Mannywood and Mannymania – It was fun for a season!

In 2008, Manny arrived in LA and proceeded to take the Dodgers on his back and carry them to the playoffs.  In 2009, he became a distraction, but was still a cog in the Dodger machine.  However, this year it was his inability to stay off the DL that cost the Dodgers their chance for a record three years in the post-season.  That, and Raffy’s extended stays there as well.

What happened this year was exactly what I feared when the Dodgers signed Manny for two years – and some people wanted the Dodgers to ink him for five?  Manny may be productive for a couple of more years as a DH, but his time in LA had expired.  I am sure Joe wasn’t playing him at the request of Ned to keep Manny healthy, but I doubt that Joe had to be prodded.  Manny was still being Manny.  Sometimes he didn’t hustle, other times he did.  His fielding was the major concern and he didn’t appear to have fun anymore.  Let’s face it, after his 50 game suspension, he was really never the same hitter – he had flashes, but he was not the difference-maker he once was.  It was time for him to go and when the Dodgers had someone (ChiSox) step forward, his fate was sealed.

When he got thrown out of the game with the bases loaded yesterday because some Ignorant Savage named Gary Cederstrom, behind the plate called a pitch that was 8″ outside a strike, and Manny dared question him, I thought that Manny got himself ejected on purpose.  However, after further review, I really saw no justification, other than the umpire was an Ignorant Savage!  I won’t go into some diatribe about the umpires, but I will say that was over-reaction.

Speaking of over-reaction, the opposite was true of Joe Torre.  He just sat there while Manny was ejected, serving out his time as Dodger Skipper barely going through the motions.  I will be glad when this season is over and he is gone, hopefully with all the rest of the coaches.  FREE TIM WALLACH!

The McCourt Divorce Trial Starts today and it should be interesting, unless a settlement is reached along the way.  If one side or the other begins to feel the pinch, they will be motivated to settle.  You just never know how a trail will go.

Me, I’ve got better things to thing about, like:

1. Will the Dodgers try and sign Ted Lilly (a 3-year deal might be nice)?
2. Is Ryan Theriot the answer or a question at 2B?
3. The Dodgers really won’t try and sign an aging Scott Podsednik?   Will they?
4. Can the Dodgers find a 3B like, oh, maybe Adrian Beltre and make Casey Blake a super-sub?
5. Who will get traded in a blockbuster deal?  The Dodgers need a REALLY big bat!
6. Can Russ Mitchell be a serviceable backup?  He’s really Casey Blake!

Before this season started and “The Divorce” was in full swing, many readers and fans held Arte Moreno up is as an ideal owner, and held FrankMcCourt up as a “scumbag owner.”  Now, on August 24, 2010, both Dodgers and Angels fans find themselves in just about the same predicament:  The Dodgers are one game over .500 and out of the pennant race (and wild card race), and the Angels are one game below .500 and out of the pennant race for all practical purposes.

It could happen to anyone.

The Yankees have spent over $2 billion on payroll since 2000 and have only one World Series Championship to show for it.

It could happen top anyone.

The Red Sox, whose GM is touted as among the smartest in baseball and have a payroll of over $160 million are also out of it for all practical purposes.

It could happen to anyone.

That’s what losers say.  I prefer to say that while it can happen to anyone, the good teams make sure that it doesn’t happen to them again.

Nothing is so constant as change and unless the Dodgers are insane (insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results), they need to make some big changes.  While those changes can’t all me made immediately, the white flag needs to be raised and the purge needs to begin.  12 games have been overcame in less time, but not with this team.  This is a team whose biggest question going into the season was lack of starting pitching.  Even the naysayers who predicted a .500 record said they didn’t doubt that the team would score runs.

Well, they haven’t scored – at least on the field!  Since the All-Star break the Dodgers have averaged about 3 runs a game.  That in itself, is horrible, but then the bullpen imploded and blew nearly every winnable game.  Surprisingly, the starting pitching has been solid.  The lack of hitting and lack of a bullpen has killed the Dodgers.  I also think there is one other factor:  The Manager and Coaches Have Lost This Team!

When it happened, I don’t know.

How it happened, I don’t know.

Look, Joe Torre is nor a cerebral manager.  He is a Hall-Of-Famer, but sometimes being a Hall-of-Famer is just being in the right place at the right time.   Maybe Joe Torre was the perfect manager for the Yankees and their big contracts and big egos and the bigger pressures of playing in NY.  I am not going to take away his HOF status, but this team has quit on him.

Speaking of being in the right place at the right time, I wonder if we would look at Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks differently if Dan Mario had played for the 49′ers with All-Pros 2 or 3 deep at every position and an offensive genius as a coach, and Joe Montana had played for the Dolphins with no running game and few All-Pros.  Time and place are everything.

Ned Colletti is part of the problem.  He has done some very good things and also some very bad things in his tenure.  I believe he deserves another year, but the last time the Dodgers had such a disappointing year, both the GM (Paul DePodesta) and the Manager (Jim Tracy) were shown the door.  That’s possible here as well, but I would give Ned another year, because he seems to learn from his mistakes, James McDoanld and Blake DeWitt notwithstanding.  In my opinion, this year is a bigger disappointment, because of the level of talent on this team.

Joe Torre and Company need to be shown the door.  We don’t need a manager who is ineffective as a hitting coach, and our pitching needs a fresh approach.  The new manager needs to be a younger guy (in my opinion) and needs to be someone who can “work a room.”  He needs to be a motivator, a disciplinarian and a tactician.  Could that guy be our backup catcher?    Maybe.  Maybe not!

I just know that change must come.  How sweeping it is needs to be determined soon.  At this juncture, Ned should make sure that Manny, Blake, Kuroda, Lilly, Theriot, Podsednik and Broxton are all on waivers.  The Dodgers could get lucky on one or two of them.

Russ Martin may never return and Loney, Kemp and Ethier have not blossomed as they should have.  It could happen to anyone is something that I will not accept as an excuse.

It’s time to turn the page!

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!

We have all heard the term “Little Man Syndrome” used in connection with someone who might try to overcompensate for a lack of physical stature in some other fashion.  I think that just the opposite is true in the case of Jon Broxton, and in a minute I will explain why.

But first, let me be the first to say that it pains me very much to see Roxton blow games. I wish I would be eating my words, much like Andre Ethier stepped up and made me eat my words after I called him out for being a “soft hitter”  (a nickname which he now admits was valid at the time).  Andre Ethier was soft, and turned the tables to become a clutch hitter.  I would like to differentiate between Roxton and Ethier, however:  I never did say that Ethier would always be soft.  I just said that he WAS soft.  It could be different with J-ROX, because I suspect that he could always be “soft” as a (c)loser.

Before you label me a”hater” as many have, let me point out that I have had this same opinion of JB during the times he was “lights out” as well as when he was “lit up.” I have urged the Dodgers to trade him for three years, because I believe that he has “Big Man Syndrome” and simply cannot stand the pressure of tight games and big stages.  It’s possible that he could adapt and become that clutch closer every team craves, but here’s why I suspect he won’t make it there.  It’s Big Man Syndrome.”  Jon is a gentle giant.  He is a mountain of a man.  He is a horse.  He could break me in half with one hand behind his back.  Well, that last one is probably not true, because I don’t think he possesses the mean streak that I do.

Because he is so big, so bad and so strong, Jon has been told all his life “Don’t hurt him.”  ”Be careful – he’s a lot smaller than you.”  ”Now Jon, you have to watch out how you behave around those smaller boys.”  And as he get bigger and stronger, he was told that more and more, and when he started to be able to throw 80 MPH, 85 MPH, 90 MPH, 95 MPH and finally 100 MPH he was able to blow those boys away, without pitching inside, because after all, he was bigger and stronger than they were, and had to be careful.  Jon is a genuinely nice guy.  A guy who wouldn’t hurt a fly.  Jon is a guy who could break you in half, but wouldn’t, because he was afraid of hurting someone.    He has been told that all his life.

That’s probably an excellent quality in a human being, but it’s a horrible quality for a closer.  A closer is supposed to cut out your heart and feed it to you.  Jon Broxton can’t stand the sight of blood.  Jon doesn’t want to hurt anyone.  A closer has to have the guts of a cat burglar.  Jon Broxton is too nice to have ever developed anything like that.  A closer has to be a cold-blooded killer.  Jon Broxton is as nice a guy you could ever meet.  He’s the kind of guy you’d love your daughter to bring home.

In a nutshell, Jon Broxton is a very good human being, but he’s a bad closer.  He cares about other people too much!  Some people say he needs another pitch, and maybe that would be nice, but I think he needs a heart transplant.  Find a cat bugler and transplant that heart into him.  Maybe a serial killer’s heart would work too.   Jon Broxton doesn’t need a new pitch – he needs to pitch inside on a regular basis, and he knows that he might hurt or even kill someone if he did that, and has has been trained since childhood that “you are bigger and stronger than those boys, don’t hurt them, Jon.”

Jon Broxton is a gentle giant,  He’s probably a hell of a man, but he’s not a closer.  I know his stats are very good, but I can smell his fear of hurting someone.  Maybe you think I’m crazy… and that’s OK.  But, I am right.

The Dodgers should have traded Cheryl and Roxton last year.  Cheryl will walk with no compensation this year (hopefully) and Roxton’s market is smaller than it once was.   Kenley Jansen evidently has the guts of a serial killer.  Put him in there and let him learn.  Jon Broxton needs to be gone by Opening Day.

Here’s a list of others who should also be gone by then:

• Schaffer
• Bowa
• Torre
• Mattingly
• Honeycutt
• Colletti
• Blake
• Furcal
• Manny
• Belliard
• … and maybe McCourt

Maybe Brox would be better at home.  Would the ATL pony up for him?

I know that’s what it is.  

I am just totally irrational about Jon Roxton.

Even after his latest meltdown, he is the best there is.

It wasn’t his fault anyway.

Somebody blew a DP.

Not his fault.

It can happen to any loser.

After all, the stats prove it.

It must be Joe Torre’s fault!

Yeah, that’s the ticket.  Joe rested him (pick one:  not enough or too much).

