Torii Hunter

I read on espn.com this afternoon that the Dodgers were interested in signing free-agent outfielder Torii Hunter of the California Angels and were also open to the possibility of trading outfielder Andre Ethier. Hunter had one of his finest seasons last year with a .313 BA, 16 Homeruns, and 92 RBIs. He is 37 years old and the report stated that the Dodgers were talking a two-year contract. The Dodgers have not had much luck with free agent ourfielders going back to Darryl Strawberry and I am not a big fan of signing a 37 year old outfielder that played in the American League. The possibility of trading Andre Ethier has been on going for about two years now. I do not know what kind of trade value he has but the Dodgers could use a middle-of-the-rotation starter or even a middle infielder.

Hangin' Tough

The Dodgers are keeping as much pressure as possible on the St. Louis Cardinals as the Dodgers defeated the Colorado Rockies 3-0 last night. Matt Kemps hit two homeruns is support of a gutsy pitching perfcormance by Joe Blanton. St. Louis lost and the Dodgers are only 2 games behind with 4 to play.

Too Little, Too Late

The Dodgers went ice cold at the most inopportune time in August and September and it looks like their recent mini-hot streak will not be enough to secure the Dodgers the final Wild Card spot in the National League Playoffs. Last nights 8-0 win by Clayton Kershaw over the Colorado Rockies still left the Dodgers 3 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals with 5 games to play in the Wild Card race. Kershaw (13-9) struck out 10 and walked 2 in a very strong performance and he finally got some run support. Shane Victorino homered and Andre Ethier drove in his 87th run to back Kershaw's shutout effort. When the Dodgers made the flurry of trades in late July and August, I believed then that those trades would help them more next season than this season but I had hoped I was wrong. I did not expect the injuries to the pitching staff and the cold streak by the Dodger bats but they have battled until the final game this season. The Dodgers are still mathematically eligible to pull out that final spot but I hate having to depend on another team to lose to make it happen.

Every Game A Playoff Game

The Dodgers pretty much have to treat every game like a playoff game for the rest of the season. The Dodgers got a walk off win in the series final against the Arizona Diamondbacks when Adrian Gonzalez hit a two run double. He is only hitting .211 since the trade and the Dodgers are only 4-5 but the Dodgers have 6 games left against the Giants. Josh Beckett got his first win as a Dodger in yesterdays 2-1 victory going 6 2/3. They need him to be clutch down the stretch.

Time Is Running Out

Time is running out for the Dodgers in the 2012 season. 4 1/2 games behind with 30 to play. The Dodgers are only 2-4 since the trade that brought Adrian Gonzalez to the Dodgers. They still are not scoring runs. The margin can be made up but the Dodgers bullpen has let them down in the past several games and there is no help on the horizon. Internet rumor has the Dodgers trying to trade for another starting pitcher but I don't see that happening. The Dodgers can expand the roster tomorrow and it has been reported that the Dodgers are only going to bring up reliever Javy Guerra and Catcher Tim Fedorowicz. I would like to see Fedorowicz get some at bats and Javy Guerra is not the bullpen savior that they need. When the Dodgers made this trade my first thought was that this trade will help the Dodgers more in 2013 than it will this year provided that Carl Crawford is over his injury problems.

The Debut Of The Future

Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run homer in his first at bat as a Dodger and the Dodgers had a season high 16 hits as they cruised to an 8-2 victory over the Miami Marlins. Clayton Kershaw (12-7) isn't used to that kind of run support. He pitched 8 innings and gave up 2 runs to get the win. Chad Billingsley did go back to the 15 Day Disabled List and Josh Beckett makes his Dodger debut on Monday against the Colorado Rockies. Andre Ethier got his tenth straight hit in this game breaking the Los Angeles Dodgers record of 9 held by my all-time favorite Ron Cey. Ethier was dropped to sixth in the batting order with all of this new firepower the Dodgers have. Matt Kemp has protection in front of him and behind him now so he should be getting better pitches to hit.

The Trade Of The Century

The Dodgers pulled off an unbelievable trade today with the Boston Red Sox. They were able to acquire First Baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Outfielder Carl Crawford, Starting Pitcher Josh Beckett, and Third Baseman/Utility Man Nick Punto. The Dodgers gave up First Baseman James Loney (who is due to be a Free Agent at the end of the season), Pitchers Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster, and Infielder Ivan DeJesus Jr., and Outfielder Jerry Sands. With the exception of De La Rosa, I do not believe any of the players traded had a future with the Dodgers. The Dodgers have waited forever for Loney to live up to his potential, Webster is still 2 or 3 years away, DeJesus never could get over the hump, and Sands was never really going to get a legitimate chance because of the Dodgers crowded outfield. For the Boston Red Sox, this deal was primarily financial. They unloaded $261 Million in salary and the Dodgers opened up the checkbook like they never have before especially during the McCourt years. With the exception of Punto, all of the players the Dodgers acquired have been All-Stars, MVPs in one way, shape, or form, and are still in their prime. Carl Crawford will not be able to help the Dodgers this year but the Dodgers have seriously changed the balance of power in the National League West.

Offensive Explosion

With a mega trade on the horizon, the Dodgers scored 11 runs last night to beat the Miami Marlins 11-4. Maybe they should threaten to trade the entire team. The Dodgers hit three homeruns (Andre Ethier, Juan Rivera, Hanley Ramirez) and the bullpen only gave up 1 run in 5 2/3 IP. The victory came at a price as Chad Billingsley left the game with right elbow tenderness and it looks like he might be headed to the 15-day Disabled List (again). They are still trailing in the National League West but it looks like help is on the way.

How The West Was Lost

Offense or lack of it is how the National League West was lost. For all of the offensive firepower the Dodgers have in their lineup, they are not capable of putting up 5 or 6 runs a game on a consistent basis. The Giants pitchers mowed them down. If it wasn't for a three-run bottom of the eigth inning last night, the Dodgers would have scored three runs in three games, almost mirroring the Dodgers "shutout series" series against the Giants earlier in the season. I tried to downplay this series in the greater scheme of 40+ games left in the season but I didn't imagine the Dodgers getting swept either. The Dodgers have tonight off before the Miami Marlins come to Los Angeles. I would give them the day off. Batting Practice seems to be doing more harm than good.

