June 2012
Andre Ethier’s Extension: We All Knew it was coming
While the all the action was going on in LA with the Dodgers/Angels playing eatch other and Kings winning the NHL Stanley Cup news broke of Andre Ethier signing a 5 year $85 Million Dollar deal which keeps him with the Dodgers through 2017. One of the Dodgers most popular players and one of the best players on the Dodgers is locked up with LA for a good while. Through out my twitter feed the one thing I kept seeing was for many people yelling for the Dodgers to pay Ethier after every play he made. Well the man is paid. Now at the begining of the season I made a note that the Dodgers success would come if Ethier played a part in it he he sure has leading the MLB in RBI’s and making an Impact in anyway. I also noted that Ethier would have his contract extention depending on his play and so far his play is doing worthy of the extension. Right now Andre Ethier is in a slump so many will say it came at a bad time then again this maybe something good. Only time will tell if this could be something that breaks the slump.
Now I look at this deal and can’t help but to think of the possible risks you take making a huge deal like that. First thing you think is Injuries or if he falls off but thats always the fear you have. Ethier hasn’t showed signs of falling off anytime soon. Reading an article on Lasorda’s Lair a few months back it reviewed how the Offense would suffer without Ethier and I must say he is important to the offense. Numbers such as Batting Avg, RBI’s, OBP, and so on dropped a good number so this extension was something needed opposed to letting him leave after the season and risk searching in the FA Market and signing somewhere else for just about the same deal. Now this was something that wasn’t possible in the Off-Season or Last Year at that because of the lack of funds but with this deal and how the way Stan Kasten and Magic Johnson talked about Ethier it seems as if the front office is prepared to build a Championship winning team around Kemp, Ethier, and Kershaw (Whenever his extension comes) but something tells me that this deal is worth it.
Yes they’re fears and what not about this deal but an Ethier extension is just another indication that the front office is ready to win and win right now. This is only the begining but weather its the right moves is beyond me. Now that Ethier has his extension lets hope he remains hungry, gets out of this slump, and Keep up the stellar play. Clayton Kershaw you’re up next!!
Freeway Series: Dodgers vs Angels
This Time Its For Real!! The Dodgers and Angels kick off the Freeway series Tomorrow and this years Freeway Series will be pretty interesting when you look at all what built up. You start off with the Angelsmaking the big signing grabing Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson which sent shockwaves through the Baseball world. Instantly the attention and hype was surrounded Anaheim. Many media felt the Angels would not only be favorites for a World Series but Take over the L.A. Market as Builboards popped up ALL over Los Angeles (They are in Anaheim we shall remind you) While the Angels got Prase the Dodgers were dealing with a Bind of finding a new owner with an uncertain future and many questions going into the season but came Late March Magic Happened. Magic Johnson Stan Kasten, Mark Walter and their group made the perchase of the Los Angeles Dodgers whichs sent LA into a big frenzy. Many Dodger fans were really excitied and it transfered into the field as the Dodgers started off Hot quickly becoming MLB’s best team with a 39-22 Record. The Angels honeymoon quickly ended as the struggled out the gate even Albert Pujols struggled.
Going into this Series the Dodgers are in first place coming off two series wins over the Phillies and Marniers while the Angels are coming off sweeping the Rockies in Colorado and 3 Games over .500. Dodgers will be without Matt Kemp but the rest of the Dodgers have been picking up the slack after going through an offensive struggle. Both teams are hot so it will be interesting to see. The Freeway Series starts off in Los Angeles for the 11th, 12th, and 13th then after shifts to Anaheim for the weekend of the 22nd 23rd and 24th of June. Last year the Angels won the bragging rights 4-2 Last year and the Dodgers looking to grab the first series win since 2006. This year Freeway Series will be a real special one when you look at what took place.
While this will never reach the level of Dodgers/Giants and Yankees and Dodgers AL/NL rivalry this is still that Rivalry where you want Braging rights for the whole season. With the Freeway Series 6 game Home and Home series in question thanks to the new realignment things are bound to get interesting based on both teams position in their respected Divisions but steaks are high. Dodgers looking to keep the Lead in the NL West and show why they are the MLB’s best team while the Angels are looking to trim the Rangers lead in the AL West. The Freeway Series kicks off. Lets Get It Started!!
