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

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.....

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

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

Ricky Henderson in The Hall of Fame

Congratulations to Rickey Henderson, you are one of the greatest players to ever play the Game of baseball. The flair and excitement that you brought to the game of baseball set you head and shoulders about all the rest. From the first year watching you and playing in the same lineup I knew you were a special player. One of the things that you find out about players while you play with them or against them is how confident they are. Rickey Henderson operated with the spirit of a champion, no one could break his confidence. You know how good a guy is when the question is asked... would you pay to watch them play? Being in the same lineup with Rickey, I would have paid to watch him perform that's how good he was.

Rickey Henderson by himself changed the way the game was played. Because of him pitchers went from a high leg kick to a slide step to home to stop the running game of most teams. The stop watch became a major part of the game and all teams demanded their pitchers deliver the ball to home plate under 2.3 seconds. Each year Rickey did more to become the best player on the field.

One off season Rickey, myself and a couple or other player worked out at a batting cage in Antioch, CA that was the winter that he and I learned how to hit as inside fastball without rolling off of the pitch. I hit 24 homeruns for the A's and Rickey Hit 24 homeruns for the Yankees. He was able to do it over and over again. Born on Christmas morning Rickey Henderson was truly blessed with an ability to play the game of baseball. Everyone that had a chance to watch him play was treated with a hall of fame performance. Rickey Henderson it's your time to take a bow.

Would You Bet on Andruw Jones

With all the players the Dodgers have brought into the Organization over the last couple of years, they have players with great resumes to make decisions on. Andruw Jones happens to be on of them. If you were ever going to have a nightmare as a player, Andruw Jones went through one last season. Everything went wrong on the baseball field and when you play in a big media market like Los Angeles, there is no sympathy. Andruw Jones has always been one of the leagues best players and just became ineffective and not good fast.

Sometimes that is the guy you bet on because he has so much to prove. When you're a big free agent you want everyone to know you are worth the price of admission and you can put so much pressure on yourself that you try to hard and nothing goes right. If they put Andruw Jones back in the lineup will the real Andruw Show up? Do you give him a chance in spring training or trade him if you can. Based on his resume I would give him a chance in spring training to see if he is back to the great players the Dodgers paid 36 million for. To have Anduw Jones in full form and to sign Manny Ramirez that could be a great three four punch in the line up or a great four five punch in the lineup. If you ever wonder what the winter meeting are about these are the major decision that the organization leaders have to make preparing for 2009.

Mike Davis

To Be a Switch Hitting Free Agent with Great Hands

Mark Teixeira happens to be hotter than Manny Ramirez right now. To be a switch hitting free agent who can hit for power plus having every major league team wanting to add you to there roster for a kings ransom has to be nice. This guy can do it all, great hands on defense and a bat that is so potent that they talk about it in both leagues... and the kind of teammate that everyone wants. His value is sky high!

Teixeira is and outstanding player... He stands above all the rest and is about to be paid for his performance in a great way. The Boston Redsox have been out bid for his services. How does that happen? Ever since He came out of college he has been turning heads. The Man that scouted Teixeira should be giving what ever he wants because this guy is special beyond measure. Even when you spell his name right it looks wrong but in the game of baseball everything that Mark Teixeira does it right.

Mike Davis

Ricky Henderson Time to Join The Hall of Fame

As yahoo sports broaches the subject of Ricky Henderson being top on the list of first time ballot Hall of Famers. You can't forget he wore the Dodgers Blues as well. I believe he was 85 years old and hit a home run in his first at bat... I'm kidding with you because Ricky is my age I was so impressed with what great shape he was in to perform in his mid-forties. He appeared to have the same body that he broke into the league 25 plus years ago. We played in Oakland together when billy Martin was the Manager. I remember it so well because I was the forth outfielder in the best outfield in baseball, which meant I never played. Ricky added so much flair to the game of baseball, his great speed made running glamorous and changed the way that pitchers and catchers managed the game. I Hit behind Ricky Henderson in Oakland when I finally did get a chance to play and when you have a player of his talent on base, you get better pitches to hit. That is the reason I couldn't understand the fuss that Jeff Kent was making when they said he got better because of Manny Ramirez. Jeff is a great player but when you put the right people around the right people everybody benefits. I was a lucky man in my baseball career. When I look back and see the field of future Hall of Famers, five or six where team mates of mine and the rest of the field we had great battles against one another. Looking back to the great players that ran between the white lines to compete... though memories are priceless. Of though great players Ricky Henderson Stands out in a crowd with the true Spirit of a Champion. Congratulation Ricky to you and your family you deserve God's best.

