Dodger's Youth Taking Veterans' Lead

The Los Angeles Dodgers are on the outside looking in at this point in time when it comes to postseason play. The Dodgers are 4 games back in the NL West and 2.5 games back in the Wild Card, but that doesn't seem to be affecting a whole lot in their play. After losing a close game Friday night, Los Angeles bounced back to take Saturday's afternoon affair in San Francisco.

David Wells returned from suspension in a big way for the Dodgers. The lefthander took a no-hitter into the 6th inning and gave up 2 earned runs in seven innings of work. Wells' performance was backed by Luis Gonzalez's 3-run homer in the first inning off of Barry Zito.

The story has not been about the veterans of late though, but rather the Dodgers' younger players who are starting to play like the studs they have been expected to become.

Matt Kemp is showing all-star potential on a daily basis. Kemp has taken on a large role hitting in the middle of the Dodger lineup, and has responded by hitting .342, with 10 homeruns and 37 RBI. Not only does Kemp bring a power bat to a lineup that has been begging for production, but he brings Gold Glove caliber defense to the outfield.

The breaking ball away haunted Kemp when he first broke into the big leagues. The prospect would often chase offspeed pitches in the dirt and was clearly overmatched once pitchers figured out that the only pitch he would hit hard is the fastball over the plate.

Today we get to see Matt Kemp the major leaguer, and not the distant prospect. It appears he has made the adjustment to lay off pitches in the dirt and not chase breaking balls early in the count. Pitchers have no choice but to come after him with their fastball because they will often fall behind in the count with the soft stuff. This has been the single biggest adjustment and it is starting to pay huge dividends for the Dodgers.

James Loney stepped up to the plate in the top of the 9th inning Friday night and acted like he has seen pressure for years on end. The slugger blasted a fastball deep into the right-center field seats to tie the game for the Dodgers, even though they would go on to lose the ballgame.

Loney is showing that he deserves to be the starting first baseman for years to come in Los Angeles. Loney is hitting .317 with 9 homers and 44 RBI on the year and that's not even counting the runs he saves with his glove.

Loney provides protection in the lineup not only for Matt Kemp, but for the veterans such as Jeff Kent and Luis Gonzalez. When it comes to the playoffs, Loney will be needed to step up and drive in the runs. Teams will not let Kent or Gonzalez beat them as they are both guys with postseason experience and who have been clutch in their careers.

There still is much work to be done before the Dodgers can celebrate a postseason birth, but the games should take care of themselves as long as Grady Little keeps turning the kids loose. We are witnessing not only a turning point for the 2007 Los Angeles Dodgers, but we also a perminent makeover for the Dodger organization. So far so good; there is a lot to be excited about in Dodger Blue.