Speaking of bullpens, this was LA's for the series:
15 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 10 K.
Two wins, two saves, an ERA of 1.20 and a WHIP of 0.867.

And all that without Saito.

Indeed. Broxton will be fine as a closer.

an ERA of 1.20 and a WHIP of 0.867.

Not as impressive when you realize who they were pitching against.

And how is picking up Tony Clark (2008 OPS vs. RHP .644) a nice "complementary" move when he started tonight against a right handed pitcher instead of Chad Tracy (2008 OPS vs. RHP .832)? Giving a manager with a fetish for veterans an opportunity play an aging, over the hill, "slugger" who hasn't hit since 2005 ahead of younger and better players?

When Clark is used as a pinch-hitter with pop and late-inning defensive specialist, yes.
As a starter... no.

The Dodgers now go to Denver for three games, with the Rockies just six back of both L.A. and Arizona. This race to 80 wins could be a lot of fun.

Not as impressive when you realize who they were pitching against.
Opponent-adjusted, it's still quite impressive.
Bitter, are you?

When Clark is used as a pinch-hitter with pop and late-inning defensive specialist, yes.
As a starter... no.

Reality is that the D-backs are going to give him regular starts because they think that it keeps him "fresh".

Opponent-adjusted, it's still quite impressive.

Yes, a 92 OPS+ offense in a two month long slump can be known to terrify the stoutest of bullpens.

From hells heart I stab at thee!!!!!

Bitter, are you?

No, not at all. What makes you say that?

Weakness, you say? Bah. You're saying guys like Leo Rosales (the return for Scott Hairston), Billy Buckner (the return for Alberto Callaspo) and Conor Robertson (the throw-in in the Haren trade) don't inspire confidence in you? Ye of little faith...

Anyhow, with Cruz and Slaten on the DL, Qualls hurt (and sucking), Pena and Lyon overworked, etc, the pen's been shot. Just what you want when you have the Cubs coming into town to face the crappy soft salad tossers in the back of your rotation...

Ironically, I believe every other reliever in the pen besides Lyon would've gotten 3 outs in the 9th today. Just a dumb job by Melvin to call in Lyon, and even dumber to leave him in even when it was obvious to everyone he just sucked today...

The Dbacks continue to lose games in the most imaginative ways.
This, of course, is a kind way of saying that they suck donkey balls.
At least they'll be pretty irrelevant in the NL west race very soon.

A snapshot of the Dbacks situation, from a post earlier today

The only month in which the Dbacks have had a winning record was April
They were terrible in May and June, and so far in July, they are 5-9
They've won only one series in July, @ WAS, probably the worst team in baseball
They've lost a series at home vs. SDP and now at home vs. LAD

The back of the rotation is ####
The bullpen is ####
The defense is ####
The offense is #### on the road, barely above #### at home

They just got abused by the Dodgers and dropped in a tie with them
They have their worst 3 starters and a shot pen to face the Cubs
And then they have a 10 game road trip @ SF (3), @ SD (3) and @ LA (4)
I honestly don't see them doing better than 4-9 or 5-8, if they're lucky

I can see them going home from LA with a 52-59 record, about 5 games behind the Dodgers

At least they'll be pretty irrelevant in the NL west race very soon.

I doubt it. That hot start will keep them close for a while yet. And the Dodgers will undoubtedly find new and exciting ways to get injured.

Reality is that the D-backs are going to give him regular starts because they think that it keeps him "fresh".
If BoMel does that, he's an idiot.

At least they'll be pretty irrelevant in the NL west race very soon.
Nah, they'll be hanging around until the end. Despite the troubles with the offense and bullpen, no one else in the division can match Webb and Haren.

And the Dodgers will undoubtedly find new and exciting ways to get injured.
Or Colletti will pull the trigger on an unbelievably dumb trade.
I'm not looking forward to the Pierre-Jones-Kemp outfield, with Ethier dealt off for crap.

At least they'll be pretty irrelevant in the NL west race very soon.

That's impossible. The rest of the division is too bad.

They have their worst 3 starters and a shot pen to face the Cubs.
And then they have a 10 game road trip @ SF (3), @ SD (3) and @ LA (4)
Dodgers have a fortuitous stretch coming: @ COL (3), then home for 10 games with WAS (3), SF (3) and the aforementioned D-Backs (4).
At worst, 6-7; best case, 10-3.