Losing A Pitcher's Duel

That was a tough loss last night. In retrospect, I should have gone with my Voodoo Doll. Joe Blanton versus Tim Lincecum is not exactly the matchup in game two that maximizes the Dodgers chance to win. I am hoping Joe Blanton picks tonight to pitch the game of his brief Dodger career. The Dodgers also activated Rubby De La Rosa tonight from the 60-day Disabled List and vanquished Javy Geurra down to the minors. I am sure Guerra will be recalled September 1st when the Dodgers can expand their roster to 40. Activating Rubby is a rather strange move considering it is so close to September 1st. I wonder if it is too early to have Rubby take Joe Blanton's place in the starting rotation?

An Important Road Trip

The Dodgers won all three series on their 10-game road trip and went 7-3 and put themselves back in first place in the National League West. Chad Billingsley won his sixth straight decision in impressive fashion last night with 7 innings of shutout baseball versus the Atlanta Braves. Mark Ellis was the offensive star hitting a bases loaded double in the top of the ninth inning to seal the deal. They face the Giants at Dodger stadium tonight. I do not think it is a series that will decide the NL West right now but the Dodgers cannot afford to get swept and give the Giants any kind of momentum either. The Dodgers have who they want opening the series tonight in Clayton Kershaw. He faces off against Madison Bumgarner, a really tough, young left-hander. I have a Madison Bumgarner bobblehead courtesy of the Hickory Crawdads from a couple of years ago and if I thought it would help the Dodgers, I would turn it into a voodoo doll and start sticking pins in it but I will settle for a couple of Matt Kemp homeruns. A grand slam from Hanley Ramirez would be nice as well.

Ozzie Guillen

Miami Marlins Manager Ozzie Guillen went on record the other day, railing about Hanley Ramirez and his homerun celebrations no matter how far ahead or behind his team is. To his credit, he also pointed out that players on his team do it as well and that a homerun celebration has become part of today's baseball culture. Ozzie Guillen is very opinionated and he is always good for an interview and a quote and that is not necessarily a good thing. He demonstrates something else that has become a part of baseball culture and that is the outspoken manager who tries to be bigger than his team.

Who Needs Singles?

The Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves last night 6-2 on 4 hits, all of them homeruns. Hanley Ramirez hit 2 and James Loney and Luis Cruz hit the others. In the top of the second the Dodgers hit back-to-back-to-back homeruns. All of these homeruns came off Braves starter Ben Sheets who is having an excellent comeback season. Beating the Braves is always a big deal for me. I live on the fringe of Atlanta Braves territory and the Braves are constantly thrown in my face. I refer to them as the "Buffalo Bills of baseball" for their inability to win the World Series in spite of having the best team in baseball for much of the early 1990's. The Dodgers blew one on Friday night and I need them to finish out the three game series strong this afternoon.

The Pittsburgh Pirates

Deep down I would like to see the Pittsburgh Pirates do well. Maybe even win the National League East. I just don't want them to do it at the Dodgers expense. Former Dodger pitcher James McDonald is having a strong season. The Dodgers have looked good in the first two games, 5-4 and 11-0 Dodger victories. Shane Victorino is finally starting to get hot, driving in three in the first game including his first homerun as a Dodger. He is the leadoff hitter the Dodgers have been missing all season. Chad Billingsley pitched 8 solid innings and won his 5th straight decision. The Dodgers only got one extra base hit in the 11-0 victory, a two-run double by Hanley Ramirez. Clayton Kershaw goes to the mound in game #3.

Two Out Of Three From The Fish

Chris Capuano and Hanley Ramirez ensured that the Dodgers would take the series from the Miami Marlins by leading the way in the 5-0 win. Capuano took a no-hitter into the 7th inning (2 hits in 8 innings) and Hanley Ramirez drove in 3 giving him 5 RBI's in the two victories in the series. The Dodgers needed to get off to a good start on the road trip. It will be interesting to see what kind of roster moves the Dodgers make when they can expand the rosters on September 1st. The Dodgers need catching help. AJ Ellis is banged up, backup Matt Treanor's Batting Average is well below the Mendoza Line, and it might be time to give Tim Fedorowicz some playing time outside of the token at bats he got in a late season call up last year. Dee Gordon should be coming off the Disabled List soon and be added to the mix.

Hanley Ramirez's Homecoming

Hanley Ramirez's first game in Miami as a Dodger can be deemed a success for him and the Dodgers. He had 3 hits and drove in a pair in the Dodgers 5-2 series opening win. Juan Rivera hit a two-run homer to help back the 6 1/3 innings of 2 run ball by starter clayton Kershaw (10-6). If you give Clayton Kershaw 5 runs worth of support he is going to win the vast majority of the time. Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth to nail down his 23rd save. The Dodgers have been hard pressed to put together too many big innings this year but they managed to put up 4 in the top of the sixth inning in this game. That qualifies as a big inning for the Dodgers. Joe Blanton goes for his first win for the Dodgers in game #2 of the series.

Where Is The Offense?

Where is all of this offense the Dodgers traded for at the trade deadline? With the exception of the last game of the series against the Colorado Rockies, it was pretty much MIA. One run in the first two games. Newcomer Shane Victorino had three hits and scored three runs and Matt Kemp had three hits including a three-run homer in the 6-4 win. Chad Billingsley had his worst start since coming off the DL but he still hung around long enough to get the win (8-9). The Miami Marlins are up next for the Dodgers and I am hoping that Hanley Ramirez can put it all together for one series. The Dodgers need to start this road trip out strong.

