Of course, anything is possible, but being 11 games out of first place on August 17th is not a good position to be in.  It’s highly unlikely that the Dodgers can advance to the playoffs for the third straight year.  There are a variety of reasons for this, but the not the least of which is the disconnect between the coaches and the players.  Joe Torre and Company are not known for being brilliant strategists, and that issue was readily exposed this season.  In my opinion, none of the coaching staff should be back.  There needs to be a clean sweep.  I would give Ned Colletti one more year.  I think he has learned a lot, but I still think giving up James McDonald for Dotel was a bonehead move.  I believe that James McDonald IS BETTER RIGHT NOW than Octavio Dotel.   Giving up Santana was a little more understandable (and the jury is out on that one – I’m not saying it was smart), but McDonald was boneheaded!  I liked Blake DeWitt, but that wasn’t a big deal.  The Dodgers do have to decide what to do with Theriot and Lilly however.

Now, since the Dodgers are effectively out of the race, what happens over the next two weeks will help define their future.  Contrary to the naysayers, who said McCourt wouldn’t spend big on the draft, the Dodgers did just that and broke the bank to sign Zach Lee.  As Jared mentioned, those of you who doubted Logan White’s veracity should be ashamed!   If the Dodgers had offered arbitration to Wolf or Hudson, and one (or both) had accepted, there would have been no Zach Lee signing, and to those who said that they would not have accepted arbitration, I say:  ”You also said McCourt would not pay money for draftees – you have no credibility!”

Now, I freely admit that Frank McCourt has some problems and I think he really has taken too much money from the Dodgers and that his lifestyle is too decadent, but I don’t have all the inside info.  That’s not something anyone has.  I also see all the things he has accomplished and I believe Dodger Fans have an owner who is in it for the long haul.  ”The Divorce” looms large and will go a long in determining the Dodgers future.  It will be interesting as to what happens, but I believe Frank is in the “drivers’ seat.”  That is speculation on my part and I won’t spend much time saying much more because speculation is not worth ZIP!  We just have to wait and see what happens.

• Casey Blake has cleared waivers and it would be nice if someone took him, but I doubt it.  He has slipped badly this year and really can’t be counted on to be a starter next year.  He’ll be an expensive sub!  The Dodgers need a new 3B.
• As bad as Dodger Fans felt Russ Martin was playing, he looks like a Superstar compared to Ellis and Ausmus.  Dodger fans do need to realize that Martin may not be back next year.   Add a catcher to the shopping list.  AJ Ellis probably isn’t even a backup.  Add a catcher to the Dodgers’ shopping list.
• We all know that Manny will be gone after the season.  Let’s hope that he comes back strong and clears waivers, so that some AL team can absorb a little salary to give the Dodgers some relief next year.  Add a left fielder to the shopping list.
• My biggest hope is that Raffy come back and burns up the league and can be traded before August 31st.  I was against his signing because of his injury history and “all out style of play.”  The Dodgers can’t count on him to help much next year.  They should cut bait, if they can!  Add a Starting Shortstop to the equation, although I doubt he can be traded without eating half of his salary.
• As much as the relief pitching has sucked this year, the nature of relievers is that they frequently have off years and then bounce back with stellar seasons.  I believe that the Dodgers are OK in this area, regardless of what the stats say.
• Kuroda, Padilla and Lilly are all Free Agents.  No way the Dodgers offer Kuroda arbitration – maybe Padilla, and if Lilly wants to stay, they might opt to sign him top a 3-year deal.
• Kershaw has shown that he can be the Dodgers ace and Chad Billingsley has been excellent since the end of April with an ERA near 3.00.  I think Lilly fits nicely in the Dodgers rotation – it’s just a question of whether he is affordable.
• As crazy as you think it might be, Charlie Haeger may play the role of the 5th starter next year.  Think RA Dickey!
• Jon Broxton’s star has waned, but he still has good value and the Dodgers just need to trade him over the winter.  He’ll command too much for that position.  If I were the Dodgers, I would not pay it.  Kuo and Jansen can close.  If Belisario gets his head screwed on straight he’ll be an asset too, and Cheryl falls off the books (I hope).
• I have to wonder about the entire coaching staff in the minors and I think that has to be re-evaluated.  We have too many youngstersunderachieving (McDonald, Lindblom, Withrow, Martin, et al).  It’s time for a fresh look.  The Dodgers minor league system is under-preforming with regards to some very good prospects.  Nothing is sacred or off-limits.  The right people are not in place.  Heads must roll.
• I predict Matt Kemp will figure it out and be a Bison again in 2011!
• The Dodgers have a big “re-tooling job” to do in the off-season, which starts now!  C, 3B, SS and LF are wide open!

It pains me greatly to say this.  I never raise the white flag, but Ned tried and it was too little, too late.  

Podsednik, Theriot, Lilly and Dotel arrived at the fort after the troops had already been massacred.

This year is done.  It’s time to hop on the Bus Gus, we don’t need to discuss much.

It is time to look at the core of this team, and decide who has to stay and who can go.  I think it’s really very simple:  most of the core of this team are players who are under team control for the next few years, but not all are “core players.”

Immediately, the following players should be placed on waivers (of course, some like Sherrill , Blake and Anderson will not be claimed, but some will):

• Sherrill
• Anderson
• Lilly
• Podsednik
• Theriot
• Dotel
• Broxton
• Padilla
• Kuroda
• Martin
• Blake
• Furcal
• Ramirez
• Weaver
• Belliard
• Carroll

You don’t need to be coy, Roy, just listen to me. Here’s my rationale:  The Dodgers will actually keep some of those players, but a few could bring us some TOP (I mean TOP) Prospects in return.  Tampa Bay or the White Sox covet Manny, and while the Dodgers won’t get a ton for him, they should be able to recover $2 to $4 mil and a Top 10 Prospect for him.  Broxton and Furcal will both bring two Top Prospects, I mean really good players.  Raffy can help a team win it all THIS year.  The Dodgers only control him one more year and he’s getting older, so they need to see what they can get.  If they can get two Top Prospects for him, they should do it.   Just drop off the key, Lee and set yourself free!

