GO BLUE!

Blasphemy!!!!!

official?

***YES***

and i thought it was doyers not doidgers

Oops.

Well there goes that thread...

uno

dos

...against the Gigantes no less. Love that.

tres

audi quattro

...nice of the dodgers to bring their brooms to pacbell, ya know?

Nice sweep. Good to see after the two losses to start the year.

cinco de mayo

Great outing by Lowe tonight.

that's los doyers

The boys in blue looked good tonight. I'm glad that they were able to win on Jackie Robinson day.

Yep, looking good. Schmidt concerns me though. I read a blurb about his arm/health being shot or something. Can't remember where I might have seen that. He did look like #### the other day. Can anyone here go into that? What's the deal?

Schmidt worries me bigtime. He looks horrible. I hope it's some minor injury causing this poor performance.

There was an article in the Times a week or so ago about him being a hypochondriac. And he was admitting as much. Basically, he had a loved one die from cancer (Mom, I think) and any ailment he would get, he would convince himself it was cancer and stuff. Couldn't get over it. But he said he realized this now, and was better or whatnot.

Well, I'm watching him pitch while I'm reading this article and no sooner does he try to cover a play at first, then he pulls up limping. Takes himself out of the game. Replay shows that he got stepped on (barely) by the runner, but he's grabbing his hammy. As you know, ends up there's nothing wrong with him.

Doesn't seem to me he's quite handled his problem. I just hope his arm isn't dead or something. Always kinda liked the guy, really.

Question for Dodgers fans: Is Russell Martin the best player on the team? Seriously. Every time I watch the Dodgers play, I come away more and more impressed with Martin's impact on the game. Plate approach would be great for a seasoned veteran much less a second year catcher. Steals bases, takes his walks, has decent pop, can play small ball when needed, very good blocking the plate, can throw with the best of them, handles the pitching staff well.

Russell Martin is a damned fine all-around baseball player. No doubt nucleus material. I wonder how many non-Dodger fans realize just how good of a baseball player he is. Oh, and they're crazy if they continue with their plans to move him out of the 2-hole. He's the practically perfect 2-hole hitter.

Russell Martin has quickly become my favorite player on this team. Also, added to the above attributes is that he never wants to take a day off. He just wants to play ball. There's alot of promise for a lengthy and productive career.

Well, I hope he soon heals from his non-existent injuries.

Best record in baseball...

More on Schmidt...

PHOENIX -- In the latest chapter of "The Disappearance of Jason Schmidt's Fastball," the right-hander had his between-starts bullpen session pushed back a day, rarely a good sign.

There still is no official injury being cited for a dramatic drop in velocity of the free-agent signee's pitches, but when other pitchers took part in long-toss in the outfield during batting practice before Monday night's game with the Diamondbacks, Schmidt instead was planted behind the screen in shallow center field collecting retrieved baseballs and definitely not throwing any. When he joined pitchers shagging in the outfield, he returned several balls underhand.

Nonetheless, at least publicly, manager Grady Little said he is aware of no injury and expects Schmidt to make his next scheduled start Thursday afternoon at Coors Field, where Schmidt is 4-2 with a 5.06 career ERA.

"I don't see why not," said Little.

When asked if there was consideration to have Schmidt skip a start, Little's answer left open the door only a crack.

"Not at this point," he said. "We've been discussing a lot of things with Jason. We want to get him going as quickly as possible. When people start the season, some start really successfully and level off, some start slow and gradually work into the height of the season. We'd be selfish to say every player is good every day. I'm sure he's going to get it going. His time will come."

Little deflected a question suggesting that Schmidt might no longer be capable of being a power pitcher and would need to overhaul his pitching philosophy.

"We're not looking at that right now," Little said. "We have concerns, but that's not a measure we're looking at going to just yet."

Just want to keep tabs on the Dodger thread, as they have a few minor league players that look promising.

From the the LAD Website:

"The Dodgers placed pitcher Jason Schmidt on the disabled list Tuesday with inflammation of the shoulder bursa sac and gave no timetable for his return.

The move was retroactive to Sunday.

