ray's dodger blues

NOT IN OUR HOUSE...

2007-08-01T21:03:00.001-07:00

Barry Bonds came into town looking to make history. So far he's 0 for 2. I was there sitting in the loge level, looking on as the Dodgers beat the San Francisco Miniatures. The sad thing was that to some people the fact that we won was an afterthought. But I guess that's what we get with so many trendy Dodger fans. Barry stepped up the plate tonight and went 0 for 3, with a walk. I almost thougth that Barry had hit number 755 in his first at bat. I literally threw my Dodger Dog as I saw the ball leave his bat. But, to the joy of most of the people at the game, it was not to be. Surprisingly Mark Hendrickson pitched decently, although he did not get the win. He went 6 plus innings, giving up only 3 runs. But, despite his good pitching performance, going into the bottom of the 8th the Dodgers trailed 4-2. Seeing how the Dodgers offense underperformed last night, things did not look good. But, the Dodgers managed to tie the game at 4 with a clutch hit by Luis Gonzalez. Nomar then comes up and hits a big shot into the left field pavilion. How bout' that? I can only hope that Nomar has found his power stroke, and carries the offense for a bit. Maybe he found his Poncho. I just hope he keeps it going.

The trade deadline came, and went. Wilson Betemit was traded to the New York Yankees for the rubber arm Scott Proctor. On paper the move makes sense. It gives the Dodgers another arm in the pen, but why would the pitching starved Yankees give up one of their best arms in the pen? It all points to injury. Hopefully I'm wrong, and Proctor goes out and fortifies the pen. Also, Wilson Betemit is gone!!!

D'BACKS 60 49 -

DODGERS 58 49 1.O

PADRES 56 50 2.5

ROCKIES 54 52 4.5

GIANTS 46 59 12.O

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

CHANGES?...

2007-07-30T20:14:00.001-07:00

It's loud, and clear. The Dodgers need pitching help. The Irony is that coming into the season, that was the strength of the ballclub. But, with injuries to Jason Schmidt, Hong-Chih Kuo, Yhency Brazoban, Randy Wolf, and Chin-Hui Tsao, the Dodgers have been forced to trot out guys like Eric Hull, D.J. Houlton, Eric Stultz, and Ramon Hernandez. You don't win Championships when your relying on these type of players. Not to mention the fact that Bret Tomko, and Mark Hendrickson are back in the starting rotation, and Brad Penny, and Derek Lowe have had an injury scare recently. It's obvious that they need help, but it's not obvious on where they are going to get it. Right now, we hear that the Dodgers are in the running for Octavio Dotel, Scott Proctor, and I even heard that they are looking at bringing in Troy Percival. All of these names don't do anything for me. I guess they might help solidify the bullpen, but they still need help. They need a starting pitcher. The guys out there are either going to cost the farm, or are just awful. I read a rumor that Ned Colletti is talking to the Oakland A's about bringing Joe Blanton to Los Angeles. I like the idea, but Billy Beane is asking for Andy LaRoche, Tony Abreu, Chin-Lung Hu, and John Meloan. This is outrageous. If this move winds up being made, I'm turning in my Dodger fan badge. We will have to wait and see what happens. I'm just hoping Wilson Betemit gets traded.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

SO FAR, SO GOOD...

2007-07-11T01:17:00.000-07:00

We have reached the half way mark in the 2007 season. At this point, I'm semi pleased with the play of the team. The Dodgers sit at second place behind the San Diego Padres by one game. There have been many positives to talk about this Dodger team. One huge positive has been Brad Penny. Penny has gone 10-1, and has kept his ERA in the low 2's all season long. Although I'm still not sold on Penny, he is showing that this is a different Brad Penny. One who is relying more on his defense, rather than trying to strike every batter out. Hopefully the old Penny does not show up. If he continues, I see no reason why he can't win the Cy Young Award.

You can't talk Dodger positives without mentioning Russell Martin. The "speed limit" has simply been amazing. He has been the driving force behind the Dodgers offense. I am concerned with the amount of games played that Grady Little has ran him out there. I really don't want Russell to wear out like Captain Red Ass himself (Paul Lo Duca) used to every second half.

As for disappointments, how about Jason Schmidt. The supposed Ace on the staff only made it out to the mound five times. Nice investment. I wont dwell on Schmidt too much, I don't want to go into a heavy depression. Other disappointments include Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent, and the black hole at third base. If Nomar, and Kent could only step up their game, this team will take off. But, at this point that's a big if.

Lets pick it up in the second half. We open up at San Francisco on Friday. Hopefully the boys are ready to play.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

BOYS OF SUMMER...

2007-06-23T23:58:00.000-07:00

I have not posted in a while, about two weeks. This being due to the fact that Verizon Internet sucks! Get it together man!.... As for Dodger news, On Saturday the Dodgers, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays Celebrated the "Boys of Summer". Duke Snider, Carl Erskine, and Don Zimmer where among the players honored. To celebrate the Brooklyn Boys, the Devil Rays, and Dodgers wore throw-back unis. Frankly, I have never seen a worst sight than Olmedo Saenz in his throwback uni. Something was just off. But that's beside the point. The reason I bring up the Boys of Summer is because HBO made a Documentary about them. The movies is entitled Brooklyn Dodgers: The Ghost of Flatblush. I am counting down the days until I am able to watch it. Anyway, that's about it for today. I am using a borrowed Laptop to post this, and I can already see the borrower giving me the look for using it to long...

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

JUST WHAT THE DR. ORDERED...

2007-06-05T01:11:00.000-07:00

The Dodgers entered tonight's game needing a big time performance, and that's exactly what they got from Jason Schmidt. Jason showed us why he's worth the Forty-Seven million dollars he got in the off season to be the staff ace. Although his velocity was still something left to be desired. Schmidt went six strong innings, and held the San Diego Padres at bay for the entire night. Despite the strong outing, I'm still not sold on him. His shoulder history is scary to say the least, and of course he's 34 years old. Hopefully Schmidt will keep it going for the rest of the season.

As for another problem I have, why is Chad Billingsley not in the rotation? Get him in there Grady!
I'll leave it off early today. As for future posts, I think there will be a drought on them. Sorry fellas...

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

SOMETHING MISSING?...

2007-05-30T00:09:00.000-07:00

At this point, it's just sad. That's how I feel when I see Nomar Garciparra come up to bat. He looks lost, confused, and beaten at the plate. Nomar came into the game tonight with ONE home run! this was supposed to be our three hitter. I have been thinking about this all season long, and trying to come up with a conclusion on Nomar's power drought. My best answer: he's done. It pains me to say it, but it's true. He seems to have lost the sweet swing that brought him two hitting titles. Unless Nomar can somehow find or solve whatever might be wrong with him, the Dodgers need to move him. Nomar who is now being played at third base might be better suited to come off the bench as a super utility type player in the Tony Phillips mold. But, he can no longer be an everyday player. I recently saw We Still Believe: The Boston Redsox Movie, this is a documentary done about the 2003 Redsox. Nomar of course, was a main player during that season. To look at him killing the ball, playing with confidence, and scarring the hell out of the pitchers... made me long for that Nomar. It's just sad how low a player can fall..

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

COME WITH SOMETHING BETTER...

2007-05-22T20:43:00.000-07:00

The ninth inning had been something of a spiritual, and emotional tradition at Dodger Stadium for the past four years. This was because Eric Gagne was "entering the jungle". Countless times, Eric strolled out from the bullpen onto the mound while electrifying the crowd. Eric would then go on and thoroughly embarrass the opposition. As for this year, Takashi Saito has been mowing down hitters a-la Gagne. He is about to make his first All-Star game, but still... something is missing. That my friends is a decent entrance song. Saito has been coming into games while "Bad to the bone" plays on the stadium speakers. The song is simply dread full. Get with the times, and pick something better. I get no rush of emotions when I see Takashi stroll in. I do have some suggestions. The first being "Empire" by Kasabian. If you listen to the song, you know what I mean. My second choice is "Hang me up to dry" by Cold War Kids. Simply awesome tune. At this point I'm willing to take a cheesy 80's Hair metal song.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

ABOUT TIME...

2007-05-17T23:31:00.000-07:00

All I can say is about time!. The Cardinals had owned the Dodgers since 2004. They been abused by them in every way. Most of the contests where one sided. That has changed. The Dodgers finally took a series from them. It didn't start off well though. On Monday, the Cardinals beat up on the Dodgers, and every Dodger fan in the world had the feeling of the past 3 years. "we just can't beat these guys". Things changed. The Dodgers came back and took the next two games. My favorite part of the series was seeing Tony LaRussa go down. I can't stand him. This still doesn't take away from the hurt they have caused Dodger fans these last years, but it felt pretty good. I'll keep it short for today as I've got things to do. This weekend, the Dodgers travel to Disney Land to take on the Mickey Mouse gang. I can't wait.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

SEEING RED...

2007-05-13T03:21:00.001-07:00

The Dodgers completed a three game sweep over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday with a 10-5 victory. The sweep leaves the Dodgers with a 23-15 record, and in first place by themselves in the national league west. But, not everything is well in Los Angeles. The starting rotation, who had been the strong point all season long is starting to show some cracks. I'm speaking about Brett Tomko, and Mark Hendrickson of course. It seems that the true Tomko, and Hendrickson are starting to show up show up and Grady Little needs to wake up and make the necessary adjustments. The first move I would make is move Chad Billingsley into the starting rotation, and getting rid of Tomko. Chad has been lights out lately, and deserves to be in the rotation. As for Hendrickson, I might be more inclined to give him more time to prove himself. But, not too much time.

As for the Third base spot, Andy LaRoche should keep getting the most playing time. He is currently batting .333, with 11 walks. Andy has proven to have a great batting eye, and a solid glove. As for Wilson Betemit, he keeps doing the job at pinch hitting. Maybe he's found his calling card. This week we have the St. Louis Cardinals coming into town, and they have owned the Dodgers in recent years. Hopefully, things change.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

GOD BLESS LA ROCHE!...

2007-05-06T14:35:00.000-07:00

On Sunday morning, the Dodgers made the long awaited move. They brought up Andy LaRoche to solve the black hole at third base. At which point, I attended church as God had said yes to the pact I offered. La Roche looked good on Sunday. He ended up going 1-4, but could have easily had 2 hits. His first major league hit was a double to right-center field. Eerily enough, it was the same Stadium, and spot where his brother Adam La Roche hit his major league hit. More to come from Andy.

As for the team, they dropped another series. Their record now stands at 18-13. That is good enough for first place, but the teams seams to be stagnant. Just as they seem to take off, the come back down to earth. Next up for the Blue Crew is the Florida Marlins. They meet in a 4 game series. And, if the Dodgers don't win at least 3, something is seriously wrong.