I am a believer that you don’t pay a closer $10 mil, and Broxton will be there soon.  Never mind that I have an “irrational hatred of him” – he needs to go, and get us a couple more top prospects.  Stockpile those bad boys.    Someone may want Podsednik, Theriot, Lilly, Dotel, Padilla, Kuroda, Martin, Weaver and Carroll or Belly.  They won’t all go, but some will.  Jansen, Lindblom, Belisario, Kuo, Guerra and others wait to close.

Just slip out the back, Jack. Look, I like Raffy – but let’s get real.  He’s having a career year.  Trade him before he gets hurt!

Here’s the Dodger’s core:

• Kemp
• Ethier
• Loney
• Kershaw
• Billingsley

That’s it!  Those 5 guys are the Dodgers Core.   I used to love Russ Martin, but he’s not a “core player.”  Matt Kemp showed how good he can be when he is focused, like last night.  He got called out in the press the day before, admitted he needed to do better, and immediately did it!  He has Superstar talent.  The play where Loney got thrown out at 3B could have happened to anyone in that same situation.  I  can’t fault Kemp on that one (and I have been critical of him this year).  Kemp was scoring easily and wasn’t dogging it, but was in a mode that wasn’t top speed (and rightfully so).   If anything, we should be ragging on Loney for going to 3B.

The Dodgers should lock those 5 guys  up long term!    RIGHT NOW!    Belisario, Kuo, Jansen, Monasterios, Paul, Hu, DeJesus, Sands (?), Lindblom,  Ely, Ellis and others will be around also.

Take the prospects the Dodgers can get for Martin, Broxton, Lilly, Manny and others and add them to their stable of prospects.  Oh, and sign Zach Lee!  NOW!

That’s my plan.  Make it so, Ned.

Oh, here’s your short list for managers next year:

• Gibson (if he’s available)
• Scioscia (yeah, I know, but…)
• Ausmus
• Wallach

Pick one!

1. We have all watched the hitters on this bipolar team for 3 years, and it seems that they are all smoking hot or all ice cold. Some of it was predictable.  When Andre Ethier was hitting .393 we all knew he couldn’t keep that up.  That his batting average has dropped a .100 points is no shock.  What will be a shock is if he doesn’t go on a tear and get it back up to the .310+ range.  I think his time off with family will help him re-focus and heal.  I will be shocked if he doesn’t start his late-inning heroics again.
2. Why this team runs hot and cold has to have some root in the coaching.  The Dodgers have 2 batting coaches and I see Torre talking to guys about hitting as well.  Could it be that they are irrelevant… or worse?  That has to be considered.  In my opinion, everything is on the table, up to and including the firing of Mattingly and Pentland!   Bring in a fresh face.  I know it’s late in the season, but in what way could it hurt?  Could they hit any worse?  It might serve as a “wake-up call.”
3. It’s probably too late in the year for Matt Kemp to recover his focus and screw his head on straight.  Matt Kemp should be carrying this team, but he is dragging it down.  The whispers around the ballpark are that he has a crappy attitude, and it is obvious to everyone that he has lost focus on the field.  He could regain it with a big SLAP IN THE FACE (like sit him for the next series and announce why), but it will probably take the whole off-season to do it, IF he can do it.    Matt Kemp is a classic case that proves the difference between a superstar and a journeyman lies almost solely between the ears!  Matt is at a crossroads in his career.  Robinson Cano was at a similar crossroads in 2008, when he hit .246 the first half of the season with 6 HR – he has rebounded nicely!  Is Kemp closer to being Robinson Cano or Raul Mondesi? That is the question.
4. Russ Martin and Casey Blake both hitting 20 to 30 points below their career averages does nothing but garner support that Pentland and Mattingly must go! I already have serious questions about Mattingly’s mangerial ability anyway!
5. I am certain that Ned had to take Theriot and give up DeWitt in order to get Lilly, and that may or may not have been a good move – time will tell.  This I do know – Blake DeWitt doesn’t have the arm and the power for 3B, so forget that nonsense.  He was never going to be the Dodgers (or for that matter, anyone’s) third baseman.  I think Blake DeWitt will be a fine 2B and I still believe he will hit 15-20 HR, especially at Wrigley.
6. Now, that I have pretty much trashed the team, I will say that we all know they are capable of getting “white hot.”   I can see a big run left in this team, say where they win 22 out of 25 games!  They have done it before.  Belisario will be back soon.  Reed Johnson will be back and Manny will return in a couple of weeks, and hopefully Garrett Anderson will retire.  I still think that they have one last BIG RUN left in them.  With Lilly filling the #5 spot, and the rotation very solid, the bullpen better with Dotel and the return of Belisario, I do not think the Dodgers are dead.  The next series will determine their fate.  They just need to bring their brooms!
7. Kershaw and Billingsley and Kuroda and Padilla are among the best quartets of starters in baseball right now.  Kershaw and Billingsley have certainly been stellar lately.  The Matt Kemp of 2009 may have caught the double in the gap last night…
8. I have also resolved to only say good things about Jon Broxton:  So here goes:  When he is gone – GOOD!

BTW – Lilly is an A Free Agent – The rest of the new trades are all B’s.

I will preface what I am about to say, by stating that the Dodgers are capable of reeling off a 15 game winning streak!

