How Come The Only Team We Can't Sweep Is The Team I Want To Sweep The Most?

With the win today, the Dodgers completed a second sweep in their last three series. Of course, the non-sweep was actually a series loss against the Angels. But let's not discuss that.

Let's discuss what is really going on with the Dodgers.

The offense.

For an offense that was already considered good, they've outdone themselves these last few games.

Run outputs of 16, 7, and 8? I know they were playing in Coors Field, but this is ridiculous.

Just some quick numbers for this series:

Juan Pierre: .500 (8-16)
Orlando Hudson: .416 (5-12)
Casey Blake: .333 (4-12)
Matt Kemp: .385 (5-13)
James Loney: .429 (6-14)

and...

Juan Castro?: .462 (6-13)

I mean, come on. This isn't just ridiculous. This is redonkulous.

How come we couldn't do this against the Angels?

Week Recap Break

Just a quick post to say that I'm going to skip the week recap for this week. I'll recap for two weeks next week.

Today's my birthday, I've been running around all day and haven't really had time to plan it out.

So, I'll probably post some more articles this week, but again, no recap.

That is all.

P.S. How bout that beat down today, eh? Nice.

Well, That Was Pretty Good

Just a quick post to ask: was it good for you?

A three game sweep of the Mets, following series wins against Florida and Philadelphia.

The Dodgers are 7-1 in their last eight games. The Giants lost today. We've extended our lead in the NL West to 8.5 games.

Oh, and we still have the best record in baseball, 29-13.

I mean, I was hoping we would just play .500 ball until Manny gets back, but this is ridiculous.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are coming into town for the weekend.

Let's keep this up, eh?

EDIT: And by the way, congratulations to Brent Leach for picking up the win today, the first one of his major league career.

Week Recap: 05/11/09 - 05/17/09

Yeah, I didn't post for a week. Doesn't mean I wasn't paying attention.

Been updating my computer, working to get all my programs back and running, yadda yadda, so I didn't have time for posts.

But I'm here now, so let's do this.

This week, the Dodgers started and completed a 6 game East Coast road trip. And did pretty damn well.

They started out slow, losing the first game in Philadelphia to Chan Ho Park, of all people. They came back, however, to win the next two. They then went to Florida, where they split the first two games, but followed that up by winning the rubber game to take that series as well.

The Dodgers went 4-2 on the road trip. Oh, and by the way, they have the best record in baseball.

Round 6 of HOT, COLD, or ROOM TEMPERATURE? Already. Wow, time is flying by. Ok, here we go.

COLD:

• Rafael Furcal - .167 (4-24), 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 Runs, 2 Ks, 1 CS - As bad as Furcal has been this year, he's really hit a low this week. He's striking out, he's not drawing walks, and he got caught stealing. What happened to the Furcal of last year? He's got to turn it on at some point.

• Guillermo Mota - 21.60 ERA (4 ER in 1.2 innings, 1 game) - It seems like I'm picking on Mota. I mean, after all, he only had one bad outing this week (the 12-5 win at Florida, May 17th). But honestly, folks, this was just another bad outing in a series of bad outings. I mean, for God's sake. It's 12-1, 9th inning. All you have to do is get out of the inning so we can all go home. You get two outs. Alright, good start. 10 minutes later, you've somehow loaded the bases, given up a Grand Slam, and forced the manager to pull you. How can you mess up an inning so damn badly? Why is he still on this team?!

ROOM TEMPERATURE:

• Eric Milton - 4.50 ERA (2 ER in 4.0 innings), 2 hits, 4 walks, 3 Ks - So, Eric Milton made his first start in the majors since 2007, and how'd he do? Meh. He wasn't terrible, but he was by no stretch of the imagination, good. He was making way too many pitches, and for the kind of stuff he has, he was giving up way too many walks. He made 84 pitches (only 43 strikes) and was pulled before the 5th. But hey, at least he didn't give up a Grand Slam or something like that.