Look at the stats, Roxton is great.

He is awesome.

I am just totally irrational to call him Roxton (for the uninitiated, I removed the first letter of his last name and the first letter of his title, so he is now Loser Roxton).

Yeah, that’s right – you know it all.  I’m the dummy!

I used to get ragged on for calling Andre Ethier a soft hitter.

Lots of you told me that he was NOT soft, and he isn’t now, but he was then.

You continued to argue with me that he never was soft, but I just heard him admit last week that he was a soft few years ago.  Now what?

You have been telling me that Broxton is a Closer and I have been telling you for three years that Roxton is Loser.

… but I’m irrational.

Like a fox!

With Curley, Larry and Moe running the team, the Dodgers officially became sellers today.   No way that bunch can overcome 7 games.

Joe Torre proved he wanted to take early retirement by leaving George Cheryl in the game today to pitch to a righthander in the 9th with the winning run on 2B.   Even Ray Charles could have foreseen what would happen next!

The Six Stooges

Joe is tired, and wants to go race his horses, pickup his daughter at school and sip his Begelow Tea.  Don Mattingley is busy looking for the other half of his wits, and Rick Honeycutt is irrelevant.  Of course, Frank McCourt can get his share of the blame for not freeing up any money, but realistically, what does he expect with Curley, Larry and Moe running the ship?  Enough already!

Let the fire sale begin, and start by whacking the Three Stooges!

Wasn’t there a 4th Stooge?  Oh yeah, Ned was his name!

Blake, Furcal, Martin, Johnson, Broxton, Padilla, Belliard, Carroll, Manny (in a month) and Podsednik could all be dealt.  Cheryl could be given away.  Anderson could be released.  Stock up on prospects!

Lineup:

1. DeJesus  SS
2. Paul  LF
3. Ethier  RF
4. Kemp  CF
5. Loney  1B
6. DeWitt 2B
7. Mitchell 3B
8. Ellis C

I would enjoy that.

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!

DODGERS PRESS RELEASE

RIP Boss

“George was a friend who I admired very much.  He was a giant in our game and he built an empire.  All he was was a winner.  He wanted to give the fans a winner, and that’s exactly what he did.” - Dodger Hall of Fame Manager Tommy Lasorda

“I will always remember George Steinbrenner as a passionate man, a tough boss, a true visionary, a great humanitarian and a dear friend.  I will be forever grateful that he trusted me with his Yankees for 12 years. My heart goes out to his entire family. He will be deeply missed in New York, Tampa and throughout the world of baseball. It’s only fitting that he went out as a world champ.” – Dodger Manager Joe Torre

“I am deeply saddened to hear the news of George Steinbrenner’s passing.  His vision, passion and commitment to winning, recharged the New York Yankees and revolutionized the game.

I remember a man driven to succeed.   He was the owner, “The Boss” and number one fan of the Yankees.  Our relationship was built on mutual respect.  I will never forget and always be grateful for how he treated me and my family both during my playing days and after I retired.

I will miss him very much and extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Joan, and all the members of the Steinbrenner family.” – Dodger Hitting Coach Don Mattingly

“George Steinbrenner was the first owner to contact me to congratulate me when I purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers.  From that day forward we built a strong and meaningful friendship.  He was a larger than life owner who cared deeply about winning.  George helped shape the game of baseball during his incredible stewardship of the Yankees.  My deepest sympathies go out to his wife, Joan and his four children, Hal, Hank, Jennifer and Jessica and the entire Steinbrenner family.” – Dodger Owner Frank McCourt

Russell Martin?

Pavolv had this dog who heard a bell ring and he proceeded to salivate all over himself. That sometimes happens when you see an young attractive lady walking down the street too.  In the instant case, I think that Russell Martin is “Pavlov’s Dog.”

Jeff Pentland, Joe Torre and Don Mattingly work with him, and work with him, and work with him about “going the other way,” but when he sees a fastball, it’s like a bell goes off in his head and he salivates all over himself to pull the pitch.  Pavlov’s Dog – that’s what he is!

The cost of RBI’s for 1B is pretty steep these days.

Ryan Howard – $19 mil – 65 RBI

Albert Pujols –  $16 mil – 64 RBI

James Loney –  $3.1 mil – 63 RBI

I’m just sayin’….

Forget all the stats – James Loney IS the Dodgers MVP for the first half of the season. James Loney is 2 RBI’s away from being tied with the league leader.  He has accomplished that from mostly the 5th or 6th spot, whereas the leaders have mostly been #3 or #4 hitters.  I’d like to see James Loney hit more HR and I do think he will, but he’s pretty good right now.

The Dodgers  had another first basemen discover his power later and that would be Steve Garvey.  Through 2,159 AB’s, James Loney (Age 26) has 51 HR’s.  Through 2,424 AB’s Steve Garvey (Age 26) had 64 HR’s and he hit 37 of those at age 25 and 26.  You saw the HR James hit yesterday.  As he gets a little older, he’ll have more power and more ability to recognize when he can pull.

While Matt Kemp has been better lately, his base-running, fielding and lack of hitting has hurt his ability to be considered for MVP.  Andre Ethier and Manny have been injured too much.  Truth be known, Rafael Furcal is right up there too.

