Farewell Joe Torre and Go Dodgers in 2011

Yesterday was an incredible day of a number of different sporting events taking place at the same time. I had a main rotation of afternoon NFL games and Dodger baseball coupled with a longing for the Padres to accomplish the unthinkable...to tie the Giants and make history with 2 possible playoff games for the division and wild card. However, watching the Dodgers start hitting and seeing their bullpen hold Arizona in the 7th and 8th inning, I noticed that fight that has not been there since the All Star break and you saw guys get after it on the last day of the season. You saw them play to win and to win for Joe Torre.

To me, Joe Torre was more than the Bigelow tea commercials and the name linked to the Yankees. He was the Dodgers for three seasons and he wore the Dodger Blue well. He put a name and a face to the Dodgers in the East Coast and on ESPN. However, Joe was really, Phil Jackson without the players. Let's face it, if there were other circumstances and the Dodgers had more of those "it" guys on the roster, the season could have a different outcome. If we had chosen to just pay Randy Wolf, we wouldn't have to try and sign Ted Lilly, which will be impossible.


Joe Torre really tried to make us winners for the 3rd year in a row. It didn't happen, because there was no chemistry in the clubhouse and guys just didn't seem to trust their stuff like John Broxton and Matt Kemp. Despite all of the home runs for Kemp, it doesn't if you strike out as many times as he did.

The biggest disappointment was Ethier after a monstrous start and his injury he was never the same.

I'd like to believe that next year, with Don Mattingly at the helm, there is a guy that knows about playing baseball and coaching baseball players. I think that there is a reason for optimism. However, we've got holes in the pitching staff and not a lot of prospects to fill out our infield, so I remain hopeful as I always am that the Dodgers get a good pitcher and power hitter this year.

Go Dodgers! Go anyone in the playoffs not the Giants!

Final Post of the 2010 Season

With 16 games to go and a 10-2 route of the Boys in Blue, the Dodgers season is now in the balance of having to win all 16 and get help. Looking at the game and being at the game, it was over pretty early when Ted Lilly threw hanging curves to the Giants most dangerous part of the lineup.

Here's what I don't get, I get resting guys and I understand that Ethier's BA is below the Mendoza line versus Sanchez...but why last night??? Why not give the Dodgers one more shot at playing spoiler? Do it for the fans Joe! Do it for your Rookies and call-ups so they understand the magnitude of this rivalry!

No more...

Proper thanks to Vin Scully and all of the workers at Dodger Stadium for making Dodger baseball the greatest thing on earth! Many thanks to Charlie & Rick and Eric and Steve for covering Road games with great detail and humor!

Great feats this season have been the emergence of Clayton Kershaw as an ace and the comeback of Chad B!

My hunch is that Tim Wallach will be our new Manager next year, but there could a new candidate?

LaRussa anyone???

Phillies...So we meet again (Revenge)

Out of the middle of nowhere, the Dodgers are going to find a way to sweep the Phillies. Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, the Beard, and James Loney will each drive up their RBI totals as the hamsters: Scott Podsednik and Ryan Theriot with Jamey Carroll running the bases. I know this sounds ridiculous, but the Dodgers have to give it a shot. Sure they got burned in Colorado, but Colorado is on fire.

A worthy goal is giving it a shot so that the Giants are caught like they never saw it coming and maybe just maybe the WC will be possible. This team sans Manny has everything it needs to compete. They just need a little magic!

Go Dodgers!

Base running, Wild Pitches, and Squeeze Plays

Yes, the Dodgers were almost winners tonight as a result of a number of blunders tonight. From the missed squeeze in the 4th from AJ Ellis to the 3 WPs by Octavio Dotel, and the verbal Stop by Boa sending /not sending Reed Johnson to tie the game. I've seen everything this year. I can sit here and blame Matt Kemp for not being a smart hitter or Boa sending the runner, but I blame the entire team to the team manager.

Meanwhile in San Bernadino, Manny got 3 hits and a strikeout. A 3-4 night means a call up for Jay Gibbons or a trade to a pennant race eligible team. I think that if the Giants came calling, Ned would just let him go. The Dodgers are on the hook for the deferred part of the contract.

Lastly, in my opinion, just when it looks like things are getting better. Everything gets dressed up as a win of an 8 inning game, but in MLB you play ten.

Again, everyone is to blame from the front office to the hot dog vendor. We stink!

Dodgers Slumping, but the Pen is Mightier than the Sword

Dodger fans, we can gripe until the cows come home that the bullpen combination that Torre has worked out is simply just as bad as using Jonathon Broxton...or can we look at the Dodgers failing to produce at the plate as the reasons for giving both Philly and the Braves improbable wins?

The Bullpen has been a sore spot for the Dodgers all season long. As a fan, I have no more confidence in the bullpen even with a 5-run lead! I mean, this is getting more than ridiculous. I know that we are still in the latter part of August, but with about 35 games to go and having to make up a 7 game lead on the WC, anything is possible. The Bullpen has been inconsistent and the hitting has been like hitting a piñata while blind folded.

However, and this is about as big news as when the Dodgers signed Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers made a step in the right direction last night, with the improbable signing of Zach Lee. Now I am not saying that Zach Lee is ready right now, he's still raw, but at 18 he features a good fastball (95 mph), curve, and changeup. It's an awesome thing to see him in a Dodger uniform and he has a chance of making the big club in a few years. However, if he tears it up next year, Ned will be tempted to give him a shot at Spring training and perhaps AFL. I see big things with the rotation of the future and if the Dodgers can continue developing pitchers into future stars, then I see big things for the Dodgers!

Deja Vu and Murphy's Law in Philly

Last year during the NLCS game 4, I witnessed the squandering of a three run lead and after a masterful 6 innings of work by Randy Wolf. Dodgers hopes of notting the series were ended when Jimmy Rollins drove home the tying and winning runs.

Tonight was no different as I could feel it in my racing pulse. Big Jon Broxton entered the game to loud chants of Beat LA and he could not throw a fastball in the strike zone. He hit Placido Polanco who was not a threat and put him on. He walked Jason Werth and then he got Ben Francisco to ground out, no, no, Casey Blake nonchalantly, fielded (Bill Bucknered) the ball into left field with Carlos Ruiz on deck. Carlos Ruiz is the Dodger killer and looks like an assassin at the plate. With a favorable count he drove the ball to left center over a watching Matt Kemp.

At this point, the game was not over, but even a quicker relay wouldn't have gotten out Ben Frickin Francisco. Yikes! Ballgame! TV Off! Saw this same thing last year. One of the key differences was that Manny was in the shower last year.

Long August has now gotten worse. Bring on football!

Dodgers Rise to the Occasion

In what proved to be a game of grit and guts, the Dodgers lower part of the order was responsible for winning this series offensively. After a shaky inning by Ted Lilly, the Dodgers overcame a misplay by Ryan Theriot to jump out to a 4-0 lead. The Dodgers managed to keep the Nats silent for much of the game with the exception of a couple solo shots. Dodgers won 8-3 with masterful pitching by Ted Lilly and a bullpen that continues to gain strength.

Where does this put the Dodgers? 5 games back in the WC and still 7 back for the division. With 30 to play in the NL west, the Dodgers have a chance.

Now is a good time for the Dodgers to gather around and enjoy some good Italian food in Philadelphia and hit the crap out of the ball. The Dodgers head to Philly fired up and in it to win it! Giants are starting their nosedive into the mediocre counterparts they have proven to be. Sure they have pitching, but their timely hitting has suddenly disappeared.