Dodgers Week 14 In Review: Flexing Their Muscles
by Eric Stephen on Jul 13, 2009 6:00 AM PDT
in Weeks/Months In Review
18 comments
Previous Weekly Recaps: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13
A pair of Ks led the way this week for the Dodgers, one a near All-Star roaming centerfield and the other a young phenom starting to come into his own.
The Dodgers stormed into the All-Star break with one of their best weeks of the season, winning two more series on the road while nearly doubling up their opponents. The offense went wild this week, averaging 7.5 runs per game and clubbing 12 home runs. Of the 13 batters on the roster, only Casey Blake (.697) and Mark Loretta (.583) had an OPS under .787. The Dodgers hit .315/.412/.543 for the week.
During the second week of the season, the Dodgers opened their home schedule in grand fashion, outscoring their opponents by 33, 50-17, on their way to a perfect start at home. This week, the Dodgers outscored the Mets and Brewers by 20 (45-25) for their second-best showing of the season. On the season, the Dodgers have outscored their opponents by an MLB-best 105 runs.
Dodger Batter of the Week: Since The Bison doesn't wear a Phillies' uniform, he won't be going to St. Louis to play in the All-Star Game, so he'll have to settle for the coveted True Blue LA Batter of The Week Award. Matt Kemp had an insane week, .hitting 522/.577/.783 with five runs and six RBI. Even with an 0 for 4 on Sunday, Kemp was still able to hit over .500 for the week. After an 8-for-11 series against the Mets, Kemp had his highlight reel game on Friday in Milwaukee, providing some Bison Insurance with an extra-inning grand slam, and ending the game with an amazing over-the-shoulder catch that might just be the defensive play of the year so far for the Dodgers.
Dodger Pitcher of the Week: Clayton Kershaw has arrived, folks. All he did this week was win both of his starts, allowing only one run and 12 baserunners in 12 innings. Since May 1, Kershaw is 7-3 with a 2.059 ERA, second only to Tim Lincecum (2.055) during that time. Kershaw has allowed 18 runs over his last 14 starts, and has allowed zero or one run in 11 of 18 starts this year. His 3.16 ERA is the best on the staff.
Week 14 Record: 4-2
45 runs scored (7.50 per game)
25 runs allowed (4.17 per game)
.764 pythagorean winning percentage
Overall Seasonal Record: 56-32 (.636)
443 runs scored (5.03 per game)
338 runs allowed (3.84 per game)
.632 pythagorean winning percentage
Always On Base: During the series in New York, Matt Kemp had a streak of seven straight plate appearances reaching base (five hits, two walks). Manny Ramirez ended the week by reaching base all five times on Sunday in Milwaukee (three hits, two walks).
Symmetrical Slugging: On Sunday, All-Star Orlando Hudson hit home runs from both sides of the plate against the Brewers, the 10th time in the history of the Dodgers this happened. The only other Dodger to do so in Milwaukee was Milton Bradley, who turned the trick on April 18, 2005. That 2005 win brought the club's record to 10-2, on their way to a 12-2 start before the wheels came off.
Going Deep: When the starting pitcher pitches six or more innings for the Dodgers, the club is 32-13 (.711). When they don't last six innings, the Dodgers are 24-19 (.558). The MLB winning percentages for these scenarios are .614 and .330, respectively.
Where The Rubber Meets The Road: In each of the club's last ten 3-game series, the Dodgers have headed into game three with the series tied at 1-1 The Dodgers have won the final game of these series eight of ten times.
Worth The Wait: On Tuesday, Claudio Vargas made his first appearance on a major league mound in over a year, and for the week threw two scoreless innings.
Transactions: A couple bullpen injury-related moves:
- Wednesday: Ronald Belisario was placed on the disabled list, retroactive to July 6, with right elbow irritation. Belisario's MRI results showed no major damage, but he still may miss a month or so.
- Wednesday: Cory Wade was recalled from Albuquerque to take Belisario's roster spot
- Saturday: Blake DeWitt was optioned to Albuquerque
- Saturday: Scott Elbert was recalled from Albuquerque, because Jonathan Broxton was out with an injured toe, and the Dodgers needed some relief for their relief staff.
Upcoming Week: The Dodgers get three days of rest in the form of the All-Star break, then open up the second half of the season with a 10-game road trip homestand. Houston comes to town beginning Thursday for a four-game series. True Blue LA will be there covering the game on Sunday.