Right here, right now, if there are runners on 2B and 3B and you need an RBI, there’s no one on the Dodgers I’d rather see up there than James Loney!  Give him his props!

Congrats to the Dodgers All-Stars:

• Jon Broxton
• Andre Ethier
• Rafael Furcal
• Hong-chih Kuo

Make us proud!

Next blog post:  Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Jon Broxton again has demonstrated that the bigger the stage, the smaller he is.  I am tired of people making excuses for him.    I have heard that “He hasn’t pitched enough and that’s why he blew the game“ and now I hear “he has pitched too much which is why he blew the game.”  As Broxton walked out to the field you could feel the fear.  I could almost smell it!  I told the family that he was going to blow the game.  My wife says he takes forever between pitches, like he’s afraid to throw it and I said “he is!” Jon Broxton is an elite closer (allegedly) who should be able to get 3 outs without giving up 4 runs.  Yes, Loney made a bonehead play, but Broxton blew the game!

The Dodgers should have never been there if Broxton was not a choke artist!  For those of you who want to overwhelm me with stats, here is where FIGURES LIE!  Broxton blew the game, but he gets no blown save, which is BS!  TOTAL BS!  Jon Broxton blew what was the biggest game of the year for the Dodgers.  Remember this game because if the Dodgers don’t win, this game could have been a pivotal change in the Dodgers fortune, but Jon Broxton wrestled defeat from the jaws of victory.  When you mention the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies and all the big name teams, Jon Broxton’s knees turn to jelly.  This loss wasn’t on Torre.  Joe wanted the win and brought what is his best pitcher in to seal the deal.  I’m no Torre fan, but this isn’t on Joe.  Quit making excuses for Broxton.  My wife calls him “a loser.”   He can pitch with the best, but I tend to agree – he’s a loser!

If you are an elite closer, and his stats say that he is, then your manager should be able to bring you in anytime.  Not a closing situation?  BS!  He is allegedly your best pitcher, and that game meant so much to the Dodgers.  I have no quarrel with Joe bringing in Broxton.  Actually, I think it was smart.  I do have a quarrell with him bringing in Cheryl. He is toast.  As I said in the off season, Ned should have traded him because we have seen the best of Cheryl.  THREE LETTERS:  DFA!

This is not a “knee jerk” reaction.I have been saying this about Broxton for years. National TV, Sunday Night, The Yankees, a 4-Run Lead = Flame-out by Broxton. Guaranteed! I said the Dodgers should trade Broxton three years ago, two years ago, a year ago and I am still saying it. Jon Broxton is soft on the big stage. I have said it over and over and I still am saying it. IF (BIG IF) the Dodgers get to the playoffs, or the World Series, Jon Broxton is a lock to blow a game or three. Even after last night’s flameout, his value is still extremely high. Include him in a trade for Cliff Lee or some other starter.

The Dodgers need to explore other possibilities, including Kuo, Belisario, Lindblom McDonald, Jansen, Capps – there are options. Jon Broxton will break your heart. Cut bait, Ned!

Feel free to disagree!

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…

Many of you had the Dodgers dead and buried a couple of weeks ago (no, I am not going to just let it go – you need to learn a lesson) and now they are red-hot-on-fire-the-hottest-

Excellent Defense

team-in-baseball! Like it or not, here is what you are seeing:

• You are seeing the maturation of some young pitchers like Kershaw, Billingsley, Ely, Kuo, Belisario and Broxton;
• You are seeing the maturation of  some young hitters like Loney, Kemp, Martin, DeWitt and Walkoff Ethier;
• You are seeing Ned’s signing of Jamey Carroll pay off in spades (Garrett Anderson still sucks);
• You are seeing a team win seven in as row, 9 out of the last 10 games and 12 out of the last 15 games;
• You are seeing this team grow their own ace and number two in Kershaw and C-Bill;
• You are seeing a TEAM unite for a common goal; and
• You just might see history in the making if the Dodgers make the playoffs for the third straight year.

I am accused of seeing the baseball world through “BLUE” glasses and while I bleed Dodger Blue, I also have my eyes wide-open.  This Dodger team has warts.  It lacks a true ace (as yet) and it is young.  Some of our subs are old and some call them “geezers” but did you see the ages of the “Geezers” who won the last World Series?  Look it up!

However, I knew that this team would be “hungry” and want to win.  You have a few players who have experience and are of an age that they need to win NOW.  Players like Blake, Manny, Raffy, Belliard, Johnson and others.  Then you have the young bucks, like Kemp, Loney, Martin, Ethier, DeWitt, Broxton, Kershaw, Billingsley, Ely, Kuo, Belisario, Ellis and others who are trying to make a name (and fortune) for themselves.

Like it our not, Ned has put together a pretty effective team and I would not be surprised if Vicente Padilla wins 12 games!  Write that down.  He is motivated!  Charlie Haegar may still surprise us.

Lindblom, McDonald, Paul, Hoffman, May, Hu and others are at-the-ready.

You can continue to moan and bitch about the McCourt fisaco, or you can focus on the team and this team is REALLY GOOD… just like I told you two months ago!

