Bravo Sir

Let's acknowledge a Hall of Fame performance when we see one, regardless of that person's jersey.

CG, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks. 86 pitches. Dominance.

Nobodys Gonna Slow Us Down

Going into Monday night's game the Dodgers had lost 4 of their last 5. The Rockies had won 20 of their last 23. The Giants were making waves, if ever so small, up north. The Red Sox were only 2 games back of the Dodgers for the best record in all of baseball. Momentum was not on the Dodgers side. That was going into the game...

Andre Ethier and the Los Angeles Dodgers are making a habit of fantastic finishes. Ethier's two-run homer in the 13th gave the Dodgers a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night in the opener of a suddenly significant series between NL West teams.

"I can't believe we did it again," said Ethier, who hit three home runs last Friday against Seattle. "I'm just enjoying it and having fun."

Lost in all the Andre Ethier walk-off commotion was the stellar team effort of the bullpen. All seven relief pitchers made an appearance, and not one run was allowed over the course of the final seven frames. That, in my opinion, is the reason the Dodgers came away with the W.

A series shifting momentum swing? Let's hope it continues through the next few games. Come Friday we will have all the momentum we need.

Photo courtesy of AP/Mark Avery

Bottom 13th Thoughts

It's currently 2-2 heading into the bottom of the 13th. Whatever happens in this one both bullpens should be commended on keeping their respective teams in the game. The Rockies relievers are currently 5 innings strong without allowing a run. Not to be outdone, our boys are 7 innings deep without a tally against.

James McDonald better plan on going awhile if needed. He's the only relief pitcher the Dodgers have left. Sure glad we have 3 catchers though!

UPDATE: Who needs 3 catchers when you got Andre Ethier! All is forgiven Andre.

Andre Ethier Is A Liar

What happened to his earlier "no fan photos" stance? Thanks to Vin Scully is My Homeboy for the picture.

Diamond Notes spoke with Ethier before tonight's game at AT&T Park, and the right fielder said he decided during the middle of last season that he would no longer take photos with fans.

The reason? Ethier fears such photos could be used against him, especially on the Internet. Ethier said he didn't think he was being paranoid. He wants to be cautious in the new information age.

"It's all the blog things," he said. "The Dirty (of Matt Leinart fame). The sports ones. You could be at dinner having a beer, and it could be, 'He was drinking at 2 in the morning.'

"We're not in the business like actors that our face sells. It's our performance. It's your hot bat and your hot arm that keeps you on a team. I don't want my face out there."

Of course he suddenly lets his guard down when taking this picture. More home runs and all is forgiven, Andre!

Keep Looking

A lot has been made of the Dodgers desire for an additional starter come trading deadline. However, is that pitcher coming from within, instead via trade? From Jim Peltz...

If pitcher Jason Schmidt continues to show he can make 100 pitches in an outing as part of his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery, the Dodgers will "look at some point, at maybe in the not-too-distant future, that he'll be pitching here" with the big league team.

I hope, and I believe, Colletti and Co. are not naive enough to think Jason Schmidt could be that guy. After all, his track record...not so good.

I Love The Dodgers Too My Friend

This is what it's all about...

The tears rolled down his face and in a choked-up voice he said aloud, "Sometimes I just wondered what I was doing rooting for a team 3,000 miles away, but this made it worth it."

Andy Richter on Manny Ramirez

During my personal favorite "In the Year 3000" bit on the Tonight Show, Andy Richter passed along this gem...

"Manny Ramirez returns to baseball after his suspension for using female fertility drugs and becomes the first player in history to hit for the menstrual cycle."

Zing.

Trifecta

The Dodgers avoided their first consecutive three game losing streak last night, riding Andre Ethier's three home runs to victory over the Seattle Marines, 8-2.

No third loss. Three home runs. And for the numerical tres releated perfecta... how about three catchers?

Perhaps another move is coming very soon, or heck I don't know, but the Dodgers activated Eric Milton, and optioned relief pitcher Cory Wade to Albuquerque instead of 3rd string catcher AJ Ellis. Wade is indeed struggling; however, it's not like AJ Ellis will be playing much in the coming games.

Summer Six Pack

I wish I was talking about the Dodgers summer ticket package, or even beer. I wish. From Ken Gurnick...

