The Best Thing To Do Here Is Stay Negative

It’s the 4th of July, I have no plans, no barbecue invites, parties, no feeling of early summer anticipation, no desire to see any damn fireworks, let alone hear them in the distance. They scare the crap out of neighborhood dogs and a couple 4ths ago, I drove up Bundy Dr and I watched a scared-out-of-his-mind lab mix racing down the street, get side swiped by a Toyota crossing the 10 freeway on ramp, and then keep running. When I finally corralled him onto a side street the poor thing was so freaked out he jumped on top of my car and cowered. He had no ID on him so I took him to the pound, where his injuries were tended to and he was picked up by his irresponsible owners the next day. My dog doesn’t get too upset about the fireworks, but she sure doesn’t like them. She… wait a minute, let me start over...

It’s the 4th of July and I have no idea how I’m going to pay my rent that was due on the 1st. I sold a pilot, contracts are signed, but who knows when I’ll get paid? I have no income outside of that which I earn as a writer. Sucks for me. Soon, I could be starving to death and out on the street, still coughing my fool head off, but who cares? Let’s talk about the Dodgers. It’s tough being a Dodger fan these last 20 years. Since their last campionship in 1988, they had a shot in ’91 with Strawberry and blew it, allowing the Braves to begin their dynasty before the division changes took place in ’94. They stunk until ’94, but the season was cut short by the strike. In ’95 and ’96 they made the playoffs, but you just knew they were going to lose in the first round of the playoffs. Same as in ’04 and ’06. The once great organization has fallen into the hands of copmplacent PR-minded lunkheads who espouse this eerie acceptance of mediocrity, and, as Plaschke writes in his column on the LA Times today, the Angels and Mike Scioscia have clearly picked up where the Dodgers left off. The Angels ARE the Dodgers of the mid 80’s. Always playing the game the way it’s supposed to be played. But not the Blue. Not anymore. However, they have WON 4 GAMES IN A ROW!!!! Look, everyone, I’m happy too, but it’s best for your mental health, if you’re a Dodger fan, to stay negative. Don’t get your hopes up and the inevitable disappointment will inflict a softer blow.

Let’s start on that tack with the fact that they have just beaten two of the lousiest teams in baseball in Houston and San Fran. (Houston does, however, have a pretty tough lineup and they’re a notorious 2nd half team. Remember they came out of nowhere to go to the Series in ’05. They have awful pitching, though.) Let’s also point out the fact that the Dodgers’ lone projected “impact player,” returned today along with veteran Nomore Garciaparra. Nomore had a decent day in his Dodger debut at short with a couple of nice doubles (one should’ve been caught) but he moved around the infield like a stroke victim. Andruw Jones? He looked like his old self today. Consistent, fat, and slow. He struck out each of his first 4 at bats and if Matt Kemp didn’t stink so much right now, I’d say Jones may have a chance to pass him as the strikeout leader before August. But Matt Shemp struck out 3 times. Meantime, in the middle of a pennant race, Derek Lowe forgets he’s got a man on first and simply lets him steal. He later comes around to score. Ethier, Kent, Martin and Loney continue with their hot hitting. Ethier hits his 10th homer and his 3rd in the last 3 games, I believe. (Can you believe not one Dodger has more than 10 homers and it's already July 4th?) With the game in hand with a 9-5 lead in the 8th Jonathan Broxton and company do their ever best to try to give it back to the Giants. Broxton, to me, has amazing stuff, but, like most of his highly touted teammates, he simply doesn’t seem to improve. He was supposed to be lights out this year. Jeez, I mean he throws 99 miles per hour! But he has NO POISE! So, unless he gets some soon, he’s trade bait as far as I’m concerned. He comes in, walks the leadoff hitter, Randy Winn. Winn steals. Neither Angel Berroa nor Luis Maza, (who had both come in as defensive replacements for Nomore and Kent – it was Maza’s play with a right handed hitter up) bothered to cover 2nd base for the throw! These are Major Leaguers, folks. The throw rolls into centerfield and Winn scampers to 3rd. THEN, Benji Molina hits an easy foul pop up behind first base and Loney loses focus and simply drops it. New life for Molina. Next pitch, the emotionally distraught Broxton delivers a cock high fastball which Molina promptly deposits into centerfield, scoring Winn. Then two more hits. If it wasn’t for a hard hit double play by Aurilia on a pitch right down the middle, I honestly believe the Giants win this game.

Depending on what happens with Arizona today, the Dodgers could be just a half game out. But I still contend that unless they get a shortstop, leadoff hitter (Guzman would provide both) and a power hitter (Jones looked somewhat unconvincing today) they have little chance of going anywhere. Thank god Penny’s start tomorrow has been pushed back. I think Chan Ho Park may actually have a chance to win. But the question is this: Why don’t these 2nd and 3rd year guys IMPROVE??? Broxton, Kemp, Martin, Ethier, Loney, all good players, but none of them are any better today than they were the first day they set foot on the field in their debuts. If you’re going to compare Kemp, for instance, to the Ryan Howards, Justin Morneaus, Joe Mauers, Grady Sizemores, Chase Utleys, BJ Uptons, he should be a stud by now. Kemp is getting worse. In fact, I’ll say it right here – he just stinks. He has NO POWER ANYMORE! Where the hell did it go? Did Mike Easler’s adjustments to his approach eliminate it? It simply disappeared. He stands straight up and down and swings with just his arms. Package him in a trade for Holliday. Broxton should be lights out – their closer. Ethier should be smarter and more consistent against lefties by now. Loney should be tougher and drive the ball more and Maryin should take smarter at bats. Yes, he and Loney are batting .300, but not productively. Does this mean they'll never play up to their potential? No, but who wants to sit around and wait anther 5 years for that possibility?

Anyway, forget everything I just said. After all, what the hell do I know? LaRoche homers today. Nomore looks good at the plate. We’re in a pennant race. Anyone have a barbecue for me to go to?