Long, Short Season

Been a while since you've heard from me. Reason being, I've been busy writing on a sitcom. Other reason being, I have emotionally banished the Dodgers from my very essence until that bastard relinquishes control. However, much has happened and I feel that it's time I chimed in. So, here are my all-important thoughts:

First, let's talk about the Dodgers.

"Beat LA! Beat LA!" were the chants coming from the crowd in Phoenix where the Dodgers wound up their difficult 2011 campaign winning 2 of 3 from the unlikely NL West champs. And, it occurred to me that the Snakes didn't need to "beat LA," that their evil owner had long ago beaten them to the punch. The Dodgers played rather well in the 2nd half. Surprisingly well, in spite of the distractions caused by the Evil One. Here are the Top 9 Reasons for Their resurgence:

1) Never thought I'd say this, but Don Mattingly did an outstanding job holding them together. I think this should perhaps earn him a shot at the job if and when a new owner takes over. Not sure it will, and I wouldn't be crying in my soup if it ends up being Bobby Cox coaxed out of retirement or even Riggleman or Dusty. But hats off to Donnie Baseball on a ship almost righted.

2) Loney. Out of nowhere, the light suddenly turned on and he became the James Loney of old, giving the Dodgers the much needed bat they needed behind the great Matt Kemp. Unfortunately for J Lo, it may be too little too late with the big, fat specter of Prince Fielder and his 38 homers and 120 RBI's (forget Pujols. Won't happen) looming in the free agent market - a market in which the bankrupt Blue may somehow be able to shop.

3) Juan Rivera - Makes Colletti look like a genius. He was the other big bat they needed behind Kemp. Makes for a tough decision if they don't go out in the offseason and land a left fielder. Sands or Rivera?

4) Dee Gordon & Jerry Sands - Two very bright-looking stars appeared to show us a glimpse of the future in the second half and made quite a difference in the lineup.

5) The Obvious - Matt Kemp became perhaps the best player in baseball before our eyes and Clayton Kershaw became perhaps the best pitcher. Phenomenal performances.

6) Kenley Jansen & Javy Guerra - In an otherwise abysmal bullpen situation, these two dudes lit the way for the late innings and the Dodgers blew fewer games with small leads by their offensively challenged ballclub.

7) Absence of Andre - Once Andre Ethier left the lineup things really started to gel. Was it because he was playing so poorly because of his bad knee or was it because he was a pouter in the clubhouse and when he was out of it, the mood got lighter? He'd better get his crap together for next year.

8) Aaron Miles - This guy needs to stay, as does Jamey Carroll. But Miles, especially, is a stud. He's a manager's dream. He can play 2nd,short and 3rd well and he battles every at bat. He's a catalyst.

9) Kuroda Consistency - I actually hope the guy I used to call "Hiroki MedioKuroda" sticks around. He was great in the second half and kept them in every game.

Now, we just have to hope that Bud Selig and MLB prevail in the courts, and that soon, so we can enjoy the baseball season again in LA and not feel bad about loving our once proud team. I doubt it's going to happen as quickly as we'd like and, until then, I hope yopu'll join me in continuing to boycott the Ravine.

Now, to the season:

I was right in most of my preseason predictions except the NL West, the AL East and the AL Central. So, I was wrong. The Red Sox and Braves chokes were legendary, but the Red Sox more so than the Braves because Boston spent so much money in the offseason on the likes of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford. With the emergence of Ellsbury, the continuing contributions fro Pedroia and Ortiz, Beckett back to form and Jon Lester, along with Bucholz and Dice K, they had the makings of a super team. But both the latter hurlers went down with injuries, Youkilis got hurt and Crawford turned out to not be all his millions said he can be. Those losses at the very beginning of the season killed them in the end. Instead of winning in the very tough AL East, they succombed to the Yanks and the lowly Rays. The Rays have no business being in the postseason, and yet, their they are. A solid team with many holes, they should lose in the first round.

The Braves and Cards are two similarly talented teams, but I've always felt the Cards were a little better offensively and I guess that amounted to the one game difference in the end. They should lose to Philly pretty quickly. Philly to sweep St Louis. Milwaukee (I told you guys how good they'd be) over the Snakes in 4. Philly over the Brew Crew in 7.

The Chicago White Sox got less than nothing from Adam Dunn and Alex Rios and, strangely, Kenny Williams did nothing to imrpove their offense at the trade deadline. So, aside from Paul Konerko, they had no offense and fell easily to the Tigers who had more hitting than I expected. In addition to the obvious slugging of Cabrera and Victor Martinez, they got a lot of offense from Peralta and Aviles. Verlander is a stud. Look out, Yankees. Could be a tough series. It's a pick-em, but I'll take the safe road and pick the Pins over the Yanks in 5.

I like Texas but don't think, in spite of their AWESOME hitting, they have enough pitching to advance past the ALCS. But I sure like them to beat Tampa. Yanks over the Rangers in 7. Philly over the Yanks in 6.

AWARDS:

NL MVP - Kemp 2nd) Braun 3rd) Fielder
NL CY YOUNG - Kershaw 2nd) Halladay 3rd) Kennedy
NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Kimbrel 2nd) Freeman 3rd) Worley
NL MANAGER OF THE YEAR - Gibson 2nd) Roenicke 3rd) Mattingly

AL MVP - Adrian Gonzalez 2nd) Granderson 3rd) Cabrera
AL CY YOUNG Verlander 2nd) Weaver 3rd) Sabathia
AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Hosmer 2nd) Hellickson 3rd) Trumbo
AL MANAGER OF THE YEAR - Maddon 2nd) Leyland 3rd) Washington