F-U-Ndamentals and Kershaw the Komeback Kid

Frustrated? check. Anxious? double check. Given up? NEVER. If there is one thing I know about my Dodgers and this crazy sport of baseball, is we are only one Kirk Gibson homerun away from a change. Sure, that doesn't happen very often....but it DOES happen.

Tonight is the night. Watch out for flying champagne corks, stay off the freeways, and tivo the game. They are going to win tonight and who more fitting to bring them the win? Kershaw. That's right. Sure he hasnt won in his last 10 starts, but that doesn't take away the fact that he's still one of the best in the league and the last time he pitched to the Rockies he went 5 scoreless innings. Tonight the pressure is on for Kershaw as he needs to solidify his likely number 2 spot in the playoffs.

Sure we can go on and on about how embarrassing the Dodgers are playing these last several games (nope, I refuse to attach a number there) OR we can look at the victory we DID have last night. Let's not forget that Ethier came out of his horrible road trip slump, Casey Blake looked good defensively, and we were able to cut the lead to one each time. Furcal is continuing to dominate, Wolf shook off his horrible 1st inning high pitch count and took better control of the ball, Sherrill and Broxton revealed once again why they're the best relievers in the league, and the boys got some confidence that they can take the rockies bullpen. Sure that doesn't make the cork fly off the champagne bottle or ensure a date for my playoff tickets BUT its something.

Let's flashback to 2006 shall we? Those darn red birds the 2006 Cardinals, they were 3-6 or something awful at the end of the season and they went on to win the World Series. Sure they played the Astros and the Padres (I think) but it doesnt much matter. The Rockies (stats wise) are playing better baseball than any other playoff ready team lately. If the Rockies end up playing the Cardinals, the Cardinals can't assume that they have it in the bag and I'd love to see the Rockies take them out.

What we need to do tonight (besides flipping win) is to walk a fine line between pressing and having some fun. These boys have talent, but it's obvious they're not playing to play and have fun and showcase their talent. Even Manny was showing he wasn't patient at the plate last night. He left some men stranded, but he'll be back "on" tonight I'm sure. I believe, and I wont stop. If there's something I know about my boys is that they're not done till they're done and there's still a lot of baseball to be played in October.

So take out those champagne bottles, look to the future, and watch them work their Magic. Torre is never one to shy away from a challenge.........

Baseball is a Sport, not a place to judge Character

Selig needs to retire so that Pete Rose can get into the Hall of Fame. I'd love to have a chance meeting with Selig to discuss The Great Pete Rose. I'm not saying the gambling thing was a high point in his career or life but that had ZERO to do with his ability and the reason that he DESERVES to be in the Hall of Fame. He broke Ty Cobb's record for most hits......did that have anything to do with gambling?

Sure, ban Rose from baseball. Don't let him manage or coach or be in a power position with the sport anymore. This protects the game and the rules that go along with it. I can get on board with that. But, really, don't allow him to be part of an elite group of players and be recognized for his hard work and playing ability? That's a tragedy really. He's going to be remembered regardless of being a Hall of Famer or not, so why not?

There are rules that must be followed and a certain pretense upheld, this I understand. But he is not going into the Hall of Fame based on his character and who he is as a person. Nothing he did effected the way he played the game. If we start picking Hall of Famers by who they are as a person and not what they did as a ball player, many of the talented athletes would not stand a chance of getting in. And I'm sure a good number of ball players already inducted would have to be removed. I'm not condoning jerkish behavior, but that Hall of Fame is based on talent, stats, and records.

Isn't there some sort of separation of baseball and character in the Constitution? Well, maybe there should be.

No Need For a Dustpan......

Well Alright, Then. We beat the birds!!! We are BACK ON TOP. Yesterday we shared the best record in baseball with the Yanks (booooo) but today, we're back holding our title!! This team sure is resilient. What other team in baseball can come back from 3 straight losses (one in which they SHOULDN'T have lost) and win? Only a team with a lot of heart and one that comes in with a good attitude ready to get the job done. I'm also going to have to go ahead and thank Wellemeyer for being one of the worst pitchers in baseball. Not only did that aid in our win, but allowed our pitching staff to for once be showcased in a good light.

Our pitching is getting some much needed help. Even though the only "new" person we brought in is Sherrill (I knew Neddy boy would get us someone...is it possible we still might get Doc?) but we're starting to put ourselves back together. We have never lost one of the best era's in baseball, but our pitchers haven't been able to go that deep leaving it on the shoulders of the bull pen many a night. This is also due to the lack of offense we've seen of late (Manny, what is wrong, buddy?...it doesnt have to be a Grand Slam into Mannywood EVERY time!). Our pitching really needs back up from our offense......Blake and Kemp did their job tonight. We need to shake up the lineup, maybe Ethier NOT batting cleanup behind Manny?
I'd put Kershaw up against anyone's ace. This kid, as I've said before, has really got it. Since he's added his slider to his repetoire of pitches, he's really gotten a better handle. It will also be interesting to see what Joe does when there's a bevy of leftys in the lineup...like when we play the Phillies. Will he use Sherrill or big John? What I do know is you NEVER know with Joe. That's what I love about him. Sure, sometimes he makes bad choices (why didnt you leave Kershaw IN joe?) but it all works out in the end. Hello, what a CRAZY move to load up the bases with 2 Big Card batters (Pujols/Holliday). But go big or go home. You either lose by a little or you lose by a lot. At least in the "a lot" category you know you did everything you could (usually).