The Stretch Run

The Dodgers defeated the Chicago Cubs last night 3-1. They were powered by Clayton Kershaw's 7 innings of 3 hit, 1 run pitching and Matt Kemp's two-run homer, his 16th, in the bottom of the 4th inning. They are 1/2 behind the San Francisco Giants. They send Joe Blanton to the mound this afternoon in his first start for the Dodgers for the series sweep. The Dodgers have made more moves this season than they have in the past several years and are geared up for the stretch run. The Dodgers new parts are struggling to get acclimated to the Dodgers. After Hanley Ramirez's hot start with his new team, he is mired in a 3 for 23 slump although he does have 10 RBI's. Shane Victorino is only 2 for 12 since coming over from the Phillies. Pitcher Randy Choate has appeared in 5 games, giving up 1 run in 3 2/3 IP, and Brandon League has only appeared in 2 games, giving up a run in 1 1/3 IP. Joe Blanton makes his Dodger debut this afternoon.

The Phillies West

In spite of the Dodgers best effort to become the parent club of the Philadelphia Phillies, the Dodgers rolled over the Chicago Cubs 6-1 in the opener of their series last night. Chad Billingsley led the way with 7 innings of one run ball and A.J. Ellis hit two homeruns, giving him 10 on the year. Hanley Ramirez got his first start of the year at Shortstop and drove in a pair. Billingsley has only given up 2 runs in 20 1/3 innings since coming off the Disabled List, powering him to 3 straight wins and a 7-9 overall record. The Dodgers acquired Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton for the infamous player to be named later and cash and the Dodgers also went thru the formality of claiming Cliff Lee off waivers but I very seriously doubt anything will come out of that. The new Dodgers ownership is showing the willingness to assemble the pieces necessary that will take the Dodgers deep into the postseason. Now it just has to happen on the field.

The Diamondbacks Strike

With all of this new offensive firepower the Dodgers have, a three game sweep by the Arizona Diamondbacks where the Dodgers scored 4 runs was not what I had in mind. Newly acquired Shane Victorino only played in the last game of the series, a 4-0 shutout. I am hoping all of the new parts will gel soon and some good team chemistry comes out of it. In the "someone had to go" category the Dodgers designated Bobby Abreu for assignment. I think he did some decent things for the Dodgers but he was not the answer they were looking for.

The New Additions

The Dodgers were very active up to the end of the trade deadline with the newest additions being Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino and Seattle Mariners Right-hander Brandon League. In Victorino, the Dodgers got the leadoff hitter they have been missing since Dee Gordon went down. He is only 31 years old, was originally drafted by the Dodgers, and will give them the production out of Leftfield they have been missing. The Dodgers traded 3 minor leaguers and pitcher Josh Lindblom and Brandon League slides into his setup role. The Texas Rangers won the Ryan Dempster sweepstakes and all of the baseball experts are saying the Dodgers lost out by not acquiring him. I believe they'll be good to go. The Giants also bettered their offense by trading for Phillies outfielder Hunter Pence. Talk about your fire sales.I am surprised the Phillies didn't try trading the Liberty Bell.

Sweeping The Giants

Clayton Kershaw finished off the sweep of the Giants yesterday with a 5-hit shutout in a 4-0 Dodgers win. The win allowed the Dodgers to tie the Giants for the lead in the National League West. After the Giants shutout sweep of the Dodgers about a month ago, this was a different Dodger team the Giants faced in this series. Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier were both back and Hanley Ramirez has joined the team since then. Shortstop Luis Cruz has also joined the team since that series and he drove in 2 of the 4 runs in yesterdays game. Dee Gordon may have a hard time getting his job back when he comes off the Disabled List. Cruz plays a more consistent shortstop, hits for more power, and for a better average than Gordon. He has no where close to the speed Gordon has. Catcher A.J. Ellis had the unusual line in the boxscore of having no official plate appearances but he drew 4 bases on balls. Albuquerque Isotopes Outfielder Jerry Sands hit 2 grand slams in a AAA game yesterday and I would love for him to be able to bring that power with him when the rosters expand September 1.

Making A Statement

Yesterdays 10-0 win over the San Francisco Giants is the kind of statement I was talking about. The Dodgers got solid pitching from Chad Billingsley (7 1/3 IP, 0 runs), power from Matt Kemp (a two-run homer), and ESPN Sportscenter making highlight defense from Andre Ethier. That leaves the Dodgers one game back of the Giants in the National League West. Hanley Ramirez is 6 for 16 with 6 RBI's since the trade and the trade seems to have energized the rest of the Dodgers as well. The Dodgers did roll out a different batting order last night. Mark Ellis batted leadoff with Andre Ethier batting second against a lefty Barry Zito. Manager Don Mattingly was hoping to get Ethier jump started by hopefully getting him better pitches to see batting in front of Kemp and Ramirez. He went 0 for 4 with a run scored. Nathan Eovaldi got a win in his first start with the Miami Marlins as well. I really hated to see him go but the Dodgers needed bats.

The Giants Series

I hate to think a series with the San Francisco Giants at the end of July is key to the Dodgers season but in this case, I believe it is. It is time for the Dodgers to make a statement. In Game One, they won the first round. What is a Dodger game here lately without the Dodgers bullpen taking a few jabs to the nose and letting the Giants tie the game up in the late innings. Newly acquired Hanley Ramirez delivered the knockout blow with a two-run homer in the 10th inning. I could live without all of the hot dogging after he hit it but who better do do it against than the San Francisco Giants. Another Dodger, Scott Elbert, hit the Disabled List so the Dodgers are back down to one Lefty in the bullpen. All of the internet chatter has the Dodgers back in the Ryan Dempster sweepstakes and I would really give that up if I was the Dodgers. All of their parts are slowly coming back and I really do not want to trade any more young arms.

Hanley Ramirez

The Dodgers traded for the bat in Hanley Ramirez from the Florida Marlins that they hope is going to put them over the top. They were also able to get the additional left-hander for the bullpen in Randy Choate to take some of the burden off Scott Elbert. They gave up Nate Eovaldi and a minor league pitcher in return. This may push Juan Uribe out altogether and I see Adam Kennedy staying in the same role- spot starting and pinch-hit duty although he did hit the 15-Day DL today with a groin injury. Hanley Ramirez has not been the same player the past two seasons that he was in the first five seasons of his career. I am hoping this trade will snap him out of this season long slump and provide the kick in the pants the Dodgers offense needs.

