Think Cure

Where is the propriety in the world? I could go into a lengthy diatribe about how I feel wronged by society, how poorly things are going and how sorry I feel for myself, but it’s tough when the Dodgers are on such a roll and their number one charity, ThinkCure is having their big weekend. I wish I could donate, and I know every little bit helps, but I’ll be on the street soon and I might need that little bit for cardboard enclosures and grease for my grocery cart wheels. At any rate, it’s a great cause and when there are kids with cancer and life threatening diseases, my stupid broken nose and pending complete physical and surgery and absolute financial insolvency and my soon-to-be lack of food and shelter seem relatively unimportant.

Plus the Dodgers are doing what they’re supposed to be doing and that’s the important thing. FOUR GAMES over .500? The Dodgers? Think Cure. Could it be that Manny and Casey Blake have cured them?

Last night, they defeated the Ryan Braunless Brewers! In doing so, they were able to sustain that winning streak I was saying was so important at this point in the season, while, at the same time, keeping pace with the D-backs who made mince meat out of the ‘Stros behind this year's NL Cy Young winner, Brandon Webb. (Why even wait for the vote?) Manny is beginning to show he’s human. He just had one hit and RBI last night while striking out twice. We like that he’s little bit human, but we don’t want him to be too human. In order for the Dodgers to win this thing, it’s essential that he continues to be otherworldly. Matt Kemp is starting to hit doubles. Nomar is not only hitting the ball harder for the few games before he goes back on the DL, but he’s playing brilliant vintage Nomar defense at short. Jeff Kent, although very few home runs of late, is hitting the crap out of the ball in the 3-hole in front of Manny and Casey Blake and Russell Martin have returned to form in a big way. Loney, has been a little quiet. Where is the power from that guy? 9 home runs? Are you kidding me? Billingsley pitched well after a shaky first couple of innings and they came back from behind and won for… what? The 3rd time in 5 games, In think. These are the new Dodgers. I kind of like what Torre is doing with Ethier and Pierre – playing Andre two out of every three games. That gives Pierre a chance to do his magic a couple of games a week and he’s available to come in off the bench on the other days, while allowing Ethier to start spreading his wings a little bit. Besides, Ramon Troncoso, who I still don’t feel is Major League ready, their bullpen has also been looking fairly sharp. I wonder when they’re going to announce the Greg Maddux acquisition? He pitched like the old Dr. Maddux last night in the Phils 1-0 win over the Dads. The Blue had better hurry and grab him up for that 5th starter role. Everybody in baseball knows he wants to come back to LA.

Okay, so all this good stuff being said, guess what? They still MUST WIN again tonight. They're screwed if they don't. They really need another sweep and against whom better than the 3 and 4 mediocre Brew Crew starters – Bush and Suppan? I want to see an aggressive, pissed off Dodger team that now knows it can beat anyone in the league, whether or not that’s true. I also want to see some money in my bank account, so I guess what I want holds rather little weight.

If I was a teenager with a crapload of energy, I’d spend my nights lusting after the entire American Olympic gymnastics team and the middle of my nights watching the USA baseball squad flail. Okay, they lost to mighty Cuba and their best player, Jayson Nix got hurt when he bunted a ball into his own face, but shouldn’t they be winning these games, and handily? IT’S FREAKIN’ BASEBALL AND YOU’RE THE TEAM FROM THE USA! Actually, evidenced by the Americans loss to Cuba, it’s not really baseball. It’s some weird derivation of it. If the games are tied after 9 innings, they’ve instituted this weird “overtime” play, where each team gets to begin every extra inning with runners on 1st and 2nd and can have anyone in their lineup come up and hit. What the f**k is that??? It ain't baseball, that's for damn sure. If stupid ideas like that are the only way baseball can remain an Olympic sport, then get rid of it. I’ll settle for the World Cup.