Random Notes and a Few Blogs to Look at

A few new blogs to take a took at, both related to the ownership fiasco:

• http:abortmccourt.blogpot.com

Nice interesting perspective on all Frank McCourt happenings and Dodger issues in general.  A nice start and interesting read.

• http://www.markcubansavethedodgers.com/

A new web site mentioned at cbssports.com and yahoo’s big league stew that is dedicated to endorsing Mark Cuban as the new owner of the Dodgers.

Dodger notes:

So Jamie McCourt has filed a motion for Judge Scott Gordon to force Frank to sell the assets and split the proceeds, thus delaying the decision until June 22nd, long after it is projected that Frank won’t make payroll.  So it looks like Bud Selig will have to take over club operations after all.

Vicente Padilla was sent to the disabled list, leaving the already depleted Dodger bullpen in tatters.  Broxton, Kuo and Padilla are all shelved.  It is so bad that Troncoso was recalled from Albuquerque, and he has be awful.   So awful that he has allowed 12 of the 17 batters he has faced to reach base against him. Now the bullpen with Cormier and Troncoso is definitely the worst Dodger bullpen that I can remember.

Ramon Troncoso is back

Andre Ethier was caught flipping the bird to some fans on Monday and now MLB is investigating.   Great Andre, things just get worse and worse for this club.   

Maury Wills and Tommy Lasorda are reported to be the Dodger representatives at the 2011 First Year Player Draft on June 6th.  If things continue as they are, we’ll have a great pick in 2012.

Mike Petriello of Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness tweets that the Dodgers are now playing Trayvon Robinson exclusively in left field in Albuquerque.  So perhaps we’ll see another rookie call-up to man the left field position.

Vin Scully calls Rod Barajas with 7 HRs and a .228 batting average a “feast or famine” hitter.  Perfect depiction of the Dodger backstop who should be a reserve and not a starter with the club.

The Giant victory last night was costly to the defending champs as they lost Aaron Rowand (back), Mark DeRosa (Wrist) and closer Brian Wilson twisted his ankle.  Only DeRosa landed on the D.L. being replaced by Emmanuel Burris today.

Dodger fans complain about James Loney’s woes at the plate.  Few have noticed that Giant catcher Buster Posey’s double in the second inning was his first extra base hit in May and only third double for the season.

With the Dodger bullpen in shambles, it isn’t a good time for Kershaw and Billingsley to start having sub-par starts.

Will 2011 be the first year in many that the Dodgers will perform well in inter-league play?  It starts tomorrow against the Chisox.  I can’t remember the Dodgers ever having a winning record against AL foes in the inter-league games.

Will The Rivalry Ever Be the Same Again?

They were the Jints and they played in the Polio Grounds.  They were the Gnats and we’d be swatting them around the field at Candlestink Park.  Yeah, real mature comments from Dodgers fans spanning two coasts and several generations.  

Brooklyn Dodger fans

Bobby Thompson runs into the dugout amongst celebrating Guant fans following his pennant winning homer in 1951.

Well they returned the favor and referred to the Dodgers as the Dogs and Chavez Ravine as Chavez Latrine.  Boy did they love ribbing Tommy Lasorda.  Back in the New York days their fans called our players Bums and Dodger fans wouldn't stand for it, WE were the only ones that were allowed to refer to our boys as bums!  No one else!   

Insults upon insults.  Good natured fun in most cases.  Did all that change on March 31, 2011 when Bryan Stow was attacked?

For the first time in my 15 years in San Francisco, I attended a Dodger game at AT&T Park and covered up.  I wore no Dodger cap, no blue colors whatsoever.  It just seemed that it wasn’t appropriate, and then, I was taking my grandson Eric, and there was no way I would risk his safety over the allegiance to a baseball team.

The hatred towards all things L.A. was palpable.  People taking donations outside and inside the bayside ballpark announced, “Donations for Stow, Giant fan beaten unconscious in L.A.”  Chants were angry and had fervor.  “Beat L.A.” was about as loud as I had ever heard it and the spewing profanities were reminiscent of Candlestick Park days.  A young woman marched up and down my aisle with a homemade sign that read “L.A. fans are  All Haters!” which I thought was a bit out of line.  A contingent of Giant fans were dead set on taking the rivalry to a new level.  My adult son had hinted that I shouldn’t attend.  In the past I used to see large pockets of Dodger fans that would gather along the right field foul line.  Those numbers weren’t there anymore.

Dodger fan wearing Giant cap carries sign expressing his disgust for the Bryan Stow attack during the opening series in Los Angeles.

Dodger fans were embarrassed by the Stow incident.  It reflected on the team we love.  We knew the attack was by a couple of thugs, but they did it simply because the poor man was a Giant fan.  Our fan base was being blasted nationwide.  I hated turning the radio on in S.F. where the anti-Dodger sentiment and comments were reaching all-time high levels.

