Los Angeles Dodgers
 |
Dodgers need more offensive star powerJuly 6th, 2008
|
The Dodgers season thus far has been a train wreck offensively. Sometimes the boys in blue can turns lemons into lemonade like they did the other day beating the Angels without getting a hit.Most of the time however, the Dodgers offense hangs their pitchers out to dry with little to no run support. Needless to say, the team has not lived up to its potential at the plate. Half way through the season the Dodgers are within striking distance of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West. The Dodgers have as good a chance as anybody of winning the division. Injuries are one reason the Dodgers offense has stalled. Ever since Rafael Furcal first felt a twinge in his gimpy back. Furcal recently underwent back surgery and will be out for the next 8 weeks if not for the rest of the season. As if that weren’t bad enough, Juan Pierre is out with a knee injury. Meaning the Dodgers have lost their top two lead off hitters. It is time for Joe Torre to get outside of the box with his line up. Torre could go with either Matt Kemp or Russell Martin as the table setter for his Dodger line up. Currently he has been going with Kemp who has performed decently. Read more
|
K is for KershawMay 30th, 2008
|
The Dodgers believe they have the next big time pitcher. The next Dwight Gooden, the next Roger Clemens, the next Sandy Koufax. His name is Clayton Kershaw. Even though he has pitched just six innings on the year, Dodgers fans are over the moon for this young pitching project. Since Kershaw is just 20 years old, the Dodgers plan on limiting him to about 170 innings on the season. However, that should be more than enough time to get a feel for what the young phenom can do.
Standing in at six feet three inches, the lanky left hander is the kind of pitcher front office personal dream about. Hailing from Texas, Dodgers faithful are hoping that he proves to be more Nolan Ryan than Roger Clemens. Joe Torre had wanted to bring Kershaw along slowly, but at the end of the day, the Dodgers pitching has not performed as well as hoped. Kershaw is one of the few southpaw’s that the Dodgers have.
This Friday will be a big test for Kershaw as he will be pitching under the bright lights of New York City when the Dodgers play the Mets. Wearing number 54, Kershaw is trying to bring life to a Dodger team that has been underachieving for most of the season. Joe Torre plans on using Kershaw the way he used Joba Chamberlain last season with the Yankees, which is to say he will be used sparingly.
Whatever Kershaw can bring to the table will be an improvement as not one member of the Dodgers rotation has a winning record. Kershaw will be the Dodgers fifth starter for the foreseeable future. Right now, Kershaw is in line to see a number of starts in the coming weeks, then management will evaluate where there young phenom is at. One thing is for sure, the Dodgers hope that Kershaw can be their best left hander since Sandy Koufax. But, they would be happy if Kershaw turns out as good as Orel Hershiser. Either way, if Kershaw is lucky he will end up like Brad Penny and get to date both Alyssa Milano and Eliza Dushku.
|
Kemp wins NL Player of WeekMay 7th, 2008
|
Matt Kemp was named National League player of the week for the week ending May 4th. Kemp went off last week with 11 hits, 11 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Kemp is also riding an eleven game hitting streak, bringing his batting average up to .330. Kemp has been playing primarily in right or center field. Joe Torre has been moving the big right handed hitter up and down the line-up and Kemp has responded with 24 RBIs on the season.
|
Dodgers get lucky number 13April 30th, 2008
|
13 wins feel good. There is hope for the season.
Jeff Kent came through for the Dodgers, on Tuesday. He helped the team to its fourth straight win, putting them at .500 for the first time in quite some time. The future Hall of Famer drove in Andre Ethier in the ninth to give the Dodgers the lead sending the team to a 13-13 record.
Things have really started to come together for the Dodgers as the young players have really started to step it up over the modest winning streak. Andre Ethier scored three runs in the Dodgers’ most recent victory. What has been most impressive is that the Dodgers have been piling on runs.
|
Martin on the move?April 29th, 2008
|
The Dodgers used Russell Martin at third base out of desperation against the Rockies a few days ago. Yet, this might not have been a fluke. Joe Torre says he is not opposed to giving Martin the occasional inning or two at third, or even using him there instead of giving him a day off. Torre pointed out that catchers need a day off from the mental grind of calling pitches as well as the physical toll the postion takes out of a player. What is interesting is that Torre is serious. It is very possible that Martin will see more time at third base. The Dodgers sit second basemen Jeff Kent for Sunday games. As a replacement, they use Chin-lung Hu. Since Hu is also the primary back up third basemen while Nomar Garciaparra is on the DL, Russell Martin becomes the back up third basemen during games played on Sunday. Garciaparra went down on what seemed to be a routine ground ball. However, Garciaparra pulled up lame and has ended up on the DL for the second time this year. He writes about it on the Dodgers website and you have to feel bad for the guy. Blake DeWitt will continue to be the starting third basemen, but Torre is a former catcher who is mindful of how he should use his young catching star. Martin is the soul of the team. He is regarded by most of the players as the team leader. He is the only catcher in the national league capable of going 20-20 with 100 RBI.
