Roger Dodgers

Despite what we all think (yes, including me), this series against the Dodgers really only has relevancy if one or the other team sweeps. The standings don't mean much yet, and both teams are chasing the Colorado Rockies at this point, anyway...if you can even call it chasing at this point of the season.

But I was interested in what the Dodgers have been doing on the way to their 5-4 record (minus the bit about taking 3 of 4 from the Giants to open the season, of course). Melsh hasn't told me, and besides, he's a Dodgers fan, so I can only reasonably expect him to tell me lies, damned lies and statistics, anyway -- and what would that prove?

Well, the lies and damned lies, at any rate. The statistics...those might mean something, even from a Dodgers fan. So here's what I've noticed, starting offensively:

• Matt Kemp: Oof. There isn't anything he isn't doing right now. Scary. Maybe if we ignore him, he'll go away? Let's try that. Vulcan mind-meld in 3...2....1...
• Andre Ethier: Not hitting for power, yet, and he's striking out quite a bit...but other than that, Oof Light. Anybody up for a re-enactment of the Tonya Harding scandal, with Ethier playing Nancy Kerrigan?
• Tony Gwynn (Jr.): I've just realized that despite him asking to have the Jr. dropped, I don't think I can ever do it. 'Cept if he keeps hitting like this: .350/.381/.450. He won't, of course, but he's had an impact.
• James Loney & Juan Uribe: Scufflin', and really overall, despite the efforts of the gentleman above, so is the Dodgers' offense.

So if the Dodgers' offense is struggling (and they are at about 3 runs/game), how have they won 5 of 9? Well, they're 4-1 in close games (decided by 2 runs or less), for one, but really it must be about the pitching, right?

• Clayton Kershaw & Hiroki Kuroda have been very good out to this point...Kershaw took a tough loss in Colorado that was really about his offense not scoring rather than how well he pitched.
• The Dodgers' bullpen has been pretty good...I'd love to see a radar gun battle between Mike MacDougal (former Royal...ugh, 2003) & Jonathan Broxton. Broxton hasn't been striking people out thus far, but has accumulated 5 saves.
• Chad Billingsly has struggled some, as has Ted Lilly and John Ely in their starts.

What I'm seeing at this point is that the Dodgers are walking a bit of a thin line -- they're riding great early season performances by about 6 players and translated it into .556 winning percentage.

It won't hold up, not like this, but while those 6 players are going to cool off some, they have a bunch of other players that won't continue to struggle. Here's to hoping for team-wide Dodgers struggle for the next 3 games, then they can go about losing in different ways.

Go Giants! =)