Dodgers Week 22 In Review: Running To Stand Still

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The Dodgers had a tough time this week against the bottom two teams in the NL West, splitting with Arizona and losing the series with San Diego.  While the Dodgers, especially on offense, appeared to be Running to Stand Still, perhaps another U2 song would be a better descriptor for the Dodgers at the plate right now:  Bad.

The Dodger pitching staff continued to excel, with both the starters and relievers posting earned run averages under 3.00 for the week.  However, what was So Cruel about the week was that the Dodgers still had a losing record to show for it.

Dodger Batter of the Week:  There was really nobody that stood out for the Dodgers on offense this week, so I'm giving this award to Ronnie Belliard.  Acquired last weekend from the Nationals, Belliard spelled Orlando Hudson for a few games, then filled in for Casey Blake over the weekend.  Belliard ended up with six starts, and hit .304/.333/.478 for the week.  He won me over with his first impression, a home run in his first at-bat as a Dodger, on Monday against Arizona.

Dodger Pitcher of the Week:  The pitching has been so great of late that this award is a tough choice every week.  I'm giving this one to another Dodger newcomer, Jon Garland, who excelled in his first start with the club.  Garland threw seven innings against his old mates, retiring 14 straight Diamondbacks at one point.

Week 22 Record:  3-4
22 runs scored (3.14 per game)
24 runs allowed (3.43 per game)
.460 pythagorean winning percentage

Overall Seasonal Record:  81-57 (.587)
654 runs scored (4.74 per game)
520 runs allowed (3.77 per game)
.603 pythagorean winning percentage (83-55)

Sunday, Bloody Sunday:  The Dodgers have lost four straight Sundays at home, and eight of their last nine home Sundays.  I have covered the last seven Sundays, so I hope my 1-6 record (2-6 including my first game, a Saturday win over the Angels) will turn around covering the final two home Sundays, on September 20 and October 4.

One:  As in, the total number of runs given up by George Sherrill as a Dodger.  He finally gave up a run this week, a home run on Monday to Justin Upton.  Sherrill has been stingy since joining the Dodgers, and did not give up a run in any of his first 14 appearances, one shy of the club record to start a Dodger career.  On the season, Sherrill's 1.84 ERA ranks fifth in MLB among relievers with 50 or more innings.

Elevation:  After nearly a full season without a legitimate power threat on the bench, the Dodgers added some Pop to their bench on Monday, acquiring Jim Thome from the White Sox.  Thome, with 564 career home runs, had 23 home runs with the White Sox, and was hitting .249/.372/.493 at the time of the trade.

Mysterious Ways:  Jeff Weaver only pitched once this week, but he threw two scoreless innings.  At this point, I don't even know why I'm surprised anymore when he does well.  Weaver, basically pulled off the scrap heap in the offseason, has been a wonderful addition to the pitching staff this season.  He has a 3.42 ERA and a 3.93 FIP on the season, and has allowed just two runs over his last 17.2 innings, while striking out 16 batters during that span.

Staring At The Son:  Preston Mattingly, son of Dodger hitting coach and former major league all-star Don Mattingly, has struggled since the Dodgers drafted him in the supplemental round in 2006.  However, he had a career game this week for Inland Empire, collecting five hits, including three doubles.

Desire:  Doug Mientkiewicz was injured back on April 16, dislocating his shoulder, and was told by doctors his baseball career might be over.  However, he persevered, making the long climb back to the majors, finally arriving on Wednesday.  Mientkiewicz had a pinch-hit single in his first game back, extended his hitting streak to three games (which was snapped Sunday night), a streak that lasted 141 days.

With or Without You:  The Dodgers sent a player to be named later to Arizona to acquire Jon Garland.  Since the night of the trade, that rumored player was Tony Abreu.  However, there is some dispute over Abreu's service time; there is a pending grievance that could award Abreu 47 more days of service time from a disputed disabled list stay in 2008.  Such a decision could make Abreu arbitration eligible after 2010, a year sooner than earlier anticipated.  No matter what, it appears the player in the Garland trade will in fact not be named until after the season.

Walk On:  Two more Dodgers, Rafael Furcal and Orlando Hudson, got their 50th walk of the season this week, giving the Dodgers seven players with 50 walks on the season.  Matt Kemp, with 47 walks, is the only player left for the team to meet my 50-walk challenge.  Once Kemp gets his 50th walk of the season, True Blue LA and its readers have committed to donate over $700 to Think Cure.

Transactions:  It was a busy week for transactions:

• Monday: Jesus Castillo was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Ronnie Belliard, who was acquired from the Nationals on August 30.  Castillo cleared waivers and was outrighted to Double A Chattanooga Wednesday.
  
• Monday:  Placed Guillermo Mota on the 15-day disabled list with an ingrown toenail, which opened up a spot on the 25-man roster for Belliard for the one day it was needed, before active rosters expanded.
• Monday:  Acquired Jim Thome and cash ($1,415,301) from the White Sox in exchange for nonroster Class A middle infielder Justin Fuller.  The Dodgers are responsible for paying $1 million of Thome's remaining 2009 salary
  
• Monday:  Designated Jamie Hoffmann for assignment, opening up a spot on the 40-man roster for Thome.  Hoffmann was released once he cleared waivers, but re-signed a minor league contract to remain in the organization, per the New Ulm Journal (thanks to Diamond Leung for the link)
  
• Monday: Acquired Jon Garland and cash for a player to be named later, who may or not be Tony Abreu.  The Diamondbacks will play the remainder of Garland's 2009 salary ($1,161,202) plus whatever the buyout is ($1 million or $2.5 million) of Garland's mutual option for 2010
• Monday:  Placed Travis Schlichting on the 60-day disabled list with back spasms, opening up a spot on the 40-man roster for Garland
• Tuesday:  Recalled Scott Elbert from Triple A Albuquerque on the first day active rosters expanded
• Tuesday:  Recalled A.J. Ellis from Triple A Albuquerque
• Tuesday:  Recalled Jason Repko from Triple A Albuquerque, the first time Repko has been with the big club this season
• Wednesday:  Victor Garate cleared waivers and was sent to Washington as the player to be named later to complete the Ronnie Belliard trade, which cleared a spot on the 40-man roster for...
• Wednesday:  Activated Doug Mientkiewicz from the 60-day disabled list
  
• Sunday:  Hiroki Kuroda was activated from the 15-day disabled list, just three weeks after getting hit in the head with a line drive, in time to make his start against San Diego

Upcoming Week:  The Dodgers hit the road for more intradivision games, heading to Arizona for three games, followed by a Thursday off day, then travel to San Francisco for three more.  The Dodgers plan to employ a six-man starting pitching rotation this week, meaning a different pitcher will start every game.

Week 22 Stats