Uribe, Billingsley lead Dodgers to easy win over Cubs, 12-2
Slow starts are mental killers. A player can have a bad stretch at any other time in the season and it might go barely noticed.
But if you’re scratching at the start, those are you current numbers. Up there on the Jumbotron, on the Internet and in the newspaper every day.
Infielder Juan Uribe and right-hander Chad Billingsley did not have the best of starts this season, as their numbers would attest, but now look like they are hitting their stride.
Both played key factors on a cold Friday afternoon in Chicago, leading the Dodgers to a 12-2 rout over the Cubs.
Uribe went two for four and drove in four runs to lead a 14-hit offense, while Billingsley gave up only one earned run in his 6 1/3 innings.
The free-swinging Uribe was batting just .135 with no home runs and only two RBI in his first 12 games. Concern was growing.
Now, after hitting his second home run in as many games, Uribe is batting .343 with two home runs and 10 RBI in his last nine games.
Billingsley, as he did last season, got off to a nervous opening to the season, posting a 7.71 earned-run average in his first three starts. In his last two starts, both victories, he has an 0.70 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings.
With Andre Ethier pushing his career-high hitting streak to 19 games, the Dodgers managed to place their hits together Friday, scoring six times in the third, twice in the fourth and three times in the ninth.
The Dodgers' third consecutive victory pushed them over the .500 mark on the season at 11-10, and 3-0 under Major League Baseball control.
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Bud Selig sheds some light on his Dodgers decision
-- Steve Dilbeck
Photo: Dodgers second baseman Juan Uribe follows through on a run-scoring hit during a six-run third inning Friday afternoon in Chicago. Credit: Rob Grabowski / US Presswire
I was one of those criticizing Uribe in the early goings - now I'm going to pretend I knew all the time that picking him up was a wise decision for the Dodgers - OK?
Posted by: Ushindi | 04/22/2011 at 04:48 PM
We hit bottom, the team is encouraged, the fans are encouraged, now to get rid of the GM. We will not win the Series this year but Go Dodgers!
Posted by: Joe the Plumber | 04/22/2011 at 04:56 PM
3-0 in the post-Frank era.
That really sounds great.
Posted by: ABG | 04/22/2011 at 05:06 PM
I was one of those criticizing Uribe in the early goings - now Im going to pretend I knew all the time that picking him up was a wise decision for the ...
Posted by: zhengliu | 04/22/2011 at 05:13 PM
I was one of those criticizing Uribe in the early going - and I'm not going to let a hot streak alter my opinion. End of the year the guy will be around his norms - .250 hitter, low OBP, average power... a leopard can't change his spots.
Posted by: Labeldude | 04/22/2011 at 05:34 PM
I was one of those criticizing Uribe in the early going ...
and I was right to do it. The guy stunk. He's overweight, he's older than we should have signed, and he played for that other team. Yep, played better lately, but if he (and many others) hadn't played so poorly to start, maybe we're better than 11-10.
Think labeldude is more right than wrong - Uribe will find his norms.
Posted by: alanw19 | 04/22/2011 at 06:03 PM
Well it was almost like they sent a bunch of strangers out on the field to take their place. They were more selective at the plate and very patient. The discipline
approach shown by the entire lineup was something I was not accustom to seeing from them. For a while I thought I was watching the Yankees.
If this keeps up they may even go all the way this year.
Posted by: OldBrooklynFan | 04/22/2011 at 07:45 PM
Jeez, people, give Uribe a break! Right now he's helping the Dodgers win, and I'll give the benefit of the doubt to any player that's accomplishing that! If Aaron Miles was knocking in runs like Uribe, I'd stand up and cheer for Aaron Miles.
(And yes, I know last year I spit on the graves of Uribe's ancestors, but this is baseball, and baseball is always about a new season, a new beginning, right?)
Posted by: Ushindi | 04/22/2011 at 10:41 PM
It's funny how winning keeps the lonely and depressed from posting here. I see a couple of chicken little is not losing hope and still posting.
I guess to get many posts the Dodgers must lose or all you hear are crickets in here.
Posted by: mti312 | 04/22/2011 at 11:15 PM
3-0 under the new dawn.
Steve Garvey and Mr. Multi-billionaire...Come on Down.
Frank...don't let the screen door...
Posted by: Airedale | 04/23/2011 at 03:57 AM
apparently the Cubs were unprepared to play in the cold ...
Posted by: These Dodgers Suck! | 04/23/2011 at 07:21 AM
Well, one thing is certain: "Bills" will get shelled in his next outing. It's how he rolls.
Posted by: Chumpy Kemp | 04/23/2011 at 08:26 AM
if "duds" keep up this stellar performance under MLB control, here's hoping that a new owner NEVA materializes, just let MLB run-the-circus forever, as why fiX what's not broken???
Posted by: SeligForPrez | 04/23/2011 at 08:41 AM
Go Dodgers!!
Posted by: CoachSteveTucker | 04/23/2011 at 11:43 AM
So are you going to change your name to Chumpy Bills now? Never understood the hype when he came up but he has earned some respect. Bills will never be an ace but most teams don't have a pitcher doing for us what he has done pitching 2nd,3rd,4th, and 5th over the last 4 yrs.
Posted by: N.P.Krohn | 04/23/2011 at 10:18 PM
Think Blue Baby!
Posted by: N.P.Krohn | 04/23/2011 at 10:19 PM