After serving up three home runs, starting pitcher Randy Wolf served himself up as the focal point for the Dodgers' 10-7 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.

Wolf was followed by Cory Wade, who was taken deep twice, then James McDonald joined in with one. When the fireworks that signal home-team blasts at U.S. Cellular Field finally stopped exploding through the South Side night, it was the most home runs the Dodgers had allowed in one game in nearly eight years and one shy of the 55-year-old franchise record.

The Sox hit so many home runs last night that officials are checking the supply of fireworks in the city of Chicago for July 4th. At least it's not hard to figure out why the Dodgers lost last night...

"There's no way to sugarcoat it -- I stunk," Wolf said.

"It's virtually impossible to look yourself in the mirror and get big league hitters out when you hit your spot 30 percent of the time," he said. "Frankly, I'm embarrassed by the way I pitched. I was behind everybody. I threw it right down the middle of the plate. I missed spots by 16 inches. There's no way to get around it. I was awful and I deserved to get my teeth kicked in."

How awful was Wolf? To Brook's PitchFX we go...

You can clearly see he was struggling with his control, and as a result was all over the map. Then, when he tried to right himself, he'd groove one right down the plate. Oh well, another game coming up in just over an hour. In the meantime, please head over to the SOSH auction site and bid on items raising money for ALS research and improved quality of life for ALS patients.

Get Over It Bill Plaschke

Right on cue, in rides the Sheriff of Integrity....

While the Dodgers were playing the 42nd game of Manny Ramirez's 50-game suspension Tuesday, Manny Ramirez was doing something very strange.

He was playing for the Dodgers.

Well, not exactly, but close enough, as he was playing on a Dodgers-sponsored team, with Dodgers-funded teammates and coaches, in a stadium where a portion of the ticket revenue is sent to Major League Baseball.

Why is Ramirez allowed to play there? Why is Ramirez allowed to play anywhere? Since when are players allowed to turn a rehab assignment into a detox assignment?

And why can't baseball punish a guy without also apologizing to him?

Sorry about those 50 games, slugger. You can use our minor league club to get back in shape before the suspension ends, come back at full strength, is that OK?

Yeah Bill, it IS ok. In fact, so ok they made it a rule!

Today, a suspended baseball player is back on a field playing baseball and making money for the same people who suspended him.

Today, a shamed drug offender is basking in the national attention and adulation created by the same people who shamed him.

Today, a troublemaker who is currently being suspended from high school is enjoying private tutoring from his teachers in a simulated classroom environment filled with students, and where's the learning in that?

You ever heard of in school suspension? They used it at my high school all the time. Students got suspended, still had to report for school, but stayed hidden away in a cast off classroom filled with other trouble makers until their suspension was over. Sounds an awful lot like Albuquerque to me.

The Dodgers so value Ramirez's comfort above all else that they actually sent employees to Albuquerque to help him and protect him from the unwashed masses who would dare bother the great man during his courageous comeback from a female fertility drug.

Like you? Seriously, get off your high horse of morality and go back to eating penis.

Don't Worry Hiroki, No One Is Watching Anyway

While ESPN was busy cutting away to Manny Ramirez in the minors, Hiroki Kuroda was putting on a major league performance half way across the country. From Yahoo! Sports...

Kuroda (2-3) made winning without Manny look easy, allowing four hits in 8 2/3 innings [in the Dodgers 5-2 win against the Chicago White Sox].

“He was terrific as far as his command,” manager Joe Torre said. “He’s not going to beat you with his velocity. He’s going to beat you with his location and movement. He was throwing a lot of strikes. It was nice to watch.”

Kuroda fanned nine and walked none in outpitching John Danks (5-6), who again received little support at U.S. Cellular Field.

And as to not stress the bullpen worries Jonathan Broxton recorded the last out on three straight strikes to help the Dodgers earn their first victory in south Chicago in 50 years! (ok, so they've only played 3 games against the Sox in Chicago since 1959.)

While most eyes were understandably fixed on Albuquerque, it's important not to look past Kuroda's performance tonight. Sure the emotions and excitement lie in Manny Ramirez, but Hiroki Kuroda will have plenty more to say before this year is over.

(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Stop Blinking Already

There may have been some Manny news in the piece, but oh those eyes. I couldn't stop laughing. Thanks to TBLA for the video.