Dodgers Start Interleague, Sweep Phillies, and Freeway series Preview
One of the most exciting times in the MLB baseball season is coming up this weekend. That’s right Interleague play kicks off for your Los Angeles Dodgers and from the looks it’ll be a good test for the team with MLB’s best record. The Dodgers this year will get the usual White Sox series and how can you forget the Freeway Series but this year the Dodgers will get two teams from the AL west in the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners. Last time the Dodgers played Seattle was in 2009 when Ken Griffey JR was still playing.the Dodgers will travel to Seattle and Oakland this year and this will be a test for the Dodgersntaking on teams in their stadium under the DH rule. The Dodger are a MLB best 37-21 but Seattle and Oakland both beat Texas in a series as Of late while Seattle just beat the Angels. Either way it’ll be a good Series and interesting to see the Dodgers in two of those cities.
While the Dodgers prepare for Interleague series they managed to do something that hasn’t been done in 66 years. Sweep The Philidelphia Phillies. Yesterday Afternoon the Dodgers came from a 3-0 Deficit to complete the sweep of the Phillies beating them 8-3. While we know the Phillies have had some injury problems themselves beating Cole Hamles and Cliff Lee in Philly is something. Elian Herrera came through in two games with clutch hits to take the lead and bring the Dodgers win. The Dodgers historically has had issues in Philly but this year things are different. With the sweep momentum has to be on Los Angeles’s side.
Monday is the Start of the Long Awaited Freeway Series between the Dodgers and Angels. Great give-a-ways with the Mike Scioscia Bobblehead and Jamie Jarrin T-Shirt on Monday. This Sunday there will be a Live Radio/Podcast Think Blue Weekly on Blog Talk Radio and Special guest will be Kristen who is an Angels Blogger (This is a very simple game). This Freeway series preview will consist of Talk about the Angels/Dodgers as well as predictions and fans questions. Make sure you check it out on Sunday at 8PM Pacific time on the Link Below.
Think Blue and Go Dodgers!
This Very Simple Game: http://blithescribe.mlblogs.com/
Think Blue Weekly Twitter: @ThinkBlueWeekly
Dodgers swept by Brewers: Is it time to worry?
This series seems like a long nightmare for the Dodgers and it’s fans. With the Brewers coming to LA for a four game series it seems like the Brewers have been the Dodgers kryptonite. Losing close games due to the Offense disappearing and now with the Dodgers losing Matt Kemp to injury again things seems to be bad for the Dodgers. After getting swept by the Brewers losing 4 Straight and headed on a Long road trip to Colorado, Phillidelphia, and Seattle is it time to be worried? In my opinion No but I am concerned. Now there’s no reason to panic because There’s plenty of games to be played in this season but I am concerned because the offense has seemed to disappear this whole series and now with Kemp gone that really makes the offense anemic. The Dodgers are already without Juan Rivera Mark Ellis and Uribe and losing Kemp really hurts the offense as far as scoring runs as it was shown in the series vs the Brewers. Mattingley tried different line ups to get it going but seems like it hasn’t worked. Hopefully the Dodgers turn it around on the road trip and get it together.
Another thing is the fact that the Dodgers get to go on a good week long road trip facing Colorado which is a Home Run area, Phillidelphia where they seem to struggle. Dodgers just have to take at least 2 of 3 just to survive. Can the Dodgers do it? Yes they can but the offense has to pick up. Pitching and defense will only go so far. One game can turn things around but it starts with one game. Yes it will be tough but before the Freeway Series the Dodgers have to take care of business on the road.
Yes the Dodgers are in a slump and got swept by the brewers by 3 runs or less but it’s not time to panic. The Dodgers and the front office will do what it takes to keep the NL West lead. They won’t let it go without a fight but they must do something before it disappears in a hurry. The Dodgers are in a good position but coming off that sweep questions start to appear again and the Dodgers have to answer them in order to succeed.
Matthew
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