Funny how as Rafael Furcal goes, so go the Dodgers.

Our catalyst can't do much to help the team when he's out with an ailing back (which can happen when you carry a team for 30 some-odd games) and all Uncle Joe can do is bide his time until he can afford to make Hu a defensive replacement again. Good thing for the Dodgers is that they've kinda found their hitting shoes after leaving Atlanta (our last 2 games notwithstanding).  Bad thing is that no one on the team seems capable of ever delivering another quality start again anytime soon.  Poor Scott Proctor is gonna need a therapist if he appears in as many games this year as he has the past two combined (a ridiculous 166 to be exact).  Joe's been riding him like the last camel to Cairo...and if Penny ever gives up 10 earned runs in a game again MLB is likely to destroy any evidence he ever started an All-Star Game to save face.

Luckily, we have the opportunity to watch Matt Kemp blossom into a patient, moderately disciplined professional hitter. Apparently Mike Easler's done wonders with him in a relatively short time since taking over the hitting coach duties this past winter. Unfortunately, it's come at the expense of Andre Ethier's presence and development in the everyday lineup.  One has to wonder if Joe Torre will ever consider sacrificing power (Andruw "Duncan Hines" Jones) for another .300 gap hitter with good range a terrific eye (Ethier) and the chance to actually drive in some runs.  Jones is arguably the most confident .171 hitter the show has ever seen.  Even his meaningless tomahawk double in the 9th tonight in a game that was over for hours rang hollow. I hope I can forgive him when he gets hot enough to crack the Mendoza line... in June.