Heading into the final seven games of the season, it's all but over for the boys in blue. They give it a pretty good ride, but in the end they failed to close out the rest of the pretenders in the league and let weak Padre and Phillies teams pass them in the standings. Tonight's loss epitomized the season perfectly. An early lead, followed by an inferior team's ability to catch the Dodgers and then blow them out of the water late. It's getting to the point where it has become so precitable, that you stop watching because it's like that scary movie where it doesn't matter how many times you see it happen, the stupid half naked girl always goes into the room by herself and get a machete through the skull.
Brad Penny showed tonight why he was the perfect choice to start the All-Star game for the national league. Seeing as how the AL always seems to win home field advantage in the World Series, it is no wonder they let a guy like Penny start off the festivities. Tonight against a club that couldn't get an all-star named to the Valley Adult Baseball League, Penny managed to squander a three run lead by making idiotic pitches to batter he should have blown away. It's like the time UCLA basketball lost to Detroit Mercy in the NCAA Tournament, they got sucked into playing a really slow game and ultimately got beat by an inferior team. The same happened tonight, Penny thought he could be crafty and throw breaking junk that ended up leaving the yard and in the process make a College World Series goat look like Ty Cobb.
The last time I had seen Carlos Quinton, he was crying like a little girl after the Rice Owles handed him and his much hyped Stanford team their asses in the final game of the College World Series. Besides crying, he also took the opportunity to show his team building skills by blaming the loss on his coaches and the starting pitcher who "couldn't seem to throw a big pitch to save his life." He became the latest young player that the Dodgers have made a star of. With a 3-1 lead in the second, Penny hung "the intimidator" to Quinton and it ended up in the alcohol free zone ah-la Jack Parkman. I don't think Quinton did his little shimmie though, the one that makes "all the girls go crazy." What a waste.
The Dodgers then decided to cap the night off with a series of innings that would have pitching coaches around the league proud of Miguel Batista. With a total of 24 pitches in three innings, the Dodger bats decided to go into "operation shutdown" early and call it a night. Apparently it's tough to get a table these days at Cuidad. In any case, the crowd that was there to see if the Dodgers could keep pace with the rest of the teams in contention got to see a tired and battered team beat another tired and battered team 9-3. With as many veterans that Arizona had on the field, it's amazing that they look more spry then the young Dodgers.
The loss pushed the Dodgers to 1 1/2 back in the West and 1/2 back in the wild card chase. With the schedule favoring the Phillies you kind of get the feeling that the Phanatic will probably be doing his stupid dance in the post season. The Friars do have to go on the road and face the Cardinals, a tall order but still troubling for Dodger fans as the Fathers have taken 2 of 3 in the their previous match up and the Cards don't have all that much to play for. Plus, with things being the way they are, the same baseball Gods that have Ozzie Smith hitting rare home runs in the ninth inning in huge playoff games against the Dodgers and have John Tudor, the Dodger Killer, join the Dodgers from the Cards only to blow his arm out, will probably find a way to screw the blue. I guess I'm starting to sound a lot like a Raider fan and the "tuck rule" conspiracy theory.
In any case, the Dodgers now find themselves in a major jam. Grady had said all along that the club would have to hit 87 wins to make the post season. With 7 to go, they would have to go 6-1 and although this team has shown in the past that they are capable of doing it, the chances of that actually happening are slim to none, and yes, slim just got that machete in the back of the head.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Fallen and They Can't Get Up
Not to beat a dead horse, but the Dodgers again provided more emperical evidence to the theory behind their momemtum gathering decent in the league standings. In a tight 3-2 ball game last night, Grady brought in dead arm specialist Aaron Sele who yeilded 3 runs to the Pirates, and in the process made Xavier Nady, Jack Wilson, Jason Bay, and some guy named Paulino look like Andy Van Slyke, Chico Lind, Bobby Bonnila, and Barry Bonds. Again, the offense tried to come back and would have won the game had they only been helped by a little bit of decent pitching. Hey Grady, if you are looking for another arm, I'm always available. I can hang a curve like the best of them. Unfortunately, the point to this game is to not hang those curves, and the "slider" that Sele attempted to throw last night to Nady looked like something Napolean Dynamite's Uncle Rico would have thrown.
Now the Dodgers find themselves in at dead tie with the Phillies, who's wide nosed first baseman Ryan Howard is the latest home run hitter du jour and the darling of the ESPN Baseball Tonight crew. At least we don't have to watch all of Barry's at bats on that show as their talking mouth stuffed shirt host and ex decent ball player anchor cream their shorts over the young slugger. With the schedule favoring the Phillies, it is starting to look rather grim for the blue.
They do have the possibility of winning the west, of course, just like I may someday run and finish a marathon, however that would take something that the Dodgers desperately lack, heart. Jeff Kent is the latest to illustrate his drivng desire to win. With the bases loaded and 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth, Kent took the count to 3-2. Yes, the moment that every kid dreams of, sans the world series, two outs, bottom of the ninth, winning run on base, chance to be a hero, put your team back into first place, etc. Here is the pitch and he totally swings at ball four and strikes out against Soloman Torres. Game over, drive safely, thanks for coming.
