Dodger's Breakout!

It was great seeing the Dodgers in Action here in Arizona. With the way things have been going this season the Dodgers needed a breakout game to free up the offense. We did just that last night, pounding the D-backs ace Dan Haren, who was untouchable for the first four innings, striking out ten batters the first time through the lineup. Setting the stage for what looked to be a low scoring game for the Dodgers. To counter, the Dodgers rookie pitcher John Ely was ready to earn his stripes getting his first major league win. When the Dodgers offense finally figured Dan Haren out, there was no stopping that run away train.

A thirteen run outburst is always good for the moral and confidence of the team. Hopefully this can right the ship and get the Dodgers pushing up from the bottom of the pack. One quick note take a look around at the bullpen's in the western division the majority of teams are having problems in the bullpen, letting you know we are not alone.

Leftside

Rough Beginings Build Character

It has been a rough start for the Dodgers but fret not three weeks does not a season make. This is one of the ways you fine out what you are made of. Everybody fines themselves with there back against a wall every now and then and you have to fight your way out. When this happens, something grows on the inside of you that remains for a life time. You have setbacks and reversals, but you keep fighting until the end. A lot is revealed when you are in the lean season individually and as a team. WE have all heard it said... you don't want to go to war with someone who has never been in a battle. Development! Character! Courage! Fight! The willingness to go the extra mile, the eye of the tiger. All these things come to the surface in battle. The Spirit of a Champion digs in for the battle, in baseball it's getting through 162 games. When the battle starts in April you already know every team will win 50 games and every team will lose 50 games. The Manager and what kind of fight is on the inside of your team plays a roll in what happens with the rest.

Leftside

Dodger Fan's Believe In Joe Torre

This has been one of the worse starts for the Dodgers over the last few years. Pitching and defense are the things you build your team around. While it is still early we have had problems in both of these area's early on. If you understand the Dodger organization over the last 50 years, pitching and defense is what has built organization into one of the best franchises in baseball. Joe Torre, can see the short coming the team is going through at this time and with all of his experience will be able to gage what is needed to make sure the team is in sink when it counts. Remember this isn't his first rodeo, when it comes to blending personalities Joe Torre is in the right spot, and the Dodgers will be in the Western Division race when it counts.
Leftside

Sometimes

The most important thing an athlete must realize is that there will be good and bad days. It is pointless to believe that you will do everything right all the time. Baseball is a roller coaster of ups and downs. The best athletes are those who do the most things right on the most consistent basis.
This is the second half of Sometimes...

Sometimes the cheese makes us late
Sometimes we turn it around
Sometimes we can't find the plate
Sometimes control is easily found
Sometimes pitchers get abused
Sometimes they dominate
Sometimes hitters look confused
Sometimes they own the plate
Sometimes we blow the easy play
Sometimes we make plays we can't usually make
Sometimes we throw the ball away
Sometimes we go weeks without a mistake
Sometimes we're thrown out trying to steal
Sometimes we steal on the catchers gun
Sometimes the game is no big deal
Sometimes it's very fun
Sometimes the game makes us mad
Sometimes we take it in stride
Sometimes we're good
Sometimes we're bad
just hold on for the ride

Sometimes

Sometimes we're pretty good at the game
Sometimes we fall on our face
Sometimes we're destined for fortune and fame
Sometimes we look out of place
Sometimes we have no off speed pitch
Sometimes it's very tough
Sometimes we hang it for all to hit
Sometimes we have nasty stuff
Sometimes we miss the hanging hook
Sometimes we hit it over the wall
Sometimes at strike 3 we look
Sometimes we hit pitches nasty and all
Sometimes the cheese makes us late
Sometimes we turns it around

Continued next blog....

I Missed It..

