Andy LaRoche Post-Mortem, One Month Later

When the Dodgers traded Andy LaRoche as part of the Manny Ramirez three-team swap back in late July, many Dodger fans groaned; here was Ned Colletti, once again giving up the future for some grasp at the present. LaRoche, like Matt Kemp, James Loney, Chad Billingsley, and (non-homegrown prospect) Andre Ethier, was one of those players that was just on the cusp of being something special for the Dodgers, but we had not seen any of those glimmers of potential cultivated into solid everyday play at third base, due primarily to untimely injuries and surprising upstarts (like Blake DeWitt).

Now that LaRoche has played almost as many games with the Pirates as he had with the Dodgers, though, let's look at the stats (through Aug 31):

	Dodgers '08	Pirates '08
G	27	24
AB	59	74
H	12	10
HR	2	2
RBI	6	5
BA	.203	.135
OBP	.319	.229
SLG	.322	.257
OPS+	67	29

Through the end of August, LaRoche had only one multi-hit game with the Pirates (in 24 games). Sadly, this was his only multi-hit game of the entire 2008 season.

LaRoche has a career batting average of .190, an OBP of .311 (Juan Pierre's career OBP, for comparison, is .346), and an OPS+ of 59. Perhaps LaRoche continues to have potential, but a move to a smaller market (to join his brother on the team) has not helped him find that big breakthrough.

I was always kind of neutral on LaRoche, with my only negative comments based on his funny-looking goatee and his short-lived inexplicable switch from "LaRoche" to "La Roche" on his uniform. I hoped he would have done better in Pittsburgh, but it seems that this season, that is unlikely to come to fruition.

And meanwhile, we've got Manny.

Game 139 Thread: Sept. 2 vs. Padres, 7p

Clayton Kershaw (2-5, 4.56) vs. Cha Seung Baek (4-9, 4.99). 2.5 games behind.

COMMENTS: Three wins in a row, and suddenly Dodger fans have a new hope, right? Not so fast, as the Dodgers start young and feisty Clayton Ker-Zakk, who was most recently pummeled by both Filians and (Jabiimi) Nationalists, compiling a 15.63 ERA over 6.1 innings over his last two outings. The Padawans, meanwhile, start Cha Seung Bacca,who--wookiee here!--has been pitching pretty well for the Padres as he vies for a slot in next year's starting rotation.

Put another way, the Padres are bringing Sexy Baek. So we'll see if us motherf'ers know how to act. (Take 'em to the bridge!)

Bring That Man Some More Bigelow Green Tea, Stat

Fresh off of that woeful 0-8 start to our last roadtrip, Dodger manager Joe Torre has apparently developed a new sense of cattiness about Dodger Tub of Lard Andruw Jones:

Andruw Jones was activated from the disabled list and took batting practice at Dodger Stadium, but that might be as close as the outfielder gets to game action for a while. Manager Joe Torre said Jones was still suffering from a sore right knee that he recently irritated on a rehabilitation assignment at triple-A Las Vegas. Although Jones played several games at first base with the 51s, Torre said he didn't envision using Jones in place of James Loney.

"We're looking for people who can help us," Torre said.

And just think: Bigelow Green Tea contains only 1/2 to 1/4 the amount of caffeine found in coffee. Just think what Torre is like after a Red Bull!

Dodgers' Season Not That Weird

Aren't these 2008 Dodgers weird and streaky? While they seem quite worthy of their 0.500-ish record, it sure seems like they get there in a backwards fashion. A mere two weeks after sweeping the Phillies, they get swept by the Nationals. Not to mention that their current 3-game winning streak follows a 1-10 stretch, which itself followed a 6-1 stretch. What gives?

Well, maybe not as much as you think. I put this perceived weirdness to the test, taking a simple look at the Dodgers' record against six categories of opponents (Real Bad, Bad, Not Great, Decent, Good, and Really Good), based solely on their current winning percentage (as opposed to their winning percentage at the time of each game). Here's the result (through yesterday's games):

So while there's some minor backwards correlation (the Dodgers seem to fare slightly better as teams go from not great to decent to good, and do better against bad teams than real bad teams), in general it's not really far off from what you'd expect. They do the best against bad teams, and the worst against really good teams.

Now, regarding their perceived streakiness, I took a look at their winning % after a win vs after a loss, as well as after a 2-win/loss streak and after a 3-win/loss streak. Here's the result:

	Win %
Overall	0.493
after 1 W	0.507
after 1 L	0.471
after 2 W's	0.455
after 2 L's	0.486
after 3 W's	0.571
after 3 L's	0.421

Acknowledging there's not enough data to reach a firm conclusion, I won't try to do so. But judging from the fact that their win % is lower than their overall win % after both single losses, 2 consecutive losses, and 3 consecutive losses, I think there may be some validity to their perceived streakiness, at least when it comes to losing*.

