Game 140: Dodgers @ New York Mets 0:7

Missing: The Los Angeles Dodgers' hitting abilities.

Last seen: September 2, 2006 in Los Angeles, California when the Dodgers offense was led by Nomar Garciaparra, J.D. Drew, Andre Ethier, Rafael Furcal and Wilson Betemit. The team at Chavez Ravine compiled a total of fifteen hits and fourteen runs. Since then, they have been outscored 10-35, winning just one of their past five games.

Reward for an arrest leading to a conviction for those responsible for this most recent slump.

Prime suspects: The San Francisco Giants. Hey, they cheated in 1951 as a team. They condoned cheating from their players in the late 1990s to the present. Why wouldn't they be a viable suspect?

Tom Glavine made the Dodgers' playoff hopes look shaky. After a seven-game winning streak, Los Angeles has dropped four of five, its NL West lead cut to a half-game over San Diego. The Dodgers have been shut out twice.

"It's been a team struggle, but we'll get out of this," manager
Grady Little said. "We've been rather streaky. I don't have the answers."

Aren't managers supposed to have the answers? Aren't they supposed to sound a bit more positive and upbeat? Anybody know if Jim Leyland offers himself up for motivational speeches?

Shea Field is Brad Penny's personal house of horror. He fell to 1-8 at Shea and saw his ERA there rise to 6.75 in 10 career starts. Penny dropped to 15-8, giving up seven runs and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings. He dropped to 3-10 against the Mets.

"That's one of the best lineups in the National League," said Penny,
the NL's only 15-game winner. "There were a couple of times
where they hit good pitches."

Former Dodgers pitcher Guillermo Mota loaded the bases with a walk to Furcal but overpaid-for Julio Lugo couldn't even get the ball into fair territory. He fouled out, ending the inning.