May 2008

David Wright Whacks Penny for 2 HRs

The New York Mets defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-4, to extend the Dodgers' losing-streak to four games. David Wright of the Mets smashed two homeruns off Brad Penny in back-to-back innings. Brad Penny's was handed the loss for his disastrous outing.

Brad Penny pitched four innings, surrendering five earned-runs on eight hits. By the time Penny was pulled from the mound, the Mets were ahead 6-0. The Dodgers were unable to dig themselves out of this major deficit.

Brad Penny has had a rocky start to the 2008 Regular Season. In his past five starts, Penny has recorded a despicable 0-4 record and an astronomical 9.43 Earned-Run Average. This is not the same All-Star ace that pitched for the Dodgers last season.

David Wright clearly has Penny's number. The young third-baseman has hit well against Brad Penny for most of his career. In 19 career at-bats against the Dodgers' pitcher, Wright has achieved a phenomenal .579 batting-average, with four homeruns and 19 RBIs. It may have not been the smartest move to start Brad Penny against David Wright and the powerful New York Mets.

But, Joe Torre did make a smart decision to start Jeff Kent in the clean-up spot. The veteran second-baseman returned from his lower-back ailments to hammer a home run against Claudio Vargas in the fifth-inning. It looks as if his previous slump is now part of his past.

Blake DeWitt also went long in the game. The third-baseman knocked in a couple of runs and enforced that he is one of the best players on the Dodgers' roster. It was fascinating to see him compete against David Wright, another young superstar who had a spectacular rookie season and is the future of his organization.

The next game in the Dodgers' exciting series against the New York Mets is at 7:10 PM EST at Shea Stadium. Clayton Kershaw will be the starting-pitcher for the Dodgers against the Mets' John Maine. I will be attending the game!

Dodgers Blog on the Homepage of Dodgers.Com

Hello, everyone. 

Did you take a look at the Dodgers' homepage on May 29th, 2008? (If not, I have posted a screen-shot of the prestigious page below).

Dodgers Blog stole the spotlight! Thanks to everyone who made this achievement possible. (The check-marks, compliments of Mark Newman of MLB.Com, denote where Dodgers Blog was featured).

The Entire Page (You can click on it for a Full-Size version): 
dodgerdvd-thumb-550x484.jpg

Here is the official article that I wrote for Major League Baseball:

The Los Angeles Dodgers 1988 World Series Collector's Edition Boxed DVD Set gives fans an opportunity to relive their past and witness some of the greatest moments in baseball history. The Oakland Athletics, featuring the emerging Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco -- otherwise known as the "Bash Brothers" -- were heavily favored over Los Angeles. However, as Vin Scully put it, "the impossible happened."

The seven-disk boxed set, originally priced at $69.95 but now available for $51.95 at the MLB.com shop, includes more than 17 hours of footage. It features the Dodgers' memorable National League Championship Series against the Mets, which set the stage for their title heroics. During the NLCS, Mike Schmidt delivered "Inside Pitch" scouting reports throughout the games. The overwhelming enthusiasm of fans at Shea Stadium in New York and the superb commentary provided by ABC's Sports Presentation opens up a door of memories.

Baseball fans from across the world would love this set, regardless of whether they love or hate the Dodgers. The footage from the 1988 NLCS against the Mets features clips of Dwight Gooden on the mound in his prime. Also, baseball enthusiasts will smile to hear the commentators compare a tall, lanky kid named Darryl Strawberry to baseball legends such as Roger Maris, Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson. It is incredible to see for yourself how the Dodgers (94-67) overcame the odds to defeat a Mets club that had led the NL with a 100-60 record and was seeking a second title in three years.

This boxed set captures the games in all of their glory. The sound quality in all of the recordings is simply phenomenal. In fact, it is possible to hear the crack of the bat when a player smashes a hit. The crystal-clear clarity accompanies this superior audio with rare camera angles from the ubiquitous Goodyear Blimp.

The 1988 World Series will forever be remembered for Kirk Gibson's unforgettable home run in Game 1. Gibson, suffering from hamstring and knee injuries, was "physically unable to start." Although Gibson's appearance was doubtful, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda sent him into the game as a pinch-hitter when they were losing by two runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth against eventual Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley -- the dominant closer of his time.

"You talk about a roll of the dice -- this is it," Scully tells the viewers.

Gibson, in his only at-bat during that World Series, would not let the Dodgers down. He whacked a deep fly ball to right. As the ball sailed over the wall, Jack Buck shouted: "I've seen a lot of dramatic finishes, in a lot of sports, but this one might top almost every other one." This memorable quote has been included exclusively in this set as a bonus as a voiceover of the original NBC recording.

You remember who hit the last home run of that game. But do you remember who opened the scoring with a two-run shot in the first inning? Mickey Hatcher, to deep left. Relive moments like that again, too. Bring back the moments with Steve Sax, Franklin Stubbs, Mike Marshall, John Shelby, Mike Scioscia, Jeff Hamilton, Alfredo Griffin, Alejandro Pena, Tim Belcher and the rest of that Dodgers cast.

Baseball fans also can witness the exceptional pitching of 1988 Cy Young winner Orel Hershiser. Facing one of most formidable offenses of the decade, the Dodgers' ace tossed a shutout in Game 2 of the World Series. Hershiser sealed the Dodgers' championship with another complete game to close out the series in five, and he received the World Series MVP Award.

The Dodgers proved once again the adage that good pitching stops good hitting, by silencing the Bash Brothers throughout the Fall Classic. McGwire and Canseco were unstoppable during the regular season, combining for 74 homers. But the powerful duo only managed two hits during the "California Classic."

Major League Baseball has included many generous bonuses from its vault. The Los Angeles Dodgers 1988 World Series Collector's Edition includes memorable moments of the regular season, including Hershiser's record-breaking, scoreless-inning streak. Perhaps the most memorable bonuses, however, are rare interviews with the Dodgers that make this set a must for true baseball fans.

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The original article can be read at: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080528&content_id=2789764&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la

Cubs Sweep Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers were swept by the Chicago Cubs in a disastrous three-game series. The Dodgers scored a total of only three runs against the Cubs. Hopefully, the Dodgers will generate more runs against the New York Mets in their upcoming four-game series.

The Recap of Wednesday's Game

The Chicago Cubs defeated the Dodgers, 3-1, on Wednesday. Hiroki Kuroda was credited with the loss, despite his stellar performance through six innings. In the bottom of the seventh inning, however, the Cubs scored three runs against the Japanese pitcher. Sadly, those were all the runs that Chicago needed to seize the victory.