I'm not putting it all on Kent, he should have not had to be in that position. Had the bullpen, again, done their job perhaps Kent would only have to worry about not letting squibers bounce through the infield and score runners from second, much like he let happen in the 7th inning when Wilson singled home Chris Duffy. Regardless, it is what it is, and now it's a giant crap sandwhich which all of the fans are going to have to eat.
If the Dodgers can't find their way out of this recent funk that has seen them lose 2 of 3 in series with the Brewers, Cubs, and now Pirates, barring a Buc sweep tonight, then they will most likely miss the playoffs. It wouldn't be anything new as fans have grown accustomed to it, however going from the top of the standings to missing out would be devastating to this organization and would most definately warrent a complete overhaul. It is down right unacceptable to be in the lead for most of the race only to be passed in the final lap. See, I can deal with a youth moment and even a "rebuilding year" if the organization was to present it to me that way. If they said, "hey, we are going to play all the rookies and get them the experience they need so that we could win in 2 or 3 years," then I could deal with that and deal with the last place finish. But they are hitting us with a combination of old farts and rookies who hit a nice stride in July and August but have hit a wall and can no longer hang on in September. That to me is a big waste of time, and something that shows no commitment to the city and the fans by the loveable "haaaard ons" the McCourts.
Now the Dodgers find themselves in at dead tie with the Phillies, who's wide nosed first baseman Ryan Howard is the latest home run hitter du jour and the darling of the ESPN Baseball Tonight crew. At least we don't have to watch all of Barry's at bats on that show as their talking mouth stuffed shirt host and ex decent ball player anchor cream their shorts over the young slugger. With the schedule favoring the Phillies, it is starting to look rather grim for the blue.
They do have the possibility of winning the west, of course, just like I may someday run and finish a marathon, however that would take something that the Dodgers desperately lack, heart. Jeff Kent is the latest to illustrate his drivng desire to win. With the bases loaded and 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth, Kent took the count to 3-2. Yes, the moment that every kid dreams of, sans the world series, two outs, bottom of the ninth, winning run on base, chance to be a hero, put your team back into first place, etc. Here is the pitch and he totally swings at ball four and strikes out against Soloman Torres. Game over, drive safely, thanks for coming.
I'm not putting it all on Kent, he should have not had to be in that position. Had the bullpen, again, done their job perhaps Kent would only have to worry about not letting squibers bounce through the infield and score runners from second, much like he let happen in the 7th inning when Wilson singled home Chris Duffy. Regardless, it is what it is, and now it's a giant crap sandwhich which all of the fans are going to have to eat.
If the Dodgers can't find their way out of this recent funk that has seen them lose 2 of 3 in series with the Brewers, Cubs, and now Pirates, barring a Buc sweep tonight, then they will most likely miss the playoffs. It wouldn't be anything new as fans have grown accustomed to it, however going from the top of the standings to missing out would be devastating to this organization and would most definately warrent a complete overhaul. It is down right unacceptable to be in the lead for most of the race only to be passed in the final lap. See, I can deal with a youth moment and even a "rebuilding year" if the organization was to present it to me that way. If they said, "hey, we are going to play all the rookies and get them the experience they need so that we could win in 2 or 3 years," then I could deal with that and deal with the last place finish. But they are hitting us with a combination of old farts and rookies who hit a nice stride in July and August but have hit a wall and can no longer hang on in September. That to me is a big waste of time, and something that shows no commitment to the city and the fans by the loveable "haaaard ons" the McCourts.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Dodger Notes: The Cure for a Healthy Mind
A day after reaccessing the Dodgers loss to the lowely Pirates last night, I still have a few observations as I grow increasingly more frustrated with the stupidity most of the local writers and bloggers exhibit. Despite what is said and written, Monday night's performance means absolutely nothing now that the Dodger blew a golden opportunity to build on that momentum. So all you hack bloggers on Dodger.com, Latimes.com, and ladailynews.com can all officially SHUT UP! I wonder if all those blogs are run by A. Martinez, the biggest Dodger apologist on KFWB. I only wonder what Stu Nahan would have to say about all this.
One major issue that seems to be overlooked again and again is that the Dodgers cannot hold late leads or ties. Grady illuded to it in last night's presser, "we have to find a way to stop the bleeding late," however several people still seem to gloss over the fact that for two games in a row, rookie reliever Johnathan Broxton was brought in late inning hold situations and failed on both occasion giving up the winning run in the 3rd game of the Friar series and giving up 4 in the capper. It's one thing to be loyal, however its a whole different thing entirely to repeat an act over and over again and expect the same results. That's insanity, and Grady must really be close to buying that farm, because his decision to run Broxton out there and attempt to get the outs was the wrong move. Sure Broxton has done it before, but that was before his arm got tired from pitching in so many games and he has definetly lost some velocity and movement on his fastball. But all this is repeating the obvious.
Moving on, one thing that caught my eye was the squable Fathers pitcher and Alabama Slamma' Jake Peavy and Mariano Duncan, the pride of the Domincan, seem to have started during their last game on Monday night. Reportedly, Peavy was walking off the field after striking out a Dodger batter yelling at no one in particular. Duncan then, alledgedly, walked past Peavy and told him to get some class and not to show anyone up. "We're going to get your cocky ass you stupid fuck," was the gist of what was said by Duncan, that according to the wordsmith Peavy. Duncan for his part admitted he said it, which is a real gangsta thing to do, and added that what had set him off was the cultured Peavy's response to Rafael Furcal dropping a bunt on him, "Swing the bat, you little shit." Duncan apparently also took exception to the fact that Peavy was screaming down Mike Piazza as well.