It's Drafty In Here

It's been a little quiet around here as of late, and I hope Walter Sobchak's picture front and center hasn't scared you away for good. Nevertheless, as the Dodgers prepare to take on the Chicago White Sox tomorrow, Manny Ramirez is further preparing for his return to the big leagues. Paraphrasing Ken Gurnick...

Manny Ramirez is hitting better now than he was before the start of his 50-game suspension for violating MLB's drug policy.

That's the opinion of the guy whose pitches Ramirez has been hitting.

"For me, he looks more like he did last year than he did at any time in Spring Training," said Flippo. "From Spring Training and right until he got suspended, he was still trying to find a rhythm. Even in April, he still looked like a hitter going through Spring Training games. He was still trying to get it to click."

Which was understandable, because Ramirez signed late, reported to the Dodgers' first Arizona Spring Training almost three weeks after the rest of the club, tried to rush his way onto the field, was slowed by a tight hamstring and never looked comfortable.

"Until last year, I had never seen him on a regular basis," Flippo said. "He comes to us and he never seemed to be off balance on a swing or get fooled by a pitch, but he did in Spring Training and he did in April. He never seemed to be in his rhythm. But he does now."

They say God never closes a door without opening a window, and the big Dodger in the sky has left two windows wide open. Not the side bathroom window variety mind you, but something on a much grander scale.

Manny Gets To Rest

While 37 years of age is nothing more than a side note for the garden variety cubicle worker, it's approaching ancient in the ranks of professional baseball. The daily grind takes it's toll on every player throughout the season, and only magnifies itself for those closer to forty. Additionally, Ramirez's teams have often found themselves in the playoffs over the years, adding further mileage to an already old pair of legs.

Now? Ramirez won't even have to play in 100 games before the playoffs begin. When he returns to the lineup we might even see a more polished Ramirez than the guy who boasted an OPS of 1.133 the first month of the season. Missing someone with that kind of output would pose a problem for most teams; however, the Dodgers haven't even missed a beat without him.


Juan Pierre

How much of a surprise has Juan Pierre been over the past 40 games? Check out the numbers if multiplied out to a full season:

.392 OBP
.832 OPS
83 RBIs
233 hits (would be 2nd all time Dodger record)
119 runs (would be 2nd all time Dodger record)
51 doubles (would be 2nd all time Dodger record)
63 stolen bases

Some of those numbers might not seem uber impressive, but for Juan Pierre those are Babe Ruthian accomplishments. Sure he's trailed off as of late, but he's on pace for what would be career highs in almost all offensive categories including, but not limited to, runs, hits, doubles, RBIs, batting average, OBP, slugging, OPS, and OPS+. But there's one more thing that represents a career high, the reason the aforementioned open window is so large. His trade value.

By no means is Juan Pierre a difference maker on any playoff contender, or even the Dodgers for that matter, but he could provide a role playing/ veteran leadership type spark on a young playoff team. About the only factor that could prevent him from being moved this season is his bloated contract. If Pierre was making something in the neighborhood of $6 million he'd be shipped for sure. It might take a prospect to offset the high cost, but a serviceable arm in the form of a 4th/5th starter doesn't seem too far out of the question.

Whatever happens in the coming weeks those windows will remain open, waiting perhaps for the winds of destiny to blow through. Might the Manny Ramirez suspension actually HELP the Dodgers? Shocking as that may seem to read, it is indeed a high possibility.

Mark It A Loss

Do you see what happens when you write a few kind words about someone? This is what happens when you write a few kinds words about someone. (OK, here's all I could find on You Tube.)

Though Guillermo Mota served up the winning home run to Juan Riviera in eighth inning, look no further than Chad Billingsley's inability to hold a three run lead earlier in the game as the glaring reason for last night's loss. Home runs by Rafael Furcal and James Loney, stellar defense plays by Casey Blake, and even an intentional walk given to the corpse of Russell Martin couldn't save this one as the Dodgers fell 5-4 to their crosstown rivals.

The Dodgers managed to get the tying run on base in the ninth inning; however, for the second time in the last three games Joe Torre took the bat away from the team's hottest hitter (3 hits, 2 of them doubles, on the night for Orlando Hudson) and ordered the sacrifice. Strikeouts by Casey Blake and Matt Kemp soon followed, and that's all she wrote. Tonight's loss moves the Dodgers record to 2-11 in Anaheim since the beginning of 2005. Pathetic.