Kuo is beginning to exhibit signs of being his "pre-surgery" self and if that stays true our bullpen just got infinetly stronger. We just need to get Mota back on track and we've got Leach out of the mix for a minute. That kid needs to settle down and take some lessons from J-Mac about the nerves. Even though we lost 3 out of 4, I think weve still got a chance against the cards. Minus this series it hasn't been all bad...right??

Things are only looking up when our new reliever's at the plate song is Blood Milk and Sky by White Zombie. Although, maybe Ned's not done yet.......could the Doc be in a Dodgers uniform soon?? or is that just too much wishful thinking.

Just put me in, Coach!!!

Woah. Did I just see Loretta pitch in a major league game?? We're talking a utility infielder, here. Man would I have wanted to be a fly on the wall in the Dodger dugout last night. Maybe something like this:
Joe: who should we put in?
Bowa: Well, Troncoso is warming up in the bull pen, Joe. Let's bring him in. Even though he's pretty worn out.
Loretta: Hey guys, I couldn't help but overhear you talking about bringing in a new pitcher. Listen, Troncoso is tired, we're already down by 10. It's been about 8 years...but i think I can do it!!
Joe: Hey, you know what? Let's do it. There's no need to bring in an actual reliever at this point.

The best part? Loretta hit Holliday and then got the out that he had promised he would. Man, I love the Dodgers.

The last few games could be a glimpse into what we're facing in October (cuz we're gonna make it). If we don't play the Cards then we're gonna have to play the Phillies and they still have an incredible pitching staff. I'm not down on the dodgers. So what that we've lost 3 in a row now? Hellllo, it's the 1st time in 100 games we've lost more than two. Shouldn't we commending our boys on a job well done? I'm not too worried about our pitching staff either, but we need to find a kid that can go deep into the game. Bills would be a GREAT Cy young candidate if games were only 5 innings long. What also needs to happen is our offense needs to back up our pitching. But can we really expect that from our team when they're playing a team who's pitching staff have a collective ERA's of less than 2?

Enter: Kershaw. He is our light at the end of the tunnel with an ERA of what, .95 in the last 8 starts. Hopefully he can go deep into tonights game. Our boys in blue really need it. I can't believe that ANYONE thought that Ned would trade this pride and joy even if it was for veteran Lee. What the Dodgers are getting back to are their roots of growing their own team. Even if we don't win the world series this year, we will and soon. These kids are gooooooooood.

My opinion: We need to let Leach rest it out a little bit and bring Elbert back up when he passes his "has to be in the minors for 10 days" stint. I can't believe we put him back down there to make room for Schmidt. Ok, so Schimidt should get the perserverance award but if he doesn't figure out how to throw with his "new" arm, then he better kiss the rotation goodbye. He's had one good(ish) outing and one not so good. So far as it seems at the moment, he'll be pitching on Friday. Do or Die time Schmidty. Let us remember why we're excited we brought on board 10 years ago. :)

I'm anxious about the trade deadline. I don't always understand or agree with Coletti's picks and moves, but I do admire his ballsyness (is that a word?) and I'm sure that this Friday won't disappoint. For a ball club that needs some help in the bull pen so much, it's been awfully quiet on the forefront. But, really...that's my boy Ned's style. And then......all of the sudden....BAM!! and something awesome happens. For now, we know it's not longer Lee. Sherill perhaps? Only time will tell......fortunately it's a short time!

Where an adult can be a kid....ASG

Sometimes when we become adults, we can lose that zest for life that we survived on as a child. It's easy to get caught up in the mundane ins and outs of life and forget our passions that used to keep us going. We try to look for the deeper meaning behind anything that happens to us rather than just allowing ourselves to fall head first into the giddyness that we once would allow ourselves to feel. I allow myself to fall, lighting speed head first, into the giddyness I feel when watching the ALL STAR GAME.

Sure, the national league tends to lose often and the game often stirs up controversy as to who should have made the team and how certain players didn't deserve to be an all star. Sure, inevitably something goes wrong and we lose sight of why we're all there to watch: the game of baseball. But if we step back for a moment and look through those rose colored glasses we used to wear as a kid, we can watch the ASG for what it REALLY is: the uniting of all the rock stars of baseball in ONE place at ONE time playing with each other. It's enough to knock any true baseball fan off their feet. Who cares if this may have happened during interleague play..... It's a chance to watch the best of the best in baseball play for hours. I mean Lincecum vs Derek Jeter? I'll take it!

We should be proud of our boys and how they did in the ASG. Well, sure, Bills allowed a run and Broxton didnt even actually play but O-Dawg was on fire. The only thing missing? Matt Kemp. I AM disappointed with the NL and the fact that they didn't win. In my opinion, it wasn't so much that the AL won but more than the NL lost it for themselves. It's ok Howard, we'll only blame you until there's a new bandwagon to jump on.

The ASG is coming to Anaheim next year and I'll find a way to be there. You hear that Selig? put me on the roster!

AN ODE TO WILLIE

Sandoval and Vicotrino who??? Can someone please explain to me why Matt Kemp is not on the All Star team this year? I would like to believe his AMAZING game tonight was just to rub it in everyone's faces. Like, ok, fine.....I don't need to be on the all star team to play great baseball. But really, Matty, you ARE an all star. Look at his stats of late and his offense? Incredible. He consistently makes great plays in the outfield and leads with outfield assists. Tonight it seemed like Matt was channeling the great Willie Mays with that incredible basket catch he made to end the game. And this right after his long shot grand slam (his 3rd of the year!!) Wow. What a night for him, and what a night for the Dodgers. I have to say, games like this one that are back and forth, back and forth, are more fun to watch but man are they anxiety driven!! Tonight I was told by my friends I am no longer allowed to be facing big screen t.v.'s when out to eat while the Dodgers are playing. I admit, I'm not a great conversationalist when the Dodgers are playing. But sorry friends, tonight was DEFINETLY a game worth watching!

I'll say again how much affection I have for the great Joe Torre. Man his managing is unlike anything I've ever seen with the Dodgers for a looooong time. He really does manage this ball club well, especially when he makes moves such as having Kemp bat 8th in the order. Naysayers have a problem with this and think he should be behind Manny and that on many other teams he'd be batting cleanup. But Joe oh Joe is a thinker. He doesn't put Kemp there, oh no...he bats him 8th so that he can contribute some RBIs to the bottom of the order. And that's why I like Joe. He isn't afraid to look at things from a different standpoint. And, hey, it seems to be working out right? Still the Best Record in Baseball. Now if we compare stats the 2009 Dodgers are still inferior in many aspects to the 1955 Dodgers, but this team (as it stands now) is my generations BOYS OF SUMMER.

I'm kind of tired of everyone talking about the lack of stuff our pitching staff has. I mean, I'm not going to lie and say that oh yeah we'd be a heck of a matchup but our pen and our starters are still having solid years. Wolf, although shakey at times, as been pretty dominant all year but you'd never know it looking at his record. Bills has been having some off nights (could it be something with where his toe is pointing?) He has just lost a little control and demand of the ball, but it will be interesting to see the changes he makes after the break.....but ALL players have their ups and downs. Let's not forget his consistent he has been to have it all blown in the save. Kuroda has just come back but he's proved himself in the playoffs and I still think he's a pretty solid pitcher. and KERSHAW. wow what pitcher this kid is turning out to be. I would venture to say that Kershaw is a Lincecum in the making. For the last 30 innings, Kershaw has only allowed 2 ER and HE'S ONLY 21!!!!! We DO need a starter that can go a little deeper....(can we do 7 innings at least, people?) and I don't think Kershaw is steady enough to be able to count on for that......yet. We'll see how he does on Sunday.

I think it's funny that our bullpen is actually dominating by Mota right now. (and weaver has been excelling coming out of the bullpen and taking the 5th spot) Tonight, Mota got 3 outs on 6 pitches but still ended up with the blown save. AM i back in that parallel universe? Where are all those haters that wanted to kick Ned Colletti's butt for bringing back Weaver and Mota? I bet they're hiding somewhere....although I'm sure they'll pop right back up if these guys start to flounder again. It's not that we have bad pitching, it's that the rest of our awesome defense is overshadowing that of our pitching. I do think we need another pitcher before the deadline, but I am dead set against trading J. Mac or Dewitt and I think those are two of our most valuable people to make a trade. We'll see.

Giants fans need to make sure they don't fall of their bandwagon too fast after last nights game. I'll give it up to Sanchez (as a baseball fan) for his no hitter but let's not get ahead of ourselves here. It was ONE game and um, oh yeah, it was against the Padres.....are they even still playing?? The Giants DO Have an incredible pitching staff but they're not unbeatable. They have ONE guy as the title holder of the Cy Young award (Lincecum) but Cain isnt gonna get it this year and the two other guys on the team that are previous Cy Young award winners (Zito/Johnson) are in the second half of their careers. Now don't get me wrong, I think it be awesome to see a match up in NLCS between the Giants and the Dodgers but its JULY people. and you're still 7 games back. and Jim Tracy is doing something he apparently never chose to do with the Dodgers with those Rockies, so I wouldn't get too confident just yet. Remember, pitching does win championships but bad defense loses games. :)

Weaver takes the mound tonight and I'm confident our boys in blue will dominate again tonight. In the last 4 games we've scored what like 40 runs and the pitching hasn't been that great. It gets more difficult to score when there's nothing to hit but we're even putting up the double digits.

Interesting that now the ESPN dudes are talking about the NL West and how maybe it isn't a "soft division". ha, yeah. Thanks guys...read my earlier blog...I knew that long ago!! Too bad they're still not gonna give us any air time. That's ok...pretty soon we'll give them no choice.

The Sultan of Swat....How much do you LOVE baseball?

Please notice that The Great Bambino is sitting in a DODGERS uniform in this legitimate photo. No you don't need a new set of spectacles or to refresh your browser. This famous Yank sported a Dodgers jersey (the year after the green jerseys) for half a year. Who knows why the King of Clout is wearing Dodger blue? No fair looking it up! and Bonus points for knowing why the Dodgers were Dodger green for a season!!

Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave

Am I in some sort of weird parallel universe? or did Jonathan Broxton actually give up 5 runs to catapult us into extra innings today? Did Jeff Weaver actually come out and SAVE the day? and did Billingsley REALLY not get his 10th win after almost pitching a complete game? I'm not a half empty type of girl, so I don't really care HOW my boys won today, they won. BUT I would have (and I'm sure they would have too) preferred a simple game, a simple flight, and a ready to sweep the Mets attitude. Something I know: we don't need to keep stress levels high with all these close games.





Joe Torre, a question for you (and you know I love you). You leave Bills in almost the ENTIRE game...going into the 9th inning I think he only had about 90 pitches. You decided to bring in Big John....for this I'm still wondering because it, at this point, was not a save position. You bring in Broxton at the first sign that Billingsley is showing signs of getting tired, but then you let Broxton get behind in the count and load up the bases (more than once) before you pull him out. You didn't even pull him out, over running third base, Kemp's arm, and Blake's tag got Broxton out of the innning. What was the reasoning behind this? I know Troncoso had been used a lot recently so he couldn't come in but when Big John goes 3-0 he clearly doesn't have his stuff. Next time let's pull him out and get ir done in 9, ok?



