It's Time to Get Mad

I had to work last night.  I was able to sneak peaks on MLB Game day periodically.  I guess it was a blessing in disguise to miss this one, though I did watch the pitch by pitch results of the bottom of the ninth.

It was the same old story.  No offense.  No clutch hitting. It's ground hog day. It's a broken record that skips over and over.

The season is probably over.  It shouldn't be.  There are 18 games to play and still three with St. Louis, but the body language is telling us, this team has given up.  What they need is someone to get mad.  A manager with fire and spirit.  Someone that will toss the clubhouse spread on the floor.  A guy that is out and out feared.

Someone like Leo Durocher.

Someone like Kirk Gibson.

Someone like Tommy Lasorda.

Instead we have a nice guy who assembles the reporters together and says over and over again every stupid cliche that there is in the book.  He's a "players" manager, which I guess means he gets along with them.  He's their friend.  He understands what they go through.  What he doesn't do is ever get in their face and call them out.

Donnie isn't in the batters box with a bat, but he's filling out the lineup card with the same names everyday.  He's not mixing things up other than an occasional tweak here and there.  Let's see him do something drastic.  Let's see him turn the lineup upside down.  Let's see him do some yelling.  Smack a water cooler.  Throw the clubhouse meal to the ceiling.  Close the doors to the clubhouse and yell so loud that the beat reporters won't need to ask him what it's all about.

When he has his postgame conference, he needs to go Hal McRae on them.  

Okay, I just watched the McRae thing again...maybe not to that extreme.  But he needs to get mad.

He needs to snap Lee Elia style.  He needs to give his opinion of his entire team's performance a la Tommy Lasorda.  

Anger is a requirement now.  This passivity stuff is doing nothing.

There's Not Much to Say

This should be an exciting time.  It should be a time were fans are fired up and their spirits are high.  The Dodgers are within a game of a playoff spot and they are about to embark on a 4 game home series against the team they need to catch.  They have 19 games to play and optimism should reign, but it's a gloomy picture for many of us.

What’s there to write.  For the first time in a long time I’m at a loss for words.  This Dodger team is as dead as any Dodger team I can remember.  The '92 team that lost 99 games was a low water mark for me, but at least those guys scored some runs.  It can also be argued that they weren’t as talented.  These guys don’t have an excuse.

Adrian Gonzalez takes a called third strike in the 9th inning, for the second day in a row.

This stuff about “chemistry,” “gelling,” “adjusting,” etc.  It’s old and it’s meaningless.  These guys are professionals.  They are veterans and they’re supposed to do all those things.  What I'm seeing is this is a group of established stars that are playing like rookies.  They’re whining at close strike calls instead of squaring up on 2-strike pitches at crucial times in the game.  Allowing a called third strike to go against you at the games’ end, and for two days in a row.  They are first pitch swinging in instances that merit patient plate approaches.  These are rookie mistakes.   You learned that stuff in Little League.  These are inexcusable mistakes.

Many of you know that I live in the San Francisco Bay Area.  You can only imagine how brutal that is with the way things are going.  There are the jokes at work.  The constant ribbing from all corners.  As bad as this team is playing, especially after the high expectations following the trades, I have to say that the criticism is deserved too because this Dodger team is choking.  I don’t use that word too often.  But it’s as simple as that, the Dodgers were handed the second wild card spot by the Cards and Pirates and they choked.

They have stars.  Heck, we have superstars in the lineup and they are folding under pressure.  They’ve scored 24 runs in the month of September.  24 runs, and 11 of those runs were scored on the first three games of the month.  So since September 3rd, the team is averaging 1.85 runs per game.

As much as Mattingly tries to change routines and and create some levity (such as phantom infield), nothing works.  There is one thing that he hasn’t done of any significance and that’s change the batting order of his lineup.  I would start with the top of the order and see if mixing things up there has any positive results.