Tomorrow night, the battle of the Weavers.

Too Funny

From MSTI's analysis of Russell Martin...

Russell Martin looks at Juan Pierre and says to himself, "man, I wish I had his power."

And to think he turned down the opportunity to secure a long term deal earlier this year.

The Bizzaro Guillermo

I've been quick to bash Guillermo over the course of this season, and rightfully so; however, it was only after Troncoso's meltdown last night that I noticed something slightly askew. Something from the bizzaro world. If I had made you guess that either Ramon Troncoso or Guillermo Mota was going to give up four runs, on two jacks, in 2/3rds of an inning thus seemingly blowing the game for the Dodgers, who would you have picked?

The first six weeks of this season were a disaster for Mota, to the point where people were calling for him to be shipped to the minors, or outright cut. However, Mota has very quietly transformed himself into a reliable pitcher over the past month not allowing a run (earned or not) in his last ten appearances. Mota's numbers of recent are shocking when compared to the way he started the season.

April 6th - May 17th: 15 IP, 9.00 ERA, 2.2 WHIP, .449 opponents OBP, .54:1 K/bb ratio

May 18th - June 17th: 11.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, .7272 WHIP, .200 opponents OBP, 4:1 K/BB ratio

Quite a difference.

Given all the negativity and outcries of ineffectiveness that plagued Guillermo Mota at the beginning of the season it is indeed exciting, and somewhat redeeming, to see a player that was left for dead seemingly turn it around and cross his Rubicon.

Now watch Mota get shelled tonight when I'm in attendance.

Last Night On Tonight

Last night Dodgers manager Joe Torre appeared on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. The full interview can be seen here; however, below are a few notable interview excerpts starting with Torre recalling a time he shared an elevator with a Red Sox fan...

Torre: I was coming down the elevator last day of the series in Boston and this guy gets on and he says to me…are you Joe Torre? And I said yes, and he says “we’re going to beat you tonight.” And I say well I hope not but if that’s the case that’s the case. And we continue on down and we’re about the third floor and I can see something is going on. And just as were about reaching the lobby he says, "you know if I had a choice of capturing Saddam Hussein or beating the Yankees, I would pick beating the Yankees."

Conan: I’d like to apologize for my father’s behavior.
----------------------------

Conan: This is a personal observation, a lot of managers, it’s not a happy task when they have to walk out to the mound to take a pitcher out. No one has a grimmer walk to the mound than Joe Torre. There are managers in the game who try and put a good face on it, I think Francona sometimes tries to look like “Well I’m just gonna come out like and eh it didn’t go well but maybe you’ll play tomorrow (Torre laughs)." You walk out like a man taking a death march.

Torre: Usually when I go out though it’s taking the ball away from the pitcher so it’s never really good news. However, when you are leading in a ball game and you have a closer like Jonathan Broxton (applause from crowd) who’s pretty special coming out of the bullpen it’s not too bad. But I walk and I run about the same speed so it doesn’t really matter.
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Conan: I need to bring up Manny Ramirez. This was a shocking story to a lot of people, one of the greatest hitters of all time, suspended from the game, a lot of allegations back and forth. This must have been a great shock to you. Did you have any clue that anything might be slightly awry with Manny?

Torre: You know I'm pretty naive and I don't want to believe players do anything and you know when this came down about Manny it was certainly a shock. It shocked the ball players as well obviously because he became such an important part of our ball club last year and the thing is he showed these guys how to have a lot of fun. The thing about it, and I know people like to pass judgment and nobody is condoning the usage of steroids in sports, but the thing about it is when you have a relationship with players...they're people. And I really felt bad for Manny because he was so embarrassed by this whole thing, which he should be, and he is still in that state basically. This is uncomfortable for him. He's looking forward to getting back to playing baseball cause that's what he does best. The players will embrace him, I know the fans in LA will embrace him, and hopefully he'll get settled in and help us score some runs.

A Jones (Not A. Jones) We Could Get Behind

Courtesy of Dodger Thoughts comes this information about the possibility of Mitch Jones being called up on Tuesday...

