8 of their last 10, while the Diamondbacks have only won 4 of 10 games. I'm pretty sure Arizona is done, it's doubtful they have enough to catch the Dodgers. This may be the only division that LA could win. Thankfully LA doesn't play in the NL Central or AL East, they would be fighting for 4th place and planning for next season.
The NL West isn't always this weak, but this season it is. Will there be only team that finishes the NL West with a winning record? I think that's a possibility. If the Diamondbacks stop fighting, they could quickly sink below .500.
After yesterday's 6-3 win, the Braves are 70-45. They have a mind boggling 99.9% chance of making the playoffs. Atlanta just keeps on rolling, they've won 13 games and continue destroying the NL East. If LA was in the NL East with this record, they'd be in second place and trail Atlanta by 6 games. Of course that would be more competition than any other NL East team is providing. The Nationals are the second place team in the NL East. Remember that after you read the upcoming stats.
Washington isn't even at .500, the team many picked to win the NL East is 54-60. They just finished being swept by the Braves. The Nationals kept those games close, but still ended up losing 3 in a row. It's hard to believe any second place team could be behind by 15.5 games and only have a 1.8% chance of reaching the playoffs. As hard as that is to believe, that is indeed the case in the NL East.
The Alex Rodriguez travesty continues on, when this whole nonsense is finished does he want any fans left? He doesn't act like it. Yesterday he officially appealed his 211 game suspension. The arbitrator isn't going to rule on his appeal until late fall. Since a player can play until his appeal is heard it means that Rodriguez will play the rest of this season. If the arbitrator finds in favor of MLB, I hope he keeps the punishment at 211 games.
It's too bad, okay not really, that ARod's bad karma fell on the Yankees. Going into their 3 game series with the White Sox, Chicago had lost 10 games in a row. New York came to town and were swept. Aroid should have taken his punishment starting this season, the Yanks are out of the playoff race now anyway. New York trails their hated rivals the Red Sox by 11.5 games and only have a 1.8% chance of reaching the playoffs. New York has only won 6 of 18 games since the All-Star break and things don't get any easier. The Tigers are coming to town, the second hottest team in MLB. Detroit has won 11 games in a row and score a lot of runs.
Rodriguez won't be a difference maker this season, especially for a team that's going nowhere. He should've accepted his punishment, like the other 12 players suspended at the same time, saving himself and his team embarrassment. But he got his pride involved, it's hard to see clear when one's pride gets in the way.
themusicaddict
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