Five In A Row

The Dodgers have surged to five wins in a row including a sweep of the New York Mets. In Sunday's finale against the Mets I thought the Dodgers bullpen (and James Loney's glove and hands) had blown another one when the Mets tied it at 3 in the bottom of the ninth. Don Mattingly pushed all of the right buttons in extra innings. Pinch hitters Matt Treanor and Adam Kennedy drove in two runs a piece in the top of the 12th and rookie Josh Wall got the win with a scoreless inning of relief in his major league debut. Wall has been appearing on the Dodgers top prospects list in Baseball America since 2006 and he has always been projected as a starter. This is his first year as a closer and he was leading Albuquerque in saves when he was called up. The Dodgers opened the series with the St. Louis Cardinals with a 5-3 win as Chad Billingsley (5-9) came off the Disabled List and gave up one run in 6 innings for the win. Luis Cruz struck the big blow with a three-run homer in the 2nd inning and Mark Ellis drove in the other two.

Juan Uribe

As soon as I want to dump Juan Uribe, he comes thru with a homerun and has 4 RBI's. Maybe its time to dump James Loney. Chris Capuano (10-5) had a so-so performance but got the win. The Dodgers bullpen can't seem to stand it if they don't make it exciting but Kenley Jansen got his 18th save after putting two on in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Ryan Dempster talks have kind of cooled but now the Dodgers seem interested in Cubs right-hander Matt Garza. The principals have probably not changed much, if at all, for the Dodgers but Matt Garza is younger than Kempster and may come with a higher asking price. With Billingsley and Lilly set to come off the Disabled List, possibly as soon as Monday, this could get interesting. Billingsley just can't seem to put it together and may end up as the long man out of the bullpen if he is with the Dodgers at all.

New York, New York

The Dodgers started off a ten-game road trip by winning the opener against the New York Mets 7-6. The seven runs scored by the Dodgers represents about a weeks worth of runs scored here lately and I am hoping they didn't use it all up. Aaron Harang (7-5) hung around long enough to get the win and Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth to get his 17th save. Sometimes watching the Dodgers bullpen labor through the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings is like watching a car wreck and this game was no different. Matt Kemp hit a homer, his 14th, in his second straight game and it is paramount for the Dodgers for him to get rolling again. Shortstop Luis Cruz hit his first major league homerun off Johan Santana of the Mets and I have to admit, I know very little about Luis Cruz and I had to do a little bit of research. He looked good in spring training from what I saw of him but so do a lot of players I never hear from again. He can play a variety of positions in the infield. He had previous experience with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Milwaukee Brewers and I didn't realize he is as big as he is (6'2" and 220)and he has showed some pop in his bat in the minors, hitting 9 homeruns last year at Round Rock in the Pacific Coast League and hitting 8 homeruns thus far at Albuquerque this season before the call up. He became the Dodgers shortstop by default when Dee Gordon got hurt.

The Ryan Dempster Sweepstakes

The Boston Red Sox are evidently out of the Ryan Dempster Sweepstakes and the Dodgers are back in the running. The Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves are also seeking Dempster via trade. The latest internet rumor has the Dodgers offering Outfielder Jerry Sands and two minor league pitchers for Dempster. Former First Rounder Pitcher Zach Lee is probably going to be mentioned in any trade before the deadline and I am begging Ned Colletti to not do it. This is not a baseball card you are trading but a power arm that is only 19 or 20 years old and holding his own at AA Chattanooga. He is one of the top ranked Dodger prospects and that would be to steep a price to pay for less than a half a season and 13 or 14 starts from Ryan Dempster. The Dodgers need bats. I like going after Third Baseman Chase Headley of the San Diego Padres. It is time to cut our losses on the Juan Uribe experiment. For that matter bring up Josh Fields from Albuquerque. I liked him in Spring Training. I know there has to be a price that is paid but I would like to suggest Nathan Eovaldi, Jerry Sands, and Ethan Martin for Dempster. This is also probably why I am not a General Manager.

A Waste Of Good Piching

The Dodgers have wasted some excellent starting pitching the past couple of games and they were lucky to come out of it with at least one win. They are only 2-4 since the All-Star break and the Giants hot start in the second half have left the Dodgers 2 1/2 games out of first in the National League West. Stephen Fife (no relation to Barney) pitched an excellent game in his major league debut giving up a lone run to the Philadelphia Phillies in 6 innings and left with a 2-1 lead that the Los Angeles bullpen could not protect. That game ended in a 3-2 loss. As a reward, Stephen Fife got sent back to AAA Albuquerque when Javy Guerra came off the Bereavement List. In the series finale The Dodgers scored 2 runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie it at 3 before Matt Kemp won it with a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the 12th. Starter Clayton Kershaw only gave up one run in 8 innings but once again, did not get the win. Matt Kemp drove in three runs and it was his first homer and first RBI's since coming off the Disabled List. We need a lot more of that if they are going to pull this out.

The Post All-Satar Break Blues

Losing 3 out of 4 games to start the second half of the season is not exactly how I pictured the Dodgers taking control of the National League West. The Dodgers have even created new and exciting, ESPN-worthy ways to lose. They gave up a stolen base in the ninth inning to tie a game they later lost and then they committed 5 errors the next day to lose again. And they lost to the Padres. The stinking San Diego Padres. Their offense needs help. Getting Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier back hasn't seemed to help. The two biggest internet rumors are going around are the Dodgers going after Ryan Dempster, starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, and Shortstop Jimmy Rollins of the Philadelphia Phillies. I believe they are out of the running for Dempster, the Red Sox have more prospects and a glut of outfielders to offer in a trade, and I can't see the Dodgers trading for Jimmy Rollins. I don't believe he would be a good fit for this team. He is a high salary, aging veteran who is not going to put the Dodgers over the top. That does however seem like Ned Colletti's kind of trade. I hope Magic Johnson has the power of veto.

