Games 93-94: Dodgers @ Arizona Diamondbacks 3:8, 4:1

The current four series, the "statement series" to open the second half of the season are @STL, @ARI, vs STL and vs SD. We have already gotten swept by the Cards in Busch. We need at at least split the series in the desert and Cards at home and take two out of the from the Fathers to gain some respectability.

If we lose all for series, we can probably call it a season just to save on Tylenol ;).

Anyway, whoever has seen the first two games of the Arizona series, please tell me if:

(1) There is any mechanical flow in JD Drew's hitting? His last HR was one that I saw with my own eyes on June 1 vs Phillies at Chavez Ravine. It's been six weeks since! What's wrong? He seems to play even more than we thought he'd be let by Little to, but seems to have lost his power.

(2) There is anything special about Gio Carrara's pitches? What is his out pitch?

(3) Chad Billingsley, all his wildness notwithstanding, has already surpassed all but Penny, Lowe, Saito and Broxton in effectiveness? By the way - congratulations Chad on your first major league win!

In a battle of the battled right-handers, Derek Lowe takes our hopes in his (pitching) hand against Miguel Batista.