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.

Jonathan Broxton Rookie Card

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)

Let’s just start by saying that it should be a “fun” day at the ballpark with my kids after the Giants have humiliated the Dodgers for two games. I’m hoping my cute son and daughter in Dodger gear will help dispel the wrath of Giants fans with me in my Dodger jersey. I’m also hoping I don’t scar them for life so that they never want to go back.

The first game, the Dodgers just couldn’t hit. Casey Blake had a chance and once again just can’t seem to be the clutch game winner.

Last night, Casey Blake came through…but then Jonathan Broxton didn’t. My apologizes to all of you fans as I have definitely gotten lax with Broxton. He seems to have shed his old ways…even against the Giants, so that I stopped telling Joe Torre to not play him in SF. Well, I’ve learned my lesson. He is overworked and the Giants have momentum right now.

Joe Torre – even if it is a 1 run game, DON’T use Broxton. Hopefully Dotel will arrive today. Let him finish it just until you can leave SF. The Giants have his number and yesterday was just embarrassing. It’s one thing to lose, another to give the Giants a highlight that they will replay over and over and over AND over again.

We’ll see how today goes. The Dodgers should win, but they just don’t look sharp. I like all the new signings. They definitely needed the pitching help.

It’s funny to me, that for the first time in a long time, I really miss Manny. I thought he was done, but we need him to come back and stay healthy and help this team. Kemp and Ethier miss him the most.

Well, wish me luck. My wife is a Giants fan so I’m sure she’ll be trying to unbrainwash my kids as we go. I’m worked very hard this week to remind them that “who do we want to win?” THE DODGERS!

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.