Injuries mounting at the wrong time for Dodgers, hurting playoff chances

Everything was supposed to be OK after the big trade. Adrian Gonzalez was supposed to magically be the Gonzalez of 2011 and before. Josh Beckett would revert to 2011 Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford would, well, still be hurt.

But now with Matt Kemp slumping and hurting and Clayton Kershaw having his start pushed back, things are not going well in Dodgertown right now.

And despite that, the Dodgers, if they lose tonight, will be just 1.5 games out of a playoff spot. It doesn't seem like it should be that way, but it is.

Still, the atmosphere in the fanbase is that of doom and gloom. It's hard to blame it. Potentially losing two of three to the Giants will always make Dodger fans pissy (myself included). But the Dodgers host the Cardinals this week and have a chance to make up ground.

Still, with Kemp out for an undisclosed amount of time, Kershaw having a balky hip (that should be OK by Tuesday) and Hanley Ramirez and Co. struggling against Barry Zito tonight, things just have a decidedly defeated feel.

There are 21 games left in the season after tonight. The Dodgers have 74 wins. I'm thinking it's going to take a 14-7 stretch for the Dodgers to make the playoffs. The way they've played in recent weeks, that seems like a pipe dream.

I could honestly care less football season started today (as a Rams' fan, I'm sure you'll understand that statement). I want the Dodgers to be playing this time next month. At this rate, my hope is dwindling ever so slightly. We'll see how I'm feeling a week from today.

Photo credit: Eephus Blue, Paint the Corners