My Last post regarding Manny Ramirez going into the hall of fame I wrote from the heart. I had forgotten what happened last year with the 50 game suspension for using steroids. That does change thing quite a bit. Manny is still a great player and truly has put up hall of fame numbers, getting caught in the steroid age of the game of baseball isn't the worst thing to happen to a player. One because most of the guy's were still competing according to the rules of the game and baseball hadn't band the drug until the mid 90's I'm guessing. I would go so far as saying that the game promoted the use of steroids to save the game after the strike of 1994. We all remember CHICKS DIG THE LONG BALL! The problem I have with Manny is that 2009 year to test positive, that is cheating to get your advantage.
It surprises me that guy's would take that chance today, there is so much media surrounding the steroid talk writer can't wait to write about it. For the player, I guess if you can get away with it and it help your game and you get the multi-year contract you've accomplished your goal. Baseball is so much more than that though. As a player, TO USE you are thinking short term or long term? Is it worth it? I don't have that answer for you....You will have to ask the guy's that are dealing with the repercussions. Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and a host of others. Sammy Sosa has tried to turn himself white! Big Mac went underground for a while because of the pressure. The pressure that is place on these guy after they are exposed is so heavy do you think they would do things different? Mark McGwire would have never played in enough games to put up the numbers he put up. He was a great player, I could go on and on and on but this needs to be put to bed. Getting back on target Will Manny get your vote for the hall? My stand now is he can't go in UNLESS all the other guy's get in the hall of fame..... including Pete Rose.
to be continued...
leftside

Does Manny Get your Vote for the Hall

If you keep up with the Big League Stew after Manny Ramirez' pinch hit homerun, the question comes up, would he get your vote for the Hall of Fame? Now I've played with a lot of great players, Ricky Henderson, Reggie Jackson, Mark McGwire, and a host of others. For Manny Ramirez to put up the number he has put up over the last few years. He is truly bound for the hall of fame. There are a lot of people that have played with Manny Ramirez who hate his guts but it doesn't change the fact that he is a great player. Is he likeable? Does he play hard all the time? I can't say, I can only answer like a fan he is fun to watch. In my own opinion he is having fun whether the team wins or loses. What that does is takes all emotion out of play and allows you to except what happens for the day. This is how I believe Manny has stood above the crowd to excel at what he does... and what does he do...Perform.

Leftside

Winning Is Better Than Losing

Continued from yesterday...

Winning make me look to the future
While losing puts things in reverse
Winning simply makes attitudes better
and losing makes attitudes worse
I don't want to know you
if you're a good loser
Good loser,
to me,
aren't good men
Maybe it's just that I'm such a bad winner
I like enjoying the win:
Yes!
All Right! Thatababy!
Midfield congratulations
Post game smiles
High and low fives
Hugs in celebration
I don't care how you'd break it down
The result is still the same
Winning is better than losing folks
No matter what the game.

by Mark Davis
go Big Blue

I will be mixing in a poem every second or third blog, you won't want to miss this season. Let go Dodgers.

Leftside

Winning is Better Than Losing

I gave it that title because I wanted to share a poem with you all. I am truly glad to see the Dodger put some numbers on the board and start to look like the team we all expect to win the Western Division.

My brother who play in the big leagues with the Angels wrote this poem, I think you will enjoy it:

Winning is better than losing folks

And that's the bottom line

If losing doesn't get on your nerves

You can't be a teammate of mine

I will never tire of winning

I can win over and over again

I have this strong need

to feel like I'm better

and that need is fulfilled when I win

Winning gives me bragging rights

It lets me walk with pride

It puts a smile upon my face

and leaves a good feeling inside

Winning makes all females look better

and enhances the taste of my food

Winning allows me to sleep a lot better

and it wakes me up in a good mood

Part two tomorrow.....

Dodgers Give up Game in Late Innings

The Dodgers haven't quite found their stride yet. The come from behind win for the Marlins is one that got away from the Dodgers. As a former outfielder for the Dodgers, the ball at the centerfield wall has to be caught. Shawn Kemp may have gotten turned around but that ball should have been an F8. Shawn is a great player and will continue to get better and will continue to make mistakes as his star develops. When the Dodgers do find there stride those plays will be made. When we start clicking on all cylinders this will be fun to watch. I hope you have a good seat, our once young team has grown up and these guy's believe they will repeat. You know what that means... Get your Manny wigs ready to party in September. Again we've just started and haven't build any momentum. When it happens you will know.

Leftside

Bla Bla Bla Tomorrows Another Game

It was good to see the Dodgers get back into the game and put themselves in position to win. There were a lot of positives and and negatives but at the end of the day the Dodgers are solid.

I first want everybody to remember that this is only game number two, and we have a great team. Clayton Kershaw was a little off but he should be great. Hey! I'm glad to see Russ Ortiz on our staff. He will be a sleeper out of the bullpen this year. Tomorrows another day.

