OK, Queue the Music, Lights, Camera, Action...

Hanley Ramirez walks back to the dugout after striking out against Ian Kennedy (photo by Cnristian Petersen/Getty Images)

Please click on the you tube link below.  The music is appropriate for what I’m about to write and will serve as a backdrop as you read on.   It’ll put you in the right frame of mind.  After all, you can’t help but think of the hapless New York Knights from the fictional story, “The Natural” when thinking about the 2012 L.A. Dodgers.  OK, go ahead, I'll wait.

It's interesting to note that the composer of “I Love L.A.,” Randy Newman, also wrote the entire score to 1984 motion picture including this piece, “Losing Is a Disease.”

Ah, yes.  Losing.  It has become a common theme on these Dodger related blogs.  I think it's time for Mattingly to call in the shrink with the wire rimmed glasses to come speak to the ball club.  To get our boys out of this funk.  I can hear it now:

“Losing is a disease... as contagious as polio... as contagious as syphilis... as contagious as the bubonic plague... attacking one, but affecting all.”

AUDIO CLIP from "The Natural"

There's nothing else to do.  Sit back and laugh I guess because our $200 million dollar team can't hit.  There is no Roy Hobbs sitting on the bench to insert into the lineup to save us.  At least I don't think there is.

**************************************************************

Don’t look now but Philadelphia and Milwaukee are breathing down the Dodgers necks now.  Both clubs are three games behind Los Angeles.  At the rate things are going with St. Louis, Pittsburgh and L.A. losing like there’s no tomorrow, this race will be between the Brewers and Phillies when all is said and done for the final Wild Card spot.

The Dodger’s anemic offense is once again failing to score runs.  Now they have an 18 inning scoreless streak and enter into tomorrow’s action against arch nemesis Trevor Cahill, who has a history of owning the blue crew.

The Dodgers had their chances to score tonight, but Luis Cruz’s 5th inning fly ball to left was caught by Jason Kubel who reached over the fence to deny him a two run homer.  Two innings later Andre Ethier hit a foul ball that missed being a home run by a few feet.  Fortune wasn’t in the Dodgers favor tonight and an unearned run in the 7th cost them the game.  This team can't buy any luck.

Back at it tomorrow.  Yep, we're gluttons for punishment, aren't we?