Also, I can already see people clamoring about the teams lack of power. My response: So what. As long as the team hits, and pitches the way it can, they will be more than good. As for the Betemit watch, he managed to hit 2 pinch hit home runs. This scares me. His two lucky shots might get him more playing time. Let's just hope he stays on the bench.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

I HATE THE MINIATURES...

2007-04-27T15:04:00.001-07:00

Well, the last time I checked in the Dodgers where riding high. On top of the world. Pretty much any cliche that means "doing good". Now, they are in a rut, down and out. Pretty much any cliche that says, "we suck". After dropping the last game to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Dodgers went on to get swept by the San Francisco Miniatures. Of all the teams in the world, why them? Was God only teasing Dodger fans? Is the inevitable collapse coming 5 months early this year?.... NO! any other year I would have bought into it. I would have been leading the fire Grady chants, and running my mouth about trading Jeff Kent, and Derek Lowe for prospects. But, not this year. Despite losing the last four, I didn't really see the team get down on themselves. They played hard, well at least most of them(Wilson Betemit). That's the reason why I think they will rebound this weekend and win the three game set against the Holly man from down south.

As for the Betemit watch, GREAT NEWS! he raised his batting average a whopping 7 points!

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

NOT BAD...

2007-04-23T19:53:00.000-07:00

Short post today. But, nevertheless, the news are good. The Dodgers continue their roll as they have take 6 of their last 8. The did lose yesterday to the Pittsburgh Pirates, but they still took the three game set. So far, It's been good. But, there are some bad points. Mostly the black hole that has become Third Base. Wilson Betemit is god awful. He's batting .125! Grady Little needs to wake up and smell the crap he calls third base. At what point is he going to stop running him out there? At this point, I would go ahead and trade him for what little the team can get him. Maybe they can con someone into a deal for a descent prospect.

The team however, is doing great. They lead the National West. They have a 13-5 record, and look like the team to beat. I can only hope that Betemit doesn't ruin it somehow.

SPEEDY TURNAROUND!...

2007-04-18T01:32:00.001-07:00

Juan Pierre is starting to quiet down his critics. Pierre has raised his average to .22o, and expect it to keep climbing. He's been getting on base, scoring runs, and stealing bases. You know, what we expected him to do. With him doing what he's able to do, and hopefully Rafael Furcal can turn around his misfortunes, this Dodger team is going to be explosive. The entire offense looks healthy, and is producing. Well, almost the entire team. Wilson Betemit is god awful. He is currently hitting a measly .071!. I know it's still early, but at what point are we going to stop this?.. When it's the all-star break and he's able to legally drive faster than he's hitting?. All of you guys know how I feel about Andy LaRoche. There is no doubt I want him in there, but at this point I'll take anyone else. Put in Wilson Valdez, he is actually killing the ball. We need production from he hot corner, and Betemit is providing none.

As I was watching the Dodgers game these past two days, I couldn't help but notice how horrid looking are the Diamond Backs new unis. What where they thinking?. Plus their new sleeve patch is just waiting to be made into a bad joke. Hopefully our boys never commit fashion suicide.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

TAKING FORM...

2007-04-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

Wow, that's all you can say about the Dodgers play so far this season. Currently they sit with the best record in baseball. Their pitching has been stellar, and the hitting has been magnificent. I was in attendance for Friday night, and Sunday nights game against the San Diego Padres. I was going to attend Saturdays game as well, but a last minute date with the girlfriend forced my hand. Good thing I missed that game though, it would have ruined my entire week to see the Padres crush Jason Schmidt. At this point, I'm willing to bet the farm that Schmidt will end up on the disabled list for an extended period of time. As for the games, they where terrific. On Friday night, I sat in the heart attack pavilion, i.e. all you can eat. The experience was mostly pleasant. Except for the overwhelming amount of drunks who find it more entertaining to throw garbage at Padre fans than pay attention to the game. The food lines where, well there where no food lines. The service was extremely fast. Overall, I would recommend getting these seats. On Sunday, I sat in the lower reserve. These seats where solid. The pre-game festivities where moving. The Dodgers had Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Don Newcombe, Rachel Robinson, and the commish Bud Selig. I could have done without the latter. As for the game, Andre Ethier is finally waking up. He hit his first dinger of the season, and looks to have found his old swing. It's great being a Dodger fan. Life is certainly sweet!

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

HOW SWEEP IT IS!...

2007-04-09T14:59:00.001-07:00

Last time I checked in, I was feeling the lowest of the lowes. Today, I'm feeling like Katrina and the Waves... I'm walking on sunshine. What a way to turn it around. Sweeping Miniatures, I mean the Giants. The series started off with a gutty performance by Brad Penny. Despite the fact that he did not have his best stuff, he toughed it out, and willed the Dodgers to victory. Not to mention the great defensive plays by Russell Martin that saved the game. On Saturday, Derek Lowe rebounded from his shaky opening day start, and and shut down the team by the bay. He went seven strong innings, and never allowed the Giants offense to get started. The little know Wilson Valdez, who everyone keeps confusing with Wilson Alvarez (just the thought of confusing those two is ridiculous) had a great all around game. He got some key knocks and made some spectacular plays at short. As for Sunday, the Dodgers went up against my one time favorite player, Barry Zito. The Dodgers offense pounded Zito all day, and this game was basically over after the second. Now we look forward to today, as we open up at home against the Colorado Rockies. Lets keep it going!

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

A LOW-E START...

2007-04-03T08:02:00.001-07:00

The Start to the Los Angeles Dodgers 2007 campaign could not have gone worse as my premonition came true, and Derek Lowe bombed. He was god awful, and I'm sure I wasn't the only one knowing he would be. But, Lowe wasn't the only problem yesterday. In fact, Lowe might be the least of our problems. We all know that Derek Lowe tends to get to bad starts, so his game against the Brewers was not surprising. Come September, Lowe will have his usual top of the rotation numbers. What IS overwhelming is the Dodgers outfield. They might just have more feeble arms than Mark Mallory. If you guys don't know who that is, I suggest you look him up on youtube. The outfield is going to get abused all year long, and unless Grady Little does something about it, it's only going to get worse. At this point, that's the only thing that concerns me about this Dodger team. The Pitching will be there, the Hitting will come around, but I have no trust in the outfield. Lets hope for grounders this season.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

IT'S TIME!... WELL, ALMOST!

2007-03-30T22:46:00.001-07:00

It's getting closer, and closer. Excitement is in the air, at lest I hope it's excitement. On Monday, the Dodgers open up what looks to be a playoff season against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Dodgers will start the season short handed, as star shortstop Rafael Furcal will start the season on the disabled list. Still, the Dodgers will try to fill his void with the likes of Ramon Martinez, and Wilson Valdez. Not too appealing. Nevertheless, Opening day is always electric, and nothing will change that. The thing that I have in the back of my mind is a let down. Derek Lowe needs to change his opening day bad luck. The past two seasons, Lowe has struggled mightily. He needs to set the tone of the season by going at the least seven innings. Once again, too exited to talk. So, I'll cut it short again.

By the way, the little league Padres are rolling. We have won seven in a row, to take over first place. Let's hope the string continues

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

ODD MAN OUT?...

2007-03-26T16:31:00.000-07:00

Well, the Dodgers did it again. The Dodgers announced that James Loney will be sent down to triple-A. Why?... The only thing that James Loney has done the past two seasons is rake. There is no need to bring up his stats, we all know them. We all know this guy is ready for the big leagues. Yet, come this Monday, the Dodgers will be playing without his sweet left-handed swing. What are the Dodgers trying to tell him?.. What more do they want him to do?.. If they guy is ready, then he's ready. During the offseason, I was a big proponent of the Dodgers letting Nomar Garciaparra walk. I even brought up the subject of moving Nomar to third, thus allowing James to man first base. This all is very upsetting. I can only hope that James Loney takes it in stride. In fact, I hope that he goes, down and dominates the Pacific Coast League. I'll end it here, I'm to upset to go on my usual rants.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

EXITEMENT RUNNING THIN...

2007-03-18T14:53:00.000-07:00

As we sit here, waiting for the season to start there is only one thing to say, it's boring. I enjoy the start of spring, when I get an opportunity to watch Dodger prospects display their skills, but most of those guys have been reassigned now. At this point, I'm stuck watching guys like Elmer Dessens, Larry Biegbie, and Mark Hendrickson. Not very stimulating to the mind. I'm starting to lose it, I want the season to start today. I'll just have to keep occupied by watching my UCLA BRUINS go deep into the tournament. I predict that we'll make up for last years debacle against Florida, and win the tournament this year. But, enough about basketball, as for the Dodgers, nothing new to report. At least, nothing worth while... I'm not going to be posting drafts about Bret Tomko's latest painting, or the fact that Mark Hendrickson once played in the NBA. Once again, can't wait until the season starts.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

BILLS OUT...

2007-03-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday afternoon, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that they will relegate top pitching prospect Chad Billinsgley to the bullpen. Why?... Chad showed his promise last season, and he promises to be good, extremely good. He did have control problems early, but what rookie pitcher doesn't?. He worked on his command, and down the stretch Billingsley was their best starting pitcher until a injury slowed him down. Billinsley then came into spring training to win the 5th spot in the rotation, and has done nothing at all to warrant being sent to the bullpen. Such a move can only cause problems to his psyche. It's moves such as these that make me wonder "what the hell are they thinking?". Then, as if moving Bills into the bullpen wasn't bad enough, Grady Little comes out and says that Mark Hendrickson, and Brett Tomko are the front runners for that spot. Again, what the hell are they thinking?. Tomko has showed us what he's capable of, and it's not much. Tomko is a .500 pitcher with a era in the 4's. As for Hendrickson, the only thing that he has going for himself is he's always the first to know when it rains. Yeah, I know. Garbage joke, but then again garbage player.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

ROTATION PROBLEMS?...

2007-03-11T22:58:00.000-07:00

The Dodgers rotation this spring has been the opposite of what it's supposed to be. The rotation is supposed to be the strongest in the league. However it's still only spring. Brad Penny is having the worst spring out of all the pitchers. Brad has been rocked his last three outings. He's been rocked hard. Everyone will be quick to point out the fact that Penny always starts spring in the same manner, lousy. But, it was purported that this was a different Brad Penny. A new slimmed down, splitter throwing Penny. Not the same old 5 innings, hot headed Penny. It's going to be interesting to see how Penny goes from here on. If he continues to struggle, I doubt there will be any takers for him on the trade market. Maybe Ned Colletti made a mistake in not trading him during the off season. Then again, he could turn it around, and have a career year. Penny is an enigma that will never be solved. He has all the talent in the world, but can't do anything with it. It might be time to cash in Penny's chips. As for the rest of the rotation, Lowe has been himself, and that's always a good thing. Jason Schmidt is showing us why he deserved his huge contract, and Randy Wolf is looking better and better every outing. As for the 5th starter, it still has not been decided. Chad Billingsley has been terrific this spring. As has Hong Chih Kuo. The only question with Kuo is his durability. Then there is Brett Tomko, and Mark Hendrickson. Enough said. Hopefully the rotation will be the strong point, and carry the team. The rotation has the talent to do it. All they have to do is follow through.

