Big Bat, No Rattle

   Dodgers lose again, 6 - 0 to the Mets. Mets have been playing well of late; I won't fault them for that. But Dodgers give up three homeruns and don't respond with a single score. They get eight hits and leave twelve runners on base! Shut out for their ninth time this season.
   I know if you listen to the Dodgers I'm not telling you anything new.
   But it's frustrating, and I need to vent.
   Every pitcher is gonna give up homeruns. The Mets hit three tonight, and that's not good, but that's part of the game. But the Dodgers had runners in scoring position several times tonight and didn't bring a single one home.
   They've now lost four games in a row.
   They are now firmly ensconced in last place in the National League West, thirteen games below .500, eleven games out of first place.
   It's the American way these days (especially since 9/11, or maybe it was the crash of the Exxon Valdez) to look for who's to blame and pin it on whoever you find.
   I'm not gonna do that.
   The Dodgers have a good manager and good coaches.
   They have good players, good hitters. They could use another one, I guess, someone like Manny at his prime, three years ago.
   I don't think it's the players' ability, though. I think the players are able.
   Maybe it's just luck... and I would never discount luck as a factor in a team's performance.
   With the turmoil in the ownership, I don't expect the Dodgers to acquire a catalyst of the nature of Manny. I don't expect them to acquire anyone.
   But Big Bat, No Rattle.
   Dodgers hit pretty well, but not well enough to bring home the runs when they need them.
   Not happy, here.