Dodgers Week 2 in Review: Carried By the Outfield

The Dodgers this week looked an awful lot like the Dodgers last week.  They scored a lot of runs, they gave up a lot of runs, but got a couple of breaks to finish this week 4-2 instead of 2-4 like last week.  Through it all, it has evened out for the Dodgers, as they have given up the same number of runs as they have scored, and end the week with a .500 record.

Dodger Batters of the Week:  This week is an homage to the 1981 World Series, as I'm splitting the award in three pieces, one for each starting outfielder.  All three of Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier played a huge role this week, and hit a combined .397/.467/.857 with 16 runs scored, nine home runs, and 23 runs batted in during the six-game homestand.

It's a tough week for the honorably mentioned James Loney, who hit .458, but was still a distant fourth on the club in OPS for the week.

Dodger Pitcher of the Week: Clayton Kershaw did his best on Sunday to try and claim this award with a strong seven innings, but this week's award has to go to closer Jonathan Broxton, who was untouchable this week.  Broxton pitched in four games, faced 12 batters, and retired them all, including six via strikeout.  He has a streak of 14 straight batters retired dating back to April 9.

Week 2 Record:  4-2
34 runs scored (5.67 per game)
37 runs allowed (6.17 per game)
.461 pythagorean winning percentage

Season Record:  6-6
70 runs scored (5.83 per game)
70 runs allowed (5.83 per game)
.500 pythagorean winning percentage (6-6)

Shades of Bobbleslam:  Much like last July 22, Manny Ramirez was held out of Sunday's starting lineup with an injury, this time to his right calf.  Again, he delivered with a dramatic pinch-hit home run, this time a two-run shot off a Sergio Romo slider, turning a 1-0 eighth inning deficit into a 2-1 Dodger win.

Extra Effort:  In his fifth major league start at catcher, A.J. Ellis hit the first extra-base hit of his career on Saturday, a double off of Brandon Medders of the Giants.  Ellis figures to get extended service time as Russell Martin's backup catcher, as Brad Ausmus had surgery this week to repair a herniated disc in his back and will miss at least a few months.

Checking Those Crawford Boxes:  Matt Kemp hit a home run in each of the first four home games of the season, making him the first Los Angeles Dodger to accomplish that feat.  Willie Crawford came close in 1972, hitting home runs in his first four games of the season, but that included sitting out the second home game of the year.

Mr. Walk-Off Strikes Again:  Andre Ethier had six walk-off hits, including four home runs in 2009, and won the MLB Clutch Performer of the Year award for his efforts.  On Thursday, the day he was presented with the award itself, Ethier notched his first walk-off tally of 2010 with a single to center field over a drawn-in Chris Young to break a 5-5 tie and give the Dodgers the win.

Starters With a Strong Finish:  Through the first two games of this week, Dodger starting pitchers had gone as long as six innings only twice in eight games this season.  However, Hiroki Kuroda, Vicente Padilla, and Clayton Kershaw each pitched seven innings in their start, helping to save the beleaguered bullpen.

Now Pinch Hitting, The Starter?:  Dodger pinch hitters have come to the plate 18 times with runners on base so far this season, but only have three hits in those 18 at-bats.  All three pinch hits have come by regular starters getting a day off, one each by Andre Ethier, Russell Martin, and Manny Ramirez.  Two of the 18 pinch hit appearances have produced runs, including Manny's pinch-hit home run Sunday.

Table For Two, Please:  James Loney had a streak of five straight games with at least two hits, collecting 12 hits over that span while hitting .480/.480/.560 during the streak.  Loney added "only" one single on Saturday, stopping his multi-hit streak but extending his regular old hitting streak to six games.

Sixty Years of Greatness:  Sunday marked the 60th anniversary of Vin Scully's first major league broadcast.  He was in the booth with Red Barber and Connie Desmond on April 18, 1950, as the Dodgers played the Phillies to open the 1950 season.

Game Over:  According to a report from TSN and Ruefrontenac.com, Eric Gagne has decided to retire from professional baseball.  Gagne attempted a comeback this spring, signing a minor league deal with the Dodgers this offseason, but asked for and was granted his release on March 21 after giving up runs in all three spring outings.

Transactions: 

• Sunday:  Russ Ortiz was designated for assignment before Sunday's game, and Jon Link was recalled from Triple A Albuquerque to take his place.

Game Results:

• Tuesday:  Dodgers 9, Diamondbacks 5
• Wednesday:  Diamondbacks 9, Dodgers 7 (11)
• Thursday:  Dodgers 6, Diamondbacks 5 (10)
• Friday:  Dodgers 10, Giants 8
• Saturday:  Giants 9, Dodgers 0
• Sunday:  Dodgers 2, Giants 1

Upcoming Week:  The Dodgers fly to Cincinnati Monday afternoon, and begin a nine-game road trip Tuesday against the Reds, followed by three in Washington DC.

Previous Weeks in Review: Week 1

Week 2 Stats

*FIP is estimated