Now, Peaves doesn't really strike me as the sharpest tool in the shed, and his vocabulary seems to back that point up. He is uneducated and from the South, a deadly combination. However I will agree that perhaps Duncan should have avoided the altercation, lest he wants to be seen as that unnamed Daniel Murphy High coach that likes to yell and call the opposing team's underaged players "bitch ass punks." If Peavy did say what he did to Furcal, then maybe Furcal should have dropped a bunt up the first base line forcing Peavy to field it in a position where Furcal could have run it right up his back Will Clark style. However calling a guy out in the middle of a game, near his own dugout, in a game you have to win is pretty unacceptable and down right bitch made if you ask me, and Mariano should have used a little more common sense on that one. Hey, Duncan could have always had Brad Penny plant one in Peavy's ear as well if it was that out of line. As for Mike Piazza, he lost all his self respect when he signed with the Friars, so I'm not going to defend that guy. I believe he is still to this day telling anyone that will listen that his absolutely, positively, one hundred percent without a doubt, not gay.
One major issue that seems to be overlooked again and again is that the Dodgers cannot hold late leads or ties. Grady illuded to it in last night's presser, "we have to find a way to stop the bleeding late," however several people still seem to gloss over the fact that for two games in a row, rookie reliever Johnathan Broxton was brought in late inning hold situations and failed on both occasion giving up the winning run in the 3rd game of the Friar series and giving up 4 in the capper. It's one thing to be loyal, however its a whole different thing entirely to repeat an act over and over again and expect the same results. That's insanity, and Grady must really be close to buying that farm, because his decision to run Broxton out there and attempt to get the outs was the wrong move. Sure Broxton has done it before, but that was before his arm got tired from pitching in so many games and he has definetly lost some velocity and movement on his fastball. But all this is repeating the obvious.
Moving on, one thing that caught my eye was the squable Fathers pitcher and Alabama Slamma' Jake Peavy and Mariano Duncan, the pride of the Domincan, seem to have started during their last game on Monday night. Reportedly, Peavy was walking off the field after striking out a Dodger batter yelling at no one in particular. Duncan then, alledgedly, walked past Peavy and told him to get some class and not to show anyone up. "We're going to get your cocky ass you stupid fuck," was the gist of what was said by Duncan, that according to the wordsmith Peavy. Duncan for his part admitted he said it, which is a real gangsta thing to do, and added that what had set him off was the cultured Peavy's response to Rafael Furcal dropping a bunt on him, "Swing the bat, you little shit." Duncan apparently also took exception to the fact that Peavy was screaming down Mike Piazza as well.
Now, Peaves doesn't really strike me as the sharpest tool in the shed, and his vocabulary seems to back that point up. He is uneducated and from the South, a deadly combination. However I will agree that perhaps Duncan should have avoided the altercation, lest he wants to be seen as that unnamed Daniel Murphy High coach that likes to yell and call the opposing team's underaged players "bitch ass punks." If Peavy did say what he did to Furcal, then maybe Furcal should have dropped a bunt up the first base line forcing Peavy to field it in a position where Furcal could have run it right up his back Will Clark style. However calling a guy out in the middle of a game, near his own dugout, in a game you have to win is pretty unacceptable and down right bitch made if you ask me, and Mariano should have used a little more common sense on that one. Hey, Duncan could have always had Brad Penny plant one in Peavy's ear as well if it was that out of line. As for Mike Piazza, he lost all his self respect when he signed with the Friars, so I'm not going to defend that guy. I believe he is still to this day telling anyone that will listen that his absolutely, positively, one hundred percent without a doubt, not gay.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Jim Tracy to Dodgers: 'F-You you Bastards!'
The short lived euphoria of Monday night gave way to the stark realization on Tuesday that the Dodgers just aren't that good. After a miracle comeback to snatch victory and first place from the Friars, the Dodgers decided to follow up that magical performance by laying an egg to the Pittsburg Pirates. In the end, ole Trace ended up with the big "F' You" to those "Haaaard Ons" the McCourts and the fans.
Again the problem with the Dodgers seems pretty elementary. They can't pitch, and when you can't do that you aren't going to win too many ball games, especially against teams that you should handle with great ease. For those that thought that Monday night's loss would have devestated the Fathers, all you have to know is that while I write this post, they are well on their way to kicking the Diamondback's teeth in. So much for the straw that broke the camel's back. No, instead the surprising come from behind win only managed to sink the Dodgers and their fans deeper into the myopic abyss where dillusions of granduer and visions of pennants danced in their heads. Much like Kobe's 81, the history made at the Ravine served as more off a burden then a blessing.
Nomar Garciaparra, last night's hero, apparently decided to take the night off against Ian Snell, a crafty young pitcher that came into this game with an overwhelming 13-10 record and an ERA of around 4.60. Those numbers are down right Dave Stewart like if you ask me. All Mr. Hamm did was go 0-fer. The Dodgers countered with Hong-Chih Kuo, a crafty rookie lefty that did his best, but in a tight pennant race was unable to control the feared bat of Xavier Nady. With trouble looming in the sixth inning, Grady decided to bring in the "player to be named" in the Odalis Perez deal, Elmer Dessens, and give up the possibility of winning the game by issuing a grand slam to, ah you'll excuse me if the Pirate superstar's name escapes me at the moment. Brett Tomko was then brought in to clean up the mess, and well it wasn't pretty. Let's just say that there was a good chance Marlon Anderson's homer in the 8th would have tied the game, not just brought them to within FOUR runs.
