This Is Torture...

It's been one of those lost days that began with an endless night. Nearly coughed up a lung in my sleep with a rare summertime upper respiratory infection. As I lay there last night, my lungs filling with mucous, I couldn’t help thinking how I could still climb out of that bed and hit as well as any Dodger. The morning came and went. Missed out on a day of summertime fun. Watched Huckleberry Hound and tried to do some work. Was really looking forward to 5:00 where I could lay back and watch the Dodgers take on Houston and Roy Oswalt. After all, a weekend of winning 2 games against the not-so-hated Halos, one without the benefit of a lousy single or a ground ball with eyes, I really expected them to break out and score... maybe 2 runs.

Jered Weaver made the Dodgers look hopeless and John Lackey made the Blue look just like he was supposed to make them look, bad and overmatched. That’s the word. “Over matched.” Dodger bats are simply overmatched by Major League pitching.

This is becoming not only the worst hitting Dodger team I've ever seen, but the worst hitting team I've ever seen, period. Poor Eric Stults. The guy has to pitch like the game is over if the opponent scores a run. Meanwhile, he’s hanging curveballs like a piñata from a tree branch. There's little chance they could beat someone like Oswalt who need only resort to his basics to shut them down with ease. The inimitable (thank God) Charlie Steiner says Oswalt has brought his "A" game, but all pitchers have their "A" game when they face that lineup. I know what you're thinking. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, Freeman. But what about all the injuries?" People, do you really think the return of one leadoff hitter – Rafael Furcal - is going to turn this team around? Only if Furcal gets to bat 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th. Do you really think you'll get the Andruw Jones that Ned Colletti envisioned? Or ya think you’ll get the Carribbean personification of a doughnut who can no longer hit. And, again, where is the fragile Nomore going to play? And now, their most consistent offensive performer, Juan Pierre, is out for at least a month. Who cares if they're only 2 1/2 games out? THIS TEAM CAN'T HIT. So, the question is, what will the awful Ned Colletti do? At this point, I'm willing to part with certain of the children. Now that the steroid era is over, I don't see Loney ever becoming what the team hoped. I still say keep him, but not if you can land someone like a Berkman or a Holliday. (I'm making these scenarios up, of course) I'm not sure if Matt Kemp will ever pan out to his five tool potential? Do you? This team needs to win NOW. This team needs to guarantee its fans some October baseball. The current group can't do it. I hope I'm wrong, but I haven't been yet.

When the Dodgers moved here in 1958, LA had to wait one year for a World Series appearance and victory. Then, they had to wait only 4 more years for their next one, two more years for their next one, made the series in a consecutive year in '66 and got swept and then the big draught came. From 1967 to 1973, the Dodgers failed to make the World Series. Wow. Seven long years. They got there in '77 and '78, won it all in '81 and '88 and then... 20 years and counting. And they're not even close. They're not even trying. Why not? Because 3.5 million of you keep showing up, regardless, that's why. What fiscal motivation does their money minded, PR minded owner have to bring a pennant back to LA? In my next installment, I'll talk about why we may have to boycott the Blue in order to make a point. I wonder if Huckleberry Hound is on again.

They WON???

Okay, so much for my prediction that the Angels would sweep the Dodgers. Who knew Chan Ho Park would be resurrected from the dead, and would pitch an absolute gem? This guy is playing every game (except one really bad outing) like it’s Turn Back the Clock to 1995 Night. His velocity is still in the mid 90’s, he’s in incredible shape and he’s actually kind of tough and sullen out there. I like this new Chan Ho Park… for now.

We were aggressive on the bases, made things happen, got a couple of unlikely blasts from Martin and Ethier and last night, the Dodgers looked like the Angels and the Angels looked like the Dodgers. Don’t count on it lasting too long. These are still the Dodgers. Ya never know, though. They’re not entirely incapable of putting together a winning streak. Especially since the Snakes can hear their footsteps (more like tiptoes) and can feel their soft, effeminate breath on their scaly necks.

