Lost in the aftermath of last night’s crushing 8-6 loss in 10 innings to the Yankees last night were comments that manager Joe Torre made before the game on Sunday.  Torre told the media that he has yet to make up his mind about his future as Dodgers manager, but that he will make a decision by the end of the 2010 season, possibly by September.

Torre, who is in the last year of a 3-year, $13 million contract, had broken off contract extension talks with GM Ned Colletti during spring training in March.  He also added that the key factor in his decision is his health.  Torre survived prostate cancer after being diagnosed during the 1999 season, when he managed the Yankees.

This news comes at a time when Torre has come under fire for the Dodgers’ recent slump, and on the heels of the season-long saga over the pending divorce of team owner Frank McCourt and his estranged wife, Jamie. 

One aspect of Torre’s statement should bear noting – the McCourts’ divorce trial is scheduled to begin in August, which should lead to a resolution as to who owns the team by the end of this season.

A report earlier this season also indicated that Torre might not want to return for the 2011 season, given the team’s uncertain ownership future and divorce-related payroll constraints.  Torre later denied this rumor, but the doubt still lingers.

Should Torre leave, the likely successor is another former Yankee (and current Dodgers hitting coach), Don Mattingly.  For what it’s worth, legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully gives Mattingly his seal of approval.

So the questions still linger.  But at least Torre doesn’t have to deal with Alex Rodriguez ignoring him anymore.

Chris Lardieri covers the Los Angeles Dodgers for Examiner.com and has written about Major League Baseball for Inside Edge, a scouting company that provides content to ESPN Insider and Yahoo Sports. He previously wrote for 1766, the Rutgers Alumni Magazine, and popular blog, ‘The Outer Loop’.  Be sure to follow Chris on Twitter for more MLB and sports observations.

While much of the baseball world (particularly the guys at the four-letter “Bristol Improv”) has been focusing on the hot start of Nationals’ rookie pitcher Stephen Strasburg, the Rockies’ Ubaldo Jiménez has quietly gotten off to one of the most unbelievable starts for a pitcher in MLB history.

Tucked away on the Rocky Mountains, miles away from all the major market media and its biases, Jiménez goes into tonight’s start against the hot Boston Red Sox with a 13-1 record, 1.15 ERA.  Yes, you read that correctly and we should also mention he pitched the first no-hitter in Rockies history earlier this season against the Atlanta Braves. 

Here is some further proof of his dominance:

Jiménez is only the fourth pitcher ever to win 13 of his first 14 starts.  The last pitcher to do so was Roger Clemens in 1986, but we may have to asterisk that one.

• He has thrown 3 complete games and 2 shutouts – including that no-hitter against the Braves on April 17,
• Opponents are hitting just .189 against him and lefties only .172.
• He has allowed only 3 home runs this season.  Keep in mind that he pitches in hitter-friendly Coors Field.
• He has a WHIP of 1.00, which is among one of the best in MLB.
• According to Inside Edge, a baseball scouting company, opponents have only a .272 on-base percentage against him (well below the MLB average of .333) and has allowed only 3% of the batters he’s faced to score (MLB average is 12%).

The groundwork for this season started in the second half of 2009, when he went 9-3 with a 3.08 ERA as the Rockies rallied to win the NL Wild Card. 

What’s been the difference this year?

His fastball, which he throws in this high 90 MPH range with movement, has been his key pitch.  Add to that a curveball an excellent changeup, and its no wonder why he draws comparisons to Pedro Martinez from the likes of Boston’s Mike Cameron.

While the baseball media focuses on hurlers such as Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee (and his potential new team) and whether Strasburg is deserving of a spot on the NL All-Star roster, keep an eye on Jiménez. 

When you likely see him on the mound in Anaheim next month, you can impress your friends with all you know about him and his Bob Gibson-esque season.  And make sure you tell them that you read about him here first.

Re-printed with permission of the author.

Chris Lardieri covers the Los Angeles Dodgers for Examiner.com and has written about Major League Baseball for Inside Edge, a scouting company that provides content to ESPN Insider and Yahoo Sports. He previously wrote for 1766, the Rutgers Alumni Magazine, and popular blog, ‘The Outer Loop’.  Be sure to follow Chris on Twitter for more MLB and sports observations.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

The Dodgers were swept in three games by the Red Sox, with the final nail in the proverbial coffin being a 2-0 loss last night in Fenway.  They now sit in third place in the NL West, behind the Padres and Giants As if that wasn’t bad enough, the schedule only gets more difficult: a Freeway Series rematch with the Angels (who swept them just over a week ago) in Anaheim. 

After that, the Dodgers welcome the World Champion Yankees to Chavez Ravine for the first time since 2004.  It will also be the first time that manager Joe Torre will face his former team since departing New York after the 2007 season.

And to top it all off, the Dodgers will then face their rivals, the now second-place Giants. a team whose pitchers have allowed opponents to hit a league-best .230 against them.

So what’s happened to the once-hot Dodgers?

First, their pitching, which was hot in May (with a 20-8 record) has cooled off (just 9-9 so far in June).  Rookie John Ely, who was a nice shot in the arm in May, has now cooled off.  He is 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA in June, and has allowed 6 home runs and 10 walks this month.  This is up significantly from the no home runs and 6 walks he had allowed through May.

A second problem has been injuries.  Chad Billingsley and Carlos Monasterios, two starters who helped the team during their hot stretch in May, are now both on the 15-day disabled list – the former with a groin strain and the latter with a blister on his finger.  This has not helped an already-thin starting rotation.

Finally, the Dodgers bats have suddenly gone quiet.  They have scored just eleven runs in their last four games, and batted just .194 (19-for-98) in the three games in Boston.  RF Andre Ethier has also cooled off – since coming off the DL, he has hit only one home run.  He is only batting .208 in June, lowering his overall batting average to .318 (down from .380 through May).

If the Dodgers can manage to stay above water for the rest of the month, things could get better.  They face the last-place Diamondbacks the first weekend in July, and also meet up with the Giants and Padres later in the month.  They are 18-5 against the NL West this season, which could help turn things around.

Re-printed with permission of the author.

Chris Lardieri covers the Los Angeles Dodgers for Examiner.com and has written about Major League Baseball for Inside Edge, a scouting company that provides content to ESPN Insider and Yahoo Sports. He previously wrote for 1766, the Rutgers Alumni Magazine, and popular blog, ‘The Outer Loop’.  Be sure to follow Chris on Twitter for more MLB and sports observations.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC