"Chad Billingsley rarely speaks above a whisper in the best of times.

And clearly these are not the best of times.

Through the first 2 1/2 months of the season, the Dodgers right-hander was arguably the best pitcher in the National League, going 9-3 with a 2.72 earned-run average to earn a spot on the All-Star team.

In the three months since, he hasn't even been the best pitcher on his team, going 3-7 with a 5.40 ERA.

"I'm just trying to go out there and work on things," Billingsley says quietly, speaking to his shoes as he ties the laces. "Figure something out.""