Luis Cruz

Cruz is quickly becoming a fan favorite.  Let me throw this out there though.  Since August 30th Cruz is hitting .348.  At the same time, his on-base percentage is .348, so he hacks away.  There is no walking this man.  Additionally it should be noted that in the11 games in which he is hitting .348, all 15 hits he has accumulated are singles.  He also has a total of 1 RBI in those contests.  It probably has something to do with seldom having anybody on base ahead of him.  How many times have we seen Hanley and Andre retired, there are two outs, and Cruz lines a single to right field.

So he’s scoring runs, right?  No, not really.  He has scored once in those 11 games.  Those feeble numbers have little to do with Cruz’s failure to produce in my opinion.  Frankly I think it’s because the ball club is failing offensively around him.

Cruz and Victorino in happier times. (photo by Josh Hedges/Getty Images)

Put him in the leadoff role where with singles he can set the table for the middle of the order.   Maybe they'll produce runs. Then bat A.J. Ellis second and lets see if mixing up the order is in any way a solution to the team’s offensive woes.  Many are clamoring for Ellis to hit in the two hole.  What do they have to lose?  It isn't like sulking Shane Victorino is doing anything in that spot.  Perhaps moving Victorino down to the 7th or 8th spot will wake him up.

Dodgers Press Release: 2013 Preliminary Schedule Announced

Wednesday, September 12, 2012                                                                            

Season will open at home on Monday, April 1 vs. San Francisco and features home dates against the Yankees and Red Sox

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced their preliminary schedule for the 2013 regular season. The team will open the season at home with Opening Day slated for Monday, April 1 against the San Francisco Giants. 

In addition to the first three games of the season, San Francisco will visit Los Angeles from June 24-26 and Sept. 12-15. The Dodgers conclude the regular season at home against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, Sept. 29.

The Dodgers’ 2013 home slate once again reignites the historic Dodgers-Yankees rivalry as New York will visit Dodger Stadium just prior to the 2013 trade deadline on July 30 and 31. This will mark the Yankees’ third trip to Dodger Stadium since Interleague Play began in 1997.  

For the first time, Interleague Play will be spread throughout the regular season and several other notable American League teams will visit Los Angeles during the 81-game schedule, including the Boston Red Sox from Friday, Aug. 23-Sunday Aug. 25, the Angels on Memorial Day May 27 and May 28 and the Tampa Bay Rays from Friday, Aug. 9-Sunday, Aug. 11. The Yankees played at Dodger Stadium in 2004 and 2010, the Red Sox made their only trip in 2002 and the Rays have never been to Chavez Ravine.

For their road Interleague dates in 2013, the Dodgers will travel to Camden Yards (April 19-21), Angel Stadium (May 29-30), Yankee Stadium (June 18-19) and the Rogers Centre in Toronto (July 22-24). This season will mark the Dodgers’ first game in the Bronx since winning Game 6 of the 1981 World Series at Yankee Stadium on October 28, 1981. The two-game series will also be the first-ever regular season matchup between the Dodgers and Yankees at Yankee Stadium.  

The Dodgers will play at home on Jackie Robinson Day (Monday, April 15 vs. SD), Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 12 vs. MIA) and Memorial Day (Monday, May 27 vs. LAA).

The Dodgers’ entire 2013 preliminary schedule can be found at www.dodgers.com, with an official schedule, game times and a full slate of promotional items to be announced after the conclusion of the 2012 season.

The Dodgers are currently accepting deposits for 2013 season tickets. For more information, visit www.dodgers.com/seasontickets or call (323) 224-1365.