...the Dodgers called up catcher A.J. Ellis and ... no one else yet. But based on his hot performance of late and the fact that an outfield vacancy has been created, I'm wondering if 31-year-old outfielder Mitch Jones, who has 221 career minor league home runs but has never spent a day in the major is going to get the chance to fill the opening.

Jon goes on to discuss his power numbers (21 homers in 55 games, a .351 on-base percentage, a .693 slugging percentage) and concludes that he could prove to be a welcome addition.

Jones will need to work on his BB:K ratio (49 strikeouts to only 18 walks); however, his bat appears to be an immediate upgrade over the likes of Juan Castro and Mark Loretta coming off the bench in a late inning situation. I was excited about Mitch Jones back when he was tearing the cover off the ball at the onset of Spring Training, and will no doubt be watching with enthusiasm now...if indeed he gets the call tomorrow.

The Best Of Both Worlds

Every night I faithfully watch two things- the Dodgers and Conan O'Brien. Tonight those two will be blended into one as Dodgers manager Joe Torre is schedule to appear on this evening's Tonight Show. Though I doubt the interview will bring any new revelations to the table it should be interesting to see Torre partake in a non-serious interview.

I Just Threw Up In My Mouth

Who knew hatred and disgust tasted so bad.

Everything Is Bigger In Texas

Even Joe Torre's cockiness apparently, which is reflected in today's lineup courtesy of Inside The Dodgers...

Pierre, LF

Furcal, SS

Hudson, 2B

Ethier, RF

Blake, 3B

Loney, 1B

Loretta, DH

Martin, C

Kemp, CF

Matt Kemp batting 9th? Really? There aren't many teams that would slot a plus .300 hitter in the ninth hole. The Dodgers have used many different lineup cards all season, but this move is indeed surprising.

Gambling

Though I (like most) was against the signing of Orlando Hudson at the time, I must admit that any player would be hard pressed to replicate the dynamics he has brought to the Ravine. He's arguably been the Dodgers most consistent day in day out player thus far this season. He's exceeded all expectations, and as evident by today's article by Dylan Hernandez, even those in the Dodgers front office...

"It's beyond my wildest expectations he's doing what he's doing," assistant general manager Logan White said.

Conte doesn't disagree.

The Dodgers were well aware of how Hudson dislocated his wrist playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks last August. And, like the other teams that asked to see his medical records, they knew that his wrist would never fully recover.

Hudson didn't deny this. He still isn't denying it.

"It's not going to change," he said. "It's not going to change next month. It's not going to change when I'm 85."

The player who turned down an offer for a reported four-year, $29-million contract extension from the Diamondbacks was relegated to looking for a one-year, incentive-laden deal in the off-season.

Even at the sharp discount, the three-time Gold Glove Award winner and former All-Star had trouble finding takers. So in January, Hudson came to L.A. and worked out at Pepperdine in front of Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, Colletti assistant Rick Regazzo, White and Conte.

Workouts like these are rarely observed by both baseball and medical personnel, but this was a rare case. Conte said he had uncovered no records of any baseball player returning from such an injury.

The first workout raised concerns.

"His timing was off fielding and hitting," White said.

Conte was even less sold.

"My assessment was that his range of motion and strength was very down," he said.

Conte's recommendation to Colletti: Don't sign him.

Conte estimated that there was an 80%-90% chance that Hudson would land on the 60-day disabled list early in the season.

White feared that Hudson, then a career .282 hitter, would return as a .240 or .250 hitter.

Still, they had one message for Colletti: Considering the upside, it's worth it if you can sign him at a reasonable price.

Colletti sealed the deal with Hudson for only $3.38 million. The guaranteed one-year deal included another $4.62 million based on plate appearances.

The Dodgers' expectations were modest.

"I don't think any of us really believed he would be ready on opening day," Colletti said. "If it would've been April 20 or April 25, we wouldn't have been surprised."

Again, I'm thrilled to have Orlando Hudson playing second base right now, but this sure sounds like dumb luck on behalf of Stan Conte and Ned Colletti to me.

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images North America)

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I'd also like to point out that Fire Ned Colletti Now has moved to a new location, and can now be found at Memories of Kevin Malone. Some of this site's traffic comes from FNCN, so I doubt he needs any publicity; however, the information on that site is top notch, and if you've never read anything Kensai has written you're missing out on valuable Dodger information.

