Dodgers will have to figure how to get it together on a road that’s been less than friendly

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

And now for the latest, greatest, absolutely most important road trip of the year.

This, of course, follows the most important homestand of the year.

‘I felt we had to come in here and win five out of six,’ said Dodgers Manager Joe Torre. ‘And we split 3-3.’

Yep, not good. Absolutely not good enough. It’s behind them now, though, and all they can do is focus on the upcoming six-game road trip before them that begins Tuesday with three in Milwaukee.

‘We haven’t played well on the road,’ Torre said, ‘but that doesn’t mean we can’t.’

The Dodgers are an unimpressive 24-35 outside of Dodger Stadium. Not exactly a good road record.

‘We really don’t have a good record period,’ said third baseman Casey Blake.

The Dodgers are only one game over .500 (63-62), but their real downfall has been the road, although it didn’t start out that way.

The Dodgers were 15-14 on the road on June 16, which was also the last time they led the National League West by themselves. They’ve gone 9-21 on the road since. They’ve won only three of their last 15 on the road.

And find themselves 12 games back.

Hardly a coincidence, but the Dodgers are running out of games to turn it around. They no longer can afford to wait until the next road trip, the next homestand.

They have to snap out of it now or get ready for an odd September. They look a tad defeated, and if that isn’t because they’ve thrown in the towel, it’s at least because all the losing has left them discouraged.

‘I think all of us are frustrated, but I don’t think ‘defeated’ is the right word,’’ said left-hander Clayton Kershaw. ‘We have a lot of life left. We have a good team here; that’s why it’s frustrating. We know how good of a team we have, and we haven’t quite put it all together.’

The organization is still operating like the team can pull off a comeback for the ages. There were a series of deals prior to the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline, and Sunday they added catcher Rod Barajas.

But a team that played for the National League Championship Series the last two seasons continues to flounder, unable to find its game.

‘I think the guys just kind of expected to get back there, that it was just going to happen,’ Blake said. ‘Maybe the fact we’re in the position we’re in sort of wakes some guys up a little bit, maybe makes them appreciate what we’ve had here the last two years and just how special winning and making the postseason is. Hopefully it will strike up the hunger.’

Better eat now, or a long shot becomes impossible. Better remember how to win on the road.

-- Steve Dilbeck