You can believe what the fish hacks say (“Joe is tired of the McCourt penny-pinching and wants out”, “the Dodgers won’t spend any money”) or you can face reality.  Yes, you will get a lot of info from the “fish hacks”  but their conclusions are often erroneous.  Think what you want about Joe Torre, but do you really think he’s going to tell his friends and fish hacks anything confidential?

Use your brains, people!  Critics are everywhere, and critics are just people who criticize people about things they can’t do themselves!  They are “small” individuals.

The Dodgers haven’t swept the Padres in San Diego, since George Washington was in the White House!

Celebrate!

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

While still leading all of major league baseball in hitting at .277, the Los Angeles Dodgers are quietly lowering their team ERA and raising their fielding percentage.  They have climbed from 15th to 12th in fielding and have shaved almost a run off their team ERA.  It now sits at 4.63…  and dropping.   The Dodgers have now won 5 in a row and 6 out of their last 7 games, causing the McCourt bashers to disappear because their BS doesn’t play well when the Dodgers are winning.   A lot can happen in baseball, and while I can’t predict that the Dodgers will win it all, I still say they are capable.  The Dodgers have as good a chance as any and a better chance than most teams to make it to the Wold Series.

Many of you were piling on early in the season, when practically the entire pitching staff was “blowing up” and the team fielding was deplorable.  You said stuff like:

• “This team is going nowhere.”
• “The Dodgers will be sellers.”  BY THE WAY, IF YOU BELIEVE THAT ONE YOU ARE A FOOL!
• “We’ll never win with McCourt and Ned.”
• “I told you this team was not built to win.”
• “McCourt is spending all the money on Jamie and himself, so he can’t afford to field a good team.”

I can’t believe some of the silly (ie., stupid) things that are said by some of you.  Maybe what I said was stupid too when I wrote that the Dodgers should fire Torre and Honeycutt, but I said it because I KNEW that this team was capable of winning it all and surmised that it had to be the manager and coaches.   Now that they have turned the corner, I will lay off, but some of you need to get a grip.  THIS IS A VERY GOOD TEAM. If you think the Padres will continue to have a 2.60 team ERA, you are silly.  If you don’t think the Dodgers will drop their team ERA to below 4.00 very soon, you are even sillier.  The NL West has some good teams, but the Dodgers are still as good, probably better than any of them.

I am beginning to think that some of you love to bash McCourt more than root for the Dodgers, because you disappear when the Dodgers win.  For the last time, Frank McCourt is irrelevant to me.  I don’t like him.  I don’t hate him.  While I wouldn’t live my life the way he does, that’s on him.   The Dodgers have been to the playoffs for two straight seasons and if they make it this year it will be an accomplishment that has never been achieved in the history of the franchise.  So, are you on the Bandwagon or do you just enjoy bitching?   Do you enjoy winning or whining?   Climb aboard!

RANTS & RAVES

• Still think Kemp can’t hit?   All players go through slumps, but it looks like Matt’s game is coming back.  He’s hitting, walking, stealing bases and playing good defense.
• Andre Ethier is playing as good as anyone I have ever seen over the past month.
• Russ Martin has a new-found aggressiveness about him at the bat and a quiet confidence when throwing.
• Ramon Ortiz tantalizes you by making some really outstanding pitches, but EVERY at-bat, he groves one right into the hitters’ “wheelhouse” – I think that’s the book on him:  Wait and he’ll give you a great pitch to hit EVERY at-bat. He needs to disappear as soon as possible.
• I hold my breath every time Hong-chih Kuo takes the mound – each pitch can be his last.
• James Loney is quietly playing at a very high level.
• The Dodger Keystone Combo during this current winning streak has been solid and efficient.  That has not been a problem area for the Dodgers.

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.

Maybe you have wondered why the Dodgers didn’t spend much money over the past off-season.  Maybe?  You have absolutely wondered that if you are a Dodger fan.  After all, the owners were getting a divorce and arguing over money and control, so that’s it – McCourt is bad and he won’t spend any money. Many fans have this position.  I am here to tell you right now that conventional wisdom is usually wrong.  However, in this case, it’s not conventional wisdom.  It’s conventional “piling on”!

You all know that a A player with six or more years of major-league service (on the team’s 40-man roster) who is not under contract for the following season is eligible to file for free agency.  Teams can receive compensation for the player with a draft pick in the following year’s draft in June. In order to receive compensation, the team must offer the player salary arbitration.

It is then up to the player to either accept arbitration or sign with another team. The team must offer salary arbitration to the player by early December or the team will not be allowed to negotiate with or sign the player until the following May 1.   After arbitration is offered, the player has two weeks to accept or refuse salary arbitration. If it is refused, the player can only negotiate with the club until January 7th after which no more negotiation can take place until May 1st.

Top free agents are classified as Type A (the top 20 percent at their position as determined by the Elias Sports Bureau), Type B (between 21 and 40 percent at his position). If a Type A free agent who had been offered arbitration signs with another team, the team receives two first-round draft picks the following June – either a first- or second-round pick of the new team (depending on a team’s record the previous season) and a “sandwich” pick between the first and second rounds. Type B free agents earn just a “sandwich” pick.

