Okay, I Was Wrong Again. Good.

Well, the catastrophic series I predicted in Colorado turned out to be just the opposite. 3 wins in less than 48 hours and they're on their way to Wrigleyville. I've never seen such a display of no power in my life accompanied with so much run production. I can't believe their on base percentage. I still think their starting pitching and bullpen are weak, but who can argue with their record and their numbers? They are now, by far, the best team in baseball, 17 games over .500 before Juneand only 31 games games left before Manny gets his Get Out Of Jail Free card. Being my cynical, disbelieving self, I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop, but Juan Pierre and Casey Blake have been nothing short of amazing. Could it be, that in spite of their lack of power without Manny, the Dodgers simply have too many weapons? Or could it be that the Rockies just plain suck? (Which they do) I guess a 3 game series against the struggling, underachieving, Aramis Ramirez-less Cubbies might tell us more about this odd team. Clayton Kershaw pitched well enough to win in Denver, which has been a house of horrors for him. Eric Milton had strong control in getting his first win since 2006 yesterday. They overcame a crappy start by Stults on Monday and scored 16 runs on 19 hits with no homers, 16 singles. If you think about it, there aren't a lot of better teams than the Dodgers in the NL. One can argue St Louis, if LaRussa could ever just play the same 9 guys. One can argue Philly, but starting pitching is an issue with them, as well as it is with the Mets. As far as the Blue, If all the pieces of the puzzle do come together, look out.

They're Heeeere... (the losses, I mean)

I'm afraid I was right. After watching the weekend series against their friends from Anaheim, I've come to the conclusion that the problem with the '09 Dodgers, still the owners of the best record in baseball - is that they're really not a very good team. Given their record, I'm sure that will come as a surprise to most of you, but the fact is, the losing has just begun. Consider that all 3 starters in the series looked like crap: Kershaw was back to being Kershaw, throwing almost 100 pitches to the 2nd batter of the game. Randy Wolf looked like his typical, passive, mediocre self, allowing a bomb to Torii Hunter. Luckily, they were able to generate enough offense - even from Andre Ethier who may be snapping out of his funk - to bounce back. Today's loss to the Halos was ugly and the aspect of it that sends shivers down my spine is that Chad Billingsley looked mucho terrible'. Billingsley is a solid pitcher and clearly, he's their ace and they need to win his starts. When they don't they set themselves up for a losing streak. The Dodgers do not have any real dominating pitchers. They can all be beat. You cannot win without at least 1 or 2 dominating starters. Now they must away to the horrifying confines of Coors and the what will prve to be not-so-friendly confines of Wrigley. I see them losing 5 of 7 on this trip. I hope I'm wrong.

Defensively, there's something terribly wrong with Rafael Furcal. He looks tentative in the field, (and he can't really hit anymore, either.) He's simply no longer a dependable shortstop. Scary. Matt Kemp is still an adventure, and Russell Martin is a pretty awful defensive catcher. He can't move his body and he can't catch the ball. (I'm tired of hearing how he won a Gold Glove a couple of years ago. HOW did he win a Gold Glove??) So much for being strong up the middle.

At least Torre had the common sense to bat Casey Blake 4th in today's loss, and it was nice to see young Jaimie Hoffman hit his first big league homer, but the team has lost almost all its power. No more home runs from Ethier, Kemp, Loney, Hudson, none at all from Martin. To say they need Manny back is an understatement. The suddenly powerless Matt Kemp, as clueless as he ever was, is on pace to top the Bigs in K's this year. And someone who knows something - Joe Torre - finally acknowledges what I've been saying about Russell Martin for 2 years running: He tries to pull the ball too damn much and it's killing him and the team. James Loney had some key hits but his at bat against Arredondo looked like he was trying to play cricket. So, I'm being negative when there so many positives. I know, I know. The team is in first place. Best record in the whole MLB. Don't worry about the fact that Manny is out for another 34 or 35 games, that their pitching looks terrible, that they're going on a difficult road trip, and that the San Diego Daddies have WON 9 GAMES IN A ROW. Pretty scary. I submit that by the second week of June, the Dodgers will not have the best record in baseball anymore and their lead in the lowly NL West will be cut in half. Like I've been saying, this team has been doing it with smoke and mirrors up til now and, without Manny, without strong starting pitching, without key bats like Furcal's and Martin's, without power, and without a reliable bullpen, the wheels are due to come off the cart. Hope I'm wrong.

