This weekend the Dodgers announced that Don Mattingly will take over the reigns next year. Rumors were swirling that Tim Wallach would be the next in line, but it seems that the Dodgers have been planning this all year….so much that they already gave Don Mattingly an extension before the season began.

If you read my last post, this wasn’t a big surprise to me.  It’s obvious that the Dodgers are holding to their core players, and Joe Torre didn’t want the job anymore.

Personally, I think it’s a good switch, but we’ll see if it works out. The Dodgers did need change. They counted on the kids and this year the kids went backwards. They either needed new kids, or someone who could better motivate the kids. As much as Larry Bowa and Joe Torre gave old school tough love, it just didn’t seem to be working.  The Dodgers have good talent, but it is obvious now how far down you can go on what you “should” be able to do, rather than what you actually do do.

To be frank, the last two weeks have just stunk up here in the Bay Area.  The Giants and Dodgers have switched roles this year.  The Giants are fighting to get into the playoffs, and the Dodgers are out.  The problem this year is that the Dodgers are so far out, they aren’t even trying to play spoilers.  They honestly look like they have just rolled over and died.  The starting pitching is a gem, but the offense is just pathetic.  That’s my only concern with Don Mattingly.  His job of making sure the offense works, hasn’t worked very well of late.  Hopefully that isn’t a direct translation to managing…which he hasn’t officially done before.

I do give the Giants credit.  When you are heading to the playoffs, you should be able to roll over the weaker teams.  The Giants rolled over the Dodgers in the last two series.  Clayton Kershaw was a one man team last week, but it’s just too bad he can’t pitch everyday.

I saw the Giants play the Brewers on Sunday, and they look good right now.  They picked up good veterans in Jose Guillen and Pat Burrell, and Buster Posey is a stud.  I hope he can play for a long time because he is fun to watch.  He has a sweet swing, and it just seems far to easy for him to drive it to the gaps.  If he can stay healthy, he will help the Giants for a long time.

The Giants look like a team ready for the playoffs.  They have strong pitching, offense and relief pitching, and may very well hold off the Padres.

It’s a funny thing living out of town when your own team stinks.  I have always been a baseball fan, more than even a Dodgers fan, so it is fun to hear about the struggles of the Giants and see them put together a good team.  I’m still not going to root for them, but good baseball is fun to watch, and right now their playing good baseball.  Ironically, hopefully the Dodgers can get back to this level next year.

On a personal note, the title of this post had a deeper meaning.  For now, this is going to be my last post.  I’ll leave the site up for now , but I have some new pursuits to go after, largely music.  I’ve enjoyed writing about the Dodgers, but it’s time for change.  If anyone is interested in taking over the site, please e-mail me at scott@sfdodgerfan.com.  The site will need a new banner though.  I love the picture of Manny at AT&T park, but alas his ship has sailed away. 

Many thanks to all of you who subscribed over the last 2 years.  I don’t know all of you personally, but I definitely appreciated your support. 

Happy Trails All – Go Blue.

Tags: Buster Posey, Don Mattingly, Joe Torre, Jose Guillen, Los Angeles Dodgers, Pat Burrell, San Francisco Giants, Tim Wallach

So I’m still reeling from the Dodgers losses to the Giants this weekend. It’s not just that they lost, it’s how they lost. They had the lead and then they lost and gave the Giants momentum going into the next series. Twice now the Giants have had highlights worthy of their yearly film at the hands of the Dodgers. They beat up Broxton again (he still should never pitch against the Giants), and the Giants marched forward.

The Giants also found out that Tim Lincecum can pitch again, so there is much joy up here. With the Padres losing 10 in a row at one point, the Giants thought they could grab the division. They can thank the Dodgers though, rolling over and getting swept by the Padres to keep the Giants out of the top spot.

It just seems that the Dodgers have given up. I realize they are still playing, but it seems that they are ready to fold the season and start over next year. There is no offense, despite really strong starting pitching of late.

In my opinion, it is a really interesting challenge for Ned Colletti right now. Honestly, I think he is waiting for a few chips to fall and then some major decisions are going to be made.