And the two organizations did something unfathomable.  Something I never thought I'd see.  They met in the middle of the diamond on April 10th and in a show of solidarity, told the fans that violence was unacceptable.  They each had a spokesman that told us essentially that "it's only a game."  I think it worked.  San Francisco fans were quieted.  Emotions were subdued.  It was a complete 180 degree shift in emotions that Monday evening.  It worked for one night at least.

I still get the sense that things aren't the same anymore.  The rivalry got a lot more personal.  It is more about "life" now and less about a game.  When I converse with Giant fans today, the good natured ribbing isn't there anymore.  There is more genuine hate.  And I think that's really unfortunate.

About a month ago I bought an Andre Ethier jersey.  I thought it was a worthwhile purchase.  Yes, I turn 50 years old this year.  I know, that is a bit old for wearing authentic team jerseys, but I can't help it.  The little boy in me still exists.  I love donning the jerseys.  But today's announcement that the female driver of the getaway car of the two attackers was wearing an Ethier jersey has pretty much assured me that I'll never wear that thing, especially up here.

What if?

What I love about baseball is the daily grind.  Here I was, in despair over a recent 3 game losing streak, and then Kuroda pitches a gem and a 3-0 win changes my attitude.  Now with the Gnats coming to town, the Dodgers throw their aces at them.  If they pull off two victories in this short series, then they make a serious run at the division lead.  I like the Dodgers chances with Kershaw and Billingsley going on Wednesday and Thursday.

You ever wonder what Hiroki Kuroda’s record would look like if he simply got a little bit of run support?  Now two months into his 4th MLB season, Kuroda evened his lifetime win-loss record at 34-34.    All with an Earned Run Average at 3.53.  He’s certainly not Cy Young candidate material, but those numbers are solid and with a little more run support he could easily have won 40-45 games over that span.  I’m glad he didn’t seek a contract elsewhere and that he chose to remain in L.A.  You really couldn’t have blamed him had he chosen to find a new home with the run support he has received over the years.  He is a key member of the starting five and probably the best number three starter in the league this year up to this point in the season.

Dodger starting pitching has been the glue that has held this club together so far.  I have to believe that if the Dodgers are sitting near .500 and within a few games of first place when Blake and Furcal return, they are in good shape.  In this first 43 games, Dodger starters have thrown 28 quality starts. That’s a 64% clip and is second best in the National League.  Take a look at how the Dodgers compare to the rest of the league.  It can be easily said that the Dodgers starting five ranks in the top three in the N.L.

Quality Starts by Team and overall team record:

Phillies 29 25-16

Dodgers 28 20-23

Braves 27 25-19

Cardinals 24 23-19

Reds 23 24-17

Giants 23 21-19

Marlins 21 24-16

Rockies 19   21-18

Interestingly, the Dodgers are the only team amongst this group with a losing record. This goes to show how the bullpen has faltered and the lack of run support that the starting pitching has received.  A return of Blake and Furcal and the recent improvements in the bullpen have me thinking that perhaps this club can contend.  I’m just hoping that the starters haven’t used up all their bullets in the first two months of the season and that they can continue their successful run of quality starts.   

Clayton Kershaw leads the team with 7 quality starts so far this season.

THINKING BLUE: Another Loss as the Dodger Punchless Offense Fails Again

A lot of good pitching is being wasted as the Dodger offense has gone AWOL.  In what appeared to be a promising homestand that started with a win, the Dodgers have now lost 3 consecutive games against sub-.500 teams.

This club has been living on borrowed time with Blake and Furcal healing from injuries.  An offensive side with Miles, Gibbons, Barajas, Uribe, and Loney in the lineup is absolutely punchless.   Ethier, Kemp and Carroll are pretty much the only threats offensively.  This Dodger offense is as weak as any from recent memory.   Perhaps 2003’s feeble offensive club with outstanding pitching is the best comparison.

Right now, Dodger comeback wins are about as probable as McCourt making  payroll in a couple of weeks.  Fortunatly, nobody in the west is dominating.  The Rockies are 4-10 in May after their torrid start.  The Giants, aren’t busting down any walls to blast through the division lead.  This Dodger team that could be buried is actually still in the hunt and a good winning streak away from being in first place.

Is it time to put hitting coach Jeff Pentland on the hot seat?

But back to the hitting.  Nobody seems to be discussing Jeff Pentland, the Dodger hitting coach.  With James Loney looking absolutely lost out there and Juan Uribe swinging from the heels on virtually every pitch, I would think that Pentland would step forward and attempt to correct things.  As I write this in the bottom of the ninth inning, I feel a sense of despair with the Dodgers knowing that Kemp was retired only to be followed by Uribe and Loney.