Get ready for the ride.

Leftside

Welcome to the Baseball Season

It has been over a year sense I've last posted a blog. I'm back and ready for the battles we'll fight in 2010. I will be blogging about the Dodgers again and this year I will add a different twist to my blogs I know you will enjoy. This year we will go inside of the players head..... What makes them excel at the game of baseball? Is it just ability or something else?

Easter Sunday I spoke to the kids at Avondale Little League, with the baseball seasons starting all around the world. Over 33 million kid and students and pros, begin their pursuit to become tomorrows major leagues. All over the United State, Japan, Taiwan, Dominican Republic, Cuba, etc... On the eve of the greatest event to happen in the history of the world... The Resurrection of the Lord and Savior of the world Jesus Christ! Christ being His title and not last name. Better said... Jesus the Christ!

I was reminded of when I started playing and my father would drive through the neighborhood and pick up our team in his station wagon. We would get to the field and everyone would spill out of the car 12 or more kids deep. To see the faces of the kids yesterday, starting a new season took me back to some good memories. I wanted to break the ice with a little reflection and wish all the kids good luck in the new season... but this blog has a lot to do with the big blue, The Dodgers Baby! They lost the first game of the season. Dodger fans! get ready for an exciting ride! I will be posting some great stuff this year and you won't want to miss it. Again... WELCOME TO THE BASEBALL SEASON!

Camelback Ranch is the Real Deal

I made it over to Camelback Ranch after church to take a look at the new home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Whitesox. Pitchers and Catchers made it to Arizona on Friday and broke the ice with some PFP and batting practice. Some fields you can see fresh sod laid out needing a couple of weeks to take root before it will be ready to have live bodies cutting and slashing on the infield diamond. They still have some work to do but Camelback Ranch is one nice place. They actually have a lake that runs through the middle of the complex, baseball and fishing... what a concept. To my surprise I was recognized as I walked toward the field so I signed a few things... that felt good. Camelback Ranch Cactus League baseball with the Dodgers, that has a great ring to it.

Mike Davis

Happy Valentines Day

Valentines Day at Camelback Ranch. I had a chance to see the Dodgers and Whitesox spring training complex, awesome!! I've been to a lot spring training facilities this is second to none.

If you know the Dodgers at all they do everything firsts class. Dodgers at Camelback Ranch is the best of the best. You heard it hear first... the cat is out the bag ...

We have great training facilities in Arizona, The Dodgers and Whitesox have raised the bar to another level. Come and see for yourselves, this will be the place to be spring training 2009.

Mike Davis

Chicks Dig the Long Ball

Do you remember the The Nike commericals in the mid 90's. "Chicks dig the long ball" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLECMCargd8) Greg Maddox and Tom Glavine are walking down across the field and everyone was focused on Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.... The next thing you see is Maddox and Glavine in the weight room pumping iron... they step back on the field and get noticed by Heather Locklear as they hit balls into the bleachers. All of this was part of bringing fan back to the ball parks after the the strike in 1994. The home run was a big ticket and major league baseball bought into it hook line and sinker. Player across the league became bigger and record home runs were hit. Everyone in baseball could see what was happening. This was part of the effort to restore the game of baseball to bring the fans back to the game and they ran with it. Yes, some players got juiced Canseco would say but it worked!! Baseball fans came back to the ball park in big numbers to see the home run. Major League teams were building new ball parks to make it more accommodating for the fan with better marketing efforts to separate you from more of your money and that worked. The salaries began to sky rocket... Next quote: "Houston we have a problem"....

Baseball is in The Air

You have to be good to made that kind of money in any venture. I don't think that Bill Gates thought that the PC would have made him one of the richest guy's in the world. He had a great vision that exploded. Even the game of baseball, the owners I don't think they thought that the money would ever get as big as it has gotten. With concessions and parking and the TV packages, the tax write offs, with the money that they pay out to players there has to be something we don't know about the kind of money they make. Maybe the government tells them to give it away and we will double your money... could that be the ticket? Who Knows.