First, the divorce. No one knows if the team will be sold, or kept, and by who, and it affects everything. Based on what has come out, it makes sense that the Dodgers couldn’t get the big pitchers. They should be playing small ball for a while until they can get the debt down.

Second, Joe Torre versus the Previous Core Nucleus. I put these together because without it being directly said, I think it is going to be one or the other. First the Previous Core Nucleus. I call it previous because this year has exposed what everyone dreaded. Everyone has waited for Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Jonathan Broxton, James Loney and Russell Martin to take the lead and push the team into a consistent playoff team. Manny was added as the last piece, but these guys were the core. I purposely left out Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley because they have earned their keep this year, the others have not. The Dodgers have the worst outfield production of any team in the majors. The guys supposed to rock the bats (and who got raises to do so last year) haven’t come through. So much so that I wonder if there are major changes in store and guys will be traded away. After 7 years, people would expect All-Star numbers from Matt Kemp, and it just isn’t happening.

So now to the other coin, Joe Torre. He is a hall of fame coach, but doesn’t have it this year. I think a lot of it has to do with the players and the feeling by the coaches that the players don’t do enough behind the scenes and aren’t mentally tough enough to be totally successful.

So I think it comes to this. Dodgers free some money and trade a few of the studs – Torre stays assuming that they also keep Ted Lilly. If the Dodgers stay with the core, then Torre is gone. He doesn’t feel he can motivate them, therefore he will see greener pastures.  Ironically, this decision is more Joe Torre’s than Ned Colletti’s, but it will be based on past conversations with Ned Colletti.

We’ll see what happens, but it could be a winter full of change.  At this point though…the Dodgers need to wave the white flag.

Tags: Andre Ethier, Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw, James Loney, Joe Torre, Jonathan Broxton, Los Angeles Dodgers, Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp, Ned Colletti, Russell Martin

I have a little catch up to do, so I thought I’d give some random thoughts as the Dodgers take 1 game.  Just knowing the Dodgers are pretty much out doesn’t give a lot of urgency to write posts.  The Giants are better, and the fans up here know it.  They enjoy rubbing it in…but it’s not over the top.   The Giants aren’t in the playoffs either yet, so they know like us that both of our seasons may be ending with no playoff baseball.

I love seeing Chad Billingsley pitch well. He’s supposed to be an ace and he looked like it tonight.  Hung Chi Kuo looked solid tonight too.

Rod Barajas is the man.  It’s amazing to have a catcher with power…

I love that Casey Blake has hit another streak. When he is hot, he is hot, and right now he has just been in the mix most of the time when the Dodgers win.

These divorce proceedings with the McCourts are a trip. If you haven’t been looking at the L.A. Times of late, it’s a lesson in marriage dynamics and the dynamics of owning a baseball team. I had no idea that the Dodgers were so much in debt, and it obviously divided and ruined their marriage.

I’m still waiting to see an article on Juan Pierre. If you ever wondered if God had a sense of humor…now you know. I know from articles that Juan is a christian, and believe me he is probably shaking his head on God’s strategy. He signs his dream contract with the Dodgers, then told he isn’t a good enough player and then is replaced by Andruw Jones and then by Manny Ramirez. He bites his tongue, honors his team, and finally gets a trade…only to have Andruw Jones and now Manny Ramirez follow him. Thankfully he isn’t competing against them now for starting time, but what an amazing story. He has truly turned into a story of perseverance and honor.

It’s a funny thing that the Dodgers may serve as a spoiler against the Giants this year.  A friend asked me up here if I was going to start rooting for the Giants since the Dodgers are out.  (He obviously doesn’t know me well…)  I said no way!.  Now it’s just time to start rooting for the Dodgers to knock the Giants out of the playoffs.  If we can’t go, then maybe they won’t be able to either.  All is fair in love and war and I know all my Giants fans would do/say the same thing.  (They’ve done it the last few years so I know it is true!)

Here’s hoping the Dodgers can take two of three this weekend.  It’s too bad because the Dodgers pitching is really strong right now…they just lost their offense.

Go Blue.

Tags: Andruw Jones, Casey Blake, Chad Billingsley, Juan Pierre, Manny Ramirez, Rod Barajas

Well, if you haven’t heard the news…this could be Manny’s last weekend in Dodger Blue. If you haven’t heard, I’m assuming that you have been out of the country, because once again he is the talk of baseball.

