Teams go through stretches where they look like little league teams. We aren't that bad obviously. But are the holes catching up with us? I think Kemp being hurt really put me into deep baseball depression. If he's not okay, will WE be okay? Not trying to overreact to the FIRST TIME we even lose 3 in a row (IF WE EVEN LOSE). There just seems to be an feeling of losing something we've waited so long to deserve. Kemp. We deserved him man. Not fair. Kemp being hurt, fillers at most positions, and the empty stadium. First place doesn't feel like it should. And no matter what stats say, Kershaw is not Kershaw. You can tell by the look on his face.
Kemp going down is just adding insult to injury. We have a team full of ABQ players and scrubs. There's an old saying, "even a blind squirrel finds a nut." That's what a lot of those Kempless games were. Winning with guys who haven't done anything in the past. Don't get me wrong, I am happy we won those games. Makes it easier to handle games like this since we have a nice lead over the NL West. But we can't keep it up forever. We all had low expectations coming into the season. We liked AJ, but didn't know what he would do. He's a huge plus for us right now. Cap is another. He's playing like an ace right now while Kerhsaw seems to be struggling. The rest, well, the rest is the rest. We all knew Harrang was a mistake. Kennedy is playing like the old man he is. We're getting guys back soon (I hope) like M. Ellis and Rivera, but how will Ellis be after that kind of injury and Rivera is no savior. It's too early to tell right now, but what I see from this team is that they have no fire. They have no will to win like they did two weeks ago. If they don't have that, minus Kemp, we're in trouble. If they show fight, we'll be okay until the FO can make a ballsy move.
In the next 2 weeks probably going to be a real struggle but overall I think we will be fine in the long run.
agreed, might even drop out of 1st place but at least we know we have the ability to be buyers at the deadline... or even before
Wasn't the team like 10-4 without him? We're capable of winning without Kemp if the pitching stays solid.
Yeah, we played well without Kemp, but it's hard to imagine all those minor leaguers/scrubs producing consistently. It looks like they decided to go on a collective slump, and who knows how long this could last. We could definitely see a rough patch here with so many pieces out. We seriously need to be buyers at the deadline and pickup a bat. Oh, and not be cute with the lineups (wtf? Loney hitting 2nd?).
No, we're not. We're not going to win 90 games without Kemp. We can still probably compete, and maybe even make the playoffs, but if Kemp is out a long time it's a huge issue. The 10-4 without him crap is meaningless, come on, you know better than that to insinuate we're not a .714 team without Kemp. I get you like to play devil's advocate with every issue but being concerned about Kemp's injury is completely rational and legitimate.
You basically just completely overblew my vaguely optimistic view on the injury. I said we could find ways to win without Kemp, not be the 27 Yankees without Kemp. I dont think the team is doomed because of this, I dont understand why you act like thats such a crime.
We were never as good as our record indicated. We knew that. And we are going to lose a lot of 1-run games because our offense is, and always has been, poop. This has very little to do with guys being on the shelf, outside of Kemp there are no game changers: Rivera, Uribe, Ellis, Sellers, Lilly... At the end of the day this is a team that is going to win a lot of games, and lose a lot of games. And what's Kershaw's problem? He leads the league in innings pitched, has a 2.4 ERA, and a WHIP under 1. C'mon Kershaw. When are you going to be good again?
On paper, this team even with Kemp isn't a real threat to get to the WS. However, they have had that magic since the start of this season. Sometimes that is what gets it done. Also with a team like this it is a lot better to go through some really tough times and respond. It will build character and teach these youngstas what this MLB grind truly is. That is how you build up a team like this and it is how they become winners...............................Of course in conjunction with some moves being made before the deadline.
It's gonna be hard to watch, especially in June. Sure, the Rockies/Phillies/Mariners aren't baseballs best teams by a long shot but playing in Coors and Philadelphia has never been easy. We are a much better team at home for whatever reason, maybe it's the bobbleheads, but losing a player like Kemp during a rough stretch like this is definitely scary. Along with the road stretch, when we come back home we play the Angels and White Sox. That's 5 consecutive series that could definitely be tough, and we have to play them where our 2nd, 3rd, and 4th best hitters (AJ, Bobby, and Hairston) all have to take a good amount of breaks due to being a catcher, being 37 or wtv, and having already hurt his hamstring. I'm not out here saying we're doomed and the seasons over and might as well pack it all up and start thinking about selling, cause we can definitely still hang in this, I'm just saying that I hope Kemp isn't injured too badly because we desperately need him, and I hope everyone else on the team can hold it together in this rough month. They don't have to go on with a +.700 winning percentage without him, just hopefully above .500 and hold down the fort with pins and needles.
I'd like them to call up Castellanos. i know his D might be questionable, but we need hitters. and cmon TB. Kershaw is doing too fine. can't ignore his stats and say he's not the same
and speaking of castellanos, rumor has it he's getting called up https://twitter.com/#!/ACastellanosLA fan twitter account. the person says they are his friend and talks to him everyday i hope it isnt bullshit. who would make shit up about a guy like this? seems plausible, but you never know
apparently directed at the title of this thread... 48m Earvin Magic Johnson @MagicJohnson It's been a rough run for our @Dodgers but every team goes through it & we will turn things around. We do still have the best record in @MLB Retweeted by Los Angeles Dodgers 10:17 AM - 31 May 12 via WhoSay · Details
Agree with the first two paragraphs all the way. But to pretend that Kershaw is the same, or not struggling after watching him lately, particularly last night, is pissing into the wind. All you've got to do is look at the guy, and you know he's concerned about it all...115 pitches in the 6th or whatever? Five earned runs when you leave early in the game? C'mon... he's definitely taken steps back from what he was...maybe he was so good, it's not fair to judge him. But I know what I see, and he's 4 -3. Not terrible...but certainly not Kershaw. Walking two guys that score on you after two easy outs is not cause for concern? maybe you're right...and SABR rules. But, uh...he's losing games. And if you have no concern over our ace losing games with this bag of shit lineup we've got, then more power to you Mouse..