Bleacher Report - Articles by Allen Lieu

Los Angeles Dodgers' Record-Breaking Run

Allen Lieu — Mon, 04 May 2009 01:45:26 -0400

The Los Angeles Dodgers are off to a hot start in the National League West. At the beginning of the season, question marks surrounded both the starting rotation and the inexperienced bullpen. The offense that the Dodgers employ is quite deadly. Each hitter has their strengths and weaknesses.

What has made the Dodgers so successful this season compared to previous seasons? For once, the Dodgers do not have to worry about who is playing what position.

In previous seasons there were not enough positions available for the amount of players on the roster. Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, and Manny Ramirez are locked into the starting three outfielder positions, where last year, Ethier, Kemp, and Andruw Jones were projected to be starters. Ethier has matured and blossomed into a player who the Dodgers can depend on. Ethier recently lifted the Dodgers to a 2-1 victory in the bottom of the 10th inning against the San Diego Padres.

The odd man out, Juan Pierre, is making a ton of money, but he is the Dodgers' fourth outfielder. He is a deadly weapon off the bench as both a pinch-hitter and a pinch-runner.

Both the left and right sides of the infield are set with Casey Blake taking over third base (the position that has been the black hole for the Dodgers), Rafael Furcal patrolling shortstop, and the super speedy Orlando Hudson taking over for Jeff Kent/Blake DeWitt. Loney has a few seasons underneath his belt and continues to show why he will be the Dodgers' starting first baseman for years to come.

The Dodgers' starting pitching is relatively young, with Chad Billingsley leading the staff with a 5-0 record. Behind him are Randy Wolf, Eric Stults, Clayton Kershaw, and the newly-added (former Dodger) Jeff Weaver. On the disabled list is Hiroki Kuroda, the Dodgers' prized free agent (before Manny showed up). Outside of Billingsley and Kuroda, this starting rotation does not seem to be as deadly as previous years. What makes this staff super effective is their ability to adapt to certain situations.

James McDonald, who started this season as a starter, faltered this past Thursday. He is more effective out of the bullpen, as his dominance was illustrated in last year's NLCS. Weaver seems to have reverted back to his old form, pitching like the old Jeff Weaver.

The bullpen is anchored this year by Jonathan Broxton, Cory Wade, Ronald Bellisario, Brent Leach, Guillermo Mota, Will Ohman, and Ramon Troncoso. Each reliever has the ability to get out of jams and bail the Dodgers out.

Troncoso has been the most impressive reliever outside of Broxton. Troncoso pitched three scoreless innings to preserve a Dodgers win and pick up a save, something that is not seen in today's game. Broxton has been lights out with seven saves, taking over for the departed Takashi Saito.

The Dodgers are a whopping 10-0 at home this season. They lead the National League West, and the closest opponent to the Dodgers is their hated rivals, the San Francisco Giants. If the Dodgers continue to win, they will break the previous record of winning consecutive home games. Here's to that perfect 23-0 record at home (for the month of May)!

Will Manny Ramirez Stay In L.A.?

Allen Lieu — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:20:33 -0500

It is ironic that Manny Ramirez, who became an instant Los Angeles icon after being traded from Boston, is still unemployed and looking for the lucrative contract that other free agents have signed. The Dodgers are the only ones who have put offers on the table!

This is coming from the guy who said "Gas prices are up and so am I!"

Well, gas prices have dropped significantly since Ramirez made this statement.

When Ramirez first arrived to the Dodgers, he commented that his grandmother had bought him his first jersey as a child and it was a Dodgers jersey. He said he wanted to stay here.

The first offer was a $45 million offer for two years with an option for a third year. This offer was simply ignored by Scott Boras, the best super villian agent of baseball. He thought the Dodgers offer was a joke and simply replied, "We're ready to field serious offers."

The problem, so far, is no one else wants Ramirez. He also declined salary arbitration, which was expected. When the Dodgers made a one year offer of $25 million, it took mere minutes for Boras to decline the offer, suggesting that the offer was not good enough. The Dodgers even deferred money for Andruw Jones so that they could use that money to resign Ramirez!

From the Dodgers standpoint, this offer looked brilliant. The economy is in the best state (just kidding), and Ramirez is yearning for the same type of money that he has seen other free agents receive. However, many of the other players signed to these big money contracts did not have the same type of issues that he had. The past, however, is the past. The issue is the present and the future.

