I love covering sports in Los Angeles. I love the fact that everyone panics when the Lakers, Dodgers or Angels loose more that three games in a row, especially when they are all in first place in their divisions.
You see, sports franchises here are suppose to always win, no matter what or they are out of contention. Now people are a little more positive about the Lakers, a little more. When it comes to baseball, this is another story.
Before the All Star Break, the Dodgers had not lost three games in a row since September of last year. Quite an amazing stat. The Dodgers also had the best record in ALL OF BASEBALL. They also had a huge lead, eight games in the National League West. Now in the dog days of August, they hit a bump. Even after Manny Ramirez hit the most amazing Grand Slam on his bobblehead night, the Dodgers are in a slump. They are still five games over the Giants but they are playing them in San Francisco this week so everyone has hit the panic button. That is right before anyone even picks up a bat, the Dodgers are in trouble.
I am glad that Joe Torre does not think that way. Do they need another starting pitcher to make it in the playoffs? Of course. I do know that Ned Colletti is looking for a starting pitcher. I am still not completely sure why one of our many relievers can't be made a starter but that is for another day.
Everyone wants to know who is the leader on the Dodgers? Which player is the leader of the team? One thing I have learned in baseball unlike football who has a clear cut leader, (usually the QB) is that in baseball you have to have a strong organization behind you. Individual players, even star players don't lead. And no one even asks who the leader is when the team is winning. The leader in the Dodger locker room is Joe Torre. After loosing three out of four from Atlanta, Joe called a team meeting, he actually called two. They were private. Joe and the players. I always get a kick out of the writers who ask Joe what was said in the team meeting and he politely responds with, "If I had wanted you to know what was said, I would have invited you in".
Everyone needs to take a deep breathe and realize the Dodgers are still in first place. Even if they loose all three games in San Francisco, they will still be in first place. But I will tell you this. if the Dodgers do loose all three games, Dodger fans in Los Angeles will be counting down the days till the Lakers season starts...because the start of the season is the only time these fans seem to have any faith!
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