I don't see Ethier being traded (though for the RIGHT piece, he should be - not that Ned recognizes the right piece). He was basically Colletti's first move, and a ringing endorsement of Colletti as he fights to save his job.

For what it's worth, since the ASG Jones has been better. Not good, not worthwhile, small sample, but it almost looks like he's making an effort to change offensively.

Not good, not worthwhile, small sample, but it almost looks like he's making an effort to change offensively.
I'm not seeing it - still letting hittable pitches go by.

If BoMel does that, he's an idiot.

It's not gasoline's fault if it catches fire when you throw a lit match into it. BoMel was extended by this FO and Tony Clark was acquired by this FO. I see no reason to believe that they don't firmly support the way BoMel runs the team on the field.

Or Colletti will pull the trigger on an unbelievably dumb trade.
I'm not looking forward to the Pierre-Jones-Kemp outfield, with Ethier dealt off for crap.

Colletti didn't give Ethier or Kemp away to the first team that picked up the phone after he signed Andruw. Josh Byrnes probably has a tentative deal to trade Upton for Fuentes already in place.

If BoMel does that, he's an idiot.

Every village needs one.

Despite the troubles with the offense and bullpen, no one else in the division can match Webb and Haren.

What does it matter? The pen's been crap in their starts, and the offense is hardly ever scoring any runs. Unless they turn into Babe Ruths with the bat as well, it won't matter how good they are. The Valverde trade is turning into another unmitigated disaster...

That's impossible. The rest of the division is too bad.

Really? I can see them playing distant third fiddle to the Dodgers and Rockies by the middle of August.

I'm not seeing it - still letting hittable pitches go by.

It's all relative. He looked like he was succing less in this series than he has all season. As I said, still not worthwhile - but he maybe making an effort to change.

I'd much rather he did it in the minors, of course. The Dodgers could promote Repko, for instance - not a major league hitter, but a better fielder than Jones at this stage, AND a better hitter. Not going to happen, unfortunately.

The Valverde trade is turning into another unmitigated disaster...
The return for Jose was used in the Haren deal, right?

And the Dodgers will undoubtedly find new and exciting ways to get injured.

That arguably is AZ's best hope. Even though it's more likely that we'll see another run by the Rockies (as Jesus indeed loves them more than we will know)...

The return for Jose was used in the Haren deal, right?

I wish. I'd gladly drive Chris Burke to Oakland...

The return for Jose was used in the Haren deal, right?

No. They got Qualls, Burke, and Juan Gutierrez.

No. They got Qualls, Burke, and Juan Gutierrez.
Oh. Yikes, that's not good.
(BB-Ref doesn't have transactions from last off-season posted yet. Get on it, Forman!)

See, the Dbacks' official line is they had to trade Valverde to free up cash for Haren's salary
Never mind they blew all of their discretionary cash on a $30m extension for the team's gimp

Oh. Yikes, that's not good.

Yup. When Ed Wade parts with a pair of crappy relievers AND throws in the heir apparent to Biggio to lead the way, you know you got taken to the cleaners. Sadly, I liked this trade at the time, mostly because I thought Qualls would fill in ably for Valverde. Little did I know the guy's a headcase and chokes like a dog under pressure

I won't even bother with my customary "He sells merchandise!" jab at Moorad.
But that deal offends almost as much as anything Colletti has done. Ned made (bad) deals while trying to make the team better; Moorad offered that extension as a marketing move.

I got nothun

Is Levski manic depressive?

Just retarded.

No. They got Qualls, Burke, and Juan Gutierrez.

That's absolutely not true. We also saved $5M we needed to fit Captain Spazz's (floppy haired hero of baseball idiots everywhere) new contract in our limited payroll.

At least they'll be pretty irrelevant in the NL west race very soon.

Un-possible, however hard they might try to make it so.

Well, unless you're the Padres. Seriously--how bad do you have to be to play .370 ball in this division?

I'm starting to think the Rockies will win it again.

I'm starting to think the Rockies will win it again.

This wouldn't have happened if Hurdle hadn't made Webb throw 300 pitches in the bullpen during the All-Star game, with a knowing wink from Selig.