It is unfortunate that Kuroda was tagged with the loss after his phenomenal performance. The starting-pitcher struck out three batters in the spectacular outing. Also, he was charged with only one Earned-Run on seven hits in six and one-thirds innings. He now has four losses in the 2008 Regular Season.

The Cubs' Sean Gallagher produced similar numbers in the game. In seven innings of work, the 23-year-old hurler struck out three batters and gave up one earned-run on four hits. Chicago always lucks out having a plethora of young talent in their starting-rotation.

Andre Ethier made contact for two hits in Wednesday's game. The outfielder is now batting .309 during the 2008 Regular Season. It is surprising to see that he is not a leading candidate for the outfield positions in the ballot results thus far for the 2008 All-Star Game in New York.

The Dodgers' sole run came from a single by Blake DeWitt with two outs in the top of the fourth-inning. DeWitt also recorded a strikeout and his seventh throwing error of the 2008 Regular Season. However, he has been essential to the Dodgers' offensive production in 2008 thus far.

The Recap for Thursday's Game:

The Los Angeles Dodgers were on the top of the scoreboard for five innings, until the Chicago Cubs pushed the game into extra-innings with a sacrifice-fly ball in the bottom of the ninth-inning. Then, in the bottom of the tenth-inning, Alfonso Soriano connected on an RBI-single to bring the winning-run home.

But, Derek Lowe pitched exceptionally well. The former-Red Sox hurler threw seven innings and struck out five batters. His fantastic performance was essentially wasted by the Cub's late-game heroics.

Russell Martin collected three hits for the night and scored a run. The catcher is currently batting .317 in the Regular Season. Unfortunately, however, he is only ranked in fourth place in the National League's 2008 All-Star ballots.

Chan Ho Park was charged with the loss in extra-innings, surrendering one run on two hits in only one-third of an inning. The Dodgers inability to provide adequate run support in this game cost them the loss.

The Dodgers will have an opportunity to break their three-game losing streak against the New York Mets tonight at 7:10 PM EST. Brad Penny will be starting for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Mets' Claudio Vargas. Lets go Dodgers!

Cubs Eat Dodgers, 3-1.

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Chicago Cubs last night, 3-1. The Dodgers had several opportunities to score but couldn't capitalize with runners in scoring position. It's unfortunate that Chad Billingsley's solid start was wasted and credited as a loss.

Billingsley pitched six innings, striking out seven batters. The hurler also gave up a couple of runs on a monstrous homerun by Derrek Lee in the bottom of the first-inning. But, the pitcher was solid throughout the rest of his spectacular outing.

Juan Pierre knocked in the only run for the Dodgers on an infield single. The outfielder also recorded two hits and a stolen-base in the performance. Surprisingly, Pierre has been a major contributor to the Dodgers' recent success.

Jeff Kent added three hits for Los Angeles. The slumping second-baseman now has a less-than-mediocre .242 batting-average in the 2008 Regular Season thus far. Chin-Lung Hu gave the veteran a rest by replacing him as a pinch-runner later in the game.

Matt Kemp sped around the bases for two doubles in the game. The center-fielder has a spectacular .315 batting-average in the 2008 Regular Season thus far. It is puzzling that the Dodgers could not score more than one sole run against the Cubs with all of these hits.

Joe Torre commented, ""It was frustrating to be in position to tie a number of times and in position to win in the eighth. We have nobody to blame but ourselves." Torre may not be used to this type of frustrating behavior coming from New York.

The Dodgers have a second-chance to beat the Cubs tonight at 7:05 PM EST. Hiroki Kuroda will be pitching for Los Angeles and Tommy Lasorda will lead the crowd in the classic baseball tune, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," during the seventh-inning stretch. It will be a great game!

Dodgers Win in Kershaw's Debut

The Los Angeles Dodgers avoided a sweep by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-3, in extra-innings. In the bottom of the tenth-inning, Andre Ethier smashed an RBI-single through the infield. Takashi Saito was credited with the win for the Dodgers.

But, Clayton Kershaw was simply incredible. The southpaw made his debut in Major League Baseball, pitching six innings and striking out seven batters. The sparkling rookie also surrendered a couple of runs, shooting his Earned-Run Average up to a reasonable 3.00. The 20-year-old proved to over 46,500 fans at Dodger Stadium that he is the future of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Russell Martin praised the southpaw. He exclaimed, ""A left hander who throws 96 with a snapdragon curveball and a nasty changeup. Not a lot of guys have that kind of stuff in the Majors."  It is evident that Kershaw is a true gem in the Dodgers' organization.

Martin knocked in a couple of RBIs and recorded his eight double of the 2008 Regular Season. The catcher is now batting .314 in 2008. He started off the season struggling, but has recently become an integral component of the Dodgers' success thus far.

Jeff Kent took a breather in his slump and did not participate in the game. His back-up, Luis Maza made contact for two hits, including the first homerun of his professional career. The infielder now has a terrific .500 batting-average through the 2008 Regular Season. Maza is doing an even better job than the slumping veteran, Jeff Kent, at second-base.

The Dodgers will take a trip to Chicago to play the Cubs in a three-game series. Chad Billingsley will be the Dodgers' starting-pitcher for the first game. Lets go Dodgers!


Garciaparra Going To The 60-Day DL?

The Los Angeles Daily News believes that the Dodgers will place third-baseman, Nomar Garciaparra, on the 60-Day Disabled-List. The slugger has been out of action since April 26th, which was almost a month ago. In other words, Blake DeWitt's starting-job at third-base would be safe.

Blake DeWitt has been a pleasant surprise for Los Angeles. The 22-year-old rookie has used his magnificent line-drive power and plate discipline to knock in 23 runs for the Dodgers thus far in the 2008 Regular Season. The former "no-name," Minor Leaguer now has a name bigger than most of the third-baseman in Major League Baseball.

Andy LaRoche is still recovering from his right-thumb injury. The 24-year-old has been stepping up to the plate for the Las Vegas 51s, the Triple-A Baseball affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hitting for only a mediocre .263 batting-average through 21 games, it is evident that LaRoche is not yet ready to reclaim his spot at third-base.

Blake DeWitt will probably be the Dodgers' starting third-baseman for the majority of the 2008 Regular Season. If Nomar Garciaparra is placed on the 60-Day Disabled-List, then he will be expected to return around June 25th. Btu even then, his role in the Dodgers' organization will be minimized with the unexpected rise of Blake DeWitt.