So Dodgers wasted a valuable opportunity, and in the process kept their hopes alive for making their October vacations plans. See, this team's uncanny ability to lose the games they are supposed to win, and that good CHAMPIONSHIP quality teams win, is a clear indication of why this team lacks the pieces to seriously compete. They can't hit all that well, they are decent in the fielding department, and their pitching would have trouble getting outs at a father/son game. They are not built for anything except the occasional come from behind win that fans seem to take with the same enthusiasm as a playoff series win. They are a mediocre team that is being beaten by teams with far less talent and far less fan expectations. Monday night's anomoly aside, the Dodgers are 3-8 in extra inning games, with no wins on the road, and have a 17 loses when tied or trailing in the 7,8, and 9th innings. Translation, the bullpen sucks and the batters can't hit in the clutch. Least I remember, all those teams with magical season like the Angels, White Sox, Red Sox, and Marlins all made a habit of winning in the pinch and getting that key base hit with runners in scoring position.
Another key to a championship team is their pitching, which gets compressed and magnified in the post season. With runs at a premium, the "keep it to 8 runs" strategy that Grady has been trying to have his pitchers adhere to isn't going to cut it in the post season. Right now, I wouldn't trust Brett Tomko or Aaron Sele to gas up the whip let alone get crucial outs in tight spots. Further, the giant with the serious backne problem, Mark Hendrickson, should probably look to see if he could still line up opposite Richard Jefferson for the Nets rather then maintain a spot in the Dodger's bullpen. I guess the fact that he is 6'5" tall doesn't make him "just like Randy Johnson" does it Ned Colleti? Hey Ned, way to go!
What truly is lost in that great Monday night rally was that the hero of the day could have very easily been the goat. With runners on second and third in the 8th inning, Nomar struckout on a 2-2 pitch from Scott Linebrink. Fortunately, the bats got hot and Mr. Hamm had a chance to redeem himself. Those who are a little less optimisitic like to look at more telling numbers, like the 0-for that he posted tonight.
In the end, the Dodgers are playing with fire, down right towering infernos if they think they can follow up great performances with stinkers like tonight. They fail to realize the importance of a pennant chase and seem to think that taking the night off is OK because, hey "we made history last night and went back into first place!" Unfortunately for them and for us, it doesn't really matter what you do in the 150th game of the season.
As for the old skipper Jim, his tenure was probably just like 'a candle in the wind,' Please see Petros Papadakis Show for that reference, but atleast for one night he was able to stick it to the McCourts and put his stamp on the Dodger's season. If the team goes on to miss the playoffs, they will look to this night as the one that killed their season.
Again the problem with the Dodgers seems pretty elementary. They can't pitch, and when you can't do that you aren't going to win too many ball games, especially against teams that you should handle with great ease. For those that thought that Monday night's loss would have devestated the Fathers, all you have to know is that while I write this post, they are well on their way to kicking the Diamondback's teeth in. So much for the straw that broke the camel's back. No, instead the surprising come from behind win only managed to sink the Dodgers and their fans deeper into the myopic abyss where dillusions of granduer and visions of pennants danced in their heads. Much like Kobe's 81, the history made at the Ravine served as more off a burden then a blessing.
Nomar Garciaparra, last night's hero, apparently decided to take the night off against Ian Snell, a crafty young pitcher that came into this game with an overwhelming 13-10 record and an ERA of around 4.60. Those numbers are down right Dave Stewart like if you ask me. All Mr. Hamm did was go 0-fer. The Dodgers countered with Hong-Chih Kuo, a crafty rookie lefty that did his best, but in a tight pennant race was unable to control the feared bat of Xavier Nady. With trouble looming in the sixth inning, Grady decided to bring in the "player to be named" in the Odalis Perez deal, Elmer Dessens, and give up the possibility of winning the game by issuing a grand slam to, ah you'll excuse me if the Pirate superstar's name escapes me at the moment. Brett Tomko was then brought in to clean up the mess, and well it wasn't pretty. Let's just say that there was a good chance Marlon Anderson's homer in the 8th would have tied the game, not just brought them to within FOUR runs.
So Dodgers wasted a valuable opportunity, and in the process kept their hopes alive for making their October vacations plans. See, this team's uncanny ability to lose the games they are supposed to win, and that good CHAMPIONSHIP quality teams win, is a clear indication of why this team lacks the pieces to seriously compete. They can't hit all that well, they are decent in the fielding department, and their pitching would have trouble getting outs at a father/son game. They are not built for anything except the occasional come from behind win that fans seem to take with the same enthusiasm as a playoff series win. They are a mediocre team that is being beaten by teams with far less talent and far less fan expectations. Monday night's anomoly aside, the Dodgers are 3-8 in extra inning games, with no wins on the road, and have a 17 loses when tied or trailing in the 7,8, and 9th innings. Translation, the bullpen sucks and the batters can't hit in the clutch. Least I remember, all those teams with magical season like the Angels, White Sox, Red Sox, and Marlins all made a habit of winning in the pinch and getting that key base hit with runners in scoring position.
