Anderson Finally Comes up Clutch; Dodgers Sweep

Goodbye Lunesta and Ambien; you are now sleeping drugs of the past.

If you've got a restless night, throw out your medicine cabinet and head straight for the TiVo. That's right: watching a replay of today's Dodger game against the D-backs will put you into a sleep that is deeper than any pill could ever hope to achieve, and with none of those nasty side effects.

... I take it back: confusion, agitation, and aggression may occur after watching the Dodgers' most recent sweep.

Here's the game summary: G Anderson singled to center,

M Kemp scored. Ari: 0, LAD: 1

Yeah, that's about it.

A 3-game series sweep with 3 walk-off wins (the first time since 1982) should be incredibly exciting - it wasn't. Today's game was the Dodger's second 1-0 walk-off, extra-inning victory in as many days; however, ten innings weren't enough for the Dodgers this time. Instead, they had to continue playing until the crowd (who's total attendance appeared to be in the triple-digits, at best) got another opportunity to sing "Take me Out to the Ball Game," which took place during the 14th inning stretch.

The Dodger recorded only three hits throughout the first nine innings, all of which we're from one player - Jamey Carrol. Carrol has gone 6 for 9 over the last two games, and has absolutely earned his spot as one of Torre's first players off the bench. The first real scoring threat of the game from either team did not come until the bottom of the 10th when Loney began the inning with a double; neither team had a man on third until Matt Kemp was able to achieve the seemingly impossible feat with 2 outs in the bottom of the 14th. What happened next was something just short of a miracle: Garret Anderson (who was 0-5 up to that point and was batting only .156 for the season) was able to knock a blooper to straight away center that dropped safely just milliseconds before being scooped up by the diving Chris Young.

Though Anderson's numbers have been frustrating as of late, the leadership he brings to the team is invaluable.

We learned almost nothing about the Dodgers from this series, except that they have no problem with playing down to their opponent... and it's difficult to even consider Arizona an opponent: the level of baseball they're playing right now doesn't even belong in the minors, let along the majors.

Exhibit A - The Dodgers' starting lineup:

SS Carroll

CF Kemp

RF Ethier

1B Loney

LF Anderson

3B Belliard

2B DeWitt

C Ellis

P Monasterios

If you cannot take advantage of the Dodgers on a day when Torre decides to rest Manny, Casey Blake, Russell Martin, and Rafael Furcal, then you don't deserve to play Major League Baseball. You need both hands to count the number of unrecognizable names used in today's game by the Dodgers.

Exhibit B - The Diamondbacks have now completed 31 scoreless innings

Yes, that's bad. What's even worse is the fact that they have failed to advance a man to third base over that span.

Exhibit C - Today's game was the D-backs tenth loss in a row

They went 0-9 on their road trip. There's not much you can say about it - that's just really bad.

While the Dodgers' offense has certainly looked equally shaky over the last couple of days, I'm not worried. Whether it's by a score of 1-0 or 10-0, we are still winning the games we need to win, and are not wasting the impressive outings turned in by our pitching staff; it's simply a case of playing both up and down to our opponents.

Most importantly, the Dodgers have been beating up on the teams that they need to beat up on - the NL west. The Dodgers have won eight out of nine games against the D-backs this year, 4 out of 5 against San Diego, and have won nine straight series against the Rockies. In total, the Dodgers have an incredible 18-5 record against the NL west.

I'm looking forward to the red-hot braves coming into town tomorrow. They recently swept the Phillies and are riding an eight-game win streak. It should be one hell of a series.

Ely, Kemp Join Forces to Give Dodgers 1-0 Victory

It's official. For the first time in my life, there's no doubt in my mind... I've got myself a bromance.

What is a bromance, you ask?

As defined by "urbandictionary.com," a bromance is a strong and extremely complicated positive emotion that a straight male feels towards another male.