Kershaw Gets The Call

Clayton Kershaw has received, "the call," and will start for the Los Angeles Dodgers tomorrow against the St. Louis Cardinals. The twenty-year-old southpaw is expected to make three starts in Major League Baseball. Hopefully, the "next Sandy Koufax," will perform well and become our primary ace since Brad Penny has been struggling thus far in the 2008 Regular Season.

Kershaw has been promoted from Double-A Jacksonville. In order to make room for him on the Dodgers' 25-man active roster, they have decided to send down Yhency Brazoban. This decision may not hurt the Dodgers' bullpen.

Brazoban struggled in the Major Leagues, surrendering two runs in three innings of work. Although the reliever struck out three batters, it was evident that the 27-year-old was not ready to reclaim his role in the Dodgers' bullpen. Hopefully, however, he will continue to improve his pitching in the Minor Leagues.

The Dodgers have also designated starting-pitcher Esteban Loaiza for assignment. The 36-year-old hurler was stripped of his role in the Starting-Rotation after one start in the 2008 Regular Season. It is possible that his short stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers may be over.

Hopefully, Kershaw will be more successful than Esteban Loaiza in his career. Kershaw's first appearance in a Dodgers' uniform will be at 4:10 PM on Sunday, May 25th 2008. It will be the start of a new era.

The Cardinals Fly Over the Dodgers, 2-1.

The St. Louis Cardinals squeezed past the Los Angeles Dodgers for a 2-1 victory. Adam Wainwright picked up the win for the Cardinals as he struck out five batters in seven innings of work. Surprisingly, there was a grand total of only eleven hits recorded in this game.

Derek Lowe pitched well, despite surrendering two earned runs on Ryan Ludwick's monstrous homerun in the third-inning. The former Red Sox-starter whiffed five batters in seven innings. Hopefully, Lowe will be able to replicate this caliber of performance in the future.

The Dodgers' offense couldn't give the team a boost in yesterday's game. Russell Martin added two hits, including a double. The catcher now has seven doubles in the 2008 Regular Season and a spectacular .311 batting-average.

Rafael Furcal was unable to return to the Dodgers' starting line-up. His appearance in the Dodgers' series against the St. Louis Cardinals is now considered to be doubtful. In his place, the Dodgers will continue to rely on the struggling Chin-Lung Hu.

Hu did not struggle last night, however. The young shortstop made contact for a single and his first triple of the 2008 Regular Season. Hopefully, he will continue to play well offensively and defensively until Furcal returns from his back ailments.

The second game of this exciting series is scheduled to start at 10:10 PM EST. Kyle Lohse will be the starting-pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. The Dodgers, whom have declared Brad Penny as their starter, should be able to seize the victory.

Dodgers vs. Cardinals

The Los Angeles Dodgers are going to open their three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals tonight at 10:40 PM EST. The Cardinals currently have 28 wins in the 2008 Regular Season thus far, including a 11-3 victory over the San Diego Padres this past Wednesday. Hopefully, the Dodgers will be able to defeat St. Louis tonight and extend their three-game winning streak.

Los Angeles had an easy time sweeping the Cincinnati Reds, despite the absence of Rafael Furcal with a stiff back injury. However, the young star is expected to return from the Disabled List and appear in the Dodgers' line-up tonight. In other words, the Dodgers should witness a sudden surge in their offense production.

Furcal said, "the game is the same everywhere. If you're healthy you can play." The stellar shortstop decided against spending some time in the Minor Leagues as part of his rehabilitation process, and will thus return to the Dodgers' roster sooner than expected. This pivotal decision illustrates his genuine desire to win.

Derek Lowe will be the starting-pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In his last start, he unfortunately gave up seven runs in five innings of work. Sadly, the pitcher has not earned a win within the past month. Hopefully, however, he will be able to grab a win tonight against the Cardinals.

St. Louis will give the ball to Adam Wainwright, a 26-year-old pitcher from Georgia. Although the hurler has a nice sinking fastball, he posted a despicable 7.71 Earned-Run Average in the last eleven and two-thirds innings that he pitched. If the Dodgers can capitalize on his poor command of breaking pitches, then they may seize the Los Angeles victory and add to Wainwright's 2008 Earned-Run Average.

Several eminent sports websites cannot decide a clear victor in tonight's match-up. Dodger Sims predicts that the St. Louis Cardinals will be victorious. But, AccuScore, another reputable website that projects the outcomes of Major League Baseball games, believes that the Dodgers have a 59% chance of beating the Cardinals. It should be a spectacular game!

Kershaw Coming Up?

There is a chance that Clayton Kershaw could be called-up to the Dodgers' roster soon. Major League Baseball's Ken Gurnick noted that the young ace pitched only one inning in his spectacular start against the Carolina Mud Cats in Double-A Jacksonville. In other words, the pitcher may be on the way up through the Dodgers' organization.

Kershaw has a phenomenal fastball that usually hits the radar in the mid-90's. But, he also has a wonderful curveball and circle-change to confuse batters. He is definitely one of the best pitchers in the Dodgers' organization in quite some time.

The twenty-year-old southpaw has been considered to be the next Sandy Koufax. Despite the hurler's mediocre 10-10 record in the Minor Leagues, he achieved a career average of 11.73 strikeouts per nine innings. Hopefully, Kershaw will improve with experience and become Los Angeles' primary pitcher someday.

It is expected that he will be able to start for the Dodgers on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs. Los Angeles has been in need of a fifth starting-pitcher in their starting-rotation since Esteban Loaiza and Jason Schmidt went onto the infamous Disabled-List. Thankfully, Clayton Kershaw may be the solution to all of the Dodgers' starting-pitching woes.

Dodgers Sweep Reds in Three-Game Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers swept the Cincinnati Reds in an exciting three-game series. Los Angeles scored an average of five runs per game. In other words, it was purely a slugfest for the Dodgers as they defeated the Reds with their superior pitching and magnificent offense.

The Recap of Monday's Game:

Blake DeWitt stole the spotlight during the game. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the rookie third-baseman slammed an RBI-single down the left-side to score the winning-run. DeWitt has made a tremendous impact on the Dodgers' organization thus far.

The third-baseman offered inspirational advice after the game to reporters. He said, "You have to visualize yourself in those situations and be confident and stay with what you do." These words of wisdom apply to any situation, from taking a swing with bases-loaded or taking a Chemistry test on Acids and Bases.