As for the little league team, we won. On Saturday, we beat the White Sox 15-4. It's great to see hard work pay off.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

BLUE FEELING...

2007-03-08T10:50:00.001-08:00

The eternal black hole at third base, seems to keep lingering. Well, it's only spring training. But, as of now, that's what it is. A black hole. The entire offseason, I kept pumping up Andy LaRoche. I was sure he was going to come into camp eager to prove something to the organization. So far all that he's proved is that he buckles under pressure. Don't get me wrong, Andy is still my favorite prospect, but at some point he has to show something. I know many would call my words a bit dramatic, and might even say I'm jumping the gun, I'm willing to admit it, but Andy's play has been sub par. I just want him to turn it around, and win the third base job. By no means am I turning on our future all star third baseman. As for Andy's competition at third, Wilson Betemit is doing even worse. To date Wilson has one measly hit. His defense has been erratic, and word out of Vero is Dodger brass is not happy with his attitude. At some point someone has to wake up, and win the job but right now neither deserves it. I have already started hearing that Nomar Garciaparra will snag the job. Thus allowing James Loney to play everyday at first. I wouldn't mind this becoming reality, but I doubt Nomar will be able to take the toll of playing everyday at third base. I hope the problem gets resolved soon, and Andy LaRoche comes out the victor.

By the way, the little league team that I am assisting in coaching is off to a rough start. We're 0-2. But, I have a feeling that our fortune will turn on Saturday against the White Sox.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

THIS, N' THAT...

2007-03-05T08:22:00.000-08:00

At this juncture in time, the Los Angeles Dodgers spring training play has been fair. A few surprises, and a few letdowns. Fortunately, no major injuries have occurred, but I am biting my lip so bad fortune doesn't strike. So far, Chin Lung Hu has been terrific. Not to mention his defense superbly fun to watch. Hu is starting to show the bat that many people thought he had left in A ball. It's interesting to predict Hu's future with this Dodger team, as Rafael Furcal figures to be in Los Angeles for some time. Amongst other players turning heads this spring is Larry Bigbie. Bigbie is looking to get back to the majors after a injury filled season in St. Louis. He figures to be a long shot to make the team, but don't be surprised if he is used as trade bait in order to bring in some bullpen help. As for some disappointments, Andy LaRoche, Wilson Betemit, and pretty much anyone they trott out to third has struggled. I had high hopes for Andy, and I really hope he turns it around quickly. Betemit, who I wouldn't mind riding the bench has been putrid with the bat. If he hopes to be a Dodger, he might as well start praying to Jobu himself.

As for myself, I am sad to report that my trip is coming to an end soon. I leave Dodger heaven on Thursday morning. It's sad to think that in a couple more years, this place will no longer a Dodgers fan paradise, but just a sign of the times...

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

PLAY BALL!...

2007-02-28T00:27:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow morning, the Dodgers will play in the first game of the spring... although, its only a intrasquad game. Nevertheless, I will be there watching my boys. There will be a few prominent Dodgers missing from the action. The Dodgers heart of the order will AWOL, as they prepare for the first official game on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves. The game is not expected to go long, but it's going to be a change of routine for myself. So far all I have done is watch workouts, and drills. At this point, I'm not sure if Andy LaRoche will play, but I'm hoping he will. I want to see him in game action. I have kept a close eye on him this spring, and he looks ready to me. I hope he is able to beat out Wilson Betemit for the job. LaRoche is not the only guy that has impressed me so far. Greg Miller is looking filthy. Flat out filthy. Add the fact that they are talking about making him a starter once again brings a smile to my face. I was also awakened to Chin Lung Hu's defensive skills. This guy looks like the next Ozzie Smith. I had always heard great things about his defense, but seeing him before your eyes is amazing. Other guys looking good are James Loney, Scott Elbert, and John Meloan. As you can probably tell, I spend most of the time scouting our prospects. I do have some bad news to report, my Sony digital camera was stolen. Just to think about all the pics that where in there... I guess no place is perfect, not even Vero Beach...

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

SPRING IS HERE...

2007-02-18T18:05:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again. The time where every Dodger fan rejoices at the start of another glorious season. At least thats what we expect. For the last four months, I have felt like a addict, needing his Dodger fix. Words can't describe what this time of year means to me. This year will be particulary special for myself. On tuesday, I will take flight on my way to Vero Beach, Florida. I will be there for a couple of weeks, and I know i'll be dreading my last days there. As for the Dodgers, the pitchers and cathers have reported already. Some hitters who are rehabing are there as well. As for the rest of the team, they are expected to arrive on Monday. Early news from Vero is, Brad Penny is looking good, and confessed why he was pretty much a fastball pitcher towards the end of last year. He sighted injury risks as to why he stopped throwing his split-finger pitch. As for the hitters, its too early to tell. Although I am hearing news that Andy LaRoche will be tried in the outfield to give him more options.

By the way, I still have openings for my fantasy league, if anyone is interested let me know.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

BLUE RELIEF...

2007-02-14T18:03:00.000-08:00

The Dodgers enter the 2007 Baseball season with a bullpen with great upside. Despite the loss of the greatest Dodgers closer of all-time, the Dodgers bullpen looks primed to be the backbone of the team. The Dodgers pen is lead by last years surprise Takashi "Sammy" Saito. Saito made the transition from Eric Gagne effortless. Sammy came in and took over the duties of closing out games. This year will tougher, as hitters already know him, and will be looking out for that sick outside slider. Sammy will need to be smarter to repeat his performance last year. Jonathan Broxton, the closer of the future will be the set-up man for Sammy this season. If everything goes as scheduled, sometime next year Broxton will be the Dodgers closer for good. Broxton will also need to make adjustments to hitters if he plans on succeeding. The rest of the crew consist of Joe Beimel, Elmer Dessens, Mark Hendrickson, Brett Tomko, Yhency Brazoban, and Chin-Hui Tsao. I also expect John Meloan, Greg Miller, and Zach Hammes to make appearances in Los Angeles at some point this season. Overall, the Dodgers pen is one of the top ones in the league, and this year the league will find out just how good they really are.

My Fantasy Baseball League is still looking for players. At this point there are a couple of spots left. Let me Know if your interested.

By the way, I'm sad to report that I have recently been named a coach on a little league baseball team. My little brothers team to be exact. This is by no means sad. The sad thing is that he will be playing for the Padres. Yes, I am out there in Padre blue. Hopefully I don't lose cool points.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

THE SAVING GRACE...

2007-02-07T02:59:00.000-08:00

The Dodgers rotation figures to be the saving grace of the team this year. They have quality, and depth. The rotation will be anchored by newcomer Jason Schmidt. Who was pried away from the San Francisco Giants during the offseason. Despite the fact that Schmidt is on the downward slope of his career, he is still a top 10 pitcher. The Dodgers will rely heavily on him to be the stablelizing force, and ace they have needed for some time. Next in line is Derek Lowe. Lowe is coming off a good year. Last years ace will slide over to the second spot. Lowe needs to continue his success of the past two years. The thing he needs to work on is keeping his head in the game. Many times we have seen Derek go about the game in such a casual manner that drives me crazy. He needs to stay in the game, and don't get down on himself when a batter reaches base. Brad Penny is the enigma of the staff. Penny was the All-Star starter last season. At that point he was having the best season of his career. He still finished with the best season of his career, but Penny limped to the end. A better conditioning program might help him. Last year he barley made it past the 5th inning, and that is just not acceptable. Penny should go at least 7 every night. If Penny gets off to a bad start, expect him to be traded away. Chad Billingsley needs to build on his exceptional finish last year. Towards the end of the season, he seemed to have his control issues in order. He cannot revert to when he first came up in June, and walk 5 batters a game. Randy Wolf was brought in to provide depth, and if healthy he should be a solid addition. Randy, an All-Star in the past signed a one year deal to come home, and play for his hometown team. If Randy falters, Hong Chih Kuo, Mark Hendrickson, Brett Tomko, and Elmer Dessens are waiting in the wings. Also, look out for Scott Elbert. Elbert who reminds me of Chad Billingsley in a lot of ways, might come up this year and follow in Chad's footsteps.

There are still spots left on my Fantasy Baseball League, so if anyone is interested just let me know.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

DODGERS IN THE OUTFIELD...

2007-01-29T19:39:00.000-08:00

Questions, questions, questions. That's what the Dodgers outfield will need to answer. Between Andre Ethier, Juan Pierre, and Luis Gonzalez, its going to be pretty interesting. Last year, Andre came up to the Dodgers with a blast. He was the hottest hitter from the time he came up until September. That month was a completely different story. Ethier was worn down, and might even have been injured. Whatever the reason behind his September woes, he will need to prove to the team that it was only fatigue that caught up to him. Andre will also have to deal with a move to Right field. Looking back at his minor league career, Andre has always played the position very well. My gut says that Andre will rebound nicely, but until then, the jury is still out on Los Angele's new fan favorite. In Center field, Juan Pierre will take over for Kenny Lofton who jumped ship, and landed in Texas. Juan will be counted on to spark the offense, and bring some consistency to the outfield. His defense prowess is nothing to write home about, but yet at least he's not in the Barry Bonds category. The thing to look out for Juan is that he might come out struggling as might try and press to much to prove his contracts worth. In Left Field, Luis Gonzalez will try to make through one last season. His leadership skills are his main quality. He no longer possesses the 30 homerun swing he once had, and his reconstructed elbow has diminished his arm. Nevertheless, Luis will be a solid player, just buying time until Matt Kemp is ready to step in and take the spot. The outfield reserves are solid. The Dodgers have Jason Repko, Marlon Anderson, Matt Kemp, James Loney, Delwyn Young, and Larry Bigbie to battle for the reserve spots. They can more than handle that situation. If the outfield produces the way they are able to, the outfield will be playing past September this year.

By the way, I have started a Fantasy Baseball League, if anyone is interested in joining just let me know.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

AROUND THE HORN...