Mike Davis

MLB on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

Game for Manny Ramirez 75 Million Buy In

The yahoo sports video is saying to win the hand of Manny Ramirez, you have to come correct. We have a high stakes poker game... to get Manny you have to go all in at 75 Million three years. MAN!! that's a lot of money. The truth is it may go higher than that, with the teams that have a need for an instant impact player, and a need to win right now. Manny knows he is in a high stakes game and each day his value goes up. What an awesome position to be in. YOu have heard it said: " baseball has been very very good to me" well Manny has been crowned The King of LA, if the Dodgers are lucky enough to get his services for another three years. Did you hear what I said? Lucky enough to get his services at 75 million... WOW!!

There will be a number of team in the running; bidding for Manny Ramirez, believe me the red carpet is coming out and only the elite owners can play. Frank Mccourt has his poker face hasn't blinked... this is it... do you believe in this hand?... all you have to say is... I'M ALL IN.


In the high stakes game not every owner can play... the best of the West against the best of the East.


Who wants a Championship team? Who is willing to pay for a Winner based off of last years performance? This is just the prelude to the WINTER MEETINGS... get your popcorn ready, it will be exciting.


Mike Davis

Tommy Goes Big in the Wine Business

Why hasn't this happened before now. The Great Tommy Lasorda and his love of the finer things in life and the Dodgers... now has his own wine and I heard it from his own mouth, Italian wine. As much as Tommy loves Italian foods, this is like a marriage made in heaven, like peas in a pod, like Abbot and Costello, Burns and Gracie.

Tommy is now in his 80's and looking good as ever, I had a chance to sit down with during the excitement of this last season and he still The Spirit of a Champion burning inside. Doesn't move quite as fast but he can still move people with the way that he delivers a speech. I will make sure a get a case of Lasorda Wine just for the memories... this is a grand way for Tommy to retire in the vineyard and in peace... Beautiful.

Mike Davis

There's a Winner in You

This has been on my mind since this past Friday. When I blogged about the young lady on the show STYLISHA named Danielle, who was an overweight fashion diva with great style. I talked about how she lost her confidence when she had to pick out an outfit she felt didn’t compliment her body type. The energy for style and fashion she brought to the drawing board left her as her confidence waned.
Well this past Friday I was in an insurance meeting that was being ran by a man of large proportions. This man had to be 350- 450 lb. didn’t have the brightest smile in the room but was very engaging. The presents he possessed and the confidence that came from his person made you want to drink the coolade he was serving and hear everything he was saying. He was full of life, he was full of love and he truly cared about your needs and how he could help you. This man was very attractive because of what was in him... a CHAMPION! What he had was contagious and whatever he was selling you wanted it. He is a true champion, a winner.
I wanted to share that with you because so many people look at what is going on around them and let the circumstances dictate the way they approach their day and the way they treat people. When you have a spirit of gratefulness, when you are grateful for the many blessing we truly have. If you have a spiritual relationship with you maker and can enter into His rest. That joy comes forth and is intoxicating and attractive. We should all become the best we can be with what God has blessed up with. The Spirit of a Champion brings that out of you where you radiate confidence in who you are. There is a Winner in you.
Martin Luther King once said: “ If I can help someone as I past along… If I can cheer someone with a word or a song… If I can show someone he is traveling wrong… Then my living would not be in vain. That is in my spirit and a truth I try to live by.

Mike Davis

Champions of the Round Table

Whether you play sports or work at El Pollo Loco you can be a champion. The way that you see yourself means so much to the way that the world sees you. The show Stylista was playing on the TV in the background and there was this oversize stylist named Danielle, who was having a tough time with her outfits of choice. I wouldn’t call her overweight; but she was 4 or 5 inches too short for her size. Her beauty was in her confidence, which was engaging and stylish… but when her confidence went, she wasn’t the same person. Her view of life changed and what she gave out changed, and everyone around her could feel it.
You see, we give out energy that is received or repelled based off of what is happening on the inside of us. That is the reason why you have to tap into the Spirit of a Champion and pump yourself up to stir up the gift. The Spirit of a Champion takes you to a place of confidence where you know you can conquer the world and that’s what a winner does. There is no quitting in you until you reach your goal and if you lose your confidence, which we all do from time to time, just remember to stir up the gift, the Spirit of a Champion, and get back to the Champion within you.
Mike Davis