What a crap division the West has turned out to be thus far. The Dodgers MUST have a strong, smart, consistent approach at the plate. Yesterday, Andy LaRoche steps to the plate with the bases loaded and one out and HE TRIES TO BUNT!!! I’d have sent him back down TODAY. Come on, guys, I know you’re all young, but do you have to be so damn stupid?? Who bunts in that situation? The ball bounced up and hit him while he was still in the box, but the ump didn’t see it that way. It’s early and he seems like a nice kid but I see little value in LaRoche at this juncture.

So, the song remains the same. The team still stinks without Furcal, but there are rays of hope. The strong, unlikely performances from Stults and Park, the emergence of Delwyn Young as a potential star, either giving the team another option with the bat (the outfield is getting pretty full and it’s gonna get even fatter – I mean fuller – when Andruw Jones returns - or elevating his trade value. Question is, where the hell is Nomar gonna play? WHY is Nomar gonna play? I love Blake Dewitt and he should just have the job, unless they can grab up a Scott Rolen, a Garret Atkins or even a Russell Branyan by the trading deadline. (Check out Branyan’s numbers with limited playing time. Amazing!) There’s talk about Eric Chavez from Okaland, but I’m not sure I’m a big Chavez fan. Bottom line is, they need someone to drive in some freaking runs from the 3rd base position if they’re not gonna get it from their outfielders. Here’s hoping the Rockies continue to tank and Matt Holliday becomes available. As much as I like his future, I’d let ‘em have Kemp in a heartbeat. Problem is, the Rocks’ll probably also insist on Kershaw.

Everyone, I like Joe Torre. I mean, I'm not the charter member of his fan club or anything, but I like him a lot better than the incompetent Grady Little and Jim Tracy. He's not to blame him for the team's faliures. Sure, he just sits there most of the time like a statue and acts like he doesn't care, but I think he does. He and Bowa are good cop/bad cop. If you need to blame Joe, blame him for even thinking about using Scott Proctor ever again. Otherwise, Torre's doing the best with what he has.

What Would I Rather Do: Drive Behind A Gardener Or Watch The Dodgers?

It’s lonely in here. I can hear my single voice reverberate and echo off the blog walls. People tell me I should start a freaking blog and then they don’t come in to check it out. I have as many hits as the Dodgers. Very few.

Yes, of course I was right in my prediction that the Dodgers would be shut down against the Chisox and fast actin’ Mike Buerhle. (whom the Dodgers could’ve had for… Kemp or Kershaw, I believe) I agree it would’ve been a mighty high price, but lately, ya gotta hate Matt Kemp’s game. He just is a lousy ballplayer with loads of talent. Could take him another year or four to get the hang of it, and only then will we find out if he’s the real deal or the “Raul” deal. (See past blogs about Mondesi and Kemp) Not his fault though. It’s Colletti’s fault. Ya don’t build a team around Matt Kemps, James Loneys and Russell Martins yet. It’s too much pressure on them and they’re way too young. Look at the Mets. They did it right. They had great young talent in Reyes and Wright, but did they build their tram around them? No way. Minaya went out and got Beltran, Moises Alou who can really still hit when he’s not on crutches (is he still alive?) Carlos Delgado… you get it. So, after a while, Wright and Reyes (who are just plain better and more impacting than Kemp and Loney, et al) were ready to handle more of the load. So why are the Mets losing? Injuries to their pitching staff hasn’t helped. Overrating Santana hasn’t helped either, but I gotta tell ya, I may have made the same mistake. The guy can throw. Point is, you can’t build a great china set around old, broken plates and saucers. Jeff Kent, gotta love his grind-oriented, hardnosed tude, Garciaparra, Penny and Lowe, Loaiza, Luis Gonzales last year, just not enough. Colletti’s a dweeb.

Stults has been a pleasant surprise. I say hang onto him and let Penny have the month of July off. Otherwise, might be time to send Kershaw down and let him develop normally. Who knows? Jason Schmidt has a rehab start. Let’s see if he can hit 75 on the gun.

