Wow, Belisario, Broxton, Kuo, McDonald, Sherril, Haeger and Elbert combined to throw 12.2 innings without allowing an earned run. Only Weaver and Troncoso allowed runs this week.

with the bases loaded, no outs and a left handed batter coming to the plate – and with the game still close? Should it matter that it was early in the game? To me, that was the key to the game, a time when you should use your best relief pitcher so the game doesn’t become a blowout – which it did.

Was the audio of last night’s TBLA appearance on Dodger Talk made available yet?
vr, Xei

On June 15, Chad was 9-3 with a 2.72 ERA. I posted this Fan Post with the following info:

Click on the link above to see Chad Billingsley’s stats for the last calendar year. A quick summary:

33 games (32 starts)
21-6 record
215.2 IP
195 hits
81 walks
212 strikeouts
2.75 ERA
1.280 WHIP

The Dodgers have not had a 20-game winner since Ramon Martinez in 1990.

Since then, Chad is 3-7 with a 5.30 ERA. D’oh!

the price may have been steep for several of them but having Belliard/Padilla/Garland on the roster in Sept has helped them overcome injuries and rest Blake/Hudson. Amazing pitching considering our two best starters all year did not pitch one inning.

Cracks in the Cardinal armor? Swept by the Braves, Carpenter gets hammered, and Franklyn starting to show some chinks.
From www.baseballhq.com

Latest Player Analysis :
9/13/2009 – Franklin suddenly struggling… Back at the end of August Ryan Franklin (RHP, STL) signed a two-year extension, earned mostly by converting 35 of his first 37 save opportunities this year with an ERA of 1.05 through the end of August. But suddenly Franklin has hit a rough patch, giving up 6 runs in his last 4 appearances and blowing his last two save chances.
2009 IP Sv ERA h% s% Ctl Dom Cmd xERA BPV
==== == == ==== == == = = = == ===
1H 29 18 0.93 22 95 1.6 6.2 4.0 3.75 93
2H 25 19 2.52 27 78 4.3 5.8 1.3 4.97 10
He pitched extremely well in the first half, allowing very few runners thanks to a 22% h% and a 1.6 Ctl. And those few who did reach base against him didn’t score as his 95% s% indicates. But in the second half his numbers have normalized and his Ctl has jumped way up, resulting in the much lower BPV and much higher xERA. In fact his xERA of 4.97 shows that even his 2.52 actual ERA is a significantly lower than we should expect.
There are points in Franklin’s past where he showcased the skill level he demonstrated in the first half. In 2007 he had a Ctl level of 1.2; last year he posted a Dom of 5.8; in 2007 he posted a BPV of 92. But he has also posted a BPV of 12 in 2008 and a Ctl of 3.8 in 2006. So he is quite capable of performing on both ends of the spectrum.

This is one record I hope Loney doesn’t get. Here’s to hoping he cracks a few homers at home!

Here are the weekly award totals:

Batter of the week
Ethier – 5
Kemp – 5
Blake – 3
Manny – 2
Hudson – 2
Martin – 2
Loney – 2
Pierre – 1
Belliard – 1

Pitcher of the week
Kershaw – 7
Wolf – 4
Broxton – 2
Bills – 1
Belisario – 1
Garland – 1
Haeger – 1
McDonald – 1
Milton – 1
Padilla – 1
Stults – 1
Troncoso – 1
Weaver – 1