Another key to a championship team is their pitching, which gets compressed and magnified in the post season. With runs at a premium, the "keep it to 8 runs" strategy that Grady has been trying to have his pitchers adhere to isn't going to cut it in the post season. Right now, I wouldn't trust Brett Tomko or Aaron Sele to gas up the whip let alone get crucial outs in tight spots. Further, the giant with the serious backne problem, Mark Hendrickson, should probably look to see if he could still line up opposite Richard Jefferson for the Nets rather then maintain a spot in the Dodger's bullpen. I guess the fact that he is 6'5" tall doesn't make him "just like Randy Johnson" does it Ned Colleti? Hey Ned, way to go!
What truly is lost in that great Monday night rally was that the hero of the day could have very easily been the goat. With runners on second and third in the 8th inning, Nomar struckout on a 2-2 pitch from Scott Linebrink. Fortunately, the bats got hot and Mr. Hamm had a chance to redeem himself. Those who are a little less optimisitic like to look at more telling numbers, like the 0-for that he posted tonight.
In the end, the Dodgers are playing with fire, down right towering infernos if they think they can follow up great performances with stinkers like tonight. They fail to realize the importance of a pennant chase and seem to think that taking the night off is OK because, hey "we made history last night and went back into first place!" Unfortunately for them and for us, it doesn't really matter what you do in the 150th game of the season.
As for the old skipper Jim, his tenure was probably just like 'a candle in the wind,' Please see Petros Papadakis Show for that reference, but atleast for one night he was able to stick it to the McCourts and put his stamp on the Dodger's season. If the team goes on to miss the playoffs, they will look to this night as the one that killed their season.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
How the West Was Lost
The Dodger's have managed to do it. In the span of a month and a half, they have managed to blow a once commanding 7 1/2 game division lead and find themselves trailing the Friars by half a game. As Trevor Hoffman managed to get Kenny Lofton to fly to center, the Dodger's and their season, managed to flush another great effort, and season for that matter, down the toilet.
Am I being too negative? Perhaps. Afterall, there is still two plus weeks to go in the season and the Dodgers do face the Fathers again tommorow night. However the Dodgers look like a team that has hit their peak and is now holding on for dear life to cross the finish line. As my dad always told me, there is a difference between running through the finish line and taking a stomach dive past it. Right now the Dodgers are getting ready for that head first slide.
I am being this negative and pessimestic because I have come to know the pain associated with cheering on this team. We are not the Red Sox or the Cubs, however as Dodger fans we have come to endure failure after failure for the past several years. The Dodgers have made it a habit to make mediocre to marginal big league pitching look like Cy Young Award caliber performances. It is truly depressing to see a guy like Chris Young tossing a one hitter in a game knowing that he was almost out of the league a couple of years ago. And don't let me get started on how the Dodgers make Woody Williams look like Vida Blue. It is an absolute joke that these type of guys could shut down a talent latent team.
Epitomizing the Dodgers attitude toward this season and their fans is the old stand by J.D. Drew. His infectious brand of non-chalent baseball is truly a sight to be seen. As he lazily waves at another pitch or manages to put first base power on a pop up, he is the embodiedment of the Dodgers. They have become a bunch of guys who simply don't really look like they care anymore and are unwilling to perform in the clutch. I mean, let's be honest, this is the Padres we are talking about, not the Mets, Cardinals, or Astros for that matter. It's not like the Padres have murderers' row up there every inning of have a solid core of five starting pitchers that can dominate a game. They have a fat old guy, a tall slow guy, a short white guy with acne, and two dudes named Clay. I mean, how imposing could that be? Yet the Dodgers have managed to find a way to let these guys completely dominate them on the diamond and take from them what should have been a pretty easy division championship.
The question then becomes what to make of this season. Well if current circumstances are any indication, then we are in for more disinterested, uninspired play that will produce more disillusionment for the average fan. Hold on digression coming.
I just can't get past it. I mean, how do you let a bunch of marginal major leaguers who play in a kitty litter box come up to your house and slap you around. I mean, honestly, Russell Branyan is beating you? You are letting Dave Roberts and Josh Barfield give it to you like a dirty John on top of a sweaty hooker? Honestly folks, San Diego baseball barely qualifies as a AAA city and team yet alone the Division champions. Adrian Gonzalez and Geoff Blum? Please! They have a half game lead in the division and they are lucky to get 15,000 people to pay to see them play, let alone come out and actually watch them. I guess those fans are just smarter judging as how 54,000 Dodger fans pack the stadium to watch their team lose.
At the end of the day, the Dodgers have only themselves to blame for not being more aggressive at the trade deadline and securing their place in the post season. They did aquire some key components, all of which will be gone at the end of season, however they failed to secure the number 5 starter position and failed to get some much needed middle relief. A sign of really poor management was seen when Ned Colletti was trying to aquire David Wells on the final day of the waiver trade deadline. The Red Sox were desperate to unload the fat man and they ended up cutting a deal with the Padres for a bag of baseballs and a body. The Dodgers were reported to have been in "serious talks" with the Red Sox, however they still came up a day late and a dollar short. All of this because the Dodgers did not want to part with one of those "hot minor league prospects" that they tout like a farmers daughter. In his best Paul DePodesta move, Colletti managed to lose the west on August 30 as he left it for Chad Billingsley, Eric Stults, Aaron Sele, and Brett Tomko to figure it out and try to make games manageable by only giving up 8 runs per game. Hey Ned, way to go!
