Cubs swept the Dodgers today and although I didn’t get to see the entire game, I did see the final two innings. It really shouldn’t surprise anyone that they ended up losing this one. They scored one run in every game against the Cubs and tried their best to hold it.
This loss wasn’t anyone in particular’s fault. Saito gave up one run in the bottom of the ninth, which he’s allowed to do on occasion. Lowe pitched a great game for once. The team didn’t hit, but what else is new? Loney struck out again with runners on in a key moment of the game (poor guy).
That they lost this game in the 10th instead of the ninth should be commended.
This team is very skilled and will turn it around. They have five hitters with OPS+s of 110 or better and although one is on the DL, the rest of the team can still turn it around.
I know I’ve talked a lot about OPS+ in the past few entries, and it’s not the be-all-end-all stat of offense, but it’s still important and it’s been a pretty good barometer of how good Dodgers players are.
(For those that don’t know what OPS+ is: OPS is the addition of a player’s on-base percentage (OBP) plus slugging percentage (SLG). OPS+ adds the OPSs of every major league player together, divides it by the number of players, and creates a median. That median is then set to 100–meaning the average baseball player’s OPS will be 100. Any deviation above that means the player has a better than average OPS; below means worse than).
For example: Kent, who I do not like this season, is OPS+ing 69, and dropping. Loney, who I like but acknowledge he’s been struggling, is OPS+ing 93 (with 11 grounding into double plays!). Martin, who’s been awesome since an early slump, is OPS+ing 117 and Furcal, who I think we all understand has been awesome and a huge part of the team, is OPS+ing 168. Jones, of course, is 41.
The only thing I think OPS+ is wrong about is Juan Pierre (71). Pierre has been seeing more pitches per plate appearances and has hit at least six line drives that would have been doubles directly at position players, this coming from just the games I’ve gone to. Though you’re supposed to get power from that corner OF position, he’s increased his own value from the start of the year.
- Player | OPS+
- Martin 117
- Loney 93
- Kent 69
- Dewitt 110
- Furcal 168
- Pierre 71
- Jones 41
- Kemp 110
- Ethier 112
- Hu 17 (yes, 17)
- Sween -12 (yes, -12)
- Nomar 65
- Young 83 (probably why he’s been getting called in to pinch hit)
- Maza 129 (!)
- Bennett 64
