Dodgers Hit Wall

June 18, 2007

James Loney's face wasn't the only thing firmly planted in the right field wall Sunday. The whole Dodgers organization got a kick in the head.

And tell me you couldn't see that one coming. Thoroughly inexperienced outfielder, in a rout, looking directly into the sun, trying to catch his first fly ball in Dodger Stadium, and crashing into a previously-padded wall. That's so Dodgers.

I swear, if that scoreboard isn't down by the time the club comes off this road trip, so help me.

I am so pissed right now. While it might not be as bad as losing to the Giants, being vanquished by the bleeping Angels, yet again, is pretty damn close. Angel-red state Orange Couny embarrassing Dodger-blue state Los Angeles. Not fun.

And having to watch that useless mass of protoplasm and prototype-Devil Ray Mark Hendrickson for even one more second than is absolutely necessary is simply torture. Torture!! And now the club is considering putting him back in the rotation?! Please.

Hendrickson is the definition of dead weight. When the Dodgers visit Tampa next weekend, what do you say they ditch the poor guy. Just change the bus to the airport time and slip the memo under everyone else's door.

Oh, and like Jason Schmidt being re-disabled is a huge surprise. Couldn't see that one coming a mile away and a month ago, could you? The Dodgers always tread lightly when it comes to valuable arms, don't they? And you just knew that Schmidt's quieting the Padres meant a whole hell of lot, didn't you?

What's the tab for Schmidt and Juan Pierre now? $92 million? Right into the paper shredder.

Chad Billingsley should've been in the rotation to begin with. Any further delay is inexcusably lame. Anyone can pitch the bleeping seventh inning. Well, not Hendrickson, nor Brett Tomko, but any one of four or five guys currently in the organization, or who could be in five minutes.

It's not brain surgery. Just put Billingsley in there already. He's likely to jumpstart a Dodgers turnaround. Like the outfield wall, the answer is right in front of your face.

It took a stiff neck (another monster surprise), but Sunday also marked the miracle-upon-miracles day off for Russell Martin – his first this month. Yeah, he got to pinch hit one time, the slacker. And in May, not only did he pinch hit once, he even spent a whole day as a DH. Otherwise, Martin has caught every bleeping game since April, 62 in all, which leads baseball.

Grady Little talks about getting all his guys playing time, but also wants Cal Ripken behind the plate. Meanwhile, Mike Lieberthal just sits there like he's Jack Fimple or something. This is Little's one unexplainable shortcoming. Like Steve Garvey, with throwing.

Talkback: Speaking of slackers, what's going on with you people? I haven't heard squat from you lately. Bleep, if you're not going to exercise your inalienable right, maybe I'll just adios the letters section. Is that what you want? C'mon, I'm already pissed as it is. Don't make me come down there. Send in those comments…

Trivia: Who holds the major league record for games caught in a season? Hints: It's not Todd Hundley, and we've run the exact same question before…

Hitting Instructors: Either Ron Jackson or Gene Clines would be fine. As would Jim Lefebvre. Let's move forward…

Shamsky Memorabilia: 1969 Miracle Mets player and current Israel Baseball League manager Art Shamsky has some great stuff available online. Please check it out. Where else but ArtShamsky.com...

HGH: Hey, did you notice all the quiet coming out of Arte Moreno since Gary Matthews, Jr. started to look like not such a bad signing, after all? When all the world was reaming the owner for that big contract, Moreno couldn't stop yapping about Matthews' alleged performance enhancing drug use. Since then, not a peep. Jackass…

Political Prediction: I still say the Tiger Slam sounds like a breakfast at Denny's, but Tiger Woods will be the first black president. And the first athlete…

Media Savvy: If the rumor is true that the Dodgers are looking to switch radio stations before next season, I think a return to KABC is worth exploring. Or better yet, a return to KFI. Walter O'Malley understood the value of the strong signal. Perhaps the McCourts will too…

There's been a bit of a revolving door on Morning Briefing lately. All the contributors are fine, but Journalist Randy ought to give the assignment to Christine Daniels and leave it there. Daniels was the best writer on the MB, going back several decades. No exaggeration…

Looks like I spoke too soon about Michael Milken being out as spokesperson for Home Run Challenge. Very, very disappointing. Look, redemption is all well and good, but this business about being so public about it detracts from the effort. It's not cool. Is the challenge about Milken or prostate cancer? With Milken so out front, I'm almost tempted to root for the cancer. Not quite, but almost…

Trivia Answer: Randy Hundley caught 160 games for the 1968 Chicago Cubs. Yes, that includes 81 home day games…

Statue for Sandy: The Koufax in bronze campaign continues. Please Vote “Yes on 32.” And tell a friend…

Remember, glove conquers all....

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