So will we win the west, probably not. I don't really see this team coming back and doing it because they are showing those sleep walking tendancies that made the late 90's so watchable for Dodger baseball fans. They don't have a guy that has hit more then 17 home runs this season and are truly in trouble when they are relying on Rafael Furcal to be their RBI man. In any case it probably is all for the best because I really didn't feel like wasting another October feeling anxious and scared to watch my television for fear of jinxing my team only to be teased by a great game three before the Cardinals slap you around a little more and have Albert Pujols hit a 3 run home run to put away your the season. No, rooting on the Yankees sounds a lot more fun.
Am I being too negative? Perhaps. Afterall, there is still two plus weeks to go in the season and the Dodgers do face the Fathers again tommorow night. However the Dodgers look like a team that has hit their peak and is now holding on for dear life to cross the finish line. As my dad always told me, there is a difference between running through the finish line and taking a stomach dive past it. Right now the Dodgers are getting ready for that head first slide.
I am being this negative and pessimestic because I have come to know the pain associated with cheering on this team. We are not the Red Sox or the Cubs, however as Dodger fans we have come to endure failure after failure for the past several years. The Dodgers have made it a habit to make mediocre to marginal big league pitching look like Cy Young Award caliber performances. It is truly depressing to see a guy like Chris Young tossing a one hitter in a game knowing that he was almost out of the league a couple of years ago. And don't let me get started on how the Dodgers make Woody Williams look like Vida Blue. It is an absolute joke that these type of guys could shut down a talent latent team.
Epitomizing the Dodgers attitude toward this season and their fans is the old stand by J.D. Drew. His infectious brand of non-chalent baseball is truly a sight to be seen. As he lazily waves at another pitch or manages to put first base power on a pop up, he is the embodiedment of the Dodgers. They have become a bunch of guys who simply don't really look like they care anymore and are unwilling to perform in the clutch. I mean, let's be honest, this is the Padres we are talking about, not the Mets, Cardinals, or Astros for that matter. It's not like the Padres have murderers' row up there every inning of have a solid core of five starting pitchers that can dominate a game. They have a fat old guy, a tall slow guy, a short white guy with acne, and two dudes named Clay. I mean, how imposing could that be? Yet the Dodgers have managed to find a way to let these guys completely dominate them on the diamond and take from them what should have been a pretty easy division championship.
The question then becomes what to make of this season. Well if current circumstances are any indication, then we are in for more disinterested, uninspired play that will produce more disillusionment for the average fan. Hold on digression coming.
I just can't get past it. I mean, how do you let a bunch of marginal major leaguers who play in a kitty litter box come up to your house and slap you around. I mean, honestly, Russell Branyan is beating you? You are letting Dave Roberts and Josh Barfield give it to you like a dirty John on top of a sweaty hooker? Honestly folks, San Diego baseball barely qualifies as a AAA city and team yet alone the Division champions. Adrian Gonzalez and Geoff Blum? Please! They have a half game lead in the division and they are lucky to get 15,000 people to pay to see them play, let alone come out and actually watch them. I guess those fans are just smarter judging as how 54,000 Dodger fans pack the stadium to watch their team lose.
At the end of the day, the Dodgers have only themselves to blame for not being more aggressive at the trade deadline and securing their place in the post season. They did aquire some key components, all of which will be gone at the end of season, however they failed to secure the number 5 starter position and failed to get some much needed middle relief. A sign of really poor management was seen when Ned Colletti was trying to aquire David Wells on the final day of the waiver trade deadline. The Red Sox were desperate to unload the fat man and they ended up cutting a deal with the Padres for a bag of baseballs and a body. The Dodgers were reported to have been in "serious talks" with the Red Sox, however they still came up a day late and a dollar short. All of this because the Dodgers did not want to part with one of those "hot minor league prospects" that they tout like a farmers daughter. In his best Paul DePodesta move, Colletti managed to lose the west on August 30 as he left it for Chad Billingsley, Eric Stults, Aaron Sele, and Brett Tomko to figure it out and try to make games manageable by only giving up 8 runs per game. Hey Ned, way to go!
So will we win the west, probably not. I don't really see this team coming back and doing it because they are showing those sleep walking tendancies that made the late 90's so watchable for Dodger baseball fans. They don't have a guy that has hit more then 17 home runs this season and are truly in trouble when they are relying on Rafael Furcal to be their RBI man. In any case it probably is all for the best because I really didn't feel like wasting another October feeling anxious and scared to watch my television for fear of jinxing my team only to be teased by a great game three before the Cardinals slap you around a little more and have Albert Pujols hit a 3 run home run to put away your the season. No, rooting on the Yankees sounds a lot more fun.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
My Blue Hell
My earlier assessment of Ned Colletti was correct; he still is on the Giants' payroll. In a move that resembles one of the better one's I've had in a while, the Dodger manager was able to flush the entire 2006 season down the toilet on Tuesday by dealing the sleepwalker, Odalis Perez, to the Royals for the proverbial bucket of baseballs, or in this case Elmer Dessens. As I stated earlier in my piece, Wake me when July Ends, the prospects of the Dodgers winning this season are slim to none, and slim just took a bullet to the head. So I guess you can wake me next season.