Weaver, wow aren't we relieved (haha) to have him in our bull pen this year. Well, at least the Weaver that has been making appearances lately. He is a long reliever and we can really thank him for helping the shakey bull pen tonight. After 3 other relievers and the game changing Veneable pop up, Loney and Weaver should be given the bulk of the credit for the win.



Today was true Dodger baseball and showcased what an incredible team we really do have on our hands. Most teams when they blow their huge lead in the 9th inning also blow their momentum and their mind loses focus on the game. Not our boys. Oh no. They are never finished until they game is truly over. A win is a win no matter how you slice it. Petco park is supposedly a "pitcher's park" where homeruns are hard to come by. Our boys in blue knocked it out of the park 4 times tonight alone.





It will be interesting to see Mannymania when he heads to New Yawk. The fans there are going to be nothing like what the Dodgers saw at Petco Park. To his credit, I think Manny did a great job diffusing the media on his first appearance when he held press conferences and talked about his stamina and his joy with being able to play again. Clearly we're not going to get any answers from him. Now, I'm not saying that I agree with anything he did, but I am proud of how he unlike many other (ahem, Barry Bonds) didn't deny it. He took his punishment, served it, and now he's back. Besides, roids don't enhance half of the things that make Manny a great player. Back off you haters. I really am crossing my fingers that Manny won't be headed to the D.L. anytime soon for his hammy's. Although, to be honest, it is really nice to see Blake Dewitt back on the roster. I like that kid. a lot. I think the threat of Manny is good enough now and, really, we just want to make sure he's in top shape for October baseball. This hasn't been the smoothest year in regards to practice and playing for him.



Thank goodness for a day off. We've got some tough ball clubs to beat in front of us. The Mets haven't been doing as well lately, but that doesn't mean they're going to be easy to beat. And let's be honest, if the bull pen that showed up tonight shows up with the Mets.....well.....I'll let you finish the thought.



As long as this parallel universe in which Billingsley gets a no-decision (his 4th of his last 4 outings) after pitching a 9 inning 2 hitter, Broxton blows a lead, Weaver saves the day, and Matt Kemp isn't an all star yet continues with the Dodgers WINNING...I'm ok with it.



Oh and, for those of you keeping tabs.......Billingsley and Martin are now TIED for homeruns....with both having ONE!! :) Parallel Universe I'm telling you...Parallel.

Dun nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh M-A-N-N-Y-W-O-O-D

Today is the day. Today is the day we have all been waiting for. Well, today is the day that people who only know what baseball is because of Manny Ramirez have been waiting for. I was mad at Manny, I didnt think they would do as well without Manny. I admit that in the beginning I wasn't sure what was going to happen without this slugger's bat. But as hindsight is 20/20 we can look back and say what a great thing it was that Manny was gone. But now, oh now, he's back. Tonight will be a time for baseball. People who don't follow the sport, will be following tonight. Well, at least for his first at bat. :)


People said we couldnt win without Manny and his bat. Well, on a dark day in May of this year, Manny gave the ball club no other choice but to figure out HOW to win without him. With a 50 game suspension, there would be no way for the Dodgers to wait for Manny's return to kick their butt's into high gear. Last year when we acquired Manny, the dodgers NEEDED his bat. There is no mistaking that they probably would not have made it to the playoffs without Manny last year and that he really was a one man show. However, the dodgers have proved that this is no longer the case and that Manny is now just icing on an already delicious and powerful cake.

Last year Manny was the wild card that took us to the playoffs. This year, Manny is the hidden ace in our already revealed 5 card flush. Coming back in to the game at this point, Manny is a bonus. Our boys in blue already know they can do it without him, but are obviously anxiously awaiting his return. The Dodgers have not given up their top spot in the National League or in Baseball since Manny has gone. We haven't turned up as many runs without Manny, and he going to be an obivous breath of fresh air to our offense.


There has been a lot of talk about Ethier, Kemp, Pierre, and the rest of the ball club and the way they have come together as a team. We need to remember the most important part of the defense, the pitching. We have some of the best pitching in baseball and that's why we've been able to secure our spot on top of the division. Even with Wolf's no decisions and Billingsley having shaking moments, we can't dismiss the consistency of their stuff. No one individually is having the year of their career numbers wise, but they are doing it...together. A good bulk of the team are still newbies to the sport, and have yet to create themselves a name based on longevity. At this point, they're still creating themselves a name on potential. Manny brings the name, but looking back at this years from now, we're going to understand just why this particular ball club did so well.


Once again, I think L.A. fans have been waiting quite a while for a ball club like this. Not since the combination of Garvey, Cey, Lopes, and Russell have we seen chemistry this magical. The dodgers are just going to get better. It's almost as if we just participated in a fantasy trade where we didn't really (sorry Pierre) have to get rid of anyone, and we didnt have to shell out any money and we got someone that hey, wants to play again.


It will be interesting to see what happens tonight when Manny goes back out to command his left field spot. I'm also eager to see what Torre will do with the lineup as last year he really spread out the offense around Manny. Now, his boys know they don't really need to do that. Manny's presence is a force to be reckoned with both for the opponents and for his own team. Manny has been in the tough spots before, he walks up to the plate everytime like it's his first time. No matter if it's the bottom of the 9th or the top of the 1st. And even if Manny slumps at the beginning, each pitcher and ball club know that at ANY moment, he's going to kick it in again and they'll be in trouble.