Matt Kemp also had a terrific performance, connecting on four hits in the game. The outfielder now has a splendid .320 batting-average through the 2008 Regular Season. Thankfully, Joe Torre has been giving him an opportunity to play rather than shoving him to the bench in honor of Andre Ethier, Juan Pierre, or Andruw Jones.

Brad Penny, however, did not have such a spectacular performance. The former-Marlins' ace gave up five runs in only six innings on the mound. His Earned-Run Average keeps up shooting up as the season progresses, currently at a relatively-high 5.34.

The Recap of Tuesday's Game:

Chad Billingsley aided the Dodgers' 4-1 victory by pitching seven innings untouched and striking out seven batters. Incredibly, the ace has won four of his last five starts. Hopefully, he will continue to be a successful starter in the Dodgers' questionable Starting-Rotation.

The hurler said, "My stuff is better than last year, but the second half I just went out knowing I would keep the team in the game. Now things are going good, but it's still early in the season." Billingsley is correct in assuming that anything could change in the remainder of the 2008 Regular Season. For example, the Reds' Edinson Volquez (a player unknown until this year) is currently considered the best pitcher in Major League Baseball.

James Loney of the Dodgers made contact for two hits in the game. The young first-baseman hasn't been a big figure in the news since his season-opening hitting-streak was snapped. However, he has been quietly maintaining a decent .292 batting-average.

The Recap of Wednesday's Game:

The Dodgers defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 5-2, in the final game of their three-game series to complete the sweep. Surprisingly, the first four runs scored by the Dodgers were the result of a wild pitch, passed ball, squeeze bunt, and a botched pick-off attempt. Obviously, Los Angeles did not need their spectacular offense to intervene in order to seize the victory.

Hiroki Kuroda picked up the win for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Japanese-starter pitched eight full innings allowing only a pair of runs to score. He has been a integral component of the Dodgers' success in the 2008 Regular Season thus far.

Dodgers manager, Joe Torre exclaimed, "This one was even better than that one, because this was a close game. He was masterful tonight. He had a great pitch count [99] and he got out of trouble and held them right there and he was strongest [with two of his three strikeouts] in the eighth inning." Los Angeles is truly fortunate to have him in their Starting-Rotation.

James Loney's powerful home-run in the seventh inning did not go unnoticed. The slugger now has five homeruns and 29 RBIs in the 2008 Regular Season. Although he may not be able to win a spot in the 2008 All-Star Game with Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard representing the National League, Loney deserves a spot on the All-Star team.

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Evidently, the Dodgers were spectacular during this short-series against the Reds. However, the Reds aren't as strong as some of the other teams that the Dodgers will be facing later in 2008. Los Angeles will be hosting the St. Louis Cardinals to a three-game series starting tomorrow. Thankfully, Rafael Furcal will return to the Dodgers' starting line-up. Unfortunately, Andruw Jones is coming back too!


Dodgers End the Freeway Series with a Loss

The Los Angeles Dodgers were unable to defeat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the finale of the Freeway Series. The Angels now have twenty-six wins in the 2008 Regular Season following their 10-2 victory over the Dodgers. The Dodgers unfortunately have only won two of their last eleven games against their local rivals.

Derek Lowe blew the game when he gave up seven runs in only five innings of work. Surprisingly, however, 65% of the hurler's pitches were strikes. Hopefully, he will be able to strike out more batters and surrender less runs in his future outings.

The Dodgers were held to only seven hits in the entire game. Russell Martin, the Dodgers' venerable catcher, was responsible for a couple of those hits. The potential All-Star's batting-average is currently .324 through the 2008 Regular Season thus far.

Jeff Kent knocked in the only runs for the Dodgers on a two-RBI single in the fourth inning. The second-baseman has been a pure delight in 2008 with 22 RBIs thus far. Hopefully, he will continue to be a healthy and productive asset to the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization.

The Dodgers will begin their upcoming series with the Cincinnati Reds tomorrow. The Reds have won only 21 games in the 2008 Regular Season thus far. It should be a great opportunity for the Dodgers to improve their record and fight for first-place in the National League West division.
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Blog Note: I apologize for my recent inactivity. As a High School student, I am often consumed by my studies. Now, with a four-day vacation on the horizon and a plethora of free-time, I will be playing "catch-up," on Dodgers Blog.

Dodgers Win Game Two of the Freeway Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers won Game Two of the Freeway Series, 6-3. The intense series is now evened at one win a piece. The rubber-match of the Freeway Series is scheduled to be later today at 3:35 PM EST.

Brad Penny did not start for the Los Angeles Dodgers due to arm stiffness. His next start is now scheduled for this upcoming Monday against the Cincinnati Reds. Hopefully, his health will not become a major issue for the Dodgers' organization in the future.

Chan Ho Park stepped in as the starting-pitcher for the Dodgers in Penny's absence, throwing four innings and striking out three batters. This was the hurler's first start in over a year. It is reassuring to know that the Dodgers have a handful of relievers who could serve as temporary starters.

Hong-Chih Kuo picked up the win. The stellar reliever pitched four innings and whiffed four batters. He now has a wonderful 3-1 record and 2.40 Earned-Run Average in the 2008 Regular Season.

The Dodgers' offense was powered by Blake DeWitt. The rookie third-baseman smashed his fourth homerun of the Regular Season and sped around the bases for a double. With a .327 batting-average and 21 RBIs, DeWitt is now considered a candidate for the National League's Rookie of the Year Award.

Joe Torre praised DeWitt. ""Blake has been great. He has a personality and a calmness about him that doesn't fit. You say to him, 'You start the season at third base and we don't even want to know you're there. Just don't hurt us.' But he has done a lot to help us win games." DeWitt has been the Dodgers' savior at third-base.

The Dodgers were celebrating their victory last night. Juan Pierre said, "It feels good. I know we got swept here last year. It is a big win...We scraped our way to a victory." Hopefully, the Dodgers will be able to replicate this jubilant celebration with another victory over their rivals.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Los Angeles Dodgers will face-off in the rubber-match of the Freeway Series later today at Angel Stadium. Derek Lowe has been declared the starting-pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. It should be a great game!

Dodgers Lose Game One of the Freeway Series

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim won Game One of the Freeway Series, 4-2. Joe Saunders picked up the win for the hometeam. The Angels' ace now has seven wins in the 2008 Regular Season. The Dodgers offense, unfortunately, was held to only five hits.

Andre Ethier whacked a two-run homerun in the seventh-inning. The outfielder now has four homeruns in the 2008 Regular Season. If he continues to perform on-pace for the remainder of the year, he is projected to finish 2008 with 18 homeruns and 77 RBIs.

