Some random stats – both good and bad – for you to chew on on this fine summer Friday…

Clayton Kershaw, 2008
Age: 20
ERA+: 119 (19% better than average pitcher)
Age: 20
Runs in last 19 IP: 1
Age: 20!!!

Chad Billingsley, 2008
ERA: 3.01, 12th in MLB
ERA since May 1: 2.48
K: 4th in MLB (behind Lincecum, Sabathia, Burnett)
Walks allowed on 3-0 counts: 9 for 9
Last 28 days: 1.83 ERA in 5 starts

Manny Ramirez w/ Dodgers
6 games, 13-23, 4 HR, .565/.615/1.130

OF starts since Manny’s arrival
Manny: 6
Kemp: 6
Pierre: 3
Ethier: 2
Jones: 1

Juan Pierre, seasons ranked by OPS+
1. 2004 (107)
2. 2003 (94)
3. 2001 (89)
4. 2005 (84)
5. 2006 (82)
6. 2007 (75)
7t. 2002 (68)
7t. 2008 (68)
Consecutive seasons in decline: 5 (2004-08)
2008 ranked by OBP: worst season of career
2008 ranked by SLG: worst season of career

NL win leaders since July 1
Brewers: 20
Rockies: 20
Dodgers: 19
Cubs: 19
Mets: 19

Russell Martin, OPS by month
April: .888
May: .851
June: .802
July: .738
August: .488
Innings caught: 884.1, 3rd among all MLB catchers
Total innings fielded: 937.1, 1st among all MLB catchers

Dodger VORP ranks in MLB by position
C: Martin 27.0 (4th)
1B: Loney 20.1 (13th, ahead of Ryan Howard)
2B: Kent 5.5 (27th)
SS: Furcal 26.8 (4th - and this is a counting stat!)
SS: Berroa -4.1 (63rd)
LF: Pierre 1.6 (42nd)
LF: Manny 11.6 (21st – that’s as a Dodger only!)
CF: Jones -15.2 (52nd, dead last at CF, 3rd worst overall)
CF: Kemp 24.7 (9th)
RF: Ethier 9.1 (23rd)

MLB Players with at least 75 plate appearances: 422
Mark Sweeney’s VORP rate: -0.535/game (422nd)

Also, over at Baseball Prospectus they’ve got a nice Q&A with Dodgers prospect Andrew Lambo, currently tearing up the Midwest League. It’s not behind their pay wall, so feel free to enjoy. Besides, you’ve got to a love a guy who says,

I got drafted by my hometown team – I grew up about an hour out of L.A., so my whole life I’ve been a Dodgers fan; I grew up going to Dodgers games.  So I guess it’s pretty cool.

- Mike Scioscia’s tragic illness