The All-Star Break

The Dodgers staggered into the All-Star break like Otis Campbell staggers into the Mayberry Jail on a Saturday night. I had to throw in a Andy Griffith Show reference. RIP Andy Griffith, a fellow Tarheel thru and thru. The surprising thing is that they are still in first place in the National League West with a 47-40 record, a 1/2 game over the rival San Francisco Giants. There have been a lot of positives in the first half of the season. Matt Kemp's great start, Chris Capuano's 9-4 record, contributions from a bunch of call ups from the minors and a ragtag bench, AJ Ellis emerging as an everyday catcher, and Kenley Jansen emerging as the closer out of the bullpen. The negatives can pretty much be summed up with one word. Injuries. Then there were more injuries. Then I think a player may have got hurt. There are a lot of things to look forward to in the second half. Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier's return, Clayton Kershaw getting on a roll like he did last year, and Nathan Eovaldi getting some run support.

The Dodgers Need Hitters

The Los Angeles Isotopes or the Albuquerque Dodgers need hitters. The Dodgers have been shutout in 5 of their last 7 games including a shutout sweep by the San Francisco Giants. I do not know if this kind of offensive futility has ever been achieved in baseball history. I was able to catch the Mets game last night and Dee Gordon and Elian Herrera bunting was about the hardest the Dodgers hit the ball all night long. Carlos Lee of the Houston Astros has been mentioned as a possible trade but he is only batting .290 with 5 homeruns and 29 RBI's as of this posting. He is not the answer. He is 36 years old, at the tail end of his career, and he is a defensive liability as well. The Dodgers do not even have much to offer in the way of trade material. James Loney has no value and all they have is some young arms in the minors. Hopefully the Dodgers will be getting all of their major pieces back soon and they can recapture the National League West.

Finally A Win In The Freeway Series

The Freeway Series between the Angels and the Dodgers has been the Highway To Hell (to borrow the title from AC/DC) for the Dodgers pretty much ever since it started. They finally won a game against the Angels last night 5-2 as Aaron Harang only allowed two unearned runs in 7 innings (but still did not get the win). Ex-Angel Juan Rivera got the big blow in the bottom of the eighth with a three-run homer (only his 3rd) after Andre Ethier tied the game with a single. Earlier in the day the Dodgers locked up Ethier with a five year, $85 million contract. He has only had one season worthy of that big of a contract but a contract is usually based on potential rather than what he has done in the past. Ethier is on pace this season to top his career high of 106 RBI's from a few seasons ago.

The Enigma That Is Chad Billingsley

Just when I am ready to write off Starter Chad Billingsley, he comes thru with a couple of solid performances that makes me wonder if trading him would be such a wise move. Inconsistency has always been a big problem for him, and it seems it is more so this season than any other in his career. Statistically, he is in line to have the same season he always does- about 32 starts, almost 200 innings pitched, and ERA between 3.5-4, and 11 or 12 wins. On most teams in the majors, he would probably be considered the staff ace. He always has the potential to win 15 to 20 games but the inconsistency is holding him back and as a Dodger fan, it is so damn frustrating. He will have 3 or 4 solid starts in a row followed by as many bad ones. This is his 7th season in the majors, all with the Dodgers and you would hope he would turn that corner by now. I would keep him based on his potential. That and the fact that the Dodgers are in first place right now and really have nothing to replace him with. Nathan Eovaldi is the next arm that is major league ready but right now but he is currently filling the shoes of Ted Lilly, who is taking his second turn on the Disabled List and the season has not even reached its halfway point. I do not see the Dodgers getting equal value in trade and it seems that Ned Colletti never does. Ned Colletti is someone I would want to trade baseball cards with. I once traded 7 cards for a 1978 Topps Al Oliver. I don't know who I traded for him but all I know is I had to have that card.

A.J. Ellis

I believe I can hear the "MVP" chants for A.J. Ellis all the way in North Carolina. A three-run walk-off homerun against the Houston Astros last night. He's batting over .300, and OBP of over .400, and third on the team in RBI's with 23. What else can he do? I watched the Phillies-Cardinals broadcast yesterday afternoon and announcers Tim McCarver and the young Buck were extolling the virtues of Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz and what a great season he is having. He is having a great season but the difference is that A.J. Ellis is having a great season on a team with the best record in baseball. The Dodgers have also had to call up about half of the roster of the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes. A.J. Ellis is one of those players that you really want to see succeed. He works hard, does his job quietly, and he is a team player. He is a classic late bloomer as a player and did not become a starter until this year and it is great to see his hard work pay off with results.

Chris Capuano- The Free Agent Steal Of The Season

I seriously doubted the signing of Free Agent pitcher Chris Capuano during this past off season. Up to this point, he is making me look bad and I couldn't be happier. He has more wins (4) than Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw together and a better ERA than both. He is the free agent steal of the off season. I really have to question the Dodgers signing a couple of days ago of Outfielder Bobby Abreu. I hope I am proven wrong again. I believe this signing was due in large part to the Spring Training and AAA struggles of Jerry Sands. They made a couple of different roster moves. Relief pitcher Mike MacDougal was designated for Assignment (he has to clear waivers and accept the assignment first) and Infielder Justin Sellers was sent to Albuquerque. Ronald Belisario was activated before playing the Chicago Cubs last night and pitched a scoreless inning. It has been well over a year since he has pitched in a game.

Ted Lilly Comes Back Strong

I have to admit that I have never been a big Ted Lilly fan. I always thought he was just a middle of the road pitcher who aspired to be a .500 pitcher. Last years 12-14 record with a 3.97 ERA was a case in point. He did have a great second half last season which gave me hope for this season. His first couple of starts in Spring Training, starting the season on the Disabled List, and getting knocked around in a couple of rehab starts quickly dashed those hopes.

I have renewed hope again after a solid start last night against the San Diego Padres. 7 IP, 1 run and no earned runs, in a 6-1 Dodgers win. Matt Kemp hit two two-run homeruns in the first two innings to lead the Dodgers offense. You have to love those chants of "MVP! MVP!" as he rounds the bases.