The Dodgers want Ramirez. Does he want the Dodgers?

The Giants have publicly stated that they have interest in Ramirez. However, the Giants have spent a lot this offseason and there is a huge sense of doubt that he will sign with the Giants. Their outfield is already set.

The Yankees and Mets have publicly bowed out of the Ramirez sweepstakes. The Nationals have shown interest too, but he won't go from the super big market of Los Angeles and Boston to a small market team. The Cardinals do not have the money to sign him.

The Dodgers are continuing to have conversations with Boras. How long will it take for Ramirez to be wearing Dodgers blue? As I write this, I wonder, how low can Boras go?

Is a mysterious team going to come out of nowhere and sign Ramirez?

Will Trevor Hoffman Sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers?

Allen Lieu — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:02:46 -0500

It has been reported that Trevor Hoffman will decide which team he will sign with in the next 24-48 hours. Will the Dodgers sign Trevor Hoffman, or will it be the Milwaukee Brewers that will obtain the services of San Diego's former closer?

The Dodgers would seem like that they are not the ideal candidate because Jonathan Broxton is expected to fill the void left by Takashi Saito. Hoffman wants to close in order to reach the 600-save milestone.

If the Dodgers keep Broxton as their closer, don't expect to see Hoffman as the Dodgers' future closer. However, Broxton has, at times, shown sheer brilliance, but also has shown that he can unravel quickly when placed in pressure situations.

He has an amazing fastball, as illustrated in the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs, where he struck out the side in Game Three. Broxton's fastball can hit triple digits, but it is hard to continue to get batters out year long once they begin to sit back and sit on the fastball.

This example was clearly illustrated when Matt Stairs came up to pinch hit and effectively belted a Broxton fastball into the right-field bleachers at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers still need to fill their void in their bullpen. With the departure of Joe Biemel, the Dodgers need to bring a veteran workhorse in order to shore up the bullpen.

The Dodgers' bullpen is now relatively young. Hoffman could also serve the same role as Greg Maddux did last year, mentoring the young pitching staff. The younger generation of pitchers could certain pick up more than a few pointers from an established closer.

The Brewers need a closer because they do not have any internal candidates to assume the role. Eric Gagne, both former Dodger and Brewer, has departed Milwaukee as a free agent. Solomon Torres has also retired from baseball. It seems that Milwaukee is the better fit because there is a greater need.

Another deciding factor for the two teams is the length of Hoffman's contract. San Diego withdrew a $4 million offer. The Dodgers and Brewers may try to only sign Hoffman to a one-year contract with an option for a second year. Hoffman is a great pitcher, but he is not overpowering.

Another concern is Hoffman's age. In this day and age, only Mariano Rivera and Hoffman are the established "old" generation of closers. With the influx of newer, younger closers, the market for Hoffman becomes narrow. Will teams risk signing a pitcher who is near the end of his career?

Each team must realize that they are receiving Hoffman as is, meaning his arm does not have what it used to have. Every year, Hoffman faces the decision whether he will continue to pitch. After he reaches his milestone, he may decide to hang up the spikes,and retire.

In the next 48 hours, we will either see Trevor Hoffman in Dodger Blue or he will be donning a Brewers uniform.

Well Trevor Hoffman has accepted the Brewers' offer. The Dodgers will not have the services of Trevor Hoffman.

The Manny Ramirez Camp Has Finally Reached Out

Allen Lieu — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:34:50 -0500

Manny Ramirez's camp has finally reached out to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Manny Ramirez rejected the Dodgers initial offer of 45 million dollars for two years with a third year option. Scott Boras didn't even respond to the offer by the Dodgers and wanted "serious" offers. From what Boras was implying, two years was an insult to Manny. According to Boras, Manny was deserving of a five to six year contract!

So what kind of "serious" offers has Manny received so far?

Absolutely NOTHING.

Could it have been the antics caused by Manny's rapid departure from the Boston Red Sox? Could it be that Manny can't be Manny anymore, where no team wants to go through the same type of media circus as Boston did? Is it our horrible economy?

The Mets are mixed on whether they want to try to go after Manny. Omar Minaya, who wants Manny on his team, has been told that he cannot go after Manny.

The Angels could use Manny, but they just signed Juan Rivera to a three year contract and have an abundance of outfielders.

