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Dodgers Dugout: Bullpen blues

Chris Hatcher has been roughed up so far this season.
Chris Hatcher has been roughed up so far this season.
(Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)
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Welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell, reminding you to relax, because there are still 156 games to go.

Have I mentioned the bullpen?

The Dodgers are 3-3 and in fourth place in the National League West, which is not what Dodgers fans were expecting. We were expecting them to open a 20-game lead in April and then slowly pull away. But here's the problem with this team so far: You never feel comfortable watching them (or, for most of us, listening to them). Sunday is a great example. They take a 7-0 lead into the ninth inning, which should feel safe, right? Wrong. Paco Rodriguez gets an out and gives up a hit and is replaced by Chris Hatcher, who gives up two doubles, a single and a walk to let the Diamondbacks pull within 7-4. Yes, I am going to keep harping on this fact until they fix it: The Dodgers have a horrible bullpen. They did nothing to improve it in the off-season, and if they make it to the playoffs, the bullpen will keep them from winning the World Series.

By the way

Of the Dodgers' three losses, two were by the bullpen. OK, enough about the bullpen, for now.

Bright spot

Offensively, the Dodgers are solid. They lead the National League with 10 home runs and are in the top 10 in the majors in on-base percentage and slugging. Sure, Yasiel Puig is only three for 22, but he's a streaky hitter. The new guys in the starting lineup, Howie Kendrick (.292, two doubles and a triple), Jimmy Rollins (.269, two doubles, a triple, a homer and tied for team lead with seven RBIs), Joc Pederson (.286, .375 on-base percentage and .571 slugging percentage) and Yasmani Grandal (.214, but with a homer and a .353 on-base percentage) are solid and have made the defense better.  It's nice to have a real center fielder out there instead of Matt "I always break the wrong way first" Kemp.

Bench him

Adrian Gonzalez hasn't homered in three games, and his batting average is all the way down to .609.

This week in Dodgers history

April 13, 2009: Orlando Hudson becomes the first Dodger to hit for the cycle in almost 40 years when he does it at Dodger Stadium in L.A.’s 11-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants in the home opener.

April 15, 1947: Jackie Robinson debuts for the Dodgers. If you don't know the significance of that, you are probably reading this newsletter by accident.

April 16, 1983: Steve Garvey appears in his 1,118th consecutive game, breaking the NL record of Billy Williams.

Civil Rights Game

Wednesday's game at Dodger Stadium against the Seattle Mariners will be the 2015 Civil Rights Game to honor the 68th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut. Jackie’s widow, Rachel Robinson, will take part in the first-pitch ceremony along with Sandy Koufax, Don Newcombe and Joni Campanella, daughter of former Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella. Dolores Huerta, Magic Johnson and Frank Robinson also will be recognized during pregame ceremonies, and Tyrese Gibson will perform the national anthem. If you have tickets to the game, try to get there early, because it should be a memorable pregame ceremony. And if you don't have tickets, this game will actually be available on TV for most people, because it will be on ESPN2. Game time is 7 p.m.

Player of the week

That Gonzalez guy seemed to have a pretty good week. I'll go with him.

Pitcher of the week

Zack Greinke went 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA in two starts for the team. It gets lost in all the attention paid to Clayton Kershaw, but Greinke has also been one of the best pitchers in baseball since signing with the Dodgers.

And finally

If you want to know more about Robinson, watch the movie "42," starring Chadwick Boseman. A great look at Robinson, and it features one of the best performances of Harrison Ford's career.

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Have a comment or something you'd like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me and follow me on Twitter: @latimeshouston

 

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