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.