The Yankees, on their crazy spending spree, could shell out more money for Manny, but their outfield is also crowded.

Manny has been linked to the Nationals, but let's be honest, who is going to play for a team that has small market value and probably will not be in the playoffs anytime soon?

Manny may be a liability in left field, where he may not display his best efforts defensively. However, he makes up for this with his offensive skills. With one swing of the bat, he can changed the outcome of the game.

The Dodgers need a big bat in their lineup. Andruw Jones is not the answer that the Dodgers are looking for.

Manny may be in Dodger blue before we know it. Hopefully in the 2009, we will know where Manny and his dreadlocks will be!

Rafael Furcal New Three Year Deal Analysis

Allen Lieu — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:58:15 -0500

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Rafael Furcal are reunited once again with another three year deal, worth slightly less than his previous contract.

The deal is being reported at three years, $31 million with a player option/team buyout for a fourth year pending a physical. Just recently, the Dodgers had stiff competition for Rafael Furcal's services. He was seriously being courted by the Oakland A's, the San Francisco Giants and most recently, the Atlanta Braves.

Furcal is coming off an injury plagued three seasons with the Dodgers, where he was healthy for one of those three seasons.

Last year, Furcal played 36 games but started all eight games when the Dodgers went to the playoffs. With this new signing, Furcal becomes the focal point of the Dodger offense. He has speed, great contact and he has power.

Like fellow teammate Juan Pierre, Furcal can disrupt a pitcher's concentration as he is always a threat to steal. Furcal also shores up the left side of the infield. Casey Blake plays great defense at third base and Furcal has great range at shortstop. Furcal also has a cannon for an arm, making him valuable during relay throws.

Was this a good deal for the Dodgers? I wouldn't call it a good deal. I would call this a GREAT deal for these reasons.

First, the Dodgers signed the best shortstop available in the free agent market. There were rumors that the Dodgers were trying to trade for Jack Wilson and were ready to sign Orlando Cabrera if Furcal did not resign.

Wilson or Cabrera could not match the same type of role that Furcal plays in the Dodger offense.

Second, the deal is not that long and is back-loaded. Three years for a shortstop is a great deal. The player knows he will most likely not get traded. With Furcal's contract back loaded, the Dodgers can afford to spend more money right now. With Schmidt and Jones coming off the books after next year, the money deferred can help pay for Furcal's contract.

If Furcal can stay healthy, he will be a threat at the top of the Dodgers lineup. He is their true lead off hitter that can set the tables for the hitters behind him. If Manny resigns with the Dodgers, the lineup will almost be identical to the lineup in the playoffs. If Furcal stays healthy, the Dodgers have a better chance to go farther in the playoffs.

This new deal with the Dodgers shows other free agents that the Dodgers mean business. It has been a quiet off-season for the Dodgers because they have only signed Casey Blake and Mark Loretta. The Dodgers now have their infield intact and can turn their focus on pitching and bringing back Manny.

A month ago, Jamie McCourt's comments asked Dodgers fans to decide what they wanted free agents or 50 youth baseball fields. The Dodgers have now shown that they are committed to winning. The Dodgers have spent money this offseason and they will continue to do so in order to make the Dodgers more competitive.

2009 will be an awesome year.

Los Angeles Dodgers: The Beginning of Something Good?

Allen Lieu — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:41:11 -0500

Shortly after arriving in Las Vegas for the MLB Winter Meetings, Los Angeles Dodgers' GM Ned Colletti went to work. His team had a bunch of holes to fill and a lot of questions to answer.

Who was going to shore up the left side of the infield? Who was going to fill the void from the departures of Derek Lowe and Brad Penny? How about Manny? Is Andruw Jones going to come back and have a contract year?

In response, the Dodgers signed Casey Blake to a three-year deal, worth $17 million.

Contrary to what some people think, this was an absolute steal. Third base has always been a black hole for the Dodgers, where it has been a never ending revolving door of players.

If Blake had not resigned with us, Blake DeWitt would probably have taken over. However, DeWitt pretty much passed up triple-A, and last year was his first season as a major league player. He still needs to develop a little more in order to be the every day second baseman, much less make the transition to third.

The Dodgers also signed super- utility man, Mark Loretta. This is a great signing as he takes Nomar Garciaparra's place as the right-handed pinch hitter. This is a huge upgrade from Mark Sweeney and Delwyn Young. Loretta killed lefties last year and he can play around the infield. He also came cheap with a one-year deal.

