Tuesday, March 29, 2011

STGT: March 29 @ Angels, 7p

It's times like these that the baseball fan in me does war with the Dodger fan in me. Am I looking forward to baseball? Hell yeah. Sadly, I may not have made it to a Dodger game last season, but part of me just feels more complete when baseball is being played.

The other part? That's the Dodger fan who can't quite get psyched about this year's patchwork squad. Of course there are bright spots, such as Kemp and Kershaw, and potential rookie surprises, like Gordon and DeJesus. But overall this doesn't feel like a winning team. Certainly not a playoff-bound one.

But that's when the baseball fan in me jumps up (pulling a hammy in the process) and says, It's the journey, not the destination. Only one team of thirty wins it all, so either, say, the Yankees or Red Sox will also be disappointed come October.

And as for the small chance the Dodgers exceed expectations? As they say, that's why they play the games. So let's enjoy them!

51 comments:

Nostradamus said...

...and with that ringing endorsement, it's baseball time again!

Josh S. said...

What the hell is up with these comments from Dre? He's convinced he'll be non-tendered? Is he planning on sucking and this is his way of breaking it to us?

Orel said...

Ethier needs a chip on his shoulder to motivate him. Even a self-manufactured chip.

spank said...

All Ethier needs is a chip in his pinky finger to unmotivate him for the regular season.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Furcal 6
De Jesus 4
Ethier 9
Kemp 8
Uribe 5
Loney 3
Thames DH
Barajas 2
Kapler 7

Paul said...

I say the Dodgers say very close to .500 for the first few months and then trade away a star like Lucas May away to win 85 games.

Paul said...

Kemp swings at a ball a foot outside. Sun goes down.

Paul said...

This Uribe is starting to grow on me. Especially since Giant fans are so bent he didnt take the Giants money.

karen said...

Last night listening to Vinny call the game was great. Having to listen to the Angel telecast really sucks.

Paul said...

I have it on mute.

Paul said...

The eyes of Josh's Davey Lopes avatar follow me no matter what angle I am at.

Kinda freaky.

karen said...

@Paul...I'm at my mom's house watching the game and she insists on having the sound on and you know what they say..."If mama ain't happy..."

Paul said...

You gotta keep Mom happy.

Did the Dodgers wear their home whites yesterday? II always thought the home whites shouldn't be worn until opening day. Just a quirk of mine makes the uni seem
Important.

spank said...

I lost my virginity in the shadows.

spank said...

@ Karen

I bet the sound is turned up loud!!

Paul said...

Barajas is hungry!!!!

karen said...

Hooray for us!!!

karen said...

@Spanky...You're a really smart guy. The neighbors 2 houses down can hear it!!

Paul said...

You really should press charges for that Spanky.

Paul said...

Aw crapola.

karen said...

Well our tied game didn't last long

spank said...

@ karen

I know from experience.I can hear my parents T.V. from a block away.

Paul said...

I think we might lead the league in solo homeruns this year.

Fred's Brim said...

@Paul agreed on the solo home runs. The sad thing is that we'll still be towards the bottom in total home runs

Paul said...

Well at least we will win the Han Solo award.

Paul said...

Ethier is up. This might be his last at bat as a Dodger. You never know.

Paul said...

Think we will still be in it by April?

karen said...

What is going on with Dre? I read earlier in the GT about comments he made. I missed it, what is going on?

Paul said...

Ethier now says he would like to remain with the Dodgers for a long time to come, but he also qualified that statement."Yeah, as long as the organization is going in the right direction and is still committed to winning rather than things not going good for a year or two and then rebuilding or maybe going through a transition year," he said. "You hear it all the time, coaches and players saying they don't know how many opportunities you're going to get to be in the playoffs or on a winning team. I want to be somewhere [that provides] my best shot to win and win on an everyday basis. It feels like we have that here and we're moving that way, but that's kind of a wait-and-see basis."

Yes, he does appear to have a fair bit of disenchantment with the front office. What's poetic is that Billingsley could have felt exactly the same insecurity a year ago, when Ethier, Matt Kemp and Jonathan Broxton got two-year contracts but he didn't.

There's no doubt that a) the Dodgers aren't going to pay $10 million or more to players they think can't earn it, and b) Ethier is prone to melancholia and doomsday thinking. I think it's one thing to motivate himself to have the best possible year, on and off the field, that he possibly can. It's another thing for Ethier to think that the Dodgers aren't interested in keeping him around – especially if he performs the way he is capable of.

Paul said...

That was from Dodger Thoughts.

Paul said...

That was actually today's comment. Yesterday he said this may be his last year as a Dodger

karen said...

Thanks Paul

Josh S. said...

Maybe he could jump to an organization that gives away LANYARDS on opening night.

Paul said...

I hate fuckin Lanyards! I have worked for two government agencies and refused to wear the Lanyards. I am a belt clip man.

spank said...

Well that sucks. Got all settled in,looked at the score and we are losing.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

spank said...

Thanks for that Ethier summary,Paul. I don't know about that guy anymore.He needs to man up and play a good whole season before he can talk shit.

Orel said...

Posting on Andre first thing tomorrow morning, but he's making a [large object] out of a [much smaller object].

Wasn't pitching supposed to be our strength this year?

karen said...

Just what we all need for those freezing nights in August...an Angel ski beanie

spank said...

Kendrys

spank said...

Nice play,Inspector.

spank said...

Looks like Broxton won't get the chance to blow a save tonight.

spank said...

Dodgers are back in end of season form.

Josh S. said...

Via the official Dodgers Twitter:

"#Angels defeat #Dodgers 5-1 and play the #Mariners tomorrow at Dodger Stadium in their Spring Training finale"

RELEASE THE GRAMMAR HOUNDS!!!

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Random Thought.

I like Miss Turkey in the Carl's Jr. commercial.

Paul said...

I wonder what Chadley's rep is with the other younger players. Andre's timing was interesting.

Anything to distract me from the lineup.

Ms. Turkey works at distracting me.

Kyle Baker said...

@Paul

I had it on moot.

Kyle Baker said...

@Josh

Poor grammar duly noted. I took a red pen to my laptop screen.

Paul said...

I am not close to Turkey, Miss Turkey or a Turkey Sandwich so it is all pretty moot

Paul said...

But hey I have a new radio app and get to listen to Dodger talk with my blue brothers and sisters.

Paul said...

I guess they didn't take up my suggestion to give out supervillain dolls this year.

bodyelectric84 said...

My momma talka to me try to tell me how to live. Da da da,da da da,dadada!