• Was it Larry Bowa who suggested that Matt Kemp be traded?  Was it because he sometimes runs through Bowa’s stop signs, like yesterday?  Casey Blake ran through Bowa’sStop Sign yesterday as well. Take aways those two runs which Bowa tried to strand at 3B and the Dodgers may have lost.  The question is:  Is Bowa losing it at 3B?
• Matt Kemp looked like superman with his game-saving diving catch in CF.  The X-Man made a leaping catch in RF to also save the day.
• Here’s ALL you need to know to decide whether to keep Anderson or Paul –  Which player makes the Dodgers a better team?  That’s all that needs to be considered. Paul is better defensively, has a better arm, has speed that can serve the Dodgers well as a pinch runner, and has shown he can hit major league pitching.  Paul has nothing more to learn at AAA  and the Dodgers need their best players on the big league roster.  The Dodgers need 5 outfielders because of Manny being a liability in LF and requiring more rest and defensive replacements.  The Dodgers will do a disservice to their fans, players and Paul by demoting him.  That’s the long and short of it.
• Dontrelle Willis wants to play for a West Coast team – he worth a “look see.”  He’s only 28 – maybe some one can resurrect his career.  He’ll only cost the minimum…
• Roy Halladay – Perfect!  What can you say?  He’s the best in baseball!
• Here’s what the following Dodger players will do if they keep up their current pace:

Additionally, Ely is on pace to be 10-6, Billingsley 19-6 and Kershaw and Kuroda are projected at 16-10.  Of course, it doesn’t mean that will happen, but you never know…

• Scott Elbert was optioned and Travis Schlichting was recalled from AAA – pay no attention to his stats.  The PCL skews everything.
• Since Charlie Haegar has an injured toe, Carlos Monasterios is getting another start.  This is good!
• If you think the reason the Dodgers didn’t offer arbitration to Hudson and Wolf was so they wouldn’t have to pay draft picks, you are clinically insane.

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

LOS ANGELES – The 2009 National League West Division Champion Los Angeles Dodgers today announced that their entire Major League coaching staff will return for the 2010 season.

Led by manager Joe Torre, the staff has guided the Dodgers to two straight National League West Division titles and two consecutive National League Championship Series. General Manager Ned Colletti made the announcement.

The coaches: Larry Bowa – Third Base Coach (third season) Mariano Duncan – First Base Coach (fifth season) Rick Honeycutt – Pitching Coach (fifth season) Ken Howell – Bullpen Coach (third season) Don Mattingly – Hitting Coach (third season) Manny Mota – Coach (31st season) Jeff Pentland – Instructor (third season) Bob Schaefer – Bench Coach (third season) Bowa will enter his fifth straight season as a third base coach for Torre and his third with Los Angeles. Read the full story