Matt Kemp's Addiction

1. Jon Broxton can be a great closer, but he just lacks the “C” in closer, which makes him a loser.  According to some pin-headed bloggers (Jon Weisman not included), I have an irrational hatred of Broxton.   You are entitled to your own opinion and you are just as entitled to be a moron.  ”Broxton is great, look at his stats, la,la, la, la.”  You are fine.  Take your Prozac, Carry on!  Dig this:  Broxton needs to be traded.  NOW!
2. Rhianna!  The sooner she dumps Kemp, the sooner he heads to superstardom!  No explanation necessary.
3. Manny Ramirez needs to just go away.  He doesn’t want to play the field.  Even Ray Charles can see that!  Trade him to the Yanks or Tampa Bay.  Do it now!  X-Paul in LF makes us better. Live with it.  (I TOLD YOU THE DODGERS SHOULDN’T HAVE SIGNED MANNY, DIDN’T I?)
4. Cheryl and Anderson. They must go.  End of story!
5. Russell Martin needs to quit being a slugger and just be Russell Martin. Don’t be an idiot, Russ.  Let me re-phrase that:  Stop being and idiot, Russ!
6. Will the real Ronald Belisario Stand Up?  If he can’t come back strong, the Dodgers are screwed!
7. Can Ramon Troncoso re-discover his outstanding sinker?  (See Ronald Belisario)
8. Kenley Jansen needs to be in the Dodgers bullpen.  End of story!  What are you waiting for, Ned?
9. Joe Torre needs to be sipping Mint Julips at the Kentucky Derby and taking his Geritol with his Bigelow Tea.  His fire is gone.  Stick a fork in him, he’s done!  Ditto on Mattingly, Bowa, Schafer, Pentland and Honeycutt – It’s time for a new perspective!
10. If Frank McCourt doesn’t allow the Dodgers to get a  #1 or #2 Starter, then he has to go.  I have defended the fact that he would spend to get an arm, and with Broxton as a trading chip, he should be able to get Roy Oswalt.  If that doesn’t happen, then I hope Jamie’s argument is ruled upon favorably and the Dodgers will be sold.

CHAD BILLINGSLEY ROCKS!

Albuquerque won 4-2

Ivan DeJesus Jr(23) – 3 for 5, 2B, R, K (.289 BA)
Xavier Paul(25) – 1 for 4, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K’s (.331 BA)
Jamie Hoffman(25) – 1 for 4, R (.306 BA)
Lucas May(25) – 2 for 4, K (.310 BA)
Chin Lung Hu(26) – 0 for 3, RBI, K (.293 BA)

BOXSCORE

Chattanooga won 7-3

Dee Gordon(22) – 0 for 3, BB, SB (.283 BA)
Trayvon Robinson(22) – 1 for 4, RBI, R, K, SB (.285 BA)
Kyle Russell(23) – 0 for 3, R, BB, K, OF Assist (.228 BA)
Jerry Sands(22) – 1 for 4, HR (1), RBI, R, 3 K’s (.250 BA)
Jaime Pedroza(23) – 1 for 3, R, K, HBP (.276 BA)

Tim Sexton(23) – 6.2 IP, 6 Hits, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K’s (3.90 ERA)

BOXSCORE

Inland Empire was suspended

Great Lakes did not play

Ogden lost 6-0

Leon Landry(20) – 0 for 4 (.154 BA)
Jake Lemmerman(21) – 1 for 3, BB (.467 BA)
Michael Pericht(22) – 0 for 3, BB, K (.471 BA)
Blake Dean(22) – 0 for 4 (.231 BA)
Jon Garcia(18) – 0 for 3, BB, K (.188 BA)
Jesse Bosnik(21) – 0 for 3, K (.357 BA)

Beyker Fructuoso(20) – 2.1 IP, 3 Hits, 3 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K’s (3.86 ERA)
Shawn Tolleson(22) – 1.2 IP, Hit, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K’s (0.00 ERA)

BOXSCORE

AZL Dodgers did not play

Player of the Day – Ivan DeJesus Jr, 2B/SS

After two sub par months, IDJ2 has turned things around in June. In his last 18 games he’s hitting .365 with a .906 OPS. The Dodgers haven’t gotten a whole lot of production from their 2B this year, hitting a combined .263 with a .722 OPS. The hottest hitter has been Ronnie Belliard, batting .286 with an .893 OPS, but in only 21 at bats. Were the front office looking to go younger with better defense, Ivan would be an in-house upgrade.

I think there comes a time when you have to assess what you have and what you could have if you are willing to roll the dice. Sure, the hitters have been slumping

Do it, Ned! Just Do It!

lately, but that’s only temporary.  This is a very good hitting team, especially when all the parts are in place.  I think the time has come for the Dodgers to pull the trigger, gut the farm and go for broke THIS year.  This is Manny’s last year in LA, Raffy is getting older and so is Casey Blake.  The hitting is fine – Manny is heating up, Matt will get his stroke back and Andre will take up where he left off a few weeks ago.  Offensively, I believe the Dodgers can play with anyone.  Pitching is the issue.  Starting pitching in particular.  Now I happen to believe that Kershaw, Kuroda and Billingsley are among the best trios in the league.  But to get past the NLCS, the Dodgers need more.   They need Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt!

The Dodgers will be loathe to give up any major league players, so they will have to overpay in prospects.  What would it take to get Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt?  Here’s the list and I think it would take every last one:

• Ethan Martin
• Aaron Miller
• Chris Withrow
• Dee Gordon
• Kyle Russell
• Ivan DeJesus, Jr.
• James McDonald
• Scott Elbert

That would effectively “gut” the farm.  I also think the Astros and Mariners would take Padilla and Ely in lieu of a couple of the prospects.

Me?  I would do it.  I’d go for it all.  Clayton Kershaw would be your #3.  Hiroki Kuroda would be the #4 and Chad Billingsley the #5 starter with Lee and Oswalt the 1,2 punch.  I think the Dodgers could win with that team… and I mean WIN IT ALL!

They would pay for it down the road, but it could be sweet this year!

Before you go off on “McCourt won’t spend the money”  you need to realize that Frank knows a Championship would pay off in much greater revenue.  If this deal doesn’t happen, a similar one will.  Watch and learn!

Future Dodger?

