Matt Kemp Is Funny Too

Three recent postings on Matt Kemp's Twitter page...

about 3 hours ago from Echofon
It's official Andre Ethier and myself jus won the silver slugger....wow!!! God has blessed me this year!!! This is another great day.

about 3 hours ago from Echofon
And I jus found out my boy Torii Hunter won the silver slugger 2. Two LA centerfielders holding it down 4 LA

about 2 hours ago from Echofon
My fault, my boy Torii plays for Anaheim...lol

Hilarious. Let's lock this guy up for years to come.

Manny A Thoughts

A little late to the party on this one, but that's neither here nor there. As you've all heard by now Manny Ramirez will be returning to the Dodgers in 2010. Admittedly the hoopla surrounding his return was substantially less than his initial arrival in 2008, and subsequent signing in 2009. Another season of Manny was such a foregone conclusion that it didn't even warrant a post when news broke a week ago. That is until this email exchange my Dad and I had today.

DAD: I am anxiously awaiting your R.O.B post concerning Manny.

ME: What about him? He's on the team for another year. Can't really say its a surprise. Do you know you something I don't?

DAD: No. I just thought you might comment on his taking of all that money after his less than stellar performance, and after his suspension. He was a bust in the playoffs (edit: minus hitting home runs that isn't entirely correct), and he could learn something about playing from the young guys. He better not turn into a cancer in the clubhouse like he did in Boston. He better quit playing all of the balls to left field like they are coming off the green monster, and when spring training time comes he had better be ready to contribute. A lot of us want to see the Dodgers really finish the season right and he needs to be a part of it for it to happen.

Can't really raise an objection to the fielding or spring training remarks. Good to see someone thinking about spring before winter has even set in.

Matt Kemp Is Golden

From the Press Release...

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Rawlings today announced that center fielder Matt Kemp and second baseman Orlando Hudson were awarded the National League Rawlings Gold Glove for their respective positions. Kemp becomes a Rawlings Gold Glove winner for the first time in his career.

Kemp led all Major League center fielders and ranked third among all big league outfielders with 14 outfield assists. His .995 fielding percentage was third among NL center fielders, behind Gold Glove winner Shane Victorino and Nate McLouth. The Oklahoma native made just two errors on the season.

While Hudson might not have been the most qualified winner, there is no debating the merits of Matt Kemp. He could have filled his own highlight reel roaming the outfield. My personal favorite was his "Willie Mays" over-the-shoulder catch made on July 10th. Not only did he make the game saving grab, he also hit the game winning grand slam in the top of the 10th inning. It was one of those games that made you sit back and say, "DAMN!" Of course, in typical media fashion, the writer spent half the recap column gushing over Manny.

Anyway, a big congratulations to Matt Kemp on an award truly deserved. Here's to many more.

Photo Courtesy of Orel @ SOSG

Dodgers Decline Garland's Option

Courtesy of Ken Gurnick...

The Dodgers declined the $10 million 2010 mutual option for right-handed pitcher Jon Garland, who can become a free agent.

Garland is entitled to receive a $2.5 million buyout, which will be paid by the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of the terms of the trade that sent Garland to the Dodgers for infielder Tony Abreu on Aug. 31.

I'm not one to stress over losing prospects, but giving up Tony Abreu for 36 1/3 innings of Jon Garland is something I'd rather not think about.

That's not an attempt to take away from anything Garland did as a Dodger (153 ERA+), or the prospect of having a reliable, albeit expensive, innings eater for 2010, but Garland's acquisition in late August was anything but necessary. With Charlie Haeger (125 ERA+, 1.053 WHIP), James McDonald (2.89 ERA in August/ September/ October) and even Jeff Weaver (114 ERA+), the Dodgers had more than enough candidates to fill those 36 1/3 innings, and didn't need to sacrifice their probable second basemen for the immediate future. So much for best laid plans, right?

Year In Reflection, Part II

From Orlando Hudson's home opening cycle to the multiple walk-off hits at the bat of Andre Ethier, there's no denying the 2009 Dodgers had a flair for the dramatic. Mark Loretta's hit in Game 2 of NLDS was the biggest walk-off of the year, but that's not to discount anything that Andre Ethier, who was named the "2009 MLB Clutch Performer of the Year," accomplished throughout the season. Of Ethier's six walk-off hits (four via home run) I was fortune enough to be in attendance for this one...

August 6th, 2009

Often times, before a game, my friends and I sit in the parking lot and drink a few beers before entering the stadium gates. We're not of the party going variety by any stretch, but the prospect of paying Frank McCourt $12 for a single beer is not something we consider fair market value. While tailgating at Dodger Stadium is technically illegal, you feel invisible to the law when you park between two large vans and drink behind tinted windows. That is until LAPD bicycle cops ride in between cars and begin to knock on windows. Talk about a buzz kill before the buzz.

My friend and I were pleasantly surprised when the officers politely explained the safety risks involved with tailgating, and instructed us enter the stadium without so much as a warning. A rough way to begin the night, but the damage could have been much worse. Sorta like watching Jeff Weaver start a game.

Facing their old friend Derek Lowe, the Dodgers quickly dug themselves into an early 2-0 hole, and would fail to lead at any point through the first 8.2 innings. It's not as if the chances didn't present themselves though. The Dodgers sent the go ahead runs to plate in both the seventh and eighth innings; however, strikeouts by Manny Ramirez (with two on in the seventh) and Matt Kemp (with two on in the eighth) to conclude each inning were unbelievably deflating. The crowd quickly thinned out, unaware of what would unfold to the faithful that remained.

Pierre and Furcal singled to start the bottom of the ninth, and would be hero Andre Ethier stepped to the plate. Three pitches later the ball game was over. If walk-off singles are sweet, then three run walk-off long balls are double chocolate fudge cheescake. Here's what I wrote about the game upon getting home that night:

A frustrating strikeout by Matt Kemp in the 8th inning saw the stands at Dodger Stadium empty like a dam letting loose years of stored up water. Doubt was in the air. However, those moments of agony and wondering at what might have been were soon replaced with memories of wonder and amazement at what actually was.

Tonight's walk-off home run by Andre Ethier not only won the game, but brought back the swagger to a team going through a tough part of the season. Three outs away from losing 8 of the past 12, the Dodgers stood strong, and refused to go quietly into the night.

The memories still resonate three months later, and refuse to fade into obscurity. It was yet another pleasant Dodger moment of 2009. However, as I wrote earlier, "the supporting cast present during those moments transcend[s] simply being at the ballpark watching Dodger baseball." Eventually the finer details of this game will fade away, and will be replaced with the remembrance of another Dodger game with my dear friend.

A Reminder

Under a full moon, and amongst the creepies and crazies, I fought my way through the festivities at Universal City Walk last night. The high volume of foot traffic demanded my full attention as I weaved and waved through the crowd on the way to my final destination. I hastily turned a corner and, out of the corner of my eye, caught the unmistakable neon blue glow of the Dodger logo hanging above the team store.

I was taken aback for a second, as it was the first time I had thought about the Dodgers in almost a week. That may seem like no big deal to some, but after thinking about them non-stop for the better part of the year it was a little saddening. The Dodgers may be done playing for the year; however, they're anything but distant in my mind. Last night was a surprising reminder of that.