Seriously, Joe, what were you thinking?

That's one question I would love to ask Joe Torre after his handling of Hong-Chih Kuo tonight.

Despite being handed two runs on a throwing error, the Dodgers once again coughed up a lead in the ninth to lose to the Braves, 4-3. The Braves took three of four in this miserable four-game set. Thank God it's over.

Poor Chad Billingsley. He pitched his guts out, giving up a run in seven strong innings, striking out eight. But it didn't matter. Not when the offense is a joke, the bullpen is a disgrace, and the managing gets worse by the day. Maybe Bills and the rest of the starters should just go on strike.

I'll get to Torre's five-star managing skills later. What you need to know is that Dodgers actually scored in the first to take an early lead. And get this - it was with a runner on base. No joke.

Ryan Theriot hit an infield single to third with one out. As he was taking off on a steal, Andre Ethier gaped a double to right-center for an RBI, and it was 1-0.

Of course, these are the Dodgers we're talking about here, so the offensive highlights pretty much stopped after that. As has been the pattern with them, they'll have a game every now and then when they put it all together, then follow it up with a whole bunch of crap.

At least Billingsley was well on his game, as he held the Braves scoreless until the sixth. Omar Infante hit a triple to center to lead off. Jason Heyward lifted a sac-fly RBI to right, and the game was tied at 1-1. But with the Dodgers, it felt more like they were losing.

The Braves nearly cost themselves the game by literally throwing it away in the eighth. Reed Johnson pinch-hit for Billingsley and reached on an error by Brooks Conrad. Remember that name. Scott Podsednik drew a walk, and there were two on with none out.

Theriot once again hit a soft one to Conrad at third, and he threw the ball clear into the outfield, allowing both runners to score and Theriot to advance to third. It looked like it could finally be a big inning.

With a runner on third and nobody out, Ethier stepped up and pulled his best Matt Kemp impersonation by striking out in a key spot. James Loney then lined out to Melky Cabrera in left, who then fired home and nailed Theriot by about five miles. Opportunity to increase the lead there, opportunity lost.

So here's where I wholeheartedly question what in the world Torre was thinking. He mercifully tells everyone a few days ago that Jonathan Broxton would no longer by the closer. In his place would be Kuo. Closers usually pitch the ninth inning, right?

And yet here was the start of the eighth and Kuo in the game. Why not use Octavio Dotel or Kenley Jansen in that spot? Shouldn't they be the setup men for the new closer? I just don't get it.

Like it or not, that's what Torre decided to do, and Kuo did get through the eighth in order. When that happened, my first thought was that Broxton would pitch the ninth. Thankfully that didn't happen.

Instead, Kuo came back out. Alex Gonzalez and Brian McCann singled to start. Following a wild pitch to advance them, Troy Glaus struck out. Conrad, however, walked to load the bases.

Out went Kuo for Dotel, who walked in a run before giving up the game-winning two-run single to Cabrera. An appropriate ending for a horribly mismanaged last couple of innings.

Here's what we know about Kuo: he has electric stuff and was just named the closer. He also has an arm as fragile as glass. Normally that would mean he should only pitch one inning. Instead, Torre wanted him to go two. It obviously didn't work out, but Kuo shouldn't feel bad. This one's on Torre.

Now I fully realize that this entire game wasn't Torre's fault. The Dodgers can't hit worth a damn, as taking an 0-for-7 today with runners in scoring position meant they were 0-for-23 over these four games. That's just so pathetic, I don't even know what else to say about it.

But Torre should be squarely blamed for the end of the game. If Kuo is your closer, use him in that role, not in the eighth. It's not hard! Don't say one thing and then turn around and do another. It just makes no sense whatsoever.

Games like this nudge me in the direction of hoping Torre won't be back. I have great respect for all of the success he's had in his career, which is among the best of all-time. But right now, I just don't see any fire in this team. Plus add in the stupid use of Kuo tonight, and a clean slate isn't looking so bad for next year.

The Dodgers return home to face the Rockies on Tuesday in a battle of two playoff teams from last year that will most likely be on the outside looking in this time around. Clayton Kershaw gets the start.