If there are 14 or fewer Type A or Type B free agents available, no team can sign more than one type A or B player. If there are between 15-38, no team can sign more than two. If there are between 39 and 62, there’s a limit of three. However, teams can sign as many Type A or B free agents as they’ve lost, regardless of the limits above.

Now, think about this for a minute.  If a Type A player like Wolf and Hudson refuses free agency, then the team who loses them get compensation.  On the other hand, if they accept arbitration, it is binding.  Do you actually think it would be fair that a team could “opt out” if the player got more than they wanted to pay?   It is beyond foolish to think that has any root in reality.  You should know better than that.  A deal is a deal!  There is no rescinding it !  If you offer arbitration, it is binding!  Duh!

If the Dodgers had offered arbitration to Randy Wolf and  Orlando Hudson, then they would be bound to have accepted the results, contrary to what some people on this board may think.  They would have had to pay that player their number or the players number.  No recourse!

Now that we all understand what could have happened if the Dodgers offered arbitration to Wolf and Hudson, let’s consider the underlying reasons why the Dodgers did not offer either of them arbitration.  Wolf and Hudson were at the “right place at the right time” to both have made a fortune at arbitration.  Randy Wolf was a good pitcher for the Dodgers in 2009, but he has never been all that.  However, after stringing together some solid seasons, he qualified as a Type A Free Agent and was one of the top free agent pitchers in a very thin class of pitchers.  The same can be said of Orlando Hudson.  While he was never a perennial All-Star, he did win some Gold Gloves and made two All-Star appearances.  O-Dog also qualified as a Type A Free Agent and was one of the Top 2B in baseball… but he wasn’t “all that” either.  Randy Wolf and Orlando Hudson were good players, but if the Dodgers had offered them arbitration, there is a chance they would have accepted.  What that chance was depends upon who you ask.  It might have been 10% or it might have been 60% – no one knows, but here is what we do know:

If the Dodgers had offered arbitration to them and they had accepted, in all likelihood, here is what they might have asked:  Wolf would have gotten $10-13 mil and Hudson would have gotten $8-11 mil. You can say that the Dodger’s Kim Ng wouldn’t lose, but it all depends upon what is asked and offered as well.  I think the minimum the Dodger would have had to pay them both would have been $18 mil and the maximum may have been $24 million.  To put that in perspective, the Dodgers could have signed CC Sabathia for that, and that’s what Ryan Howard just signed his new deal for.

The Dodgers have made the mistake in the past of signing who was available, not who was really needed.  Juan Pierre, Jason Schmidt, Andrew Jones, even Jeff Kent were signings which maybe didn’t make sense.  You don’t just look at who is available – you have to look at what you need.  If Ned and Frank had not signed Schmidt, Jones and Pierre, you might just be looking  a staff with CC Sabathia as ACE.  What would make the Dodgers better – Hudson and Wolf or Sabathia or Hudson and Wolf or Ryan Howard (then you could trade Loney for pitching)?  Forget these five-and-dime guys.

But, the Dodgers are blasted for not getting an ace.  Wait a minute –  they tried to get Cliff Lee – the Indians just liked the Phillies offer better.  There was no chance Doc Halladay was coming to the Left Coast.  Not in a million years!    That left Lacky – no thanks.  Good things come to those who wait.  The Dodgers are waiting.  They didn’t sign Wolf or Hudson because they know that something better is out there.  It may be Cliff Lee next winter, or maybe by the All-Star Break.  You don’t know.  Zach Greinke could suddenly become available, if KC really stinks and wants a multitude of prospects to rebuild (again).

Don’t expect the Dodgers to tell you this.  They can’t – it’s not something you share with your competitors, but when Ned says it’s business as usual, it is – in the sense that this is now the plan. The Dodgers won’t pay $15 – $18 mil for a player like Lackey, Schmidt, Jones, but they will pony up $20+ mil for a Cliff Lee or  $25 mil for a Zach Greinke.  You have to have both the Superstars and the Role Players.  The Phillies are built that way with Utley, Howard, Rollins, Halladay and all the rest.  I think they make a mistake in signing Raul Ibanez, because that might prevent them from re-signing Jason Werth.  Ibanez was important to them last year, but this year he stinks, and they have to pay him one more year.

In three years, the Dodgers could have contract obligations of $65 million a year to three players – Kemp, Ethier and Kershaw.  Frank McCourt knows that to build the empire he wants – he has to put a winner on the field.  He can’t do it with players like nickel-and-dime  players like Hudson and Wolf.  He needs about 4 or 5 superstars, a strong farm system and some role players to plug in.  Many have interpreted the fact that the Dodgers would not offer arbitration to Wolf and Hudson as Cheapness.  Actually, it’s the opposite – the Dodgers are now in a position to trade for a big arm THIS YEAR.  I believe the Dodgers could have a payroll closer to $120 mil by the end of the season.