"I Hope I'm Wrong"

The Lakers lost and I think the Lakers aren't going to make it. I think the Nuggets are simply a better team with bigger bigs and more weapons. And Derek Fisher is awful. I hope I'm wrong, but I think it's gonna be a Denver/Cleveland championship. My readers read that a lot - "I hope I'm wrong." For someone who hopes he's wrong all the time, I've had a pretty good year thus far regarding the Dodgers. They have the best record in baseball by at least 3 games, at 29-13. They have the lowest team ERA in the NL and the 2nd highest team batting average. So, I've been wrong most of the time. Most recently, I was terribly wrong when I said they'd lose the series to the Metropoloitans. The Blue swept 'em. Tonight, they open a 3 game series with their crosstown indifferents. (c'mon, it's not like the Dodgers and Angels are rivals) The Angels will either sweep or take 2 out of 3. I hope I'm wrong, but the Dodgers are terrible against the Halos. In spite of their recent sweep of the Amazin's, Andre Ethier's struggles increase to epic proportions and the bats of Furcal, Martin, Loney and Kemp remain anemic. It's the Pierre, O Dog and Blake Show and I'm just not sure if it'll continue to be enough to carry their offense - especially against good staffs like the Angels' - for another 37 games games until Man Ram comes back. I hope I'm wrong. Kershaw goes tonight and, in spite of his recent Koufax-like performance against the fish in Landshark Stadium, ("Landshark Stadium?!")you never know which young Clayton will climb on the mound. If trends persist, he's due for a bad outing. So is Stults. I hope I'm wrong.

This Dodger team now has a 9 game lead against their nearest division rival. They can lose 10 straight games and still be in first place. HOW are they doing this? I guess it's best just to enjoy it and not question it, but my pessimistic side is waiting for the other shoe to drop. They still need pitching and their bats need to wake up. Still think there's going to be a huge let down. I hope I'm wrong.

Yesterday, Dad's ace, Jake Peavy, whom the Dodgers covet, turned down a trade to play in Chicago's South side. Doesn't want to be a pale hose, and evidently wants to stay in the NL. I'm sure he wouldn't mind being a Dodger. C'mon, Fathers. We'll give you Xavier Paul, James McDonald and Scott Elbert. You give us Peavy. I hope I'm right.

Thin Around The Middle

Wow. 28-13. Amazin'! Especially since the team doesn't seem like they're really very good anymore. As Rod Serling would say, "Submitted for your approval," the middle of their lineup just sucks. I'm talking about Andre the Awful whose slump looks almost career-threatening. It probably isn't, but he looks putrid. Hard to think his earlier strong numbers weren't in some way due to hitting behind Manny. Also painfully anemic are Martin, Loney, Kemp and even the O Dog of late. And Furcal looks like crap warmed over. Their team BA is in a free fall, all except for their stellar bench, Juan and, of course, the bearded one - Casey Blake. Guess I kind of called the shot. In yesterday's entry I said he needs to be in the lineup because he's the only one left with any pop, and boom! He bangs out the game winner - a 3 run blast in the 6th. Well, winning games where you don't play that great is the sign of a good team, and they won the one they desperately needed to win - the one Chad started, as shaky as he was, and so they're assured of winning the series against the so-called Mighty Mets. (I must admit, not having Delgado in that lineup to hit between Beltran and Wright really changes the complexion of that team) My hope is that they continue to build upon their now huge 7 1/2 game lead in late-mid May and they can run away and hide someplace before the bottom drops out, because unless these guys start putting the bat on the ball again, this team is going to start losing ballgames. 38 left before Manny goes free. I don't like their chances tonight with Weaver going against Livan, but you've all read that before.