The rumor right now is that the Dodgers and White Sox already have a deal in place and are just hoping no other team can claim him.

I have to admit, I’m a little mixed on his leaving. He was fun for a time, and he gave me a great picture at the top of this page, but his leaving is no surprise…and honestly it’s just time.

Manny has been on the DL three times this year.  He has not produced as expected and definitely has not earned his 20 million dollar paycheck.  They have already taken the “Mannywood” signs down in Dodger stadium making it obvious that the front office is also ready to move on.  Manny leaving saves the Dodgers some money in the next few years and honestly does get rid of a major distraction to the team.  The team is on a little tear since he got back, but it’s not like he has done that much.  He sat out yesterday after a night game the day before.  That in itself is still ironic with him.  Manny can’t play a day game right after a night game.  There is too much risk of injury.  Think about that for a minute.  The thought of keeping someone for that price who is so fragile just makes me shake my head.

To me though, I think Manny has been ready to go for a long time.  Manny is at his best when he is cracking jokes and making a scene.  This year after the suspension last year, he has been no where to be seen.  He won’t talk lest he say something wrong or right.  He went into a shell and thus hasn’t been the presence or force he once was.  I think he’s still embarrassed by his suspension and just doesn’t feel comfortable in L.A. any more.

The rumor right now is that he will waive his no trade clause if the next teams gives him an extension for 1 year.  That in itself is funny to me.  It makes sense that he wants something guaranteed, but he hasn’t really played this year.  He just wants to lock up the potential of him playing next year. 

There’s no way the Dodgers would give him an extension for next year, so it is funny that through this trade and his agent that he can lock a team into paying him next year.  Once again Manny can play the game and come out ahead.  There’s no guarantee that he will produce or even be healthy, but there is that potential and therefore he will get paid. 

Really, Manny has to go because he needs to end his career as a DH.  He may be able to pull out a few more years and actually contribute again.  If he stays with the Dodgers, and especially if he goes on the DL, he’ll be in for a major pay cut next year. 

It was a fun ride…at times, but it’s time for the Dodgers to move on.  Get a good solid player who can play everyday, and couple that with good pitching early and late. 

This could be the start of some major changes with the Dodgers.  It will depend on the divorce outcome, but I really wonder if this year will be the end of Joe Torre too.  If they can lock up Ted Lilly they will actually have the solid pitching staff they have wanted for years.  This could keep Joe, but I do believe he’s frustrated with the divorce limitations.

Well, so long Manny.  Everyone knew going in that signing you could be a mixed bag.  That it was.  Thanks for the memories, but buyer beware.

Tags: Joe Torre, Los Angeles Dodgers, Manny Ramirez, San Francisco Giants, Ted Lilly

Got a great tip today about Jonathan Broxton signing autographs in Pasadena on August 21st. See below for details. I’m hoping he can win the starting closer job back by then, but either way, he would still be worth getting an autograph from. He is an All-Star closer and will be around for many years to come.

WHAT:

On Saturday, August 21, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jonathan Broxton will be at the Pasadena Foothill AT&T Store signing autographs and taking pictures with area residents and fans. Broxton made his MLB debut with the Dodgers on July 29, 2005. In 2009 and 2010, Broxton was chosen by fans, players, coaches, and mangers to take part in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. In 2007 and 2008, Broxton and his wife took part in a back-to-school shopping spree for underserved youth at the Staples in Hawthorne.

Event attendees will have an opportunity to receive free tickets to shows at the Canyon Club given away by Dodgers radio, as well as take advantage of promotional discounts on the new Motorola Backflip with MOTOBLUR* ($49.99 after mail-in rebate and 2-year agreement.), the first Android-based smartphone on the nation’s fastest 3G network.

WHEN:
Saturday, August 21, 2010
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

WHERE:
AT&T Retail Store
3699 E Foothill Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91107

For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit http://www.att.com.

P.S.  If you want a jersey for the signing, here’s the authentic one on Amazon:
Los Angeles Dodgers Jonathan Broxton Cool Base Authentic Home Jersey (44 Large)

Tags: Autographs, Jonathan Broxton