Baseball Toaster Dodger Thoughts
Help
Jon Weisman's outlet
for dealing psychologically
with the Los Angeles Dodgers
and baseball.
Frozen Toast
Search
Google Search
Web
Toaster
Dodger Thoughts
Archives

2009
02  01 

2008
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2007
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2006
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2005
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2004
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2003
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2002
09  08  07 
About Jon
Thank You For Not ...

1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with

My Child Is an A Student at National League Elementary
2004-05-03 08:46
by Jon Weisman

Having as much trouble as I am believing that this Dodger team has the best record in the National League?

Yeah, the resurgent offense has made a huge difference, the bullpen has been spotty but farily effective - but that starting pitching! The rotation's ERA remains way too high, at 5.24.

What mitigates that ERA, for better or worse, is that the starting pitching is averaging fewer than six innings per start. That means the starters are allowing an average of 3.5 runs per game. The bullpen, with an ERA of 3.04, is allowing one run per game. The Dodgers have needed to score five runs per game to win - and they're averaging 4.9.

This week, for the first time this year, the Dodgers face a top opponent from outside the division. Or do they? The NL East-leading Florida Marlins flew into San Francisco over the weekend and got swept. They held a 9-2 lead over the Giants after 1 1/2 innings Friday night, then got outscored, 25-11, the rest of the series.

The Dodgers will send their three (relatively) best starting pitchers of the season against Florida: Odalis Perez, Jeff Weaver and Kazuhisa Ishii against three celebrated Marlins: Josh Beckett, Brad Penny and Dontrelle Willis. Hee Seop Choi (1.097 OPS), Mike Lowell (.993) and Miguel Cabrera (.954) lead the Florida offense.

Los Angeles has some noteworthy series this month, among them Chicago May 11-13, at Philadelphia May 18-20. A winning record in the aggregate would make the Dodgers' early success seem worthy of more than a rooty tooty bumper sticker.

Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.