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.