Some people choose to believe fiction (such as it is possible to refuse to pay the arbitration settlement, or that Bud Selig told the Dodgers not to go to arbitration).  HOGWASH!   Some people choose to believe that McCourt will not spend the money necessary to win.  HOGWASH!  What the Dodgers did last off-season was about “positioning.”  The Dodgers are trying to get positioned to get some impact players, not the five and dime variety like Wolf and Hudson.  The Dodgers won’t spend the money?  HOGWASH!  The Dodgers are just going to be positioned to spend the money where it can make a difference.  The Dodgers are still paying for their (Ned’s) mistakes to Pierre, Schmidt and Jones, but they did get Link and Ely for Pierre (who has been a disappointment for the ChiSox).  Both of those player have promise.

The “mistakes” gradually come off the books over the next year or two.  On the horizon are Dee Gordon, Jerry Sands, and a bunch of pitchers who throw 95+ MPH.

The Dodgers have learned (the hard way) that you don’t sign the “five-and-dime” free agents – you have to go after the big boys!  Watch and see what happens.  In a few months, the people who ridiculed Frank McCourt will be wearing brown grocery bags over their heads with “eye slits.”

All I am saying is “Give the Dodgers a Chance!”

Oh….  Fire Joe Torre!  His horse finished 16th out of 20 in the derby.  Say no more!

Rants & Raves:

• I thought Andrew Lambo had put his character issues behind him.  I guess I was wrong.  I am officially off the LamboWagon!
• Ramon Ortiz – 3 IP/ 2 Hits/ 5 K’s to get the win.  He can stay!
• Carlos Monasterios looked like  24 year-old making his first major league start, but I saw promise.  He could just stick in the rotation.
• Charlie Haeger’s butt is glued to the pine.
• Andre Ethier is a beast!

No one realizes more than I do that this is a 162 game season.  I am not worried about our pitching – it will come around (do you really believe that Kuo and Belsiario will continue to have double-digit ERA’s?  Sherrill?  I worry about him, but he can’t be THAT bad, can he?).

Three for the Road?

I am worried that Joe Torre has lost this team. It’s not the result (the fact that the Dodgers lost), it the fashion in which they are losing – passionless, uncaring, disconnected, sloppy, selfish and flat.  These guys are going through the motions – they are not even trying.  Oh sure, you can point to this or that and say “yes they are trying” but it’s a malaise that is permeating the entire team.

You can’t fire the players, so the management has to be held accountable, and now I am including Ned Colletti into that equation.  Ned should not go to the air waves to single out Matt Kemp.  It’s one thing to say the team is playing without passion or dogging it.  It’s quite another to single out a single  player.  It might be true, but it was wrong.

Joe Torre is a Hall-of-Famer, buy he has lost this team.  Look at what a shambles the Rockies were in last year – then they fired Clint Hurdle, and Jim Tracy (Jim Freakin’ Tracy) re-energized the team BIG TIME!  Sometimes change for changes’ sake is just what is needed! It’s time for sweeping changes:  Torre, Mattingly, Bowa, Schaffer, Honeycutt are all responsible.

We have a solution “in-house” in Tim Wallach.  It’s time for change, just 22 games into the season.  In 2007, the Dodgers started 13-8 and failed to make the playoffs, proving it’s not how you start – it’s how you finish.  Let’s finish this thing.

I believe that Ned has assembled a team that can win, and if he also believes that, he has to fire Joe Torre and he has to do it soon!  Failure to act means that Ned must also believe this team can’t win… and if that’s the case, he should be fired!  This is a “bottom line business” .

RANTS & RAVES:

• Clayton Kershaw still throws too many pitches, but he is improving in several areas.  I think both Chad and Clayton would benefit with a new pitching coach.
• I hope Garrett Anderson is French, because he is Toast!
• Charlie Haeger is in danger of being DFA’s and I doubt he will get claimed.
• Ben Sheets of the $10 mil contract has a 1-2 record with a 5.00 ERA (27 IP, 36 H, 14 vBB, 14 K’s) – so far, that looks like a dope fiend move by Billy Beane.
• Theo Epstein doesn’t like like the same genius right about now.
• The Mets looked like a trainwreck before the season and now are in high cotton – Mike Pelfrey is 4-0 with a 0.69 ERA – The Mets had so many problems before the season and have overcame them all.  Kudos to Jerry Manual.
• Ex-Dodgers:  Edwin Jackson – 1-2 with a 6.67 ERA (28 IP/36 H)   Brad Penny – 3-0 with a 0.94 ERA; Dave Duncan has him throwing strikes (Carpenter, Wainright and Penny may be the best 1-2-3 starters in baseball); Derek Lowe has a 5.79 ERA; Randy Wolf – 2-1, 3.34 ERA
• The Rockies optioned Chris Ianetta back to AAA – WOW!
• Barry Zito is unconscious.  Can he keep it up?  If he does, the Giants top 3 is as good as the Cards.
• Carlos Monasterios gets the start on Saturday instead of Heager and Ely looks to get another start as well.