And no, it's not with Matt Kemp. Your welcome, Rihanna... he's still your one and only rude boy. Kemp was tonight's "official" hero after giving the Dodger's a 1-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks with his walk off homer in the bottom of the 10th.

Congrats on the walk-off, Matt... hopefully you'll get a little something something extra from Rihanna tonight.

But no, no way. It is going to take much more than a simple one-run walk-off homer to be my man-crush, especially when it was your first hit of the night against one of the worst teams in baseball.

How about a pitcher that went 7 innings strong in each of his last two games, giving up a whopping 1 earned run in total?

Yeah, you guessed it. It's John Ely... I've got a man crush for the Dodger's 24-year-old starting right-handed pitcher. There, I said it. He pitched an incredible 7 innings tonight, giving up 2 hits, two walks, and zero earned runs, and looked unbelievably calm along the way. Did I mention he's only a rookie? Ely has started 7 games thus far; if you forget about his first outing, he has averaged 6.2 innings pitched with an era of 1.33 over the remaining 6 games.

No, that's not a typo.

Yes, he's truly only a rookie.

In fact, the only reason Ely was called up from AAA on May 10th was to temporarily replace injured Charlie Haeger. Nonetheless, one thing is for sure: at Ely's current rate, or anything even in the realm of it, his stint in the starting rotation is far from temporary... it will be as permanent as our hatred of the San Fransisco Giants. With that said, it would be unfair for Dodgers fans to expect these types of outings from Ely each game.... we must have realistic expectations and understand that there will certainly be highs and lows, especially from a pitcher of his age. But as of right now, you have my full permission to enjoy the ride as long as possible.

Can I say it again? He's a rookie!

Here's the problem: my sudden bromance with John Ely has gotten the best of my conscience and has convinced me that I can't continue living this double-life; consequently, I must come come clean and divorce my first true love - the Dodger's offense. Why? Because you can't be in love with something that doesn't exist. A pitcher should NEVER have to throw 7 strong innings in back to back games, giving up a combined ERA of 0.5, and be rewarded with a loss in the first game (lost Thursday to Cubs, 0-1) and a no-decision tonight. Way to go, Dodger offense. Way to go. Pat yourselves on the back.

Before you begin sympathizing with Ely, however, give the D-backs' offense a quick thought, specifically Dan Haren. Haren pitched brilliantly tonight: he pitched 8 scoreless innings and outlasted the seemingly unshakeable Ely. AJ Hinch, the D-backs manager, did everything he possibly could to keep Haren in the game and refrain from turning the ball over to that abysmal, awfully good-for-nothing thing their organization calls a bullpen. After 126 pitches, however, Hinch had no choice but to pull Har=ren; long story short, Arizona's bullpen lost the game... again. What else would you expect from the bullpen with the worst ERA in MLB? If I was a starting pitcher for the D-backs, I would act as though I was scheduled to start on the road at Coors field for every game; that way, I can refuse to pitch and avoid having to face the harsh reality that has plagued my starting rotation all season: I can either go out their and pitch nine perfect innings, or hand the ball over to my bullpen and, no matter the score, (automatically) lose.

As for the D-Backs in the future? Maybe their recent trade acquisition, Dontrelle Willis, will turn things around for the organization... Oh, excuse me, I was just laughing-out-loud at my own joke.

"Balk-off" Gives Dodgers Undeserved Victory

The Dodgers began their 13-game homestand Monday night with a victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks after Casey Blake was balked home by Arizona's Esmerling Vasquez, breaking a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the 9th.

Wait!... A walk-off balk?

Yes. A walk-off balk. A "balk-off," if you may.

It is understandable if your initial reaction was, "those actually occur?". The answer is yes, but very rarely. The last major league walk-off balk was September 9th, 2008, when Atlanta's Kelly Johnson was awarded home by virtue of Colorado's Taylor Buccholz.

