Question of the Day: Advantage Dodgers?
As you know by now, every so often we like to hold our finger up to the wind and measure in what direction the Dodger Nation is blowing. After taking two of three from Arizona, in Phoenix no less!, the Dodgers have a chance to capture first place in the NL West all by themselves with a win tonight in Colorado. The D-Backs series featured two solid comebacks, and almost had a third, as the Dodgers played some gritty, gutty (call it "grutty") baseball.
Now, some are starting to call the Dodgers the team to beat in the West, a) because the Blue, albeit in fits and starts, have been playing better baseball over the last few weeks, and b) because after a red hot start, the Diamondbacks have been genuinely bad, weighed down an offense that at this point most people wouldn't swap out for LA's... which is scary. Arizona has been trying for weeks to give the West away. Only now are the Dodgers finally trying to take it.
So that leads to today's Question of the Day: Do you now see LA as the team to beat in the division?
While my projections for the division at the beginning of the season have all been shot to hell, I did pick the Blue to finish above the Diamondbacks, and at this point see no reason to come off that aspect of my preseason predictions. Keep in mind, saying the Dodgers should take the crown doesn't necessarily mean you have to think they're all that good... just better than the other teams. In the local nine, I see more offensive potential, plus more balance in the pitching staff. Advantage Dodgers.
BK
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Yesterday after listening to the win over the D-backs, my 6-year-old daughter asked if L and A stand for "lucky" and "awesome." I didn't have the heart to tell her she was only half right. I think LA and Arizona will continue to hand the first place slot to one another for at least another month. The four-game series between them will probably seal it up. Only then will one team actually earn it. The deciding factor will be all the guys who get healthy. Will they play as if they haven't dealt with the wear and tear of the first half of the season (ie Nomar lately) or will they play like they're still hurt (ie Andruw)?
Posted by: Vero Hero | July 21, 2008 at 02:37 PM
I never stopped believing.
BUT - depends on how stoopid MC Colletti gets over the next couple of weeks.
My Spidey sense tells me there is dumbness in the air.
Posted by: benzojones | July 21, 2008 at 02:49 PM
Probably advantage AZ and the Dodgers will have to fight their way in. The ghosts of last year will be in their minds entering August and September. If they can exorcise them, then they can win. If they focus on them, a repeat may occur. Two advantages, depending on their return dates, will be fewer innings on Penny's arm and on Furcal's legs. If those two can get healthy and playing again by mid to late August, then it is advantage LA.
Posted by: dalegribel | July 21, 2008 at 03:51 PM
Just read on www.DODGERUPDATES.com that kershaw is on to colorado right now to join the dodgers
Posted by: the2ndbeaner | July 21, 2008 at 03:53 PM
It's still anybody's division right now. Colorado wasn't on anyone's radar until they swept the Dodgers in four games lastt September. I see 2008 playing out in similar fashion. Some team is going to get hot when AA callups arrive, and make a last-ditch push to win the division (no wild card coming out of the west this year).
Could the Dodgers be that team? OF course. Could the Snakes? Bring back Eric Byrnes and Upton and all of a sudden, they're a better team than the one we barely beat twice. Could the Rockies? Possibly. The Padres? Not likely. The Giants? Stranger things have happened.
I'll state my state as cautiously optimistic, as I've been all season. I'll be more optimistic and less cautious when the blue get above .500, and make deposits on playoff tickets when they get maybe 10 games above .500.
Posted by: SaMo | July 21, 2008 at 04:00 PM
We've got the momentum, that's for sure. We just need to translate that into consistent offense. Our pitching staff overall is superior to AZ. They've got a better 1-2, obviously, but I'll take our back-end starters and bullpen in a landslide, Saito's absence notwithstanding.
But benzo is right: we've got the advantage provided we DON'T trade away anybody currently on the major league club. I simply do not see a single potential trade out there that is worth selling any of our young guys for. I like our odds of making the playoffs, but I like our long-term outlook a lot more.
Ned, for the love of Blue, do not sell the future for a slightly better present! It's just not worth it.
Posted by: VA Blueblood | July 21, 2008 at 04:02 PM
I need to see more consistency from the Dodgers before I make judgement, or make them favorites to win the west. Winning one and then losing one will not help. They need to go on a 5 to 6 games winning streak not just against bad teams but also against good ones.
