Dodgers started the week at home, taking on the A's for a three game series. They split the first two close games before taking the rubber match to take the series.
They then made the looooooong trek to Anaheim to take on the Angels. They again split the first two games, before coming back to take the third game in the series.
They went 4-2 on the week.
And now, we will take part in Round 10 of HOT, COLD, or ROOM TEMPERATURE:
COLD:
- Jonathan Broxton - 0-0, 1 save (3 games), 10.80 ERA (4 ER in 3.1 ip), 5 hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks - Now, let's be clear. I don't mean this to be an indictment of Broxton. I still like him, I still think he's good. This labeling of "COLD" is more like a worried "COLD." He had a good outing against Oakland, but then started having some toe issues. He couldn't pitch in a few games. Then, when he came back in these last two games against the Angels, he was surprisingly hit-able. He still got the job done, but the Angels were ripping a couple hits against him. So again, this "COLD" isn't so much to say Broxton is bad, but more to say I'm worried his toe might cause some problems for us in the near future. Here's to hoping it heals up.
ROOM TEMPERATURE:
- Andre Ethier - .250 (6-24), 1 2B, 1 3B, 5 RBIs, 2 BBs, 4 Ks - Ethier has cooled down a little bit, but I like that the few hits he's getting are clutch hits. He's had some good ones with runners in scoring position, hence the 5 RBIs on just 6 hits this week. I'm really interested to see how Ethier will react to Manny's return in the coming weeks.
- Russell Martin - .294 (5-17), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 6 BBs, 4 runs - Well, at least Martin is keeping it interesting. After starting the week 0-7, then 2-12, he capped off the week going 3-5 with 3 BBs. He also notched his first homerun of the year. He chalked that up to picking up Doug Mientkiewicz's leg kick. Ok. If it works. It's also possible he just nailed a fat fastball for that homerun. Either way. Like I said, this is interesting. We definitely have to see where this goes.
HOT:
- Jeff Weaver - 1-0 (1 start), 3.60 ERA (2 ER in 5.0 IP), 4 Ks - Ok, so Weaver didn't have the best start ever, but he beat his brother. His younger brother. And as an older brother myself, I'm glad Weaver represented. Sometimes, you just gotta show your little brother who's still got the seniority in the family. The only disappointing thing was this wasn't a National League game. I would have loved to see the two Weavers trying to strike each other out. Too bad.
- Casey Blake - .308 (8-26), 1 2B, 5 RBIs, 3 BBs, 5 runs - He led the 1985 Hiroshima Toyo Carp team to a League Title, at the age of 12, because he didn't want a summer job. Casey Blake is... the most interesting third baseman in the world.
- Matt Kemp - .429 (9-21), 1 2B, 2 RBIs, 3 runs, 4-5 SBs - Not much else to say. Kemp's been hitting the ball. Been stealing some bases. Been scoring some runs. Been good.
- Clayton Kershaw - 1-0 (2 starts), 0.00 ERA (0 ER in 12.2 IP), 13 Ks - Remember Kershaw's worst start of the year (2.2 IP, 3 ER, 81 pitches against San Diego)? He responded this week with two excellent starts. He gave up no runs over 5.2 IP against Oakland and struck out eight. Then he followed that up by going 7.0 scoreless innings striking out five against the Angels. The interesting thing is that Kershaw gave up 8 hits and 7 walks over the two starts. That's right, he allowed 15 runners on in 12.2 innings. And he didn't let one score. I think that really speaks to some maturity. He got in trouble, but he didn't lose control of the game. He stayed focused and got out of jams. A great example was in the 5th inning of yesterday's day against the Angels. Kershaw loaded the bases with nobody out. He then settled down, and induced a double play and a pop out to get out of the inning harmlessly. That's a lot of control for a 21 year old.
Alright, that's it for this week.
Hey! We're actually doing well in Interleague Play. The only series we've lost is against the Angels last month, so with the revenge we extracted this weekend, we've brought our Interleague record to 7-5. Not great, but not bad.
Just six more Interleague games. Three in Chicago during the week, then we come home for three against Seattle. I think we can definitely finish this year well over .500 in Interleague play. That'd be pretty good.
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