The Dodger woes began a series before the All-Star break, then apparently the 25 man roster decided to take an extended vacation that has seen them lose seven straight, and win only 1 game since the break. Apparently a note was found at Nomar's locker stating that he can be found at the same spring home in Havasu that Cedric Ceballos once vacationed at. In any case, the uninspired bunch have managed to make mediocre pitchers look like Vida Blue and Rollie Fingers, and the pitching has helped batters like Termell Sledge join the "Bash Brothers."
Am I pissed off, you're God damn right I am. I'm pissed because as usual I was drawn into this mess with the false promise of a winning season. "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!" I'm also pissed because of the attitude and half baked logic that flies out of the Dodger GM's pie hole. I was always taught that if you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all. Applied to Colletti, he should just cut his tongue out to fend off temptation.
In a typical tap dance with the media, Colletti used the gem, "We aren't going to sacrifice the future for a 2-month rental," crap that flies in two bit cities that never expect to win. Unfortunately for this MENSA board member, Los Angeles isn't one of those towns. See, here in the city of angels, we like to think that our time is valuable, and the 2 and a half hours I spend watching this visual garbage on the television can be used to further other altruistic endeavors. Regardless, this year's team has managed to once again elicit disgust in the stomachs of true fans.
With that, Colleti made is pretty clear that he is not willing to mortgage the future on a guy like Greg Maddux, who can be an added upgrade in the rotation. Carlos Lee, yeah that great hitter for the Brewers that once had a 45 home run season with the ChiSox, he's not coming either because the Dodgers have devoted this season to the concept of trying to win by leaving runners in scoring position and grounding out into double plays. Apparently the team is striving for a special award at the end of the season for the team that has the fastest half of an inning, as illustrated by that Olympic record worthy performance on Monday night when Dodger hitters went down 1-2-3 in the sixth in a record 2:15 minutes. I thought the minute men were in Massachusetts.
So what is left for the average fan? Well, football season is around the corner, and although we don't have a team here in Los Angeles, I am sure that the average Dodger/Cowboy/Packer/Dolphin/Raider/Ram/49er/Eagle/Steeler fan will have something to take the place of that bleeding blue heart burn that leaves that sickening taste in your mouth, kind of like a vurp with a hint of snot.
The Dodger woes began a series before the All-Star break, then apparently the 25 man roster decided to take an extended vacation that has seen them lose seven straight, and win only 1 game since the break. Apparently a note was found at Nomar's locker stating that he can be found at the same spring home in Havasu that Cedric Ceballos once vacationed at. In any case, the uninspired bunch have managed to make mediocre pitchers look like Vida Blue and Rollie Fingers, and the pitching has helped batters like Termell Sledge join the "Bash Brothers."
Am I pissed off, you're God damn right I am. I'm pissed because as usual I was drawn into this mess with the false promise of a winning season. "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!" I'm also pissed because of the attitude and half baked logic that flies out of the Dodger GM's pie hole. I was always taught that if you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all. Applied to Colletti, he should just cut his tongue out to fend off temptation.
In a typical tap dance with the media, Colletti used the gem, "We aren't going to sacrifice the future for a 2-month rental," crap that flies in two bit cities that never expect to win. Unfortunately for this MENSA board member, Los Angeles isn't one of those towns. See, here in the city of angels, we like to think that our time is valuable, and the 2 and a half hours I spend watching this visual garbage on the television can be used to further other altruistic endeavors. Regardless, this year's team has managed to once again elicit disgust in the stomachs of true fans.
With that, Colleti made is pretty clear that he is not willing to mortgage the future on a guy like Greg Maddux, who can be an added upgrade in the rotation. Carlos Lee, yeah that great hitter for the Brewers that once had a 45 home run season with the ChiSox, he's not coming either because the Dodgers have devoted this season to the concept of trying to win by leaving runners in scoring position and grounding out into double plays. Apparently the team is striving for a special award at the end of the season for the team that has the fastest half of an inning, as illustrated by that Olympic record worthy performance on Monday night when Dodger hitters went down 1-2-3 in the sixth in a record 2:15 minutes. I thought the minute men were in Massachusetts.
So what is left for the average fan? Well, football season is around the corner, and although we don't have a team here in Los Angeles, I am sure that the average Dodger/Cowboy/Packer/Dolphin/Raider/Ram/49er/Eagle/Steeler fan will have something to take the place of that bleeding blue heart burn that leaves that sickening taste in your mouth, kind of like a vurp with a hint of snot.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
No, Don't Tread On Me!
After the dissapointing and rather disgusting loss to the Czech Republic Monday morning, the United States men's soccer team was left to reasses their chances of success at this year's World Cup tournament. Within the first six minutes of the game, the match was over as Czech giant Jan Koeller headed home a ball that proved to be the game winner. A rather flat US team then went on to give up two more goals in what turned into a laugher when the final whistle was blown. Then, the finger pointing game stared.Within the hour, US Coach Bruce Arena was seen on televisions proclaiming that with the exception of two or three players in the line up, everybody stunk. He was especially critical of DeMarcus Beasley and Landon Donovan, two players that have been the essential pieces of the American soccer resurgence in recent years and stated that Beasley lacked the effort neccessary to compete at the international level. "His play was uninspired and lacked creativity, he [Beasley] played mostly with his back to the goal and was not willing to run at defenders and goal," said Arena in his post match lifting of blame and putting it squarely on the players session.