Los Angeles still has holes at pitching, shortstop, and left field.

Rafael Furcal turned down the A's offer, so hopefully he'll come back to the Dodgers. They lost out on CC Sabathia, even though they didn't seriously court him to come to the Dodgers. However, his price tag would've been way too much for the Dodgers to handle.

It is ironic that he said he wanted to play for the Dodgers and the next day the Yankees throw in another $21 million.

Lowe doesn't want to come back to the Dodgers because he said they didn't offer him anything. However, throughout the year, he didn't seem like he wanted to pitch for LA. Hopefully they pick up somebody to shore up the starting rotation.

There do not seem to be a lot of suitors for Manny Ramirez. The Dodgers have been the only ones who have offered him a contract and that was turned down.

Who is going to offer him six years? Even the Yankees are not that easily fooled. It also has been rumored that Manny might retire if he can't get his contract. This guy is good, but seriously, how much more money could he ask for? I'm all for Manny signing with the Dodgers, but to get this greedy is insane.

Hopefully the Dodgers make some more announcements before the season starts.

By spring training we will know the outlook of our team for 2009.

Let The Free Agent Frenzy Begin!

Allen Lieu — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:03:45 -0500

Let the free agent officially begin! At exactly 9pm PST, 12am EST, teams can begin to freely negotiate with free agents. Instead of being able to negotiate solely with the team that they were with, the free agent now has the power to go where he pleases.

The Dodgers, this year, have an abundance of free agents. Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers prized left fielder who took the Dodgers to the playoffs, is now open to be bid up by everyone. He is represented by Scott Boras. Boras balked at the Dodgers offer for a rumored two years guaranteed, with a rumored third year for a whooping total of 60 million dollars.

I'm all for resigning Manny but if the man does not want to play here, then that's his decision, not the fans' decision, nor the owner or general manager's decision. So even if we do we resign Manny does that really help us? It still does not solve the outfield logjam of Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Andruw Jones and Juan Pierre. If you add Manny in the mix that's five guys for three starting spots.

Now if Andruw Jones somehow is traded (who will we trade him for and we'll be playing him 22.5 million to play somewhere else if we eat his contract), then Manny would make sense. The money freed up would be easy to use for Ramirez and his new contract.

How about our infield? We have holes essentially at second base, third base and shortstop. DeWitt did a great job last year filling in at both second and third base. However he did not look comfortable at all at second base.

Second base will no longer be manned by Jeff Kent, who is contemplating on retiring. Rafael Furcal who is injury prone would be a great addition to our defense and offense as long as he can stay healthy. Casey Blake might end up back with the Indians again.

We need to sign someone who can plug the holes in our infield. It has been rumored that we are looking into Orlando Cabrera. He mimics Furcal with his offensive stats but his defense is not as great as Furcal's. Every Dodger fan will be watching to see how our infield shapes up during this off-season.

The Dodgers also need to fill in their starting rotation, where we have lost Brad Penny and Derek Lowe. Penny was angry that we did not offer him another contract even though we held his option. Lowe simply just does not want to play here any longer. He is an East coast guy so expect him to be picked up by the Yankees or Red Sox.

In today's Los Angeles Times, it is rumored that Randy Johnson is on our radar. He is almost 45 but this guy is a beast. He will be a great pickup to mentor our staff. Could you imagine if we had Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux as pitching coaches? That would be insane! The Dodgers would have the hurler and the professor to refine all of our pitching!

The Dodgers, like the rest of the MLB, will be active during the free agent signing period. Hopefully we do not make any unwise choices in how we sign people.

ALCS 2008: The Better Team Prevails!

Allen Lieu — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:50:51 -0400

Congratulations to the Rays on your first appearance to the World Series!

The better team finally won! It is great to finally see some other team other than New York and Boston in the playoffs. The Rays, with their unbelievable season, have finally capped off their journey and are now in position to become the World Series champions.

The amount of Boston articles are going to skyrocket on various websites about the what could've happened but guess what? The Rays proved EVERYONE wrong. Who would've thought that by the time we reached the playoffs in October, the Rays would be champions of the American League!

The Rays are a great team, with great team chemistry. I'm excited to see them face the Phillies in the World Series.

