Games 106-107: Dodgers @ Cincinnati Reds 10:4, 5:3

If beating a leading candidate for the NL Wild Card at least two out of three times (if not sweeping them altogether) is any indication of sudden better chemistry in the recently much-maligned Dodger Clubhouse World, I'm glad to take it and run away with it. As they say, the best way to forget about a slump is to get on a winning streak. Especially away from home. Especially making up ground to NL West leaders *and* NL Wild Car race at the same time.

I still have my reservations about whether Wilson Betemit is for real and can keep up his recent godd plate discipline. I still don't like having Julio "trouble at home" Lugo as our second baseman, but as long as the team keeps winning, I might as well tab them as positive breakthrough influence that the Dodgers might have needed. And that without even seeing a single change-up from Greg Maddux (to be seen later this evening in southern Ohio).

Anyway, here are my thoughts after the first two games:

(1) Wilson Betemit is surely wearing the exact shirt Dannys Baez used to wear! Not only is the number (10) the same, but it's the very same item: Betemit looked as if his body muscles were to protrude right out of the fabric. Funny :)

(2) Neither Nomah, nor Russell are leading MVP candidates on this team. Andre Ethier is. Full-stop.

(3) Did you notice that Takashi Saito is yet to blow a save this year? He's perfect 10-for-10 in SV/SVO and has only just replaced Baez as team leader in saves. Is this good (winning by a large margin) or bad (not nearly winning as frequently as expected) for the Dodgers to have their closer have only 10 saves on August 3?

(4) I hope Maddux and Aaron Milton put on a show and pitcher's duel tonight. With the outcome of the sweep for the Dodgers :).