Several months ago, I was already sick of hearing how the Dodgers would not spend any money, the divorce was crippling the Dodgers, the Dodgers need a new owner and blah, blah, blah.  I was on-board with all their off-season moves – the non-tenders of Wolf and Hudson, the trade of Juan Pierre for Link and Ely and the signings of Jamey Carroll and Ronnie Belisario (OK, I hated the Garrett Anderson signing).  I knew what was happening – the Dodgers knew they couldn’t get Roy Halliday, and Cliff Lee wasn’t available.  They weren’t going to settle for chumps.  Many (strike that, most) of you thought that the Dodgers were just cheap and would not spend any money.  There was even some cowardly idiot named McCheapness who came on this board and make fun of what I said and made an ass of himself in the process.  Come to think of it MOST,  YES MOST, of you argued with me about the same thing.

Well, the fact of the matter is that the Dodgers are a very good team, are in the thick of the pennant race, and have as good or better chance of going to the World Series as any other NL team. The fact that Ned stood pat over the winter and didn’t sign a chump like John Lackey, means that the Dodgers have enough cash to trade for a high-profile pitcher.  Ken Gurnick reported today that the Dodgers were pursing starting pitching. That’s not news, I told you that a month ago! Roy Oswalt, Cliff Lee, Zach Greinke and some others may be available and the Dodgers are players.  They won’t “gut” the farm, but they will be aggressive.  I guarantee it!  My preference is Cliff Lee – he’s a rent-a-player who the Dodgers could re-sign next season (or not), who would give them a legitimate ace.  He’s not going to command a lot of top prospects, but the Dodgers may have to give up Martin and Withrow along with someone like Ely.

Look, we have three (count ‘em 3) good starters:  Kershaw (near Ace), Kuroda (strong #2 or #3) and Billingsley (#2 -#4, depending upon a lot of factors).  Vicente Padilla or John Ely may be our #4, but Ely’s star is setting.  I am not writing him off, but he’s going to have to change what he’s been  doing lately.  I like the kid.  I like his moxie, but the league has “caught up to him” and he has to figure it out or go back to AAA.   Monasterios needs to pitch out of the pen – too young, too inexperienced.  He can be effective in middle relief.

Of as much concern is Ramon Troncoso who was Lights Out in Cincy and Lite Up in Boston.  He didn’t look like the same pitcher.   It appears to me that some days he has absolutely NO CONTROL of his curve-ball. Maybe he should abandon it altogether!  His velocity is fine.  It’s the curve that is doing him in.

Rants & Raves

• It hurts to have Raffy out of the lineup – a lot!
• Travis Schlichting has been a godsend!
• Adrian Beltre would look good in the middle of the Dodger order right about now.  He is leading the Red Sox in RBI (48), Hits (87) and is hitting .339 with 10 HR and 18 Doubles.  He is OPSing .908 and playing Gold Glove Defense.   And, And… he generally doesn’t really hit until the second half.  I hate to say it, but I told you so!  ;)   Of course, I told you so about Andy LaRoche too, but .500 would win a batting championship …
• James Loney – Dodger RBI Leader – an argument could be made he should hit 3rd!
• Andre Ethier – Struggles on the Road Continue
• The way Loney is hitting, I like this lineup:

1. Raffy  SS
2. Kemp  CF
3. Loney  1B
4. Ethier  RF
5. Manny  LF
6. Blake  3B
7. DeWitt 2B
8. Martin  C

I like Martin at #8 – DeWitt will see more pitches.

With a strained groin. Per Yahoo.

Joe Torre, quoted from Dodgers.com, says:

“It’s [a groin injury], the one you can predict the least, because you can warm up, you can have a simulated game, but until you get on the mound and push off in a regular game, you’re never sure,” Torre said. “So we’re going to take the safe route.”

The Dodgers are expected to call up a reliever from Triple A, move Ely back a day, spot start Monasterios on Friday and give Vicente Padilla his first ML start since returning from the DL on Saturday.

Dylan Hernandez, of the LA Times, says Travis Schlichting will be recalled from Albuquerque to replace Billingsley.

Loney Fouling Off Pitch - Photo by Roger Sobin

I have been saying for some time now that the Dodgers need to GO BIG OR STAY HOME.  Sign Oswalt or Lee, forget journeymen like Wolf.  The Dodgers wanted no part of Hudson or Wolf because of what they might have made in arbitration.  It’s true that the Dodgers have payroll constraints, but it’s not nearly what you may think.  The Dodgers ARE players for Lee and Oswalt – it won’t happen until July I don’t think, but if they had gotten stuck with Wolf or Hudson, they could not do that.  Randy Wolf beat John Lackey in EVERY statistical category last year, and Lackey makes $18 million. If I were Wolf’s agent, I would certainly be able to argue that he’s worth as much as Lackey, while asking less.    Kim Ng would have a hard time beating that argument.

Dodger News

• Charlie Haegar officially has “turf toe.”  Is that anything like “missile toe”?
• James Loney had a bonehead play last night in getting picked off 2B.  He just kept on walking towards the clubhouse when it happened.  James said it was stupid.  It was stupid.  Now move on…
• Chad Billingsley had his best outing of the year last night going 8 strong innings after giving up 3 early home runs.  Let’s dispel the myth that’s he’s not mentally strong.  After the 3 bombs, he settled in to retire 19 out of the last 21 hitters and struck out 11 while walking none.  He kept focus and didn’t let the bad start beat him.  Excellent start!
• The D-Backs gift wrapped that win and I’ll take it!
• Casey Blake does lots of things that don’t show up in the box score, such as creating a balk.
• If the Tigers can’t trade Dontrelle Willis, I would be willing to give up a PTBNL (Lambo) for him, providing the Tigers pay 90% of his salary.
• I cannot for the life of me, understand why Garrett Anderson is on the roster.  He must have photos of Colletti and Torre in some compromising position…

