There’s so much to talk about today:  Manny’s 1st HR as a Dodger, the big win, Kuroda’s pitching and a lot more, so I thought I’d just pretend to be the Commissioner of Baseball.  I’d make seven (count ‘em 7) changes, changes which would speed up the game and changes which would enhance the integrity of the game.  Here’s my list:

1. Th DH would be used in both leagues, but I would go one step further, I would allow a player who has been removed from the game to return one time;

2. Instant replay would be used whenever practical and to whatever degree practical - an extra umpire would be added in a replay booth;

3. A pitcher would have 30 seconds between pitches or a ball would be called;

4. If a batter steps out of the box in the same manner, it would be a strike;

5. A ball and strike laser system would be used IN CONJUNCTION with an umpire behind the plate to develop better consistency in calling balls and strikes;

6. The clock never stops ticking between pitches unless there is an injury or time out and there are only 5 time outs per team, per game; and

7. There will be only 3.5 minutes between innings.

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Most Dodger Bloggers and Dodger Fans who frequent those blogs loathe Juan Pierre.  For the record, I am not one of the haters, but Ben Bloch of The LA Times reports that Juan Pierre will be our starting CF, as soon as today, with the outfield alignment being Manny in LF, Juan in CF and Kemp in RF.   This is NOT the wrong decision by Joe Torre.  This is simply A decison.  You may disagree with it and for the record, I would start Kemp in CF and Ethier in RF, but it is a management decision and there is no RIGHT answer.  If Joe Torre wants Juan Pierre at leadoff and is willing to sacrifice some defense to do so, then so be it.  I’ll support it.  Andre Ethier supports it and I am impressed with his character when he said:  “You have to focus on that and put all the individual stuff aside and say, ‘This is what we’re going for and we’ve got a legitimate shot to do it,’ with [Ramirez], we can definitely say we’re going to be a contender.”  I’m sure Andre isn’t happy, but he shows a lot of class by defering to the powers that be and being a good soldier.  I have ragged on Andre about being “soft” in his hitting, but I have never ragged on his character and you can see why.  Andre Ethier can play on my team anyday!  Another unpopular move was re-calling Clayton Kershaw from AA (”He’s not ready”  “It’s going to make him another Edwin Jackson”  He has no business pitching here now”).  All I can say is that I told you so!

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Morale Killer or Savior?  Here today, gone next year?  Nobody knows what will happen, but no matter what happens, Manny got the last laugh and the BoxSox are paying him to play for the Dodgers.  Does everyone realize that this deal could save Ned Colletti’s job?  Every blogger and writer on the planet has an opinion on this, but I can only take a “wait and see” attitude.  Who plays?  Who doesn’t?  I know that I think our outfield will have Manny in LF and include Matt Kemp.  Beyond that, I think Andy Jones has become dead weight and must be sent to AAA or DFA’ed, which means that Matt Kemp has to go to CF and Ethier has to be our RF.  Juan Pierre becomes an expensive pinch hitter and designated runner.  I loved Andy LaRoche

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Ballgame Over!

The Baseball America High School Player of the Year was started in 1992 and since then a few of the players to win that award were:  Preston Wilson. Josh Hamilton, Joe Mauer, Scott Kazmir and Justin Upton.  This years winner was Ethan Martin, the Dodger’s first round pick.  In 1999, the All-Star Futures Game MVP Award was first given to Alfonso Soriano.  Subsequent winners have been Joes Reyes, Grady Sizemore, Billy Butler and Chin-Lung Hu of the Dodgers.  Now, winning one of those awards is no guarantee of stardom, let alone making the major leagues (other guys have flopped), but it does suggest that you have the tools to do so.  It’s nice to have Martin, who in his last High School game as a pitcher was throwing 93 MPH in the 9th inning and he’s only 18!  Add this years draft crop (and it was a good one) to the past few years and we are getting loaded again.  I’m not going to list them all now, but our future is very bright.  A lot of you have wondered why Torre has put Kemp in the #1 or #2 spots so much and the answer is obvious:  It is forcing him to change his approach to hitting and is making him a much more selective hitter - he got two walks last night!  He has struck out onlt 3 times in his alst 20 AB’s!  His OB% is up to .352 and I am certain that this is a learning experinece he won’t soon forget!

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