Dodger fans have to look a little further back. By little, I mean about 20 years. Tonight was only the second "balk-off" since 1969, the other occurring on May 28, 1989, thanks to Roger McDowell and the Mets.

Ironically, tonight's ending was perfect... it brilliantly symbolized the great lengths Arizona traveled in order to award the Dodgers with victory that they most certainly did not deserve. However, you can't blame Arizona's manager A.J. Hinch. The poor guy must of confused Memorial Day with Christmas. It's an honest mistake... the holidays are essentially interchangeable. Hey, A.J: Christmas is the day for gift giving.

It all started in the bottom of the eighth inning with men on second and third and, wouldn't you know, two outs (I'm sensing a trend...). "Mr. walk-off" himself, Andre Ethier, stepped up to the plate and hit a routine ground ball to Kelly Johnson. If that name sounds familiar, it's because that's the same Kelly Johnson that was balk-offed by Taylor Buccholz in 2008. Not only did Johnson fail to cleanly field the ball, which allowed Ethier to reach first safely, but he also threw the ball away, allowing Furcal and Kemp to both score and tie the game at 4.

Why did the Dodgers to erase a 4 run lead in the first place? Because Chad Billingsly first two innings were horrendous. He gave up 3 home runs and a double. There's not much else you can say. Yes, granted, his next 6 innings were brilliant, striking out 7 (11 in total). Last time I checked, however, the first two innings aren't meant for warming up.

If it wasn't for Arizona's defensive collapse in the 8th and 9th inning, the Dodgers simply would not have been able to overcome that deficit. On the other hand, Arizona's pitcher, Rodrigo Lopez, was brilliant in 8 strong innings. Other than Furcal and Kemp and Manny (barely), the Dodger's offense was non-existent.

Flash forward to the 9th inning. James Loney led off the inning with a walk, and Casey Blake singled him to second. Personally, I was hoping Torre would have Russell Martin move Blake and Loney to second and third with a sacrifice bunt, and then have Blake DeWitt squeeze Loney home. Unfortunately, Loney decided to get pickled off after trying to unexplainably steal third while Arizona was looking the other way. Martin grounded out to second, advancing Blake to third with two outs. The rest is history.

The most surprising aspect of tonight's wild ending was the fact that A.J. Hinch did not bother arguing the balk. It was a questionable call... you can take my word for it. And yes, umpires will eject managers and pitchers for arguing balls, strikes, and balks, as exemplified by Mark Buehrle and Ozzie Guillen of the Chiacgo Whitesox a little under a week ago. Nonetheless, correct me if I'm wrong (I may be going out on a limb here), but, you can't get ejected from a game that's over.

The D-backs have lost 8 straight and have the 2nd worst record in the NL. Hinch clearly did not care enough to show some fight for his team; instead, he walked straight back into the visiting locker room, showing no emotion along the way. Hinch is long past "being on the hot seat," and, as tonight illustrates, he is fully aware. It's just a matter of time until the D-backs replace with him a new interim manager. If the Dodgers were on the losing end of that 9th inning, do you think Torre would have handled the questionable balk in similar fashion? Absolutely not.

Tonight's game confirms the old saying: "Bad teams find a way to lose; good teams find a way to win."

Lakers vs Celtics: Prediction

Is there a better topic for this Blog's introductory post than a preview of the the 2010 NBA finals? No. Accordingly, without further adieu, let's give it a try (go easy with the criticism):

The Los Angeles Lakers vs The Boston Celtics

Granted, it's not the Kobe/LeBron matchup that 99.9% of America wanted to see; while 99.4% is probably a more realistic number if you factor in supporters of the other 14 playoff teams, the notion of a Kobe/Lebron finals is so mesmerizing that I'm sure some of them wouldn't even have minded a sacrificial elimination of their beloved teams for a Kobe/LeBron finals, and thus the betterment of NBA entertainment.