2007-01-25T17:21:00.000-08:00

The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the 2007 campaign with a lot of questions surrounding the infield. Will Nomar Garciaparra hold up at first base for a full season?, can Jeff Kent rebound from a down year?, and will Andy LaRoche breakthrough at third?. These are just some of the doubts that besiege the Dodgers. The only sure thing appears to be Russell Martin at Catcher, and Rafael Furcal at Shortstop. Russell will enter his sophomore season looking to build on a successful rookie year. Martin appears ready to take the reigns as team leader. As for Furcal, he was stellar all season long. The one thing he will need to avoid is another slow start. At first base, Nomar will be there. That is if he can stay healthy. Nomar had a tremendous bounce back year. On the way he won the comeback player of the year award, and appeared in the all-star game. Nomar's health will be the biggest key to the Dodgers offensive attack. At Second base, Jeff Kent will start. But, for how long? There is already talk that he, and Nomar might switch places. Kent is 38 years old, and coming off a injury plagued year. Kent will need to prove he still has gas left in the tank. At Third base, it's a crap shoot. At this moment, Wilson Betemit has the job. But, Andy LaRoche seems to be ready to take over. This spot will come down to who performs better in the spring. A platoon could also be in order at third. There are several Dodger bench players who will be key contributors in the infield. Olmedo Saenz, Ramon Martinez, James Loney, Marlon Anderson, and Mike Lieberthal all will get some time at these spots. The bench will need to deliver like they did this past season if the Dodgers hope to be playing in October.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

BFF?...

2007-01-17T16:56:00.000-08:00

Is Ned Colletti alright?... Today I woke to the news that the Dodgers are close to giving Grady Little a contract extension. Why?.. What did Grady do this past season to deserve one?... All Grady managed to do is manage us out of ballgames. Not to mention the fact that he stuck with Julio Lugo for weeks while he was hitting a scary .150. I'm all for being a players manager, but you have to know when to go out to the mound and take the ball. There was just too many blunders when it came to Little's strategy. He failed to capitalize when players where on a hot streak by sitting them on the bench, and he failed to pull the plug when a player was down and out. I don't mean to bash Little, despite the fact that I just did, because he did get us into the playoffs. But, for now lets hold off on giving out lengthy contract extension's. Lets see where we are sometime in August. Then make a decision on Little's future.

As for some transactions, Chin-hui Tsao seems to be the latest retred to be invited to spring training. It is always interesting who gets a nod. Someone always seems to make it on to the Dodgers, I.E. Olmedo Saenz, Wilson Alvarez, Takashi Saito, and Jose Hernandez.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

IN THE YEAR 2000...

2007-01-11T15:41:00.000-08:00

It's almost here, and I'm not speaking of my birthday. Although that too is almost here. This January 20th, I will turn the big 20. Here's to hoping the Dodgers give me a late birthday gift, and sometime around October are celebrating a world series championship. So with the season looming, It's time to give my prediction on our boys play.

I fully expect the Dodgers to win the national league division. This feat can be done with 88-92 wins. The Dodgers will go 90-72, while the San Diego Padres will follow up with a 88-74 record, and as usual the Giants, Rockies, and D'back will bring up the rear.

As for the players numbers, I see them going something like this....

Line-up: AVG, HR, RBI, SB, GMS
Juan Pierre: .291 2-31 43 156
Russell Martin: .283 14- 73 13 133
Rafael Furcal: .287 18-81 30 151
Jeff Kent: .278 21-69 2 119
Nomar Garciaparra: .311 15-68 2 101
Luis Gonzalez: . 271 12-66 4 123
Andre Ethier: .298 23-84 7 143
Wilson Betemit: .260 19-64 133

Reserves
James Loney: .303 7-43 98
Olmedo Saenz: .275 9-33 89
Mike Lieberthal: .267 4- 20 43
Andy LaRoche: .270. 5-18 32
Matt Kemp: .287 13-44 100
Ramon Martinez: .288 3-18 68
Jason Repko: .259 4-23 98

Rotation: WINS, LOSSES, ERA, INNINGS
Jason Schmidt: 14-7 3.48 218
Derek Lowe: 15-11 3.78 223
Brad Penny: 17-7 3.32 202
Chad Billingsley: 13-9 3.98 179
Randy Wolf: 7-6 4.56 122

Pen:WINS, LOSSES, ERA
Takashi Saito: 3-4 3.23 34 saves
Jonathan Broxton: 5-3 3.56
Joe Beimel: 2-2 3.98
Elmer Dessens: 1-4 4.45
Hong-Chih Kuo: 8-4 4.21
Bret Tomko: 4-6 4.00
Mark Hendrickson: 5-5 4.79

I'll add more players later. But, for the most part I'm expecting a lot of injuries. Hopefully our bench players help out. By the way, I was disappointed to see that Steve Garvey failed in his last opportunity to be inducted into the baseball hall of fame. Now its up to the veterans committee.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

OUT WEST...

2007-01-05T03:12:00.000-08:00

It has been an interesting off-season in the national league west. Through the trades, and signings the Los Angeles Dodgers are head of the class. The Dodgers did a deluxe job in executing their off-season plans on strengthening the roster. They acquired the ace pitcher that the starting rotation has been lacking by signing Jason Schmidt, and solidifying the outfield spots with Luis Gonzalez, and Juan Pierre. They did fail to bring in a power bat, but there is still time for dealin', and wheelin'. The San Francisco Giants did a nice job in shoring up the rotation. They brought on board Barry Zito (my favorite ball player), Bengie Molina, Dave Roberts, and Ryan Klesko. These are all solid moves, but by no mans does it put them over the top. The San Diego Padres began the off-season by losing a steady presence in Bruce Bochy. The Padres rebounded, and brought in Greg Maddux, Marcus Giles, and Kevin Kouzmanoff. All in all, nothing special. This team reeks middle of the road team. The Arizona Diamond Backs started the off-season by changing their colors, as they got tired making Mr. Blackwell's worst dressed list. As for roster moves, its all about Randy Johnson. That's all they have been able to do. But this is not Randy Johnson from three years ago. This is an aging power pitcher with a back problem. The D'backs should start making vacation plans by June. Then there are the Colorado Rockies, who have been rebuilding since 1995. Not much is expected from them, although they have a number of good young players like, Matt holiday, Brad Hawpe, Garret Atkins, and Jeff Francis. The Dodgers should win the division comfortably. But then again, this is baseball, and anything can happen.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

NOT ZITO...

2006-12-28T18:17:00.000-08:00

The San Francisco Giants delivered a terrible blow to the National League West today. They where able to reel in Barry Zito to a 7 year deal worth $126 million. Zito who is the guy I wanted the Dodgers to go after, is going to our arch rival. I wrote many times on this blog about how much I wanted to see Zito play for the Dodgers. Zito also happens to be my favorite ball player. I have met him a couple of times before, and he's a solid guy. I would still take Zito over Jason Schmidt any day of the week. This was a tough one. When I first heard about the signing it outraged me. I am displeased with Ned Colletti, and his dealings with Scott Borras, who represents Zito, and not to mention Eric Gagne. Ned has a personal vendetta with Borras, which is fine for him, but the people who end up losing in the end are Dodger fans. I know the J.D. Drew event was shady, and Ned has the right to be pissed, but he can't stop dealing with Borras. The Drew incident might have caused us Eric Gagne, and pretty much took us out of the running for Barry Zito. Ned needs to check his ego at the door. Still, Borras is a major ass. I understand where Ned is coming from. Either way, I can't wait for Jason Schmidt, and Barry Zito to go at each other. It's going to be fun.

BELIEVE IN BLUE

SO FAR, SO GOOD...

2006-12-21T10:10:00.000-08:00

At this juncture in time, Ned Colletti has done a solid job in bringing in pieces needed on this team. These pieces however, where not the ones I was thinking off when the season ended. I wanted Ned to go after a power bat, and an ace to bolster the staff. Dodger faithful are still waiting for the powerbat, although he managed to solve the ace situation. Even though, I wanted to go after the eccentric Barry Zito. Zito is somewhat of my favorite ballplayer, and I wished to see him in Dodger blue. I can only hope that the Zito to the San Francisco Giant rumors are just that. Still, Jason Schmidt is by no means a slouch, and having him on board makes me blissful. Another crucial decision I wanted Ned to make was to keep the farm system as is. For the most part Ned did so. Andy LaRoche, James Loney, Matt Kemp, Scott Elbert, Andre Ethier, and Chad Billingsley survived what seemed to be countless rumors of them going elsewhere. It's great to see that the organization is going to the way it used to be, building from with in. Ned needs to stick to his gun, and keep the kids.

The day after the New York Mets finished off our boys in blue, I wrote on this blog my predictions to what the team would look like. I was way off. Needless to say, I was thinking with my heart, rather than my brain. At this point, the team looks something like this

CF. Juan Pierre: slight improvement over Kenny Lofton
C. Russell Martin: needs to avoid sophomore slump
SS. Rafael Furcal: moves down the order, be more clutch
2B. Jeff Kent: can he stay healthy?
1B. Nomar Garciaparra: again, can he stay healthy?
LF. Luis Gonzalez: does he have anything left?
RF. Andre Ethier: must prove his first have was no fluke
3B. Wilson Betemit: I would rather see LaRoche in there

Rotation
Jason Shmidt: nice coup from the Giants
Derek Lowe: needs to stay focused
Brad Penny: to many questions about him
Chad Billingsley: CONTROL!
Randy Wolf: walking injury

I have a feeling that our boys will do more than well. It's a nice hitting team, with surplus pitching. Lets believe Ned...

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

GAME OVER...

2006-12-12T11:16:00.000-08:00

It is official, the greatest closer in Los Angeles Dodgers history is no longer on the team. Eric Gagne signed a one-year deal with the Texas Rangers. The deal is worth $6 million dollars, but it could rise to $11 million if he hits his incentives. According to some reports, the Dodgers had offered Eric a one year-deal worth $4 million, with incentives that could have brought the deal up to $10 million. The Dodgers offer was more than fair. Especially after Eric said he was willing to take less money in order to stay with the team. It seems that Scott Borras got to him. Just like he got to Adrian Beltre, and J.D. Drew. Loyalty does not go far these days. Eric will most certainty be missed. Eric saved 161 games for the Dodgers during his prodigious career. He took home the 2003 Cy Young award, was a three-time all-star, and was the face of the Dodger franchise. He was a true Dodger, but it only took $1 million dollars for him to forget that. The Dodgers must turn the page now, and focus on putting together the roster. Eric will now go to Texas, and pick up a paycheck every fifteen days. He will see his era rise, and his saves go down. He will see the Rangers atrocious play night after night, and be at the bottom of the rung in the American league West. I earnestly hope that Eric can regain his form, and continue his stellar career. But, by early May Eric will realize that he committed the biggest mistake of his baseball life. It's Sammy time!...

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

GONE-ZO ARIZONA...