• Andre Ethier - .200 (4-20), 1 2B, 2 walks, 2 RBIs, 5 Ks, 1 SB - Ethier continues his luke-warmness. I feel like he's the Champ Kind to Manny's Ron Burgundy: "I need you. I'm a mess without you. I miss you so damn much. I miss being with you, I miss being near you. I miss your laugh. I miss your scent; I miss your musk. When this all gets sorted out, I think you and me should get an apartment together." Ok, maybe it's not that bad. But Ethier has been hurting, and whether that's Manny related or not, I'd like it to stop. You hear me, Ethier? Stop it.

HOT:

• Russell Martin - .333 (6-18), 1 2B, 1 RBI, 3 runs, 5 walks, 2 SBs - Nice Martin, a 2nd week of "HOT" in a row. All I can say is, keep it up. Oh, and maybe, let's notch a homerun or two.

• James Loney - .308 (8-26), 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, 1 walk, 4 runs - Well, it took long enough for Loney to get out of the homerless category. And once he did, he came back for more. Sure, they were both in Philly, but I won't hold that against him. A homer is a homer.

• Casey Blake - .368 (7-19), 2 2Bs, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, 1 walk, 6 Ks - That's actually quite a few strike outs for just 19 at-bats, but still, extra base hits and RBIs are good stuff.

• Mark Loretta - .500 (4-8), 1 2B, 4 RBIs, 2 walks - I just wanted to give Mark Loretta some credit for what he's been doing this year. He's been a solid pinch hitter and spot start all year, and this week was really a good microcosm of that. I can't remember a year when we've had a bench of this quality, and he's a big part of that.

• Clayton Kershaw - 1-1 (2 games), 3.75 ERA (5 ER in 12.0 innings), 14 Ks, 8 walks - Yes, those stats look pretty pedestrian, but if you've watched Kershaw, you know he has pitched better than his stats indicate. He was pretty hitable in Philly (a 5-3 loss, May 12th), but was almost the opposite of that in Florida (a 12-5 win, May 17th). 7.0 innings of no-hit ball only to finally give up a hit in the 8th, collecting nine strikeouts along the way. He's been up and down this year, but this was definitely an up.

• Juan Pierre - .407 (11-27), 4 2Bs, 1 3B, 5 RBIs, 2 walks, 4-5 SBs, 7 runs - Juan Pierre is a man on fire! I mean, he's playing like a man who's trying to prove he can still be a starter somewhere and that when a certain outfielder returns in early July, another team should take a flier on him. Yeah, a little long winded, and kinda a cheap shot, but what are you gonna do? Pierre's been go, and I like it. So good, in fact, he's started a grassroots movement. Yep, Juan Pierre is in BeastMode, and that's a good thing for us.

Ok, hopefully I'll get in some more posts this week than last week. We'll see.

3 game series against the Mets in L.A. starts later today. See you then.

Week Recap: 05/04/09 - 05/10/09

So, a pretty uneventful week, huh?

Let's just jump into it.

The week started out pretty good. A two game sweep of the Diamondbacks, and a win in the first game of a two game series against Washington. With those three wins, the Dodgers went 13-0 in their first 13 home games to set a new Major League record.

Then Manny Ramírez got suspended for 50 games.

Then, maybe coincidentally (but not really), the Dodgers lost three of their next four games.

They went 4-3 during the week.

Ok, then, Round 5 of HOT, COLD, or ROOM TEMPERATURE coming up!

COLD:

• Manny Ramirez - Only three hits this week? Wow. I'm going to suggest Manny take the next 46 games off, and then come back refreshed and ready to hit. But seriously folks, I think we've discussed Manny enough this week.

• Cory Wade - 0-1 (3 games), 2 blown saves, 12.00 ERA (4 earned runs in 3 innings) - Wade has been one of the two major problems in the bullpen this week. His two blown saves this week bring him up to three in just nine appearances this season. He hasn't been nearly as effective this year as he was last year. So, what do you do with him? He's still young, and maybe he's just going through a slump. I say let him try to pitch out of it, but maybe don't use him in high pressure situations for a little. At least until he proves he's got his stuff together.

