Dodgers set for long run
It takes more than magic for teams to become unexpected contenders and stay that way for the long baseball season. But a few of those special moments don’t hurt, and that’s only part of why the Los Angeles Dodgers look like a better option than the New York Mets to continue the National League’s surprise stories of the early season.
The Dodgers turned a triple play Sunday as they completed a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres to come out of the weekend at 9-1, baseball’s best record.
Center fielder Matt Kemp hit his sixth home run and led the majors going into Monday’s games in homers, RBI (16), hits (19), runs (13), batting average (.487), on-base percentage (.523), slugging percentage (1.026) and OPS (1.548).
The Mets are 6-3 and they’ve started quickly with strong pitching, thanks to a return from surgery by Johan Santana (0.90 ERA in two starts) and a combined 4-0, 2.10 start from R.A. Dickey and Jon Niese.
A crucial boost last weekend came from third baseman David Wright, who played despite a broken pinkie and hit a home run.
On almost every count, the Dodgers have the edge on the Mets for the long haul:
-Kemp isn’t the end of their star quality. Clayton Kershaw is the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, right fielder Andre Ethier is driving the ball again after knee surgery and Chad Billingsley is a strong second fiddle to Kershaw.
-As for chances of improving as the season develops, the Dodgers have the biggest edge in perhaps the most crucial category. Depth is a question for both teams, but the Mets have less hope of getting more from their supporting cast.
-The Dodgers are counting on their new ownership group to make a difference. They figure to be not only a major player in free agency next winter but also a mover at the July trade deadline if necessary.