Nonetheless, a Lakers/Celtics matchup is far from a disappointing alternative; I mean, they are only the two most prestigious franchises in NBA history and, thanks to their epic battles throughout the 1980's, arguably epitomize the greatest rivalry in basketball.

Those who simply enjoy watching basketball have been depressed since the Cav's we're eliminated on May 13th, thinking about the epic Kobe/LeBron NBA finals that could have been. Conversely, those who are true fans of NBA basketball, and subsequently appreciate the history of the game couldn't possibly be more excited for yet another Lakers/Celtics finals.

Clearly, LeBron James in the NBA finals is not the most exciting thing in the world.

I mean, c'mon: Russell vs. Wilt? Bird vs. Magic? Does it get any better? No. And anybody who saw HBO's "Magic & Bird" special can confidently give you the same answer without even thinking about it.

And then you got Kobe vs. well, probably the Celtics "Big 3" as a whole. But that, however, was only for 2008. Don't get me wrong, Ray Ray, Pierce, and Garnett are all going to play pivotal roles in this series; but this year, it's all about Kobe vs. Rajon. Yes, I said it: Rajon Rondo, the Celtics most valuable player. But we'll get to that shortly.

While the Celtics were not even close to the strongest team in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, this year's finals is a matchup of two teams that are playing their best basketball at the right time. You gotta give Doc credit: he persistently preached throughout the year that his team's play during the regular season was irrelevant, as they, most likely due to their average age of like 67, required a ton of rest and experienced countless injuries. Accordingly, according to Doc, all they needed was a top four finish in the East and a healthy starting 5 come playoff time and they'd be a team that others would not want to mess with.

Could he have been more spot on?

So, what's my prediction? Despite living in Southern California, I would truthfully have no problem picking against the Lakers, if I honestly felt as thought he Celtics were the stronger team; in fact, I'm not a Lakers fan. With that said, I can't do it; that's honestly not going to happen. The Lakers appear to simply be the better team in this series.

The math is in the matchups. For arguments sake, let's rate each team's match up advantage on a scale of 1-5, one being a very slight, and 5 being the equivalent of Adam Morrison guarding Kobe in practice...

Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant vs Ray Allen - Clearly, the Lakers have the better player in Kobe. He's playing unstoppable ball right now, and won't get that "I'm going to kill you" look out of his eyes until he gets another ring. While Ray Allen was the more efficient offensive player when they faced off in 2008, scoring approximately 1.5 points per shot compared to Kobe's 1.1, there's no doubt that Kobe will always be the better player, no matter who he plays. Lakers +3

Small Forward: Paul Pierce vs Ron Artest - This one's interesting simply because it's your classic offense vs defense matchup. Unfortunately for the Lakers, Pierce proved all throughout the Cavs series that he certainly has a defensive game hidden up his sleeve; accordingly, don't expect Artest to have anymore games like the one he had in Phoenix for game 6. Boston +2

Power Forward: Pau Gasol vs Kevin Garnett - A very even all around matchup. Pau has the stronger post up game, while Garnett has the more versatile range with his outside jumper. With that said, Garnett's game is slowing down: he cannot be relied upon for his consistent 20/10 game like he used to be. Conversely, Pau's in his prime, and is putting up solid double-doubles every night. Lakers +1

Center: Andrew Bynum vs Kendrick Perkins - This match up would go to the Laker's by a wide margin if it wasn't for the fact that Bynum is never healthy, and Phil consequently has been turning to Lamar in important situations. Still, Bynum is clearly the better player, and his potential is limitless. Lakers +1/2

6th Man: Lamar Odom vs Rasheed Wallace/Glen Davis - Clearly, this one goes to the Lakers. Odom would start on ANY other team in the NBA, and was deservedly a close second to Jamal Crawford for 6th Man of the Year. He's long, versatile, and has a Kardashian waiting for him in bed every night. On the other hand, Wallace and Big Baby are nothing but big, obnoxious bodies that Doc instructs to grab a board or two, proving that they're not completely useless. Rasheed should have retired after Detroit, and Big Baby said adios to the prime of his basketball career when he left LSU after his Junior Year. Lakers +2