Please Grant This Man Superhuman Hearing

If only so he can hear the boos echoing from Los Angeles during the upcoming three game series in Texas.

Where are the Rangers from anyway? Obviously they're from Texas, but what city? Austin? Dallas? San Antonio? I honestly have no idea. Turns out they hail from Arlington, which begs another question. Where the hell is Arlington?

The Rangers are the only team in the American League that utilizes their state residence in their name. Three teams in the National League use their state name, with two of them hailing in the NL West. Don't know about you, but I think the Phoenix Diamondbacks has quite a ring to it. Or not.
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For other useless off-day reading, try the always entertaining off-day puzzle via Sons of Steve Garvey.

Wild Thing

There's little doubt that Chad Billingsley struggled during yesterday's game. To say he was all over the map, including a pitch charted below the "H" in Horizontal Location, would be an understatement. All charts courtesy of Brooks Baseball...


Billingsley fought through it, and managed to walk only two batters; however, he failed to get through 6 innings for the first time all season. Blame mechanics for that one...

JUNE 9th RELEASE POINT CHART (5 K's, 2 BB)

By looking at his release points you can clearly see he was struggling to find his rhythm (including those four glaring pitches in the top left of the cluster (UPDATE: Those four balls represent the intentional pass Billingsley gave to Adrian Gonzalez.)) thus leading to the high amount of pitches in the short outing. Compare last night's game (above) to an earlier start this season (below) and it's apparent that something was off...

APRIL 13th RELEASE POINT CHART (11 K's, 0 BB)

Notice how much tighter the cluster of release points from 4/13 are when compared to last night's game? The fact that Bills can still limit the damage when he is clearly not pitching his best is a testament to how good a pitcher he truly is.

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For a great draft recap, check out Fire Ned Colletti Now.

You Stay Afloat San Diego

Proving how slow it is around Dodgertown as of late, Dylan Hernandez has written two pieces about the San Diego Padres that both appear in today's Los Angeles Times. In an article outlining tough times down south was this line...

The Padres lost to the Colorado Rockies in a one-game playoff to determine the National League wild card in 2007.

A painful loss yes; however, it should never have come to that. The day before the Padres had a chance to win the wild card outright and, despite having Jake Peavy on four days rest, opted to start...wait for it...wait for it...........Brett Tomko. You'll never guess how he fared.

In actual Dodger related news, how will the Bums fare in today's draft? They have the 36th pick overall after forfeiting their first round pick to Arizona as a "penalty" for signing Orlando Hudson. Anyone want to push the reset button on that deal? Didn't think so.

A series preview, courtesy of Eric at True Blue LA.

Do Not Put $15 In The Middle

The Dodgers have tried several recession busters before; however, this may be the coolest one of all...

As the school season closes and spring turns into summer, the Los Angeles Dodgers will provide free parking in the general lots at Dodger Stadium for the three-game series June 16-18 versus the Oakland Athletics. Gates open at 5:10 p.m. and game times are 7:10 p.m.

Fans will be able to enter all Dodger Stadium gates, where the $15 parking fee will be waived for entrance into the general lots. Fans who have purchased preferred parking will still park in their sections.

“This gesture is our latest initiative to help ensure that all of our fans can enjoy our National Pastime at Dodger Stadium,” said Dodger CEO Jamie McCourt , who helped create the Commissioner’s Fan Initiative at the beginning of this season. “With the conclusion of the school year, we want to make it even easier for families to spend their summer evenings with us.”

The Dodgers will be celebrating Heroes Week during the three-game series, honoring police, firefighters, and community heroes. DodgersWIN, the club’s women’s initiatives network, will be presenting the tributes.

Please get out to the ballpark during this series. I'm only dreaming here, but perhaps a strong showing (sellout) would entice the Dodgers to offer this more in the future. $6 Dodger Dogs and $12 beers are one thing, but the high cost of parking is a tad upsetting.

I'm very excited about this and will definitely be attending a game during the series. How about you? Vote in the poll in the top right sidebar.

A Poor Photoshop Job, Or Levitation Holmes?

Welcome back Andre Ethier! Today's 4th inning homerun, and subsequent walk-off homerun, coupled with last night's walk-off hit, is just what Ethier needed to officially bust out of the slumps. From Jim Peltz...

