FIRST HALF GRADES

Its that time of year when every yahoo comes out and ranks how teams faired pre-All Star break in the first half of the season. Why should I be any different.

I'd give the Dodgers a solid B+ so far.

I was all ready to go off on them, complain about a bunch of stuff but then I looked at our record, we're 49-40, 1 game back of San Diego and all is well, I guess.

My main complaints are a 1-5 vs. Anaheim and losing 4 in a row this last week to ATL/FLA. We had several opportunities to take back 1st and let them go by.

Team MVP = Russell Martin. Flat out stud. I'd give him a 6 year extension TODAY! (Penny's been close but he did this last year and then had an epic collapse that almost left him off the playoff roster. He's got to earn that trust back!)

Team DUD = Geeez, this is hard because Furcal, Kent, Nomar and Schmidt have all performed WELL BELOW expectations. I'd have to go with Schmidt though. Pay a guy big bucks to be your 1-2 and he sucks then goes on the DL for the season. NICE! Could you imagine if he was healthy? Schmidt, Lowe, Penny, Wolf and Billingsly? That would be outstanding. Instead we get some NASTY combo of Hendricksucksen, Tomkrap, and Oh No Kuo. GRRRREAT.

INF = C: Nomar looks like a high school kid now and lost any and all power. Kent looks about 49 and outside of a good week here and there, plays like he's 49. Furcal has been a total failure coming off a great season. No power, no speed, no hits. And 3B has been a revolving door at the Chicken Ranch. Nomar is there now so that Loney can play which is fine with me.

OF = B: Kemp/Ethier have been solid out there. Gonzo is Opposite Kent and looking like he's 29, not 39. Pierre has been a huge pain in the ass. Sure he's 2nd in MLB in steals and his Hit #s look good but every throw he makes bounces 3 times before reaching the cut-off guy and he's choked in the clutch countless times. PLUS Ichiro has made it known he'd be interested in LA (or T.Hunter or A.Jones) yet we're stuck with this glorified Dave Roberts for 5 years. NICE ONE NED!

SP = B+: Penny, Wolf (pre-mid June), and Lowe have been solid. Billingsly is also looking good. The rest, see above.

RP = A: Saito and Broxton (and Billingsly when there) have been stoppers. Rudy Gascaneaz is hanging around and Drunko Beimel seems to be on the wagon for now. Sadly, Tomko gets to sit out there and sometimes pitch which usually ends badly. Plus we have Tsao, Stults, Houton and a bunch of other AAA arms filling roster space.

Outlook = Playoffs are likely at this pace. Whoopee though. Win a series in the playoffs and not just 1 game since 1988 and I'll feel better. A minor move and this team could easily take the NL but I don't see us winning the World Series unless someone goes Gibson for us.