Dodgers Correspondent Report: DODGERS - 8/9/02

DODGERS - 8/9/02

August 09, 2002

2nd place in the NL West
64-51, 6 games behind the D�Backs
1st place in NL Wild Card
.5 game lead over SF, 4 game lead over Houston

PITCHING PROBABLES
8/9	Daal	vs	Phi	Myers
8/10	Nomo	vs	Phi	Duckworth
8/11	Perez	vs	Phi	Wolf
8/12	off day
8/13	Ashby	at	Mon	Ohka
8/14	Ishii	at	Mon	Colon
8/15	Daal	at	Mon	Vazquez

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS
8/2: 3-1 loss to Phillies
8/3: 8-6 win over Phillies
8/4: 4-3 win over Phillies
8/5: 7-5 loss to Phillies
8/6: 3-1 loss to Pirates
8/7: 4-0 win over Pirates
8/8: 10-5 win over Pirates

TURNING POINT?

After the crushing loss last week to the Reds where they coughed up a 4-0 ninth inning lead (Gagne also ejected), the Dodgers came out totally flat in the next game against the Phillies scoring only 1 run. In the next game the Dodgers were down 6-4 heading into the ninth and looking at their third straight loss. But the Dodgers season may have turned once again in Philadephia. With 2 outs, ex-Dodger Terry Adams had Dave Hansen down 0-2 but Hansen battled back and singled to centerfield. Larry Bowa went to the pen for the lefty-lefty matchup of Dan Plesac versus Shawn Green. Green had already homered in the game but he was down 0-2 in the count and it didn't look good for the Dodgers. After a close 2-2 check-swing which was ruled a ball, Plesac threw a curve which Green hit into the upper deck in right field. The Dodgers would eventually win the game in extra innings.

If the Dodgers are going to win the wild card, this is going to be a turning point. Green woke up his bat from his All-Star break slumber and he had a huge week. Green hit 4 homers and drove in 8 runs. With Beltre finally hitting the ball, the two could carry this Dodger offense the rest of the way. But the Dodgers must get production from Green and it appears he's streaking with power again.

LATEST NEWS

Adrian Beltre has awaken from a season long funk and has rewarded the Dodger brass for not trading him at the deadline. While many people want to credit Tyler Houston's arrival with Beltre's hot bat, they neglect the fact that Beltre had started to hit before Houston came to town. Whatever the case, the fact is that Beltre is the hottest Dodger hitter and finally giving the lineup the production that it needs from third base. Since the break, Beltre has been red hot. In 26 games, Beltre is hitting .340 with 9 homers and 26 RBI. In 88 games before the break, Beltre hit .238 with 7 homers and 29 RBI. If Beltre is available in your league, you would be wise to pick him up immediately.

Manager Jim Tracy finally came to his senses and has benched Cesar Izturis against right-handed pitchers. Izturis is batting a putrid .196 and .472 OPS against righties. Izturis has been starting against lefties (.303). There is talk of him batting only from his natural side, the right side; but that probably won't happen this season. Alex Cora now has the better side of the platoon and has continued to put up decent numbers. Cora is hitting .297 against righties with a .791 OPS. He may be worth a look in deep NL-only leagues.

Kevin Brown is slating next week for his return to the majors, which is ahead of the September outlook of about a month ago. Brown had his first rehab start last Friday for Triple-A Las Vegas. He threw 32 of 50 pitches for strikes. He went 3.2 innings allowing 1 hit, 1 run, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. He threw again on Wednesday with no problems. He will pitch again tonight as he is expected to throw about 80 pitches. He will likely return to the rotation Wednesday or Thursday in Montreal. The question now is will be who will get bumped from the rotation. My first instinct would be Omar Daal, who was extremely effective in that role to start the year. However, Daal is 2-0 in his last 3 starts and has been solid as a starter. The L.A. Times is reporting that the Dodgers are leaning towards moving Kaz Ishii to the pen. Ishii is 0-2 in his last 4 starts and could easily be 0-4 if not for great offensive support of 18 runs in his last 2 starts. Ishii leads the majors with 91 walks in 133.1 innings.

Newly acquired set-up man Paul Shuey has struggled adjusting to the NL. In 5.2 innings, Shuey has allowed 8 hits, 5 runs, 8 walks and struck out 8. He has a 7.94 ERA. Shuey has said that NL hitters have been more patient and have been taking his splitter for balls. He vows to go to his fastball more. Expect him to get back on track very soon.

Andy Ashby has been a victim of poor run support. Ashby is 1-1 in his last 3 starts despite allowing only 2 runs over 20.1 innings. Ashby won his last start, which was his first win since June 23rd. He's been inconsistent all year, volleying between great performances and 4-5 run pummelings. Expect the trend to continue.

Odalis Perez hasn't won a game since July 5th and has lost 4 straight decisions. But upon closer inspection, Perez has pitched well over his last 2 starts and he will put wins on the board soon enough. He was a victim of Gagne's ejection in Cincinnati as he had pitched 7 shutout innings. In his last start, Perez gave up 3 runs over 8 innings but the Dodgers were only able to score 1 run. Expect better luck for Perez in his upcoming starts.

Paul Lo Duca was given the night off Thursday night despite left-hander Jimmy Anderson being on the hill. Lo Duca has struggled since the break and is just 2 for his last 27. He has only 9 RBI since the break. Don't worry about Lo Duca, who has been hitting the ball hard of late but right at people. "I feel great physically - I'm actually healthier than I've been all year," said Lo Duca. Keep him in your lineups.

Brian Jordan has been miserable since the break and you have to wonder if his knee is bothering more than he lets on. Since the break, Jordan is hitting only .258 with no homers and only 6 RBI. His OPS is only .590 after being .834 before the break. Jordan's last homer was on July 6th. Bench him for now

Eric Karros has been just as bad as Jordan, though he doesn't seem to realize it. Since the break, Karros is hitting .235 with no homers and 6 RBI. His OPS is .647 after being a sub par .768 in the 1st half. Here's Karros quote a few days after the Houston acquistion - "I would be very shocked if I was in any kind of rotational system unless my play warranted that." Well guess what Eric, a .235 average with no homers (since July 2nd) and 6 RBI from a corner infield position in 23 games is not going to cut it. If Karros continues to struggle, look for Tyler Houston (who got only one start this week) to get more starts at first.

INJURIES
Kevin Brown (SP) - Status: DL, expected back mid-week
Brown is expected to pitch against the Expos on Wednesday or Thursday this week.

Darren Dreifort (SP) - Status: DL
Dreifort had arthroscopic surgery on his knee in the last week of July. He has regained almost full range of motion in his right knee. Don't expect him to pitch this season.

Jeff Reboulet (IF) - Status: DL (back)
Reboulet has begun playing at Triple-A Las Vegas but isn't expected to be back on the roster until September 1st. He has no fantasy value.

ON THE FARM
Kevin Beirne was called up by the Dodgers and Victor Alvarez was optioned to Triple-A. Beirne was 10-3 with a 4.15 ERA in 125.2 innings. Beirne is expected to serve as a long reliever with the club.
Joe Thurston (2B) has been solid this season batting .331 with 9 homers, 43 RBI and 17 stolen bases. He has walked 21 times and struck out 53 times in 113 games. He is looking like a solid replacement for Mark Grudzielanek.
Chin-Feng Chen (1B) has not shown the increased plate discipline that Dodger management would like to see from this power hitting first baseman. He's hitting .274 with 24 homers and 72 RBI; however he has struck out 130 times in just 115 games.

WHO'S HOT (last 7 days)
Adrian Beltre (3B): .440 (11-25), 7R, 3HR, 7RBI, 1SB, 1.301 OPS
Shawn Green (RF): .333 (9-27), 6R, 4HR, 8RBI, 1SB, 1.270 OPS
Mark Grudzielanek (2B): .346 (9-26), 2R, 1HR, 2RBI, .846 OPS
Andy Ashby (SP): 1-0, 14.1 IP, 9H, 5BB, 12K, 0R, 0.00 ERA
Eric Gagne (RP): 1-0, 2 saves, 4.1 IP, 4K

WHO'S NOT (last 7 days)
Paul Lo Duca (C): .076 (2-26), 0R, 0RBI, .187 OPS
Dave Roberts (CF): .217 (5-23), 2R, 1SB
Kaz Ishii (SP): 0-0, 8.10 ERA, 10 IP, 10H, 7BB, 9R, 3HR
Paul Shuey (RP): 0-1, 8.10 ERA, 3.1 IP, 3H, 5BB, 5K

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Chris Wang
Dodgers Correspondent

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