After beating the Philadelphia Phillies with a walk-off double less than 24 hours earlier, the Dodgers' Andre Ethier came to bat in the 12th inning of Saturday's game figuring he wouldn't get a good pitch to hit.

Yet, "sure enough, they threw it right down the middle again," he said of Phillies reliever Chad Durbin.

So Ethier slugged it over the center-field fence for his second home run of the day and his second game-winner in as many days, lifting the Dodgers to a 3-2 win over the Phillies in front of 41,412 at Dodger Stadium.

I couldn't be happier for the Dodgers, but I can't help but lament over the fact that I haven't seen a game in 3 days. Personal commitments have caused me to miss part 1 and part 2 of Ethier's resurgance. Sleep caused me to miss the five run rally, and Im sure something will arise tomorrow, which is a shame. I really wanted to soak in these victories so I could rub it in to my co-worker on Monday. He still holds the trump card with Matt Stairs, but a few more victories like the recent ones should help erase that nightmare.

Photo Courtesty of Gary A. Vasquez / US Presswire

Welcome To Paradise (Which Was Not At Dodger Stadium Last Night)

The Dodger bats, much like my ears, have stopped working. From Tony Jackson...

But has anyone noticed that on this homestand, the Dodgers have scored runs in four of the 34 innings in which they have batted? They have scored a TOTAL of nine runs in the four games, with five of those coming IN ONE INNING. It’s certainly not panic time, not with an 8 1/2-game lead in the division — the Giants gained a game by virtue of Randy Johnson winning his 300th tonight — but it’s a disturbing trend, to say the least. My buddy Kevin Baxter pointed out in today’s L.A. Times that the Dodgers averaged 5.6 runs a game before Manny got suspended and that they are still averaging 5.3 runs a game without him. But lately, they have really hit the skids. And don’t forget that before they exploded for eight runs in the series finale at Chicago last weekend, they scored a total of three runs in the first three games of that series. They have now been shut out twice in the past six days.

I can't speak for the Dodger offense, but I know why my ears don't work. Tre Cool, and his maniacal drumming. Billie Joe Armstrong, and his shrieking voice. Mike Dirnt, and his thundering bass.

I'm deaf. The only noise I can pick up is the ringing in my ears after rocking out with Green Day at the Henry Fonda Theatre last night. Huge band, less than 800 people in the venue, almost 30 songs, time of my life.

How About That Bullpen

Often times you'll hear announcers claim a key to success is knocking out the starting pitcher early, and getting to the opposition's bullpen. To that I present you with tonight's pitching box score...


ERA is certainly no end all to judging a pitcher's success, but try telling that to Arizona who had to go from 2.59 to 2.23 to 1.83 to 1.33. They started off facing an Ace and ended being vanquished by the King.

Liberals On The Right Side

Of all my trips to Dodger stadium (average of 10- 15 games per season) I've sat in the All You Can Eat Pavilion only one time. I distinctly remember eating two Dodger Dogs, an order of nachos, and a single water. The total bill in any other section would normally be around $20, give or take a dollar, and thus I left satisfied knowing I had only paid $25 for the food AND ticket. However, as Steve Lopez notes, I sold myself quite short...

You've heard about Dodger Dogs.

Today, a story about Dodger hogs.

On Monday night, I went to the Ravine to see if the recession was driving more fans into the right field bleachers, where a ticket comes with a promise:

All you can eat, no questions asked.

Think about it. You can fast all day, pig out at the ballgame and not have to eat the next day.

Dodger spokesman Josh Rawitch said that although total Dodger attendance is up 1% this year, it's up 6% in the All You Can Eat Pavilion. "We were just talking about this, and I think the recession might have something to do with it," said Eddie Vidana, usher captain, who has seen more sell-outs this year in right field.

As the game was getting underway Monday, I spotted Robert Ruiz, Juan Avalos and Steve Martinez, who all work at the Porterville Developmental Center north of Bakersfield. They were eating like they'd been sentenced to death and were going for broke on their last meal. Ruiz had polished off two hot dogs, nachos, a bag of popcorn, a soda and a water by the first inning.

Avalos was keeping pace with two hot dogs, two nachos and a soda. Martinez was on his third hot dog and had a tray with four sodas on it, all for himself. L.A. is more than three hours from Porterville, the buddies said, but the endless supply of food makes the long trip worthwhile, even with a $15 parking fee.