Dodger Chris had this to say Yesterday (I feel his pain too):

I cannot express how pissed off I am about the state of my Dodgers. Unfortunately due to the Mccourts divorce I am afraid this may continue for the next few years to come. Their inability to shore up the starting pitching in the offseason has proven to me that they have decided not to give this team a chance. Maybe Frank needs to devalue the team so he will only have to give half to his ex-wife at a much lower value. The fact that she needs 1 million a month makes me want to puke and shoot myself in the head at the same time!!!! These people are DISGUSTING!!!! I lost my job a year ago and the only thing that kept me together last year was watching my team compete. Well, Mccourts, here I am still out of a job struggling like everyone else in this world right now and you two have the gaul to not spend a dime on the team while spending millions on vacation homes and lawyers. The only thing we can do to force the Mccourts hand is to BOYCOTT ALL GAMES until they show us that they are willing to invest in this team as much as we all have everytime we go to a game! IF we can cut into attendance I believe this will send a clear message to the Mccourts that DODGER FANS will NOT stand for their BULLSHIT and continue to feed their wallets while they DO NOTHING to improve this team. I WILL NOT GO TO ANOTHER GAME until they do SOMETHING about our pitching!!! PLEASE join me Dodger fans…We have to send these people a message!!!!!!!

Frank, you have a problem that can only be cured by winning!

First of all, I do not call for the firing of a Hall-of-Fame Manager like Joe Torre without a great deal of thought and considerable regret.  After all, he is one of the greatest ever, but for “whatever reason”, he has lost his edge.  He is going through the motions, he’s “mailing it in.”  Maybe he dislikes his “lame duck” status. Maybe he feels that Frank and Ned should have gotten him another starter.  Maybe his naming Padilla as opening day starter and making other silly moves is to show his displeasure, or maybe he has just plain lost it.

Whatever it is, caused him to allow Don Mattingly to manage the Dodgers during the spring (maybe he’s still doing it – I don’t know).  He was Manager in name only then.  Did he want a better contract?  Did he ask to manage two more years and the Dodgers said “NO?”   I have no clue, but I do have a few clues after just 20 games:

• Vicente Padilla named Opening Day Starter?
• The team has as many errors as games played, and those are actual errors – there are a lot more “mental errors” which don’t show up in the box score.
• The team plays without passion.
• How about pitching Troncoso, Sherrill and Link in BOTH games of a doubleheader?   Felony stupid in that kind of weather especially!
• He manages without passion.
• These guys are just going through the motions.
• These guys are playing for themselves, not as a team.

The Dodgers can give it 40 games, or 80 games, but the results will be the same.  Joe Torre has lost the spark.  It’s time for a change.   The Dodgers don’t need a figurehead who can talk to the Larry Kings of the world or have a “Homeboy in the Kentucky Derby.”

The Dodgers need a manager with some passion – a manager who can kick some butts, kick some dirt on umpires and kick-start the Dodgers.

The talent is there – the passion is gone!

www.joetorreshouldbefired.com

********************************************************************************************

UPDATE:

Ned Colletti jumps in with his two cents worth according to Tony Jackson of ESPN/Los Angeles:

“I talk to [manager] Joe [Torre] all the time, and he understands my position and my frustration level,” Colletti said. “I have grabbed a couple of players one-on-one to let them know I’m not satisfied with their approach. This isn’t an easy game to play, and when you think you have it mastered and you think you can take it easy and you think you can walk to your position without hustling, the game catches up with you. That is where we are at in some cases right now. Some guys might think they are better than what they are and think the opponent will just roll over.

“We have lost two of three to Cincinnati, two of three to Washington and two of three to Pittsburgh. No offense to those teams, but we are better than they are.”

Colletti specifically called out center fielder Matt Kemp, the reigning National League Gold Glove winner at his position, for his baserunning and defensive play.

“It is below average,” Colletti said. “The baserunning is below average, and the defense is below average. Is it because he got a new [two-year, $10.95 million] deal? I can’t tell you. But you know what? It’s below average, and if this was the last day of the season and people were going for the Gold Glove, his name wouldn’t be on the ballot.

“It is a shame to go from where he was a year ago to revert back to when the ball goes up in the air, you’re not sure where it’s going or if it’s going to get caught.

Finally, Tilden asked Colletti if his message was clear to the players.

“My messages are always clear,” Colletti said. “Whether or not they want to accept it, that is up to them. But I don’t leave much to be deciphered. They aren’t long, and I don’t lose their interest in a minute and a half or two minutes. It is time to get it going. I take every game seriously, and I take every pitch seriously. If other guys ain’t doing it, if they don’t want to be in L.A., we can figure that out, too.”

There’s too much talent on this team for them to be playing so badly.  

Of course, if you are a McCourt Basher, you will say “I told you so” and if they don’t change direction, you will be right.

There is too much talent on this team for them to be playing FUNDAMENTALLY BAD BASEBALL!

Simple solutions:

1. Fire Joe Torre
2. Fire Rick Honeycutt
3. Sign Al Alburquerque (he’ll at least be a side-show at AAA) – I like his name
4. Sign Juan Cruz – worth the risk
5. Name Orel Hershiser Pitching Coach.
6. Promote Tim Wallach to Manager
7. Haeger is DFA’ed
8. Ditto with Ramon Ortiz
9. Trade Sherrill
10. Screw this!  I can stand losing, but I can’t abide playing without passion.  It’s BS!

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