Softballs?

So, as the summer speeds toward the end of its second month, I go back to the doc and find that my septum is collapsed and I need surgery. After having played 35 years of competitive baseball, it’s hard to deal with succumbing to a softball injury. A pick-up game, nonetheless, mostly with guys who aren‘t ballplayers, let alone athletes. The guy who hit the hard grounder to me probably didn’t even own his own glove. But because of a poorly kept municipal park field and some bad luck, and, perhaps, slightly slower reflexes (though I doubt that part) I can no longer breathe out of my right nostril. Oh well. Such is life and baseball is a microcosm for life. I guess, so is softball.

Speaking of soft balls, my last posting must’ve gotten to the Dodgers. They came out in the Ravine last night like a team on a mission, ripping apart the mediocre starting pitching of the Eastern Division leading Philadelphia Phillies. Kyle Kendrick is by no means consistent and Manny and the Blue had little difficulty exposing his flaws. Derek Lowe pitched just well enough to win. Arizona was idle, so the Dodgers are back to being just a half game out of first. However, it’s the consistency that’s been the problem. They have to beat Philly’s ersatz ace, Cole Hamels, tonight. Hamels, who’s never faced the Dodgers, is a strike out guy who seems to have one bad game for every great game, hence his 9-8 record, but a decent ERA around 3.35. Meanwhile, the Snakes have acquired slugger Adam Dunn from Cincy. Dunn is tied with the MLB lead in homers with Ryan Howard with 32, but the lug is only hitting .233 and strikes out a ton. Between him and Snakes 3rd baseman, Craig Reynolds, you’ve got a butt load of home runs and an even bigger butt load of K’s. Let’s look at it this way: Dunn will help, but he’s no Manny. As I’ve mentioned many times, the reason the DBacks are still likely to win this thing is their starting pitching, The Dodgers MUST go on a winning streak. Teams that don’t habe sizeable winning streaks do not make the playoffs. I’m convinced that their 2 crucial and dumbass late inning losses to the midget Gigantes have cost them the season, but if they could put together a string of wins against teams like Philly and the Brew Crew, they can get themselves a few games above .500 and establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Since they’re at home and since Nomar is coming back tonight (The Stink most likely going back on the DL with that sore surgically repaired knee – a mere excuse to create a roster spot for the porcelain Nomar) and since Manny, Blake, Kemp, Loney and Kent, hitting in the number 3 hole ahead of Ramirez all seem to be on a roll, this is the time to strike. If Kemp can hit for a little more pop, their lineup is actually pretty tough, Torre having made the decision to give the resurgent Ethier the regular spot in right. (Provided he won't continue turning routine line drive outs into triples) Martin needs to climb out of his hell hole of a slump and young Kershaw needs a 3rd consecutive strong outing. Broxton is going to have to be stronger in the closer’s role and the rest of the staff is going to have to remain consistent. These are all things the team has NOT been able to do all year, so why should they be able to do it now? Besides the addition of veterans Manny and Blake, they shouldn’t. But let’s hope they can.

Manny almost didn’t make it out to left field for the 9th inning last night. Evidently he thought he was out of the game and went to the bathroom, during which time, for whatever reason, he removed his jersey. I don’t care what he did or didn’t do in Boston. He’s a nut and I love him.