Stick a fork in ‘em?

(Getty)		By Tyson Qualls Publisher, LADugout.com Posted Aug 21, 2010 | More The Dodgers season is fading fast and it looks like 2010 will provide their first absence from the playoffs since 2007. Tyson Qualls analyzes what went wrong and if Dodger fans have a glimmer of hope for the future.
What Went Wrong?The injury bug dominated the Dodgers throughout the course of the season. Frequently injured Dodger, Rafael Furcal, had one of his best seasons as a Dodger derailed by his recurring back problems. Manny Ramirez has played a total of 61 games so far this season and Andre Ethier was on a triple crown pace before a broken pinkie disrupting his rhythm. Sprinkle in key injuries to Vicente Padilla, Russell Martin, Jeff Weaver, Reed Johnson, Chad Billingsley, and Hong Chih-Kuo and you have a squad playing at less than 70 percent during the course of the season. Blaming injuries as the sole reason is hardly fair, however, as all MLB teams deal with hurt players on a frequent basis. The inconsistency of the bullpen also sent the Dodgers spiraling out of contention. George Sherril never regained last year’s form and Jonathan Broxton has temporarily relinqueshed his closer role. Both players contributed to arguably the best 8-9th inning duo in the league in 2009, but could not get an out during the second half of 2010. The digression of Matt Kemp and Russell Martin weighs heavy on Dodger fans as the question now becomes similar to a Clash song, “Should They Stay or Should They Go”. Kemp spent the better part of 2009 being hailed as a five tool, once in a decade player. This year has been different. His average slumped to .254 and he is on pace to post the lowest SB, average, RBI, and hit totals since becoming a full time starter. While it may be easy to attribute the lack of protection from an absent Ramirez as the main factor, it may be that the league has figured him out and he needs to adjust in order to save his career. While this is Kemp’s first trip down disappointment’s path, Martin has become a regular visitor. In each of the past three seasons, Martin’s HRs, RBIs, average, OBP, BB, SB, and 2B have all decreased. The Dodgers should be looking elsewhere for a catcher if Martin cannot regain his swagger. Wait Til Next Year Overlooked in the drama of Frank McCourt’s ownership is the recent success of the Dodgers. While it is easy to point the finger at the divorce and blame McCourt’s penny pinching ways for this season’s failure, it should be noted that during McCourt’s tenure as owner the Dodgers have made the playoffs four out of seven seasons. If McCourt can put the divorce behind him and show more commitment to winning,(signing prospect Zach Lee certainly helped) the future in Los Angeles may not be so bleak. Clayton Kershaw has been giving Dodger fans a reason to go to the park throughout this season and will continue to be a force for many years to come. Kershaw’s 163 K’s have him trailing only Roy Halladay, Tim Lincecum, and Adam Wainwright in that category. Manny Wood will be closed for good next season, freeing up 20 million dollars for the Dodgers payroll. Whether that goes to the team or divorce court lawyers is still up for debate. However, what it does mean is that the Dodgers won’t have to pay exhorbitant amounts for a player who appears for less than half the season. Notes from the Dugout Short Stop Rafael Furcal experienced a set back in his on-going attempt to return from the DL. No time table has been set for his reappearance in the starting line up. Prospect Zach Lee will not pitch this season, but will be joining the Ogden Raptors as a spectator while they prepare to play in the post season. Jeff Weaver is expected to return from the DL this week, while Vicente Padilla may be out for the season with a bulging disk in his neck. Travis Schlichting was called up to replace Padilla. Think You Know More? Contact Tyson Qualls via email with tysonqsports@gmail.com

Mile High Morning Rush on AM 1510

Tune in tomorrow morning at 5:30 AM as I will be on the Mile High Morning Rush radio program to discuss the Dodgers-Rockies series.  A podcast will also be available later in the day.  Follow the link below to listen live:

http://milehighsports.com/Article.asp?id=1582643

Notes from the Dodgers’ Dugout

Notes from the Dugout
(Getty)		By Tyson Qualls Publisher, LADugout.com Posted Aug 9, 2010 | More The Dodgers are hoping to surge into the final weeks of the season and capture a spot atop the NL West. Old timer Garret Anderson has seen his last day as a Dodger while new addition Ted Lilly has done his part to help the Dodgers keep pace with the Padres. Tyson Qualls breaks down the top Dodger stories in this week’s Notes from the Dugout.
Garret Anderson‘s Career Likely Over The Dodgers designated for assignment the 17 year player, calling up another veteran, Jay Gibbons, from Triple A Albuquerque. Anderson had been horrendous on the bench, batting a meager .181 with 2 home runs and 12 RBIs in 155 at bats. Gibbons, on the other hand, has been scorching hot throughout the season. Before the call up, Gibbons was hitting .347 with 19 homers, and 83 RBIs for the Isotopes. Ted Lilly Starts Off Strong in LA The Dodgers’ biggest mid-season acquisition has been impressive during his first two starts. Lilly has given up four earned runs in 13 innings pitched, getting the win in both games. He also recorded his 100th strikeout of the season during Sunday’s contest. Lilly has struck out at least five batters in each game since being drubbed by the Dodgers on July 9th. New Acquired Dodgers Making an Impact With Lilly also came Scot Posednik, Octavio Dotel, and Ryan Theriot. Each of these players have contributed, keeping the season from completely collapsing. Posednik has recorded a hit in 8 of the 11 games he has played, while currently riding a six game hitting streak. Dotel has struggled the most, allowing two runs in three innings pitched, both coming against San Diego on August 5th. In his last appearance, on August 8th, he looked more comfortable. Dotel did not allow a hit, while striking out two in an inning. Theriot has been an improvement over Blake Dewitt at second base, recording eight hits in eight games as a Dodger. He has also knocked in two runs and stolen a base since the first day of August. Most importantly, Theriot has provided runs in the absence of Rafael Furcal, scoring six times in the past seven games. Greg Wilborn Continues to Dominate The Dodgers’ lefty pitching prospect proved his promotion was well deserved on Sunday, striking out 12 in an 11-0 victory over Lansing. Wilborn pitched seven shut out innings in his second start for the Class A Great Lakes Loons. Think You Know More? Contact Tyson Qualls via email with tysonqsports@gmail.com, on Twitter or through Facebook