2006-12-07T09:56:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers lost four integral parts of the team. On Wednesday, the Dodgers reloaded. The Dodgers added stud pitcher Jason Schmidt by signing him to a three year deal worth $47 million dollars. They then signed Mike Lieberthal to a one year deal to back up Russell Martin, and just when you thought the dealing was over, they reeled in Luis Gonzalez to one year deal. The Dodgers had a very productive day. They strengthened the rotation, and shored up a whole in the lineup. The dilemma now is what happens to Andre Ethier, James Loney, Matt Kemp, and Brad Penny. It is well known that the Dodgers are looking to stock-pile pitchers in order to go out and trade Penny for the power bat they sorely need. There is speculation that the Dodgers will go seek a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays to acquire All-Star Vernon Wells. The Dodgers would have to part ways with Penny, and one if not two of their highly prized prospects. Say a deal does take place, Vernon Wells in right field, Juan Pierre in center field, and Gonzo in left, what happens to Andre Ethier?. Has Andre fallen out of favor with the organization?. Andre Ethier earned himself a starting position. Now he might be the odd man out. Also, there is the age old question of "do you trade prospects?" The Dodgers have stood strong, and kept most of their prospects. But, not just keeping them, they have to play them. James Loney is ready to be an everyday player, Andy LaRoche has been passed over many times, and we are still waiting for his first big league game. It would have made more sense if the Dodgers had simply not picked up Gonzo, and then gone after Vernon Wells, or Andruw Jones. That way Andre would not be road blocked. They also could keep Penny, and have one of the strongest rotations in all of baseball, but at this point that looks doubtful. The Dodgers are fed up with his poor attitude, and unreliable performance. But, Penny should be given one more shot. He did win sixteen games, and start the All-Star game. The Dodgers should just leave the team as is. In a weak National League, they are more than capable of winning in the playoffs. As of this moment, this Dodger ballclub is a throwback to that of the sixties. A team that runs well, moves guys over, and most important, is knee deep in good pitching. I can only hope that Ned Colletti stays with the building from with-in mentality.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

MANNY BEING A DODGER?...

2006-11-30T16:39:00.000-08:00

At this juncture, the Dodgers appear to be the team in the lead for the Manny Ramirez sweepstakes. Manny would certainly solve the Dodgers power woes. For the last 10 years, Manny has been an elite hitter. Ramirez batted .321, hit 35 homeruns, and drove in 102 runs last season. This was also considered to be a down year for the eccentric left fielder. Manny might be one of the greatest pure hitters of all-time. He is a career .314 hitter, has 470 homeruns, and has driven in 1,516 runs.
Manny has driven in at least 100 runs in eleven of the past twelve years. Including 1999 when Manny drove in a impressive 165 runs. This guy is the definition of a clutch hitter. Without a doubt, Manny Ramirez would be a welcomed addition to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The only hitch in bringing Manny to Los Angeles is the prize. The prize being the Dodger prospects that would have to go back in return for such a player. At this point, it is being said the the Boston Red Sox would want James Loney, Andy LaRoche, Matt Kemp, and a pitching prospect. The acquisition would pay a steep prize for the Dodgers. This is a move that should simply not be made. Manny Ramirez is a great player, but in this humble writers opinion, he is not worth the Dodgers future. Ramirez has two years left on his deal, so in two years time he might not even be a Dodger. Ned Colletti needs to avoid the Red Sox like the plaque. He needs to focus his attention on Barry Zito or Jason Schmidt. They are both being pursued by the Texas Rangers, and the Chicago Cubs respectfully. At this point, I am willing to bite my lip and go with the "power" hitters the team has.

The Dodgers signed Randy Wolf to a one year deal with an option for a second. This is a solid move. It gives the team another option in the rotation. Plus, if Wolf flops in his comeback from Tommy John surgery, it is only a one year deal. This also gives the Dodgers an option of trading Brad Penny who has fallen out of favor with the organization for a middle of the order hitter. All in all it was a solid move. But, Ned needs to stop the "solid" moves, and bring in the aforementioned Zito or Schmidt.

By the way, I am looking for a job. If anyone can help me out it would certainty be appreciated.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

CENTER OF ATTENTION...

2006-11-24T17:17:00.000-08:00

The Dodgers have been looking for a power hitter for the entire offseason, so on wedenday the Dodgers inked Juan Pierre to a 5 year deal worth $45 million. The move makes sense in many ways. It gives the Dodgers a tremendous 1-2 punch at the top of the lineup, and concistency on the team. Juan Pierre has not missed a game in more than 4 years. Juan can also be counted on to get around 200 hits, and steal at least 45 bases. Despite his many accents, he does have a number of flaws in his game. Juan has one of the weakest throwing arms in the game today, and Brad Penny has more pop in his bat. Juan is a good player, but in no way is he a $45 million player. One has to question the motive behind this move. If Ned Colletti is throwing around money, then might as well throw it at players who fill the team needs. I have not heard a single news report on the Dodgers targeting Barry Zito, and only hearing whispers on Jason Schmidt. Ned needs to get on the ball. Now that "El Caballo" Carlos Lee has signed with the Houston Astros, the free agent pool for power hitters is all but gone. Barry Bonds, Mike Piazza, and Cliff Floyd are the last of what you can call "middle of the order" hitters, and these guys are on the downward slope of their careers. It is time that the Dodgers part ways with some of their prospects in order to bring in a legit power hitter. I have been opposed to trading prospects, but I will relent my thoughts if they are able to bring in the likes of Vernon Wells, Andruw Jones, or Miguel Cabrera. Ned needs to do something to bolster the middle of the lineup. At the present time, our projected 3-4-5 hitters are Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent, and Andre Ethier. I doubt this three-some is making anyone cringe.

I was unable to post anything in sometime due to some personal matters. So I was unable to share my thoughts on the Nomar, but needless to say, I am quite happy. During that span, the Arizona Fall League came to an end. I will post my thoughts on how our prospects farred.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

DIRTY POOL? OR GIFT FROM ABOVE?...

2006-11-13T15:06:00.000-08:00

On Thursday night it became official. The Mike Marshall J.R. saga ended. Drew opted out of the remaining 3 years of his contract to pursue a more lucrative one. This was definitely a stunning move on Drews part. The move even left Juan Gonzalez in shock. Drew had said all along that he was going to fulfill the 3 years left on his deal. The Dodger front office was left out in the cold as they where not prepared to go into the offseason signing period without a right fielder on the roster. Now they must make new plans as to what players they need to bring in. The Dodgers where already looking for a power bat to go into the middle of the lineup, now they must try and find two. The Dodgers where going after an elite pitcher, now pitching might hit the back burner. There is also the Scott Borras dilemma. The Dodgers where already going after many of his clients, and Ned Colletti is not really enthused with his management skills. So Drew left the Dodgers in a tough situation. There is something that the Dodgers will not miss at all, and that is J.D. Drew himself. Drew never seemed at home in Dodgers Stadium, his production never matched his excessive salary, and he rested his week frame when he should have been out on the field. Also, there is now a large amount of money that has been taken out of the books. Money that will go to into acquiring the missing pieces. J.D. Drew has done the Dodgers a stupendous favor. He removed himself from the team, and gave the team $33 million dollars. There is no way in hell that the Dodgers could have done that by trading him. It is well known that Drew is a devout Christian. Maybe God spoke to him and told him Los Angeles was not the right place for him. We might never know what was the reasoning behind his move, but maybe it was a gift from above. Ned now needs to go and bring in the right players that will fit into this team, and will actually go out and play night after night.

In Arizona, Dodger prospects continue to shine, while others seem to be stuck on neutral. John Meloan, Brian Akin, and Danny Muegge have been great the entire fall. Chin Lung Hu, and Anthony Raglani have been quite the opposite. However, the never mentioned A.J. Ellis has surprised many with his hitting display so far. In Hawaii, things have pretty much stayed the same. Blake DeWitt, and Xavier Paul are struggling while Cory Dunlap keeps making strides. The pitching continues to be the bright spot. Both leagues are on the last leg of the season, so our guys need to turn it up.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

HOT CORNER SOLVED?...

2006-11-06T16:39:00.000-08:00

The hot corner has been a black hole ever since Adrian Beltre went up the coast to join the Seattle Mariners two years ago. Before Beltre arrived in Los Angeles, third base was a even worse problem since the departure of Ron Cey. Dodger brass has many options on how to fill the third base spot. They can go with the incubment Wilson Betemit. They can promote ubber prospect Andy LaRoche. Or they can go out and bring someone else in via trade or free agent signing. The most prominent free agent that fills the bill appears to be Aramis Ramirez. Ramirez opted out of his multiyear deal with the Chicago Cubs in order to seek a more prosperous contract. He was already making around $11 million a season, and has been thought that he will look for $13-15 million a season. For his production value, he seems to be worth it. Last season, Aramis hit .291, with 38 homeruns, and 119 runs batted in. Plus he is more than modest at third with the glove. Aramis is a great player, but I would rather see Andy LaRoche take over at third. The Dodgers would save a significant amount of money by going with LaRoche. Money that can go into bringing an ace pitcher like Barry Zito. I would even go with Wilson Betemit until LaRoche proves he is worth giving the third base spot. Maybe a platoon between Betemit, and LaRoche would work for me. Either way, I would shy away from giving out a colossal contract to Aramis Ramirez. Come opening day, I want to see Andy LaRoche filling the hot corner.

It is official, Jonathan Meloan is good. Meloan has continued his torrid pace. His era is a mind boggling 1.42 in 10 outings. Brian Akin, Casey Hoorelbeke, and Danny Muegge have not been slouches either. They have all had terrific falls. The hitters on the other hand have not had such good luck. Chin Lung Hu, and Anthony Raglani keep struggling at the plate. In the Hawaiian Winter League, the hitters are also struggling. With Cory Dunlap being the exception. The pitchers have held more than their own.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

PONCHO IN '07?...

