Los Angeles Dodgers lead NL West in April 2009
Dodgers Team statistics and Player Updates
Apr 27, 2009
The Los Angeles Dodgers owe much of their 2008 Division title to Manny Ramirez. In 53 games with LA last season, Ramirez hit .396 with 20 home runs en route to a division title and a trip to the National League Championship series.
LA Dodgers 2008 Regular Season Profile
• The Dodgers finished with 84-78 record and a .519 winning percentage, which were the worst amongst all division leaders last season.
• The Dodgers 37-41 record against teams above .500 trailed all division leaders in 2008.
• During a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the 2008 NLDS, Manny Ramirez hit two home runs with 3 RBI and 4 walks in 10 at bats.
• Ramirez's 17 home runs in 53 games last season were good for third on the team, trailing only Andre Ethier (20) and Mat Kemp (18).
Manny Ramirez Powers the Dodgers Offense
The Dodgers certainly look like the reigning division champs at 13-6, even though Manny Ramirez started the season with 0 homeruns and 9 walks in the first seven games of 2009. Since then Ramirez has been on a tear hitting four homers and 9 RBI.
• The Dodgers' 181 hits and 113 RBI are third in the league for both categories. The team also leads the league in walks with 90.
• Ramirez's 16 walks are good for fourth in MLB and second in the National league to the Washington National's Adam Dunn who has 18.
• Andre Ethier continues to blossom behind Manny Ramirez. He's hitting .308 this season and leads the team in RBI. His 20 RBI are good for fourth in the league along with the Texas Ranger's Ian Kinsler.
• Second baseman Orlando Hudson has been a hit machine after collecting four in a 5-4 win over the rival San Francisco Giants on April 16. Hudson leads the team in runs scored (17), and Hits (27).
Pitcher Chad Billingsley emerges as the Dodgers Ace
24-year old Chad Billingsley has been the anchor of a Dodgers pitching staff that currently leads the league in WHIP (1.17), ranks third in the league in wins (12-6), fifth in ERA (3.67) and sixth in strikeouts.
• Billingsley has been practically unstoppable in the early season with a 2.07 ERA and the team lead in wins. His four wins are tied with the Kansas City Royals Zack Greinke for most in the league.
• Billingsley's 26 strikeouts also lead the Dodgers staff and lands him in the top 10 among all starters. He fanned 11 Giants on April 13 for his first double-digit strikeout game.
• 21-year old Clayton Kershaw struck out 13 Giants on April 15, but hasn't found the same magic his last two times out. He allowed 6 earned runs in 4.2 innings against the Houston Astros and 9 runs against the Colorado Rockies his last start.
The main question for the Dodgers pitching staff will be their relievers. Closer Jonathan Broxton has certainly done his fair share going 6-for-6 on saves with 16 strikeouts and a .96 ERA, but the problem has been getting to the beefy closer.
• Corey Wade, the Dodger's main eighth inning setup guy, went on the 15-day disabled list on April 18 for Shoulder Bursitis. He is slated to come off the DL just in time for a series against the San Francisco Giants on April 27.
• Dodgers' set-up man Hong-Chih Kuo continued his run of ineffectiveness after blowing a 5-3 lead against The Colorado Rockies on April 26. Kuo has not gotten out of eighth inning his previous two starts.