Today was a fun game. How about that Dodger offense? This team takes some of the stupidest at bats I’ve ever seen. Makes me wonder if it’s even possible for them to improve. As I predicted, the White Sox, like the Tribe, got well against the Dodgers. The Dodgers are the easiest team to beat in the MLB right now. If you’re the opposing team, you go in knowing that if they score 5 runs against you, it’s a rare offensive explosion, and if a Dodger homers it’s front page news. What a psychological edge that gives your beleaguered staff following a 3 game sweep at the hands of their cross town rivals up Chi town way.

What can they do to win now? Get your hands on Matt Holliday and sign him to a long term deal. NOW! (The Rockies, now with Holliday back, a hot Brad Hawpe back, Atkins and Helton hitting and Tulowitski back, actually have a shot at the division again, so I doubt they’ll deal Holliday, ‘specially to a division rival) So, see if you can grab Lance Berkman. Trade Kemp and Penny. They need a guy who can freakin’ hit is my point. They could also use an arm or two. Basically, they suck. Too many leaks in the boat. Yet, still only 3 1/2 games out. What a joke. It’s gonna be a long couple of years unless Colletti goes and someone with a baseball brain in his head arrives. What disarray for Joe Torre.

But, Joe, why Scott Proctor? Why do you love him so? What, ya got something going with the guy? You can tell me. There’s no one in here anyway. Now, after stinking up the Northern Hemispehre, he says he’s got arm trouble before a Triple A demotion. Scott Proctor is the worst relief pitcher I’ve ever seen. Period. He should not be allowed to pitch in the big leagues, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever ever again. Yet another superlative Ned Colletti move.

Talk to you sometime during the Angels sweep. We’ll talk about why the Angels are the Dodgers of old next time. BTW, the answer is drive behind a gardener. It's just as frustrating, but at least I'm slowly getting somewhere.

My Feelings About the McCourts...

Being a Dodger fan, naturally I would prefer that my predictions did not actually come to pass, but I’m not the kind of fan who avoids reality. There are too many fans in LA who are blind to the fact that the proud franchise that was brought out West from Brooklyn in 1958 has been systematically destroyed. I’m not saying they have no chance of ever recovering their once great brand but all the current owner cares about is the bottom line and I challenge anyone to refute that.

The Dodgers managed four 1st inning runs against the lowly Reds at home on Sunday and a shaky Billingsley et al managed to hold on and squeak by with a 4-3 victory. Tonight, as I create this post, it’s the top of the 2nd inning of a game in which Derek Lowe is behind to the Chisox 1 – 0. On a night when the choking snakes from Phoenix lost to the Mighty Bosox, the Dodgers will lose this game and squander an opportunity to pick up a much needed game in the ridiculous NL West standings. Yes, there have been numerous injuries, the one to Furcal obviously proving to be the most devastating, but this team is awful and Frank McCourt knew going into this season they had little hope of playing into October. Yet he still raised ticket prices.

McCourt’s only concern is public relations and keeping 3.5 million fans in the seats. He picks up a questionable player or two in the off season to ensure they’ll compete, but he always remains 2 or 3 players short of a real shot at a pennant. Not talking a Division title, I’m talking pennants. This team hasn’t been solid enough to win a pennant since 1985 and they lost to Sat. Louis. In ’88 they weren’t good enough but they created a miracle that has remained near and dear to our hearts. McCourt sees a huge Latino and Asian population, a storied history from which to draw, a cash cow. He wants to make the Dodger Stadium “experience” as good as it can be, wants to improve the seating, etc. (It’s really not a great improvement and the fans have been gouged) Yet, he has no intention of spending the money necessary to reward those 3.5 million suckers who cross the turnstiles every season by actually getting the 2 or 3 players necessary to blend in with the youngsters and get the team over the hump.

2-0 White Sox…

As I predicted...

I have just awaken from a nap with my dog, Molly the Collie, who tucked her wedge-shaped head and extremely long snout underneath my face and chin. Unfortunately, it's 95 degrees and the AC is out. After a rather grueling workout today, I made a turkey sandwich and laid down to watch the Dodgers and the Cleveland Indians at the Ravine. (First time ever the age old Tribe have graced the Ravine with their presence, what with them being an American League team and all. Such is the novelty of interleague play. At any rate the oppressive heat along with the Dodgers' typically anemic offense put me in an overheated, somnolent state where, upon waking, one feels like he just spent an entire night in a storage shed. Not only that, but the dog's fluff has become one with my unshaven face which behaves like velcro with her summer shed.