2006-10-30T10:04:00.000-08:00

Few athletes in Los Angeles sports history have captivated fans like Nomar Garciaparra did this year. He was the most valuable player on the team, the guy everyone looked on to tell them everything would be ok, but most importantly he was the heart and soul of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the stretch run, while he was battered and bruised Nomar willed the team into a playoff spot. In early May when the Dodgers where tormenting fans with their play, Nomar carried the team through it. Although my "BELIEVE IN THE PONCHO" rally cry did not hurt either. Nomar had a great comeback year. He hit .303, had 20 homeruns, and drove in 93 runs. He put up these numbers while being on the disabled list twice. Nomar also made his move to first base look effortless. He committed 1 error the entire season and has to be considered for a gold glove. Nomar had a terrific season overall. So the question is do the Dodgers bring him back. If you go strictly on numbers, Nomar is back next season. Nomar still has one of the best bats in the game. The problem with Nomar is his health. Nomar only played in 122 games. He missed almost 2 months due to numerous injuries. For the money Nomar is going to ask, I do not think he is worth it. Nomar will be one year older, and even more injury prone. Add the fact that James Loney finally looks ready to take over at first, should seal the fact that Nomar should not be brought back. It kills me to say that because of what Nomar brought to the team this year. But, the franchise cannot put themselves in a situation where they pay a guy a boat load of money, while the guy is injured most of the time, I.E. Kevin Brown, Darren Dreifort, Devon White. However, if Nomar where to take a discount contract, and the Dodgers where willing to have a platoon with Jeff Kent, James Loney, and Nomar, between first base, and second base, that situation might work. Whatever happens, Nomar was the most loved athlete in Los Angeles in '06. I wish Nomar the best of luck wherever he winds up. The struggles have continued in the Arizona Fall League for Chin Lung Hu, and Anthony Raglani. They are hitting .216, and .189 respectively. Although the Dodger pitchers seem to get better every outing. John Meloan lowered his era to 0.96 through 9 innings. He has just been unhittable, and is placing himself for consideration in the Dodgers bullpen next season. In the Hawaiian Winter League Blake DeWitt, and Xavier Paul are staggering. Although they have been showing signs of turning it around. Overall, I would say that our prospects have faired well enough. Lets look for a strong finish...

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

GAME OVER?...

2006-10-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

The face of the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise might not be back next year. Eric Gagne has a team option this offseason, and will most likely not get picked up. The option will come at $12 million, but he will get the option bought out for $1 million. This situation will happen. That does not mean that he will not be back. The Dodgers can still re-sign him at a lower rate. Maybe a incentive laden contract, similar to that of Nomar Garciaparra had this year. I do not care what Ned Colletti has to do to re-sign him, he needs to do it. From 2002 on, Eric has been "the guy" on this team, a 3-time all star, the 2003 Cy Young winner, and most important a stablelizing force closing out games. During this time, there was no one better than him. He only blew a remarkable 6 games during that stretch, set a major league record 84 straight games, and made people stick around until the ninth inning to watch him enter the jungle. Eric came armed with a blinding fastball, knee-buckling curveball, and a baffling change-up. Eric was the first star player Dodger fans could call their own since the dreadful trade of Mike Piazza. Ned needs to bring back Eric, and give him an opportunity to prove himself. A healthy Eric Gagne, is the best closer in the game. A healthy Eric Gagne will make the Dodgers bullpen the best in the National league West. A healthy Eric Gagne will drive people to the ballpark, and this just happens to be what Dodgers owner Frank McCourt seems to be more interested in. Lets not commit the same mistake that we made with Steve Garvey, Mike Piazza, and Fernado Valenzuela. Let Eric Gagne finish off his career in blue. I know he has been injured for most of the past two seasons, but considering what Eric has done for this organization, he deserves to be brought back and prove himself. I do not want it to be GAME OVER for Eric with our boys.... Jonathan Meloan has continued his hot streak in the Arizona Fall league. Meloan lowered his era to 1.13, and has been overpowering. Brian Akin has also kept his stellar play, while Casey Hoorelbeke, and Danny Muegge have been solid. A.J. Ellis torrid streak is still alive, he is now hitting a team leading .526. The same cannot be said for Chin Lung Hu, and Anthony Raglani, they have both struggled mightily. Meanwhile in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league, Blake DeWitt has finally woken up. He has brought his batting average up to .214, Xavier Paul is batting .259 but has played better than that. Cory Dunlap is hitting .278 with 9 rbi in 12 games. Hopefully Dodger prospects finish off strong.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

NOMO REVISITED...

2006-10-23T14:29:00.000-07:00

In the spring of 1995, the Dodgers signed Japanese icon Hideo Nomo. Nomo would go on to have a stellar career with the boys in blue during his 2 stints in Los Angeles. At that time, the amount of money the Dodgers shelled out to acquire Nomo was thought to be to much. The Dodgers took a chance and where rewarded nicely by Nomo. Nomo went on to win the 1995 Rookie of the year award, and start the All-Star game in Arlington that same season. He threw a no-hitter in Coors Field on September, 17, 1996. He became the workhorse of many Dodger pitching staffs. He was a fan favorite, and beloved my Dodger fans. Daisuke Matsuzaka has the potential to surpass Nomo in every way. Matsuzaka is going to be posted during this offseason. He definitely has the tools to succeed in the major leagues. Matsuzaka comes armed with a 90-96 mph fastball, a plus-plus slider, a splitter and a changeup. He has also dabbled with a unique pitch known as the "gyroball". The problem with Matsuzaka is his price. It could cost $20-$30 million just to win his negotiation rights. He then is expected to ask double that for his contract. The Dodgers have been know to shy away from such contracts, which makes it very doubtful that the Dodgers will take a serious look at him. The Dodgers need to seriously look at him. His talent warrants it. At this point, I still have Barry Zito ahead of him, but not by much. Matsuzaka is 26 years old, and has shown he can win in the big moments by leading a inferior Japanese team to win the World Baseball Classic, and being awarded the MVP of the tournament. If spring training rolls around, the Dodgers have failed to acquire either Zito, or Matsuzaka I will be terribly disappointed... As the Arizona Fall league gets into its 3rd week, many Dodger prospects have really heated up. Catcher, A.J. Ellis is batting .588, Pitcher John Meloan has a era of 1.42, and Brian Akin has his era of 1.59. hopefully they carry their success to the remaining of the season.

HOLLYWOOD ENDING?...

2006-10-19T16:28:00.000-07:00

There are many possiblilities for the Dodgers this offseason. One potential move the Dodgers can make is to acquire Alex Rodriguez. Out of all the possible additions the ballclub can make, bringing in A-Rod will be the toughest. Such a trade for Alex Rodriquez will likely call for many pieces in return. The Yankees will most assuring want a reliable frontline pitcher. The candidate seems to be Brad Penny. They would also want hot prospect Andy LaRoche, and one of their top pitching prospects such as Scott Elbert, Chad Billingsley, and Clay Kershaw. This is a very steep prize to pay for A-Rod, but without a doubt he is worth it talent wise. There is also the issue of is substantial salary. A-Rod has 4 years left in his contract that amount to just above 100 million. The Yankees will have to pay a big part of the contract if the deal was to be made. If all these things lined up, the deal is not out of the question. Alex had a solid season this year. He hit 35 homeruns, drove in 121 runs, and batter .290. This was also considered a down year for Alex. Putt all these together and I would still not take him on my team. His talent is unquestionable. He might be the best player in baseball. But just like communism, bringing Alex Rodriguez to the Dodgers works only in theory. A-Rod is the least liked player in the league among his peers. It would definitely be a bad mix. Alex always seems to alienate himself from his teammates, and causes friction by the way he carries himself. We already know what a good clubhouse can do as we saw this year. We also already know what a bad clubhouse can do as we saw in '05. A-Rod is an amazing player, but he is not right for us. Now if the deal where to happen, and Alex comes to Los Angeles with a changed attitude and proves me wrong, I will gladly eat crow. It is a tough decision. One that I would not make... I have been updating you on the Arizona Fall league, but I have yet to update the Hawaiian Winter league. The Dodgers have a good number of prospects playing for the North Shore Honu. Amongst them are, Blake DeWitt, Xavier Paul, Cory Dunlap, and Zach Hammes. So far they have had their ups, and downs. Hopefully it is uphill from now on. As for the Arizona Fall league, Anthony Raglani has heated up. Raglani hit 2 home runs today, and raised his batting average to .273. Chin Lung Hu has also been swinging the bat better lately. He collected 2 hits today, and is now hitting .235. They seem to be turning it around, lets hope it continues.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

SLUGGER NEEDED...

2006-10-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

There is a huge offensive void in the middle of the Dodgers lineup. Alfonso Soriano would certainty fill that void. The Dodgers where last in homeruns this past season, and the team lead was a measly 20 by both Nomar Garciaparra, and J.D. Drew. Bringing in a power hitter is a priority. The question is do they bring in a high prized free agent such as Alfonso Soriano, or do they just fill the hole with players such as Trot Nixon, until uber prospect Matt Kemp is ready to take over. I seriously hope the Dodgers do not do the latter. This Dodger team is a Ace, and a power hitter away from being a legitimate World Series contender. Like I have been saying, Barry Zito solves our ace problem, and Alfonso Soriano would solve our power problem. Soriano is a good fit because he is a versatile player. He can play the outfield, and second base. This means that Soriano would play in the outfield next season, and once Jeff Kent retires Soriano would then move to second base. This would enable Matt Kemp to settle into an outfield spot for good. Soriano had a splendid season this year. He hit 46 homeruns, and drove in 95 runs. By the way put up these numbers from the leadoff spot, and while playing at RFK Stadium. Alfonso also did damage with his legs as he stole 41 bases. His defense also hit a major improvement after swapping positions. He led the league in outfielder assists. The prize for Soriano is not going to be cheap. It is being reported that he will be looking for a 5 year deal in the area of 65-75 million. Soriano is also going to be sought after by many teams. The asking prize will most likely be driven up. The Dodger brass needs to start spending smart money, and bringing in the missing pieces. This is the LOS ANGELES DODGERS, we should be able to sign anyone we want. Hopefully the tide changes this year, and Ned Colletti brings in studs such as Zito, and Soriano... The Arizona Fall League action is heating up, but Dodger hitters seem to be cooling. Chin Lung Hu is hitting .125, and Anthony Raglani is hitting .077. Although its only through 4 games. As for the pitchers, they have been handling themselves great. Casey Hoorelbeke, Brian Akin, and John Meloan all have their era under 3. Hopefully the bats pick up, and the pitching continues.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

SAN FRANCISCO WAY?...

