Dodgers Web musings: L.A. drops five games back in 10 days, poised for historic May

There is never a good time to stink it up, but some times seem worse than others.

Times like right now for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers were sort of drifting along, a game under .500, 10 days ago. Still, they took comfort in knowing that no team was making a run in the National League West and they remained a semi-comfortable 2½ games out.

But since then, the Dodgers have lost eight of 10. And this time making it painfully noticeable, the Giants have gotten hot and the Dodgers have dropped 7½ games out of first place.

Things are going so badly, ESPN/LA’s Jon Weisman notes that the Dodgers are a historic pace. They have to finish the month 4-3 to avoid their worst May since moving to Los Angeles.

Also on the Web:

-- The Times’ Ben Bolch chronicles the Dodgers’ latest staggering loss.

-- ESPN/LA’s Tony Jackson says as mind-numbing as Monday’s loss was, there’s no reason to believe it can’t get worse for the Dodgers.

-- The Times’ Joel Rubin and Andrew Blankstein update the Los Angeles Police Department’s search for the other two suspects in the opening-day beating of Giants fan Bryan Stow. The LAPD is unhappy over a leaked photo of the suspect.

-- Meanwhile, LA Observed’s Kevin Roderick relays the print-only story from The Daily Journal’s Ciaran McEvoy that says the Stow family will sue the Dodgers.

-- In an Associated Press video, the Stow family reacts to the apprehension of a suspect.

   

-- For those wanting to look ahead, MLB Trade Rumors’ Tim Dierkes gives an overview of the contract issues awaiting the Dodgers for next season.

-- Sons of Steve Garvey has a translation of a story in a Venezuelan newspaper that claims wayward reliever Ronald Belisario is trying out for an independent team there and still hopes to clear his visa problem, though he claims not to need help with alcohol and/or substance issues.

-- The Orange County Register’s Howard Cole wonders if it might not be a good time for the Dodgers to consider trading Andre Ethier.

-- The Daily News’ Jill Painter said Matt Kemp is having fun again and it’s translating to his performance.

-- Yes, the Dodgers have had a lot of injuries, but none of them individually significant enough to crack Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan’s top 10 this season.

-- He feels Frank McCourt’s pain: Mets owner Fred Wilpon tells Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci that his team is on track to lose $70 million this season.

-- And ex-Dodger Scott Podsednik is not giving up, having signed a minor-league deal with Philadelphia.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly (left) argues a call in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Monday night. Credit: Thomas Campbell / US Presswire

Comments

[FormerLifelongDodgerFan]

And it's been announced that the Stow family will be suing the Dodgers. Well, ol' Frankie never met a lawsuit he didn't like. We shall see how this one treats him. I hope hat the Stows completely take the Dodgers to the cleaners.

What a pathetic franchise in every regard.

[OldBrooklynFan]

Tell me something, somebody. How can a pitcher concentrate on the base runners when his focus is 100% on getting the batter out?
Who the heck was thinking about the base runners?

[HI Dodger Fan]

Be careful what you wish for. A lawsuit of the magnitude that Stow will file against the Dodgers could hamper any potential sale. The lawsuit will not be against Frank individually, but against the Dodger organization (although Frank will be named, I'm sure, and then the Dodgers will defend him as well at even more cost). Any new owner will have to assume the potential liability and negative press. The best thing would be for the present ownership, i.e., Frank, to settle the suit as quickly as possible. But you and I know that Frank will not do this. A long, drawn out suite will cripple the Dodgers.

[FormerLifelongDodgerFan]

The Dodgers are already crippled, HI Dodger Fan. The misery might as well sink to unfathomable depths. We fans have been absolutely raped by this franchise.

[TonyOJay]

Good, I hope they take the organization to the cleaners. Oh well, even if it means bad news for any future owner too.

[RunsWithScissors]

@OldBrooklynFan:

Not sure what you're asking. Holding runners to their base and making a pickoff move is learned routine, just like an acrobat learns how to juggle plates while walking on a high wire. Either you learn it or you don't.

Broxton and Jansen never learned it, but Clayton Kershaw does it very well which is why he is one of the best pitchers in baseball.

[skyharbor]

Frank McCourt told the Los Angeles Times two days after the attack that it was “very, very unfair to take what was otherwise a fantastic day — everything from the weather to the result of the game to just the overall experience — and to have a few individuals mar that. It’s a terrible thing.”

The man is despicable.

The only challenge to this lawsuit will be finding an impartial jury.