• The beat goes on…
• It seems like it’s a different player stepping up every day.  Lat night it was Ely, Paul, Kemp, Blake and Loney.  Kemp and Blake both had 3 hits for the “white-hot” Dodgers.
• It looks to me that Jon Ely is the “real-deal”  - he struggled last night, but had a quality start and got the win.
• Joe Torre was able to get Scott Proctor’s and Cory Wade’s ams to fall off – now he’s working on Troncoso’s…
• Garrett Anderson – .138 – Need I say more?
• Joe Torre has indicated that it’s possible Blake DeWitt (not Nick Green) will go down when Raffy returns, because DeWitt has options left and Green doesn’t.  Two Words:  ”Felony Stupid!”
• Andre Ethier could be back in two weeks…
• Where are the Billingsley bashers now?
• Bill Shaikin of the LA Times discusses a Roy Oswalt deal.  The Dodgers do have long-time Oswalt friend Brad Ausmus…
• One good thing about the current Dodgers winning streak:  Bill Plaschke and TJ Slimers have nothing to say!

Suddenly, the Dodgers starters look to be as good as any in baseball and Chad Billingsley is at the forefront.

Without belaboring the point, he is simply evolving into a very, very solid pitcher.

Tony Jackson of ESPN/Los Angeles has part of the reason why:

The turning point was that well-chronicled meeting with manager Joe Torre and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt the day after Billingsley was knocked around in Cincinnati on April 20. Billingsley lost his next start, five days later in Washington, but he lost it 1-0, and Honeycutt said that was when he saw the first signs of what he is now seeing on a regular basis from Billingsley.

“We saw a more consistent arm slot,” Honeycutt said. “We really just wanted him to get back to what he should be, and that was the basics, fastball-curveball. I didn’t want him to give up the cutter entirely, and he threw a few of them tonight. But we wanted him to get away from throwing it too much. It was a pitch he was using too much, and with that, he was changing his mechanics sometimes in order to throw it.”

By using it now as more of a “show-me” pitch, used on rare occasions just to give the other team something to think about, Billingsley is able to maintain the consistent mechanics he uses to throw all his other pitches. For now, he appears to have hit on that secret formula he had tried for so many years to find. As a result, he has become a pitcher who not only is supremely confident in himself, but who fosters extreme confidence on the part of the rest of the club whenever it is his day to pitch.

The team looks supremely confident… except when a ball is hit to LF – you never know what can happen with Manny!

It looks like Josh Fisher who writes Dodger Divorce has finally realized what I have been saying all along.  Here it is in part:

It goes without saying that the ownership situation is messy now. Even as a happy, intact family unit, selling the Dodgers would require the McCourts to untangle a string of affiliated companies and debt facilities so complicated it’s taken several months of expensive discovery just to unveil them. Should Jamie win half the team or a cash award so great the team must be sold, it’s going to happen at a discount, and an entity which might not have the wherewithal to operate the Dodgers would be encouraged to bid. Sound familiar?

The impassioned cries for Anyone Else are understandable, reasonable, and entirely defensible. But I’d urge everyone to consider just what that means: several likely years of turmoil. The sale itself would be an arduous, difficult process, and the new owner would likely experience significant growing pains. What’s more, there are just fewer folks out there right now who can afford a baseball team than there were three years ago. A fresh start has its advantages, to be sure–especially if whoever’s next is a true Southern Californian. But it’s likely to be a long, painful slog.

There is a significant possibility that the right answer for the long term is Frank McCourt. It’s hard to argue with the team’s success during his regime, and all indications are that he has moved past the perilously-thin margins characterizing the early days of McCourt ownership. The team is profitable, the fans are still engaged, and there is room to grow. Perhaps, with the financial strictures of the divorce behind him, he’ll be able to invest in the future of the organization, addressing shortcomings of the last few years. The TV rights come back in-house after the 2014 season, which will make the Dodgers all the more valuable. And, if things don’t work, a sale several years down the line will be without the urgency that would dramatically devalue the club in a sale this winter.

I’m not ready to throw my full support behind Frank just yet. Emotionally, it’s difficult to embrace a figure who has brought so much negativity to the Dodgers. But maybe that’s my point: there is no panacea here, no cure-all. Clamoring for Anyone Else is emotionally and philosophically justified, but we should be careful to remember that Anyone Else comes with problems, too. And this is where we come back to the divorce as a test case for fans’ attitudes towards their teams: what do we want?

If we want a fresh face we can relate to, an owner for whom the Dodgers are the reason to exist, an owner who truly understands what the Dodgers mean to Los Angeles, then yes: Anyone Else could be that owner. But Anyone Else could also be a relatively faceless group of investors that sees the Dodgers as a vehicle for growing and accumulating wealth. The team might be available for a song this winter, and those TV rights are so close you can taste them. Anyone Else might be everything we’ve grown to distaste about Frank McCourt, but at least he’s cut his teeth as an owner.

If we want to win above all else, Frank McCourt could be the answer. He’s got more money than even his wife knew, he’s had some experience in figuring out what works and what doesn’t, and he’s learning how to stay out of the way. And there’s another factor at work, here, too: should he come out of this mess with the team intact, he’ll needto win. It’s the only way back into the fans hearts (and wallets). I know it, you know it, Frank knows it. Say it along with me, Frank, “The difficult events of the last several months have made me reconsider my priorities, and after my sons, the Dodgers are the most important thing in my life.” And so begins the rest of the McCourt era. If, over the course of several years, Frank’s actions match his words, everything is forgiven.

It’s with a great deal of reluctance I sing the praises of Frank McCourt, Potential Long-Term Solution. And, obviously, whatever degree I support Frank is based only on what we know; yet more skeletons may lurk. But my interest in the entire fiasco has never been about Frank or Jamie, pools or jets, stadiums or campaigns. It’s always been about the Dodgers.

So, for the moment, I’m not going to write Frank off. However these next few months play out, my end-game is the same: I will support the candidate best able to sustain an organization I can be proud to call my own. As it is with analysis, the past only matters to the extent it colors the future. And, for everything that’s happened, I’m not sure the future is better left to Anyone Else than Frank McCourt. Not quite yet, anyway. Lord knows we’ve got plenty of time to sort it out.

