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

With the likelihood that Casey Blake will start the season on the DL, Ivan DeJesus, Jr. is back in the mix to start the season at 2B.  He would push Uribe over to 3B and Miles could still make the team along with Carroll to serve as Utilitymen, but there’s a lot to be decided [...]

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Vicente Padilla:  7th and 8th inning guy, long-man, spot-starter and closer.   He  would have filled an important role in the pen.  He could have closed if Broxton faltered (knock on wood that won’t happen), or he would have been the 6th starter if one of the Big Five went down.  It ain’t happening though.  Surgery [...]

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According to multiple sources, Vicente Padilla will have surgery to repair a nerve/muscle problem in his arm.  He could miss the whole season, or not.  However, he can’t be included in the Dodger’s plans this season.  Padilla was a key part of the pitching staff, so we can’t minimize his loss. So, now it on [...]

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I feel more confidence in the Dodgers 2011 starting rotation than any other Dodger starting rotation in the past several years.  Barring injury or alien possession, the Starting Five should be very good.  While not the best in all of baseball (at least not now, not on paper), this group has to be in the [...]

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I don’t understand why they didn’t have the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis again so I could easily attend.  What were they thinking?  It’s old news that the Dodgers are interested in the following players, although they presumably won’t sign them all: Russ Martin Vicente Padilla Matt Diaz Scott Podsednik An “Unnamed” LF Source: Tony Jackson [...]

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In no real surprise, the Dodgers declined arbitration to the trio which was eligible, namely Rod Barajas, Scott Podsednik and Vicente Padilla.  The Dodgers just decided they wouldn’t be “held up” by the process. That simply means that they will not be back or that they might be back.  In other words, it means nothing…. [...]

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John Ely is simply amazing!  Who knew?  I wonder if his bubble will burst, but here’s the thing – he IS a PITCHER!  Dude flat out knows how to pitch. Matt Kemp is not a Bison.  He’s more like a Puma.  Pooommmm!    Was it me who predicted 40 HR for him (and Walkoff Ethier)? [...]

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I have a busy day today, but here are a few observations: That’s the Padilla the Dodgers need.  If he can pitch like that, they will be just fine. The Dodgers offense is among the most potent in baseball, with Ethier, Kemp, Loney and Martin coming into their own, Blake improving at 36, Manny being [...]

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Let’s hope!   Blind squirrels hopefully can find some nuts tonight.  Am I calling Vicente Padilla a Blind Squirrel? SHOOT, NO! Just a coincidence! The pen is thin tonight.  By actual count we have Monasterios, Russ Ortiz, Ramon Troncoso and God knows who else available after the pen pitched 260 innings the last 3 days. [...]

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Never mind that Vicente Padilla started on Opening Day.  That was just (you choose):  (a) a senior moment by Joe Torre; (b) a passive-aggressive shot by Torre to Dodger management that” if you don’t get me better pitchers, I’ll start a guy like this;” or (c) just a dumbass move. Here’s the deal.  Vicente Padilla [...]

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You just have to realize that some people see the glass “half full.” some see it “half empty” and we have a few who see it as parched and barren.  They have been doing that for years – you can figure it out.  They like to throw the baby out with the bathwater.  This is especially [...]

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March 25th vs. Milwaukee- Dodgers Lineup: Furcal  SS Kemp  CF Ethier  RF Ramirez  DH Loney  1B Blake  3B Anderson  LF Carroll  2B Closser C Starting Pitcher:  Josh Towers Vicente Padilla???? What??? If he wins, Joe’s a Genius…

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What are the odds that Padilla has a better year than Wolf? Pretty good, I predict! Padilla has every reason in the world to act right, train hard, pitch good and step up. If he wins 12-15 games with a sub 4.00 ERA, he’ll be in line for a bigger payoff next year. It is in situtaions such as this that starters like Padilla can put up their “career year.”

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A good team has a killer instinct.  It seizes the moment and puts their opponent away.  Michael Jordan had a killer instinct when he played for the Chicago Bulls.  The Dodgers need that killer instinct.  They need to stomp on the Cardinals on Saturday and make sure they put them down!  The Dodgers cannot afford for that “two-headed snake” [...]

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I have read extensive analysis of which match-ups are the best for the Dodgers in the NLDS, which is a lot like all the baseball pre-season predictions.  I read all those magazines (and save them, which shows how stupid I am) and then go back and see how the prognosticators fared.  A monkey throwing darts [...]

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