Oops! I Forgot The Myrrh.

The New York Magi came into town last night bearing gifts. Gifts the blessed Dodgers seemed reluctant to accept until the 11th inning when they had no choice. The Dodgers offense took the night off and Andre Ethier's ugliness at the plate advanced to the next level. In the 9th inning, Rafael Furcal had one of the worst at bats I've ever seen a non-pitcher take and Matt Kemp and company couldn't touch the dumb-bearded Tim Redding for the shank of the game. But the Blue played well defensively and the Mets could certainly not say the same thing about themselves. They looked like a bunch of clowns with cement oven mitts and Tudor Football quarterback arms. (For those of you who don't remember Tudor Electric Football, the ball was a tiny piece of cotton you fastened to the QB's plastic hand. You pulled the hand back, took aim in the general direction of a receiver, and one time out of a hundred, the ball would hit it's target) Forget the fact that Ryan Church's winning run didn't count because the doofus missed 3rd base. The team couldn't make the plays and handed the Dodgers the game in spite of Joe Torre's overly conservative shenanigans. See, the thing about having Juan Pierre reach base with no one out in the bottom of the ninth in a 2-2 tie is... HE CAN STEAL!!! HOW DO YOU NOT SEND JUAN PIERRE WITH FURCAL AT BAT? HOW DO YOU NOT AT LEAST PUT ON A HIT & RUN???? And why do you waste Broxton in the 9th in a tie and count on Troncoso to get the win? Oddly poor moves by the venerable veteran Torre, and his team did not deserve to win, but win they did, thanks to some good defense, solid pitching from Wolf and the generoisty and insistence of the Mets. (Also, the WORST umpiring I have ever seen, both behind the plate with balls and strikes and at first base. My god! It was brutal.)

Knew Delgado was out, but guess I didn't do my research. I didn't know Reyes was out as well. This Mets team is depleted. Otherwise, I don't think the Dodgers stand a chance the way they're hitting. They look tired. I don't blame them. Their schedule is pretty grueling right now. As always, with their ace, Billingsley going tonight, the team needs to win. Gonna be tough, because depleted or not, the Mets should be pissed off. Hopefully, Blake will be back in the lineup. They need him. Once the leading power team in the NL, the Blue have quietly fallen down toward the middle. With Manny behind virtual bars, its hard for him to hit HR's, chemically enhanced or otherwise. Blake leads the team with 8 dongs, Ethier, who's in the worst slump I've ever seen - what is he, like, 2 for his last 5O? - is stuck at 6 with Manny, while Kemp has a mere 4, Loney a couple and Martin, none. So much for 4 guys with 30 at year's end, but they still have the best record in the Bigs. Outside of Juan and the "O" Dog, they've become a team of .270 hitters with no pop. Their starting pitching, as I've said all along, is iffy and their bullpen is even iffier. Yet, somehow, they have the lowest ERA in baseball and they're mysteriously managing to win games. Manny will miss another 39 games, and this team shows all the earmarks of a run on the bank. I hate to be a doomsayer, but the math seems to indicate a bad losing streak unless guys like Andre and Kemp can snap out of it and unless Kershaw has arrived and Wolf pitches like he did the last few games for the rest of the year. Any team with a starting rotation that includes 2 of the following: Jeff Weaver, Erics Stults and Milton, cannot possibly be championship bound. Don't misunderstand me. I like this Dodger team. I think they're a very good team, but flawed. Right now, anyway, they're clearly is benefitting from the luck of the Irish.

Smoke, Mirrors & Juan Pierre

Shut me up! One 5th of the way into Manny's jail time and the Dodgers had a 4-2 road trip against the defending World Champion Phillies and the downward spriraling, but upstart Marlins. Two great hitting teams. So, I guess I have to eat some of my words about how the Dodgers poor starting staff and bullpen would not fare well against powershouses from outside their division.