"The last time we came, he called in sick the next day," Ruiz said of Avalos, but they couldn't agree on whether it was four hot dogs or six that did the damage.

To be honest, though, these guys were pikers. Several rows down, Daniel Tzec, a Pomona housekeeper, had eaten six hot dogs and one order of nachos by the second inning. He also had quaffed three beers, which cost extra, unlike sodas or water. Tzec looked like he was running out of gas, but he insisted otherwise.

"It's just a little rest," he said, and he may not have been kidding. Four more dogs, on very short leashes, were cradled next to him on a cardboard tray.

As I talked to Tzec, I began questioning my support for universal healthcare. Do I really want to take on the burden of medical care for someone who's inclined to eat six hot dogs in two innings? According to the Farmer John website, a Dodger Dog has 240 calories, 200 of them from fat, as well as more sodium than the Salton Sea. Do you get a souvenir defibrillator with your 10th dog?

One of the ushers told me she'd seen people eat themselves sick in right field, and when the ballgames are over, fans have been known to smuggle more peanuts and hot dogs past security and out of the stadium. There's no way to prevent it, one guard said, so they don't even try.

Despite my rush to judgment, I must say there's something exhilarating about the idea of living without self-control or the desire to develop any. When I saw Paul Galle lift his girth off the bleachers and head under the stands for refills, I noticed that he was smiling like a thief, as if he couldn't believe the Dodgers and Levy Restaurants, the stadium concessionaire, were foolish enough to let him plow through their buffet of saturated fat to his heart's content.

He said he was still hungry after two nachos, one popcorn, two bags of peanuts and eight hot dogs.

Eight hot dogs?

"Actually that's four double dogs," said Galle, who's in his 30s. And what exactly is a double dog? Galle, a schoolteacher from Chino Hills, explained that he gets the maximum allowable four hot dogs on each trip to the concession stand, then throws away two of the buns and stuffs the extra dogs into the remaining buns. With less bread, he's able to eat more meat.

Galle has it down to a science at the condiment station, where he nimbly makes the dog transfer, tosses spare buns, and loads up with ketchup, mustard and relish.

"That's unfortunate," he said as one bun split under the weight of two dogs, and he substituted with a backup bun.

By the way, his ticket to this little orgy had cost him just $17.50 on EBay.

"I don't know if that's a recession-buster, but it's a great deal and an awesome value," said Galle, who said he weighs 320 pounds but tries not to think about it.

"I wouldn't weigh myself for a week after coming to Dodger Stadium," he said. "I'm not a glutton."

Yes, he said, he feasts on life, lives in the moment and offers no apologies.

"I'm very existentialist," he said. "I was a philosophy major."

(In best Homer Simpson voice)..."Hmmm...Double Dog."

Damn You Sleep

Matt Kemp singled to lead off the eighth, and my eyes grew heavier. Brad Ausmus popped out to second, and my pillow grew softer. By the time Mark Loretta struck out the sandman had already claimed his victim.

It was the first time I had fallen asleep during a Dodger game this season. Lame.

My untimely nap that is, not the outcome. From Ken Gurnick...

James Loney hit a tying three-run double in the eighth inning and Casey Blake followed with an RBI single, leading the defending NL West champions to a 6-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night and improving their record to a major league-best 36-18.

"A most unlikely victory with the starter they had and the lead he had," manager Joe Torre said, considering Arizona's Dan Haren was spotted a 5-0 lead after two innings and had a two-hitter when he left after seven innings.

The win was only the Dodgers' second when they trailed after seven innings.

And in the unkindest irony of all, it's only now that I can't go to sleep. At least someone got to see it. I wonder if he refrained from cheering in the press box for that one?

At Least ESPN Got One Thing Right

Regardless of the meaningless "Power Rankings" done by ESPN each week I think we can all agree that the Dodgers are the number one team in baseball...


However, they really botched Arizona's line...

For the seeing impared that reads, "The Diamondbacks have not won a series over the first two months of the season." Oops...

(Series win over Colorado)

(Series win over Chicago)


(Consecutive series wins over Florida and Oakland)

Outside of keeping the fact checking department at ESPN in line, there's really no point to this other than to note that the Dodgers are good, and the Diamondbacks aren't.