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.

I have a little catch up to do, so I thought I’d give some random thoughts as the Dodgers take 1 game.  Just knowing the Dodgers are pretty much out doesn’t give a lot of urgency to write posts.  The Giants are better, and the fans up here know it.  They enjoy rubbing it in…but it’s not over the top.   The Giants aren’t in the playoffs either yet, so they know like us that both of our seasons may be ending with no playoff baseball.

I love seeing Chad Billingsley pitch well. He’s supposed to be an ace and he looked like it tonight.  Hung Chi Kuo looked solid tonight too.

Rod Barajas is the man.  It’s amazing to have a catcher with power…

I love that Casey Blake has hit another streak. When he is hot, he is hot, and right now he has just been in the mix most of the time when the Dodgers win.

These divorce proceedings with the McCourts are a trip. If you haven’t been looking at the L.A. Times of late, it’s a lesson in marriage dynamics and the dynamics of owning a baseball team. I had no idea that the Dodgers were so much in debt, and it obviously divided and ruined their marriage.

I’m still waiting to see an article on Juan Pierre. If you ever wondered if God had a sense of humor…now you know. I know from articles that Juan is a christian, and believe me he is probably shaking his head on God’s strategy. He signs his dream contract with the Dodgers, then told he isn’t a good enough player and then is replaced by Andruw Jones and then by Manny Ramirez. He bites his tongue, honors his team, and finally gets a trade…only to have Andruw Jones and now Manny Ramirez follow him. Thankfully he isn’t competing against them now for starting time, but what an amazing story. He has truly turned into a story of perseverance and honor.

It’s a funny thing that the Dodgers may serve as a spoiler against the Giants this year.  A friend asked me up here if I was going to start rooting for the Giants since the Dodgers are out.  (He obviously doesn’t know me well…)  I said no way!.  Now it’s just time to start rooting for the Dodgers to knock the Giants out of the playoffs.  If we can’t go, then maybe they won’t be able to either.  All is fair in love and war and I know all my Giants fans would do/say the same thing.  (They’ve done it the last few years so I know it is true!)

Here’s hoping the Dodgers can take two of three this weekend.  It’s too bad because the Dodgers pitching is really strong right now…they just lost their offense.

Go Blue.

Manny Ramirez - Tim Defrisco - SI

Well, if you haven’t heard the news…this could be Manny’s last weekend in Dodger Blue. If you haven’t heard, I’m assuming that you have been out of the country, because once again he is the talk of baseball.

The rumor right now is that the Dodgers and White Sox already have a deal in place and are just hoping no other team can claim him.

I have to admit, I’m a little mixed on his leaving. He was fun for a time, and he gave me a great picture at the top of this page, but his leaving is no surprise…and honestly it’s just time.

Manny has been on the DL three times this year.  He has not produced as expected and definitely has not earned his 20 million dollar paycheck.  They have already taken the “Mannywood” signs down in Dodger stadium making it obvious that the front office is also ready to move on.  Manny leaving saves the Dodgers some money in the next few years and honestly does get rid of a major distraction to the team.  The team is on a little tear since he got back, but it’s not like he has done that much.  He sat out yesterday after a night game the day before.  That in itself is still ironic with him.  Manny can’t play a day game right after a night game.  There is too much risk of injury.  Think about that for a minute.  The thought of keeping someone for that price who is so fragile just makes me shake my head.

To me though, I think Manny has been ready to go for a long time.  Manny is at his best when he is cracking jokes and making a scene.  This year after the suspension last year, he has been no where to be seen.  He won’t talk lest he say something wrong or right.  He went into a shell and thus hasn’t been the presence or force he once was.  I think he’s still embarrassed by his suspension and just doesn’t feel comfortable in L.A. any more.

The rumor right now is that he will waive his no trade clause if the next teams gives him an extension for 1 year.  That in itself is funny to me.  It makes sense that he wants something guaranteed, but he hasn’t really played this year.  He just wants to lock up the potential of him playing next year. 

There’s no way the Dodgers would give him an extension for next year, so it is funny that through this trade and his agent that he can lock a team into paying him next year.  Once again Manny can play the game and come out ahead.  There’s no guarantee that he will produce or even be healthy, but there is that potential and therefore he will get paid. 

Really, Manny has to go because he needs to end his career as a DH.  He may be able to pull out a few more years and actually contribute again.  If he stays with the Dodgers, and especially if he goes on the DL, he’ll be in for a major pay cut next year. 

It was a fun ride…at times, but it’s time for the Dodgers to move on.  Get a good solid player who can play everyday, and couple that with good pitching early and late. 

This could be the start of some major changes with the Dodgers.  It will depend on the divorce outcome, but I really wonder if this year will be the end of Joe Torre too.  If they can lock up Ted Lilly they will actually have the solid pitching staff they have wanted for years.  This could keep Joe, but I do believe he’s frustrated with the divorce limitations.

Well, so long Manny.  Everyone knew going in that signing you could be a mixed bag.  That it was.  Thanks for the memories, but buyer beware.

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.

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.