Fireworks following a game certainly draws a crowd--more than 55,000 people (third largest regular-season audience in Dodger Stadium history)--saw a sloppy game won by the D'Backs 3-1 in 10 innings. The D'Backs stranded about a dozen players and both teams combined for more than 8 wild pitches!! It's the seventh consecutive loss by the Dodgers in a season that has been quite streaky; they have already had one 10-game winning streak surrounded by extended losing streaks. Dodger Chad Hermanson, who was brought up from Las Vegas, has something of an Andy Petitte look going for him--very pleasant, indeed, and Steve Finley remains an ageless wonder--the bluest eyes in baseball, especially since Cal Ripken retired! The Dodgers sorely miss Karros & Grudzielanek, if only as protection for Shawn Green in the lineup. I'm convinced his season-long slump is due to their absence--especially Karros.

~Adam

I've read that the Dodgers are having the worst offensive year for a team in modern baseball history *relative to their league*... It's amazing their pitching carried them as long as it did.

Even if "protection" weren't a myth, Karros & Grudzy haven't been good enough to be protectors in eons... and this year Shawn hasn't been good enough to deserve it.

Jim Rome said today something about Dodgers didn't score a man on third after the batter singled !

He also said something about 2 lesbians ejected from the stadium ? !

That can't be true. Through 86 games, the Dodgers have outscored the Detroit Tigers 289 to 282. Different leagues, I know, but the AL (with the DH and all) is outscoring the NL (even with Coors Field). My quick math: AL teams are averaging 424.3 runs scored for the season to date, NL teams are averaging 405.9.

Small consolation, granted, but the Dodgers can't be having "the worst offensive year" for any team. Perhaps the worst offensive year for any team in a pennant race?

Here's a useless stat: this season, Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds have combined for more home runs than the entire Dodger team. I know, home runs don't equal victories (and I prefer "small ball") but it is indicator of the Dodgers' lack of offense. they are squandering some excellent pitching...

~Adam

And with the fans turning on the team, it just can't get any better in Chavez Ravine, can it? Green booed, Lo Duca putting his foot in his mouth, Jim Tracy choking, Dan Evans oblivious.....it's just lovely.

And I wish the Dodgers would decide how many freakin' seats are in their ballpark. It's not a difficult job ya know, just count the damn things. The capacity is listed as 56,000 but when I was there 2 weeks ago to watch the Angels stomp 'em, 52,000-ish was called a "sellout". Sorry, pet peeve.

More troubles for the Dodgers: Brian Jordan is having season-ending surgery for a patella tendon. In a crappy offensive season, Jordan's .299 average has been solid.

~Adam