MANNYS MUM AS ARE THE DODGERS IN BOSTON

So Manny returned to Fenway for the first time since the trade. First time ever in Dodger Blue. Manny decided to not talk to the media over the three game series, but we were all there anyway. The more I know about Manny, the more I understand that he is attempting to not make the same mistakes he made in Boston. One huge one is talking too much. Manny knows no matter what he says, it will be twisted. So saying No Thanks to interviews in Boston and some in LA makes the media mad....too bad. What is he going to say anyway? Nothing we don't already know. "Hey Manny, what was it like to hit a home run over the green monster in Dodger Blue?" Manny..."Same as it did when I played for the Red Sox". Manny did genuinely hug Papi when they met on the field for batting practice. Since Manny did not talk to the media, the Vulchers in Boston were scolded by Terry Francona who explained to them on day one that he was not going to discuss Manny's every move each day.

The real story is that the Dodgers got swept. The offense looked lethargic even with Manny's Homer. Ethiers swing is way off and Matt Kemp is swinging at everything. Even having Rhianna in Boston did not help. Maybe she better not come back to Los Angeles. The Dodgers have 3 more with the Angels who also just swept them AND 3 with the Yankees at Dodger Stadium. This inter league play is not much fun for the Dodgers thus far.

Back to Manny who did sit with me on camera two weeks ago about a story I was doing on Kenji the Dodgers interpreter for the non English speaking players. And what everyone forgets is, Manny is one of them. Yes, Manny speaks English, but he's not completely fluent. He was very candid with me about how much the interpreter has helped him since coming to Los Angeles. Sometimes it is easier for Manny to say nothing rather than risk saying something the wrong way. There was nothing to say in Boston anyway accept ADIOS!

MLB All Star Game votes....who is voting? who is going?

I started to pay attention to the All Star Votes this year for two reasons. One, the game is 50 Miles from my house. And Two, I will more than likely be covering it which means I better be paying attention.

Although the Angels are the official hosts, that other LA is team is on a tear. Quietly and dramatically. Three walk offs in the last three games and they had the best record in all of baseball in the month of June. Yes, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

So lets get down to business with this voting stuff. In the National League, it's all about the Philly's. Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Placido Polanco, Carlos Ruiz, Jayson Werth, Jimmy Rollins. I am talking top first or second spots in voting. Don't get me wrong, I know and like alot of these guys, but is this just a repeat of the last World Series..... and I have not even gotten to the AL yet! JImmy Rolllins? He has been on the DL since practically Spring Training! Although Albert is leading his top spot by more than 500 thousand votes, David Wright is inching his way ever closer at 3rd base but no one on the NL West leading Padres is even mentioned! This is obviously a popularity contest that consists of crazy fans who have nothing better to do in New York and Philly than to find every way possible to submit votes for this game. Dodger fans need to step up the hysteria! Andre Ethier is the obvious choice and is moving up in the outfield. By the way if David Wright does not make it, I may not even go!

Moving over to the American League. Angels outfielder Torii Hunter is practically single handily hosting this event and for that, he needs to be in game. O but wait, he doesn't wear Pin Stripes. I am happy to see the World Champs represented. Even if they weren't the World Champs, Jeter can come to any event as far as I am concerned. But add on in the votes for Texiera, Cano, Arod. I am relieved that Torii is beating out Granderson, Swisher and Gardner. Keep voting Angel fans!

I was always under the impression in the end, one or two guys from every team come and are represented. The best players from every team. A virtual candy store of the best of the best. I once had a camera guy who had to take a break because he had to fill out his All Star Ballot. Not just one either. All I can say is, if you want to see your team represented and you are not a Yankee or Philly fan, VOTE!

12 TIMES A CHARM!

No matter how old or young you are, you know about the Lakers and the Celtics playing for the Championship. My friends son who is nine was hoping from the Suns and Magic. His reason was that the Lakers and the Celtics always play in the Championship! He's right. Folks a little older than nine relish in the lush history these two teams share. Fans from Boston to Los Angeles are eating and breathing this rivalry. Just last night at the Dodger game, two Boston fans, sitting in the most expensive seats at the stadium had no problem showing off their bright Garden Green t-shirts complete with BEAT LA on the back. Good thing they were not sitting in the pavilion.

The pure Agony and Ecstasy of it all. And the Lakers experiencing both. They are the current World Champions, Ecstacy. They did loose to the Celtics last go round, AGONY! For the Celtics they have been on a roll all the way through the playoffs. Before that, it was all about the Cavs winning the east. The Celtics were not even a blip on the radar. Although Le Bron and his off season plans still dominate the conversations, the Celtics blew through Cleveland like a bad cold. The nasty kind. Now the Lakers have to wonder of they are immune or contagious to whatever the heck the Celtics have. Be assured that Kobe Bryant is taking his Zinc. Infact Phil is probably handing it out to the whole team. Game on, tomorrow.

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.