Andre Ethier - Gary A. Vasquez - US Presswire

Great series this weekend between the Dodgers and Phillies.  Only fitting too that they would split the series.  Those two teams are truly the best teams in the National League (both in pitching and offense) and it was obvious in watching them.  They went back and forth, scrapped runs, held pitching, blew each others pitching, and ended in a split.  I do believe the Dodgers will have to beat the Phillies to get to the World Series this year.  They couldn’t do it last year, so maybe this next year.

They will have to figure out a way to beat Cole Hamels though.  He truly has their number.  He pitched really well on Friday.  I was glad to see Ethier the hero two nights in a row.  The team just keeps fighting and stays in the game.  Juan Pierre continues to rock. 

They directly asked Joe Torre on ESPN last night if he has thought ahead of what to do with Juan Pierre once Manny comes back.  He danced around the question nicely saying that Juan understand the situation of Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier up and coming and with Manny being the high paid star.  What he didn’t directly say is that “Juan Pierre understands that he will go back to the bench once Manny comes back.”  The TV analysts really thought they should trade Pierre now that his value is up. 

As much as I want Juan to play, that seems crazy to trade him now.  Who knows what will happen to Manny once he comes back.  He could get injured, or so could the others, and then no one else has the depth and background like Pierre.  I do think Juan understands the situation and has finally come to peace with it for now.  After playing so well, and then having to sit, maybe it will be different, but at least in word he seems that way.

I say don’t mess with what isn’t broken.  The Dodgers are great right now, with and without Manny, keep it that way.

Found a great new blog this last week.  It’s by a guy who actually works at Dodger stadium selling and preparing Dodger Dogs.  He’s got funny stuff.  http://tonyvarela.vox.com/ .

Also wanted to pass on a good article  (Click Here) on Fox Sports on how the Dodgers clubhouse is a lot friendlier this year.  I do think winning always smooths out a clubhouse, but there does seem to be a good mix of veterans and young guys this year.

What do you think?  Phillies and Dodgers in the National League Championship series again this year?

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.

Furcal - Alex Gallardo - La Times

I have to admit that being born and raised on the West Coast, that when the Dodgers play the Mets, it just doesn’t have the same draw for me than say a West Coast team. I’m sure most fans are partial to division play, but I just don’t have a real draw to the Mets. I’d still much rather see the Yankees play than the Mets. Having said that, any time the Dodgers sweep any team, it’s a good thing.

The Dodgers just keep rolling. Their pitching is good enough and reclamation project Jeff Weaver is finding his way back to being a strong pitcher. Randy Wolf is lights out right now, so hopefully his body can hold up.

I had to laugh last nigth at the Dodger highlights.  At one point the lone highlight of the game on ESPN was Livan Hernandez striking out Juan Pierre. I wondered if Pierre was sliding back to normalcy. Ahh no. Pierre went two for four and scored the first of only two runs. He truly is on a roll right now.

Russell Martin still makes me scratch my head. He is obviosly great behind the plate with the pitchers, but something is off with his power stroke. He’s driving guys in when he needs to, but not quite with the power he used to. It makes you wonder if he was just hot when he came up, is finding it’s harder to sustain, and hasn’t found his true groove yet. Here’s hoping he can find it. He’s a solid catcher but really has the chance to be one of the Dodger greats.

Sports Illustrated recently did a cover story on what really went down with Manny. Here are two highlights:
1.  The things they really found in Manny are scary. If he was playing with female hormones to increase testosterone to combat previous steroid use…he’s really mucking up his body. Yikes. He’ll have his money, but given 20 more years, it will be real interesting to see what happens with all these athletes who took steriods.
2.  Also, Manny knew for almost 3 weeks that he could get suspended without even telling the Dodgers. Even more, he asked out of the game and quickly left the clubhouse hours before the Dodgers even found out. Shady. Real Shady.

Apparently owner Frank McCourt was furious about the whole incident. Manny may get his money this year and next, but I doubt McCourt will be real quick to sign him. Frank McCourt wanted a role model and class act for the fans and he now has a lot of mud on his face that isn’t going to go away. Manny needs to hit really well, and spend a lot of time helping kids to try and get back on McCourt’s good side.