• Guillermo Mota - 0-1 (4 games), 8.44 ERA (5 earned runs in 5.1 innings) - ...and here's the other major problem this week. Mota has walked the tightrope in almost every appearance he's made this season. In 14 appearances, he's only had three 1-2-3 innings, and none of them have been in any sort of pressure situation. He capped this week off by giving up the lead in extra innings during the May 10th game (a 7-5 loss against San Francisco), twice! Simply put, Mota has not been good, and frankly, I'm not sure why he's even on the team. There has GOT to be someone better. I mean, he's a right handed short reliever for God's sake. If that isn't a replaceable spot on a major league team, then I don't know what is.

ROOM TEMPERATURE:

• James Loney - .172 (5-29), 3 runs, 4 RBIs - I wasn't sure what to do with Loney this week. He does this to me a lot. He stops hitting, yet, in some weird way, he manages to knock in and score runs with his limited chances. Eh? What are you gonna do?

• Andre Ethier - .207 (6-29), 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 5 walks, 4 runs - Ethier started the week out pretty strong but faded in the last couple games. He's currently riding an 0-10 streak, though he does have a walk in his last 11 plate appearances, so I'll give him that.

HOT:

• Orlando Hudson - .308 (8-26), 4 2Bs, 7 walks, 5 runs, 4 RBIs - Have I mentioned how pleased I've been with the Hudson pickup? He just continues to perform.

• Russell Martin - .500 (9-18), 1 2B, 2 RBIs, 8 walks, 5 runs - Boy, wouldn't it be great if Martin started hitting? His bat has been slow all year, but this week, he's been excellent. Hitting, getting on base, scoring runs. That's the All-Star Martin we all know and love.

• Casey Blake - .391 (9-23), 2 2Bs, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 4 walks, 8 runs - This week is really an odd week for players labeled "HOT". Other than Hudson, the four other players that I've dubbed "HOT" this week have been strangers to said category. This includes Casey Blake, who I called out last week as being perpetually "ROOM TEMPERATURE". Well, he responded this week. Now we have to see if he can keep it up.

• Juan Pierre - .474 (9-19), 3 2Bs, 4 RBIs, 2 walks, 4 runs, 2 SBs - Pierre has really stepped up in the absence of Manny. Yes, he's still done a few infuriating things this week (he was caught stealing twice this week) and he killed a few rallies, but I have to give credit where credit is due. He's been good this week.

• Eric Stults - 2-0 (2 games), 1.23 ERA (2 earned runs in 14.1 innings), 9 Ks, 1 complete game shutout - Who would've thought the Ace of the pitching staff this week would be Eric Stults? He had a good enough start to get him a win during our 13-0 home streak at the beginning of the week (a 7-2 win, May 4th against Arizona). Then an excellent start to halt a two game skid near the end of the week (an 8-0 win, May 9th against San Francisco). Good job Stults, keep it up and you might finally stay in the majors for a full season.

Alright folks, off-day today. Big East Coast road trip coming up Tuesday. Our bullpen really needs to come around, they've cost us two games this week. Other than that, the hitting hasn't suffered too badly without Manny.

Just in case though, 4 games down, 46 to go...

Thank You, Jon Weisman

After reading another couple stories in the L.A. Times about how Manny is a cheater, and how the fans are idiots if they choose to cheer him (Kurt Streeter, and surprise surprise, Bill Plaschke's 2nd article on the subject, following his two-day anti-Manny crusade all over ESPN), I was ready to come on here and write an article about how I wish someone would get off their high horse and look at this from the perspective of most fans.

I mean, can you imagine? You open up a copy of the L.A. Times, flip to the sports section, and the story you see is headlined: "Manny Got Suspended For Drugs, Who Cares?" I can't imagine anyone on the Times columnist staff speaking out in that way. Yeah, that's over-dramatic, but can you imagine anyone doing something half that bold?

Nope, they are respected journalists, and they take the high road. Ban cheaters! Shame on Manny! And please, won't somebody think of the children!?


Is it any wonder why more and more readers are moving away from newspapers and to the blogosphere for their news and articles?

The bloggers talk from a fan's perspective. And I don't know about you, but I'd rather read stuff from a person who knows what I'm going through, rather than someone who sits on their throne and wags their fingers down at the reader.

So, in steps Jon Weisman. The connection between both worlds.

Wiesman runs Dodger Thoughts (see the link section), arguably one of the most respected Dodger blogs on the internets. Weisman's been doing it a long time, and has a ton of readers.

