DODGERS - 4/18/03
Tied-3rd place in the NL West
7-9, 6.5 games behind the Giants


Last Week's Results (2-3)
4/11: 3-2 loss to Giants
4/12: rainout
4/13: 5-4 loss to Giants
4/15: 3-2 loss to Padres
4/16: 3-0 win over Padres
4/17: 4-3 win over Padres

Offense Continues to Struggle
For the week (5 games), the Dodgers hit .254 with 6 doubles, 2 HR and 15 RBI. Scoring 3 runs per game just isn't going to get it done over the long term. For the season the Dodgers rank 15th in the NL in runs scored (54), 14th in batting average (.236), 15th in OBP (.308) and dead last in SLG (.344). You can look at least week article on more specifics to the Dodgers offensive woes.

Jim Tracy has sat Adrian Beltre and Fred McGriff for a couple of games each in hopes of waking up of their bats.

Turning Point?
On Thursday night, the Dodgers offense was asleep once again as they were being 3 hit by Adam Eaton and the Padres bullpen. Entering the 8th inning, former Dodger Jesse Orosco stepped to the hill and allowed back to back singles to Green and Jordan, then retired McGriff before being pulled for Jaret Wright. Wright promptly struck out Beltre, but then Daryle Ward delivered a pinch hit RBI single for the first Dodger run of the night - also ending an 0-20 start for Dodgers pinch-hitters. Todd Hundley came up next, pinch hitting for the weak hitting Cesar Izturis. On a 1-2 pitch, Hundley connected for a 3-run homer to give the team a 4-3 lead, which Gagne would protect in the 9th.

Hopefully, the team can use this come from behind win as momentum heading into the weekend series with the 1st place Giants. The Dodgers can't afford to be swept again as they were last weekend in San Francisco.

Injuries
Odalis Perez (P) - Status: will miss his Saturday start (ankle)
Perez twisted his ankle last Friday night while running the bases. An MRI and bone scan showed no structural damage. He'll miss his start this Saturday and will make his next start on April 26th at Pittsburgh.

Darren Dreifort (P) - Status: gimpy but ready to pitch (knee)
Dreifort said the right knee surgery he underwent in July "probably wouldn't be (his) last." He recently underwent tests on the knee, which is arthritic and has bothered him this season. He said the knee, which is on his drive leg in his delivery, was comparable to a 60-year-old's knee.

Hot (last 7 days)
Dave Roberts (CF): .500 (10-20), 3R, 1RBI, 4SB
Shawn Green (RF): .333 (7-21), 3R, 1-2B, 1RBI
Kaz Ishii (P): 1W, 7IP, 3H, 0R, 3BB, 5K
Bullpen: 14.1IP, 7H, 0R, 4BB, 21K

Not (last 7 days)
Alex Cora (2B): .083 (1-12), 1R
Adrian Beltre (3B): .167 (2-12), 1R, 1-2B, 1HR, 1RBI
Cesar Izturis (SS): .167 (3-18), 0R, 1RBI
Paul Lo Duca (C): .211 (4-19), 1R, 1-2B, 0RBI

================================================

Check back every Friday for the latest Dodger news. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about this column, please use the comments section below or feel free to e-mail me at dodgers@fantasyinfocentral.com.