Capuano Returns To Help Dodgers Snap Slump

Dodgers Lineup vs. Dbacks

Trevor Cahill-1-2 vs. Chris Capuano-0-1

Is there anything that can save the Dodger season? I don’t know at this point. It seems like a lost cause to me. I know it’s still early, but the team has given us nothing to go on, and no reason to be confident at all that they can turn this around.

I personally don’t want to hear the excuses anymore. Injuries are not an excuse. Look at the Yankees. They have had a ton of injuries, as many as the Dodgers, and have still been able to put together a winning season.

Calling up Scott Van Slyke isn’t the answer to all the problems. It’s not just one thing or another, it’s everything. The relief pitching has been garbage, the base running atrocious, the defense is terrible. The team can’t hit with runners in scoring position, and the in-game management has been very bad.

Chris Capuano-Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers return home after being swept by the Giants to try and somehow shake themselves out of this season long slump. They begin a nine game homstand tonight, against Arizona, Miami, and Washington. Tonight they start a three game series against Arizona. Of course playing an NL West opponent this season has only meant one thing for the Dodgers. Losing. Oh yes indeed. The Dodgers have been a pathetic 5-13 against the NL West this season. Their woes against their divisional opponents extends to all of the teams in the division. The last series the Dodgers and Snakes played in Arizona, the Dodgers lost.

We should have an update on all of the injuries tonight. The Dodgers are expected to finally make some sort of decision on Mark Ellis’s sore quad, which has kept him out for over a week now. The Dodgers have said that if he is unable to play tonight he will be placed on the disabled list. If that happens that means another roster move will have to be made, so we’ll keep you informed on that one.

Adrian Gonzalez has a sore trapezoid muscle. I have no idea what that is, so let’s just say he has a sore neck, from when he accidentally bumped into an umpire. He sat out all three games of the San Francisco series, but did make a pinch-hitting appearance in last night’s game. Let’s hope he can play tonight.

The Dodgers will be facing a pitcher they can never hit, so I fully expect a shutout tonight. Snakes right hander Trevor Cahill pitched against the Dodgers back on April 14, and threw 7.1 innings of shutout Baseball. He allowed just six hits to the Dodgers, but came away with a no-decision. That was the game the Dodgers lost 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Cahill has been very effective this year. He is 1-3 but has a 2.86 ERA in six starts. He has whiffed 32 and walked only 13. Cahill has never lost to the Dodgers, and probably never will. He is 4-0 with a 2.02 ERA in seven games. It’s weird because the Dodgers are hitting .295 (33 for 122) against Cahill with three home runs. A.J. Ellis, and Adrian Gonzalez have done all the heavy lifting. AJ is hitting .429 (6 for 14) with a home run, and Gonzo is batting .417 (5 for 12) with two doubles and a home run. Please also note that Nick Punto is 4 for 9 off of Cahill.

The Dodgers will counter with Chris Capuano. The veteran will be making his return from the disabled list. Cappy had a calf injury that has sidelined him, causing him to only pitch in 4.2 innings this year. Capuano is 2-6 with a 4.73 ERA against the Snakes in eleven games. The Snakes are hitting .292 (21 for 72) with seven home runs, and 17 RBI against Cappy. Capuano must keep Paul Goldschmidt quiet, who is hitting .750 (9 for 12) with three doubles, and two home runs against Capuano. Miguel  Montero is hitting .364 (4 for 11) with three home runs, and Cody Ross, and Martin Prado have hit home runs as well. The Dbacks have a .959 OPS against Capuano.

With Capuano being activated off the disabled list tonight, it means a roster move has to be made here. Honestly I have no idea what the Dodgers are going to do tonight, but I would guess that they would probably place Mark Ellis on the DL to clear room for Capuano. But We’ll see.

I have virtually no confidence in this team right now. I’m sorry to say, but the Dodger’s problems are not going to just magically disappear, and this season isn’t just going to magically right itself. The only good thing is that it’s very early in the season, but how long can we say that for? The Dodgers are just going to have to prove to me and everyone, that they are capable of playing competitive Baseball. I won’t believe it until they start doing that by winning ball games.

Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

I hate to be brutally honest with you guys here, but I just don’t see it this season. Normally you can tell right away. This season feels a lot like the 2011 season which began with the Dodgers languishing in last place for most of the summer. That was of course where they are heading if they do not start winning games, and series. I think the problems are just too much to overcome this season. We’re finding out that money can’t buy championships. It just doesn’t work out that way. It’s time for the Dodgers to get back to rebuilding the farm system and scouting and developing. Of course a manager who is experienced in winning seasons might help as well. I still believe in the new ownership group. I still have hope for 2014 and beyond, but as far as the 2013 season goes? Forget it. It’s looking like a lost cause.

No matter how bad the Dodgers suck, and they do right now, we still love them. Regardless of how bad they play, we of course will always bleed Dodger Blue.

Join us tonight after the game for our usual postgame recap. Game time will start at 7:10 PM. The Dodgers are 13-17 coming into tonight’s game. If they don’t win they could find themselves in the basement of the NL West. If that happens they have no one to blame but themselves. Pray for a win tonight. Go Blue.