I hate to say I told ya so, but if you care to peruse my last blog, I told ya so. Cliff Lee shut the Blue down just like I said he would, but the Dodgers were able to climb back in the game against the awful Tribe bullpen. I have to blame the loss, not only on the crappy Dodger’s offense which is tacit, but on Joe Torre. I really can’t stand the whole “closer” designation. It’s too limiting. Your best relief pitcher should be available to you more often than just the ninth inning. Back in the 60’s and early 70’s, teams did just fine without these delicate specialists. That being said, Takashi Saito has the make of a lion. The Cowardly Lion. He has no idea what to do when he’s brought in for anything other than a save situation. He has tremendous stuff, but he just gets visibly and obviously, well, for lack of a better term, scared shitless. Once fear sets in, he falls apart like a little school girl. Joe Torre simply CANNOT use Saito in anything but save situations unless it’s been days and days since he’s pitched and he needs the work. So, what happens, Saito comes in to pitch the 9th (or was it the 10th?) in a tied game and coughs up the runs with amazing efficiency.

So, then today, as I predicted, they did nothing against C.C. Sabathia, save the much needed homer by Kemp who stunk in his other at bats. (also, nice play by Mattin in the 8th inning. He was extremely fortunate the Indians didn’t score that inning on his awful centerfield gaffe. Also, If C.C. does become available, I suggest the Dodgers make a move)) Look, bottom line is, the team can’t hit. Loney has a 9 game shitting streak with a couple of extra base hits and a homer peppered in there, but no one is driving in runs. Yawn. Dodger bats makes great pitchers look like sure Hall of Famers, good pitchers look like great pitchers, mediocre pitchers look like great pitchers and bad pitchers look like decent pitchers. In essence, they stink.

I remember the days when the summer was wonderful in LA. When there was the beach, the cool blue pools in my friends’ yards, the smell of jasmine in the air, Otter Pops in the evening and nothing to do but play ball and await the Dodgers invariable pennant drive. I know I can’t have those summers back, but can we ever get those Dodgers back? Surely, Mr. McCoourt must remember those summers and he must… oh yeah, I forgot. He’s just a rich idiot from Boston. He doesn't know jack about what it meant to be a Dodger fan.

Don't Go Crazy...

I would've much preferred the Lakers not make it to the Finals than humiliating themselves and the city of LA in the manner in which they did. My guess is I'm not alone in feeling this way. Game 4 was an embarrassment. Game 6 was a joke. They played like a bunch of pussies who didn't belong in the NBA let alone the Finals. All series long they were tossed around the paint like rag dolls. The Celtics exploited tham as a team made of of Gilligans and Barney Fifes. Somebody lift a damn weight! Kobe can't do it all, but his leadership skills clearly pale in comparison to those of Jordan. Please. Hopefully these Finals will finally put a halt to the "who's better between the two?" ridiculousness. The answer is clear. The thing that hurt the most wasn't the loss, but the fact they played with no heart or courage whatsoever. What is it about LA pro teams that makes them play with such little passion and desire? Is it the big market mentality in which high priced veterans come to LA to reap their often largest monetary reward and just say, "fuck it. If we win, we win, if we lose, we lose, I still get paid?" The Angels are a driven, fairly passionate club led by the brilliant Mike Scioscia, but let's face it, they're not really an LA team. At least not anymore. In spite of Tommy's presence, the Dodgers haven't played with heart and desire since 1992, when their infield included Lenny Harris and the late Mike Sharperson. The Kings... wait a minute, I don't give a crap about them. And look at our pro football teams. They play with so little passion, it feels as if they're not even here anymore. So, what is it? The fans lack of chutzpah and knowledge? The ownerships' real agendas. We'll be examining this LA phnomenon later.

