The word of the day is:

Perspective; The relationship of aspects of a subject to each other and to a whole.

Baseball is game of numbers, the statistics of the game allow for us to compare teams off the field. They allow us to project a players value, in the present and future. They allow us to compare players and teams from the present and past. But most importantly the numbers can blur your perspective, making a player and team appear to be better or worse than they really are. For example, the Nationals have hit more home runs than the Dodgers and Braves. Statistics can make you see something that really isn't there.

If you had looked at the stat-line for Randy Wolf, you would be highly likely to discount his season as a success. He is 5-4 with an ERA of 3.45. The record and the era are both average, however his season has been anything but. Wolf has been the victim of bad luck, consistently giving the Dodgers a chance to win while the team returned the favor by blowing leads en route to no decisions for one of the Dodgers unsung heroes of 2009. Last night Wolf finally got his first win at Dodger Stadium, a place where the team rarely loses (32-15). It was his third consecutive decision after getting just three in his previous 10. Seven of his no-decisions have been at home, along with two of his losses. In total Wolf has twelve no decisions in twenty one games.

The major league record for no-decisions belongs to Bert Blyleven, who had 20 for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979. In getting his fifth win, Wolf lowered his chances at taking over the frustrating record from Blyleven. He did it by holding the Reds to two runs over 7 1/3 innings and four hits. Wolf also helped the Dodgers improve their record to 60-34 (making them the first team in baseball to reach 60 wins), putting them 26 games over .500 for the first time since the final week of the 1991 season.

Though it's unlikely that Wolf will reach Blyleven, it's also unlikely that people will realize just how good Wolf has been this season. A week ago that could have been said for me, yet today you can count me as one of many in the Wolfpack (don't turn your back). If he continues throwing strikes it will make it hard for any one in baseball to discount his season as a success and even harder for the rest of the NL West to stay in the divisional race. In summation, wolfpack 4 life son.... or until he signs with another team.