APPROACHING THE ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM...

As June approached for the Los Angeles Dodgers, there are two HUGE story lines that will become very apparent. "Manny goes back to Fenway Park". This is for the first time since the trade". Then right after, "The Yankees are coming".

Joe Torre will be willing to talk about his love for Derek Jeter and his fond memories he spent in Pinstripes. There is no doubt in my mind that he is also relieved that THEY are coming to Dodger Stadium instead of the Dodgers going into the New Yankee Stadium. The one Joe was not apart of. What is interesting about baseball players is they very rarely show emotion. If you ask Joe or Manny how badly they want to beat their former teams, they will both say that they want to beat every team they play. The real fun will come when reporters try and think of a million different ways to ask this question to get a different answer!

When the Yankees come, Dodger stadium will turn into NYC west. There will be a million FOT's (Friends of Torre) sitting in the "Good Seats" for every game. Although the Dodgers are not allowing the purchase of just one Yankee game ticket, (you have to buy a multiple game package) there will not be an empty seat in the house.

When the Dodgers go to Fenway,(those games already sold out)it will be a media east coast circus. I love covering east coast games. The media resemble a lioness stalking her prey. It's hilarious! I have seen the pushy approach, the Big Network Reporter, the Rude question reporter, the reporter who looks like she is a prostitute to get attention. I'm not making any of this up, it's the East coast. LA has TJ Simers, but the east coast has everyone! The thing that is most amusing is the athletes "get it" and no one "gets it" more than Manny! Manny has seen it all, heard it all, laughs at it all! I love this about him. Watching someone who does not react to the obvious is a real skill. Manny may be embarking on 550 homeruns but his real gift is not swinging the bat but keeping it in check.

Since Manny has been a Dodger, we have never seen that Bad Manny. EVER. Not once. Sure he does the occasional leave the locker room early. So does everyone else. Not different. He always has time for a picture or an autograph. Maybe Joe Torre has something to do with that. There is something about Joe that makes you want to be better, as a person. Not just a ball player. No disrespect to Terry Francona or any other manager but Joe is Joe.

Which goes back to, how bad does Joe want to beat his former team at Dodger stadium? I'll keep you posted.....

DODGER THOUGHTS FROM SPRING TRAINING 2010

For Reporters, Arizona is a welcome location to work. The weather is 81 everyday and Spring Training is always relaxing. For Athletes the weather is also 81 everyday and although Spring Training starts out relaxing, after a few weeks not so much. For some.

The big question for the Los Angeles Dodgers is simple...get past the Phillies and win the World Series. It has been two winning season's for the Dodgers. National league champs. They even get through the first round of the playoffs, sweeping the unstoppable St.Louis Cards last year and the Cubs the year before that. It's the next round that is still a sore spot for the Dodgers.

So what is different in 2010? The kids are older now, not kids anymore. Andre Ethier is a bonafide player and Matt Kemp is right behind him. Now if James Loney follows and the trio have grown a little stronger, the middle of the order will score runs.
Rafael Furcal and Casey Blake look solid. Casey Blake shaved off a few pounds and his signature facial hair. Looks pretty good to me. The starting job at second will come down to the wire with Blake DeWitt and Ronnie Belliard neck in neck. DeWitt has been working in the off season and is noticeably better. Larry Bowa can't stop talking about him.

The controversial question is still about Manny. Is he done or does he have another year in him? Reporters love to try to antagonize Manny. For the most part, he knows how to let it roll off his back. Sometimes I think they forget how long Manny has been playing this game. Manny is relaxed in Spring Training games and can still hit, catch and throw. Joe Torre is not worried about Manny or himself for that matter. In the category of "most stupid questions ever" is the one Joe Torre is not answering, will you renew for next season? Can we get through this season first? Just think, if you hold that question until atleast September, it will give you a great story to get in the way of the playoffs!!

Russel Martin made news this season by gaining some weight and then pulling a groin which will keep him out of the line up on Opening Day. Russel did not look that over weight to me. lets hope he heals fast. Until then AJ Ellis will start.

The big question for the LA Dodgers is who is on the mound. Clayton Kershaw is only getting better and only 22. Vincente Padilla seems to be focused, we will see how long that lasts. Billingsly seems to be more together than I have ever seen him. He actually came over and said hello to me. He never even looks up let alone says hello. Hiroki Kuroda is aging. No one knows what that means. As far as a 5Th starter, well alot of teams don't really have a 5Th starter. Not sure the Dodgers do either. Torre likes his middle relievers and closers, never likes to let a starter pitch more than 5 innings which drives me nuts but I will not claim to know more about pitching than Joe does.