Okay, Dodger fans, don't go crazy. A 3 game winning streak is great, but consider the source. If the Cinicinnati Reds aren't around, we're 10 games below .500. Wich is strange, actually, because I really thought the Reds would compete this year. I expected much more from Harang and Arroyo and I heard great things about Volquez (who's thus far lived up to them) and Johnny Cueto. I think Brandon Phillips numbers will improve. He's one of the best in the game. Jay Bruce and Joey Votto are future stars, little known Jeff Keppinger was hitting a ton before he got hurt, Encarniacion is a solid bat at 3rd, and of course, there' Junior. Not what he used to be, but still a tough bat in the middle of the order. Turns out, they suck. Their pitching outside of Volquez is god awful and Adam Dunn continues to be lousy baseball player. So, the weak hitting Dodgers can come into Cincy whenever they please and take advantage of them. Great. In spite of Loney's Kemp's 2 day Renaissance, and Ethier's improved swing, I still don't see things turning around that quickly. In fact, I fear the other struggling Ohio team will probably get well in the Ravine. I don't think the Blue will be able to hit CC (if he pitches) and a pitcher like Cliff Lee normally shuts them down. They usually need to see a good pitcher 11 times before they could go up to the plate without their jaws dropped to the ground and their tales between their legs.

Yes, these are growing pains and their nucleus is young, but how about providing better veterans? Hence, as promised, my critique on Ned Colletti's performance based on moves he's made and has failed to make: Lousy, good, (Furcal) lousy, lousy, unbelievably lousy, okay, really lousy, and horrific. Purely and simply, the man has no real head for talent nor has he the slightest clue when a man's career is coming to a close. How he could've given "Nomore" another 2 year deal is beyond my comprehension. Now he and Torre are going to have this delicate porcelain figurine play shortstop? I say he breaks before the 7th inning of his first game back. I mean, he just breaks. In half or in peices or something. Juan Pierre was a questionable signing, though I do like him. How about signing Bill Mueller? How many games did he play in a Dodger uniform? Five? Does Colletti know how to ask someone how he feels? Does he talk to doctors? Ever? 28 of the 30 GMs seemed to realize Jason Schmidt's career as an effective hard thrower was over. Colletti couldn't see the handwriting on the wall. They needed an impact player. (see my last blog for my definition) Ya got two great centerfielders who are available and LESS EXPENSIVE in Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand. Their careers are on their way up, they play their asses off, they're great in the clubhouse. And then ya got fat, jolly Andruw Jones coming off a year in which he drove in less than 100 runs while hitting .222. That's .222. And on top of that, he wants to get even fatter, does so in the off season, and plays like he just don't care. This is because he clearly doesn't. So who does Colletti sign to the richest 2 year deal in Dodger history? The Sumo from Curacao.

Last year, James Loney was on fire in the spring. He hit over .400. What does a guy have to do to make the freakin' team?? He needed to be the everyday first baseman from Day 1. Nomore needed to be moved to 3rd during spring training. What does Colletti do? He sends Loney down and makes him spend the first half of the season IN VEGAS and insists on playing Nomore at 1st base! It wasn't until this blogger called Dodger Talk that someone passed along my message and told Colletti what the obvious and right thing to do was. (as much as we all loved Wilson Betemit) When pitching was available in the offseaon, Colletti went to the discount aisle out and got Hiroki Mediocre-oda. He's not bad, but he ain't great either. He did this because in order to get a Johann Santana or a Dan Haren, he'd have to give up a bunch of his young talent. People were asking for Kemp, Billingsley, Kershaw, Loney, etc. Some of these guys I would agree with Colletti on not parting with, but remember what I said about impact players. They need one. Desperately. One might argue Brad Penny was an impact player because of his impressive first halves over the last two season. But he stunk up the league so badly in the second halves, he nullified his value. So, in order to get something of value, you must GIVE something. I love Kemp, Pierre, Loney, Ethier, Dewitt, Furcal and Martin. But if all of them remain starters, where is the POWER going to come from? Who will drive in the 100 runs needed to win a pennant? Who will hit the 25 homers? Maybe Kemp? We'll see. So far, Kemp, Loney, Ethier and Martin are each averaging about 2 home runs a month. Will this improve? Maybe. Who knows? Point I'm making is they have to part with some youth in order to get impact players who actually can help them win.
Look, everyone, I hope the Dodgers win more than anyone, but, in spite of ESPN's John Kruk's rosey prognostiocation, unless they infuse some pop and discipline into that lineup and they can have at least three starting arms all hot at the same time, they will go nowhere again this year. People, even if they somehow win the West, which is possibile given it's sad state, they have NO CHANCE of advancing to a World Series. Is Frank McCourt happy with this? He's just fine with it. More on McCourt's true agenda in my next posting.