Hiroki Kuroda was credited with the loss, pitching six and one-thirds innings.The Japanese pitcher surrendered three runs on seven hits. However, the hurler struck out five batters in the outing.

Luis Maza connected on a single in the game. The short-stop also recorded an error on a botched cut-off play. The rookie's first error in Major League Baseball advanced a runner to scoring-position. Hopefully, this will be a learning experience for the infielder and he will not commit a plethora of careless errors in the future.

A run was scored by the Angels on an error by Dodgers' catcher, Gary Bennett. The 36-year-old overthrew first-base after a strikeout for his first error of 2008. It was unfortunate that the Dodgers were committing errors in such an important game.

Bennett admitted, "I just made a bad throw. I threw it away, that's it." The catcher had never experienced issues throwing to the bases previously. He even threw a perfect toss to first-base in the inning following his error.

The Dodgers were unable to defeat the Angels with their less-than-mediocre pitching, offensive, and defense performances. Hopefully, the Dodgers will be able to go "back to normalcy," and defeat their rivals in Game Two of the Freeway Series. Lets go Dodgers!

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Blog Note: Dodgers Blog was mentioned earlier today on the homepage of MLBlogs. If you missed it, I have provided a screen-shot of the homepage below. (You can click on the Thumbnail Image for a Full-Size version). Thank you, Major League Baseball, for noting my blog our your prestigious website.

Freeway Series (MLBlogs).png

The Freeway Series Begins Tonight

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have the first game of their "Freeway Series," scheduled for tonight. Last season, the Dodgers only squeezed out one win in six games against the Angels. Hopefully, Joe Torre will lead the Dodgers' to success against their local rivals.

When asked about Angels' coach Mike Scioscia, Joe Torre said, "Mike's done a great job. He has a plan, he's very well-prepared. They have a personality as to how they play the game. As a catcher, he knows what type of club is hard to deal with. Like with Minnesota, he's conditioning the organization how to play the game. He encourages guys not to worry about making mistakes. Be aggressive, be aggressive, be aggressive." It will be a difficult series for the Dodgers.

Hiroki Kuroda will be the starting-pitcher for Los Angeles tonight. The hurler has achieved a 1-2 record and a 3.59 Earned-Run Average in the 2008 Regular Season thus far. However, it has been six weeks since his last win.

Kuroda has established himself as a talented, young pitcher. But, the Japanese phenomenon needs to pinpoint his control better and surrender less hits. If he is able to master these pitching components, then he will surely lead the Dodgers to victory over the Angels tonight.

The Dodgers will be up against Joe Saunders, a 26-year-old southpaw from Virginia. The Angels' young ace has a 2.48 Earned-Run Average and a splendid 6-1 through 2008 thus far. If Los Angeles is able to capitalize on his predictable pitching habits, they will be able to overcome Saunders and hand him his second-straight loss of the 2008 Regular Season.

The first-pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 10:05 PM EST at Angel Stadium. Hopefully, the Dodgers will defeat the Angels to win their third-straight game. Lets go Dodgers!

Chatting with Dodgers Fans

During last night's exciting game against the Milwaukee Brewers, I had an opportunity to chat with some diehard baseball fans on MLB GameDay about the Los Angeles Dodgers. We discussed everything from Eric Gagne's steroid accusations to the upcoming "Freeway Series," this weekend. Here is our chat transcript:

Me: Hello. The Dodgers currently have a mediocre 19-19 record in the 2008 Regular Season thus far. Do you think Los Angeles will finish the season with a winning record?

Brian: Of course. The Dodgers are a great team that has not put it together yet. They have to put the pieces of their puzzle together.

Ducker: Absolutely. I believe that the Dodgers will solidify down the stretch. That's always been Joe Torre's style. In the last couple of months, we want to be in contention and not battling injuries or infighting.

Me: To the best of my knowledge, Los Angeles hasn't experienced any infighting yet. But according to ESPN.Com, the Dodgers have had thirteen injury reports in 2008 thus far. 

Ducker: If the Dodgers want to contend, they'll need to be healthy.

Me: Indeed. The Dodgers have an upcoming series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim over the weekend. Do you think that this "Freeway Series," will be as intense as the "Subway Series" in New York?

Brian: Nope. But, It should be a great series. It's almost like two different worlds colliding. When discussing baseball, Orange County may as well be on a different planet than LA County. 

Me: You're right about that. Brad Penny received his fourth loss of the 2008 Regular Season last night. He surrendering five runs in six innings on the mound. Is this the same Brad Penny that was on the Dodgers last season?

Ducker: I don't think so. Somebody must have replaced the Dodgers' Starting-Rotation because Penny, Lowe, and Billingsley haven't been anything to talk about so far this year. It's been quite disappointing.

Brian: Disappointing? The Dodgers have the 13th-lowest team Earned-Run Average in Major League Baseball. There are a handful of other teams with worse starting-rotations. Look at Detroit and San Francisco for example.

Me: San Francisco actually has Tim Lincecum in their starting-rotation. He has had a phenomenal season thus far, posting a 1.61 Earned-Run Average with a 5-1 record. But, what are you thoughts about Eric Gagne?

Ducker: Gagne is a dirty, greasy cheater. 

Brian: Who's not in the Steroid/HGH Era? Even Clemens sounds like a cheater nowadays, both on his wife and on the game of baseball. Regarding Gagne, say what you want about Ned Yost - but he has guts throwing him out there despite his astronomical Earned-Run Average and unbelievable amount of Blown Saves.

Me: I can't argue with you there. Eric Gagne has blown eight saves in 2008, but the Brewers still rely on him to close their games. What are you thoughts about Nomar Garciaparra?

Ducker: Nomar Garciaparra is fine, but nobody expected Blake Dewitt to be this good. He's even better than Andy LaRoche! When Nomar is healthy, he's a great player to have around. 

JP-Max: DeWitt has been such a surprise. He's one of the best batters I've seen to come through the Dodgers' organization in years. Now, I would have trouble choosing between DeWitt and LaRoche to start at third-base. We can forget about Nomar Garciaparra!

The Los Angeles Dodgers went on to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-4. Los Angeles scored three runs in the top of the ninth-inning to seize the victory. Dodgers' reliever, Jonathan Broxton, was credited with the win.

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Blog Note: I have received several reports that users are unable to comment on my blog. I am sorry for this eminent technical issue. However, I can be reached around-the-clock at DodgersBlog@aim.com Hopefully, this error will be fixed in the future. 




