FanNation - The Republic of Sport

The 2006 Los Angeles Dodgers were a playoff team in large part due to their domination of division rival Colorado.  The Dodgers won 15 of 19 games against the Rockies last year, outscoring them by 45 runs in the process.  In 2007, the tables were turned as the Rockies won 12 of 18 and outscored the Dodgers 96-74 in the process.  While the Rockies surge, winning eleven in a row with an embarrasing seven of them coming against the Dodgers, Los Angeles is left to play out the string against longtime rival San Francisco.

The Dodgers have had a September to forget going 10-15 and falling out of playoff contention, but the seeds for trouble have been there for a long time.  Since June, only one NL West team (the Giants at 45-62) have a worse record than the Dodgers 49-57 mark.  Colorado has been the best over that period with a 62-43 mark, followed by San Diego 57-49 and Arizona 55-47. 

AROUND THE HORN

James Loney's 31 RBI in the month of September are the most for a Dodger player since Brian Jordan drove in 30 in September 2002 and the highest for a lefthanded Dodger hitter since Kal Daniels had 31 in September 1990.  While Loney is red hot (.408 average and 8 homers to go with his 31 RBI) this month, he'll have to put on an almost unthinkable surge to match the LA Dodger single month RBI record of 41 set by big Frank Howard in August 1962.

Loney has been equally effective against righthanded and lefthanded pitchers this year.  Against lefties, he's hitting .337 with a .406 on base percentage and a .506 slugging percentage.  Against righties, he's posted a .337 average with a obp of .379 and a slugging percentage of .556.

San Francisco's Friday starter, Kevin Correra, has allowed only two of his eight homers ot lefthanded batters this year.  Oddly, they were first two he surrended on the season (by San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez and Philadelphia's Shane Victorino).  Correia has been tough on lefthanded batters all around, holding them to a .212 average and a .307 on base percentage.  Two Dodger lefties who haven't had trouble with Correia in the past are Juan Pierre (5 for 10 with a double) and Andre Ethier (2 for 2, with both hits being doubles).

San Francisco's Omar Vizquel is best known for his glove, but he's also been proficient with his bat for a good portion of his career.  One exception to that rule has been his performance against Friday Dodgers starter David Wells.  Vizquel is hitting .115 with nine strikeouts in 61 lifetime at bats against Wells.

While Vizquel has struggled against Wells, fellow veteran middle infielder Ray Durham has thrived. Durham has a .365 average with five doubles and two homers in 63 at bats against the veteran lefty.  

Dodger outfielder Matt Kemp has a .355 average in 76 September at bats, but has hit only one homer.  His lone round-tripper in the month came on September 6th against the Cubs' Bob Howry at Wrigely Field.

While rookie Andy LaRoche looks to establish himself as the Dodgers' third baseman of the future, two minor league Dodgers might have something to say about that in a few years.  Josh Bell hit .271 with 17 homers and 71 RBI in the minors this year, while Blake DeWitt had a .292 average with 14 homers and 66 RBI. 

DODGER FLASHBACK

On September 28, 1965, the Dodgers beat the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 in 12 innings to go into first place to stay in a year that would culminate in a Dodgers' world championship. The win put the Dodgers a game up on bitter rival San Francisco, who lost 9-1 to the Cardinals.

The Dodgers' win was made possible by a walk-off homer by Lou Johnson, one of 12 Johnson would hit on the season.  Johnson had 48 homers in his career, but the thrilling game winner against the Reds was the only game-ending blast he had in the Majors.