Let me translate that for you:  If Frank sells the Dodgers, the odds are it will be another 10-20 years before the Dodgers win anything.  Frank McCourt is our next best chance.  So quit wishing for a new owner, because if that happens, it will probably mean disaster for the Dodgers.

I would say that with yet another very good performance, Clayton Kershaw is taking a “stranglehold” for the role as Staff Ace.  Some might think he hasn’t had his best “stuff” at times this year, but I think so of that comes from the fact that he is using more pitches, which sometimes has caused his curve-ball to break a little less.  He was wild earlier in the year, but now seems to be pounding the strike zone with regularity.

Some say it’s too early to anoint him the Ace – I disagree. He is officially the Dodgers Ace, and will be even better by season’s end.   I’ve told you all of this before – just enjoy watching his development.

He struggled with his rhythm in the first inning, but was absolutely in control the rest of the way.  He is now pitching deeper into games which is going to do nothing but help the staff.  Now, let’s hope Bills can do the same.

The fielding has improved dramatically and Jamey Carroll has been outstanding at SS with the Dodgers going 15-7 with him as starter. Ned has already gotten his money’s worth with Jamey, no matter what happens the rest of his Dodger Career. Those of you who blasted him for signing Carroll need to apologize, like I apologized for wanting Joe Torre fired!

Rants and Raves

• Russ Martin’s 15-game hitting streak continues as Joe tries to wear him out by the All-Star Break
• Kenley Jansen is plying his trade at AA now.  I can see a call-up coming in September.

Want an Ace?

Would you trade Manny Ramirez, James McDonald and Chris Withrow for Cliff Lee?

Let’s not stop there.  Seattle sucks.  Their re-building is dead.

How about Manny Ramirez, James McDonald, Vicente Padilla, Dee Gordon, Chris Withrow,  Casey Blake, Xavier Paul and Jon Broxton for Cliff Lee and Ichiro Suzuki?

Eight for two!

Then trade an obscure player for Mike Lowell (the Red Sox will pay most of his salary).

Lineup:

1. Suzuki  CF
2. Furcal  SS
3. Kemp  RF
4. Ethier  LF
5. Loney  1B
6. Lowell  3B
7. DeWitt 2B
8. Martin  C

Rotation:

1. Lee
2. Kuroda
3. Kershaw
4. Billingsley
5. Ely

Think that would make the Dodgers “odds-on-favorites” for the Series?

Drink the Kool-Aid!

Drink it NOW!

Matthew McConaughey and John Ely, Brothers?

Earth time – 5/18/2010, 9:00 AM EDT – After winning 8 straight games, and going 13-3 in their last 16 games, the Dodgers are long gone from the “outhouse” (currently occupied by the vastly overrated D’Backs – I told you in Spring Training that they would be horrid), and just 2.0 games from the Penthouse.  With a 21-17 record, they are on pace for 89 wins (if you extrapolate their winning percentage).  I have heard some Dodgers followers (they are not fans) who are actually mad about what is happening because I guess they can’t bash McCourt anymore.  That’s just plain sad!  Maybe they can trash the farm system, as some of the Dodgers top prospects are under-performing (that’s a joke).  I can always tell when the Dodgers win, because very few people post.  I guess they just love the negativity…

At any rate, the Dodger’s pitching, which so many of you complained about, and said that the Dodgers could not win as a result of not getting more pitching and an ACE, is suddenly their strength.  Kershaw, Billingsley, Kuroda and Ely are pitching as well as any other quartet in baseball and the Dodgers team ERA dropped to 4.35 last night.  Kershaw, Bills and Kuroda – that’s no surprise to me.  John Ely?  What a huge surprise!  This Matthew McConaughey look-alike throws strikes,  is very adept at changing speeds, and is savvy beyond his years.  I think he’ll be a very nice “middle-of-the-rotation” guy for years.  He’s no “flash in the pan” because he doesn’t walk people.  He didn’t have great control last night and he still didn’t walk anyone.

The bullpen which was bleeding early in the season is now slamming doors. Those of you who “knew” this was what it would be like this year, didn’t know anything!  Admit it and enjoy the ride.  Lawdog who has been one of the most vocal dissidents, freely admitted it yesterday: “I don’t mind giving Mark a tip of the hat for being more accurate in his assessment of our talent than me.” Thanks, Lawdog.  You are ‘da man! It’s a long season and anything can happen, but this team has a chance to be very, very good, and contrary to what many have said, it looks like the Dodgers might have improved their pitching during the off-season.

It’s no coincidence that in their eight game winning streak, the Dodgers have only committed one error.  Blake DeWitt is showing improved range at 2B and Jamey Carroll and Casey Blake have been playing like the sure-handed savvy vets that they are.  Quietly, James Loney has stepped up his play at 1B and is becoming a defensive force.    Matt Kemp is back to his Gold Glove play in CF and Reed Johnson brings outstanding Defense every time he plays.

RANTS & RAVES

• Russ Martin has a 12 game hitting streak and is still hitting .265 – 1 hit a game in most cases…
• They say that Xavier Paul projects as a 4th OF because he doesn’t have the requisite power needed by a corner outfielder.  If I remember correctly, Baseball America said the same thing about Andre Ethier.  There is talk the Dodgers will go after Carl Crawford next year.  I’d try Paul first.
• Andre Ethier – Dodger MVP?   NL MVP?
• Hopefully Kuroda will make it Nine in a row tonight.

I was obviously wrong when I said that Joe Torre had lost this team and Rick Honeycutt couldn’t coach anymore.  My deepest apologies to them both – NOW DON’T LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN!

