Back to the Malaise

Well, the euphoria of Commissioner Bud Selig's "takeover" of the Dodgers has all but worn off and the club is back to playing exactly the way they should be playing based on the personnel they've put together: lousy. They're almost precisely where they should be and precisely where they're likely to be at the end of the year. Outside of Kemp and Ethier, owner of a recently snapped 30 game hitting streak, and a reliable Jamey Carroll, they simply have no hitting. (By the way, has anyone noticed Ethier's glaring lack of pop?) Jerry Sands will likely return to Albuquerque when the great Marcus Thames comes off the DL. Gibbons looks awful, they should just start Gwynn. Loney is terrible. Barajas has pop but no OBP. The starting pitching has been as good as advertised, a solid 1-5, but nothing to get too excited about. Kershaw has been good, not great, (He's stinking against SF as I write this) Billingsley has been very good, not always great, but certainly great his last start, in which he allowed one hit and lost one to nothing against the lowly Snakes. Kuroda has been surprisingly good, Garland has been solid and Lilly has been good. The bullpen has been awful, with Kuo on the DL for an anxiety disorder (probably from having to watch Broxton pitch) Broxton, hopefully, will never return as closer, and their bench pretty much sucks, although Jamey Carroll will soon return to that bench when Furcal and Blake return. I'm not terribly excited about either one them coming back, to be honest. No, unless "owner pro temps," Schieffer, can really wheel and deal before the deadline, this team is dismal. Like I said, the West should continue to belong to San Fran and Colorado. It's not Donnie Baseball's fault. Though I still have no idea what kind of manager he is or will become, he has no control over the cards he's been dealt. Oh, well, at least, HOPEFULLY, the McCourts are on their way out.

McCourt's recent comments that the team would be exactly the same even if the Dodgers weren't in financial trouble only serves to solidify the fact that he should be gone. I can't envision a scenario in which Selig will cave and allow McCourt to remain as owner of the Dodgers and allow his big Fox deal to go through, allegedly funneling billions into the team's coffers. And fans, please don't come to any games until McCourt is officially out. Again, we don't want any money going into his greedy, pitiful little hands. I do hate him so. What McCourt doesn't seem to get as he complains that Selig's reluctance and delay in approving the Fox deal is responsible for the Dodgers' and his financial woes is that, he shouldn't have been in this position to begin with and why would the Commissioner trust such a man to be the beneficiary of such a huge deal? I'm sure the deal would be just fine with Selig, but with a new owner. Also, Selig would probably prefer the Dodgers have their own network than make a long term deal with Fox. Any way you slice it, this isn't going to be resolved for some time, I'm guessing. At least, not before the All-Star break. Unless, of course, when the Dodgers can't meet payroll at the end of the month and Selig has to cover it and then officially seize the club and push McCourt out, permanently. We shall see...

Surprises thus far in the season: Obviously, the Cleveland Indians. Are they for real? It would seem so. They have a fairly potent lineup and Masterson and Tomlin have provided unexpected mound prowess. But, believe it or not, I still like the White Sox to turn it around and take that division. They have to start hitting sometime and they have a very strong staff.

The Rays. The Yanks and Bosox will still be the teams to beat in the AL East, but the Rays have been surprising. Matt Joyce and Sam Fuld have been unlikely studs and their pitching has been strong. The Yankees will get over the Posada saga and return to form. The Red Sox had a bad start but they'll be there, in spite of pitching injuries.

The Cards. I knew they'd contend, but I still kind of like the Brew Crew in the NL Central. The Reds are also as tough as advertised. So, what's up with the Red Birds? Well, three unlikely sources have provided a fount of efficacy: Jaime Garcia is the Cy Young Award winner, edging out Florida's Josh Johnson if the season ends today. Kyle McClellan has been awesome. Kyle who? And the Renaissance of one Lance Berkman, who'd be the NL MVP over teammate Matt Holliday if the season ended today. Good team.

The Fish. Great starting pitching from Johnson, Sanchez and Nolasco. Great bats from everyone in their lineup, practically, EXCEPT Hanley Ramirez, who suddenly stinks. They can contend for the WC with Atlanta and possible an NL West and NL Central club - take your pick.

There's talk that, perhaps as soon as next year, there'll be two Wild Card teams. Not sure how I feel about that.

It's gonna be a long season, Dodger fans, but at least the bad man should soon be gone.

My brother and I had a Topps poster of Harmon Killebrew on our bedroom wall for years and years. I read his biography which I checked out of the school library in fourth grade. We were Angel fans back then and "Killer" used to live up to his nickname against them. I can still hear Dick Enberg calling one of his blasts. He was truly a class act and a wonderful ballplayer. When I think of baseball in the 60's, I think of Mantle, Koufax, Gibson, Mays, Frank Robinson, Kaline and Harmon Killebrew. Rest in Peace.