The Top 10 - In No Particular Order

I have no clue where this “Debacle in the Ravine will take us, but I’d say Jamie does not have the upper hand.   No, I’m not going to speculate on who we will sign and who we won’t or who we should trade.  Today, I just want to do some “farming.”  Let’s take a look at the Dodgers top prospects. Read the full story

That’s what we think, now that we expect a lot from him, but the fact of the matter is that Clayton Kershaw “getting bombed” means he gave up a few walks and 2 doubles.  He still has a

It's Time For The Offense to Rise Up

 2.91 ERA and has given up the fewest HR of any starter in baseball.  When Clayton gets bombed, the other team still doesn’t hit much – he just usually beats himself.  It happens to the best – in Dan Haren’s previous two starts he gave up 15 hits and 10 earned runs!  Clayton struggled with his release point last night and the results were evident.  Some guys give up the home-run ball when they don’t have it.   Dan Haren who is one of the best pitchers in the NL, has given up 18 HR in 169 IP.  Cole Hamels who has a 4.77 ERA has given up 20 in 121 innings.  Santana has given up 18, Cain 16,  Halladay 15, Sabathia 15, Verlander 14 and Linecum has given up 6.  Kershaw has only allowed 5 HR this year and 95 hits in 136 IP.  Even when he gets bombed, there are no bombs!  Clayton is actually better than I thought he would be this year.  Watch him grow and enjoy it!  I am.

Rants & Raves:

• Quietly,Josh Johnson is becoming one of the best pitchers in baseball.  He beat the Rockies last night to elevate his record to 12-2 and sports a 2.85 ERA.  This guy is tough!  He’s 25 and will be on the market in a couple of years.  I like his style a lot.  Keep rooting for the Marlins this weekend.
• Is Joe Torre aware he has Charlie Haeger on the staff?  Maybe he didn’t get the memo…
• The Dodgers signed Garrett Gould (6′ 4″  RH) who was their 65th pick, but was regarded as a first-round talent.  Many thought he would attend college at Witcha State.  That means that the Dodgers have signed thier first 11 picks!
• TJ Slimers of The LA Times says he is back from vacation and that the Dodgers could be gagging.  He was gone?  Who knew?
• Will Ohman says he’s pain-free and ready to help the Dodgers according to Jim Peltz of The LA Times.
• Our pitching was good enough to win last night, but only Manny and Kemp brought their bats.  Everyone else wore their dresses!
• I still say Raffy has to move to #8.  He’s impersonating a leadoff hitter and doing a poor job!  I like him on my team, but I don’t like him at leadoff.  It’s time to try something different…
• The Dodgers have moved Greg Miller to the Arizona Rookie League (their lowest classification).
• Tony Abreu is a better option than Mark “Get Back” Loretta.
• Dee Gordon will likely have over 80 SB’s this year.  He’s nearly as untouchable as Kershaw.
• Is Jon Broxton still on the team?  I think they are resting his toe…
• Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com says Billingsley is ready to return.

Minor League Recap – 8/14/09 by Jared of http://thinkbluela.blogspot.com/

Albuquerque won 12-6

Tony Abreu – 3 for 6, 2B, RBI, R, K (.347 BA)
Blake DeWitt – 1 for 5, R, BB, K (.255 BA)
Chin Lung Hu – 2 for 5, 3B, HR (4), 2 RBI, 3 R (.283 BA)

http://tinyurl.com/od85rm
Chattanooga lost 9-1

Andrew Lambo – 0 for 3, BB, K (.261 BA)

James Adkins – 3 IP, 7 Hits, 6 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 2 K’s (4.86 ERA)
Javy Guerra – 2 IP, Hit, ER, 2 BB, K (4.19 ERA)

http://tinyurl.com/qjq53k
Inland Empire won 6-5

Trayvon Robinson – 2 for 4, HR (15), RBI, R, BB, K, E (.306 BA)
Scott Van Slyke – 2 for 5, HR (20), RBI, 2 R, OF Assist (.290 BA)
Steven Caseres – 0 for 4, RBI, 2 K’s (.265 BA)

http://tinyurl.com/qb2xm6
Great Lakes won 6-5

Dee Gordon – 2 for 3, BB, K, 2 SB, CS (.302 BA)
Kyle Russell – 1 for 2, 2 R, 2 BB, K (.271 BA)
Mario Songco – 0 for 3, BB, K (.150 BA)
Alfredo Silverio – 1 for 3, HR (12), 3 RBI, 2 R, BB, K (.285 BA)
Jerry Sands – 2 for 4, 3B, HR (1), 3 RBI, R (.229 BA)

Cole St Clair – 1 IP, 0 Hits, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K’s (3.07 ERA)

http://tinyurl.com/q68cxf
Ogden lost 6-4

BCG – 2 for 4, HR (13), RBI, R, K, SB, OF Assist (.340 BA)
Nick Akins – 0 for 4, 2 K’s (.208 BA)
Kyle Orr – 0 for 4, K (.230 BA)
Blake Smith – 1 for 4, R, K (.208 BA)

http://tinyurl.com/ps22zo
AZL won 2-1

Michael Pericht – 0 for 3, RBI, 2 K’s, E (.230 BA)
Jonathan Garcia – 1 for 2, 2B, BB, HBP (.286 BA)

Greg Miller – 1 IP, Hit, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K’s (0.00 ERA)
Carlos Frias – 5 IP, 3 Hits, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K’s (4.81 ERA)

http://tinyurl.com/q8ed42
Player of the Day – Jerry Sands, OF

Through 5 games, Sands’ production hasn’t dropped off since leaving the cozy confines of the Pioneer league. After clubbing 14 HR in 41 games with the Raptors, Jerry finally hit his first in 10 with the Loons. The strikeouts are back up (6 in 18 at bats), though half of those came in 1 game. While he was drafted out of college, Sands doesn’t turn 22 until the end of next month and could be a candidate to spend 2010 in the Inland Empire.