Editorials

The Dodgers Are 30-42, Can Anything Save The 2013 Season?

Another day, another dreary Dodgers’ loss.  The Blue Crew’s 5-2 loss to the San Diego Padres last night dropped them to a season-worst 9 1/2 games out of first place. Last night’s game was another one of those microcosms for everything that has gone wrong for the Dodgers this year.

Clayton Kershaw is arguably the best pitcher in baseball as he has a 2.06 ERA, yet he is only 5-5 on the year. In fact, three of those losses have come against the Padres and he’s only  allowed  six home runs in 113 1/3 innings of work this year.  Surprisingly five of those have been hit by the Padres! What is going on here?



The Padres aren’t the only NL West team that has given the Dodgers fits.  L.A. is an abysmal 9-23 against the NL West  and only the Chicago Cubs have a worse mark against division opponents.  Why is that?  The massive wave of injuries has been well chronicled, as has been the under performance of some key players.  Enough of that.  What about the little things in the game.  Here are some more disconcerting stats:

  • 56 errors (tied for most in MLB)
  • 3.5 runs per game (2nd worst in NL)
  • 4.25 bullpen ERA (3rd worst in NL)
  • 15 blown saves (tied for most in MLB)

That’s the worst of the worst of the Dodgers numbers.  At this point, Dodgers fans can’t say it’s enough anymore: Yasiel Puig has electrified the team and the city with his .455 average, six homers, and 12 RBI in 17 games.

Everyone on the team gushes that Puig’s energy is infectious, but since Puig’s debut, the Dodgers are only 7-10.  While San Diego has gone an NL-best 13-7 in June, the Dodgers have lost five of their last seven games.

Dodgers fans have to be frustrated.  With so many things wrong with the team it’s hard to come up with a quick fix.  There doesn’t appear to be any bullpen help in sight.

Everyone would like to believe that if the Dodgers’ high-priced lineup was fully healthy and intact, the scoring wouldn’t be a problem.  But I feel like I might see a leprechaun before I see a healthy Dodgers’ lineup take the field.  And, if that does ever happen, it might too late in the season for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers will take on the Padres again tonight and Zack Greinke will be on the mound at Petco Park, his first start there since the now infamous brawl with Carlos Quentin that left Greinke with a broken collarbone.

The very-hittable Edinson Volquez will take his 5-5 record and 5.84 ERA to the hill for the Padres.  Matt Kemp is also expected to begin a rehab-stint at AAA-Albuquerque this weekend.  I’ve asked before and I’ll ask again: Can the Dodgers turn it around this weekend and heading into next with another key NL West matchup looming?  We’ll find out soon.

Staff Writer

Staff Writer features content written by our site editors along with our staff of contributing writers. Thank you for your readership.
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