LADodgerTalk.com – Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, Vin Scully, Andre Ethier and the Dodgers

That’s Rule #1 in JunkYard Dogology.  You had better kill a junkyard dog, because, if you don’t, it will come back and bite you.   And, bite Dodgers did last night, led by the biggest junkyard dog of them all, Jerry Hairston, Jr.  – Five (count ‘em 5) freaking RBI’s by a lifetime journeyman utility player [...]

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The team that had not lost as many as three in a row has now lost five in a row!  The iceberg has destroyed  the hull.  The ship is taking on water.  There are no lifeboats.   The rats are jumping off the ship.   The world is ending.  We will all be killed! Now, take a [...]

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Calm down everyone.  This is a better team than last year and last year the Dodgers were one of the TOP 5 teams after the All-Star break.  Yes, I know that the Dodgers were just whipped like rented mules.  They had never lost three in a row this year, until the day before yesterday – [...]

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In the Spring of 2011, I predicted that the Dodgers would win the NL West – that didn’t happen and since then many fans have really been down on the Dodgers, some even predicting last place finishes in 2011 and 2012.   I have no doubt that some of your judgement was clouded by your immense [...]

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Mark Ellis will be Sorely Missed.  The report is that he will be out for 6 weeks.  He has been nearly as important as Matt Kemp to this years team.   Someone has to step up. I get the feeling that Clayton Kershaw is struggling a little – Imagine saying that after he pitches a shutout.  [...]

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Lest you forget, Mickey Hatcher was Kirk Gibson’s replacement for the 1988 Dodgers in the World Series.  He hit a home run in the first game of the 988 World Series and proceeded to sprint full-speed around the bases.   He has been the hitting coach for the Angels under his (former) buddy, Mike Scioscia for [...]

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Matt Kemp didn’t want to do it, but happily the Dodgers training staff erred on the side of caution and didn’t want Kemp’s Grade 1 Strain become a Grade 3.  This will force him to rest, because I think Matt only knows one way to play – flat out!  It will also give Scott Van [...]

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When Frank McCourt bought the Dodgers, we knew he did it with OPM.   That’s “Other People’s Money.” We knew Frank was highly leveraged.  Frank was criticized for that, but had he and Jamie taken a “reasonable” amount of money as salary instead of nearly $200 million, he might still be the owner and looking pretty [...]

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You can only hope to slow them down.  You cannot expect to stop this runaway train that is the Dodgers, led by the MVP of all of baseball – Matt Kemp!  Sheer joy is what Matt Kemp exudes and it rubs off on his teammates. What can you say except that he’s the best player [...]

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I have about 20 minutes before my flight to LA leaves, so I’ll check in and talk about our favorite topic – the Dodgers! Dee Gordon finally had a decent game – 3 for 4.  This could be the start of a streak for him. James with his first HR – he has actually been [...]

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The Brewers went hungry when Billingsley and Jansen were on the mount, but when anyone whose name started with “Guerr” pitched (Guerrier & Guerra), the Brewers ATE them up.  This is not a column about Tony the Tiger. It would be a knee-jerk reaction to call for a new closer right now – after all, [...]

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Chad Billingsley has pitched like a true #2 starter, and after 2 games he now sports an 0.63 ERA.  What is more telling is that he threw 77 pitches, 55 of which were strikes, and he walked no batters.  If he keeps this up, the Dodgers could have a magical season.  Now, the national sports [...]

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Despite throwing over 100 pitches, Chad Billingsley was outstanding last start. What do we expect from him tonight? I have no opinion, but I will form one after the game tonight. Oh, here’s Jared Massey’s Minor League Report: http://dodgers.scout.com/2/1176210.html

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I had hopes that the Dodgers would sweep the Padres, but it was not to be.  It’s way to early to form many opinions, but here’s what I think I know: Matt Kemp is still MVP Material Dee Gordon is a game-changer Mark Ellis is a nice addition AJ Ellis  will be solid behind the [...]

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After seeing Chad Billingsley pitch last night, only a moron would say that he is not an ACE…. and the Dodgers only need him to be a Number Two!  Steve Dilbeck said he looked like a Number Two- No Steve, he looked like an Ace, but I’ll take him at #2.  Talk about pitching – [...]

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I admit that I make some predictions with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek, however today I am deadly serious and will give you my honest assessment of how the Dodgers will do this season. First of all, none of us can anticipate exactly what will happen, especially in regard to new ownership.  Stan [...]

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… at least for another week or two.  I’ll give him two starts, but if I don’t see it get better, and soon, I will send him to the bullpen. Mattingly might not, but I would. There, I said it. Sorry, I’ve been on vacation for a week, and while I read what is going [...]

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I have been busy the last couple of days, so when I got back and checked the blog, I was dismayed that I had written Rivera would hit 28 HR.   Believe it or not, I meant 18 HR for Rivera, but hit the 2 instead of the 1.  OK,  I’ll just live with it, maybe [...]

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It sounds like Jerry Hariston, Jr. has an arm, or shoulder issue and can’t throw properly according to Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com.  It’s simple – if he can’t throw, he can’t play.  He has to go to the DL.  His defense at multiple positions is his greatest asset. Justin Sellers deserves a shot at the [...]

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2011 was an aberration for the Los Angeles Dodgers.  For those of you who think the 2012 version of the Dodgers is not a very good team, I say:  “I beg to differ.  In fact, I will go as far as saying you are crazy if you think this is a bad team.” It’s popular [...]

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