There are ALOT of new/old faces in the Dodger Spring Training locker room. Former Angel Garrett Anderson along with Jamey Carroll, Reed Johnson, a couple of guys named Ortiz. Joe Torre told me he wishes he had a little more time to figure out what to do with all these guys. Who will make the roster? It's all wait and see.

As we have seen, having the best record in the National league does not guarantee you much in the post season. Since the only time the National media talks about the Dodgers is when it's about Manny or the McCourts divorce, I will be blogging alot more this year to tell you rest. By the way I did see Frank McCourt in Spring Training and as far as I know, he is still the owner of the Dodgers and he is still getting a divorce.

STERLING NEEDS TO PULL THE TRIGGER

It's been awhile since I have blogged, but I am back! In an effort to bring you information from a behind the scene's perspective in sports we have to address what is really going on with the Los Angeles Clippers. Not the hype, but the reality. Owner Donald Sterling has cleaned house. His lame effort to get rid of Dunleavy entirely is finally a reality. Going back to 6 weeks ago when Sterling decided to relieve Dunleavy of his coaching duties. (This came after the Clippers lost to the practically win less Nets)But Dunleavy said that he would remain as General Manager and the decision to step down as head coach was mutual. Come on now, you don't have to be an insider or brain surgeon to figure that one out. Here is what I did find out. When the coaching change was made, people close to Sterling were shocked that Dunleavy was still there in any capacity, let alone as GM. Dunleavy is still owed several million for next year but his reign is over with the Clippers. For whatever reason, his coaching style did not work with the players. Although interim coach Kim Hughes has no real experience, I have never seen players so happy to have someone else, anyone else in there to lead. They actually wanted to win for him. That was short lived. While Dunleavy was still GM, he traded away Marcus Canby and Al Thornton. Dunleavy never liked Thornton who will more than likely have a huge career somewhere else. Although the addition of Rasual Butler has been a success, the Clippers are again left without continuity on the court. Let alone the fact that they don't really know each other at all. It has been one recipe for disaster and failure after another.
So as the season started with the Blake Grffin injury it ends with no leadership and a whole bunch of money to spend. Will Sterling finally do the right thing and spend the money on a Byron Scott? LeBron James? Or will the Clippers settle for odds and ends? This team needs a new vision, one that will lead the to wins. Not mediocrity. Do the right thing Sterling, sell the team or spend the money but pull the trigger!

PERFECTION OR SUPERBOWL?

Two weeks ago we were looking at not one but two undefeated teams 14-0. Conveniently one in the NFC and one in the AFC. With just a handful of games remaining the rumbling started. Could the Saints and the Colts stay perfect all the way through and play each other in the Superbowl? We now know that the Dallas Cowboys woke up in New Orleans and knocked the Saints out of the running for perfection. A week later, Jim Caldwell made a decision that would allow the 72 Dolphins to once again pop that perfect bubbly. With 5:36 remaining in the third quarter and a five point lead over the New York Jets, the head coach took out his starters including their MVP Peyton Manning. With the best record in the NFL and a first round bye secured, Coach Caldwell told his team he was planning to take out starters to avoid injury. Peyton Manning said he knew this was a possibility but did anyone get a look at his face when he was banished to the sideline? He was clearly not Ok with the decision. He would not be the competitor that he is to be content with any decision that would take him out of a game. Let alone one in which his team would end up loosig the game. Meaningless or not.

Bottom line is this. Every year when a team is close to perfection, it becomes a story. It hasn't been done since the 1972 Dolphins. The Bears tried, the Patriots missed by one, the BIG one which is why Peyton and his fellow starters paced anxiously on the sideline. The stress of answering the same questions each week, the pressure to be perfect will eventually ware you down. Players always want to win every game, they play to win. But there is the Big picture. Play Peyton and the starters and possibly you stay perfect. Play Peyton and the starters in a meaningless game and they get hurt, it will be called the most idiotic decision in NFL history. Especially for a first year head coach who took over from an icon.
When you start the season the goal is to win the Superbowl. The Colts have been in a rhythm this season to reach that goal. Should Coach Caldwell have had enough faith in his team to pursue perfection? Or is the coach sticking to the main goal first and foremost? Either way, the Colts do not have to answer any more questions about being undefeated and I have no doubt that the Jets sent Coach Caldwell a fruit basket.

When Will Mike Dunleavy say UNCLE?