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Below is the 2013 Los Angeles Dodgers Preliminary Schedule: Shading indicates Road Game

Date                      Day                        Opponent

April 1                   Monday               SF

April 2                   Tuesday               SF

April 3                   Wednesday        SF

April 5                   Friday                    PIT

April 6                   Saturday              PIT

April 7                   Sunday                 PIT

April 9                   Tuesday               @SD

April 10                 Wednesday        @SD

April 11                 Thursday             @SD

April 12                 Friday                    @ARI

April 13                 Saturday              @ARI

April 14                 Sunday                 @ARI

April 15                 Monday               SD

April 16                 Tuesday               SD

April 17                 Wednesday        SD

April 19                 Friday                    @BAL

April 20                 Saturday              @BAL

April 21                 Sunday                 @BAL

April 23                 Tuesday               @NYM

April 24                 Wednesday        @NYM

April 25                 Thursday             @NYM

April 26                 Friday                    MIL

April 27                 Saturday              MIL

April 28                 Sunday                 MIL

April 29                 Monday               COL

April 30                 Tuesday               COL

May 1                    Wednesday        COL

May 3                    Friday                    @SF

May 4                    Saturday              @SF

May 5                    Sunday                 @SF

May 6                    Monday               ARI

May 7                    Tuesday               ARI

May 8                    Wednesday        ARI

May 10                 Friday                    MIA

May 11                 Saturday              MIA

May 12                 Sunday                 MIA

May 13                 Monday               WAS

May 14                 Tuesday               WAS

May 15                 Wednesday        WAS

May 17                 Friday                    @ATL

May 18                 Saturday              @ATL

May 19                 Sunday                 @ATL

May 20                 Monday               @MIL

May 21                 Tuesday               @MIL

May 22                 Wednesday        @MIL

May 24                 Friday                    STL

May 25                 Saturday              STL

May 26                 Sunday                 STL

May 27                 Monday               LAA

May 28                 Tuesday               LAA

May 29                 Wednesday        @LAA

May 30                 Thursday             @LAA

May 31                 Friday                    @COL

June 1                   Saturday              @COL

June 2                   Sunday                 @COL

June 3                   Monday               SD

June 4                   Tuesday               SD

June 5                   Wednesday        SD

June 6                   Thursday             ATL

June 7                   Friday                    ATL

June 8                   Saturday              ATL

June 9                   Sunday                 ATL

June 10                 Monday               ARI

June 11                 Tuesday               ARI

June 12                 Wednesday        ARI

June 14                 Friday                    @PIT

June 15                 Saturday              @PIT

June 16                 Sunday                 @PIT

June 18                 Tuesday               @NYY

June 19                 Wednesday        @NYY

June 20                 Thursday             @SD

June 21                 Friday                    @SD

June 22                 Saturday              @SD

June 23                 Sunday                 @SD

June 24                 Monday               SF

June 25                 Tuesday               SF

June 26                 Wednesday        SF

June 27                 Thursday             PHI

June 28                 Friday                    PHI

June 29                 Saturday              PHI

June 30                 Sunday                 PHI

July 2                     Tuesday               @COL

July 3                     Wednesday        @COL

July 4                     Thursday             @COL

July 5                     Friday                    @SF

July 6                     Saturday              @SF

July 7                     Sunday                 @SF

July 8                     Monday               @ARI

July 9                     Tuesday               @ARI

July 10                   Wednesday        @ARI

July 11                   Thursday             COL

July 12                   Friday                    COL

July 13                   Saturday              COL

July 14                   Sunday                 COL

July 16                   All-Star Game @ Citi Field

July 19                   Friday                    @WAS

July 20                   Saturday              @WAS

July 21                   Sunday                 @WAS

July 22                   Monday               @TOR

July 23                   Tuesday               @TOR

July 24                   Wednesday        @TOR

July 25                   Thursday             CIN