*note that in spite of any validity to perceived winning or losing streakiness, I stand by my assertion that any correlation between higher or lower win % and a preceding win or loss streak isn't caused by the preceding winning or losing, but is a result of either 1) how good the team is relative to its opponent at the time the games are played (including injuries, suspensions, or, as some have noted, who's pitching or site of game, etc), or 2) randomness.

Game 138 Thread: Sept 1 vs. Padres, 5p

Chris Young (4-4, 4.74) vs. Greg Maddux (6-11, 4.22).

COMMENTS: NL West 2008: The Race to See Who Sucks Less continues! As we turn the calendar page to another month, the Dodgers hope to turn the page on their crappy August and really give the Diamondbacks something to worry about: a team that sucks less!

The last-place Padres had a rough August of their own, twice getting swept by the Giants and both sweeping and getting swept by the Diamondbacks. So who the hell knows what they're thinking, except that they own the Dodgers. Why are we dancing around the obvious? I know it, you know it. Nothing is safe when the Padres are in town.

However, the Dodgers do have a few things going for them today. Young is coming off the disabled list after straining his forearm August 10. And that's on top of taking an Albert Pujols liner to the face, breaking his nose and fracturing his skull, in May. The fact that Young isn't curled up in a ball somewhere is a miracle in itself.

The other side of today's matchup is equally as intriguing: Maddux going against the team he's pitched for almost all season. If there's a lineup Maddux knows inside and out, its the Padres. Will he be able to turn inside information into a win? I'm just happy it's September and we still care.

MLB Again with the Lucasfilm-Affiliated Promotion

First it was Indiana Jones lurking in MLB's online schedules. Now it's Darth Vader, and Major League Baseball is making money promoting non-baseball-related video games. Koona t'chuta, Bud Selig?

Derek Lowe: An Appreciation

Brad Penny was supposed to be the ace. Chad Billingsley has become the ace. But no Dodger pitcher has done more with less than Derek Lowe this season:

• In 12 of his 29 starts, the Dodgers have scored two runs or less. Yet Lowe has managed to even his record at 11-11.
• Lowe has gone fewer than five innings only twice.
• Most importantly, Lowe has started against the Diamondbacks four times, facing Dan Haren once and Brandon Webb three times. The Dodgers won three of those four games, including yesterday's Torre-mandated must-win contest.

I had assumed after 2007, when Lowe set Dodger career-highs in ERA and WHIP, that this year would his last with the team. Lowe is exiting his prime (he turns 36 next season) and could be playing for his last big contract (if you believe in the walk-year effect), so the Dodgers signing him to another long-term deal seems unlikely.

If 2008 is indeed Lowe's last year as a Dodger, he's done a lot to earn the thanks of Dodger fans. Let's hope he can finish things off in style and help make September better than August.

UPDATE:

The Dodgers may not give Lowe much run support, but other teams can be downright hostile:

top photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images
bottom photo by Paul Connors/AP

August Was a Cruel Month

DODGERS IN AUGUST

record: 13-16
longest winning streak: 5 games
longest losing streak: 8 games
extra-inning games: 4
extra-inning losses: 4
average runs scored per game: 4.0
average LOB per game: 8.1
starting ERA: 3.96
bullpen ERA: 4.55

Post-Game 137 Thread

Kent's Career Probably Over

Kent to have surgery on left knee, not ruled out for season (AP/ESPN.com)

Earlier: Jon Weisman Puts Jeff Kent in Perspective

Colletti's Man-Crush on Giants Targets Yet Another Veteran

It has been no secret that Ned Colletti loves the San Francisco Giants as much as Frank McCourt loves the Red Sox. Colletti chased Jason Schmidt when other teams had concerns on his declining velocity; he has used every chance possible to get Ramon Martinez playing time in Dodger Blue; he has made Dodger fans suffer through the gopher-ball pitching of Brett Tomko; and he insists upon employing "pinch-hitting specialist" Mark Sweeney despite his microscopic batting average and no power.

And now, the recent injury to Jeff Kent brings even more insanity to Crazy Neddie's penchant for Giants retreads, as Colletti apparently covets 95-year old shortstop with no bat Omar Vizquel as the latest "intriguing fit":

PHOENIX -- The Dodgers were planning to announce a diagnosis on Jeff Kent's left knee after Sunday night's game with the D-backs, Kent's MRI apparently delayed from Saturday's original schedule.

The Dodgers also are hoping to acquire a middle infielder by Sunday night's trading deadline, but that will be harder to pull off than a Kent diagnosis. For a player to be eligible for postseason play, he must be in the organization by 9 p.m. PT Aug. 31.

The club is expecting Kent to return from suspected cartilage damage, not that he doesn't need surgery to fix it. But having played in pain at age 40, Kent is not likely to cut short what could be his final season by a month. Even if his knee rules out playing defense, he could remain an asset as a late-inning pinch-hitter. The club also expects Rafael Furcal to return in September from back surgery, but neither is expected back within the next week.

