The Dodgers have sputtered since the All-Star break. Starting pitching has been great, but relief pitching has not, and the offense has totally fizzled.
Two runs or less in 2/3 of the games played? You can't win like that.
Joe Torre is a great manager, but this is a new situation for him. He's used to veteran players who know what to do and do it. Ned Colletti is also used to veteran players, I think. (I don't know Ned, so I won't speak for him, but I think he's more familiar with putting together teams that include proven veterans than he is with assembling teams with mostly young guys.)
But the team is what it is, and the players are what they are. And if the Dodgers want to get into the post-season this year, they better start playing some baseball. The players better step up. They need to hit the ball, catch the ball, pitch the ball. Mr. Kershaw needs to learn how to get out of the first inning. Mr. Kemp needs to run the bases correctly. Mr. Broxton needs to close games.
53 games left. Still time, men, if you do what you get paid to do.
