Dodgers Diaries

I’m still trying to figure out why Will Ohman gets the win in yesterday’s 16-6 laugher over the hapless Colorado Rockies. The lefty vulture walked two batters and struck out one in his one-third of an inning of work. Sure, Eric Stults didn’t go the full five to merit victory, but I thought the W was supposed to go to the pitcher who throws most effectively in relief. For my money, that was Ronald Belisario, who allowed just one baserunner in two scoreless innings and has been the Dodgers’ pleasant surprise all year long.

I’m also still trying to figure out how the Dodgers have been this good with a rotation that includes Stults, Eric Milton and Jeff Weaver. All three have been serviceable and good enough to win behind an offense that continues to deliver runs. The Dodgers are actually scoring more runs per game (5.88) without Manny Ramirez in the lineup than they did when he hadn’t yet been suspended for using steroids (5.55). And before you go blaming that oddity on Coors Field, recall, that the Dodgers played three games with Manny at the hitter-friendly park in April; they’ve played only one there since.

Better yet, they’re doing it without home runs, piecing together singles and doubles. Every Dodger starter had at least two hits yesterday, save for Jamie Hoffman, who had just one after carrying the offense the day before in the loss to Anaheim. Another reason for cheer: Guillermo Mota wasn’t awful for the second day in a row.

Yesterday’s victory brings the Dodgers’ record to 31-15. If they play .500 baseball the rest of the season, they’ll finish with 89 wins and 73 losses. That’s more than good enough to win in the weak NL West. The Diamondbacks and Rockies, who faced off for the 2007 NL pennant, have both returned to doormat status with a thud. They’ve fallen 7 and 8 games below .500 respectively. The Padres have had to win 10 in a row to climb a game over .500. And the Giants have been no better than .500 all year long. --- John Rosenthal.