You're probably saying to yourselves, "this ass thinks he could do a better job than Colletti." The answer to that is simply, yes I can. Go Obama.

God, Am I Bored...

As the Lakers go gentle into that good night - and I mean GENTLE - we could begin to focus now on a team even more weak of heart, gutless, and dispassionate than the Lakers. (Yes, at least the Lakers made the Finals, but let's face it: When you blow a 24 point lead at home in front of a crowd full of seemingly impartial Stepford wives, then set a record for being blown out in Game 6, it kind of nullifies everything the team accomplished) Of course, I'm talking about our beloved Los Angeles Dodgers, the Big Blue Wrecked Crew.

Okay, don't get excited. Their best pitcher by far, Chad Billingsley, held off the awful Reds tonight and they pulled off a 3-1 victory in Cincy. The start of a long winnijng streak? Not likely. Say goodbye to the steroid era and say hello to the new era of Dodger baseball. Let's call this new era the "I'm not playing well, so I'd better get an MRI and go on the disabled list" era. Jason Schmidt, Andruw Jones, Nomar, now Brad Penny, and maybe even the consistently inconsistent Hiroki Kuroda. Look, people, this team is bad with Rafael Furcal and terrible without him. The problems are many, but let's get started by addrsssing the main issue. The Dodgers are entirely devoid of IMPACT PLAYERS. What is an impact player, you ask? An impact player in this blogger's educated opinion is someone who can hit 25 or more homers and/or (the "or" is important) drive in over 100 runs while hitting at least .287. The other criteria of an impact player from an offensive standpoint is someone who steals at least 30 bases and scores over 100 runs with an on base percentage over .400. As far as pitching, it's someone who averages at least 6.2 innings per start, and garners at least 16 wins in a season, with an ERA under 3.50, or a closer who compiles 40 or more saves. Actually, our Dodgers are one of the few teams in baseball without such a player. It's exceedingly difficult to win without a few players who meet these criteria, let alone not a one.

The Dodgers have five potential impact players on their 40 man roster. They are Billignsley, who I think needs another year or two, the fat and jolly Andruw Jones who's new song "Take the Money and Stink" is reaching the top of the charts, Russell Martin, who is a solid player, but without better hitters around him, may never reach that pinnacle, Matt Kemp, who's talent is there, but who's baseball integrity clearly isn't, and Rafael Furcal, who, if he returns to the team with any season left, may have a shot at being that kind of player this year. Since we in LA all live to blame, who's at fault for one of the richest big market teams in pro sports having no impact players? Obviously, the blame goes to Ned Colletti, with a huge helping hand from Frank McCourt, which I'll discuss at length in my next posting. But for today, let's talk about some of their youngsters. The Dodgers, for almost as long as I can remember, have been in the habit of overrating their young prospects and touting them as future superstars before they even got their feet wet. You don't get too many superstars from your minor league system and the Dodgers have none thus far.

Let's take Matt Kemp for starters. Matt Kemp reminds me of Raul Mondesi. All the talent in the world - a five tool player, if you will - but no plate integrity whatsoever, and no innate baseball smarts. (Mondesi, believe it or not, was actuially smarter. That's like saying Larry was smarter than Curly) I must admit I expected a great deal from him this year, and his BA is there, but his power is nowhere to be found. He's young and talented enough where he could still be great, but he's scary to watch a lot of the time. I've never seen a hittier simply give up in the middle of an at bat like he does. He clearly makes up his mind to swing before the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. In spite of his average with runners in scoring position, he just doesn't drive in enough runs yet. He needs to hit homers and extra base hits to make it worth keeping him. He swings and misses more than I take breaths. Lots of holes in that swing. Not sure how fast his hands are.