Manny's return could not have come at a better time for baseball. Let's get the hoopla out of the way and see what Manny is going to do when he comes back. He'll be back for a tiny bit and then we'll hit the all star break. Once we come back from the all-star break the excitement of his return will hopefully have died down and we can focus on what's really important: the game and getting us to October baseball.

plus, I'm excited to sit in Mannywood for the first time :) Welcome back!

The Most Dangerous Condiment......Ever.

Mustard. People like to pour it all over their Dodger dogs. You can find it on those bratwurst things they sell. But it is dangerous, and it should be outlawed at Chavez Ravine. Ok, so I have to admit. I am not a mustard fan. My dodger dog is lined with ketchup and onions...ONLY. And although I've had my fair share of ketchup disaster run ins (can they PLEASE put some flow control on those dispensers???) I think most people would join me in my plight to name mustard the most dangerous condiment ever.

Picture this: You enter Dodger Stadium filled with anticpation and excitment. You flash the usher your ticket as you waltz past the gate. You locate your seats when suddenly your nose (and then, of course,) your stomach remind you that it is time to eat. You browse your food choices...depending on the level in which you sit...this could take a short time or a long time :) After realizing that there really is no choice better than the Dodger Dog, you jump in line. Hopefully you've jumped in line where the dogs are NOT grilled, and when you order you order the all beef super dodger dog. But, hey, I'm not hear to judge...you're still at the game. After spending WAY TOO MUCH money on your hearty feast, you proceed to the condiment station. Hmmmm..choices. Relish. Mustard. Ketchup. Onions. Being the Roman that you are, you decide to pile your Dodger Dog with every condiment option. Voila! Masterpiece. Since you're an old pro you roll up the dog back in the wrapper as if it's never been opened. Napkins? Check. Better make it a double stock of napkins.

The warm Dodger Dog awaits its moment to shine. In mere seconds you will embark upon the delicious taste that no other hot dog can give you. Hopefully you reach your seats AFTER the National Anthem. There is nothing worse than having to hold your Dodger Dog at bay while you wait for the song to finish and you don't want to be THAT person (you know the one that tries to sneak in bites during the song). You settle into your seat and begin to unwrap your Dodger Dog like a little kid on Christmas. Mouthwatering, you sink your teeth into it and cherish every bite. It's overflowing with condiments, but you are careful not to spill any on you, or the fancy dodger gear you're sporting. (extremely careful if the dodger gear you're sporting is authentic). As you wipe your face with your 18th napkin and congratulate yourself on a job well done....no spilling it seems like...success!! You proceed to just make sure and give yourself the once over. The friend you've brought with you nicely comments to the side crevice of your mouth and gently lets you know "hey, you've got mustard there." No problem, you just pull out your 19th napkin and wipe away the evidence. (good thing you got that double stack)

The game begins and as you reach for your drink a yellow flicker catches your eye. The ninja mustard has done it again. This time, in your fingernails. How the heck did that happen? You use the palms of your hands to hold the dog as well as keeping the part not being eaten INSIDE the wrapper. There's no sign of relish, ketchup, OR onions on your hand..just the dang mustard. It appears on not one, but two of your mischievous fingers. You slyly grab your 20th napkin and secretly try to rub it off. Before you rub all your skin off, you realize a dry napkin is just not going to work. You figure out a way to hide these yellow fingers until you can make a bee line for the bathroom.

Ok, it was inside the side crevices of your mouth. Embedded in your fingernails. These are things we can work with. However, as you look down you notice a tiny splotch of mustard on your jersey. Not only is it mooshed in to the jersey, it is in a location you are fairly certain your hot dog never went. Not at any moment do you recall setting your hot dog down on your hip, or your shoulder, or in the middle of your stomach.

If any of these has happened to you, you can understand and appreciate how mustard is the most dangerous condiment ever. It is the ninja of all condiments. We should send mustard in to invade our enemies...they won't even know what hit them. Maybe it's a little hasty to say that mustard should be outlawed at Dodger Stadium. But maybe, they should provide dry cleaning services.

Will the Real Clayton and Andre Please Stand Up?

WOW. WHAT A GAME LAST NIGHT!! Last night was one of those days that you are proud to be a baseball fan. Last night was one of those games that you wish a "nonbeliever" was with you. You know, the ones that say baseball is boring and they just can't understand why the heck anyone would want to watch a game? Last night is exactly why. I enjoy baseball (specifically the Dodgers) in any form I can get it. Now, I'd love to travel with the team and go to all the games, but that's just not possible so I watch it on television. Sometimes, I'm not home to watch the game on t.v. so I'll read about it, tivo it, or find the highlights. But, last night, was one of those times you remember that you can't actually beat being AT the stadium. The infectious crowd, the jumping up from my seat, the dodger dog, the cotton candy. I'm still living off my high of last nights game, and hoping going to tonights will provide just as much fun.

I regret my last postings of Ethier and how he just doesnt seem to be the guy he once was at the moment. Maybe he read my blog. Maybe he wanted to show me that he didn't need Manny back to get him swinging again. I apologize Andre and you sure showed me. 3 homeruns...in ONE game. His assault started in the 2nd inning and he produced everytime he came up to the plate. Jason Vargas gave Ethier an offering that he couldnt refuse. Each time, there was no doubt to me or the fans that it was outta there. That's how deep his home runs were. Whew. Wow. This puts another chip on the shoulder of good ole Joe when Manny returns next week. Dodger fans have been waiting a long time for a ball club like this. Even though Im not always his biggest fan, I'm going to give some credit here to Ned Colletti. Let's not forget "we" traded Milton Bradley to the A's for Ethier a couple seasons back. That was a GREAT trade move and at that point Ethier wasn't nothing more than a top prospect. We all know how that can go sometimes. And the other all star of the night....