The Dodgers are 8-1 on the season and that rolls right off the tongue. Its too bad that they can't play the Padres about 50 times a season.

Haranged

The San Diego Padres were Haranged last night to the tune of 13 strikeouts, including a Dodger record of 9 in a row at one point. When I heard that, it amazed me. Think about that for a minute. All of the great Dodgers pitchers they have had- Koufax, Drysdale, Valenzuela, Hershiser and the rest- and Aaron Harang broke the record. It was a record set by Johnny Podres almost 50 years ago. It was still not enough to get the win for Harang.

Insert one Todd Coffey, Scott Elbert, and Kenley Jansen and the game is tied goin g in to the n inth inning. The Padres could not stand the prosperity and walked 4 straight batters with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning (Andre Ethier with the walk off walk) to pull out the win and send the Dodgers to 7-1 on the season.

Matt Kemp is off to an MVP start, batting over .400 with 3 HR's including one to the opposite field last night, and the big contract the Dodgers signed him to looks like a sound investment to this point. Andre Ethier's Batting Average may not be much but he has 13 RBI's in 8 games and getting the hits when they count.

Josh Lindblom vs. Todd Coffey

With Ted Lilly due to come off the Disabled List today and scheduled to start tonight against the San Diego Padres, the Dodgers have a decision to make. The decision is whether to send Josh Lindblom back down to AAA Albuquerque or to cut fellow reliever Todd Coffey completely loose.

On the surface it seems like an easy decision. Josh Lindblom has pitched in 4 games, 6 IP, and alowed only 1 hit and 0 ER. Todd Coffey has appeared in 3 games, 1 IP, and allowed 4 ER. He also got roughed up during Spring Training.

It was assumed at the beginning of the season that when Ted Lilly went on the Disabled List, that Lindblom would be sent down when he came off the DL because Lindblom has options left. He has made that decision much harder by pitching lights out baseball whereas I believe Don Mattingly has lost confidence in Todd Coffey. He was put in last night's game with an 8-3 lead so he could get some work in. He did not register an out.

Wins and Losses are all that matter and right now I believe Josh Lindblom will help them more than Todd Coffey will. Maybe Coffey will accept an assignment to the minors so he can work out whatever problems he seems to be having.

Excited About The Potential Of Dee

As a Los Angeles Dodgers fan and a baseball fan, you have to be excited about the potential of shortstop Dee Gordon. In last nights game against the San Diego Padres, he got on base 5 out of 6 times via 3 hits and two walks, doubled, stole 3 bases, and drove in AJ Ellis with the winning run in the 11th inning.

Good things happen when he is on base and the Dodgers haven't had this an exciting of a leadoff hitter in forever and he is still learning the game. He did not really start playing baseball until late in his high school career. He was a relatively high draft pick but it was all based on potential. It looks like the Dodgers scouts and brass made a good call on this one.

Andre Ethier has also gotten off to a hot start. 6 RBI's in 3 games and most of his at bats have produced screaming line drives. A 3-0 start is a good way to start the season and Aaron Harang goes for the sweep this afternoon.

Chad Billingsley

Chad Billingsley got off to an extremely strong start to the 2012 season by pitching 8 1/3 innings of shutout baseball against the San Diego Padres last night. He struck out 11 and walked 1.

The big knock against Billingsley has always been his consistency. He has usually started strong and faltered after the All-Star break. This was the kind of start he needed and hopefully will answer a lot of questions Dodgers fans had about whether he can finally harness his potential. He put in the work this spring without really getting any results but now it counts.

He had a rocky spring training and even spoke of scrapping his cutter altogether. He slightly altered his motion to give him more balance and consistency and it looked like it all came together last night. The cutter and slider were consistent and sharp into the 8th inning and he maintained his velocity of 90-93 MPH into the 9th.

Andre Ethier also had a strong performance against the left-handed starter for the Padres, doubling and tripling and driving in 4 runs. He was really driving the ball. There was questions in the spring about whether Ethier would possibly sit against left-handed pitching this season after he struggled last season against lefties. Manager Don Mattingly sat James Loney last night.

The Dodgers are 2-0 and the two newest additions, Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang are up next, and a sweep would be really sweet.

The Los Angeles Dodgers Take The Opener

The Los Angeles Dodgers took the opener from the San Diego Padres last night 5-3. Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw had the flu and pitched three scoreless innings before being taken out of the game. He also had the first Dodgers hit of the season.

I hope the Dodgers offense was not in midseason form. They scored their first two runs on bases loaded walks in the top of the fourth inning. Leadoff man Dee Gordon struck out three times but hit a deep drive that Padres centerfielder Cameron Maybin misplayed into a three base error and later scored the Dodgers third run. Matt Kemp hit a homerun in the top of the eighth to seal the deal for the Dodgers.

Dee Gordon's defense was impressive. He displayed a strong arm on two different occasions. The first was on Cameron Maybin's slow bouncer to the left of short in the bottom of the first. The second was on a deflection off the hip of pitcher Josh Lindblom that went up the middle. Gordon made a diving stop and then made a strong throw to nail the runner by half a step.

The Dodgers pitching was average. Clayton kershaw gutted it out through three innings, giving way to Josh Lindblom who threw two scoreless innings and picked up the win. Shaky innings by Mike MacDougal and Kenley Jansen let the Padres hang around. Jansen gave up Maybin's bomb in the eighth that drove in two. Javy Guerra came in to close it out and get his first save of the season.

A New Beginning

It is time for the 2012 season to begin and that is what this season is: A New Beginning. The Dodgers finally have new owners in place as a group headed by Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers for $2 Billion. That is hard to type much less say.

