Yes, here come the Giants. The Dodgers are up by 51/2 games, but after the rough series against the Braves, The Blue is beginning to look a little vulnerable.
The debating society at the bar says they should've made a run for Halladay. While I agree that Riccardi's asking price was ridiculous, there is a little gnawing voice inside of me saying that it would be nice to have a tough, durable, veteran starter at the front of the rotation, it wasn't worth the pie-in-the sky deal Riccardi was looking for. Good job to the Dodger brass to holding fast. The issue though is, whether or not the lurking Giants and Rockies are a true threat, do the Dodgers have the starting pitching to not only keep them on top of the west, but to also make a serious run in October.
Billingsley, the presumptive ace, is hurting. Maybe he will only miss a start, but will his injury affect his pitching over the long haul? Kershaw may be the real deal, but isn't it way too much to ask that kid to anchor the rotation? Wolf has been solid all year, but shaky in his last two starts. Kuroda is tough, but is still feeling the effects of his injury, and has always been inconsistent. The fifth spot is a toss-up. Stutts has his ups and downs, Milton is hurt, and Schmidt's three year rehab assignment finds him on the DL near the end of his contract. You know The Giants are having a good laugh about that. Rumors are they may be looking at Vincente Padilla or John Smoltz. Padilla may be an effective pitcher, but he has baggage about steroid allegations and being a bad clubhouse guy. You gotta love Smoltz, but let's face it, he's done.
The Dodgers have four solid #2/#3 starters with a strong, but increasingly put-upon bullpen, and the offense is pulling wins out of it's nether regions liike it was earlier in the season. Now the Giants come to town, and the Blue is beginning to look vulnerable. Another poor showing, and we hava a close race.
The debating society at the bar says they should've made a run for Halladay. While I agree that Riccardi's asking price was ridiculous, there is a little gnawing voice inside of me saying that it would be nice to have a tough, durable, veteran starter at the front of the rotation, it wasn't worth the pie-in-the sky deal Riccardi was looking for. Good job to the Dodger brass to holding fast. The issue though is, whether or not the lurking Giants and Rockies are a true threat, do the Dodgers have the starting pitching to not only keep them on top of the west, but to also make a serious run in October.
Billingsley, the presumptive ace, is hurting. Maybe he will only miss a start, but will his injury affect his pitching over the long haul? Kershaw may be the real deal, but isn't it way too much to ask that kid to anchor the rotation? Wolf has been solid all year, but shaky in his last two starts. Kuroda is tough, but is still feeling the effects of his injury, and has always been inconsistent. The fifth spot is a toss-up. Stutts has his ups and downs, Milton is hurt, and Schmidt's three year rehab assignment finds him on the DL near the end of his contract. You know The Giants are having a good laugh about that. Rumors are they may be looking at Vincente Padilla or John Smoltz. Padilla may be an effective pitcher, but he has baggage about steroid allegations and being a bad clubhouse guy. You gotta love Smoltz, but let's face it, he's done.
The Dodgers have four solid #2/#3 starters with a strong, but increasingly put-upon bullpen, and the offense is pulling wins out of it's nether regions liike it was earlier in the season. Now the Giants come to town, and the Blue is beginning to look vulnerable. Another poor showing, and we hava a close race.
Hopefully Kuroda will pitch one of his patented big games tonight, and Wolf will return to being his consistent self tonight. Who knows who will pitch Wednesday. perhaps they can give us a solid five or six. The offense needs to start hitting again, and we need to get the bullpen some rest. If these things don't happen, we may be in for a much more exciting August and September than we originally hoped for.
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