Clayton Kershaw!! Man, Clayton, where have you been all my life? You keep throwing like that, kid, and you're going to solidify the #3 spot on the rotation come the playoffs. I think that his durability is even better than Wolf's for the moment. I'm going to say that I think Sunday's outing when Kershaw had to get himself out of the jam really made him grow up and realize the confidence and potential that he had. He now knows that he'll be able to buck up and get himself out of it. He is stronger now and it shows. We all know Clayton likes to throw a good fastball to get through the lineup but this new Clayton wasn't afraid to change up his pitches last night...and he did it early. He retired the side in the 3rd perfect inning of the game last night. Kershaw's ability was never up for dispute, it was his ability to be consistent and locate the pitches in a different way that he struggled with. It's great to see that he is beginning to do that. Clayton has a long career ahead of him and we have him for, what, the next 4 seasons under contract? This is a razzamataz group of players with great chemistry and great heart, I'm just proud to be a fan and watch them take on baseball. I'm going to miss the interleague play....I kind of like it :) well, let's see what Milton does for us tonight comin off the D.L. Cross your fingers but, unlike Grady Little, we know that Torre will do the managing....and I'll also be general managing from my seat at Dodger Stadium ;)

I don't like to wear Sox anyway.

Alright. We have to brush off this series. This is the first series since May that the Dodgers have let slip away. It's ok though, I'm not a fan of sox anyway :) My boys of summer played their heart out yesterday, and I think it was not getting the hits we needed in the clutch that really allowed the CWS to come back and get that one run they needed. Billingsley (still trying to be the first 10-win pitcher in N.L.) missed his attempt at a win for the second time in a row. Bills. what's up Buddy? You sure have a sturdy pair of legs....why are we losing it at the end? To be fair, the game was lost in the bull pen. Bills pitched a really great first 4 innings and the offense gave him a great lead in the beginning. Blake's controversial line drive could have been one of those game changing plays (and it might have been) but ultimately we just couldn't get what we needed when we needed it. Not for lack of trying. Or the fact that Torre rested about half the starting line-up. Weaver did alright tonight as a reliever, and I have to say I'm glad this "giving up runs" Jeff showed up tonight and not days ago when he faced his brother. That outing was much more important to me. Well, that's how I make myself feel better over this loss.

Let's talk for a second about Casey Blake. He is just an awesome player that I think really flies under the radar. He plays his heart out, every game, is just seems to be a calming force for all the young and hungry talent we have in our line-up. He always seems so calm, cool, and collected (ok, minus that ball in threw way over Loney's head when we played the Angels) and that he shows up everyday to play his hardest. He seems humble. His barehanded pickoff of the bunt was an incredible play to watch and just solidified his status as an all star player. I keep replaying it in my head as I write about it. How he had to be on the move up when it was hit, grab it, and make a perfect throw to Loretta at 1st base. Way to go Blake. You might be my new favorite player.
Now let's talk about the All-star Matt Kemp. Now, ok, I appreciate watching him play and he really put his all in to it yesterday, but let's give this guy a day off Joe. He played his heart out and gave an all out effort to catch a single by Podsednik scoring the winning run, but came up to allowing it a short hop. He did go 0 for 6 offensively with 4 strikeouts. Clearly, the man needs to rest. He can come sit next to me tonight.
We need to shake this off and let this homestand against the Mariners and the Rockies, turn us around again. We'll play the Mariners while the Giants (who are on our heels....a hungry line-up also) are away playing the Brew Crew and the Rockies are away playing the A's. We'll then meet up with the Rockies, while the Giants head to play the Cardinals in good old St. Louis. After a day off.......we all know what happens.......we head to San Diego (and if everything goes as hoped) the ManRam will be back in the lineup on July 3rd. I'm hoping the hype of him coming back isn't giving the Dodgers a cause to feel a sense of relief. I don't think it is, and I'll be there tonight hootin and hollerin. Let's Go Dodgers, Let's Go!

Joe....an Ear please?

Joe. Joe. Joe. Clearly you did not read my post about my suggestions for Pierre upon SIr Manny's return. Torre is making it very clear that when Manny returns he will be coming back as the starting left fielder. Ok. I get this. and you know this is what a good manager does. Pierre knew going in to this that Manny was the starter and I respect that fact that Joe is adhering to that BUT I think that given the clear stats on how everyone is playing, Pierre should be one of the starters too. Upon further thinking, I have come down to this: Joe.......are you ready?

Clearly, You can't bench ManRam. This is not what the fans want. This is not what he wants. This is not what we need. The only way to get him back in tip top shape for when we really need him (October baseball, people) is to just let him flipping play. But here are the other facts.

Pierre is hot. I mean, he's on fire and he is showing zero signs of slowing down at this point. Matt Kemp is hot. and he's also doing really well for the team. Ethier? Well, I really like Ethier. REALLLLLLLLLY like the guy, and he is a good guy to have up in a crunch but ever since Manny left he really hasn't been producing to the level that he "should be" I mean, neither is Russell Martin, really.....but the point of contention isn't the fact we have 47 catchers, it's that our outfield roster is filled with all star players. Let's look at his stats.....even though Ethier went 2-for-5 on Sunday's game he was hitting a mere .177 in the 9 or so games before that. Going in to tonight's game (a win!) his average had fallen to .268 from the .317 is was before Manny was suspended. His OPS is .887 or so which isn't bad but that has also fallen from the .927 it was previously. Now, again I don't want Ethier out of the game, I just feel so bad for Pierre I'm trying to figure a way where we can all be happy.