So the front office spent part of Sunday trying to make a waiver deal for a middle infielder. One intriguing fit could be San Francisco's Omar Vizquel, particularly because of Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti's relationship with San Francisco GM Brian Sabean. Colletti was Sabean's assistant for 12 years.

It is notable that Vizquel is mentioned as an intriguing fit without any mention of his statistical credentials (he's batting .186 this year with a pathetic Sweeney-like .250 OBP, and has 1 error in 63 games at short). Vizquel is only a fit because he wears orange and black. Which should be exactly the reason why he shouldn't fit the bill for Dodger Blue!

Look, Ned: the only "intriguing fit" you should be considering is a size 32 pair of Sevens jeans. Don't bring us another offensive black hole in Vizquel. Please.

Game 137 Thread: Aug 31 @ Snakes, 5p

Derek Lowe (10-11, 3.81) vs. Brandon Webb (19-5, 2.96).

COMMENTS: The Dodgers ended their Michael Phelpsian 8-game losing streak achievement last night, powered by two home runs from ManRam and a rare offensive outburst. Don't expect that kind of fireworks for the Dodgers tonight, as we face the D-backs' stopper in Brandon Webb, which means Derek Lowe once again will get no run support and small margin for error. A 1-9 roadtrip seems almost inevitable, right?

D'backs Eck-block Halos

D-backs acquire David Eckstein from Blue Jays (MLB.com)

Second-Place Dodgers Win First Place in Dayn Perry's Most Disappointing of 2008

"Plenty of blame to go around for Dodger debacle" by Dayn Perry at FOXSports.com

Jon Weisman Puts Jeff Kent in Perspective

And it's a better perspective than you would think. From Dodger Thoughts:

Jeff Kent, whose Dodger career began at age 37, is the greatest-hitting second baseman in Los Angeles Dodger history. [...]

If you go back to include Brooklyn days, only Jackie Robinson surpasses Kent offensively. [...]

Often he could seem as much a problem as a solution. But before he goes, understand that when it comes to second basemen, Los Angeles fans have not seen a hitter like Jeff Kent.

AP photo

The Rocco Baldelli Feel-Good Story Continues

Baldelli sends Rays to walk-off win (MLB.com)

Game 136 Thread: August 30 @ Snakes, 5p

Chad Billingsley (12-10, 3.15) vs. It Doesn't Really Matter Since We're Going to Lose Anyway (14-6, 3.10).

COMMENTS: The Dodgers are now 0-8 on arguably their most important roadtrip of the year. We've been swept in Philadelphia by a team who cares about the postseason, swept in Washington D.C. to a team that has nothing for which to play, and now we've rolled over and played dead against the one team we need to overtake. The good news, though, is that if we can post a win tonight and tomorrow, we can end our roadtrip with a .200 percentage, which is still fifty-odd points ahead of Mark Sweeney's batting average. So no more throwing ground balls into the outfield, Nomar! No more 0-for-whatever evenings, Jeff Kent (which is assured given your impending MRI, I suppose)! And no more cynicism from the Sons of Steve Garvey--it's all happy times from here!

For Better or For Worse

The Dodgers are suffering their annual swoon, and Dodger fans have been searching for the cause of this year's collapse. Injuries are certainly a factor, as have been inconsistent performances on both sides of the plate. A new manager learning the team hasn't helped. But when SoSG Sax e-mailed me this article, I finally understood why the Dodgers are playing as if it's the end of the world.

Because it is the end of the world—for Elly and John Patterson. For their kids Michael, Lizard Breath and April. And yes, even for Farley and Edgar. "For Better or For Worse" is ending (although creator Lynn Johnston will repurpose old strips*) and clearly the Dodgers see no point in continuing in a world without fresh FBoFW strips.

While we Dodger fans can feel our team's pain, we would be well-served to heed the final words of FBoFW's final weekday strip. And if we can't learn from the immortal wisdom of Grandmother Iris, then truly we deserve second place.

Or worse.

*Hmmm, anything to do with her impending divorce?

Earlier: Elizabeth Patterson Puts the Smackdown on Mtigwaki Paul

Even Manny Isn't This Colorful

From "Bengals wide receiver changes last name to Ocho Cinco" (AP/ESPN.com):

Maybe receiver Chad Johnson can go by the name that his head coach hates.

The Cincinnati Bengals receiver has legally changed his name to Chad Javon Ocho Cinco in Broward County, Fla., a switch that became official this week.

Neeebs, Burn the Damn Magic Gloves

It's clearly not breaking the losing curse....New puzzle on September 4 at 7a, anyway.

UPDATE:

Neeebs attempts to break the losing curse again...apparently at gunpoint:

Earlier: Neeebs and the Magic Glove