What did they do right? Well, first and foremost, they won the game Billingsley pitched. They must win most or all of those games, because after Chad, it's a crap shoot. (Yes, even with the phenom Kershaw and the fairly solid Randy Wolf, who goes tonight against the red hot Metropolitans at the Ravine) Chad pitched his heart out in that 2nd game in Philly and was in line to get his 6th win. Broxton had it wrapped up, then, for some ungodly reason, he throws an 0-2 fastball with 2 outs and runners on 1st & 2nd right into light hitting catcher Ruiz's wheelhouse and he bangs a double into the gap to tie the thing up. Martin had actually set up inside, which would've been the way to go, then, in a foolish attempt to fool Ruiz, moved quickly back outside. Idiotic move. Yet, the sign of a good team is to be able to overcome such mistakes and still win and that's exactly what the Dodgers were able to do in the 10th. Outside of Kershaw's 2nd stellar performance of the year yesterday against the fish, in which he had a no no through 7, the starting pitching has been doing it with smoke and mirrors, just good enough to get by. The bullpen has been just okay. Wade and Belisario have been pretty good, Troncoso and Ohman have been passable, Weaver's been good and bad, and Mota just plain sucks. He's done, people. As far as offense, Casey Blake's power since Manny's suspension has been huge, Martin has begun to come alive and Loney even had a couple of dongs on the trip. He's not lighting up the league, but check out his RBIs. Ethier and Furcal, meanwhile, are slumping horribly and Matt Kemp is mixing in just enough hits and RBI's with strikeouts. In spite of one horrific run in which he struck out 6 out of 7 at bats, the O Dog continues to pound the ball and make things happen, and the bench - Loretta, Castro, young Xavier Paul, and Ausmus have been AMAZING! (See yesterday's box score) Best bench in baseball. What an asset.

But, c'mon, people. This is the Juan Pierre show now. Who'da thunk Juan Pierre would quickly become the heart and soul of this Dodger team? The man is 20 for 43 since Manny started serving time. 20 FOR 43!!! He's driven in 9 freaking runs in 10 games as a leadoff hitter! He's stolen a bunch of bases, his OBP is through the roof and he's made the plays. He is the catalyst of this team and I don't see it ending any time soon. So, what happens when Manny comes back? He's on pace to be 100 for 215, which would be an all time record. Assuming Juan slows down a little - let's say he's 80 for 235 - or even 75 for 240 - but he's still getting the job done, how the hell are you gonna take him out of the lineup? That could mean Matt Kemp and the temperamental Andre Ethier could possibly find themselves in the same boat they were in last year when jolly old Andruw Jones and his belly fat attempted to patrol the Dodger outfield. A platoon situation. You almost kind of hope Juan slows down a little bit just to make things easier for Manny's return. But what trade bait if they decide to bench him again! And how about Xavier Paul? His home run against Florida puts a hole in someone's chest if he stands in it's way. And don't forget this kid they have coming up in a year or 2 - Andrew Lambo out of Newbury Park. He's supposed to be Manny's replacement when his contract ends and evidently he can hit a ton. Could Kemp or Ethier become trade bait? This team does need starting pitching... Here's hoping the Blue Jays falter and Halladay becomes a Dodger. Not likely, though. The Jays look like the real deal under Cito Gaston for the 2nd time. The AL East is a beast.

The Mets are hot and I think, in spite of them not having their best on the mound, and in spite of the fact the Blue has the best record in baseball and has only lost 3 games at home, I like their chances against the Dodgers in this series. The Mets are a very tough team, even without Carlos Delgado. But you gotta give Joe Torre and the Dodgers credit. They're turning out to be a deep, resilient club and they've opened up a 6 game lead in the West in mid-May. If Kershaw can gain some consistency and Wolf can suddenly become the solid veteran lefty they need, this team could do very well before Manny and other help arrives.

Exposed!

