Dodgers Diaries

What a difference a three-game winning streak makes. Playing back in their own age group, the Dodgers smoked the lowly Giants three times in a row, with good pitching performances all around.

Are the Dodgers good, or the Giants bad? A little of both perhaps. Matt Cain seems able to beat every other team in the National League, but the Dodgers give him fits. Jonathan Sanchez has no-hit stuff some nights, but in Wednesday’s matinee, a team of supersubs (no Ethier, no Manny, no Blake, no Dewitt) found him thoroughly hittable. Oh, and did I mention the Dodgers evaded Tim Lincecum?

Matt Kemp’s return from his Joe Torre-imposed timeout has to hearten everyone. Kemp worked the count to three balls three times before collecting a single, a home run and a walk. Yes, he struck out, but he showed the kind of discipline that will make him a much more dangerous hitter.

I’d still trade him straight up for Cliff Lee, but only if the Dodgers can sign Lee to a long-term deal. Given everything we’ve heard about the team’s finances, that’s not going to happen during Divorce McCourt.

-- JOHN ROSENTHAL