Play Ball!

It has been over five months since my last blog about the Los Angeles Dodgers and losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in the playoffs last year left a bad taste in my mouth. I never felt the Dodgers were at full strength last year with all of the injuries that piled up and Don Mattingly did an amazing job with a bunch of rookies, has beens, and never were's. I was calling for his job after they fell about 10 games under .500 around the middle part of the season, but he proved me wrong and made all of the right moves to get them the National league West crown and into the playoffs. Some managers can do more with less talent than other managers and that may be Don Mattingly's strength. The Dodgers didn't make too big of a splash in the off season with Dan Haren probably being the biggest acquisition. They added second baseman Justin Turner, a former utility man with the New York Mets, late in Spring Training to get some time at second base until either Erisbel Arruebarrena or Alex Guerrero is ready to go. The Dodgers are picked to finish forst in the National League West but I believe injuries will once again be the key. Getting a healthy Matt Kemp back will do wonders for the offense and keeping Hanley Ramirez on the filed will be key as well.