Kemp's original position was right field and Pierre already converted from a Center Fielder to a left fielder. Let's put Pierre back in the spot of center fielder and have Kemp and Ethier rotate around with right field. At least until we can see how the dynamic is gonna change once the ManRam gets back on the field. Maybe all will reveal itself then and maybe Ethier was putting too much pressure on himself to carry the team that he psyched himself out of being the player he is clearly capable of being. Manny being back could have a great effect. I just dont know. I guess that's why I have the blog and Joe gets to stand in the dugout. With his awesome watch.

It's Manny's World..We just live in it

Just call him the atom smasher. Ok. Well. maybe the atom crasher after his performance today with the Isotopes (my favorite name, ever...does that make me a geek?) but it does seem as though Manny is running the show. I mean, with good reason I suppose. He is getting paid about a bazillion dollars (what I make in a year EVERY time he comes up to the plate) and the man can swing a bat. I like to think of Manny like a stubborn teenager where the more you push him and give him grief, the less he wants to do for you. No, Manny likes to be in control. And so some semblance of control is what we give him.

    Manny played 4 innings today with the Triple A-squad. He was the leadoff batter. Leadoff batter. Ha. I bet he's never seen that spot in the lineup. My best bet is that he wanted the extra at-bat that the leadoff hitter gets. For this, I think it is a good idea. Clearly Manny was a little rusty today, not being able to make contact with the ball coming at him at 94mph. I can't blame the guy. I'm still impressed anyone can ever hit anything that small coming at them that fast. I just hope Manny doesnt get embarrassed or think he's good enough to just walk up on July 3rd and not play too many more games. I think itd be best for him to get some more action in the Inland Empire (ok, a little bit because I want to go to Monday's game) so that he cant get back into the mindset of the game.

  I know, I know he's been working out blah blah blah but you can work out everyday and pretend your fine, do some practice on your own but there is a HUGE difference to that and actually being in the game. Looking at pitches, swinging the bat swiftly, the whole package of the sport I love. Even if Manny just came in to be a designated hitter, he would be getting experience at the plate that he hasn't had in 50 games. 50 GAMES!! That's a lifetime to a ball club, and especially to a player that is getting old for the game. Let's not forget Manny's old hamstrings. They were giving him trouble BEFORE he left, hopefully the break gave them a chance to get better too. That is NOT what we need. Manny to come back from suspension and go on the D.L. Although we know Pierre is thinking it....maybe. a little bit :) Does it REALLY matter what kind of numbers Manny puts up while he's back down on the farm? No, not really. But it DOES matter that he takes the time to really feel comfortable because when he graces us with his presence again....THOSE numbers...they matter.

  

   

Bones

I have a bone to pick with Joe Morgan and all the other Dodger haters with something that was said about how the Dodgers are just showing greatly because they're playing against a weak NL West. Let's clear this up Mr. Bigshot sports reporter and all you doubty moostaffahs.

Right now the West is 27-24 against the AL. The East against the AL is 25-32 and the Central is 27-32. Okay so we can't really do this tit for tat because not all AL teams are equal so we can be a little tricky and look at it this way:

The NL West is 35-29 against the East and 35-33 against the Central. Do I still hear somepeople that aren't convinced? Ok, so we know the Dodgers lead the 1st place teams (thats right people...BEST IN BASEBALL) at 22 over .500. Torre wants to see 25 over .500 and we'll get there. We want to be double digits above the rest! 2nd place SF is 6 over .500, 2nd place Milwaukee is 5 over and the 2nd place Mets are 1 over.

Do I still need to say more?? Ok then, Lets go to the 3rd place teams: The Rockies and Cubs are 3 over .500 and 3rd place Florida is one under .500.

So looking at all this information what really makes the NL west "inferior" to the other divisions? Sure, we're not putting up as many homeruns, but maybe we're just doing a throw back to the good old days when there was only ONE pitcher and you could win on single after single. Besides, isn't the point of the journey THAT you get there...not HOW you get there? Yeah, that's what I thought. I'll see you in October.

Watch out for this kid!

I like this kid. I like him a lot. and boy oh boy did he grow up a whole lot tonight. He really turned himself around from that nightmare outing he had (June 10th) that we are all now set to forget. He tossed 7 scoreless innings tonight. 7 SCORELESS INNINGS!!! Although he only turned out 5 strikeouts and he had 4 walks, he got the win. With you know what? Yep, 7 scoreless innings. Tonight was a night that fans could forget the young age that Kershaw is (21) and begin to see the making of the pitcher that he really could be. The game changing move for Kershaw, I think, came in the 5th inning. Somehow ;) we're sittin there with the bases loaded, no outs, and a pair of walks. Clayton had really gotten himself in a jam and just showed how unsettled he was with a crazy throw to centerfield. Although a part of me was really hoping that Torre would pull him out so we wouldn't blow it so soon, I understand (and agree) with his position. Really, the only time a player or person can grow is when they look at a tough situation and either figure out how to pull themselves out of it or they fall flat on their face and learn what not to do the next time.

It seemed daunting when Ausmus went out to the plate to talk to Kershaw. I would like to start a petition that the catchers/pitchers/whoever wear microphones so we can hear what the heck they're saying to eachother out there. Sometimes I think they just go out for a little fun. Who knows that they even talk baseball out there? It could be something like hey, you wanna grab dinner later? or who was that cute girl you were with last night? I just want to be a part of the ENTIRE game, you know? I guess that's the girl in me, always wanting the details! But anywho, nice work Kershaw on that double play. Flipped to Ausmus and then Ausmus got it right back to Loney. Some quick thinking on his part.

Clayton should feel very proud of his work tonight, that's 2 in a row and he (so far) has really solidified his spot in the starter rotation.