Well, the Dodgers certainly are proving they can win without Manny, aren’t they? After all, in the 5 games they’ve played since Manny’s baseball jail time began, they’ve won one whole game. Is it Manny’s fault they lost the other 4 and that they’re very likely to lose number 5 tonight? Yes, partially. Without Manny in the middle of the lineup, pitchers feel free to challenge hitters. The specter of Manny coming up and destroying their ERAs isn’t there anymore. Let’s face it. Slumping Andre Ethier just isn’t the stud he was becoming without Manny to protect. In spite of Juan Pierre’s torrid hitting – ya gotta love that guy – he’s not the same type of player Manny is. He can change a game base by base as opposed to with one swing. Matt Kemp seems to be going for the all-time strikeout record. He’s on a roll. Loney and Martin are powerless and Casey Blake is not exactly Evan Longoria. Furcal is still slumping and Orlando Hudson gets the anointed the teams’ new best hitter. He’s even been occupying the 3 hole.

Don’t look now, but the Giants are creeping. They’re only 3 games back and the Dodgers’ record will continue to deteriorate. Remember what I said about their lack of pitching and how they’ll fare against better teams than the ones that play in the West or live permanently in the cellar of the East? The Phillies made them look like the Nats last night and that wasn’t their ace, Cole Hamels on the mound. It was our old friend, Chan Ho Park whom the Ddogers made look like Christy Mathewson after the 1st inning. And, it seems we’ve seen what we’re going to see from young Clayton Kershaw. He’s just still too green and though he has good stuff, you can almost always count on him to give you that one horrific inning where he can’t find the plate, throws over 30 pitches, walks guys, gives up runs and loses the game. And their bullpen is still a crap shoot before you get to the overused Jonathan Broxton. With the Giants’ pitching and the hot hitting of Pablo Sandoval, I expect them to catch the Dodgers before Manny returns, possibly as soon as this current road trip. Also, in spite of their current awfulness, don’t count out the DBacks just yet. I still think they have a good team and are just biding their time.

Nope. The Dodgers are not as good as their record, with or without Manny and that’s going to show in the coming days. Those of you who are encouraged by the recent strong outing by Eric Stults, and the possible resurgence of journeyman, Jeff Weaver, curb your enthusiasm, for these are not champion caliber arms. In short, this Dodgers team has been exposed in more ways than one. This Dodger team could be in trouble. Oh wait a minute. The great Jason Schmidt is almost ready to come back. The cavalry is coming.

Weighing In On Manny

It is now 5 games into Manny’s suspension. I was in a Hawaii last week when I got the news, and I started to blog about it from my hotel room, but I decided to wait. Wanted to get the facts as they slowly trickled in and make sure I wasn’t going to write anything either stupid or naïve. Didn’t want to be an apologist nor a knee jerk reactor. At first, I actually believed for a split second that Manny may be innocent, but quickly I thought better of it. Here’s my conclusion: As far as any thinking that Manny wasn’t caught with a “steroid” and that he’s innocent, you can shove that where the sun don’t shine. Manny, having had a prescription for HCG, a drug widely taken by steroid users following their cycles to replenish or maintain their testosterone levels, is quite obviously guilty. Not only had he just began taking PEDs, but he’s been at it for quite some time. Where Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa decided to put their muscular girths and impressive bulges on display, Manny chose to hide his with baggy uniforms. He was perfectly willing to let fans think he may be fat or out of shape rather than advertise the truth every time he put on his double knits. My guess is he’s been taking roids off and on, mostly on, for quite a few years. But because the players that use are still so far ahead of the game regarding the testing, when to cycle on and off, etc, most of them don’t get caught. When Manny returns, his numbers will likely go down. He may never be the savior we got from Boston at last year’s trade deadline ever again. Should we be angry at him? Yes. He’s an asshole. Do we want and need him back? Sorry, Plaschke, but that’s a yes. Even a clean Manny is better than no Manny.