Week 14 Stats
| Player | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SB/CS | BA/OBP/SLG | OPS |
| Kemp |
23 |
5 |
12 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
0/0 |
.522/.577/.783 |
1.360 |
| Manny |
22 |
7 |
10 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
8 |
4 |
0/0 |
.455/.538/.818 |
1.357 |
| Martin |
21 |
5 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
1/0 |
.381/.480/.524 |
1.004 |
| Loney |
20 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
0/0 | .300/.417/.500 |
.917 |
| Hudson |
23 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
3 |
0/0 | .217/.333/.565 |
.899 |
| Furcal |
26 |
7 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
0/0 | .269/.406/.462 | .868 |
| Ethier |
28 |
6 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
0/0 | .250/.323/.464 | .787 |
| Blake |
22 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
6 |
0/0 | .227/.379/.318 |
.697 |
| Castro |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0/0 | 1.000/1.000/1.000 |
2.000 |
| Ausmus |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0/0 | .333/.500/1.333 |
1.833 |
| DeWitt |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0/0 | .250/.250/1.000 |
1.250 |
| Pierre |
6 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0/0 | .333/.429/.667 |
1.095 |
| Loretta |
8 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0/0 | .250/.333/.250 |
.583 |
| Pitchers | 11 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0/0 | .091/.091/.091 |
.182 |
| Totals | 219 | 45 | 69 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 44 | 36 | 1/0 | .315/.412/.543 | .956 |
| Pitcher | G | W-L | Sv | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | ERA | WHIP |
| Kershaw | 2 | 2-0 | -- | 12.0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 0.75 | 1.000 |
| Wolf | 1 | 1-0 | -- | 6.1 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2.84 | 1.421 |
| Weaver | 1 | 0-1 | -- | 3.1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5.40 | 2.700 |
| Billingsley | 1 | 0-0 | -- | 5.0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 9.00 | 1.800 |
| Kuroda | 2 | 0-1 | -- | 5.2 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 11.12 | 2.294 |
| McDonald | 4 | 0-0 | -- | 4.1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0.00 | 0.923 |
| Mota | 4 | 0-0 | -- | 4.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.500 |
| Troncoso | 3 | 1-0 | 1 | 3.2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.00 | 1.636 |
| Elbert | 1 | 0-0 | -- | 2.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.00 | 0.375 |
| Vargas | 2 | 0-0 | -- | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 1.000 |
| Wade | 2 | 0-0 | -- | 1.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 0.600 |
| Broxton | 1 | 0-0 | -- | 1.0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 18.00 | 4.000 |
| Leach | 3 | 0-0 | -- | 1.1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 20.25 | 2.250 |
| Totals | 6 |
4-2 | 1 | 53.0 | 48 | 25 | 22 | 27 | 34 | 3.74 | 1.415 |
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Kershaw vs. Koufax
after 200 IP in the bigs, the two have essentially identical records.
While I do think Kershaw is now a major league pitcher, I think he is still going to have some horrendous outings. You just can’t walk that many batters against the Phils or Rockies or Yanks or Boston and be only 21, and not expect to get hammered a few times. Koufax’ control did not “arrive” until he was 25.
by seesdifferent on Jul 13, 2009 8:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Kershaw
He’s certainly due for regression (his x-FIP is 4.28, which is slightly below average at Dodger Stadium — lgERA about 4.20 so far), but being only 21 has nothing to do with it. His stuff is amazing, and that’s why nobody is hitting him. Opposing batters’ best bet is to hope he’s wild. Once Kershaw cuts down on the walks, he elevates himself into one of the best starters in baseball.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 13, 2009 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
age and experience
Experience and emotional maturity can help a pitcher deal with adversity, not to mention the physical changes as as he gets stronger. I have known Clayton for many years, and he is a good kid, but let’s be real. He would admit, himself, that he will mature into a better pitcher.
by seesdifferent on Jul 13, 2009 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sandy maintained that if he had been used regularly the command
would have come much sooner. Remember he was a bonus baby so he was unable to pitch any minor league innings.
by meercatjohn on Jul 13, 2009 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
- Upcoming Week: The Dodgers get three days of rest in the form of the All-Star break, then open up the second half of the season with a 10-game road trip. Houston comes to town beginning Thursday for a four-game series. True Blue LA will be there covering the game on Sunday. *
10 game road trip beginning with Houston coming to town?
vr, Xei
by Xeifrank on Jul 13, 2009 10:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That’s what you get for going on vacation.
vr, Xei
by Xeifrank on Jul 13, 2009 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is such a cool photo, it had to be used. It’s almost as cool as the double ball semi-trick shot taken during spring training (one of the balls was a throw during infield practice).
by Eric Stephen on Jul 13, 2009 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dodgers series record 2009
Home
2-game series: one sweep, two splits
3-game series: three sweeps, three wins, three losses
4-game series: one sweep, one split
Total: 28-13 in games, 8-3-3 in series
Road
3-game series: one sweep, nine wins, three losses
4-game series: two splits
Total: 28-19 in games, 10-3-2 in series
The Dodgers have played 29 series this season, and have only lost 6 of them. Oh yeah, and they haven’t been swept, not even in a two-game set. On the other hand, the Dodgers have swept an opponent six times.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 13, 2009 11:01 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
10 game homestand sweep
Have the dodgers lost a home game with Manny yet????
by matthewmafa on Jul 13, 2009 11:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Also, the Dodgers are 54-27 in their last 81 home games (and 52-22 in the last 74).
They are 31-7 at home since Manny arrived in games in which he is active.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 13, 2009 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I love weeks when 9 different players homer.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 13, 2009 11:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
If Blake had gone deep this weekend every starter would have homered. That would have been cool.
by meercatjohn on Jul 13, 2009 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If they pull it off this week, I like our chances for a sweep of Houston :)
by Eric Stephen on Jul 13, 2009 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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