Brewers Ferment Dodgers, 5-3

The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers last night, 5-3. Bill Hall of the Brewers smashed his ninth home-run of the 2008 Regular Season in the fourth inning. Los Angeles could not outperform their opponents.

Brad Penny was credited with the loss, surrendering five runs on nine hits in six innings of work. The hurler also struck out six batters and walked a pitcher. This is his fourth loss of 2008, which is the equivalent to all of the losses that he recorded in the entire 2007 Regular Season.

The eminent All-Star exclaimed, ""My stuff was better, but I made the crucial mistake of walking the pitcher and that killed me. It's just a mistake. Sometimes you're too confident in your stuff and you think you're unhittable." He obviously wasn't throwing his best stuff on the mound.

The Dodgers totaled nine hits in the game, featuring three singles from Russell Martin. The catcher has a .302 batting-average during the 2008 Regular Season. It is pleasing to see that he is finally making contact, as opposed to his slump to open up the season back in April.

Matt Kemp connected for two hits and knocked in a run. The outfielder has been having a splendid season, quite evident in his spectacular batting statistics. With three homeruns, 19 RBIs and a .321 batting average, Kemp has a shot at making the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.

Los Angeles has an opportunity for revenge tonight at 8.05 PM EST. Derek Lowe has been designated as the starting-pitcher for the Dodgers. The starting line-up has been provided below, courtesy of the Dodgers' Front Office:

  • Pierre, LF
  • Jones, CF
  • Kemp, RF
  • Kent, 2B
  • Martin, C
  • Loney, 1B
  • DeWitt, 3B
  • Hu, SS
  • Lowe, SP

Lets get some payback!

Furcal on the Disabled-List

Rafael Furcal, suffering from a strained lower back, has been placed on the 15-day disabled list. The shortstop has missed his last four games due to this ailment. Hopefully, this injury will not lead to serious complications in the future.

Furcal has been a splendid asset of the Dodgers' organization in the 2008 Regular Season thus far. The potential National League Most Valuable Player achieved a .366 batting-average through 134 at-bats. It is unfortunate that Los Angeles will not be able to have him in their line-up for two weeks.

The All-Star shortstop puzzled the opposition with his stellar base-running abilities. He stole eight bases in 2008, which is the sixth most in the National League. On-pace to steal about 39 bases in the 2008 Regular Season, the Dodgers will take a major hit to their speed and base-running abilities in his absence.

Josh Rawchitt of the Dodgers reported that Rafael Furcal will receive a cortisone shot and begin his rehabilitation process in Los Angeles with physical therapist, Sue Falsone. His recent MRI exam indicated nothing of great significance. Hopefully, the shortstop will be back in the Dodgers' line-up as soon as possible.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have declared Chin-Lung Hu as their starting shortstop while Furcal is on the Disabled-List. The Taiwanese infielder has been struggling recently, hitting for a .100 batting-average in his last ten at-bats. Hopefully, he will rise to the occasion like Blake DeWitt and become a phenomenal batter.

The twenty-four year old infielder has never been known for superb hitting. However, he has established himself as a spectacular fielder capable of playing both first and second. The last thing that the Dodgers need is to have their starting second baseman, Jeff Kent, make a trip to the Disabled-List.

The Dodgers have purchased the contract of Luis Maza from Triple-A Las Vegas. The Venezuelan rookie posted an unbelievable .402 batting-average in the Minor Leagues in 2008. He should serve as an excellent back-up to Chin Lung-Hu at shortstop.

Tony Abreu, a back-up third-baseman for the Dodgers, has been transferred from the 15-day Disabled List to the 60-Day Disabled List. The twenty-three year old slugger has been on the Disabled List since the start of the 2008 Regular Season. Hopefully, he will return from his groin injury by the end of the month.

The Dodgers will start a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers tonight at Miller Park. The first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 8:05 PM EST. I have provided the Dodgers' starting line-up for tonight's game below, courtesy of the Dodgers' Front Office:

  • Pierre, LF
  • Ethier, RF
  • Kemp, CF
  • Kent, 2B
  • Loney, 1B
  • Martin, C
  • DeWitt, 3B
  • Hu, SS
  • Penny, SP


Chatting with a Braves Fan

During today's exciting Braves-Pirates game, I had the opportunity to chat with an Atlanta Braves' fan on MLB GameDay. We were discussing Andruw Jones, who was the outfielder of the "Tomahawks," before he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers this season. Here is our chat transcript:

Me: Hello. You must be glad that the Atlanta Braves are beating the Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-1, in their double-header. The Braves had a nice winning-streak recently.

Braves Fanatic: It was great, but too short. I was surprised that we were doing so well considering there about twelve men on the Disabled-List.

Me: The Dodgers have their share of injured players, too. Rafael Furcal has a stiff back and has been out of action for a few games.

Braves Fanatic: We should not have traded him. He was fast and a great batter. I really miss Andruw Jones, though.

Me: You can have him! He has a pitiful .170 batting average and has been subject to a plethora of "boos," at Dodgers Stadium. Thus far, he hasn't been worth his contract.

Braves Fanatic: But then again, who is? He was unbelievable when everything was clicking in Atlanta. He was also as good in the field as he was at the bat once upon a time.

Me: Hopefully, Andruw Jones will be able to restore his reputation as a player who is as stellar "in the field as he is at the bat." Thank you for participating in this Live Chat and I hope that you have a great day!

The Dodgers have an "off day," as they are travel to Milwaukee for their three-game series against the Brewers. Brad Penny has been slated as the starting-pitcher for tomorrow's thrilling match-up. The first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 8:05 PM EST at Miller Park.


Schmidt Pitches a Perfect Inning

Jason Schmidt made a phenomenal performance today with the Inland Empire 66ers, the Dodgers' A-Baseball affiliates. The three-time All-Star had shoulder surgery this past June and has been taking small steps on his return to the Dodgers' Starting-Rotation. He is predicted to make his miraculous return in early June.

The thirty-five year old hurler topped 88 miles-per-hour, pitching a perfect inning in his first rehabilitation performance. He threw a total of twelve pitches, including ten of his eminent fastballs. Hopefully, he will continue to make stunning performances in his rehabilitation sessions as he prepares to make his debut in the 2008 Regular Season.

Jason Schmidt has a tendency to throw a lot of fastballs and sliders. The thirteen-year veteran has a heater that can smoke the mid-90's and a change-up that usually gets batters looking. As long as he continues to master his pitching repertoire, he will remain to be one of the elite starters in Major League Baseball.