Should we be angry at the Dodgers? That’s a good question. They knew full well that Manny had been using prior to re-signing him this Spring. That’s the main reason teams were so reluctant to offer him the multi-year big bucks. Not his age nor the alleged Manny being Manny malingering that took place in Boston. Everyone knew he was using and everyone knew there may well be a positive test in his near future. I didn’t. Call me naïve. Call me ignorant. Call me desperate. I really wanted to believe Manny was the real deal. So, why do fans like me who care about the integrity of the game want him back? Because, truth be told, every team has a star that has recently used or is still using performance enhancing drugs. After this debacle, you think I believe Albert Pujols isn’t on something? You can take him out of his St. Louis Cardinals uniform right now and put him in an Arizona Cardinals uniform and he’d fit right where the tight end or the linebackers play. He’s huge, cut, sinewy, and his numbers have been consistently astonishing. In fact, they’re climbing. He’s improving as he ages. No, the era is still ongoing, though dwindling, and players have to be forgiven and teams have to move on. If Manny can still rake when he comes back, then we’ll know that he may be one of the guys who didn’t need the drugs.

Should we be angry at Bud Selig? Most definitely. Selig is responsible for the Steroid Era and, with a wink and a nod, he knowingly allowed it to happen before he finally decided to try to put a stop to it. Especially after the strike of ’94 when he wanted to build up revenue and popularity again. He felt baseball needed the HRs and the Ks. If you ask me, of all the superstar hitters and pitchers in the last 16 years, the only one I can say for certain was not using steroids or HGH is Ken Griffey Jr. Not only did Jr. never look the part, he aged naturally and his performance and numbers waned naturally. Guys who are in their late 30’s and early 40’s simply don’t start seeing and hitting the ball or throwing the ball better than they ever did in their 20’s. Get real, people.

Should Manny’s teammates be angry at Manny? I guess. He certainly let the team down. But I can’t help feeling quite a few guys knew what was going on. The difference between the Dodgers and the Angels is non-disclosure, arrogance, secrecy and entitlement vs. full disclosure, humility, openness and appreciation. The two organizations have gone in completely different directions. You really believe all this so-called outrage McCourt says he’s feeling about Manny? BS. If he didn’t know this exact thing was going to take place – that Manny was going to get a positive test and be suspended for 50 games, he at least knew this was a possibility. He took the gamble and signed him and I’m not sure I wouldn’t have done the same thing. I love the Dodgers, but I do not like McCourt and I don’t like what the Dodger organization has become. Lying to the fans seems to be a pastime for the McCourts, as it was for Fox. This thing with Manny has really given them a black eye from which they may not recover, both publically and on the field.

While Rome Burns, I Fiddle...

My engine seized on my way to the batting cages before playing a game that I probably shouldn't be playing anymore because my hamstings are shot - too much heavy lifting in the gym - and my elbow feels like it's separated from the rest of my arm. My '97 Honda could very well be done, so carless and homeless could be in my future. Yet I still tried to play in a Beverly Hills wood bat league game on Saturday, faced some kid who was throwing in the high 80's and just got an Independent League contract and I and the team looked like crap and we lost big. At the moment, no job, nor prospects, no meetings, but tomorrow I leave for Hawaii for 5 days because I don't have to pay a cent. (Very wealthy, generous friend. Last year it was Cancun) I should be home cringing in a corner or something. I'm unconscious.

So, it appears, are the Dodgers, but I still contend, let's wait and see. They're currently 18-8. Wow! They just set the all-time franchise record for being undefeated at home in the start of a season at 10-0. Excellent! They just swept the Padres, who are, in my opinion, the worst team in baseball. They're 6-2 against those Dads. They're 5-1 against the Rockies who just plain suck. They're 4-2 against the Giants who have no hitting. They're 2-1 against the D'backs going into tonight's game. They're 1-2 against the Astros, who are, in my opinion, not a bad team. They're definitely beating the teams they have to beat - the awful teams in their division (though I still think the Snakes are pretty good and will make a run at some point, maybe starting tonight against Eric Stults) BUT ... when they start playing the good teams that undermanned starting staff and now Hing Chih Kuo-less bullpen may be pushed beyond the breaking point. Journeyman and ex-Dodger, Jeff Weaver has mercifully replaced young J Mac in the rotation, but that doesn't necessarily instill in me a sense of comfort. We got a long way to go. Matt Kemp is on a strike out tear that may last all season and Loney and Martin still haven't homered. Hopefully Kersaw has righted his ship, but tough to do for one so green. The positive stuff? This team is actually pretty damn good. Their attack is among the best in the league. Their bench IS the best on the league. Just worried about the arms against the real teams.