July 26                   Friday                    CIN

July 27                   Saturday              CIN

July 28                   Sunday                 CIN

July 30                   Tuesday               NYY

July 31                   Wednesday        NYY

August 1              Thursday             @CHI

August 2              Friday                    @CHI

August 3              Saturday              @CHI

August 4              Sunday                 @CHI

August 5              Monday               @STL

August 6              Tuesday               @STL

August 7              Wednesday        @STL

August 8              Thursday             @STL

August 9              Friday                    TB

August 10            Saturday              TB

August 11            Sunday                 TB

August 12            Monday               NYM

August 13            Tuesday               NYM

August 14            Wednesday        NYM

August 16            Friday                    @PHI

August 17            Saturday              @PHI

August 18            Sunday                 @PHI

August 19            Monday               @MIA

August 20            Tuesday               @MIA

August 21            Wednesday        @MIA

August 22            Thursday             @MIA

August 23            Friday                    BOS

August 24            Saturday              BOS

August 25            Sunday                 BOS

August 26            Monday               CHI

August 27            Tuesday               CHI

August 28            Wednesday        CHI

August 30            Friday                    SD

August 31            Saturday              SD

Sept. 1                  Sunday                 SD

Sept. 2                  Monday               @COL

Sept. 3                  Tuesday               @COL

Sept. 4                  Wednesday        @COL

Sept. 6                  Friday                    @CIN

Sept. 7                  Saturday              @CIN

Sept. 8                  Sunday                 @CIN

Sept. 9                  Monday               ARI

Sept. 10                Tuesday               ARI

Sept. 11                Wednesday        ARI

Sept. 12                Thursday             SF

Sept. 13                Friday                    SF

Sept. 14                Saturday              SF

Sept. 15                Sunday                 SF

Sept. 16                Monday               @ARI

Sept. 17                Tuesday               @ARI

Sept. 18                Wednesday        @ARI

Sept. 19                Thursday             @ARI

Sept. 20                Friday                    @SD

Sept. 21                Saturday              @SD

Sept. 22                Sunday                 @SD

Sept. 24                Tuesday               @SF

Sept. 25                Wednesday        @SF

Sept. 26                Thursday             @SF

Sept. 27                Friday                    COL

Sept. 28                Saturday              COL

Sept. 29                Sunday                 COL

OK, Queue the Music, Lights, Camera, Action...

Hanley Ramirez walks back to the dugout after striking out against Ian Kennedy (photo by Cnristian Petersen/Getty Images)

Please click on the you tube link below.  The music is appropriate for what I’m about to write and will serve as a backdrop as you read on.   It’ll put you in the right frame of mind.  After all, you can’t help but think of the hapless New York Knights from the fictional story, “The Natural” when thinking about the 2012 L.A. Dodgers.  OK, go ahead, I'll wait.

It's interesting to note that the composer of “I Love L.A.,” Randy Newman, also wrote the entire score to 1984 motion picture including this piece, “Losing Is a Disease.”

Ah, yes.  Losing.  It has become a common theme on these Dodger related blogs.  I think it's time for Mattingly to call in the shrink with the wire rimmed glasses to come speak to the ball club.  To get our boys out of this funk.  I can hear it now:

“Losing is a disease... as contagious as polio... as contagious as syphilis... as contagious as the bubonic plague... attacking one, but affecting all.”

AUDIO CLIP from "The Natural"

There's nothing else to do.  Sit back and laugh I guess because our $200 million dollar team can't hit.  There is no Roy Hobbs sitting on the bench to insert into the lineup to save us.  At least I don't think there is.

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Don’t look now but Philadelphia and Milwaukee are breathing down the Dodgers necks now.  Both clubs are three games behind Los Angeles.  At the rate things are going with St. Louis, Pittsburgh and L.A. losing like there’s no tomorrow, this race will be between the Brewers and Phillies when all is said and done for the final Wild Card spot.

The Dodger’s anemic offense is once again failing to score runs.  Now they have an 18 inning scoreless streak and enter into tomorrow’s action against arch nemesis Trevor Cahill, who has a history of owning the blue crew.

The Dodgers had their chances to score tonight, but Luis Cruz’s 5th inning fly ball to left was caught by Jason Kubel who reached over the fence to deny him a two run homer.  Two innings later Andre Ethier hit a foul ball that missed being a home run by a few feet.  Fortune wasn’t in the Dodgers favor tonight and an unearned run in the 7th cost them the game.  This team can't buy any luck.

Back at it tomorrow.  Yep, we're gluttons for punishment, aren't we?