The Inland Empire 66ers must have been glad to have him on their roster today. The Clubhouse Manager commented that Schmidt, "looked like he felt good and just needed to spot his pitches a little better." Hopefully, their clubhouse manager will continue to provide superb coverage and exclusive insight on the pitcher's stay with their clubhouse.

Jason Schmidt's rehabilitation process will consist of several steps over a period of about thirty days. Joe Torre said that, "It was a good first step." Schmidt will be back in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform in a few more weeks if he continues to progress.

Dodgers Give Brazoban The Call

The Los Angeles Dodgers have called up Yhency Brazoban from Triple-A Las Vegas. This will be the twenty-seven year old relief pitcher's first time in the Major Leagues since his shoulder surgery. Thankfully, he is back where he belongs.

It has been a long trip for the Dodgers' reliever. In 2006, Brazoban went under the knife for Tommy John surgery. After recovering and returning to the Dodgers' bullpen in 2007, he made another trip to the Disabled-List with a torn labrum in his shoulder. The four-year, once again, veteran required season-ending surgery.

The Dodgers always had confidence in him. He confessed, "I really felt that my career was going to end - especially after the second surgery. I was always told by the Dodgers that despite the injuries and the surgeries, that I had a bright future and that they stood behind me." The Dodgers weren't going to let such talent walk out their door and retire.

Brazoban walked into Spring Training 2008 topping the scales at about 250 pounds. He said, "They told me to lose weight and strengthen my shoulder. I worked harder than ever before." His work obviously paid off as he returned to the Major Leagues within a couple of months.

Although his injuries will always be a concern, he has displayed excellent command while pitching above 90  miles-per-hour. Also, the right-hander pitches well into the late frames of each game and should be a valuable reliever for the Dodgers' organization in the future.

The former-outfielder showed his talents at Double-A Jacksonville, where he struck out thirteen batters in ten and two-thirds innings. The young relief pitcher has the raw talent of a sensational set-up man or closer. Los Angeles is fortunate to have him on their roster.

Brazoban got his first taste of Major League Baseball since 2007 on Friday night, pitching one full inning against the Houston Astros. He walked two batters and gave up a hit in the outing. Hopefully, he will continue to improve and become an asset for the Dodgers.


Sweep: Failed - Mets Crush Dodgers, 12-1.

The New York Mets avoided a potential sweep by capturing a win in today's game. The Los Angeles Dodgers were limited to only four hits, as John Maine picked up the win for New York. It was a poor performance by Los Angeles on both sides of the diamond.

The Los Angeles defeated the Mets in the first couple of games in this series, but was unable to complete the sweep. Joe Torre said, ""When you win the first two games, you get a little greedy. You need to ride a hot streak as long as you can. We appeared a little flat. Then again, [Mets starter] John Maine was responsible for us being flat." The Mets couldn't close the curtain on the, "Main Event."

Brad Penny had his worst start of the 2008 Regular Season, surrendering ten runs in only four and two-thirds of an inning. His Earned-Run Average is currently 4.79, reflecting an increase by 1.60 after today's horrific performance. Hopefully, Brad Penny will not make this a habit.

When asked about Penny's poor start, Joe Torre was puzzled. "I wish I knew. It wasn't very good. Hopefully, we won't see that for a while. He got in bad-count situations and paid the price." This terrible performance caught everyone by surprise.

The Dodgers called in Scott Proctor to stop the Mets' onslaught. But, he couldn't aid the Dodgers as the reliever gave up a couple of runs in two innings in one and one-third innings on the mound. The former-Yankee hasn't been having a stellar season thus far.

Andruw Jones smacked his fifth double of the Regular Season. The All-Star candidate has struggled during 2008, as evident in his .170 batting-average. Originally, Ned Colletti wanted to give Jones the day off to "clear his head." But, the Dodgers still used him as a pinch-hitter in today's game.

James Loney celebrated his twenty-fourth birthday today. The Dodgers' first-baseman is on-pace to hit 15 homeruns and 123 RBIs in the 2008 Regular Season. The 2002 first-round draft pick is finally becoming one of the top sluggers in Major League Baseball, as projected in his Scouting Report.

The Dodgers have an off-day on Thursday, as they await the Houston Astros' arrival. Derek Lowe is scheduled to be the starting-pitcher for the Dodgers on Friday. Hopefully, he will get Los Angeles back on the winning-track for success.

capt.7ff21ac2b93b4da9b5e6799f7ba09c79.mets_dodgers_baseball_lad105.jpg

Caption: Angel Pagan of the New York Mets is sliding underneath Chin Lung-Hu's glove for a stolen base. (AP)

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Blog Note: I finally realized how to post pictures to DodgersBlog. In the future, I will be sure to share any great photos that I see regarding the Los Angeles Dodgers. Until then, I have included a photo from today's game that is simply astounding.


Dodgers Homer Thrice in a Game!

The New York Mets were unable to defeat the Dodgers in yesterday's game. Los Angeles whacked three home-runs in the game, compliments of Rafael Furcal, Blake DeWitt, and Matt Kemp. Chad Billingsley was credited with his second win of the 2008 Regular Season in the 5-1 victory.

Blake DeWitt smashed his first homerun in his Major League Baseball career in the fifth inning. The youngster now has a .295 career batting-average. Although he may not be considered a candidate for the National League's prestigious Rookie of the Year Award, he has been an integral part of the Dodgers' success thus far.

When the Blake DeWitt's fly ball sailed over the outfield wall, the fans at Dodger Stadium went ecstatic. He said, "When I got around first base, I saw it go. I got the chills. I was so excited, I didn't notice anything." Blake DeWitt probably experienced the best moment of his life and he happily trotted around the bases.

Chad Billingsley pitched six innings, striking out four batters. After surrendering a run in last night's performance, the starting pitcher's Earned-Run Average is now a high - 4.54. Hopefully, he will be able to lower that statistic in the future.

Joe Beimel has done an excellent job lowering his Earned-Run Average during the 2008 Regular Season. The stellar relief pitcher pitched a perfect inning last night and now has an Earned-Run Average of 0.75. Hopefully, he will continue his bullpen success throughout the rest of the season.

The Dodgers have another game against the New York Mets tonight at 10.10 PM EST. Hiroki Kuroda will be the starting-pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hopefully, he silent the Mets' impressive offense in tonight's performance.