Dodgers just got out of the first and Scully just called Casey Blake "Baker" and I don't care. In fact, it makes me happy. I love that man.

April Report Card - "B"

Nice win last night. They managed 2 hits against Peavy and Kershaw pitched a gem against Adiran Gonzalez and a bunch of minor leaguers. Tells me nothing.

The Dodgers are 8 games over .500 on May 2nd and 3 1/2 games ahead of their nearest competitor in the West, the archrival Giants. Their hitting, save Russell Martin and Casey Blake, who has 5 HRs in the 8 hole, has been stellar. An "A." And their starting pitching hasn't been terrible either. I give the pen a "C -." But, as I've been saying, don't expect their winning ways last much longer. They have to finish against the Dads, then 2 games with the struggling Snakes before hosting the awful Washington Nationals. So, in spite of all the games they've played on the road, the schedule has been kind to them at the season's outset. But soon, the real teams, as I call them, outside the West are going to pound them with solid pitching and hitting and the Dodgers won't have the arms to combat them. I'd have given them an "A" if Kuroda was uninjured and effective, if Kershaw had been more consistent and if McDonald didn't look god awful. Their bullpen gets a "C." Their bench gets an "A +."

I don't feel Eric Milton or Sean Estes will be the answer. I'll say it again. Unless the education of Clayton Kershaw is accelerated to the point where hebecomes Koufax, a deal of some kind for an arm will HAVE to happen if the Dodgers are to be serious contenders in the Fall.

Colletti: "Oops! We Forgot About Pitching..."

Nice win last night. The bats did it. They got the 8 runs. Only 3 players distinguish the Padres from your typical first year expansion team: Adrian Gonzalez, Jake Peavy and Heath Bell. Otherwise, they may as well be the '69 Padres. or the '69 Expos, or the '98 Devil Rays. In other words, if you don't beat San Diego at home, it's pretty pathetic. This team needs to beat the D'Backs when they're back at full strength, the Cards, the Cubs, the Brewers, the Astros, the Reds, the Braves, the Fish, the Phils, the Mets,and the Bucs. Every one of those teams are far better than the weaklings they've been beating up on.

Hard to bank on youth like Kershaw and McDonald and a lot riding on Wolf who's never been anything better than a 3 or 4 guy in any rotation. (Maybe one year with Philly he was their #2) Kuroda is no Dice K. So, again, I ask, how do you part ways with a Derek Lowe and not replace him? And whom do they deal at the All Star break for a front line starter? Pierre, DeWitt, Xavier Paul? What kind of arm will that fetch them? And what front line starter will be available? Halladay with the Jays in the hunt? Here's hoping Toronto falls apart. Or Bedard or Washburn with Seattle in the hunt? Even Kansas City would be loathe to give up a Greinke or a Meche. They had the money for a quality arm in addition to Manny but McCourt cries poor. With Sabathia and Burnett struggling, it appears they should've just re-signed Lowe. Unless they can wrest Peavy from the Dads (they'll want a fortune in valuable personnel) or Zach Duke from Pittsburgh, or if the Chisox falter, maybe they can take Buehrle off of Reinsdorf's hands, or that the Tribe continues to choke and Cliff Lee becomes available. I doubt many of these scenarios will materialize and I really don't think there's going to be much out there. There's no way this team has the pitching to win anything substantial unless Kershaw becomes Koufax, like, now. Just seems to me like Colletti didn't think this through.

It's time to give Russell Martin 3 days off in a row.