Finally A Win In The Freeway Series

The Freeway Series between the Angels and the Dodgers has been the Highway To Hell (to borrow the title from AC/DC) for the Dodgers pretty much ever since it started. They finally won a game against the Angels last night 5-2 as Aaron Harang only allowed two unearned runs in 7 innings (but still did not get the win). Ex-Angel Juan Rivera got the big blow in the bottom of the eighth with a three-run homer (only his 3rd) after Andre Ethier tied the game with a single. Earlier in the day the Dodgers locked up Ethier with a five year, $85 million contract. He has only had one season worthy of that big of a contract but a contract is usually based on potential rather than what he has done in the past. Ethier is on pace this season to top his career high of 106 RBI's from a few seasons ago.

The Enigma That Is Chad Billingsley

Just when I am ready to write off Starter Chad Billingsley, he comes thru with a couple of solid performances that makes me wonder if trading him would be such a wise move. Inconsistency has always been a big problem for him, and it seems it is more so this season than any other in his career. Statistically, he is in line to have the same season he always does- about 32 starts, almost 200 innings pitched, and ERA between 3.5-4, and 11 or 12 wins. On most teams in the majors, he would probably be considered the staff ace. He always has the potential to win 15 to 20 games but the inconsistency is holding him back and as a Dodger fan, it is so damn frustrating. He will have 3 or 4 solid starts in a row followed by as many bad ones. This is his 7th season in the majors, all with the Dodgers and you would hope he would turn that corner by now. I would keep him based on his potential. That and the fact that the Dodgers are in first place right now and really have nothing to replace him with. Nathan Eovaldi is the next arm that is major league ready but right now but he is currently filling the shoes of Ted Lilly, who is taking his second turn on the Disabled List and the season has not even reached its halfway point. I do not see the Dodgers getting equal value in trade and it seems that Ned Colletti never does. Ned Colletti is someone I would want to trade baseball cards with. I once traded 7 cards for a 1978 Topps Al Oliver. I don't know who I traded for him but all I know is I had to have that card.