So much so, that Weisman got his own section on the L.A. Times website.

Imagine that, a blogger on a newspaper's website.

And all credit to Jon, he's been keeping it real. He hasn't changed his style. He hasn't started writing articles degrading the fans. He still is a fan.

Look, there's not been a lot of standing up for Manny. And sure, that's understandable for the most part. I'm not going to say people can't have a negative opinion on the whole Manny scandal. You feel he cheated, you feel he tainted the game, whatever. Write an article about his now tarnished career. Write about how it hurts the Dodgers chances until he gets back.

But don't start doing stupid things like saying he should be banished from baseball. Nor drop some cheesy line about protecting the children from cheaters.

And, worst of all, don't you dare start spewing ridiculous garbage about how the fans should feel bad for cheering Manny. Or insinuate that we are ignorant or any less of fans for doing so. Yeah, Plaschke, I'm talking to you.

Which brings me to why I'm thanking Jon.

Jon wrote a piece standing up for the fans who still want to cheer Manny when he comes back. And in it, he also calls out Plaschke and Streeter on some of the crap that leaked out of their minds and into their columns.

And Jon, I really appreciate that. Thank you. Sincerely. You are the highest ranking member of the media who's taken a stance that most fans can understand.

Yeah, it's sooo shocking that Dodger fans want to support a player who made a mistake and is being punished for it. A member of the team they care about. One, especially, who's a major part in helping that team win. Yeah, really shocking to see support for that...

Jon, you called out the columnists on their own website. You did it to their face, the way we all wish we could. Thank you so much for that.

That brings me to this one last thing, since Plaschke brought it up. You see, the article Plaschke wrote that got under my skin so badly was entitled: "Manny Ramirez supporters resemble Giants fans"

OH NO! He compared us to Giants fans. *shame*

See, here's the problem with all this.

For all those years when Barry Bonds was with the Giants, I always booed him. Every game, every at-bat, and every time he trotted out to left field. I booed him because he was the best player on the Giants. I booed him because he always seemed to hit a crippling homerun against us. I booed him because he was a jerk. And I booed him because I felt, in my heart, that he was a steroids user.

But you see, the point is, I booed him because he was the combination of all these things. Not just for one in particular.

And I never booed a Giants fan. I never questioned why they cheered him. He was their guy. He was a San Francisco Giant, and as long as he was, they would cheer him. And they still did, when he showed up at a game earlier this season in San Francisco. Because he was still a Giant to them. And they can cheer him if they want, because that's their prerogative.

So, yes, when Manny returns to the Dodgers, I will cheer him. He's a Dodger, and he's there to help us win. He's there to help the team that I care about win. So I can, and will cheer him.

That's my prerogative.

And, quite frankly, I'm also going to probably stop reading most of the trash that comes from the columnists in the L.A. Times.

That's definitely my prerogative.

Some Manny Reaction

Here's Bill Plaschke:


EDIT: Sorry guys, looks like that video was only temporary. But check out the edit at the bottom of this article for the recap from MikeSciosciasTragicIllness.


Bill Plaschke needs to get off his high horse. This is the same Bill Plaschke who pushed soooo hard to get Manny last year (at the expense of our top 3rd base prospect). Then we got him, Plaschke was so happy that we listened to him, and then Manny led us to the playoffs. Then, for some reason, Plaschke jumped onto the screw Manny bandwagon and has been riding it strongly since.

Plaschke, stop it, you are embarrassing yourself. The Dodgers aren't firing Manny. The Dodgers need Manny. I know it's going to hurt, but we're going to have to not listen to you this time around.

Secondly, on a lighter note, Kate from "Jon and Kate Plus 8" has sounded off on the Manny controversy, and she has a message for Dodger fans:

Let's all take a page out of Kate's book. We can weather this storm together.

Oh, and, by the way, one last thing... if I hear the expression "This is another black eye for baseball" one more time, I'm going to lose it.

EDIT: Mike at MikeSciosciasTragicIllness.com did a full dissection of the Plaschke meltdown. He basically did what I wish I had the time and energy to do, and did it better. It's a good read.