But, ironically, there’s not a lot of need to keep talking about Manny. The Dodgers are doing fine and their “little engine that could Pierre” keeps running and scoring runs.

What do you think Manny should do to try and save face?

Manny Ramirez - LA Times - Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US Presswire

I was gone this week at a training in San Diego, and thankfully, the Dodgers just kept on rolling.  Two from the Phillies is pretty good.  The offense is still strong…but the pitching is still suspect.  Even without Manny, they will need to solve pitching.

Apparently Manny stopped by to apologize to the team the other day.  I’m glad Frank McCourt made him do it.  Manny screwed up.  Living in secrets only leads to more assumptions.  At least the players could see how he reacted and make their decision on their own on his sincerity.  From the reports he was definitely sincere.  I don’t agree with what he did, but I think this is more of a baseball problem now than just a Manny problem.  Baseball has turned its head to this for a long time, so Manny is just another one in the crowd. You can throw him under the bus, which people have done, but baseball hasn’t.  The fan money coming in is still too strong for superstars.  Until there are lifetime bans, or at least 3-5 year bans, this will continue and more will fall.

I personally believe that Manny really does regret how this has affected the fans in L.A.  Despite the off-season contract hold-out, I believe he really wanted to be in L.A., and wants to say here for a little bit.  I’ve read a lot of articles for this site, and I have been able to read between the lines.  He is definitely disappointed he got caught more than anything, but Manny does live for being the hero everyone loves.   He was the hero in L.A., and he now knows how much people did adore him…before.  He will be loved again, but he knows not in the same way.  A lot of fans have crossed to the other side.  Who knows how much damage he did to his body, but the damage will be forever done in the minds of the fans.

On a side note, I had a Giants fan tell me the other day that the best part of Manny being caught is that he is still in my picture at the top of this website.  I’m not sure what I’m going to do with that now.  I love that picture, but it is kind of silly to have that picture up there when he is suspended.  What do you think?  Change the picture, or leave it?  Leave your comment below.  If anyone has a picture of Pierre from SF, I’ll definitely consider that.  He’s on-fire right now.

Juan Pierre - Andrew Carpenean - US Presswire

I exaggerate a little, but with an 8-0 win over the Giants last night, the Dodgers still look good. Even more, Pierre is on fire. We’ve all watched him a lot the last few years, and it seemed that every time I watched him, he grounded out weakly to the second baseman. Not now. I don’t know if he’s just in a groove, or has just waited so long to play that he has something to prove; either way, he’s hot. I love the way he is hitting the gaps right now.

High props to Eric Stults last night and to Ned Colletti. The Dodgers pitching is not bad at all. Actually they have the 3rd best ERA in the National League right now. The Dodgers management definitely knew the pitching would hold, even when everyone else doubted. If Eric Stults can put together a few more of these starts, the Dodgers will continue to do well.

So here’s my only gripe from last night, and it has been that way for the last few years. Why can’t the Dodgers run the bases? I mean, they teach how to run the bases in little league, don’t they have a coach who can teach it in the pros? How many times have you seen the Dodgers get thrown out at second trying to stretch a single…just this year? And I’m not talking close ones. Ones where they are caught up in a run-down because they had no business to chance it. Matt Kemp and Russell Martin are the biggest offenders. I guess when you have the speed they do, they assume they can pull it off. We all know what happens when you assume.

Anyway, the rubber match is tonight against Lincecum. Here’s hoping Jeff Weaver can continue to rebound back to form and make a game of it. Either way, I’m sure Pierre will be up for the challenge. I’ve never heard of a team batting a lead off guy 9th, but when you have 3 leadoff men, batting them back to back to back is pretty cool.

By the way, if you haven’t signed up to receive these posts by e-mail, add your e-mail address to the box in the upper right. It’s an easy way to get the posts without having to check back to the site as often.  Also, don’t forget to confirm it when you get an e-mail in your inbox.   I’ve had a few people who sign up, but then don’t confirm it in their inbox, so they don’t get the posts.

Go Blue.