I had to include this picture as one of the posts.  This is the whiteboard of the cube across from mine at work.  He put this up yesterday, and has every intention of counting down the days and rubbing it in.  Yes, he’s a Giants fan.  He’s really more of a Sharks fan, but he’s from around here, so he’ll jump on anything anti-Dodgers he can.  It’s actually a pretty funny picture, but yes, life as a Dodgers fan living in Giants territory.

Great stories in the SF Chronicle about the Manny debacle.  One of the comments from my last post brought this up, but apparently what Manny took is a common drug used to recover from steroid use.  The story keeps getting worse and worse.  Here was my favorite comment from the SF Chronicle writer Scott Ostler (See article here):

“Manny Ramirez flunked a drug test because of meds he got from a Florida doctor. Ramirez isn’t providing any more info, so we’re all free to speculate on the nature of his “personal health issue.”

I’m going to go ahead and rule out dandruff.

From what drug experts say about HCG, the banned drug Ramirez used, there’s a good chance Manny used the stuff to boost his flagging testosterone production and head off embarrassing side effects.

So it wasn’t Manny being Manny, it was Manny not wanting to be Franny.

Let’s take a wild swing and speculate that Ramirez took the HCG to deal with the negative side effects of steroids. If so, Manny will no longer be known as simply a great hitter and fun-loving clubhouse guy who, by the way, quit on his team and roughed up an elderly team employee.

He will be asterisked forever.”

I’m sure every paper in the nation had stories on him today.  I guess I am just too trusting because I believed his original statement.  I’m convinced now that I was the only one in the country who did this.  He got ripped to shreds in the internet articles.  Testing is more strict now, and he still used the drugs.  We obviously have no idea of the pressure to be worth the money, but the drugs are obviously rampant.

The people thrilled right now are the Giants and their fans.  They did want Manny, but already dealt with steroids with Barry Bonds.  If they had signed him, and then this came out, it would be even more embarrassment for the organization and fans.  This also means the Giants fans will boast all the more that they made the right decision, when they really didn’t have a chance at Manny…but such it is.

I’m watching the Giants play the Dodgers tonight at Dodger Stadium.  Good pitchers duel.  I’m telling you, Barry Zito has figured something out with Pablo Sandoval, and he looks good again.  Billingsley looked good, and so did Pierre, but Martin should have never gone to second on his hit.  That really killed the rally with Casey Blake’s double.  Hopefully the Dodgers will turn it around, but we’ll see.  The bullpen blew it last night,  so hopefully they can get another chance tonight.

Until next time from anti-Manny land…

Tags: Barry Bonds, Chad Billingsley, Juan Pierre, Manny Ramirez, Pablo Sandoval, Russell Martin

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.

Tags: Casey Blake, Chad Billingsley, Juan Pierre, Manny Ramirez, Rafael Furcal, Russell Martin, Vin Scully

Dodger games on TV are a premium up here, so I was pretty excited about today’s exhibition game between the Dodgers and Giants.  It’s funny though, I forgot that it was the day before Opening Day, therefore most of the regulars are on the bench…including Manny.

It’s an interesting game though because you got to see the depth or lack of depth of the Dodgers lineup this year.  Juan Pierre, Mark Loretta, Brad Ausmus, Blake DeWitt – all decent players but all the bench guys for this coming year.

What caught my attention though were the starters who were in there – James McDonald, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and James Loney.  Obviously, there isn’t a back up for every spot, so you have to keep some regulars.

Here’s where my thoughts turned to concern.  Let’s think worst case scenario this year.  If Manny, Kemp or Eithier go down, Pierre is the everyday.  If two go down, it becomes a different question.

If Blake, Furcal, or Hudson go down, then you have Blake DeWitt or Mark Loretta.  Similarly, Martin goes down, then Ausmus.

Here’s the one that I couldn’t answer though.  What happens if Loney goes down?  I’m convinced the guy will win the batting title some day and he doesn’t seem prone to injury, but you never know what will happen.  I guess Casey Blake could go over there, but who else?  Mientkiewicz is an easy answer if he makes the team, but that hasn’t been decided yet.

I’m sure the Dodgers top brass have thought through this scenario, but it isn’t really obvious. 

Well, back to the game.  McDonald looks a little shaky.  Pierre is running like always.  Ethier doesn’t seem quite right yet, but Loney looks solid.  Bengie Molina and Randy Winn continue to be Dodger killers.

Let the Season begin!

Tags: Andre Ethier, Bengie Molina, Blake DeWitt, Brad Ausmus, Casey Blake, Doug Mientkiewicz, James Loney, James McDonald, Juan Pierre, Manny Ramirez, Mark Loretta, Matt Kemp, Orlando Hudson, Rafael Furcal, Randy Winn, Russell Martin

So once again Juan Pierre showed up to camp early.  Once again, he is the constant professional who does what he needs to do to get ready to camp (read unlike Andruw Jones), and comes hungry to play.  Once again, he is a good teammate, but sadly once again, he is the odd man out.  He really is a baseball soap opera.

I honestly think Dodger fans and the rest of baseball need to lighten up on Juan Pierre.  He truly polarizes fans.  I’ve been amazed how many fans and especially the writers of the LA Times continue to dis him.  He is not Manny Ramirez.  He never will be, and of all people, he best understands that.  He is a speedster who mixes things up and cause runs to happen.  He has caused runs to be scored because he throws off pitchers.

I will be the first to say sometimes I am so frustrated with him because it seems like he is just scrapping at hitting.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen him ground out to second base.  Having said that, I have never seen anyone else bunt a ball over the third baseman’s head and turn it in to a double.  That still may be one of the coolest plays I have ever seen.

I feel for him because if I were in his shoes, I would be frustrated too.  He wants to play, can play, has been consistent in his contract, but just can’t hit jacks.  Bottom Line: the Dodgers need Jacks and he’s not that guy.   They need power hitters, and they signed him to a long term contract which no one liked.  If he had signed for 3 years, this is a different conversation.

I read that he is only sane because he is reading the Bible.  Good for you Juan.  In that book may you find strength.

So what should the Dodgers do?  Honestly, exactly what they are doing.  They need a bat, and Manny is the guy.  Juan is a great number 2, so they have to keep him, much to his frustration.  Even when you make millions a year, everyone wants to contribute.

My only hope is that the God Juan seeks will bless him with the final word.  That maybe the Dodgers will get to the playoffs and Juan will be the hero just like J.D. Drew finally was with the Red Sox.  Dodger fans should look kindly on him because he is a good, ready guy who can run like the wind.  He was put in a tough spot, but he still is a ton better player than any of us would ever be.  And oh yeah – he has a world series ring to prove it too.

Tags: J.D. Drew, Juan Pierre, Manny Ramirez