(smile)

• Team ERA is now 4.53 as the Dodgers leapfrogged the Nats to take the 11th spot.  They need to get to the TOP 3 to win it all.
• Andre Ethier broke his right pinkie – regardless of whether he can play or not, they should DL him.  He’s only have to miss 14 more days.  Paul got hit last night and it is not known if he can return.
• Clayton Kershaw didn’t have his good stuff, but  Tony Jackson says that even when Clayton Kershaw doesn’t have his best stuff, he’s still better than most. After the game Clayton said:  ”To be honest, my command really wasn’t that great,” Kershaw said. “I guess I was what you call effectively wild. I didn’t really hit my spots a whole lot, and I just kind of battled through. Really, I only had my fastball.” You are watching history – Clayton is morphing into the Dodgers ACE .  To those of you who say the Dodgers needed an ace, I say “Grow Your Own.”  Clayton is becoming THAT guy, pitching deeper into games and getting by without his best stuff.  By Fall, he’ll be the stater in game 1 of the playoffs.
• Charlie Haegar pitched 5 innings at IE last night.  He’ll probably get one more rehab start and then return (Ortiz?).
• Jamey Carroll Bashers:  Wear paper bags on your heads!  The guy is hitting .300 and playing an effective SS during the Dodgers 6 game winning streak.
• We are no longer the Padres whipping boys.
• Congrats to Larry Bowa and his daughter who graduated from law school – Now go sue somebody!
• Let’s roll, Chad!

UPDATE:  See New Bios in the ABOUT US Section

Remember what I told you after Kershaw got bombed in his last start prior to Sunday?

http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2010/05/unleash-the-kracken/

In case you forgot, I said:

When Clayton Kershaw gets beat, he gets mad and gets even.

The pounding that he took yesterday is simply going to Unleash the Kracken!

Watch out, he’ll be back with a vengeance.  Sometimes it’s good to feel a good beating, so that you don’t want to experience it anymore.   When some people get beat, they get beat down mentally.  That’s not Clayton Kershaw.   His ERA is now 4.99.  He’ll be better for this.  Watch and see! Unleash the Kracken!

Some wondered how that could be. Look, I don’t know everything, but I’m a pretty good judge of character, and I have watched Clayton Kershaw for a long time.  I have spoken with Clayton Kershaw.  I have seen him in the dugout, the clubhouse and after games.  I watched Clayton as he chatted with 10 year-old son.   I saw the look in his eyes. Everyone sees Clayton’s talent, but I have seen his character. When I am in the dugout or in the clubhouse, I am not seeking an interview – I am watching what is going on.  I am a “fly-on-the-wall.”  I know Clayton has a million dollar arm, but he has a billion dollar heart!  He’s our Ace.  Maybe this year, maybe next year.  But he’s our ace.  Watch and Learn.

Rants & Raves:

• Some of you say that the Dodgers should have gotten an ace in the off-season.  Tell me who that should have been and leave out Doc Halliday because he wasn’t coming to the left coast!  If you come up with a name, then tell me what the Dodgers would have had to pay to get that guy….  Don’t say Lackey,  he’s not an ace and he has a 4.60 ERA AFTER giving up one run today.
• Speaking of getting ACES, there may be one or two available at the trade deadline.  If a Cliff Lee or the like is available, would you be willing to give up Broxton, Loney, Withrow and a couple more prospects?  That’s what it would take.   I would “sell high” with Broxton.  He’s good, but he’s not THAT good.  He’ll be expensive to re-sign, and the Dodgers have in-house options as closers, including Belisario, McDonald, and Lindblom.   You have to give up a lot to get a lot.  Loney?  I love him, but I am not sure we should keep him.
• You are right: the Dodgers will have to make some hard decisions in the next couple of years.  Who do you keep? The Dodgers have 3 players they have to keep:  Ethier, Kemp, Loney.  That’s it! I love Martin and Loney, but they are not worth big contracts…at least, in my opinion.
• To all you Jamey Carroll Bashers:  He has done a very credible job as a SS in Raffy’s absence.  He’s at his career average and, while not having the widest of ranges, he has covered it well.  What more do you want from a sub?
• It was Logan White who said that Withrow had better stuff than Kershaw, but as BD pointed out, he’s not a better pitcher, and I’ll say that I don’t see the depth of character that I see in Kershaw.
• Will the real Russ Martin please step up?
• Chad Billingsley is doing nicely…
• When the Dodgers make the playoffs this year, and do it for the first time ever 3 years in a row and win 90-95 games, how are you going to keep saying “Well, we knew this team wasn’t that good.”  Yeah, right!
• Conversation between Ned Colletti and Charlie Haeger:

Ned: “Charlie, we are going to have to DFA you…. unless you have something wrong with you…”

Charlie: “Well, my foot hurts.”

Ned: “Where?”

Charlie: “Right here on the side…  I mean bottom.”

Ned: “OK, we will put you on the DL and see what happens.”

Charlie: “Boy, it really hurts now.”

Ned:  ”Thanks, Charlie.  You are a good solider!”

Joe and Rick?

I wondered and now I know. The Dodgers didn’t right the ship – it’s just that the Pirates are THAT bad, but against a good team like Milwaukee, the Dodgers have ZILCH. Chad Billingsley suffered first-inning woes, but then settled down and pitch 5 more very good innings.  He pitch good enough for the Dodgers to win, but then the arsonists in the bullpen ended the game for the Dodgers.  Belisorryo was sorry.  Tronarmfalloffsco  was horrid (Joe is trying to see if he can blow out Ramon’s arm by June) and Cheryl pitched by a little girl.

One common denominator among all this:  Joe Torre and Rick Honeycutt! OK, that’s two.  It is my opinion that the Dodgers have the talent to win, but they lack the leadership, managing, coaching and motivation.  The Dodgers are tied for the lead in hitting in all of baseball, but are 26th in pitching and 29th in fielding (there are 30 teams in case you don’t remember).

Lay off the fact that we should have signed Orlando Hudson – hitting is not our problem, and Blake DeWitt, while not dazzling with the glove is improving.  The fielding and the pitching is the problem.  Signing an ACE wouldn’t have helped much either – the whole pitching staff is under-performing… by a country mile.