This then leads us to the present, with the US facing the huge task of earning a decent result against Italy, although let's face facts, they will have to win on Saturday to have any real shot of earning a place in the second round. Confidence runs high with the team and players such as Brian McBride are saying all the right things, "As a team we have to pull together. That comes from guys that are considered leaders or veterans, that's part of our job, to refocus on Italy and put this game behind us. We're a team. Nothing's going to happen to pull us apart." Yeah right!
Bruce Arena took over as US head coach after the disasterous 1998 World Cup in France where the team, guided by the "brilliant" Steve Sampson, managed to lose every match they played and end up dead last in the tournament. As the head coach of DC United, Arena managed to become the talk of US Soccer when he won the first two titles of the MLS history and won the CONCACAF Club Champions tournament with a 1-0 result over Mexican side Toluca. Prior to his MLS success, Arena had won numerous national titles at the University of Virginia and was instrumental in the development of Claudio Reyna and Jeff Agoos, to name a few. So, when the US team tanked in international play, highlighted with a humiliating loss to football powerhouse Iran, the US Soccer Federation decided to get rid of Sampson and install Arena as the next hope.
With success in 2002 and Gold Cup compititions, the United States has managed to get back some respect and enter these World Cup Finals with a number 5 world ranking, if you believe FIFA when they say that (More Coke Than Cola). However, yesterday's game showed why once again the US is pitted in the same cycle of failure that cost Sampson his job in '98. The US team played uninspired ball and showed their lack of skill and play making ability that was on display during the three game friendly schedule that the US played in late May. Sans the woodwork that Claudio Reyna hit in the first half, the United States looked more like the number 32 team in the world and they "punted and cheered" their way to a 3-0 smoking. On top of that, the lack of any real strategy was on display as the the US looked as lost on the field as Arena looked on the bench. Obviously, however, the team was to blame and not the coach who had worked so hard to get his team ready for the match.
The lineups for the first game were a "secret" to US players, an action that Arena explained away as being a tactic to keep players active in practice and on their toes. All this really managed to accomplish was piss off several players, with the above mentioned Beasley calling the situation an unadded stressor to the entire situation. I call it Arena being a dick, and trying to make himself out to be one of these coaching premadonnas that think they have the juice and clout to pull these psychological fast ones on players. Advice to Arena, please refrain from stealing your material from Phil Jackson. The more plausible explanation was that Arena and his staff were caught with their pants down and didn't want to admit that despite the 8 months heads up he and his staff got, they really had no game plan for taking on the european side. If they did, then Arena and his staff should give back their paychecks because they are flat out stealing from the Federation with game plans like that. No, Arena and his staff failed to utilize the full talents of the American player pool and fielded a team that had not shown much in the lead up to the world cup including players such as Cory Gibbs and Steve Cherundolo, two defenders that no doubt, in the mind of Arena, were great assets to the team because of their ability to shut down all those great European fowards who stand 5'4" and shorter. It seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
So what are we left with? Not much if you are a US soccer fan. Italy showed the type of European skill in their game against Ghana that shows why Serie A is one of the top 3 leagues in the world, and that was even without using Allessandro Del Piero. Saturday's game may just be a quick lesson in not taking yourself too seriously and a nice and proper dispatching of the American side. Ghana in their loss to Italy also showed one thing, that they are more athletic and attack oriented then the Americans could ever hope to be and that Michael Essian is one of the world's best midfielders, let alone the beast that roams the middle for EPL champion Chelsea.
As for Arena, well, this World Cup is shaping up to be a disasterous one for the Americans, the type of performance that can get a guy fired, if you know what I mean.
Update
In a rather colorful interview with reporters on Tuesday, Arena did not back down from his criticism directed towards Lando and Beaz. Asking that Beasley accept the criticism levied by the head coach, Arena spouted "If he's any kind of a player and a man, he understands that. If he doesn't, then he's not going to be able to help us in Games 2 or 3, either." This brilliant piece of coaching will no doubt make the players that he is single handedly throwing under the bus rise to the occasion and want to fight on for their coach, especially now that Arena is showing so much class and devotion to them. Arena is shaping up to be a bonafide idiot, dividing the locker room in a world class pissing contest to illustrate that he is not the feeble, faux soccer player and coach that he tries to pass himself as. What a shame, to come so far only to be sunk by your own coach's ambitions and ego. I am sure that these players really appreciate being called into question by a guy that has only logged ONE career cap as a player. Even my guy Sasha Victorine has garnered more then that.
On his upcoming opponent Italy and the match fixing controversy that has enbroiled the Serie A and the Italian Football Federation, "It doesn't look like it's disturbing them a whole lot, from what I can tell," Arena said. "They're used to scandals. They're playing right through this scandal. They'll be fine. I think we need a scandal." Ahh, you are in the middle of one, dead coach walking!
Still to Come
The American Successor
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