A beaker and a Bunsen burner

[sharksrog]

We hear this talk about Matt Kemp's being a bad influence in the clubhouse, one of the reasons the Dodgers don't have the chemistry of teams like the Giants.

Well, we know his wonderful catch in deep center field Tuesday night saved the game for the Dodgers, giving them one of their three wins over the Giants.

So what happened last night in the Dodgers' first game since the Giants' series? They won, 6-4, with the difference being the two runs scored by Kemp and the one he drove in.

Exactly how did he influence the game offensively?

He began by driving in their first run and scoring their second. That came in the very first inning.

He then added to their 5-4 lead in the 8th inning by singling, stealing second base, stealing third base, then scoring on a sacrifice fly.

One can see how badly he has hurt the Dodgers' chemistry since coming back Monday.

Kemp has started just two games since his return, and frankly, is still having a bad season.

But Monday he scored the Dodgers' 5th run in the 6-5 win, and then saved the game with a great walkoff catch. In his next start last night, he drove in the first run, scored the second, and then provided the 6th with a single and two stolen bases.

Then there's that old free radical Hanley Ramirez. Since his June 4th return from injury, he has hit .358 with a 1.048 OPS, and suddenly the Dodgers began playing over .500 ball.

Early this season when the Giants were winning and the Dodgers were losing, was it because the Giants had chemistry and the Dodgers didn't? Now that the Dodgers are winning and the Giants aren't, it is because the Dodgers suddenly have chemistry and the Giants have lost it?

Or is it more because the Giants were healthy early and the Dodgers weren't, and now the Giants have injuries and the Dodgers are beginning to recover from theirs?

There are no absolute answers to these questions. But a strong implication is there.

By the way, the Giants' 15-25 record in their past 40 games is the worst record in the majors. They truly ARE one of the better teams in the game though.

After all, THEY'VE got chemistry!

[Islandboagie]

How is the best team in baseball doing this season, Rog? Don't act like you have all the answers and know what makes a team good or bad, because it's apparent you're as clueless as the next guy. You wouldn't have guessed that AZ would be leading the division either, and their recipe for success isn't being the most talented or least injured. Fact is we knew this month was going to be a tough one with so many road games and injured players. What's happened thus far isn't a shocking development. Honestly, how things have gone recently I'm happy with our spot in the standings. I'm sure AZ isn't comfortable, and its not the Dodgers they're worried about.

[sfgdood]

Chemistry shows itself in September and October...the long grind is going to have ups and downs influenced by many factors. Face it, every team has talent. It's the same with most pro sports. The draft system and salary caps (in other sports, not baseball) and luxury taxes have made it so the competitive balance--at least in terms of talent--is pretty close. You need to have players able to buck up and get the job done when the season gets short and teams are all getting desperate. Chemistry develops when a group of players have overcome adversity together and thus know they can do it again...and they then bring along the players who werent around for the ride in previous seasons with them. Every season is different and will never ever follow the exact script as previous seasons but that doesn't diminish the chemistry factor.

~Dood

[allenreed]

They're playing better, and they're getting a little lucky, like Ryan Howard swinging at a 3-0 pitch and grounding into a DP with bases loaded last night, then falling down while trying to field a routine sac bunt. I just don't see the Dodgers. I wouldn't call the issue chemistry, but more of having players that just aren't winners. Besides that, I don't think their pitching, either starters or relief, will hold up.

[sharksrog]

Boagie -- How is the best team in baseball doing this season, Rog?

Rog -- Sadly, it appears they may be leading the NL Central Division.

Boagie -- Don't act like you have all the answers and know what makes a team good or bad,

Rog -- I'm not. I brought up chemistry because it's a big UNknown.

Boagiie -- because it's apparent you're as clueless as the next guy. You wouldn't have guessed that AZ would be leading the division either, and their recipe for success isn't being the most talented or least injured.

Rog -- No, I wouldn't, although I'm not shocked. The Diamondbacks aren't too much better than the average team, but they're in the right division.

Boagie -- Fact is we knew this month was going to be a tough one with so many road games and injured players.

Rog -- Absolutely. Plus a lot of good opponents and a mounting injury list.

Boagie -- What's happened thus far isn't a shocking development. Honestly, how things have gone recently I'm happy with our spot in the standings. I'm sure AZ isn't comfortable, and its not the Dodgers they're worried about.

Rog -- The Diamondbacks appear to be in the right division, but they're not so good as not to be worried about pretty much EVER Y team in the division. It isn't likely to happen, but it wouldn't be totally shocking if they wound up LAST in the division.

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[sharksrog]

Randy -- Chemistry shows itself in September and October...

Rog -- If chemistry were truly a big factor, it would show up pretty much all the time.

Let me ask you this: If a team has good hitting, does it show up only in September and October? Does good pitching show up only in those two months?

[sharksrog]

Allen -- I wouldn't call the issue chemistry, but more of having players that just aren't winners.

Rog -- How is that not a chemistry issue, unless you're saying that the players simplyh aren't good enough?

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[allenreed]

There are ways that winning players play, and ways that players who are playing for stats play. There are guys who will play hurt, play when the matchups don't favor them, and sacrifice their stats for wins. IMO, the Dodgers don't have many of those guys.

[Islandboagie]

Boagie -- How is the best team in baseball doing this season, Rog?

Rog -- Sadly, it appears they may be leading the NL Central Division.

Boagie- You know I'm talking about the Nationals whom you declared the best team in baseball during spring training. Now chemistry might not be the only ingredient for a winning team, but obviously your method for determining the best team also isn't fool proof.

[sharksrog]

Boagie -- How is the best team in baseball doing this season, Rog?

Rog -- Sadly, it appears they may be leading the NL Central Division.

Boagie- You know I'm talking about the Nationals whom you declared the best team in baseball during spring training. Now chemistry might not be the only ingredient for a winning team, but obviously your method for determining the best team also isn't fool proof.

Rog - And I never came CLOSE to saying it was. This is a discussion about the abstract concept of team chemistry (something I have been studying for 38 years), so I'm not quite sure what your other comments have to do with things.

Regarding forecasts, I have enough experience to know that no matter HOW well a forecast is crafted, there are so many variables that virtually no one is able to be accurate a high percentage of the time.

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