Only Broxton and Kuroda are immune, and the newcomer, Carlos Monasterios is doing quite well.  Compare this year with last year and you will see dramatic differences in ERA with the rest of the staff.  Belisario was 2.04 last year and now is 8.22.  Sherrill, Kuo, Kershaw, Bills, Troncoso, Weaver, Padilla, Haeger are all under-performing DRAMATICALLY.  At some point, the pitching coach has to take responsibility, and maybe the pitches are being “tipped” or their is some repetitive pattern other teams have figured out.   I don’t know.  I just know that the results are unacceptable and uncharacteristic of the pitchers involved.  They are all pitching WAY below their talent level.

www.JoeTorreShould Be Fired.com

• I think James McDonald and Josh Lindblom will both play a big role with the 2010 Dodgers.
• If Hiroki Kuroda can continue to hit 95 MPH on his fastball and mix up his pitches like he has, he will be an All-Star this year.
• The Kiddie Corps of Chad and Clayton are starting to hit their stride.  I’m liking the Dodgers top 3 starters.  You can buy and ace or grow an ace.  I prefer the later.
• With Padilla likely out until June, John Ely and Carlos Monasterios will each get another start or four.
• Charlie Haeger can’t even pitch in a 9-1 blowout?  That doesn’t bode well for his future.  He is in Joe’s doghouse.  Charlie Haeger and Been Sheets have similar ERA’s.  I guess I’d rather be Ned Colletti than Billy Beane on that one.
• George Sherrill needs another pitching coach.  He scares me, but he’s better than he shows.
• What’s not to like about Casey Blake? He gets big hits, makes good plays and is a good teammate.  He’s hitting .263 with 3 HR, 6 Doubles and 15 RBI, which is 3rd on the team.  He’s solid, steady and will benefit if he only has to start 125-130 games, but he can pinch hit in the rest.  Casey Blake can play on my team any time.
• Have the Dodgers fired Joe Torre yet?
• When do Sands and Russell move up?  With Lambo in Limbo, Russell should go to AA and Sands to IE.
• Somebody told me I was crazy last season when I suggested that Andre Ethier could hit 40 HR.  I may be crazy, but he CAN hit 40 HR, like THIS year! No more Mr. Softee.
• Speaking of Soft, Andy LaRoche looks “soft” to me.  It looks like I was wrong in his evaluation.
• Matt Kemp is a streaky hitter.  He’ll hit like crazy for 4 or 5 games and then look horrible the next 4 or 5 games.  Sooner or later, the bad times will be less and less.  I guess the same can be said about Ethier.
• Who likes Garrett Anderson over Xavier Paul? No me!  Paul has better speed, is better defensively, has a cannon on his shoulder compared to Anderson’s popgun and is hitting better than Anderson.  That kind of performance needs to be rewarded.  Paul has to stay on the team when Manny is activated.   Simple as that.  While Paul is not a great CF, he can play there as well, and Anderson can’t.
• Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com has a nice article about the reformed Pedro Guerrero.
• Don’t get too excited – it was only the Pirates…
• It looks like Hu will be called up on Tuesday and Raffy will go on the DL.

A 1-0 loss is generally not very easy to swallow, but this one might be a little easier, if only for the fact that Chad Billingsley pitched like he was capable.  Even though he was hung with

Chad Billingsley in Motion

the loss, he pitched 6 strong innings while allowing only 4 hits and 1 run.  Additionally, he struck out 5 while walking 2 and lowered his ERA to 5.40.  The fact that he needed only 86 pitches in 6 innings, and had a 93-95 MPH fastball all day long is a strong statement that we can still rely on him as an elite pitcher.  In April of 2009, he had an ERA of 2.14, but ended the season at 4.03.  Maybe he’ll do it backwards this year. CHAD IS STILL IN THE GAME!

Sometimes, in order to get better and go to the next level, you have to go through some trials and tribulations.

Case in point:  Clayton Kershaw.  This time last year, most of you were saying that the Dodgers should not have brought Clayton up so soon.  You said they rushed him.  You pointed to his 7.29 April ERA and his 4 April Home Runs and felt like you knew a whole lot more than you did.  Clayton finished the year with 2.76 ERA and only allowed 3 more HR the next 5 months!  When will you learn?

RANTS & RAVES:

• These guys are too good to be bad very long.
• When you can’t blast McCourt and criticize the Dodgers, what do you do?  Beat your wives?    You are about to lose your edge.  (that’s a joke)  ;)
• Even George Sherrill seems to have gotten it together.  Last you you blasted Mota in April, but he ultimately turned into a very serviceable pitcher for us.
• Ramon Troncoso was very effective for the final two innings.  The Dodger bats weren’t very effective.
• Our defense, while horrid up to now, is a very good defense.  Why it’s been so bad, I have no clue, but again, these players are too good to keep playing this bad on D.
• I have a feeling that Ramon Ortiz will get Padilla’s next start.  If he does not do well, he is history.  In his defense, his stuff has been very good – it’s just the fact that he throws that ONE bad pitch (per inning)..  That has to stop!
• Think about this:  Time Wakefield has more innings pitched for the Red Sox than any other pitcher, and more wins than any other Red Sox pitcher other than Cy Young or Roger Clemens.  Still think there’s not hope for Haeger?  Think again!
• Don’t draw conclusions from this small sampling.  Look at the big picture.

Lineup:

1. Furcal  SS (I Told You He Was Back)
2. Martin C  (All-Star This Year)
3. Kemp  CF (Another All-Star)
4. Loney  1B  (Still No Power)
5. Blake 3B  (Even Better Than Last Year?)
6. Belliard  2B  (Dude Can Hit)
7. Anderson  LF  (Still any Juice Left?  The Dodgers want to know)
8. Johnson  RF (Mixed Returns)
9. Billingsley  P (Make or Break Start)