2006-10-13T15:40:00.000-07:00

Jason Schmidt is one the best free-agent pitchers in the market. He is second on my list of Dodger targets to Barry Zito. Schmidt will come at a lower prize than Barry Zito. It is thought that Schmidt will be looking in the area of 4 years, 45-50 million deal. The deal is not overwhelming in any way, considering what they are paying Brad Penny right now. Jason also has ties with General Manager Ned Colletti from his San Francisco days. This might make him more of a candidate than Barry Zito. Schmidt went 11-9 last season, with a 3.59 era and pitched 213 innings. His numbers are not spectacular, but more of the solid variety. He has a lifetime reccord of 127-90, with a career 3.91 era. He is consistently in the 11-18 win range, and always keeps his team in the game. Jason is also on the downward slope of his career. Schmidt is 33 years old, and has shown signs of breaking down. Put all these facts together, and it makes you want Barry Zito even more. Jason Schmidt is a solid pitcher, but the Dodgers do not need "solid" pitchers. We have enough of those guys. We need a frontline pitcher, who can carry the pitching staff. We need an ace, and Barry Zito is our guy. Zito's career numbers are much more formidable than Schmidts. Add the fact that Zito is 5 years younger only makes him look better. The Dodgers need to focus all of their attention of Barry Zito, and forget guys like Schmidt, Ted Lilly, Vicente Padilla, and Gill Meche. Ned needs to deliver Barry Zito to Dodger Stadium. Anyone else will be a disappointment... On Wednesday, Roy Smith the Dodgers vice president of scouting and player development resigned. Roy followed Terry Collins who quit last week to take a managerial job in Japan with the Orix Buffaloes. Both, Roy and Terry where a pivotal part of the Dodgers farm system resurgence. They brought stability and know-how to these positions. I only hope that Roy, and Terry did not leave on any bad terms. However, we have to turn the page, and hopefully Ned fills the positions with capable people. We cannot let the farm system stagger like it did during the late '90's. We need to bring in someone who can build our future. I know Ned will come through again...

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

TO ZITO,OR NOT TO ZITO...

2006-10-12T17:05:00.000-07:00

Anyone who saw the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff this year, will tell you that they are lacking an ace. Ned Colletti will need to go after an ace during the offseason, there is no better ace out in the market than Barry Zito. Zito will be heavily touted by many teams, and his asking price is pretty steep. Barry Zito's asking price will be in the range of 75 million dollars over 5 years. That would be a big commitment for the Dodgers to take. Especially if you consider the incredible bad fortune the Dodgers have had with immense contracts (Kevin Brown, Darryl Strawberry, Darren Dreifort, and Dave Goltz to name a few), the Dodgers might be shy to pull the trigger on a deal for Barry Zito. Shy or not, the deal need to be made. Zito without a doubt is the best arm they can acquire. Zito went 16-10 with a 3.83 era, and threw 221 innings. His lifetime record is 102-63, with a 3.55 era. The guy is a winner, and a innings eater. Not to mention he won the 2002 Cy Young award. Put Zito in the Dodgers rotation, and the Dodgers rotation becomes as good as anyone else. There are other pitchers out there, but more of the mediocre variety. I will profile some of them in upcoming posts. But, these are not the guys that we should be looking at, we need a frontline starter, and Barry Zito fills the bill... The Arizona Fall league is underway and there are a couple of Dodger prospects who are participating. The slick-gloved Chin-Lung Hu, Anthony Raglani, Brian Akin, A.J. Ellis, Casey Hoorelbeke, are just some of them. They are part of the Mesa Solar Sox team. I will be updating their progress in league action...

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

WAIT 'TILL NEXT YEAR...

2006-10-08T18:56:00.000-07:00

The Dodgers magical run came to a close on Saturday night. The game was a microcosm for the Dodgers season. There where let downs, and clutch moments. There was joy, and sorrow. It was with in grasp, and yet we came so close. The game last night was just like the previous two games, a lot of mistakes, and wasted opportunities. We really beat ourselves. It hurts to have come so far, and no be able to finish the goal. More than any other year, I am looking forward to next year the most. Next season our ball club should be even better. All of our young players gained an invaluable amount of experience, and should be even better than they where this year. Jeff Kent will have all offseason to rehab his injuries, Ned Colletti will more than likely bring in quality free agents that will help the team. The one area that should be addressed immediately is starting pitching. The team can no longer go depending on people like Aaron Sele, Bret Tomko, and Eric Stults. Ned Colletti needs to go after Barry Zito, Jason Schmidt, or Daisuke Matsuzaka. Maybe even look at some trade options. Although I would advice against trading prized prospects such as Andy LaRoche, Scott Elbert, and Clay Kershaw. There are also going to be tough decision such as what to do with Nomar Garciaparra, Eric Gagne, Kenny Lofton, Greg Maddux, and Julio Lugo. I could part ways with all these players except Eric Gagne. Ned Colletti needs to bring back Eric Gagne. Like I have said before, Eric Gagne was the face of the Dodgers. He captivated the city of Angels with his swagger, and trademark goggles. He shutdown opponents with his overpowering fastball, and knee-buckling curve. Eric Gagne needs to be given an opportunity to regain his former form as the top closer in Baseball. It would be a real shame to see Eric closing out games for another franchise. Lets not make the same mistake we made with Mike Piazza, Steve Garvey, and Paul LoDuca. Let Eric finish a Dodger. As for Nomar, I would love to see him back on the team but he will most likely want a big contract. I could see a situation in which Nomar, Kent, and James Loney share equal time between second and first. This is going to be a offseason of many questions, hopefully we get the right answers. I think the team might end up looking something like this...

Lineup
ss. Rafael Furcal
c. Russell Martin
cf. Alfonso Soriano (It is going to be a steep prize)
2b. Jeff Kent
rf. J.D. Drew (I doubt he will opt out of his contract)
lf. Andre Ethier
1b. James Loney
3b. Andy LaRoche (my heart says LaRoche, my brain says Wilson Betemit)

Rotation
Barry Zito
Derek Lowe
Brad Penny (really hoping he gets it together)
Chad Billingsley
Hong Chih Kuo

Pen
Eric Gagne
Jonathan Broxton
Takashi Saito
John Meloan
Greg Miller
Bret Tomko (only because of his huge contract)

By the way, the Arizona Fall League is only weeks away, time to go see some of our prospects perform.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

WELL, THAT DIDN'T WORK...

2006-10-06T16:21:00.000-07:00

Pathetic, that is the only word that can be used to describe the Dodgers play on Thursday night. The Dodgers gave the second game of the series to the Mets with shotty fielding, dreadful hitting, and questionable managing. The game could have been easily won. The Mets did nothing spectacular, Tom Glavine went 6 modest innings to keep the Dodgers offense at bay, and the Met offense scored 3 of their runs on outs. The Dodgers team looked apathetic the entire night, no willingness to compete. I do not know what they did to prepare themselves for the game. Did Grady Little show them the Passion of the Christ, or Shindlers List? Did Ned Colletti tell the team Julio Lugo would be brought back for the 2007 season? What ever it was, the Dodgers seemed to be busy thinking about it. Not only did we lose the game, but we have lost Nomar Garciaparra services. Nomar has apparently tore his left quad, and will be limited to pinch hitting duties. At this point, I am glad he is out of the lineup, he has been in severe pain for the last month. Plus his bat has not been there recently. James Loney will take over at first for the 3rd game of the series, and hopefully more. Now the Dodgers only hope to stay alive. Greg Maddux will pitch tomorrow, and he has been rolling lately. A good outing might do wonders for the Dodger spirit. But, if the Dodgers hope to win the game, they cannot come out and play the same way they did on Thursday night. If they do, then lets start getting ready for Spring Training '07. This is the biggest game of the year, and our boys need to show up and play hard. I have a gut feeling that we will get a surprise performance from someone tomorrow night. I will be out there tomorrow, and Sunday. That is if our boys win tomorrow. LETS GO BLUE!

BELIEVE IN BLUE~

WHAT WAS THAT?...

2006-10-05T10:14:00.000-07:00

The anticipation for the first game of the National League Divisional Series was like no other. Man landing on the moon, Geraldo Rivera opening Al Capones vault, a fat adolescent awaiting the arrival of his pizza. None of them compare. I should have known better. The Dodgers lost the first game of the series. The fact that they lost does not bother me, how they lost is what bothers me. They gave the game away with a number of febble-minded plays. The first one of these brain farts came in the second inning with Russell Martin batting and Jeff Kent at second, and J.D. Drew at first. Russell hit a ball over Mr. Personality Shawn Green's head. Everyone at Shea knew two runs where going to score, every Dodger fan knew we had just taken a 2-0 lead. What we saw next has to be the most perplexing play Dodger fans have ever seen. The Mets managed to get both, Jeff Kent, and J.D. Drew at home.. at the same time. Was I watching Major League?.. was this Willy Mays Hayes trying to score? Once I saw this play, I knew it was going to be a tough day. The Dodgers somehow recovered from Rich Donnelly's brain-lapse, and tied the game at four on Nomar's clutch double. Grady Little then gave us another reason to hate him by bringing in the hick from Oklahoma, the same hick that has struggled ever since the All-Star game. The hick quickly gives up 2 runs, and lost the game. The Dodgers came back up again with a opportunities to get back in the game, but it was not to be. This was a nightmare game for all Dodger fans. Not only did we lose the game, but we had to watch the game on ESPN who is never bias, always looks at the story from 2 viewpoints, and covers does not favor the East Coast. We had to watch the game on that ESPN. Just in case there are any guido Met fans, I am being sarcastic. I cannot not stand listening to John Thorne, Steve Phillips, and Joe "chicken wing" Morgan. It is almost as bad as listening to the Anaheim Angels broadcast team. I thought we where watching Tom Seaver pitch the way they talked about John Maine. They kept talking up Cliff Floyd, Endy Chavez, and Pedro Feliziano. That is when you know homers are doing the game, when Endy Chaves is getting mentioned. As if their blatant pulling for the Mets was not enough, they then brought Tim Robbins into the booth. By the way, he is a huge Met fan. They also kept showing celebrity Met fans like, Ray Romano, and John McCenroe. I hate ESPN with a passion. The Dodgers need to come out today, and beat the Mets. They need to stop this East Coast bias by beating ESPN's golden boys. By the way, where was the Dodgers celebrity fans? where was Robert Whul? Where was Rob Reiner? Where was Allyssa Milano?.. We need them out there cheering our boys on.. Today something has to happen, we need to win. 67 year old Tom Glavine will pitch today for the Mets, and he is very beatable. Lets pull for our boys today, and stop watching ESPN....

BELIEVE IN THE PONCHO!

HOW SWEET IT IS!..

2006-10-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

The fruits of victory!... The 2006 baseball season ended on Sunday afternoon, and my boys in blue are not done playing. The Dodgers swept the San Francisco Giants, who looked more like dwarfs than giants, to finish the season with a 88-74 record. The record was good enough to win the National League Wild Card. The wild card was not what I was looking for, but it will get the job done. This was an up and down season, one of heartbreak, and joy. This team left me in disbelieve, and with displeasure. But, now as I sit here watching Good Morning America, and trying to identify the smell in my room, I cannot be any chipper. We will be taking on the New York Mets, who for most of the year where a powerhouse, but are suffering from a September skid. The Mets will be without the ace of the staff Pedro Martinez, who was lost with a shoulder injury. I am not one to celebrate an injury, but I sure am glad that we wont have to see Mr. Gerry-curl dominating our hitters. The Mets are a dangerous team, but their pitching is suspect, so they can be beaten. The one thing I am worried about is the high number of ex-Dodger players the Mets are carrying, and as every Dodger fan knows, ex- Dodgers are the worst kind of Dodgers. But we are not dealing with the '98 Yankees, or the '73 Athletics.. this is a team with average pitching, and good hitting. They can be beaten. I was extremely happy when I saw Eric Gagne celebrate with the team on Saturday. I can only hope that he is brought back next year. Eric Gagne was the face of the Dodgers, and deserves to be given an opportunity to prove himself. I want to see him jogging to the mound while "Welcome to the Jungle" blasts in the background, to close out games for the Dodgers. I hope you all feel the same way... Well bring on the Mets, lets take care of them!... oh and by the way, the smell turned out to be my dirty socks...

