We at SLAE are not always big on numbers, but let me throw out some numbers.
14 W - 17L (the Dodgers' record since the All-Star Break).
6-9 (the Dodgers' record in August).
4 1/2 (the number of games back in the NL West of the Rockies.
3 (number of blown saves by Broxton out of his last 5 opportunities).
0-2, 4.76 ERA (tonight's starter's, Chad Billingsley, numbers lifetime against the Cardinals).
We at SLAE are also not ones to panic when things turn bad.
Wait....yes we are.....P A N I C!!!!!!
After last nights systematic dismantling by Chris Carpenter and the Cards (which should please the Lone Reader), the NL West suddenly looks imminently loseable by the Boys in Blue. The numbers tell part of the story, but what is most concerning is that they are just playing bad baseball.
Carpenter, with all due respect, did not look particularly dominant last night. Evidencing the SLAE jinx, Bison Kemp struck out twice on HORRIBLE pitches, even after working the count in his favor. Casey Blake is going through his predictable decline to slap-hitter status (which belies his size and Beard), Furcal and Hudson continue to fail to spark the top of the lineup, and Manny still does not look like the Manny of old (and certainly not the Manny of last year).
I'll give some credit to the Cards (mostly for Lone Reader's benefit). Pujols is a frigging God. The guy seriously should just relocate to Mount Olympus. Ankiel hit a mammoth home run, and Ludwick made a beautiful throw to nail Ethier at third on a sac fly. But more than anything, they impressed me by making just enough plays to hang around until they got to poor Charlie Haeger -- which you just knew was going to happen eventually.
The Dodgers are playing right now without that confidence and assurance. Watching them, they don't look like they are always thiiiiis close to pulling a game out (as the good teams do), they look like they have to put up 9 runs in order to have a chance to win. And no team is going to do that in the playoffs (if they, gulp, get there).
So now the questions start: did the team get complacent (I think so); is the bullpen dead tired (umm, yeah); is there enough starting pitching to survive a stretch run and the playoffs, especially with Kuroda out for at least a start and of questionable effectiveness when he returns (we'll see); what the hell happened to the offense that was getting key hits early in the year and always seemed to have guys on base (who the hell knows).
All I know, is I am thiiiiiiiiis close to full-fledged meltdown mode, and if Billingsley can't beat
Mitchell Boggs tonight, and the Rockies win, I could spend the night curled in the fetal position in the corner of my living room.
Mitchell Boggs tonight, and the Rockies win, I could spend the night curled in the fetal position in the corner of my living room.
How long until Longhorns football starts again?!?
