The Dodgers currently sit seven games behind the National League West-leading Padres and are 5.5 games back in the NL Wild Card race.  They’re still alive, but a tough seven-game road trip begins tonight in Philadelphia, with three against the Phillies, followed by four against the Braves. 

If the Dodgers really are a playoff-caliber team, they’ll have to show it against the top two teams in the NL East.  If not, the season could be over in August.

How have the Dodgers gotten into this predicament?  Surprisingly, it’s not due to pitching, a need that General Manager Ned Colletti addressed at the trade deadline.  Since the All-Star Break, their team ERA is 3.51, while opponents are hitting .230 against Dodger pitching.  Prior to the break, the staff had a 4.09 ERA and allowed a .252 batting average.  In addition, newly-acquired left-hander Ted Lilly has won both his starts with the team, and has a 2.13 ERA in five starts since the break.

So what gives?  The Dodgers bats have gone cold.

Post-All-Star break, the team is clearly struggling at the plate: batting average is .220, down from .269,  Runs per game are now 2.75, down from 4.81.  OPS is .608, down from .744.  Save for some moments of brilliance from James Loney and Matt Kemp, the team is in a prolonged slump.

Could it be that the Dodgers miss the player who has been on the disabled list for almost all of July and August?  Yes, the same man who fears MRI machines – Manny Ramirez?  It’s quite possible.  While Manny isn’t the hitter he used to be, his presence in the batting order doesn’t allow opponents to pitch around him to get to lesser hitters.  Sounds crazy, but it’s quite possible.

Regardless, we should know by this time next week if the Dodgers are contenders or just playing out the string in 2010.

Used 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.

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