Week Recap: 06/22/09 - 06/28/09

Wow. That was pretty bad.

Seriously, can we all agree this has been the worst week for the Dodgers this entire season?

They started the week pretty good, taking the first game from the White Sox. They then went on to lose the next two games. And with that, they lost their first series in a month.

But they bounced back, by beating the Mariners in their first game on Friday. They then, again, went on to lose their next two games.

And with that, they've lost two series in a row, the first time that has happened this season.

The Dodgers went 2-4 on the week.

Let's do Round 11 of HOT, COLD, or ROOM TEMPERATURE:

COLD:

• Randy Wolf - 0-1 (1 start), 13.50 ERA (5 ER in 3.1 IP), 3 HR - Wolf's start this week was not so much a start as batting practice. He got lit up. Homeruns left and right. Not pretty for a guy who's become our 2nd starter.

• Cory Wade - 0-0 (1 game), 36.00 ERA (4 ER in 1.0 IP), 2 HR - Continuing to build on Wolf's start, Wade came into the game to give even more homeruns. And if getting lit up in a Wolf-like way wasn't bad enough, Wade got demoted to AAA later in the week. I don't know what it is, but there is definitely something missing in Wade's game, and unless he can get it back, there are going to be issues in Wade's immediate future.

• Ronald Belisario - No stats for Belisario this week, just a finger wag. Belisario got picked up early Saturday morning on suspicion of DUI. That is definitely a no-no. Joe Torre has apparently given Belisario a good talking to which I'm glad happened. Drinking and driving is probably one of the stupidest things you can do, and Belisario needs to know that something like this happening again won't be tolerated, regardless of how good he's been this year. I'd hope for some sort of apology from Belisario, but I'll be ok with just a quiet promise to never do anything like this again.

ROOM TEMPERATURE:

• Eric Milton - 0-1 (1 start), 7.20 ERA (4 ER in 5.0 IP), 7 Ks - What are you supposed to make of Milton's start? I was at the game, and frankly, Milton just looked hitable. He'd get two strikes, then leave one over the plate to be whacked. But as bad as that is, Milton settled down and retired the last 8 batters he faced in order. I just can't quite figure out how a guy who got racked in his first trip and a half through the lineup, pitched so well his 2nd and 3rd time through. Just odd.

• Andre Ethier - .167 (3-18), 3 HR, 7 RBIs, 4 BBs, 5 Ks - Yeah, given the lack of hits Ethier has had this week, he should be "COLD" but how can I bring myself to label a man "COLD" who had a 3-homerun game this week? Answer: I can't.

• Russell Martin - .238 (5-21) 1 2B, 3 BBs, 4 Ks - How's the first week been for the post-leg lift Martin? Eh. Better than some of his recent 1-hit weeks, but still not as good as you'd like to see out of your All-Star catcher.

• Hiroki Kuroda - 1-1 (2 games), 3.60 ERA (6 ER in 15.0 IP), 14 Ks, 0 BBs - Kuroda is in the same boat as Milton. What do you make of his starts this week? Here's a look at the lines: at CHW - 8.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 hits 9 Ks / vs SEA - 6.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 hits, 5 Ks. That same Chicago offense that ripped up Wolf and Wade was rocked to sleep by Kuroda. His game was even better than his line shows, with one of those runs being some-what of a gimme-run late in the 9th. The Seattle game was ok, but Kuroda had more than a couple innings of shakiness in it with an offense less potent than the White Sox. Again, just odd.

HOT:

• Clayton Kershaw - 1-0 (1 start), 3.00 ERA (2 ER in 6.0 IP), 8 Ks - Kershaw turned in his third straight quality performance, and he's doing it at just the right time. Who'd have thought that at this point, the rest of the starters on the pitching staff would be question marks, and the 21 year old half-rookie would be the most solid starter? As long as he keeps it up, I'm ok.

There we go. Like I said, not a great week for the Dodgers. In fact, a horrible week, with the only real bright side being Kuroda's first start, and Kershaw's start halting our small two-game losing streak. However, that's been followed up with another two-game losing streak.

And now Jim Tracy's red-hot Rockies are coming into town, looking to make up some ground in the NL West race.

If things weren't interesting enough, guess who's coming back at the end of this week just as our offense is dying.

Yeah, things are REALLY going to get interesting.