'Dre's look-a-like

Wow, does 'Dre look like a young Ron Darling, or what? Both of them are cuties and have movie star looks.

DAMN IT!

*@#$%^&**&^!!!

There's No Place Like Home

Good:
Manny being Manny (Mannywood)
Andre Ethier is a virtual RBI machine
Matt Kemp's spectacular fielding, hitting and base running prowess
Orlando Hudson's hitting, hustle and stellar defense
Chad Billingsley's 5-0 record
Jonathan Broxton's lights out saves
The bench player's clutch hitting: Loretta, Ausmus, Pierre & Castro
Middle relief: Troncoso, Wade & Weaver

Bad:
Russell Martin's lack of hitting (What is up with Russ?)
Casey Blake's slow start at the plate (Exceptional defense though)
Middle relief: Ronald Bellesario and Will Ohman (Scary)
James MacDonald's complete MELTDOWN (Poor kid)


At this moment, the good definitely outweighs the bad. The Dodgers currently have the best record in baseball at 19-8. Can it get any better than that? Yes, they have eleven straight home victories. Tonight they go for twelve against the light hitting D'backs and I will be there to cheer them on!

Come on boys, put the petal to the metal!

Let's Go Blue!!!

A Walk in the Park

There's noting more exciting than a walk off game winning hit. The Dodgers didn't get that last night. What they got was a bases loaded walk to push across a run and steal the game from Jake Peavy and the Padres. Peavy totally shut the Blue down through 8 innings, allowing 2 hits and 1 walk. Young Dodger lefty Kershaw matched him pitch for pitch, allowing only 4 hits and 2 walks. Thus, it made for an old fashioned pitcher's duel at the Ravine. Something quite rare and far between these days. In the end, it turned out to be a one inning game and battle of the bullpens with the Dodgers coming out on top, 1-0. One base hit and three walks put the game on ice. Russell Martin who is hitting below the Mendoza line drew the walk-off walk. BTW, WTF is up with Russell? Any ideas? The Dodgers are off to their best start at 8-0 since the 1946 Brooklyn Dodgers.

Deja Vu

Been there, done that! The Dodgers over the Rockies, 6-5, once again. J-Mac wasn't sharp, but a 1st inning rally and key hits and four RBIs by J. Martin helped the Dodgers put down the Rockies for the 5th straight head to head game. Shout out to Troncoso who came away with a 12 out save. Nice work dude! It's exactly what the bullpen doctor ordered. The Blue go for the sweep this afternoon.

Unsung Heroes

It was not a stellar performance by Eric Stulz tonight. He zig-zagged his way through trouble throughout his six innings at Coors Field. Credit him for hanging in there and not letting the game get away. I don't know what it was about this particular game, but it was like watching paint dry. It dragged on and on and on. It was ugly. How many times could our bullpen give up a lead down the stretch? How many players were they going to strand? Answer: Many. However, when the smoke cleared, we were on top. We'll take the win, thank you very much. The Blue are 12-5 and in sole possession of 1st place.

Btw, have I mentioned I really really like our bench players? Brad Ausmus and Mark Loretta have come up huge for the Dodgers. Although they have had limited playing time, they're turning out to be clutch. Credit tonight's win to them for producing those crucial three runs. Oh and throw a little love Broxton's way. Me thinks Joe has a man-crush on that bad big boy! Either that or our bullpen blows right now, sans Broxy!Boo Yeah! Dodgers edge Rockies, 6-5.

The Red Hot Blue

That's right folks, a 10-3 record! Before I get to excited, yeah, I remember the 2005 start, when they went 12-2 and ended up in 4th place a gazillion games out. But this is not that team and Jim Tracy is not the manager. The 2009 team has a different hero every game, whether it's Manny finally busting out and smacking two bombs last Saturday or Andre Ethier smacking two of his own, tying him in the league for ribbies at 16. Or whether the following day, it's Matt Kemp jacking his two bombs, one of them a grand slam. And even the newest Dodger Orlando Hudson, who on Opening Day at the Ravine hit for the cycle, something which hadn't been done by a Dodger in 40 years. The little dude is spraying the ball all over the field, triples, doubles, singles, you name it. I think it's safe to say, the O-Dawg is taking full advantage of batting in front of Manny in the the lineup. Whatever the case, these Dodgers are hitting the snot out of the ball and I, for one, am in Blue Heaven.

The starting pitching and bullpen are holding up fine. Yes, shaky at times, but getting the job done. Chad Billingsley owns a 3-0 record, Jonathan Broxton has been lights out and the kid, Clayton Kershaw, is mowing down the opponents at an exceedingly high rate. Overall, the pitching has surpassed my expectations. I just hope they can keep this up.

And let's give a shout out to the bench players. If not for his dumbass slide into 2nd base last Thursday, that Meintnkieyegyruweiyurowicz guy looked pretty solid. It's really a shame he separated his shoulder and will be out for most of the season, if not all of it. Another positive sign is that in the first 13 games, the bench guys, Brad Ausmus, Mark Loretta, Juan Pierre, Juan Castro and Doug Mientkiewicz have already surpassed what Mark Sweeney did all of last year. Seriously, look it up. So, it seems the Dodger brass finally got the right pieces of the puzzle in place. Now let's see what the team does. I'm sure looking forward to it!

The Dodgers have a night off and then it's off to Houston for a 3 game series. Kershaw to pitch tomorrow.

KKKKKKKKKKKKKershaw!

On Jackie Rosbinson night at the Ravine, young Clayton Kershaw, pitched the game of his young life. He allowed one hit, while striking out 13 Gnats. Torre replaced Kershaw in the 8th and unfortunately for him, the bullpen blew his spectacular game by coughing up a three run homer to Aaron Rowand. Nevertheless, the Dodgers fought back by rallying in the bottom of the 8th tying the game at 4 all. They finally pulled the game out, with a bases loaded walk, edging the Gnats for a final of 5-4. Phew!.

Perfect Day!

Billz has a tremendous start, going a fantastic 7 innings, giving up one run, striking out 11.

Ethier supplied the power, knocking two home runs bombs, picking up 4 ribbies.

Newest Dodger, Orlando Hudson, supplied the electricity, hitting for the cycle in his first appearance in front of the home crowd. (Note: Last Dodger to hit for the cycle was Wes Parker in 1970).

No 1 Dodger, Vin Scully, was the honoree and threw out the first pitch. He has served 60 years as the voice of the Dodgers.

The Dodgers pounded the Gnats, 11-1!

Could not have asked for a better day!







WELCOME TO L.A., O-DAWG!

Hungry Like the Wolf

Randy Wolf went a strong 7 plus innings before being lifted for a reliever. He gave up a couple hits and one run. The Dodger offense did not pick up where they left off yesterday, but nevertheless, got the job done. Thanks in part to a very strange play. Tony Jackson has a great recap for those of us still baffled by it.

In then end, Dodgers beat Dan Haren, 3-1, taking 2 of 3 from the Snakes. Broxton picked up his 3rd save and Matt Kemp is the only Dodger to have hit safely in the first seven games.

I'll be playing hooky in order to attend tomorrow's home opener against the Gnats.

GO BLUE!