Coarch: Doc Rivers vs Phil Jackson - WARNING: the following statement may very well be the most controversial statement I ever make: Doc Rivers vs Phil Jackson is a matchup that consists of the most underrated coach in the NBA and a coach that, at times, is sickeningly overrated. And yes, the underrated coach is Doc Rivers. Okay, I must admit, that may have come off as a little strong. At least give me a chance to explain myself. Phil is one of the greatest coaches of all time, and undoubtedly deserves his spot in the Hall of Fame. That goes without saying. I'm just sick and tired of people consistently making him out to be God's gift to the NBA coaching. Great, he has a championship ring for each of his ten fingers. Nevertheless, there are very few coaches in the NBA that wouldn't be able to win a championship with player combinations that include, but aren't limited to, Jordan and Pippen, Kobe and Shaq, and Kobe and Gasol; and don't get me started on the supporting casts that played alongside those duos. Additionally, keep in mind that Phil was also the coach that couldn't win a championship with Gary Payton, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, and Shaq - quite possibly the most talented and impressive starting 5 in NBA history. Then there's Coach Doc Rivers, who impressively transformed the Celtics into the laughing stock of the NBA into league champions in 2008 and Eastern Conference champions in 2010. Sure, I'm sure you're thinking that the additions of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are what led to the Celtics quick turnaround, and thus Danny Ainge, President of Celtics Basketball Operations, deserves the credit. However, as the aforementioned Payton/Bryant/Malone/Shaq lineup illustrates, a starting 5 composed of multiple superstars doesn't win a championship on its own. Additionally, even with their "Big 3," the Celtics did not defeat the Cavs and Magic in the 2010 NBA playoffs because they had better players. In fact, I still believe the Cavs and Magic had the stronger, bigger, and more talented lineups. The Cavs and Magic didn't get outplayed; they got outcoached. This realization certainly played a factor in the Cavalier's decision to fire Mike Brown after two 60 win seasons, and I strongly believe it's just a matter of time before Stan Van Gundy is on the hot seat, as well. Lakers +1/2

Point Guard: Rajon Rondo vs Derek Fisher - I decided to save the best for last, and by best, I mean my favorite matchup. Why? Because there is not a more enjoyable player to watch right now in any sport than Rondo, and he is the reason the Celtics are where they are. If they somehow defeat the Lakers, it will be because of him. He is not only by far their most valuable player, but is more invaluable to his teams success than any other player in the NBA (that may have not been the smartest thing to say just one day after Nate Robinson comes in and helps the Celtics light up the Magic with Rondo on the bench, but still). If I'm the Lakers, I'm worried. If Dwayne Wade, Mo Williams, and Jameer Nelson (all three of whom were all stars at least once in the last two years), how in the world do they expect an almost-36-year-old Fisher (who wasn't much faster when he was young) to stick with him? Remember that Kobe/Morrison matchup that was previously discussed? This may be the next closest thing. In fact, if I'm Phil Jackson, I put Kobe on Rondo, and have Shannon Brown chase Ray Allen around the court. Let's face it, Shannon may be the best built to fight through the several trillion baseline screens that Garnett and Perkins will set for Allen throughout the series. Celtics +4

The math speaks for itself. The Lakers, at +3, were the better team at 5 of the 7 positions. With home court additionally on their side, a Celtics victory appears unlikely. With that said, it is still going to be a very difficult series for the Lakers. The Celtics will not allow themselves to be eliminated on their home floor, and, due to the two-three-two finals format, the Lakers are subsequently taking the series in either 6 or 7 games.

Prediction: Lakers in 6

But heck, just as Kevin Garnett so admirably stated after winning the championship in 2008, "anything is possibleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee."