Dodgers Correspondent Report: DODGERS - 9/20/02

DODGERS - 9/20/02

September 20, 2002

3rd place in the NL West
86-67, 8.5 games behind the D�Backs
2nd place in NL Wild Card, 1 game behind the SF Giants

PITCHING PROBABLES
9/20	Ashby	at	SD	Tomko
9/21	Nomo	at	SD	Peavy
9/22	Daal	at	SD	Eaton
9/23	off day
9/24	Perez	vs	Col	Stark
9/25	Carrara	vs	Col	Jennings
9/26	Nomo	vs	SD	Tomko

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS (3-4)
9/13: 5-4 loss to Rockies
9/14: 16-3 win over Rockies
9/15: 5-4 loss to Rockies
9/16: 7-6 win over Giants
9/17: 6-4 loss to Giants
9/18: 7-4 loss to Giants
9/19: 6-3 win over Giants

RECAP
Another tough week for the Dodgers as they now trail in the wild card race by one game to the Giants. The Dodgers started out in Colorado and lost 3 of 4 to the Rockies. They could have easily come out of the series with a split but the bullpen coughed up a late lead. They entered the four game Giants series trailing by a game. It was an hard fought series all the way through and the Dodgers managed a split after dropping games 2 and 3.

9 GAMES TO THE FINISH LINE
The Dodgers finish the season with 7 games against the Padres and 2 against the Rockies. In the past, the Padres have been a thorn in the Dodgers playoff hopes and look to play spoiler over the next 10 days. The Pads lead the season series 7-5. The Dodgers play a 3 game set in Qualcomm starting tonight. The Pads have a 40-38 home record. After an off day, the Dodgers will host the Rockies for 2 games. The Dodgers lead the season series 11-6 but dropped 3 of 4 in Colorado last week. Dodger fans can look to the Rockies 25-50 road record for comfort. To close the season, the Pads come to town for a 4 game set; the Padres have a 24-51 road record. Hopefully the Dodgers can capitalize on the weak road play of both Colorado and San Diego.

The Giants final series:
3 games at Milwaukee (lead series 2-1)
2 games vs San Diego (lead series 12-5)
3 games vs Houston (lead series 2-1)
1 game (make-up) vs Atlanta (series tied 3-3)

PITCHING: BROWN OUT
Kevin Brown, 37, has been shut down for the season after his back didn't respond as well as hoped for after his ugly start in San Francisco. Brown continued to experience back pain and underwent an MRI test and received an epidural injection. Although Brown's condition didn't worsen, manager Jim Tracy said that Brown didn't progress enough "to continue to send him out there." Brown finished the year 3-4 with a 4.81 ERA in only 63.2 innings of work, which is his lowest total since 1988. Brown's health has to a concern going forward as he's been on the DL six times over the last 3 seasons. Hopefully the offseason will allow Brown to rest and be ready for next season.

After a brilliant August, Omar Daal has been crushed in September. In his last three starts, Daal has given up 21 hits and 14 runs in only 10 innings. Daal started game 2 of the Giants series and lasted only 1.2 innings allowing 5 runs on 5 hits. He was leaving the ball up in the zone and Daal can't get away with that when he only throws 85mph.

With Brown and Ishii out for the year, the Dodgers were forced to start Kevin Beirne twice last week. On Friday the 13th, Beirne pitched solidly against the Rockies allowing 2 runs on 7 hits over 5.1 innings. Unfortunately the bullpen couldn't hold the lead and he was stuck with a no decision. His second start came against the Giants and it was a struggle for 4 innings. He allowed 3 runs on 5 hits, one a home run. With an off day Monday, don't expect Beirne to start again this season.

Odalis Perez went 2-0 for the week. He pitched a gem last night in a do or die game for the Dodgers. He threw a complete game against the Giants allowing 3 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks. While Jim Tracy obviously needed to rest his bullpen, I question his logic as Perez ended up throwing 120 pitches; he could have pulled Perez in the 7th or 8th and pitched Perez on short rest next week. We'll see if that decision comes back to haunt them.

What can be said about Nomo? He's been the ace of the Dodgers for much of the season. This week he won game 1 of the Giants series, hurling 6 solid innings for his second win over the rivals in a week. In his last 12 starts, Nomo is 6-0. Jim Tracy has stated that Nomo may pitch on 3 days rest twice over the stretch run as the Dodgers are thin right now and Nomo is getting the job done. I am a bit concerned as Nomo has had high pitch counts over his last 3 starts (122, 132, 113); but unless you have better options, I'd continue to start him.

OFFENSE: JORDAN ON A TEAR
I'll give myself a pat on the back for suggesting that Jordan may be the Dodger hero in September and he has been coming up with big hits all September. This week, Jordan hit .423 with 3 homers and 14 RBI. For the month, Jordan is hitting .308 with 5 homers and 24 RBI. Jordan hit a huge go ahead grand slam in game 1 against the Giants and then hit a base clearing double in game 4.

The Dodger offense had a great week scoring 4 or more runs in all 7 games; however, it was the pitching staff that didn't hold up. In 7 games, the Dodgers hit .316 with 11 homers, 14 doubles and 45 RBI. If they can continue to produce at this level over the final 9 games, they have a good shot at the playoffs.

WHO'S HOT (last 7 days)
Brian Jordan (OF): .423 (11-26), 5R, 4-2B, 3HR, 14RBI, 1.423 OPS
Adrian Beltre (3B): .375 (9-24), 3R, 2-2B, 2HR, 8RBI, 1.108 OPS
Eric Karros (1B): .333 (9-27), 5R, 2-2B, 2HR, 7RBI, 1.029 OPS
Odalis Perez (SP): 2-0, 3.21 ERA, 1.07 WHIP

WHO'S NOT (last 7 days)
Omar Daal (SP): 0-1, 27.00 ERA, 6.67 WHIP
Andy Ashby (SP): 0-1, 10.38 ERA, 2.68 WHIP

Good Luck to the Dodgers over their last 9 games...

I will have a season in review piece up shortly after the season with expectations for the winter ahead...

Chris Wang
Dodgers Correspondent

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