Covering the Los Angeles Clipeers is an interesting prospect. You have a wealth of experience and talent on the roster but they seem to have no real plan when they are playing on the court. Then you have coach and GM Mike Dunleavy. Nice guy and knows the game of basketball but does not seem to be getting through to his team. Last season, the Clippers were a MASH unit with all the injuries. They finished below
500. Even with the addition of Baron Davis, Mike Dunleavy could not find a game plan that produced wins. This season is turning out much the same. Number one pick Blake Griffin is nursing an injury and the Clippers are finding new ways to blow 18 point leads in a game.

Sitting practically court side while covering these games,(yes that is the perk I get for covering the Clippers)I have heard alot of suggestions as to what needs to be done, from season ticket holders no less. One in particular makes sense. When will Mike Dunleavy fire himself as coach, get Byron Scott in and then put all of his energies into being the GM? Has Dunleavy thought about this scenario? It certainly is not working the way that it is. It is unfortunate that owner Donald Sterling is not interested in anything more than his court side seats at Staples. He says he is committed to spending money to make the Clippers a winning team but the Clippers need more than just money, they need a plan.

During Clipper games there are numerous "Fire Mike Dunleavy" signs seen throughout the Staples Center crowd. I guess Sterling does not notice them. Over the years I have seen the loyal Clipper fans dwindling. The ones that have remained tell me that buying season tickets for the Clippers is a cheaper way to see all the good teams in the NBA, including the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers. By the way did I mention that the World Champioon Lakers locker room is right next to the Clippers locker room?

The Clippers need a change, something to shake them up. Come on Mike, think about the suggestion of your season ticket holder. What do you have to loose?

LA BASEBALL HAS COME DOWN TO ONE GAME, THE NEXT ONE.

No one would have believed that both the Dodgers and the Angels would be down three games to one in the ALCS and the NLCS. This season both the Dodgers and Angels were leading their respective divisions practically all year. For a time, the Dodgers had the best record in baseball but then, here come the mighty Yankees. The Bronx Bombers did not start out on fire but their flame is burning bright in the playoffs. As Joe Torre has told us many times, it's not over till someone wins four games. I think Mike Socia would agree and no one is giving up. Are the east coast Yankees and the Philly's stronger than the west coast boys? Maybe, or maybe they have just been hot so far.

In baseball it's all about getting hot, being in the zone. Seeing the ball well. And it can happen at any time. If the Dodgers and Angels intend to move on to the big dance, they will have to get hot and get in the zone in the next game. If they can do that, it may just carry them on to the next game and the next. Don't worry about looking up how many teams have some back from a three to one deficit. The Red Sox did it to beat the Yankees and Manny Ramirez and Doug Mientkiewicz were apart of that team. Both players will tell you it all comes down to not giving up, no matter what.

Sometimes baseball is so infuriating from the players perspective. They are always confident, never up and never down. (They do seem to be excited after a win when they all pile on top of each other but that is about it.) For the fans, they are standing in the ninth inning, clutching their team shirts and praying their team comes out on top. Hoping beyond hope, this will be the magical year that their guys will win it all. Crying, screaming and yelling for that last out. And while the players appear to be cool, trust me inside, they are praying for the same dream.

DRINKING THE BLUE KOOL AID

The Dodgers have stuck together this season, which has not always been easy. When Manny Ramirez was suspended, Juan Pierre stepped up. Even Jamie McCourt stood behind Manny.

Heroki Kuroda who was arguably one of the best starting pitchers the Dodgers had, got hit in the head and had an injury that prevented him from being able to play in the first round of the playoffs. In comes Ned Colletti on his white horse with Vincente Padilla.

Chad Billingsly slipped down the stretch, so much so that Ned Colletti got back on the horse to find Jon Garland who was literally traded during a game at Dodgers stadium while he was sitting in the D'Backs dugout. Thankfully for Ned, the horse did not have to travel too far.

Most of the season, everyone held their breathe. Now after a sweep of the St.Louis Cardinals in the first round of the playoffs, we can breathe a little easier. There is still the nagging question for Joe Torre, you swept the Cubs last season and then lost to the Philly's in 5 games, so how do you get through the next round and on to the World Series?

I will tell you this, the kids are growing up. The Veterans are stepping up. And the chemistry in the clubhouse is making even the saltiest reporters smile. Why? Because this team believes they can win. And it's contagious.

Adversity can lead to victory, just ask anyone wearing Dodger blue. After a very tough 5 game slump at the end of the season, most people started to write them off, but they stayed positive. That is what Veteran leadership does for the younger crowd. "Been there, know that." Even when Manny wasn't hitting, he was lifting everyone up in the clubhouse.

It matters.

Now after all the adversity, the Dodgers move on and everyone is drinking the
Blue Kool-Aid.