It’s Over
Can you bear to watch this team any longer? Billz wasn’t great last night, but who could excel under conditions where the minute you give up a run, the game is over? He pitched like a guy afraid to give up a singleton.
That’s the way this team is playing these days.
Part of the reason they can’t come back is because there’s no pop in the lineup. There’s not a serious 30-homer threat anywhere, not Kent, not Gonzo, not Nomar. Ethier might have that kind of power, but we’ll never know it, because he doesn’t get to play every day. The Dodgers have fewer home runs than every team in the league save the Washington Nationals. Even the Pittsburgh Pirates go deep more often.
The supposed rationale for the Dodgers not having home run hitters is that Dodger Stadium is not a homer-friendly park. Hogwash. Remember the year when the Dodgers had FOUR 30-homer guys? Remember a guy named Mike Piazza? Remember Adrian Beltre?
Even this year’s punchless team has more home runs at home (46) than on the road (39). Meanwhile, Dodger opponents have outhomered them at the Ravine (48) and on the road (47). If other teams can hit home runs at Dodger Stadium, there’s no reason the Dodgers can’t. Certainly Troy Glaus had no problem hitting jacks when he was here as a visitor. Certainly Torii Hunter would have no problem hitting home runs here.
The team’s inability to come from behind will soon translate into pitchers being reluctant to play here. Derek Lowe has to be at the end of his rope. If he goes nine, the team doesn’t score. If he goes less than nine, the bullpen blows it. I see why he’s considering other options when his contract is up at the end of next season.
That’s the way this team is playing these days.
Part of the reason they can’t come back is because there’s no pop in the lineup. There’s not a serious 30-homer threat anywhere, not Kent, not Gonzo, not Nomar. Ethier might have that kind of power, but we’ll never know it, because he doesn’t get to play every day. The Dodgers have fewer home runs than every team in the league save the Washington Nationals. Even the Pittsburgh Pirates go deep more often.
The supposed rationale for the Dodgers not having home run hitters is that Dodger Stadium is not a homer-friendly park. Hogwash. Remember the year when the Dodgers had FOUR 30-homer guys? Remember a guy named Mike Piazza? Remember Adrian Beltre?
Even this year’s punchless team has more home runs at home (46) than on the road (39). Meanwhile, Dodger opponents have outhomered them at the Ravine (48) and on the road (47). If other teams can hit home runs at Dodger Stadium, there’s no reason the Dodgers can’t. Certainly Troy Glaus had no problem hitting jacks when he was here as a visitor. Certainly Torii Hunter would have no problem hitting home runs here.
The team’s inability to come from behind will soon translate into pitchers being reluctant to play here. Derek Lowe has to be at the end of his rope. If he goes nine, the team doesn’t score. If he goes less than nine, the bullpen blows it. I see why he’s considering other options when his contract is up at the end of next season.
posted by John Rosenthal @ 8:33 AM
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