It is out of tribute to No. 55 that I present the five reasons Russell Martin is the best catcher in baseball.
|
Ned Needs NavigationApril 19th, 2008
|
With the seventh highest payroll in professional baseball, the Dodgers have not been afraid to spend money in an attempt to bring another championship to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, increased spending has not led to championships.
Owner Frank McCourt has entrusted Ned Colletti to put the best team on the field that money can buy. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, Colletti has made more than a few poor decisions in his time as GM. In 2005, the Dodgers replaced Paul DePodesta with Colletti. At the time, Ned was working as an assistant GM with the Giants.
During his tenure as Dodgers GM, Colletti has made some fairly questionable decisions. This is most easily seen by examining the highest paid players on the Dodgers roster. Read more
|
Jackie Robinson #42April 15th, 2008
|
On this day in 1947 Jackie Robinson made his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson will be remembered throughout Major League Baseball for his ground-breaking career. Many players and some entire teams will pay tribute to Robinson by wearing the number 42 for one day. Robinson’s number 42 is the only number to be retired for all of Major League baseball. It is a tribute to the magnificence of Robinson’s career that his jersey hangs from the rafters of every Major League stadium.
I had the good fortune of going to Dodgers stadium last season on the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier; it was perhaps the coolest ballpark experience I have ever had.
Number 42 changed the very nature of professional sports in this country. Sixty-one years ago, Branch Rickey took a chance and brought in Jackie Robinson to play second base for the Brooklyn Dodgers. This move change race relations in this country while establishing the Dodgers’ dynasty of the 1950s. Robinson not only paved the way for countless others, he was also one heck of a second basemen.
Robinson’s greatness is sometimes downplayed– even forgotten– by history. Although Robinson never played for the Dodgers in Los Angeles, he was a star athlete at UCLA before enjoying a baseball career that would lead him to Brooklyn. Some major on-the-field accomplishments for No. 42 include winning the Rookie of the Year award in 1947 before going on to be named the Most Valuable Player of baseball in 1949. Robinson led the league in batting in 1949, hitting .342. He also led the league in stolen bases twice, 1947 (29) and 1949 (37).
Robinson played for the Dodgers from 1947 to 1956. He led his team to the 1955 World Series championship, the Dodgers also won six pennants during his career. In his time with the Dodgers he posted certain numbers that have remained as benchmarks in the franchise. They include being 7th in the history of the Dodgers in runs scored with 947, 9th in batting average at .311, and 10th in extra base hits with 464. Perhaps most astounding of all, the second basemen stole home 19 times, an arguably untouchable record.
When he was 43, Robinson was elected to the Hall of Fame. What makes the Dodger legend even more impressive is the fact that he did not break into the show until he was 28. We can only imagine if he had spent his early 20s playing for the Dodgers how many more titles they could have won. Present Dodgers know all too well how much the Jackie Robinson legacy means to baseball. Outfielder Juan Pierre even keeps a picture of Robinson stealing home in his locker for inspiration.
Hat’s off to you, number 42.
|
Thoughts on the cities of the NL WestApril 11th, 2008
|
Unlike most of the NL West, the Dodgers franchise is an organization steeped in tradition. Dodger fans are keenly aware that their team is one of the reasons professional sports on the West Coast exists. With six World Series titles, Dodger fans can be a little arrogant when it comes to their team. Los Angeles as a city is paradise. The weather is always perfect. Even when it rains, it is perfect rain. The Dodgers are the only team to have a player whose number is retired in every stadium. No. 42 can never be worn again because of the Dodger who gave it meaning. This Dodger tradition is cherished by the fans. It is a combination of tradition, weather and laid back people that make LA everything that the following cities wish they could be. Read more
|
Young Stars Carry Chubby OutfielderApril 10th, 2008
|
Los Angeles is a city of stars. Only in a city like LA is it possible for a guy like me to buy a decent Dodgers ticket and end up sitting two rows behind Hayden Panettiere.