James Loney, thus far, is like a Lyle Overbay but without the discipline. Solid, but his swing is too big and his power is limited. He needs to learn to hit line drives the other way and, like Kemp, he needs to get mentally tougher. Sometimes, that toughness just never develops. I think Loney will be fine, but he's no Adrian Gonzales, Todd Helton or Derek Lee.

Andre Ethier. A fine ballplayer who actually seems to care about winning. A guy who can hit for average, has a little power, (not a lot) and plays solid defense. But an impact player, Andre will likely never be. During the steroid era, a player of his caliber could become quite a force, but not any more. From a discipline standpoint, he swings at too many first pitches and pitches out of the zone and hits too many balls in the air. Will he continue to improve? Likely, but he could be trade bait for a good starting arm.

Russell Martin. He's a great hitter for a catcher, but he should be taking more pitches and he should be trying not to pull the ball all the time. He takes some of the stupidest at bats in crucial situations I've ever seen. I'm actually surprised he doesn't hit for more power. Perhaps that will come. His defense is good, but not fantastic. It was better last year. He's definitely a keeper, but by no means an all star this year.

Blake Dewitt. I wish he was a shortstop or a second baseman, because I don't think he's ever going to hit for a lot of power, which is sort of a prerequiaite for his corner infield position. You never know, though and you have to love the way this kid plays the game. He reminds me of a guy like a Crash Davis from Bull Durha, You know - a career minor leaguer who plays with poise and baseball smarts that only come with years of experience. Except he's only 22. His at bats are, for the most part, intelligent and useful. He's the only one on the team besides Furcal and Pierre who goes up there with a plan. Who knows what Dewitt will be capable of? Would I rather have David Wright? Of course.

Clayton Kershaw. Not ready. Not that he won't wind up doing okay, but he's just not ready. I'd send him back down ASAP, but they'll probably choose to leave him up.

Jonathan Broxton. Needs another pitch. Struggles with movement on his fastball and no deep seated mental toughness. Only that "big dude on the mound' superficial crap that good major league hitters can see right through.

This is the nucleus of your Los Angeles Dodgers. Add the aching Furcal, the aging Jeff Kent, ( a grounder got past him to his left tonight that I swear was a foot away from him) "Nomore" Garciaparra who's so fragile, I know boys in plastic bubbles that have more resiliance, the helpful, but limited Juan Pierre and the blimpy, disabled Andruw Jones, the tough luck Derek Lowe, the big, fat, mediocre Brad Penny and you're gonna recover to win the West? Not likely.

I have to go to Carl's Junior. More tomorrow.

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog, GibbysHomeRun.com. This blog will be devoted not only to venting about the Dodgers, a once proud organization that has been purloined from us by some of the dumbest and most evil people known to man, but it's for venting about all things LA - the entertainment industry, the 405, the gardener who's driving 10 miles per hour in front of you when you need to get to where you're going, the mid-30's botox laden single mom who just dumped you because your six pack went south, people who walk funny and people who, on a whim, you simply decide you don't like but when pressed for a reason, you have none.

ABOUT YOUR HOST: I'm an ex ballplayer who knows the game, knows the MLB and knows the Dodgers as well or better than ANYONE. A Venice High and UCLA grad who waited tables for years while writing screenplays and playing ball, I was born and raised in West LA. I'm now a comedy writer/producer and my experiences in the business are the stuff legends are made of. (Allow me some embellishment for this first posting) I've been through an array of relationships and been through plenty of therapy. I know almost everything there is to know. I'll be right most of the time, but when I'm wrong, I'll be the first one to admit it. Please keep in mind, I'm of limited intelligence, so this blog is for everyone.

As I write this, the Dodgers maintain a weak 2 run lead against the lowly Cincinnati Reds, the Lakers are preparing to call it a season, and I wait to find out why my meeting at Fox has been changed. Tomorrow, I'll go into detail as to why the Dodgers are god awful. Let's have fun. Let's complain together. Let's keep being negative a positive.