Going to the whip before the break

Two weeks ago Phil Gurnee declared that We Got This even though the Dodgers were in fourth place, closer to last place then 3rd place. Two weeks later not much has changed. The Giants had a chance to bury the Dodgers but were swept by the A's,  and as we write this the Dodgers are still at the precipice, eight games out.

The same problems that have confounded the team still exist, no one will step up and take control of left field. Casey Blake continues to be in and out of the lineup. Juan Uribe continues to do nothing. Catching is still a huge offensive hole.

The only good signs are the continued signs of life in James Loney's bat as he's been the 3rd best hitter on the team in June. The problem with that stat is that Aaron Miles has been the second best hitter in June. And that can never be a good thing.

Matt Kemp continues to bedazzle us at a level that I don't believe even his most ardent backers thought he was capable of for long periods of time.

It is time for Andre Ethier to get hot, he's been resting on his laurels for a while now, this team needs him to heat up, and heat up fast. That won't be enough though. We also need Chad Billingsley to put the early woes of June behind him and be the man we expect him to be. Chad has the stuff to be a main component of any rotation, for most of his career he has pitched better then he gets credit for. He needs to start doing it again. This team just has two many known holes for the two main cogs of the team to not be at their best. 

Might be beating a dead horse but two of our horses have to carry some load if this team is going to have a strong finish. It can still happen.