Los Angeles Dodgers Weekly Report: Vin Scully Highlights Great Week

No matter what happened on the field this week, it would have been a smashing success for the Dodgers because Vin Scully decided to return for 2012. The Hall of Famer will call Dodger games for his 63rd consecutive season.

But oh yeah, on the field the Dodgers had a pretty great week, too. The Dodgers won five games in a row before losing on Sunday, and scored more than double the runs of their opponents. The Dodgers have three wins this season when trailing after eight innings, and two of them came this week.

Dodger Batter of the Week: It all began for James Loney after he warmed up in the bullpen in Colorado on August 21, then went 4-for-4. Loney continued his hot hitting this week with 12 hits in 27 at-bats, including three doubles and two home runs. Loney hit the game-tying home run in the ninth inning on Saturday against Colorado.

Honorable mention goes to Matt Kemp, who joined the 30/30 club and hit a walk-off home run, and to Rod Barajas, who hit .412/.474/.824 with two home runs.

Dodger Pitcher of the Week: This week's award goes to Clayton Kershaw, who extended his scoreless streak to 14 consecutive innings on Tuesday in St. Louis with six shutout frames against the Cardinals, with eight strikeouts. Honroable mention goes to Ted Lilly, who allowed a home run to Carlos Gonzalez Friday night, then nothing else for seven innings.

Week 22 Record:  5-1
43 runs scored (7.17 per game)
21 runs allowed (3.50 per game)
.788 pythagorean winning percentage

Season Record:  62-70
508 runs scored (3.85 per game)
512 runs allowed (3.88 per game)
.496 pythagorean winning percentage (66-66)

Power/Speed Watch I: Matt Kemp had three home runs and stole one base this week, joining the 30/30 club, and through 132 team games, Kemp has 31 home runs and 34 stolen bases. He is on pace for 38 home runs and 42 stolen bases this season.

Power/Speed Watch II: Ted Lilly gave up one home run and no stolen bases in his one start this week, putting his season totals at 28 home runs and 29 stolen bases allowed. With likely six more starts remaining, Lilly is on pace to allow 34 homers and 35 steals. No Dodger pitcher has ever allowed a 30/30 season, and the last one in the majors was by Gavin Floyd in 2008.

0-for Watch: Eugenio Velez drove in his first run as a Dodger on Sunday, but it came on a fielder's choice ground out. Velez was 0-for-6 during the week, and is 0-for-28 on the season, the worst-ever start to a Dodger career by a position player. Dating back to last season, Velez is on an 0-for-37 streak, eight at-bats shy of the all-time futility record.

Transactions:

• Tuesday: The Dodgers designated catcher Dioner Navarro for assignment, citing philosophical differences, and recalled A.J. Ellis to take his place on the roster.
• Wednesday: After the series finale in St. Louis, relief pitcher Kenley Jansen was activated from the disabled list, and Josh Lindblom was optioned to Double A Chattanooga.
  

Game Results:

• Monday: Dodgers 2, Cardinals 1
• Tuesday: Dodgers 13, Cardinals 2
• Wednesday: Dodgers 9, Cardinals 4
• Friday: Dodgers 6, Rockies 1
• Saturday: Dodgers 7, Rockies 6 (11)
• Sunday: Rockies 7, Dodgers 6

Upcoming Week: After finishing their homestand against San Diego, the Dodgers embark on an 11-game road trip, which was originally scheduled for 10 games, but the Dodgers have to play one game in Pittsburgh on Thursday to make up the rainout from May 12 (which featured the Jon Garland RBI single that never was). The David Ross gauntlet.

Note: I am speculating a bit regarding the weekend in Atlanta. The Dodgers haven't announced their starters yet for next weekend, but I'm betting on Eovaldi getting moved into the bullpen after September 2, followed by John Ely, giving the other four starters an extra day of rest during this run of 24 games in 24 days.

Previous Weeks In Review: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 | Week 18 | Week 19 | Week 20 | Week 21

Week 22 Stats