The Dodgers are the best team in the majors

[Tektonik]

Third in the majors in runs allowed, third in the majors in runs scored, and all this with Torre giving regular days off to Furcal and Manny.

It's going to be a long season for the rest of the NL.

[joeybee12]

1. Right now, yes...

...it's a long season for everyone...a long stretch of 162 games really does tell who is best.

[Tektonik]

2. Oh I know, but

I'm feeling pretty good because we've done this without Kuroda. The biggest knock people have on the Dodgers is our starting pitching, but with Kuroda back in a week or so, we'll be pretty solid in that regard.

The Dodgers are also top 3 in fielding. The Dodgers have something silly like only one unearned run allowed. Our pitchers are getting run support and are not getting screwed by costly errors.

The only thing I could ask for would be some more power from Manny or Kemp.

[hughee99]

3. At least it's going to be a long season for the rest of the NL West.

Yes, the Dodgers look very good, but keep in mind they've put up these impressive numbers going 17-6 against the NL West and 1-2 vs. the Astros. I'm skeptical that the Dodgers went from the 8th best team (based on W/L record) in the NL to the best in 1 offseason, but I'd be surprised if they didn't win the west.

[Tektonik]

4. The NL West isn't THAT bad

Well Colorado is atrocious, but the rest of the teams I bet are going to hang around .500.

The NL West isn't bad this year, unlike the NL East and the AL West.

Anyhow we'll see later on in the year, especially next week for our NL east road trip.

[hughee99]

5. At the moment, the NL west is a combined

10-11 against Non-West opponents, but they've played some decent opponents (MIL, PHI, NYM), so it's still too early to tell. Last year, only SF had a winning record against the NL East, while LA and Col were the only teams with a winning record against the NL Central. As for the rest of the NL last year, only WAS, CIN and PIT had losing records against the NL West.

LA is clearly the best in the division, but my guess is that all the other teams will finish with a losing record against the NL East, and almost all the others will have a losing record against the NL Central.

[madinmaryland]

6. I'm surprised tweedledee and tweedledum have not chimed in yet!

[Onceuponalife]

8. They're too busy watching Jonathan Sanchez get thumped

by the Cubs right now to chime in.

[cboy4]

12. I surprised you've chimed in considering the Pirates

have begun their annual plunge.

Barely 8,000 people showed up to watch them in Pittsburgh tonight .. that's less than many AAA teams draw.

[Iggo]

7. Damn! Can you imagine if they had pitching?

They'd be the best ever!

(I loves my Dodgers, but come on now...lol.)

[Onceuponalife]

9. Their pitching is among the leaders in the NL

Check the stats. Currently 5th in ERA. They've allowed the fewest hits in the majors and they also lead the majors in WHIP by quite a bit. The one area of concern is they need a good set-up man as they have blown something like 4 or 5 leads in the eighth inning so far.

Also don't forget they have played most of their games on the road so far (16 of 26). Their bench is deep with Brad Ausmus, Juan Pierre and Mark Loretta (who is 7-11 pinch hitting, WHAT??)all hitting over .400 off the bench. And I don't even know what happened to Doug Mankievitz. Injured or just doing time in the minors waiting for the callup?

[MrSlayer]

10. But the Phillies are the champs.

We'll see how good the Dodgers are in the playoffs. With that joke division they play in it's almost a certainty that they'll make it there. We'll be waiting, again.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_K7rgxm4bdVc/SQmksJw3RpI/AAAAAAAAEG4/Va51E7fBgEQ/s400/2008worldseriesgame5+056.jpg

[cboy4]

11. Every time I turn around, they're playing the Arizona

Diamondbacks.

When do they start playing real teams?

[Onceuponalife]

13. Now 12-0

tying the major league record set in 1911 by the Detroit Tigers.

Dayum! these boys are good!

Next victim, Washington.

[cboy4]

14. They finally leave the NLWest mediocrity and the first

team they face is the worst in baseball?

When does their schedule get tough?

[Onceuponalife]

15. They did it: 13-0

A new major league record.

Meanwhile, Randy Johnson gets shelled and has zero strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings gives up two long ones and 7 runs....against the lowly Rockies. OUCH.

OUUUUUUUUUUUUUCH.

Howz the view from down there, cboy?

[MrSlayer]

16. Congratulations on the record.

Here's a video to help you celebrate.

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200810143618349&c_id=phi

[cboy4]

18. That was a beautiful homer.

The disappointment on Joe Torre's face was priceless.

:patriot:

[cboy4]

17. Now you guys are playing the Nationals?

:spray:

Who do you have next? The Pirates and then maybe the Diamondbacks again at home?

I'd like to know who gave you this easy schedule to start the year.

Sadly for you, teams like the Cardinals and Cubs and Phillies and Mets and even the Brewers are all waiting.

It will get ugly for LA by the all star break. You watch.

[madinmaryland]

19. WERE.

Without Manny, not so much.

Even the Giants may catch up to them. Oops, never mind that statement.

[joeybee12]

20. "Even the Giants may catch up to them."

Now that was just too much!

[madinmaryland]

21. You know that I meant to say ....

"Even the Pirates may catch up to them."

:rofl:

[joeybee12]

22. Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooh! n/t