Ted Lilly Best July Trade 2010
Ted Lilly is shaping up to be the best July trade of 2010.
Since joining the Dodgers, Lilly is 4-0 with a 1.29 ERA through his first four starts.
Still a victim of the major’s worst run support, Lilly has received two or fewer runs in three of his four outings. But unlike the Cubs, L.A. has found ways to win close ballgames behind the 34-year-old.
He tossed a two-hit shutout Thursday against Colorado, retiring 19-straight at one point, walked two and struck out a season-high 11.
Not since Kaz Ishii won his first six starts in 2002 has a Dodger pitcher won his first four starts with the club.
Despite Lilly’s ace-form, the Dodgers are all but eliminated from the playoff race. They’ve lost seven of ten falling a distant eight-games back of both the West leading Padres and Wild Card leading Phillies.
Lilly, however, is positioning himself to be a top free agent this offseason, which makes it tougher financially on the Cubs to regain his services for 2011 and beyond.
But if Teddy is open to a return to the North Side, Tom Ricketts would be wise to open the purse strings to resign him.
