Dodgers Week 5 in Review: Treading Water

It tells you all you need to know about the 2010 Dodger season when you feel relief with a .500 week.  The Dodgers won three and lost three at home this week, but the three losses were blowouts with a couple of deflating games by starting pitchers.  However, like good showmen, the Dodgers tantalized their audience and left them wanting more by ending the week on an upbeat note, beating the Rockies yet again.

Dodger Batter of the Week:  Andre Ethier wins for the second straight week, feasting at home again with a .455/.500/.682 week.  For the most part, Ethier was the entire offense this week.  Outside of Ethier, the only other Dodgers with an .800 OPS for the week were Ronnie Belliard (in five plate appearances) and Xavier Paul, who was optioned to Triple A for his efforts.

Dodger Pitcher of the Week:  The winner this week was someone who didn't even end the week with the team, as John Ely was optioned to Albuquerque one day after throwing a gem against the Brewers.  Ely allowed just one run in 6 2/3 innings, and was the seventh Los Angeles Dodger starter to issue no walks in his first or second game.

Week 5 Record:  3-3
24 runs scored (4.00 per game)
38 runs allowed (6.33 per game)
.301 pythagorean winning percentage

Season Record:  14-17
155 runs scored (5.00 per game)
171 runs allowed (5.52 per game)
.455 pythagorean winning percentage (14-17)

Mr. Walk-Off in Grand Style:  Andre Ethier had his second walk-off hit of the season, hitting a grand slam on Thursday against the Brewers.  It was the 11th walk-off hit and sixth walk-off home run of Ethier's career, all of which have come in the last three seasons.  This season, Ethier has batted twice with the bases loaded, and has hit two grand slams, the first two of his career.

Hillegas-can:  On Saturday against the Rcokies, Charlie Haeger had a rough night.  He faced five batters, allowing two hits and three walks.  Haeger threw 22 pitches, including just eight for strikes.  He became the first Dodger starter to not record an out since Shawn Hillegas in 1988.

Walking is Contagious:  It seems everybody else on the staff - well, except for John Ely -- has been walking batters this season, so Hiroki Kuroda decided to join the fray, too.  On Friday, Kuroda issued a career high five walks against Colorado, although two were intentional.  It was just the sixth time in 57 career starts that Kuroda issued three or more unintentional walks.

Century City:  On the night Jeff Weaver was activated from the disabled list, he pitched in relief against Colorado and got the victory.  It was the 100th win of Weaver's career, the most career wins of anybody on the Dodger roster.

An Uphill Climb:  Dodger starting pitchers had an up & down week, especially to open the game.  In addition to Haeger's historic outing, Clayton Kershaw gave up seven runs in the second inning before getting pulled, and Chad Billingsley allowed four runs in the first inning before settling down.  On the week, the Dodgers were outscored 21-6 in the first two innings, but outscored the opponents 18-17 in the final seven innings.

Beating the West:  By beating Ubaldo Jimenez on Sunday, the Dodgers won their eighth straight series against the Rockies, dating back to 2008.  Overall, the Dodgers have beaten the Rockies 19 of the last 25 times they have played.  Last season, the Dodgers were 46-26 against the NL West, winning their season series with each divisional foe.  So far this season, the Dodgers have won all three series against the NL West, and play 14 of their next 22 games within the division, including both series next week.

Hand in the Cookie Jar:  Matt Kemp slid past second base in the fourth inning Sunday, for his seventh caught stealing of the season.  After stealing bases at a 78.4% clip over the last two seasons (69 steals in 88 attempts), Kemp has been successful only four out of 11 tries in 2010.

Transactions: 

• Tuesday:  Rafael Furcal was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 28, with a strained left hamstring.  Nick Green's contract was purchased from Triple A Albuquerque to take Furcal's place on the active roster.  To make room for Green on the 40-man roster, Cory Wade was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list
• Friday:  Jeff Weaver was activated from the disabled list.  To make room for him on the roster, John Ely was optioned back to Triple A Albuquerque one night after allowing one run in 6 2/3 innings against the Brewers
• Saturday:  Manny Ramirez was activated from the disabled list, and Xavier Paul was optioned to Albuquerque.
  

Game Results:

• Tuesday:  Brewers 11, Dodgers 6
• Wednesday:  Brewers 11, Dodgers 3
• Thursday:  Dodgers 7, Brewers 3
• Friday:  Dodgers 6, Rockies 5
• Saturday:  Rockies 8, Dodgers 0
• Sunday:  Dodgers 2, Rockies 0

Upcoming Week:  After a 10-game homestand, the Dodgers head out on a six-game road trip within the NL West.  Three games in Arizona are followed by an off day Thursday, then three games in San Diego against the first-place Padres.

Previous Weeks in Review: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

Week 5 Stats

*FIP is estimated