Posted by: dcerros | July 21, 2008 at 04:03 PM
DCerros,
Amen. Taking 2 out of 3 in AZ was a start, but the Dodgers can't turn around and go in the tank in Colorado. Their pattern this year has been to hit well in a game or two, then stop altogether.
However, 2 comeback wins are far more than I ever expected. We'll see.
Posted by: Chunkdog | July 21, 2008 at 04:56 PM
I guess yesterday was just a fluke for AJ. First inning 6 straight breaking balls, no clue, strikes out
Posted by: DavidS | July 21, 2008 at 06:24 PM
AJ was feeling sorry for Wells... just a nice guy.
WHAT POWERS DOES the STACHE have???
Forget Batman, Don Mattingly is my Dark Knight.. with a stache.
Posted by: benzojones | July 21, 2008 at 06:43 PM
Just imagine how long this game would last if we didn't have AJ
Posted by: DavidS | July 21, 2008 at 06:58 PM
a n d r u w j o n e s bats again, strikes out again.
Is there no end to this madness?
Posted by: QueenBee | July 21, 2008 at 07:00 PM
That's it, I officially can't take it anymore. It's been a funny joke most of the year, but, now it's vile and disgusting.
Is there anybody else out there who is absolutely distraught over the fact that Andruw Jones is making over $18 million dollars this year?
I better stop now before my head explodes.
Posted by: wausroamer | July 21, 2008 at 07:03 PM
Can Stults last 5innings?
David
Posted by: DavidS | July 21, 2008 at 07:07 PM
I think the time has come for colletti to grows some balls and admit his mistake with respect to the jones signing,and he is released before he drags the team down with him.Continuing to play him could mean the differance in winning the division or not.The $36 million is wasted regardless if they continue to play him with no production or if he is released.After releasing jones colletti should be right behind him
Posted by: edward mrbs | July 21, 2008 at 07:13 PM
I agree completely with dcerros. The Dodgers haven't earned anything but a reputation for inconsistency and frequently terrible, uninspired play. They had an 8-game winning streak earlier this season and then jumped out of the plane. Now they look like they're on a hot streak again -- 13 runs combined in Sunday's ninth and today's first! But I'm not going to get excited yet by any means. As for tonight's game, Stults is struggling. And look! 9 hits in the first 15 ABs, and Fatso is an oh-fer with 2 strikeouts. Normally, I might feel a little sorry for a guy in the midst of such a miserable catastrophe, but he bought it all for himself at the start; hence the name Fatso. Worst FA signing of all-time? He's earned that title.
Posted by: Rufus Leaking | July 21, 2008 at 07:17 PM
I still say--when Pierre comes back-send AJ home and tell him to come back when he loses 25 pounds--whether its this year or next.
David S
Posted by: DavidS | July 21, 2008 at 07:29 PM
OK... here is my take on the AJ comments above.
The team runs an ad for AMPM all you can eat section and the first shot of the back of the crowd shows a guy CLEARLY picking a wedgie.
and you expected this quality/image control obsessed team to do research on AJ?
Posted by: benzojones | July 21, 2008 at 08:35 PM
Benzo,
Is it too late to see if the www.pabloozunamania.com url has been taken yet?
Posted by: DodgerBlueBalls | July 21, 2008 at 08:56 PM
Why are the Dodgers going to start a journeyman in Johnson tomorrow against the Rockies when Kershaw is available in the minors? It is not like he stunk it up in the majors. He kept the Dodgers in a majority of the games he pitched this year.
Jones 3 strikeouts already tonight. sigh.. when will Torre realize this guy sucks
Posted by: Tom | July 21, 2008 at 09:00 PM
The Dodgers are the best team in the National League West & will win the division by at least four games. They will also get better as time goes by.
Look for Kershaw to get his first win tomorrow.
Posted by: Eagle Rock Andy | July 21, 2008 at 09:34 PM
DBB-
www.pabloozunamania.com is available, and I was equally surprised to see that the .net, and .biz extensions are also available.
Ahhhhhhh... the mind of an entrepe-nure
Posted by: benzojones | July 22, 2008 at 06:08 AM
There is no one team to beat in the NL West. The question really is, who is the least bad? Remember last year when the Rockies got into the postseason by the hairs of their chinny chin chins, winning 22 straight games? They needed help from the Padres and Trevor Hoffman in particular, but you could see any of several teams going on a tear. The Snakes did it once; so could the Dodgers.
Posted by: Rob McMillin | July 22, 2008 at 08:47 AM