Nailbiter moment of the game was when Broxton almost let the Angels blow it wide open and score some runs. Good thing we had that umpire-viewed Loney homerun to give us a bigger barrier with runs. I'm not sure Broxton's toe inflammation or whatever it is could be giving him this much trouble. But, please let's take a night off and recoup fellas. We need our saver who is still, what, 17-0 to be in top notch come fall baseball.

Way to go guys, we're now 22 games over .500 and without Manny's bat. Hopefully the chemistry of the ball club won't change too much when he returns. Afterall, it's not like he's Jeff Kent.

Sittin on a bench, chewin my bubblegum

How in the world are they gonna bench this guy??

Like previously stated, Pierre has put on quite a show since being able to play everyday. When Manny comes back in a couple weeks, clearly they are going to play him but what, oh what, to do with Pierre? This guy is on fire and is batting 3rd in all of the National League with a batting average of .377. Come on now!! The big decision falls on Joe, and I wouldn't want to be in his shoes. Ok, I would because if I were in Joe's shoes I'd be standing in the dugout each game. But I still would not want to make this decision. Regardless of the fact that I will judge his decision when he makes it ;). To be fair to Pierre, I think the best bet for him is to be traded. However, I am VERY against this. How can you trade a guy this hot? The speed, the work ethic, the bat. Joe...are you listening? Here's what I suggest.

Well, Ive got two suggestions: 1) Let Manny sink his teeth back in the game as a pinch hitter. Sure his arm is way better than Pierre's but he lacks the speed and the gumption to really chase after that ball. Besides, we want to make sure we're getting the Manny we paid for back. Not the one who left Boston. Of course with this you run the risk of pissing Mr. Ramirez off. Afterall, he is the one who wanted to come to Los Angeles to just play baseball. So, I suggest, let him play.

B) the outfield roster is deep. Since all players need to rest and Torre does a great job of giving them their off time, you could rotate Kemp or Ethier out and Pierre in. I'm sure he would give up playing left field to play at all. Both these kids are well rounded both offensively and defensively but Pierre's bat is still hot so you wouldn't be losing momentum here.

Clearly this is not an easy choice. Some naysayers might suggest that Ramirez sit on the bench and let Pierre do his thang since he deserves to play. Although I don't agree with what Manny did, he did his penance for it and should be welcomed back with open arms. Let's not forget all the other major leaguers out there doing things they shouldnt be doing and just having a finger wagged at them with nothing more severe. If you have an issue with the penance, you can take it up with the commissioner. For now, let's just play ball!

Manny being Manny

Guess who's headed back to the farm?

Manny will be starting a stint in minor league ball to be ready for his foray back into the big leagues on July 3rd. I wasn't sure if he was going to take the 10 game "get back in the saddle" preparation package but I'm glad he is. Hopefully the scheduling conflict with the California All-Star Break will still give him time to play a few games in the Inland Empire. I, for one, think its a great idea for him to get back in the swing of things. Excuse the pun. Does he need to put up the numbers? No. Would it be good for him to see a little bit of Triple A action and get acclimated? yes.

I have mixed emotions about Manny coming back. I think it was "good" for him to be gone and for this team to realize that they dont need his bat to win games. Pierre sure put on a good show. He is one of the top rated hitters in the national league. We'll forget about his lack of throwing power and remember his bat and his base running. I still surmise that they should let him run the ball in. Sometimes, I think it'd get there faster. He sure is a work horse and I think he did his part in putting himself in the spotlight for other teams to pick him up. Although he'd never play like it, I think he clearly wants to be traded to a team where he can play every day. No duh.

I think Manny is gonna hit some speed bumps once he starts playing again. It's not going to be about baseball for awhile. Not since he'll be returning to the game while the Dodgers are playing in San Diego and then turning around and heading to New York. Manny will be close to fans who are still reliving his Boston days. No, not until Manny gets back to the truest fans in baseball will it be about the game. I just hope he comes back swinging.

O brother, where art thou?

Not since 2002 has the Major Leagues seen a matchup between brothers. I'll be honest and say when the game started, I was apprehensive as to which Weaver was going to show up for the Dodgers. Clearly, Jeff. But which Jeff? The settled down low and away pitcher or the high ball pitcher giving up too many runs too early. Let's be clear, Jeff Weaver really blew his starter status years ago but found his groove somewhere in the middle as a swingman. This year has really been a rebirth or resurrection for Jeff and today was no exception. The elder brother who is now 4-1 only allows 2 runs and 6 hits in his almost 6 innings. Not too shabby and it got the job done.
Although we should credit Weaver's pitching prowess this evening, it was Torre's managing, Martin coming (hopefully) out of his slump, and some great offensive (Ethier, Blake) and defensive (hello, Kemp!) plays that turned this into a win.
On a side note, I am highly impressed with Torre's managing of my men in blue. I know I know, his 28 years of experience should really have prepared me for this awesomeness but I am still shell shocked from Grady Little and last year falling short of my hopes and dreams that I am cautious. Last year, Torre was clearly just getting to know his ball club and this year he is really taking them to a new level. It was shown even tonight when Weaver in the top of the 6th, allowed an immediate triple, Torre pulled him and put in Belisario. This is what I like to call a game changing move. It was the right one. Way to go Joe. You deserve your Bigelow Tea tonight.
Way to go Weaver brothers. You both pitched a game to be proud of. Scioscia and the Angels are a tough ball club to beat, but in true Dodger fashion, we pulled it together late in the game. Still the best team in the division, in the league, and in baseball. Oh yeah. I'm saving for October!