The Dodgers offense decided to take the night off in the series finale with the Padres, and one player in particular seems to be taking June off, along with much of the season.

Last year, win No. 40 didn't come until July 2 when the Dodgers beat the Astros in Houston 4-1, behind a strong effort from Hiroki Kuroda.

At that time, the Dodgers were 40-44.

It was tough to sit through the first round of the Major League draft and see the Dodgers without a pick, but the compensation round finally came and the club made its first pick.

Chad Billingsley should pitch well tonight. I say that implying that he needs to, but also expecting him to do so.

Let me just say thank goodness for Andre Ethier and his two wonderful swings. Without him, the Dodgers are looking at a four-game sweep at home against the Phillies, and instead of being 5-5 in their last 10, they'd be 3-7.

It's nice to win the occasional game that you had no business winning. We fans always remember the games the team lost, but should have won. So winning one they should have lost is nice.

I wish I knew what exactly to say about Rafael Furcal, but I don't. Clearly he is not the same player right now.

He's vital to the Dodgers offense and he just hasn't been able to get going. Is it the back that he had surgery on last spring? Is it that he's 31? Is he healthy, other than the back? So many questions and so few answers.

I can tell you he looks antsy and unsettled at the plate, but beyond that all I know is that he is a far cry from the brief glimpse of 2008, the two previous years with the Dodgers and the player that has been dynamic for nine seasons prior.

His batting average dipped to .239 after another 0-for against the Phillies on Thursday night. He's currently slugging .294 and his on base percentage is .302.

This is from a guy who's career numbers are .285/.350/.408. He's slugging more than 100 points less while his average and on-base are about 50 points less.

He also has just three stolen bases, although he is a guy that averages 35 per 162 games.

2-0, 30 IP, 5 ER, 1.50 ERA in the regular season.

2-0, 14 IP, 3 ER, 1.93 ERA in the post-season

The Dodgers organization is being very careful with the very talented left arm of Clayton Kershaw. They want to cap his innings, by moving him around and shifting the rotation.

I'm not sure I agree.

First of all, I'm like Nolan Ryan. I think that pitchers are much too babied and I think they should throw. If Kershaw stays healthy for 200 innings, then let him throw 200 innings.

He threw 169 total innings last year, and they want to keep him at the 180 mark, hence skipping his turn on Monday against the Diamondbacks.

He will pitch Thursday instead against the Phillies.

I really feel like this was the wrong move. First of all, he's only averaging 5 2/3 innings per start, meaning if he made 33 starts (which would happen if he weren't shifted at all) it would mean he would throw 185 innings. You could always skip him in September when the Dodgers have the division wrapped up.