With the ownership question out of the way, I look for the Dodgers to be more active next off season in the free agent market. This years roster has already been set as it was announced the other day that relief pitcher Josh Lindblom and shortstop Justin Sellers nabbed the last two roster spots. Lindblom will probably be sent back to Albuquerque when Ted Lilly comes off the Disabled List on April 14th and the Dodgers need a fifth starter. My man Josh Fields did not make the roster has he really went in the tank the last two or three weeks of Spring Training and his batting average really took a nose dive. Justin Sellers had a solid spring and earned the last infield spot although I do believe Fields offered more versatility and more power off the bench.

Jerry Sands

Jerry Sands got sent down to the minors yesterday which really surprised no one with the kind of numbers he has posted this spring. It is the best move for him and for the Dodgers right now because he really needs some steady at bats. Getting spot duty and at bats off the bench at the major league level may hinder his development right now.

I am really rooting for Jerry Sands. He came out of Catawba College which is only a little over an hour away from me so I guess you could call him a local product. He came up with a lot of hype last year but only produced two homeruns in a May call up. He was sent back down in June but he really tore it up in a September audition and gave the Dodgers and their fans up for the power hitters future.

When I see what Jerry Sands has done so far in the minors and his brief career in the pros, it reminds me of Billy Ashley. He was the wunderkind of the 1990's for the Dodgers but in his brief career with the Dodgers he only posted 25 homeruns, 77 Runs Batted In, and a .233 Batting Average spread out over 6 seasons. He finished his career with the Boston Red Sox. He was just never able to translate his minor league power to the major league level.

Here's hoping that Jerry Sands can figure it out in Albuquerque and gets a legitimate chance in Los Angeles sometime this season.

The Dodgers Preview On The MLB Network

I just had a chance to watch the MLB Network's preview of the 2012 Los Angeles Dodgers. The Baseball Prospectus and the MLB Network predicted the Dodgers would just be average this year. The Baseball Prospectus predicted a 78-84 finish and in last place in the National League West. Mitch Williams and Larry Bowa predicted a few games over .500 finish and 3rd place in the National League West.

A lot of variables go into a major league season with injuries probably being the number one variable. The Cincinnati Reds have already lost newly signed closer Ryan Madson for the season due to an elbow injury. No one can predict how San Francisco Giants Catcher Buster Posey will bounce back from his leg injury.

The Dodgers have come out of Spring Training relatively injury free with the exception of Blake Hawksworth and Matt Guerrier and the normal pulls and tweaks. The position players are all coming out relatively intact and that is a good sign.

The Dodgers 25 man roster was virtually set going into camp with the exception of a reserve outfield and infield position and a couple of bullpen spots. They have Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw leading the charge and I believe they can win the National League West. They will have to win with what they have coming out of Spring Training. There is not much available from the minors so any major injuries and the season could go down the tubes quickly.

This is year number two of Don Mattingly's reign as Dodgers skipper and they finished strong last year and it would be great to start out fast and get to the All-Star break within about 5 games of first place.

Fields And Sullivan

Two Non-Roster Invitees making a good impression thus far in Spring Training are Josh Fields and Corey Sullivan. Fields is a natural Third Baseman, being drafted and coming up thru the Chicago White Sox organization and Sullivan is an Outfielder that came up thru the Colorado Rockies organization.

Both are long shots to make the team but both have displayed the versatility to play multiple positions. Fields has logged some innings at First Base as a possible backup/platoon for James Loney and Sullivan has played all three outfield positions.

I like Fields as the alternative to Adam Kennedy as the backup at the corners bcause he is younger and has more pop in his bat. Kennedy is a left-handed bat coming off the bench and he can also play the middle infield positions if the need arises.

Unless Jerry Sands falls completely on his face, the outfield rotation is set with Juan Rivera, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Tony Gwynn Jr., and Jerry Sands. Sullivan is a left-handed bat but he is fighting an uphill battle and the recently added Matt Angle also adds some depth.

The First Spring Training Game

Baseball is officially back today. In my mind, it really doesn't become official until they start playing Spring Training games. They can play all of the intrasquad scrimmages they want to, work on pickoff plays, and all of the baserunning drills they want to, but it doesn't become official until they throw the first pitch.

I have to agree with Philbeck of the Los Angeles Times. I am paraphrasing but this might be the most boring Spring Training in Los Angeles Dodgers history. Barring injuries, the roster is pretty well set and there probably won't be any major changes. There are no rookie phenoms set to take the Dodgers by storm and there are no has beens bidding to have one more outstanding summer in the sun.

I think the Dodgers need more infield depth, especially at the corners. I am not sold on Juan Uribe being the everday Third Baseman, so it was interesting to see that non-roster invitee and natural Third Baseman Josh Fields got his playing time today at First Base, behind James Loney. He might make the team backing up the corners based on his versatility but there are several players on the team that can play multiple positions.

Outfielder Scott Van Slyke hit a mammoth Homerun today but I don't care how much he hits, I would have to believe he is ticketed for AAA Albuquerque. I also believe he is a little old to be considered a prospect anymore, especially with all of the time he has spent in the lower minors. If he can hit at all, I am sure the Dodgers could use him at some point and time during the season.

Starter Chad Billingsley had a solid two innings today but Nathan Eovaldi was a little shaky in his two innings of work, issuing a couple of walks. I also don't see him making the Dodgers when they break camp and he will probably end up back in AA Chattanooga.

3 In The Top 100

MLB.com released their top 100 prospects for Major League Baseball in 2012 the other night. The Los Angeles Dodgers placed 3 in the top 100, all of them right-handed pitchers. The Dodgers minor league system is not the system they had in the late 1970's and early '80's when they practically owned the Rookie of the Year Award. They do not really have any major league ready bats in the farm system.

Right-handed pitcher Zach Lee was the top rated Dodger prospect coming in at #46. The Dodgers signed him off the practice field of LSU's football team and the results have been pretty good to this point. He is still a work in progress with his secondary pitches but is a power arm and the potential is definitely there.

Nathan Eovaldi was next and was ranked in the low 70's. He logged some innings with the Dodgers last year and finished with a record of 1-2 but might end up back at Chattanooga to start the season. Consistency has been his biggest issue to this point.

