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.

Lesson learned from the Dodgers/Giants game yesterday.

No matter how much Giants fans can’t stand seeing you in Dodger blue, if they feel you have cute kids in Dodger Blue…they won’t rip on you near as much.  I had my boy in Dodger blue and my girl in Dodger pink and the Giants fans just melted.  I do love Dodger Stadium, but I now love that AT&T has an area for young kids…it bought me at least one more inning at the game.

Well – as one of my friends put it…if you can’t score, you can’t win.  The Dodgers pitched great (really liked seeing Dotel hold the score), but they couldn’t score.  The Dodgers look really different with three lead off guys in a row.  If those three can start hitting, the Dodgers could get really fast.

The missing link yesterday in my opinion was Matt Kemp.  He just doesn’t have it.  He’s not hitting well and he didn’t play centerfield very well yesterday either.  I was behind him in the bleachers and more than once he lost the ball in the sun.  I realize it is the sun, but he just seemed to get late breaks as well. 

You should have heard the fans booing him.  Among the comments I heard…

“Hey Kemp, how’s Rihanna?” and “Hey Kemp, Chris Brown hits harder than you do…”  Not a nice one, but they were definitely going for blood with him.

If Ethier can come back hitting and Manny can hit again, the Dodgers can make a good run as they have a solid team now.  Ned Colletti did his job and now they just need the offense to hit.  I read to day that Joe Torre said that he wasn’t worried, that they will hit.  I think that is true.  They picked a bummer time to slump, but I still think they will be in it at the end.  Will they win the division?  Not sure yet….but if they start hitting, they could go far in the playoffs.  I’m calling it now though – the Dodgers and Giants are going to have a dog fight at the end.  Should be fun.

To close, found a great article in the L.A. Times today (click here) on Casey Blake and Ted Lilly.  It seems that all is washed away when you become teammates.  Casey Blake called out Ted Lilly earlier in the year when he was on the Cubs for “cheating” on the mound by not properly stepping on it and getting a little closer to home plate.  Below is the excerpt when asked about his new teammate.

Among the new teammates Lilly met Sunday was Casey Blake, who accused him of cheating when the Dodgers faced the Cubs in May. Blake said Lilly was pitching from in front of the rubber.

“I’ll tell him to keep doing it,” he said.

So long until next time…Frankly I’m glad to see the Dodgers get out of town.

Ready for this one? The last series didn’t matter as much, this one does. The Dodgers are 7 games back, but only 3.5 back of the Giants. If they can gain some ground this weekend, then they can at least be closer to the wild card. They need to at least hold steady until Mad Colletti can add Ted Lilly to the troop. The pitching is strong right now, but he would definitely help the back end of the rotation.

Here’s my take on the games.

Tonight, 7:15 pm Tim Lincecum vs. Carlos Monestarios

I have to again give it to the Freak.  He’s not looking totally sharp right now (on my fantasy team), but I still think he will manage the game better than Monestarios.

Saturday, 1pm Fox

Chad Billingsley vs Barry Zito

I give this one to Billingsley.  He is looking sharp right now.  Zito doesn’t look bad either, but I give Billingsley the edge.

Sunday, 5pm ESPN (Going to the game)

Clayton Kershaw vs. Matt Cain

I give this one to Kershaw.  Kershaw has been really sharp of late and he should be able to beat out “tough luck” Cain. 

As always, the bullpens will come into play, but I like the Dodgers chances this weekend.

As mentioned, I’ll be at the game at 5pm on Sunday.  They changed the time, so be aware of that.  If you want to meet up before the game, shoot me an e-mail at scott@sfdodgerfan.com.

Also, I will be in San Jose on Saturday, so if you want to meet at a restaurant to watch the game down there, again, shoot me an e-mail.

Go Blue.

Well, my hope came true. The Dodgers silenced the Giants last night and proved that Tuesday night’s game was just something random.

I like what I saw from the Dodger pitchers of late. Padilla, Kershaw and Billingsley strung together some good outings. My boy Casey Blake couldn’t get it done on Monday, but he sure did it last night. He just does his job quietly, but he was a huge lift to the Dodgers last night.

It was funny today because the talk of Giant fans was still the umpire call from Tuesday night. I didn’t realize it, but there was even some debate in major league baseball as to what should happen. It really seems like Jonathan Broxton should have at least gotten to finish the one batter.  Either that, or Don Mattingly should have been tossed.  Either way, I’m confident that Don Mattingly won’t ever make that mistake again.

The Dodgers now face New York before coming back up here next weekend.  If you’re going to the game on Aug 1, drop me a line at scott@sfdodgerfan.com.  I”ll be there with a whole troop from my company.  They changed the game to 5:05pm so ESPN could pick up the game.  The Dodgers will dominate the weekend as they are on Fox on Saturday and ESPN on Sunday.  They need to come out strong from here as the Padres and Rookies don’t seem to be losing much.

Go Blue.

Nothing like shame, defeat and embarrassment coming from your most hated enemy. Last night is one I hope the Dodgers just chalk up as a weird loss and move on.

I hope this happens because the Giants fans were sure pumped up this morning. I didn’t get a lot of comments at work (I was expecting them), but the talk shows this morning were all about how this was Bruce Bochy’s best game and how this win may change the rest of the season. Wishful thinking can be a horrible thing…

Not sure where to start on this one. My predictions still ring true that the Giants would win the first two…but I wasn’t very accurate on how it came about.

Timmy Lincecum got beat up. Andre Ethier is hot and everything seemed fine. Then, there were some beanings and suddenly Clayton Kershaw and Joe Torre are heading home early.  The talk shows thought Joe Torre was stupid to have Clayton Kershaw bean him, rather than some reliever who wouldn’t matter being tossed.  Could be true, but it does say something that Kershaw stood up for the team.

Then the 9th.  Welcome to management Don Mattingly.  A lot of managers start 0-1, so hopefully you can rebound from this one.  If you didn’t see it Mattingly accidentally stepped on the mound twice while out between the lines, and therefore Jonathan Broxton had to leave.

He had to leave for George Sherrill.  That was Mattingly’s second mistake.  I just wrote yesterday that hopefully it wouldn’t come down to Mr. Sherrill.  He just doesn’t have it right now and definitely shouldn’t be the guy with the game on the line, no matter if the batter is right or left handed.

Sherrill gives up the hit and the Giants walk away with a come from behind victory that they can build on. 

This is one game, but the Dodgers better snap out of this.  Regardless of tonight, they aren’t looking good.  The bullpen is weak and they can’t beat the teams they need to.  I hate to say it, but I don’t see this team (the way they are currently playing right now) making the playoffs.  They may beat out the Giants, but the Padres and Rockies should claim the top two spots.  I”m sure Mad Colletti is working on stuff because he knows the train needs some maintenance.

Tonight Billingsley.  Time to show that last night can be quickly forgotten.  Here’s hoping.