“Summer, it turns me upside down
Summer, summer, summer
It’s like a merry go round”
~The Cars
After four torturous days without Dodgers baseball, it is here — the first day of the second half. The first half felt long and tenuous at times, so I thought I’d take a quick look back at what I think are the Top Five highlights.
With 71 games remaining on the schedule and the hot stove just beginning to percolate, many fans of the Dodgers are wondering if the squad has what it takes to make a playoff run in the second half of the year — most specifically in the starting pitching department.
Continue reading “Can Dodgers Field a Formidable Starting Rotation for Playoffs?”
“You were pretty as can be, sitting in the front seat
Looking at me, telling me you love me
And your happy to be with me on the 4th of July”
~Shooter Jennings
It’s been four days since the news came that Clayton Kershaw would be put on the disabled list for his back. I’m definitely feeling better now than I did then. In those four days, all the Dodgers have done is win every game, allowing only one run from opposing teams, welcomed back a long lost starter, and gained a game on San Francisco Giants in the standings.
With staff ace Clayton Kershaw on the shelf until at least mid-July nursing a lower-back ailment, members of the Dodgers‘ latest starting rotation crew are set to close out the first half of the season on a strong note before earning four days of well-deserved rest over the All-Star break.
Continue reading “Dodgers’ Latest Rotation Combo Poised to Deliver”
“And should I fall behind
Wait for me
Darlin’ I’ll wait for you
Should I fall behind
Wait for me”
~Bruce Springsteen
The other day, when the news came down about Clayton Kershaw having back spasms and maybe facing a DL stint, I facetiously tweeted “RIP Dodgers season.” Now that’s not fair, or entirely true, that one player can make or break a season, being on (what is hopefully) a short stay on the disabled list. But if there’s any player that that sentiment would apply to, it would be Kershaw.
In light of losing ace Clayton Kershaw to the disabled list with a herniated disc in his lower back, the Dodgers announced on Thursday the acquisition of pitcher Bud Norris, minor league outfielder Dian Toscano, a player to be named later and cash from the Braves in exchange for minor league pitchers Caleb Dirks and Phil Pfeifer.
“Frustrated, Incorporated (put me out of my misery)
Frustrated, Incorporated (I’d do it for you, would you do it for me)
Frustrated, Incorporated (forever after happily)
Frustrated, Incorporated (making misery)”
~Soul Asylum
Well Dodger fans, I’m finally starting to crack. I try to be optimistic as much as possible, and then games like yesterday happen. What is it about Clayton Kershaw that makes it hurt so much more? He is the one that the team turns to, to put them on his back, to make a losing streak stop, to get a win when they most need it. Sunday’s game was uncharacteristically not that. Four runs in one inning was the undoing of the Kershaw, and the Dodgers. Of course, Clayton is human. Anyone can have a bad day. Maybe it was the five days rest. We all know how regimented he is. Maybe it was Yasmani Grandal. Maybe, it was absolutely nothing at all and these things just happens.
“Oh, yeah, it’s rollercoaster time
Lovin’ you is really wild
Oh, it?s just a love rollercoaster
Step right up and get your tickets!”
~Red Hot Chili Peppers
Sometimes, I suppose, it’s easy for us to forget how lucky we are. We get bogged down in the day to day minutia and only focus on the bad things happening to us. This happens with sports fandom also. It’s so easy to focus on all the things that are going wrong with your team, that you don’t see all the amazing things that are happening in front of you.
“Hey hey hey
Yes I’m jumping like a jumping jack
I’m dancing, screaming, itching, squealing, fever feeling
Hot hot hot”
~The Cure
The weather is heating up. Even here in PA, it’s going to be in the 90’s today. And the Dodgers might finally be putting together a hot streak of their own. Series wins versus Arizona and Milwaukee have the Dodgers starting to look pretty good. If only those stupid Giants would stop winning.
“Don’t you know?
Don’t you know things can change
Things’ll go your way
If you hold on for one more day”
~Wilson Philips
Good morning from our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.! I think I picked a good time to be on limited social media and TV time of watching our beloved team. Last week was not the best of weeks for the Dodgers. But, it is my job in this weekly recap to come up with only the positives. So, here we go.
Think Blue Planning Committee 