Casey Blake - LA Times

Yee Ha!  What a way to start.  Big wins are always fun…especially when you live up here.  Sadly I won’t be at work the next few days for the weekend, because it would have been really fun to talk about this game.

I’m making it official.  Casey Blake is my favorite player on the Dodgers right now.  If you’ve read this blog, you know I’ve been partial for a long time.  I like Manny and Loney and Pierre, but Blake just gets the job done.  He is a good guy and a great player.  Sometimes up, sometimes down, but he is clutch when they need it.  I’m glad to see his body seems to be ok after resting for a bit. 

My prediction rang true that the Dodgers would have the advantage, but it definitely wasn’t what I expected.  Matt Cain is a good pitcher and the Dodgers ate him up.  It’s interesting how Manny is just playing smart these days.  He’s hit a few homeruns of late, but he’s trying to hit to the right side and he was involved in driving in runs tonight.  I agree with people that something seems a little off, but he’s a good enough player that he’s still contributing.

It was great to see Loney playing well too.  He has a sweet swing.  I still think he’ll win the batting title some day, but he when he connects, man does he drive it.

We saw history tonight too.  Buster Posey is the Giants true catching prospect, and he made is major league debut.  They’ve been talking about this guy for weeks as he just tore up the minors this year.  What was interesting was that they’ve had him in the majors for almost a week and he hasn’t been in a game.  Bruce Bochy said he was waiting for the right time, but it was weird that they waited so long.  I guess that being down 7-1 was long enough.  Based on his stats we’ll be seeing a lot of him, and he seems to be the heir apparent for Bengie Molina.

It was real interesting reading the local papers today to see what they said about the series this weekend.  What was interesting was that there wasn’t a lot to read.  The Giants are on the cusp of not making the playoffs and everyone knows the Dodgers are better, they just hope they can stay close to still catch the Rockies.  The Giants are playing the Dodgers this weekend, but the focus is the next series with the Rockies.  As a Dodgerfan, I wanted the big story on how important this series is…but none of that was there.  The focus was Tim Lincecum’s back, Buster Posey being in the bigs, and the hope to catch the Rockies.

Bring on tomorrow and Sunday.  If anyone is going to the game on Sunday, let me know and we can meet up.  The Willie McCovey statue might be a good place before the game.  E-mail me at scott@sfdodgerfan.com.

Go Dodgers.

Orlando Hudson - Alex Gallardo - LA Times

Who needs the Giants this week when the Dodgers are playing the A’s! I had to hunt a little to find the A’s channel (Channel 89 up here), but once finding it, it was a pleasure to watch the boys in blue the last two nights.

The didn’t win two nights ago, but they pulled it out last night. Even though they lost two nights ago, this is a GOOD Dodger team. I am just really impressed with how scrappy they are. They are very much like the Angels in 2002 against the Giants. They don’t hit the long ball, but they are always getting hits, and always on base.

The other part is their defense.  The Dodgers turned 4 double plays last night.  Blake is having a Gold Glove year, and then with Furcal, Hudson and Loney, they have a great defense up the middle. 

I heard a great quote from F.P. Santangelo, an announcer for the A’s. He was saying that sometimes there are just good teams who know they are going to win. They don’t know how they will do it, but they know they are going to win. He said the Dodgers are very much that team right now.

I couldn’t agree more. It seems like they win a lot of games in the 8th and 9th innings, which is exactly what you need to go far in the playoffs. They get the runs when they need to, and they do what they have to do.

I have to admit it was fun to see Nomar Garciaparra play last night. He even drove in a run. I always liked him and was glad to see him as a Dodger. Too bad his body keeps breaking down on him because he was fun to watch.

The Dodgers play the Angels this weekend, and the writers are already saying that this weekend may be an indicator of the playoffs.(See Yahoo article here).  This article gives the advantage to the Angels because of their pitching, but I’m not sold.  The Dodgers just seem to find a way.  The Angels have figured out how to win again, so it will definitely be a battle.  I’m predicting the Angels will easily re-claim first place by the All-Star break.  They had a lot of injuries, but you knew Mike Scioscia’s club wouldn’t be down that long.

Coming this weekend, another Spy Game post.  Let’s just say the Angels swept the floor with the Giants this week.

I have to admit I was pretty disappointed when I found out that Manny Ramirez still has a really good chance to make the All-Star game this year.  I know he will have the month of June to make his case, and he is definitely popular, but I believe that anyone who gets suspended for steriods for 50 games shouldn’t get to play in the All-Star game.  It just isn’t right.  It is an honor, and most of the time a pay raise for a lot of guys to be in that game, and to keep someone else from going for a guy who cheated just isn’t right.  It sounds like Joe Torre is on the same page, but it certainly didn’t seem that way from the Dodgers owner Frank McCourt.  He said it would be an “honor” for Manny to play.  That still seems like a bad quote from a guy who’s number 1 player just got busted for cheating.

I actually don’t vote for the All-Stars a lot any more (I used to love pushing out the tabs at the ball-game), but this year, I’m going to vote for three players.   These guys have been all-stars in every part of the word and should get their shot.

Juan Pierre - Fox Sports.com

First, Juan Pierre.  Manny’s replacement doesn’t hit homeruns, but he steals bases, is hitting like crazy and is doing everything possible to help the team.  Just look at his stats the last few games:

The hits alone is crazy.

