Catching Up, With Vengeance

Game 116 Unfair Loss Shares ( Dodgers )

Kershaw -- 1
Loney -- 1
Martin -- 1

This game was typical of the Dodgers losing ways lately. The starter stumbles, the secondary stars on offense do nothing. Both Loney and Martin were 0-4, with outs in clutch situations, when the Dodgers had a real chance to come back in the game. Simply put the Dodgers offense couldn't deliver the big hit. Sound familiar?


Game 116 Unfair Win Shares ( Snakes )

Haren -- 3

You could say, maybe, that Haren was just too good, both on the mound and at the plate. Maybe. I mean, there he is, getting every unfair win share for that game. But the Dodgers did have their chances against him. They had the tying run come up to the plate four different times after they went down 4-0. Once Martin struck out. Once Loney grounded into a double play with Kemp on deck. That should count as two blown chances right there, shouldn't it? Or three, given the great game Kemp had. Appalling, Loney. Then in the ninth, against closer Qualls, Hudson struck out and Loretta lined out.

It's maddening. I didn't watch or hear the game and yet I almost feel like I did. It's just like all the other losses when the Dodgers have their chances but never come through.


Game 117 Unfair Loss Shares ( Dodgers )

Broxton -- 2
Troncoso -- 1

After the home runs, after Broxton let the Dodgers down, the Dodgers had a chance to take the lead in the top of the tenth. With one out Kemp walked and stole second. The Dodgers had two chances to deliver a hit and take the lead again. Of course they didn't take either chance. Blake struck out. Loretta grounded out. And then they lost.


Game 117 Unfair Win Shares ( Snakes )

Davis -- 1
Montero -- 1
Reynolds -- 1

I really really hate giving Reynolds an unfair win share.


Game 118 Unfair Win Shares ( Dodgers )

Wolf -- 2
Ethier -- 1

An anomaly. Sadly.

Game 118 Unfair Loss Shares ( Snakes )

Petit -- 3

Petit sure is a terrible pitcher. And that's how it seems to go lately for the Dodgers. They crush bad pitching. Sure, most teams do, but they punish bad pitching better than any team around. It's against competent pitching that the Dodgers come up short. They can't get the big hit.


Game 119 Unfair Loss Shares ( Dodgers )

Furcal -- 1
Hudson -- 1
Ausmus -- 1

The Dodgers went 0-5 with the third run on second base. A third run they would never get. They needed it. They keep failing when it matters. Yesterday it was Furcal twice, Hudson and Ausmus once. Haeger too, but he doesn't count, so call it 0-4 with that precious extra run out there. Even 1-4 would have made all the difference. Or maybe not. Then they would have lost in extra innings.

Game 119 Unfair Win Shares ( Cardinals )

Carpenter -- 2
Ankiel -- 1

Carpenter was good, just as Haren was three days previous. The Dodgers are losing to some good pitchers. I can see that. But again they had their chances. Good teams sometimes beat the good pitchers, you know. The Dodgers aren't playing like a good team any more. They still have time to change that. It could start today. Why not? Their turnaround last year came out of nowhere, and this year's team is a lot better than last year's team, and hasn't come close to the same nadir that the 2008 team hit. I don't know. I have nothing left to say about this team that is rational.