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

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

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

What is Happening With Manny...

Happy New Year! 2009 is here and Baseball is just around the corner. The Dodgers have moved out of Vero Beach, FL to Good Year, AZ. The complex in Good Years is awesome. While we anticipate the start of the baseball season decisions are still being made. What is happening with Manny Ramirez? I haven't heard anything in a while but it looks like the only place Manny can land is Los Angeles California. I hope this is a good thing. The Dodgers have offered a three year deal to bring Manny back to LA in the range of 70 to 80 Million... I think that Manny and his agent are just playing the game to see if someone will get desperate and react to the moves the Yankees are making. With that being said the Dodgers are looking at the giant of a man in Adam Dunn in case things fall through with Manny.

Adam is a great player but he won't have the same impact because of the way Manny Connected with the city of Los Angeles. While we contemplate what they will do with Manny, the Dodgers made a decision on Andruw Jones which I personally done agree with. When you pay a Player top free agent money and they don't perform to your expectation and you give up on them, the money that you have to pay is guaranteed. Why not at lease see if they are back to form before you give up on them? You have to pay them anyway... Try to see if the spirit of the champion has resurfaced and the confidence is there to help the team. This guy has been one of the great players in the league. Yes, there comes a time as a player when you don't have it anymore and your talents start to fade... I'm just saying let's find out.... we were close to last in home runs last year if it wasn't for the Padres garage sale team they featured last year.

Before you know it the decisions will be made and we will be off to the race for the title again. Get ready for another fun year.

Mike Davis

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

FOOTBALL FINALS ANAHEIM STADIUM for Tustin High

You're probably wondering why is this guy writing about High School Football? Well it's my opportunity to brag about my nephew Anthony Wilkerson. Anthony is a junior at Tustin High, 5'11'' 210 lb GPA 3.8 the majors are looking at him as a junior USC, UCLA, STANFORD etc... Plus the Tustin Tillers is going to the CIF Finals at Anaheim Stadium for the first time in 12 years. My nephew has played a major part in the success of the Tustin Tillers. They have a great team this year. To be playing in the CIF finals is testament to the hard work all the players have put in.

Anthony Wilkerson has scored thirty-five touchdown this year... the last game I saw him play he scored five touchdown. As a former professional player myself I have played against some great NFL Stars. My nephew impressed me so much the last time I watched him play, I told him after the game: " you are exciting, you remind me of Marcus Allen the way you run through that line." Do you know what he told me??

Who is Marcus Allen... Who is Marcus Allen... only another Hall of Famer with great NFL numbers who made a big mark on the game of football when the Raiders were the Raiders and the class of the league. This tells me I'm getting older. I have to remember that my nephew is only 16 years old. Orange County Varsity dot com they keep you up to speed on what all the high school players are doing in Orange County. The Game coming up this Saturday afternoon at Anaheim Staduim is something that all the players and their families, the cheerleaders and their families will remember the rest of their lives. The Spirit of a Champion will be a part of every player and student that has been apart of this journey from start to finish, With the right mindset they will be able to accomplish anything. Nephew, do your Thang on Saturday, you have won already... and remember:

good better best,

never let it rest,

until the good get's better,

and the better become the best....

go Tillers!!

Mike Davis

Tiller Football against Canyon: http://shmyl.com/esrgton