Casey Blake - Fox Sports.com

Second, Casey Blake.  Where would the Dodgers be without him this year?  He is just clutch and has a lot more homeruns than Manny.  He can be streaky, but he drove in the winning run again two nights ago and was involved last night.  He was a good pickup and will definitely provide stability at third for the next few years.

Jonathan Broxton - Fox Sports.com

Finally, Jonathan Broxton.  Who would have thought that we wouldn’t be missing Saito.  Broxton has shored up his game, and as long as they keep him out against the Giants, he can definitely pitch.

Honorable mention to Chad Billingsley.  He really has become the ace this year.  The Dodgers are now 9.5 games ahead in the West.  I read today that they haven’t been that far out in front since 1988 when they won the World Series.  Too early to predict the World Series, but they are a very good team.  

Go Blue.

Casey Blake from True Blue LA from 1.bp.blogspot.com

The Giants quietly won the 3 games series against the Dodgers, and the Dodgers bullpen blew a second straight lead. I’m not sure if anyone else noticed, but the Giants have now won the last two series against the Dodgers. The Dodgers lead the overall wins this year 5-4, but it’s getting close. The Dodgers are winning against other teams, but the Giants quietly seem to be figuring out the Blue Crew.

The real news coming out of Sunday’s game was the gesture by Casey Blake. This story cracks me up. Brian Wilson, the closer for the Giants always crosses his arm in a gesture of his Christian faith and to his late father when saving a game. Apparently at some point on Sunday after Casey Blake hit a homerun off him, he made the gesture in the dugout. Let’s just say someone got this picture to Brian Wilson, feelings were hurt, and now all of the Giants have a lesser impression of “nice guy Casey Blake.”

Talk about a rivalry blowing something out of proportion. I am totally biased here towards Casey Blake, and I mean no disrespect to Brian Wilson, but here’s my take. Brian Wilson makes a very public symbol everytime he saves a game. This is personal, but I’m sure it rubs some people the wrong way. Casey Blake goes and hits a homerun off him to tie the game for the Dodgers. In a mocking tone, Casey Blake made the symbol in the dugout stating he beat Brian Wilson at his own game. I doubt it was meant in disrespect (too much), but more one player saying “boo-ya” after launching a homerun to tie the game.  Maybe not the best sportsmanship, but definitely typical in a tight game whether in the majors or little league.

What is interesting though is that it really got a lot of attention. Here’s a local blog that shows that Brian Wilson quieted down on the issue later (click here), but the damage is done and specifically the Giants fans won’t forget this incident any time soon. Come August, Casey Blake may get more boos that Manny Ramirez.

What’s funny to me is that I’ve now seen Casey Blake almost in two altrications with the Giants. This one I don’t think he planned on, but I can see future ones going to directly to him. Last year in his first series against the Giants, he almost got beaned, and almost rushed the mound. He was controlled, but he brought an intensity to the Dodgers that really seemed lacking. I think at some point, this is going to come back. This recent incident, will cause some pitcher to throw high and tight to Blake at some point, he won’t take it, and there could definitely be a brawl. We’ll have to see, but all the pieces are in place. This rivalry loves things that ramp up the heat, and this one, may have definitely done it.

The next series in August should be a fun one…but until then hopefully the bullpen can figure out how to hold a game.  I still think they should try wonderboy Pierre in the 8th at least one game.

Chad Billingsley - Gina Ferazzi/L.A. Times

10-0 at home to start the season.  What a way to start.  I love the fact that I was at the 1st game of this streak that was a Giants romp.  To win today with out Ramirez, Blake, Martin and Furcal makes it all the sweeter.  The Dodgers have depth and they can score runs.  It was good to see Pierre having fun out there again today too.

I said it earlier, Billingsley may be in the Cy Young voting this year.  If he is, the Dodgers will be in the playoffs.  He was the question mark ace this year, but there’s no questions now.

I’ve realized one of the things I miss most about not being in L.A. is not hearing Vin Scully call the game just by turning on the radio.  I could get satalite radio, but I don’t know that’s worth it just for that.  I did however get the MLB package where I can watch every game on the computer.  I even upgraded this year so I can plug it in to my big screen and watch it in HD.

I got to hear Vin today and he had a story that cracked me up.  If you heard the game, you may have heard it, but it was classic Vin.  He was talking about how the players years ago fought and fought to avoid wearing helmets when on the base paths.  Apparently they would wear it when batting, but put their soft cap in their back pocket and take the helmet off when they reached first base.  He was commenting how things have changed now and that guys have now swung the other way.  They keep their helmet on, and when the ball is coming towards them, they usually cover the ear that isn’t protected.  He even had a case in point when Ethier was on base.

What was funny though was when he shifted the story.  He made the point that as slow as it was for players it was even slower for coaches at 1st and 3rd base.  He commented that even now they wear a helmet, but it doesn’t cover their ears.  I couldn’t write it all down, but he made a comment something to the effect that, “now if a ball comes straight down on their head, they are protected, but if it comes from the side, that helmet is worthless…” 

It was just a classic Vin telling a story, but leaking a little bias as only he can.  He was dripping the sarcasm pretty thick because the balls coming straight down are the easy ones to dodge, but the coaches are always dodging ones to the side, but have no protection.  Who knew he had an opinion on coaches helmets, but obviously so.  He finished by saying that at some point the light will finally come in, as if to say that some year those coaches will finally figure it out and protect their ears.

In his 60th year, I don’t know that we’ll have too many more of him at the microphone, but he sure is fun to listen to.  I bet for him seeing the Dodgers go 10-0 at home is a treat because even that hasn’t happened in 60 years.