Juan Uribe Strikes out in the 9th inning

This club cannot win with Uribe and Loney forming a black hole in the 5 adn 6 spots in the order.  (Sure enough, Uribe struck out and Loney flied out) .  Another one run loss in a game that the pitching staff deserved ti win.  

Pentland really didn't land the Dodger job with an impressive resume.  As the former  hitting coach in Seattle during their weak performances from 2005-8 and previous to that in Kansas City  (2003-5), he really hasn't led a club to great offensive heights.  I would think that after 160 ABs, Loney's swing would be completely broken down.  He is absolutely a mess right now.  Both Barajas and Uribe just swing for the fences on every pitch.  There is no shortening up approach with those guys.  I simply see too many holes in the Dodger lineup from the #5 spot in the batting order to the #9 spot.

Here's to hoping that Kuroda can hurl a shut out tomorrow and that the Kershaw bobbleheads bring some good luck.

Some notes Following the 1-0 Loss

Did I call it or what?  Another rookie pitches a gem against the Dodgers who failed to figure him out.  It was a disappointing loss and a wasted gem thrown by Chad Billingsley.  Josh Collmenter baffled the Dodgers through 6 innings of shutout ball, allowing two hits and striking out three.  Sometimes I wonder, what is worse, the advance scouting team or the players that fail to heed the instructions of the advance scouting team?

Also, just as I thought, Brian Runge called a game favorable to the pitching staffs of both teams.  A wide strike zone to say the least.

I am finding that the more and more I analyze the game, I truly believe that umpiring plays a major role on games’ outcomes.  It would behoove each organization to keep a book on each umpire and his tendencies and then attempt to line up pitching that will best take advantage of those tendencies.  For example, juggle a starting staff and attempt to pitch a sinkerballer in games umpired by a home plate ump that has a tendency to call the low pitches strikes.

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During the 7th inning of today’s game, Charlie Steiner and Rick Monday started talking about how the Red Sox-Yankees game is the lead game shown to most of the country on Fox and then Steiner mentioned that it will also be the ESPN game on Sunday night.  Their dialogue was as follows:

Steiner:  ESPN, they’ll never get enough of the Yankees Red Sox.

Monday: Of course, there’s never enough of those games.

Steiner:  You ever notice that Bristol, CT is exactly the same distance to New York City as it is to Boston?

Monday: You ever notice that anything west of the Hudson River doesn’t exist?

Touche´ Mo.  I couldn’t have said it better.

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Hallelujah!  James Loney had an extra base hit today, his first since April 6th.

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Billingsley pitched as well today as he ever has in his career.  It’s a shame he couldn’t get the win.  Throwing a one hitter over 8 innings work with 8 strikeouts.  He was absolutely brilliant.

I dare say it that the combination of Kershaw and Billingsley is as good as any 1-2 duo in baseball.  Add an effective Kuroda, Garland and Lilly and the Dodgers have the most under-rated starting staff in the league.  We’ll see how it plays out, but I think those five will keep the club in the race throughout the season.

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Padilla's Pinched Strike Zone / In Tonight's Game That Shouldn't Be a Problem

So, Vicente Padilla's 32 pitch 9th inning was quite an adventure last night, but it appeared to me that Ted Barrett simply wasn't giving him any corner pitches.  His fastball has some tailing off movement and on two occasions he could have rung up Diamondback hitters for strike three calls.  They were all borderline pitches.  It seemed to me that Barrett was a bit gun shy about ringing up the final out on a borderline call.

I don't see Padilla's performance as too concerning, except that he shouldn't go tonight after throwing so many pitches.  My props go to Don Mattingly who didn't leave him out there to die, like Torre so often did with his closers.  Jansen was ready to go and the fireballer was just what the doctor ordered.  It was nice to see KJ jump ahead 0-2 immediately on Melvin Mora.  Once he had the count, Jansen's 97 mph fastball up above the zone was simply something that Mora couldn't lay off of or catch up to.

Don't be fooled by Jansen high ERA.  His stuff is electric and he will be an asset to the bullpen for years to come.  Unfortunately for Kenley, his awful start to the season means he'll also have to pitch about 267 consecutive shutout innings to get his ERA under 4.00.  All in the same, that's fine by me.  Perhaps his unimpressive numbers will get many in the league to overlook his nasty stuff.

Tonight, Chad Billingsley gets Brian Runge behind the plate.  He's quite different than Barrett. Runge has had his share of run-ins over the years, but they always seem to be when he calls borderline pitches in favor of the pitchers.  