Schmidt had an MRI Monday in Phoenix. The team is going to give him a few days off to see if the irritation subsides.

"We are going to give it a few days to let it calm down. Hopefully it's just a short term thing," Dodgers manager Grady Little said.

The Dodgers have not made a corresponding roster move and Little did not name a starter for Thursday at Colorado. Schmidt is 1-2 with a 7.36 ERA. "

Another win for the boys in blue. They are playing well right now.

10-4, nice start. I hope Schmidt gets well and can earn his $$$ the next three years. The starting pitching is deep but you hate see a #1-type guy go down early. If Schmidt comes back relatively strong I see the Dodgers putting together a couple of long winning streaks this season.

I hope so. I am really worried about Schmidt, but if a starting rotation can absorb a loss for a little while, it's the Dodgers.

Jason, doyers

Bye Jason, bye-bye Dodgers.

Fathers homer is all. That post is actually the best news surrounding Schmidt right now.

I know what he was getting at. I was trying to incite a prediction.

3rd place?

Oh, Mark Hendrickson filled in today and said to say hello. He allowed 1 runner past 2nd at Coors hoy. Jason who?

Mark Hendrickson pitches 5+ innings of one run ball at Coors. What is the world coming to?

Now 12-5 on the season.

Randy Wolf looked had a solid outing, even after throwing alot of pitches through three innings.

Walk-off grand slam.

Martin is looking good out of the six-hole and Pierre is red hot in the 2-slot...

The Dodgers have LOTS of flexibility in that lineup and pitching staff and Little seems like the perfect man to manage the balancing act.

I've been a Dodger fan for 25 years now, and this team is the first team they've had that made me feel like they had a chance to win it all since that 1988 team. They don't hit for power, but they do everything else well and they are as deep as any team they've had since the 1980's.

I'm loving the way that they're manufacturing runs seemingly every inning in some games, all while their pitching staff comes in and shuts down the opposition. This is just a very good team.

I agree on all points.

Pretty amazing what Colletti's done in building this team in just 18 months, no? Sure, there are a few DePodesta holdovers (Kent, Penny, Lowe . . . Brazoban when he returns) but the rest has either been promoted out of the minors by Colletti or added via trade or FA signings. Very impressive, and doubly so that he did it while avoiding trading away any of their many blue chip prospects.

I don't think any GM in baseball has had a better 18 months, and it's doubly impressive that that was both Colletti's first 18 months not only as the Dodger GM, but as a GM for anybody.

Loved watching that finish last night at the bar.

Don't forget Martin getting that tying run over to third in the ninth.

I was listening in the car in the bottom of the 8th when Martin came up with the bases loaded, and I called my wife who was at home to tell her to turn on the TV.

Their offense isn't sustainable. 3rd in the NL in runs, but 6th in OBP and 9th in SLG. They'll come down.

Similarly, ERA is 2nd best in the NL, WHIP is 6th. Walks, K's and hits all look like they're middle of the road. They should be 10-8, but they've gotten a little lucky to begin the year. Nothing wrong with that, I just don't think they're as good as their record indicates.

Seeing as how their current pace would have them winning 111 games, I'm not sure that that's news. OTOH I don't think that the hitting with runners in scoring position and the pitching are illusions given that they did that very thing the second half of last year too. Their starting pitching is now solidly four deep, which is better than last year, and may be better than that if Hendrickson keeps up his rebirth and replaces Tomko (who I've never liked as a starter for the Dodgers) in the rotation.

The fear for me is not so much that what we're seeing from them is fake, so much as that they'll suffer injuries to their vets that will hamstring them. Garciaparra in particular is a key part of their batting order and they'd suffer if they lost him for any length of time.

Great comeback tonight

Much needed after the sweep.

Russell Martin is a stallion.

Hope I didn't speak too soon.

ETA: Was a little worried there.

Martin rules.

Anderson made that inning by hitting well with two strikes to lead off.

Garciaparra is flat out deadly at the plate - one of the most natural hitters I've ever seen.

Saito made me nervous tonight. He wasn't sharp at all, and couldn't throw any breaking balls for strikes. Fortunately his fastball had some pop.

Player of the game was Ethier with those two catches.