All I really know is that the Dodgers need Manny Ramirez and don't need to loose him in a bid with the Giants. I know that Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez are two of the best players ever to play the game and that Baseball should let Mark McGwire in the hall of fame. I wish this steroid thing never came up because it has taken down some great players. Yes we should compete according to the rules in the baseball world in the 90's they were trying to save the game and both the player and the owners should take responsibility.
Mike Davis

The Spirit of Baseball Is Back Can you Feel It

With the baseball season less that a week away, you can feel the excitement in the air.

HOT news!! The government is still after Barry Bonds because they don't like him. Roger Clemens is still claiming his Innocent's and where in the world will Manny Ramirez be Going?

You have to be proud of the Dodgers in the way that they have gone about resolving the Manny dilemma. I know we all want to blame things on Manny but rest assured that his agent Scott Bor-US... has prolonged everything. You say wait a minute... Manny is a grown man... yes he is and Manny is in a power position in a crazy free agent market where nobody knows what going on. His agent Scott Bor-US, didn't count on the economy to soften the market the way it did. The Dodgers only offer Manny a KINGS RANSOM but for Scott and his commission it wasn't enough. I say that because no ball player ever thought you could make crazy money in the game of baseball 30 years ago, which means I'm old and maybe wrong about todays players. 30 years ago the Major league minimum was 21 thousand and you were glad to be there, times have changed, I mean we have a black President for God Sakes. Where are owners that want to win so bad that they'll give you beyond your imagination... I mean Alex Rodriguez has made over half a Billion Dollars... That is awesome!! Only in America can that happen...

Jeff Kent Retires From Baseball

After 17 years in the majors Jeff Kent calls it quits. What a great career and a great player. Jeff finishes his career with a .290 avg 377 home runs and over 1500 RBI. Named to 5 all star teams Jeff is truly a candidate for the hall of fame and will be remembered for his run ends with Barry Bonds. Jeff is truly a great players who thought he didn't get the respect he deserved. When you have super stars in the line up with Jeff, he wanted to be on the same level with them and hated people saying that the great players like bonds and Ramirez made him better. Everybody in baseball knew this was the case but Jeff always took it the wrong way like he was less than . In spite of the little things his confidence in his ability made him great. Jeff Kent had a great major league career and I wish him the very best.

Mike Davis

WE ARE WHO WE THOUGHT WE WERE!!!

EXTRA EXTRA!! the Cardinals headed for the SUPER BOWL first time in history of the franchise! The City of Glendale, AZ is in an up roar. The Spirit of a Champion has over taken the Arizona Cardinals. This is the biggest thing to happen since the Diamondback won the World Series. Warner to Fitzgerald the hottest ticket in town. they said it wasn't possible but the Cardinals are in the super bowl. With the FBR Open a week away the NBA all star game around the corner, plus the Dodgers coming to the desert. Nothing is more exciting than what the Cardinals are doing. The confidence that the Cards are playing with has become contagious, the passion of the City is their twelfth man on the field that will take this team to the finish line. I'm writing from San Diego in a sea of Green with people pulling for the Eagles. it's only half time but I'm stepping out on a limp for the Cardinals. This is what finishing is about you have to see it to believe it. CARDINALS IN THE SUPER BOWL FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Mike Davis

Andruw Jones Sent Packing

The decision has been made, Andruw Jones is out as a Dodger. Dodgers GM Ned Colleti has closed the book on Jones and the Dodgers will move forward without him. The one thing I don't get about the fast decisions that are made. is why and how? You gave him 36 million a year ago and his money is guaranteed. Why not find out if the guy can still play? He was one of the best players in the league less than two years ago. At lease try to get your money out of him.

Why not allow him to come to spring training... play him in all the B games on the back fields and see what happens... see which Jones shows up. I don't like just writing the guy off, giving him his money then saying next. We tried it didn't work... next... After one year.... 36 million in the books... gone never to be seen again. Andruw Jones can now go and play for any team out there for the major league minimum wage. if he fines his game again, be used to beat on the Dodgers while we pay him. I don't like an out of shape player, I don't like a guy that isn't committed to CANI (continuous and never ending improvement). What does it say about our scouting department? What kind of job did they do in bring in a player that is a bust. I was a bust for the Dodgers in 1988 and didn't perform up to expectation, the very reason we call it a team game. We were 1988 World Champions that year. One for all and all for one. It may not have been that way but that is what it feels like when you Win.

Mike Davis