Back in the offseason, I issued a challenge to the Dodgers to have eight different players with 50 walks this season. If that happens, I will donate $100 to Think Cure, a charity organization started by the McCourts and the Dodgers, dedicated to finding a cure for cancer.
Here's a look at where we are at right now, through 46 team games, along with the pace of each member of the regular lineup:
Batter | BB | Pace |
Manny Ramirez | 26 | 100* |
Andre Ethier | 26 | 92 |
Russell Martin | 25 | 88 |
Orlando Hudson | 24 | 85 |
James Loney | 20 | 70 |
Matt Kemp | 18 | 63 |
Rafael Furcal | 15 | 53 |
Casey Blake | 15 | 53 |
*For Ramirez, the pace is for a 112-game schedule rather than 162
So far, we are right on track for the Dodgers to meet my challenge. The Dodgers lead the majors with 208 walks, just over 4.5 per game, which has contributed greatly to their major league leading .373 on-base percentage.
To find out more about Think Cure, go here, and if you would like to donate, click here.