If the Rays pitching can hold up, they will be a force to be reckoned with. The Phillies have a strong rotation as well, but hitters such as Utley, Howard, and Burrell have ben struggling to find their groove throughout the whole playoff series!

Rays in five.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' Offeason Outlook

Allen Lieu — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:23:57 -0400

Dodgers fans: First off let me say this was a WONDERFUL ride that we all went on. I know our city has been yearning for a World Series Championship, but I see this season as a huge success. Coming into this 2008 season, the Dodgers were not expected to go far in the playoffs but we proved critics wrong by stomping the Chicago Cubs.

We made it to the NLCS, where we were beaten by the Phillies.

Now that the season is over, we begin the rocky offseason. We have a lot of questions that need to be addressed.

Do we re-sign Greg Maddux? Do we pick up Brad Penny's option, or do we let him walk? Will the Dodgers sign CC to a lucrative contract? Is Manny Ramirez really going to get $100 million for four to six years? Who will fill the voids at second, third, and shortstop? What's going on with our bullpen?

Our starting pitching depth has shrunk almost exponentially, where Lowe will probably be gone and Brad Penny, who was huffing and puffing about his current contract, may be bought out. Penny has been the longest tenured Dodger who is still left from the Paul Lo Duca trade a while back.

This puts us with a starting rotation of Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda, Clayton Kershaw, and James McDonald. If you ask me, that is scary. Kershaw has shown what kind of stuff he has, but he needs to mature more. McDonald came through in the postseason, pitching a lot better than I expected.

If we do re-sign Greg Maddux, it will probably be as a coach. Rick Honeycutt, the Dodgers pitching coach, needs to go. Seriously. When Joe Torre came to Los Angeles, I was hoping that Duncan would be the only returning coach. Maddux offers so much insight that it is highly beneficial for the younger players.

If the Dodgers sign CC, it will solidify our starting rotation. Don't be fooled however, as CC did not come up big in the playoffs. The Brewers pretty much got their money's worth as they ran him out there for the maximum amount of innings. The Dodgers would be smart to not give him the same type of contract Barry Zito got, where he has not lived up to the expectations he was supposed to. CC can hit the ball (as he rocked that HR in Los Angeles this year), but a lot of teams will be trying to obtain his services.

Speaking about services, Manny Ramirez will be the most sought after free agent on the market. His defensive skills have always been talked about, but he makes up for it with his offensive prowess. In this year's postseason, Manny feasted on National League pitching. I have never seen a huge offensive player who took the team on his shoulders and propelled them into the postseason.

Manny, in my opinion, needs to be re-signed IMMEDIATELY. Here are some reasons why. The Dodgers need a power hitter who can change the game with one swing. The amount of revenue Manny brings in will offset how much he is asking for.

Think about it.

He brought in at least $20 million in revenue with increased ticket sales, his dreadlocks (I bought two for $25 apiece), and his overall presence at Dodger Stadium. Even though he is 36, he will still give the Dodgers that valuable presence in the lineup. If the Dodgers do resign Ramirez, that means Andruw Jones will probably be traded next year. I say sign Manny for $25 million a year with a player/team option for a fourth year.

The next question is who will fill the hole at second and third base? Casey Blake was a great pick up for this year's campaign. If Blake leaves, Blake DeWitt will most likely take over. DeWitt, who made the roster this year as the starting third baseman, was expected to start in AA.

He made the adjustment to hit major-league pitching, but I believe with another full season in the majors, he will be a great productive No. 8 hitter. DeWitt is versatile to play second base so don't be surprised if he starts there next year. If the Dodgers re-sign Kent (I don't know how Kent will last for another year), then he will be the starting second baseman.

The Dodgers should re-sign Rafael Furcal, but with an incentive-laden contract. Furcal has been injured the three years he has been here. Furcal needs to prove that he is healthy before the Dodgers lock him up. His three errors in the Game Five of the NLCS may not help his cause to get a bigger contract.

Who is our closer next year? Will it be Saito, who suffered an elbow injury and was left out the Dodgers NLCS roster? Jonathan Broxton has shown signs that he can be closer and also has shown that sometimes he just doesn't have it (NLCS Game Five).

I used to love the trio of Beimel, Broxton, and Saito. That was almost a guaranteed victory. Both Beimel and Chan Ho Park are free agents. I think signing Chan Ho as our spot starter would be a great signing, and re-signing Beimel again is a priority as he gives us the veteran lefty out of the bullpen.