Los Angeles' starting line-up has been provided below, thanks to the Dodgers' Front Office:

  • Pierre, LF
  • Jones, CF
  • Kemp, RF
  • Kent, 2B
  • Martin, C
  • Loney, 1B
  • DeWitt, 3B
  • Hu, SS (Rafael Furcal was scratched from tonight's game with a stiff back).
  • Kuroda, SP

Mets @ Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a difficult match-up tonight against the New York Mets. The Dodgers' manager, Joe Torre, once played for the Mets and even managed the organization in the late 1970's! But, that's ancient history compared to today's era of Major League Baseball.

Joe Torre also faced the New York Mets when he was the manager of the New York Yankees. He said, "It'll be strange for me. Normally, we play the Mets in New York and, normally, it's crazy. This is a different environment." Thankfully, the Mets aren't huge rivals with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Chad Billingsley will be the starting-pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The hurler earned his first win of the 2008 Regular Season during his last performance. In his past four starts, Billingsley has struck out at least eight batters. Hopefully, he will extend his streak against the New York Mets.

The Mets will hand the ball to Nelson Figueroa. The 33-year old pitcher starting-pitcher has been noted to have poor control, which evidently gets him into trouble when runners are on-base. The Dodgers should be able to capitalize on Figueroa's poor pitching.
[Blog Note: Oliver Perez has been declared the starter for tonight's game. The New York Mets have decided to make Figueroa the starting-pitcher for tomorrow's game at 10:10 PM EST.]

Josh Rawitch has released the Dodgers' line-up for tonight's game:

  • Furcal, SS
  • Pierre, LF
  • Kemp, RF
  • Kent, 2B
  • Martin, C
  • Loney, 1B
  • Jones, CF
  • DeWitt, 3B
  • Billingsley, SP
The first-pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 10:10 PM EST at Dodger Stadium. XeiFrank of Dodger Sims calculated that Los Angeles has a 52% chance of defeating the Mets. Lets start another winning-streak with a victory tonight!

Rockies Crumble to Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are on a roll. After yesterday's 12-7 victory over the Colorado Rockies, the Dodgers extended their winning-streak to eight games. If they win today's game against the Rockies, then the Dodgers will have swept three-straight teams in their 2008 Regular Season schedule. It will be a memorable moment in Dodgers' history.

James Loney smashed his third home-run of the season in the fifth inning. The young first-baseman accumulated six-RBIs in tonight's game. However, he has accomplished the feat before. In the last week of the 2006 Regular Season, Loney had a remarkable nine-RBI game. The slugger is on-pace to knock in a grand total of 135 RBIs in the 2008 Regular Season, based on his spectacular offensive production  thus far.

Esteban Loaiza lasted only two and one-third innings on the mound, surrendering five runs on five hits. The starting-pitcher has a 5.63 - Earned-Run Average thus far. Unfortunately, his role in the Dodgers' rotation is in jeopardy once again.

Hong-Chih Kuo grabbed his first win of the Regular Season, pitching three and two-thirds innings. Kuo struck out five batters, lowering his season Earned-Run Average to 3.05. It is possible that he will switch roles with Esteban Loaiza and have another opportunity at becoming a starting-pitcher.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have their final game of their series against the Colorado Rockies later today at 3.05 PM EST. Derek Lowe will be the starting-pitcher for the Dodgers, hoping to get his third-win of the Regular Season. Hopefully, he will succeed in his goal.

Dodgers Sweep Marlins

The Los Angeles Dodgers have extended their winning-streak to six games. With a defeat over the Florida Marlins last night, Los Angeles completed two consecutive sweeps. Hopefully, the Dodgers will keep this momentum for the remainder of the Regular Season.

Tuesday's Game:

The Dodgers returned to the .500 mark with a 7-6 victory over the Florida Marlins. Jeff Kent knocked in a run on a single in the top of the ninth inning to secure the win for Los Angeles. The veteran second-baseman is currently batting .293 through the 2008 Regular Season.

Derek Lowe pitched five innings, surrendering three runs on eight hits. Scott Proctor relieved the starting-pitcher in the sixth inning to throw two perfect innings. However, Joe Beimel was credited with the win for Los Angeles and Takashi Saito picked up his third save of the Regular Season.

Wednesday's Game:

The Dodgers rallied against the Florida Marlins for a spectacular 13-1 win. Los Angeles' superb offense made contact for fifteen hits. This game could have been mistaken for batting-practice glancing at the Dodgers' offensive production.

Rafael Furcal whipped five hits in six at-bats, including his twelfth double of the 2008 Regular Season. The veteran shortstop is now batting an unbelievable - .381. He has been an integral component of the Dodgers' success thus far.

Joe Torre praised the MVP-candidate, ""You don't have a true appreciation for him if you only see him once in a while. He's a real player." Hopefully, Furcal will continue to be an offensive threat at the plate.

Russell Martin also smashed his third home-run of 2008. The catcher has been playing third-base with Blake DeWitt in Nomar Garciaparra's absence. It is reassuring to know that the slugger is flexible on the diamond and can play more than one defensive position.

The All-Star catcher exclaimed, "I'm just seeing the ball really well. I'm picking it up out of the pitcher's hand and I feel like my timing's on. I'm still at the plate and not trying to do too much, just taking what they give me." He should definitely continue to "take what they give," him.

Chad Billingsley grabbed his first win of the 2008 Regular Season with a stellar pitching performance. The hurler tossed seven innings, striking out eight batters and only giving up one run. Hopefully, he will continue to pitch this well in the future.

Thursday's Game:

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Florida Marlins, 5-3, to complete the sweep. The Dodgers currently have a 15-13 record in the 2008 Regular Season. If Los Angeles continue to play the remainder of the season on-pace, they will finish with 86 wins.

Juan Pierre was the offensive star of the game, knocking in a pair of runs on two hits. The outfielder also swept his seventh stolen-base of 2008. Surprisingly, he has been been a bigger offensive threat than Andruw Jones thus far.

Pierre recently was demoted to the bench. Joe Torre commented that, "He's smart enough to understand that if he's concerned with things he has no control over, it will affect everybody. He's a good team player." I hope that Torre is correct, because the last thing that the Dodgers need is a civil war.

Joe Beimel was credited with his third win of the 2008 Regular Season. The relief-pitcher currently has an outstanding - .90 Earned-Run Average. However, Brad Penny leads the Dodgers in the Wins category with four thus far.

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I would like to apologize for my recent inactivity. I have been consumed by my studies for the infamous Advanced Placement European History just around the corner. Once it is over, I can assure you that I will return to my normal posting habits.
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