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

BELIEVE IN THE SWEEP!...

2006-09-28T23:37:00.000-07:00

The Dodgers came into the 3-game set with Colorado needing to sweep the series. Shockingly they followed through. I know my Los Angeles Dodgers, and that is why i was expecting a let down. Fortuiously the team showed up and played. But, the same cannot be said for Brad Penny, the same Brad Penny who was aquired to win big games such as today. Penny went 1 inning, and was blessed that James Loney had the game of his life. James Loney who before this year was right on pace to join Greg Brock, Karim Garcia, and Kiki Jones as Dodger prospect busts, has finally lived up to expectations this year. James hit a scary .380 at AAA Las Vegas, and has shown that he is capable of hitting at the major league level. I have been following Loney through all his stops in the minor leagues, and waiting for the day that he would be our starting first baseman. Hopefully Dodger brass realizes that Loney needs to play, and that Nomar Garciaparra cannot be trusted to stay healthy for an entire season. Next season, i want to see my kids playing instead of the veterans that Ned Colletti brought in this year. By the way, "my kids" are a number of Dodger prospects, and I was given this "parentship" on the Inside the Dodgers blog for always talking up the Dodger prospects. Next year I hope to see James Loney at first, Andy LaRoche at third, Andre Ethier in left, Matt Kemp in Center, and Russell Martin catching. But thats then, and this is now. The Dodgers travel to San Francisco for the final 3 games of the season. The Dodgers are 2 games up in the Wild Card race, and only 1 game back in the Western Division race. At this point, winning the Wild Card would ensure that we would play the New York Mets, but now that Pedro Martinez is out for the season, that does not look bad at all. By winning the Division, we would then play the St. Louis Cardinals, well that is if they can hold off the Houston Astros. Right now I am leaning towards the Mets, i know my boys in blue can beat them. Well here it is, the final 3 games. Lets hope our boys dont choke, and get it done.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

DOWN THE STRETCH WE COME...

2006-09-25T10:22:00.000-07:00

As another summer winds down, and the autumn leaves arrive, the Dodgers have one week left to try and secure a playoff spot int the post season. But, they did not do themselves any favors this weekend. The Dodgers met the Arizona Diamond Backs at Dodger stadium for a three game series, and needed to stay on pace with the San Diego Padres... they failed to do that. Not only did they fail to keep pace with the Padres, but they relinquished their wild-card lead to the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night. So now they find themselves out of a playoff spot with six games left in the season. Tonight the Dodgers are idle, but the Padres, and Phillies are in action. I will be glued to my computer, watching the games on the MLB gamecast, holding a rosary in one hand, and my lucky Jeff Hamilton baseball card in the other. I first realized the cards supernatural powers on Opening day 1999. I was 12 at the time, and I was going through my baseball cards, and I came across Jeff Hamilton card. For some unexplainable reason, I picked up the card and started to read his stats. At that very moment, the ever charismatic Raul Mondesi hit a game tying 3-run home run. I don't know if it was the brown mustard I ate, but I knew that this card was special. I kept the card in my hand for the rest of the game, and magic happened. Raul Mondesi came up in the 9th, and again delivered a 3-run walk-off shot. So today, I will take my Jeff Hamilton baseball card out of retirement, and hope for magic. The Dodgers travel to Colorado on Tuesday to meet the Rockies, and our "best" 3 pitchers our going to take the mound. Greg Maddux will go on Tuesday, Derek Lowe will go in the second game, and the bum of bums Brad Penny finishes the series. If we lose one of those games, the season is over. So lets hope Ryan Howard develops a bunion problem, Jake Peavy gets the Steve Blass disease, or that the Rockies materialize a Ball phobia. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and we ARE that desperate. So lets ride Jeff Hamilton into the playoffs!

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

FINALLY!...

2006-09-21T23:20:00.000-07:00

After being defeated 2 days in a row by the team who was supposed to be the second worst team in the league, the Pittsburgh Pirates played moore like the '27 Yankees. The Dodgers who had fallen to second place in the Western division, and into a tie for the lead in the Wild Card race needed to win tonight. I was there again, even though i'm severly sick (which i got from being at last nights game), so being there only made it worse. But, i did my best Cal Ripken J.r. impersonation and toughed it out. The game got off to a bang, Olmedo Saenz hit a 2 run home run to give us the early lead, and Chad Billingsley looked sharp early. I was awaiting to see how he would come out and perform after his rocky start last week againtst the Padres. For the most part, Chad was on his game tonight, going 5 innings, and giving up 2 runs. The game went on routinely, and by the 9th inning, Takashi Saito was comming in for the save. He quickly dispensed the Pirates, by strucking out the side. Just like that our 2 game losing streak was over. Hopefully this is the last time we have to worry about ending losing streaks this year, its getting to be a nag. The Arizon Diamond Backs come into town tomorow, and I will be at the game, that is if my condition permits it....

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

THEY DID IT TO ME AGAIN...

2006-09-20T00:10:00.000-07:00

What a difference a day makes.. Last night the dodgers had the most praiseworthy comeback in team history to reclaim first place from the friars.. Today they get blown out by the pirates. Last nights win was supposed to propel the dodgers into the playoffs, and it was supposed to have dejected the padres spirits.. Well, the dodgers lost, and the padres won, thus putting the dodgers back in second place.. was it all just a dream? because the team i saw last night was invincible, the team i saw today was laughable. The Dodgers got off to a running start, Rafael Furcal led off the game with a homerun, at this point i went outside to play catch with my little brother because i thought the game was over... i come back to scope the game, and the score is 6-1 pirates... but my boys managed to make it a game, and flashbacks of last nights game came to mind.. it was not to be.. Grady Little brought in artist/pitcher Bret Tomko to pitch, and he quickly found himself with the bases loaded and no outs. Tomko promptly gave up a double, and that was the game. Yes, Marlon Anderson continued the greatest week of his life by hitting a 3 run shot, to make it 10-6, but at this point it was worthless... My boys are back in second place, but it could be worse, we could be the Royals.. and at least we have the lead in the wild card.. Tomorrow night, or I guess you could say today, I'll be at the game cheering my boys in blue again. Hopefully Greg "Mad Dog" Maddux has a hall of fame performance...

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

GOD DOES EXIST, AND HE'S A DODGER FAN..

2006-09-18T23:48:00.000-07:00

Frustration. Excitement. Torture. Hope. Despair. Jubilation. Disappointment. Suspense. Misery. Insanity. Horror. Bliss. What a night.. The evening began looking like it would be a long one, and it was. Brad Penny, who needed to come up with a clutch performance, immediately gave up 4 runs to the hated friars, and just like that my hopes where crushed. But, my boys in blue managed to make a game out of by tying the game at 4. Then padres jumped ahead in the 8th, and by the ninth inning the game was 9-5. The padres needed just 3 outs to mentally knock the Dodgers out of the Playoff race. Any other night, it would have been over.. But not this September night, there was something in the air, and it was not the thick Los Angeles fogg. Up first in the 9th, Mr. porno stash himself Jeff Kent led off with a home run, and at this point i'm pissed because they are just pro-longing the inevitable, then Mike Marshall Jr. ( J.d. Drew) comes up to the plate, and Marshall Jr. hits a 461' home run into the right field stands, at this point i'm happy but, in the back of my mind I know what's going to happen... and it does, Bruce Bochy walks to the mound, takes the ball from John Adkins, and calls in Trevor Hoffman. Hoffman who had not blown a game against the dodgers since 2001, and is only a few saves away from passing Lee Smith on the all-time list. So, I tell myself that at least the Dodgers are still in first place in the wild card, but just as I finish the thought, Russell Martin drove a first pitch fastball over the left field pavilion, and its 3 home runs in-a-row.. INCREDIBLE! the crowd was electric, the place was nuts. Meanwhile Marlon Anderson stepped into the plate, and again drove a first pitch fastball into right field pavillion, and just like that history was made, and the game was tied. I cant explain the my joy as Marlon rounded the bases, and crossed home plate.. but then comes to top of the 10th, and all of a sudden we find ourselves down again.. if we cant come back, this loss will demoralize our team... i could not believe that we where about to lose this game. The Dodgers where now down to their final opportunity to win the game. Kenny Lofton was up first, and managed a lead off walk, bringing Nomar Garciaparra to the plate, Garciaparra who struck out in the 8th inning with 2 runners in scoring position now had the chance to be the hero.. Nomar worked the count in his favor 3-1, and on the ensuing pitch, Nomar launched Rudy Seanez's fastball to deep left field into the pavillion, the miracle comeback was complete. The crowd went crazy, the stadium was filled with joy, I had just witnessed the greatest comeback in dodger history!... God does exist, and hes a dodger fan...

BELIEVE IN BLUE!

HERE WE GO AGAIN...

2006-09-18T01:07:00.000-07:00

this weekends series between my beloved boys in blue has me reminiscing a sad childhood memory.. it was the final weekend of the 1996 baseball season, with three games left in the season, and up by 2 games.. thus needing just one victory to clinch the western division, my boys where swept out of a division crown.. the padres led by Mr. roids himself Ken Caminiti came to town and broke my heart.. I ended missing the next 2 days of school and forever hating shamoo, friars, lightning bolts and fish tacos... skip 10 years, and we find ourselves in the same dilemma. The dodgers who entered Fridays game with a 1/2 game lead, won behind a masterful performance by Greg maddux, but my joy came to a crashing end on Saturday night, as the friars blew out my boys 11-2, and extended my pain to Sunday afternoon as they narrowly beat the dodgers 2-1 on a ninth innin single.. the defeat was tough enough, but the fact that I only saw half of the game due to the fact that time Warner cable continues to tempt me to swith to satellite t.v., they had me watching the ever crutial Seattle mariners, Kansas city royals matchup.. by the time I finally got to see the action, trevor Hoffman had come into the game, and knowing my boys lack of fight, the game was over.. now the series is not over, there is 1 game left, and if we manage to win it, we would be back on top of the division.. but the way things go around here, it might be a long winter...

BELIEVE IN BLUE!