Another Right-handed starting Pitcher Allen Webster came in next at #79. He struggled a little bit at AA Chattanooga last year posting an ERA of 5+ but has an excellent upside. He will probably start the season back at Chattanooga to start the season.

Dodgers Potential Ownership Groups Part II

Magic Johnson- Magic Johnson is Los Angeles Sports. After his Hall of Fame Basketball career was cut short, he became an entrepreneur in the Southern California area and he may have the financial backing to pull it off. He would do what needs to be done as an owner to put a winner on the field.

Mark Cuban- He is the most intriguing possibility as an owner. As the owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, he is a fan's owner. He is a visible presence at all of the games, he is very passionate about his team, and he does what it takes to put a winner on the court. There is no doubt in my mind that he will do the same for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is also a visible presence in the Dallas community. I may not agree with everything he says or does but he is all about winning.

Dodgers Potential Ownership Groups Part I

The Dodgers ownership looks like it is finally going to be settled. At least for the time being. The plan is for the sale of the Dodgers to be finalized by the end of April. They accepted somewhere in the neighborhood of ten bids and Frank McCourt predicted that the final sale price will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.5 billion.

All of the ownership groups have a face in front of the money. I am not familiar with the man behind the money so I am going to concentrate on the faces.

Joe Torre- This is the least attractive of the Dodgers ownership options. Although he is a career baseball man, I have never been a Joe Torre fan. I believe he and Ned Colletti are the biggest reasons behind the on field mess and the depleted minor league system (currently ranked #22 in a Minor league Ball website posting). I doubt there would be any improvement if he was the face behind the new ownership group.

Orel Hershiser and Steve Garvey- These two icons of Los Angeles Dodgers baseball are attractive as an ownership option for that reason. Steve Garvey was fired from his public relations position by Frank McCourt in the middle of last season because of his desire to own the Dodgers. Orel Hershiser is still actively involved with baseball as an anouncer for ESPN. Once again, the money behind the faces may not have enough clout to pull this off.

Ethier and Loney

This past week the Dodgers signed Andre Ethier and James Loney to one year contracts and avoided arbitration. I am surprised they are both still with the team. Ned Colletti's decision to stand pat should be a given but at least he didn't trade them and prospects for an aging over the hill veteran.

I have hopes that Andre Ethier can return to his 30 Homerun, 100 RBI performance of a few seasons ago. The Dodgers really do not have anyone from the minors waiting in the wings and I do believe that Ethier has lost a lot of his trade value. Unless the Dodgers make a move in Spring Training, he will be the opening Rightfielder on Opening Day 2012.

I also have hopes that James Loney can finally reach his potential. He is only good for about 10-15 Homeruns a year but he should be able to hit the 100 RBI plateau. Once again, the Dodgers really do not have anyone waiting in the wings although Prince Fielder is a viable free agent option. However with the Dodgers current financial status and the ownership situation being unsettled, the Dodgers cannot afford to make a big free agent splash.

The Non-Roster Invitees

The Los Angeles Dodgers list of Non-Rosters Invitees to Spring Training got a whole lot more interesting when they invited 29-year-old Third Baseman Josh Fields to Spring Training. The Dodgers really don't have a true Third Baseman on their roster right now. Fields bounced around the minors and Japan last season after coming thru the Chicago White Sox organization and spending some time with the Kansas City Royals. He will never hit for a high average but he could provide some pop at the plate and play a decent third base.

The Dodgers need another left-handed reliever. That is why lefties Alberto Castillo and Will Ledezma stand a decent chance of making the team if they have solid spring training performances. They both have major league experience.

Catcher Josh Bard is also an intriguing invitee. The Dodgers top three catchers are A.J. Ellis, Matt Treanor, and Tim Federowicz and none of them are really that impressive. Treanor and Bard have the most experience of the bunch and I don't know if any of them will hit.

Ned Colletti's Whiff 'N Poof Express

I remember seeing a BC comic strip one time where a sports reporter was interviewing the manager of the BC baseball team and he asked him if his teams lineup had a nickname like "Murder's Row" or the "Gas House Gang". The BC manager replied yes, he did, they were called the "Whiff 'N Poof Express".

That comic strip reminded me of Ned Colletti's free agent acquisitions in the past several years. This years crop of Catcher Matt Treanor, and infielders Mark Ellis, Adam Kennedy, and Jerry Hairston, Jr. are all at the tail end of their careers and are all utility men at best. Mark Ellis and Adam Kennedy are probably going to be penciled in as starters at Second and Third Base, respectively, and Catcher Matt Treanor may end up being the starter at Catcher.

Colletti's track record with these signings is not too good and I can use last years signing of Marcus Thames and Jay Gibbons as a reference point. I can only hope that someone emerges from the non-roster invitees or the minor leagues to take over a few positions.

Los Angeles Dodgers Free Agent Acqusitions- Pitching

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed two bargain basement starting pitchers, Right Hander Aaron Harang and Lefty Chris Capuano, for the 2012 season to round out their starting rotation.

Righty Aaron Harang is 34 years old and a veteran of ten seasons. He is also a two time 16-game winner with the Cincinnati Reds and went 14-7 last season with National League West rivals San Diego Padres. He has a career 95-94 record with a 1.347 WHIP. The Dodgers need him to pitch 200+ innings and he has only done that three times in his ten seasons. The Dodgers have young, unproven arms in the minors that could pick up the innings if Harang falters or gets injured but a veteran arm would be real nice down the stretch.

Chris Capuano is a veteran lefty who missed all of the 2008 and 2009 seasons because of arm problems and that is why I am not completely sold on this signing. He is a former 18-game winner with the Milwaukee Brewers with a 1.355 WHIP and he has a career record of 57-64. Once again, they need him to pitch 200+ innings and he has only done that twice in his career. This does give the Dodgers three Lefties in their starting rotation but they don't have many left-handed pitchers in their minor league system.

It would be sweet if the Dodgers could get 20-25 wins out of Harang and Capuano but my prediction is 17 wins. To start the season the Dodgers will at least have an all veteran rotation and it will be interesting to see how far that will take them.