Runge is the first and only umpire to eject mild mannered Ichiro Suzuki, who objected to his strike zone.  Additionally, a few years ago he had a well known rhubarb with Carlos Beltran over the same thing, being called out on a borderline strike.  We may best remember him as the umpire behind the plate that called strike three when Jonathan Sanchez of the Giants finished his no-hitter on a called third strike that was very questionable.  He got caught up in the moment and called an "Eric Greggesque" strike to end that game.

I look for Billingsley to have a good outing tonight and snatch up a few extra outs simply because he has that pitcher friendly umpire behind the plate.  Hopefully the offense can figure out Arizona rookie starter Josh Collmenter, who will be making his first major league start tonight.  How many times over the years have we seen this where an unknown rookie faces the Dodgers for the first time and dominates?

Diamondback hurler Josh Collmenter retires Jose Reyes in May 11th game at New York.

This photo from the 2009 California League All Star game shows the awkward over-the-top delivery of Josh Collmenter.

Collmenter in 14 innings of relief this year is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA.  With a straight up "over the top" delivery, something rare for a right hander, Collmenter throws a fastball, change-up and curveball.  His delivery is confusing to hitters that need to adjust to it's awkwardness.  Collmenter is not projected any higher than a number 4 or 5 starter, so here's hoping that the guys read the scouting reports, make adjustments and don't turn the kid into a hero in his first big league start.

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A few notes on last night's game:

• Kershaw looked awesome in his 11 strikout performance and was a few breaks away from having a no-hitter through 7 innings.  It's nice to see Clayton back in stride.  I think we'll see his first all-star appearance this year.  It is also good to see his ERA where it belongs, below three runs per game at 2.75.

• I wouldn't be surprised if Andre Ethier injured his knee while sliding into the concrete base of the wall along the foul line when he chased that foul ball.    I'm hoping to be wrong about Ethier being hurt on that play, but the looping hit by Xavier Nady that allowed the second D-back run in the eighth inning should have been caught.  There is a no-man's land between Miles and Ethier on pop ups that is going to kill this team.  Again, Ethier's poor UZR reared it's ugly head last night, but I'm thinking that the throbbing knee could have played a role in that.

• Is it time for the Dodgers to pad the walls along the foul lines all the way to the bottom?  I know that would change the way Dodger Stadium plays as caroms down the line would stop dead, possibly reducing the triples that sometimes are produced by balls hit off that concrete base.  That play last night reminded me of the injury Daryl Strawberry sustained as a Dodger while crashing into Dodger Stadium's formerly unpadded outfield walls.  The end result was the Dodger organization ponied up and padded the walls, since their top free agent was out for quite some time due to a separated shoulder injury that could have been prevented.

Strawberry as a Dodger

• Uribe and Loney continue to be that black hole in the 5 and 6 spots.  It amazes me that Kemp sees pitches to hit with those two following him in the order.  He is 141 at bats into the season and Loney still has only 2 extra-base hits.  That is absolutely pathetic.  I think it's time to sit Loney, start Sands at first and put Gwynn in the outfield everyday.

• Carroll and Miles continue to set the table at the top of the order nicely.  This is an unexpected and pleasant surprise.  I wouldn't count on it continuing.  Miles OBP is pretty much his batting average, since he never takes a walk.

• Rod Barajas leads the team in home runs.  Who would have thought that would happen?  I would say he's making me forget Martin, but good old Turtle has somehow remembered how to play the game again in pinstripes.  And he has pop too, already with more homers than he had all of last year.

Back up and Running?

Google Blogger has repaired the problem

It looks like the technical snafus are over and we are running again. Unfortunately my awesome post from Wednesday has been deleted, so I'm sorry about that.  It was some quality writing though.  You'll have to trust me on that.  It would've made Dave Kingman proud.  He would have liked it so much he may have even spoken to another reporter again.  Speaking of Kingman, my friend Roberto Baly over at Vin Scully is my Homeboy has given me information on a Dave Kingman appearance at Stockton on June 19th.  Link:  (Stockton Ports Website promo schedule)  Do I dare show up and pose for a picture with him while wearing this blog's t-shirt? What do you think his reaction will be? Will I have to change the name of this place? I'm not sure I want to find out. What do you think?

9-year old grandson Eric posing in his OKP t-shirt

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I'm very sorry to hear of Harmon Killebrew's deteriorating condition.  In today's announcement, Harmon, who is battling cancer of the esophagus said, "I have exhausted all options with respect to controlling this awful disease,...my illness has progressed beyond my doctor's expectation of cure."
Link: Minneapolis Star Tribune article

I wrote about Harmon Killebrew back in late December when it was announced that he'd be battling this disease:  Link:  Harmon Killebrew post from December, 2010 
A great ball player and courageous human being.  God bless you Harmon.