Apparently she is a baseball fan. I’ve even sat a few rows in front of Danny Glover in the past. Once I ran into Al Pacino at the Target down the street from my house, and few driving experiences were as bad as being stuck in traffic while Mariah Carey received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In short, LA is a town that loves its star power. To satisfy a clientele that includes Beverly Hills elite as well as the young and sexy, Ned Colletti has amassed some serious young star power in his time as GM. With the team at 4 – 4 in the second week of the season, there is every reason to think that the organization is on an upward trajectory. Some highlights of the Dodgers young stars include. Read more
|
Dodgers Fan BasicsApril 4th, 2008
|
Every team has them. The pitcher who can’t throw a strike in the clutch. The batter that you know is going to swing at a low and away slider, for strike three, with the tying run in scoring position. These are the players who kill rallies on offense and start rallies on defense. Casual observers wonder why in the world their teams’ GM keeps these players around. Unfortunately the Dodgers have a few of these players. Some are young and might blossom into something more, others are just bad decisions. Just like every team has it players who fans love to hate. Teams usually also have fan favorites. Some fan favorites are that way even though they probably don’t deserve it. This can be the situation when a player has an endearing quirk or a cool nickname. A few of favorites and not so favorites are listed below.
Not So Favorites
Joe Beimel RP – Beimel is the classic lefty who pitches professionally because he is a lefty. If Beimel was right handed his career would have been over a long time ago. But since everybody needs a lefty in the bullpen, Beimel gets in games. With a career record of 16-22 and an ERA of 4.58, Joe isn’t exactly lights out. Although, I must say, anybody who wears number 97 can’t be all bad. I just wish the guy could hold a lead instead of giving a tie.
Juan Pierre OF – Juan Pierre is on many levels my kind of guy. He steals bases, bunts a lot and wears long sleeves even when it is hot and sunny out. However, the guy just can’t get it done. In year number 2 of a five-year, $44 million dollar contract Pierre has lost his job to a younger player who will be with the organization for quite some time. In short, Pierre is a really expensive bench ornament. In fact, I would be willing to bet that Pierre is possibly the highest paid pinch runner in the history of the game. Pierre doesn’t even pinch run all that great, judging by the way he ended the other night’s game getting thrown out trying to steal second base against the Giants.
Jason Schmidt SP – Schmidt signed a three-year, $47 million contract prior to the 2007 season. He then went out and posted a 1-4 record with a 6.31 ERA. Schmidt has shoulder problems that have plagued him as a Dodger and have caused him to start the 2008 season on the DL. It is as though the Giants placed a hex on Schmidt knowing that he would be signing with the Dodgers.
Andy LaRoche 3B – Simply speaking, I don’t believe the hype. The guy was a 30th round draft pick and his older brother is a little over rated in my opinion. I do think that LaRoche has a ton of upside, but in the present, he seems to always be stranding runners on base. Perhaps if he can get on the field, he will prove me wrong, but until then, I just don’t believe.
Favorites Forever
Chin-lung Hu SS – Hu pronounces his last name who. So, this allows for Vin Scully to say “Who is on first?” This means you have to be excited every time Hu gets on first. This alone makes Hu a fan favorite. The Taiwanese player also has great name power when it comes to the crowd yelling Huuuuuuu. Like I said, sometimes a player can become popular with a great name.
Russell Martin C – He is the man. I love Martin in a non-sexual man crush sort of way. The best catcher in the National League is only beginning to tap into his Hall-of-Fame potential, he is the man Dodgers fans hang their hopes on.
Brad Penny SP – Brad Penny makes this list because he dated Alyssa Milano. We must respect those who have dated Alyssa Milano.
Takashi Saito RP – Dodgers fans love a good closer. But unlike Eric Gagne, Saito gets people out with finesse. The closer has a good nickname, “Sammy” and he has a good intro song, “Bad to the Bone” but those are just some of his endearing qualities. The defining Sammy Saito characteristic is the Sammy fist pump. This is Saito’s gesture whenever he finishes off the opponent and logs a save. Sammy always gives the old school fist pump, showing that he is not afraid to bring back the styles of decades past.
Well there are the favorites and the not so favorites. Hopefully this helps the casual Dodgers fan realize who it is they should love, while recognizing who it is that they should hate. Until next time, Think Blue!
Next »