Dodgers not under-performing.

The Dodgers under-performed last year. Frank McCourt's strategy of making them "competitive enough for the mediocre NL West and then take your chances" fell flat as the team fell apart in the second half. Injuries derailed Andre Ethier, perhaps only Rhianna knows what befell Matt Kemp, Manny Ramirez took the money and virtually disappeared, and the bullpen totally collapsed. Only the starting pitching held up. Even if the Padres didn't have a fine season and the Giants didn't ride their pitching to a world championship, it would've been a down year.

McCourt took the same strateegy this year. Blame the divorce and lack of cash flow all you want, but even if the McCourts were making googly eyes at each other and Frank was actually putting his money back into the team instead of his mansions, it would still be the same approach: Hope the young, cheap, maturing talent rises up and there are enough spare parts to support them. If there is some magic, they can still compete in a mediocre division. In the real world, they are a .500 team, and that is exactly how they are playing.

This year you cannot blame the young talent, at least most of it. Ethier is having a career year, in which he is surely hoping and praying that this will lead to his ticket out. His hit streak is at 27, and no matter what the rest of the team is doing, he is hitting the ball. Matt Kemp must also be eyeing his sooner rather than later free agency, he is hitting the hell out of the ball and looks like the monster five tool guy we've been waiting for. These guys know that if McCourt stays around, he will find some excuse not to pay them or lowball them out the door. It's not looking good for Frank, so hopefully the next owner will take care of business with at least one of these guys.

Clayton Kershaw, despite a couple of so-so starts, is looking like an ace, and while the bullpen is shaky, it will still be at least a slight upgrade from last year (crossing my fingers). Pretty bleak after that. Neither Rafael Furcal or Casey Blake is healthy, and while Jamey Carroll is doing a capable job in Raffy's abscence, he is much better as a utilty man than a everyday shortstop. Juan Uribe, at .235/.290/.400/.690 and only three dings doesn't looked like he's arrived at LAX yet, much less showed up, James Loney's .235 OBP is dreadful. Okay, James maybe you're not a power guy, but at least get on base! Rod Barajas is a semi-bright spot- the .202 average is dreadful, but the five homers don't hurt. The left field committee is hitting in the low .200;s, despite some nice fielding by Tony Gwynn Jr.

Hiroki Kuroda has been a solid starter with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP, Jon Garland has been decent, but Chad Billingsley and Ted Lilly have not found consistency. The starters nees to be spot-on if this team makes a run, and they are not. Jonathan Broxton has been shaky, but Mik MacDougal has been on, and despite a bad day or two, Matt Gurrier, Blake Hawksworth and a recently off the DL Hong Shih-Kuo should be okay.

Is this anything different than what could've reasonably been expected? Can anyone tell me that this is a team built for a long playoff run? It is a .500 team, and if for some reason if they end up substantially better than this, it would be magical. It's time to start waving the wand. The Rockies are beginning to run away with it, the Giants haven't found their way yet, but the Diamondbacks are better, and who knows about the Padres?. This is a third place team, folks, and not a third place contending into September, either.

This is what we get with Frank McCourt. While the fight is long from over, hopefully the next owner wil;l let the under-appreciated Ned Colletti do his job and create a true contender.