Kuo, whose left elbow is super fragile, is still questionable. He has been in and out of the Dodgers bullpen. Hopefully his elbow will hold up. Scott Proctor is recovering from surgery, so we will see how he fares in Spring Training. Jason Johnson, who was used as our spot starter, should not be re-signed. There have been too many instances where he has come in and he just gets hammered by the opposing team.

We do have a lot of money coming off the books. Nomar Garciaparra may retire with all of the injuries he has had over the years. Sweeney, who hasn't really contributed at all this season, should NOT be re-signed. We will find another veteran bat with a better batting average. Schmidt is scheduled to pitch again for us (don't hold your breath) supposedly, and he will FINALLY pitch in the final year of his contract.

I shudder at the fact that Ned Colletti has over $60-65 million to spend this offseason. I hope he spends it wisely. No more locking washed up players for long term (Jones, Schmidt).

Well, according to Dodgers.com, Pierre wants a trade because he lost his playing time and Jones does not want to return to Los Angeles (what a waste of money).

Expect the Dodgers to do some wheeling and dealing.

Los Angeles Dodgers: N.L. West Champions of 2008.
Los Angeles Dodgers: NLDS Champions vs. the Chicago Cubs.

I know I'm being selfish, but I hope the Dodgers make the playoffs every year. Going to playoff baseball simply is a lot better than the regular season.

I bleed blue. Go Dodgers!

NLCS Game Three: A Dodgers Fan's Perspective

Allen Lieu — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:53:31 -0400

One of my previous articles was about Game Three of the NLDS. This article focuses on Game Three of the NLCS, which the Dodgers won, 7-2.

So if you're a Dodgers fan, you know your team is down 2-0 coming into this game. The current buzz surrounding the series are the pitches that have been dangerously close to our Dodger hitters.

Flashback to Friday: Manny gets a ball tossed behind him. Russell Martin gets one right near the chin.

Fast forward to Sunday's game. Russell Martin gets hit with a curveball on the knee. No big deal. Moyer didn't appear to be throwing at Martin intentionally. The Dodgers do their damage in the first inning, score five runs, and end up chasing Moyer in the second inning.

The Phillies bring in Clay Condrey for relief purposes. Martin is at the plate again. Condrey delivers a fastball high and tight to his face. Martin's face showed the look of a sleeping giant readying to go on a rampage.

Instead of mashing the ball, Martin hits into a double play. The cameras catch Martin slamming his helmet to the ground, throwing his helmet in the dugout, puffing his chest towards the field, then slamming a cooler.

This is exactly what the Dodgers needed and have been lacking. The Dodgers showed more emotion Sunday than in the other two NLCS games in Philly.

So what better way to vent that frustration than give the Phillies a taste of their own medicine? Hiroki Kuroda, the Dodgers' hero for the NLDS clincher, gets through the first two batters in the third inning. Shane Victorino comes up and Kuroda delivers a fastball above the head of Victorino.

Victorino begins to stare at the dugout and begins jawing at both Kuroda and Martin, telling Martin that if Kuroda is going to hit him, hit him in the ribs. Kuroda did what no other Dodger pitcher has done in a while.

He retaliated. Guess what? This is part of baseball. When I played baseball, if the opposing team began to throw knockdown pitches, your team would do the same.

The message is clear. You cannot bully your way with us.

Kuroda delivered the same type of message that the Phillies have been sending the Dodgers in this series. Joe Buck and Tim McCarver had been saying it was time for the Dodgers to stand up for themselves. They got their wish.

So after this exchange, Victorino grounds to first, Nomar Garciaparra steps on the bag and the inning is over, right? Just as Fox is about to cut their broadcast to commercial, the inevitable occurs when the benches clear. All of a sudden, a sea of Dodger blue and Philly red engulf the field.

Victorino is apparently jawing at Kuroda. Davey Lopes, the former Dodger, is squaring off with Mariano Duncan and Larry Bowa. Larry Bowa is a fiery man when he gets angry! Manny Ramirez has to be constrained by a slew of teammates. Manny is not happy that the Phillies have been throwing at him. Luckily, no punches were thrown and no one was ejected.

Warnings were issued to both benches and the game was relatively peaceful.

What irks me more is that when Victorino was interviewed after the game, he said Kuroda was the one who was jawing at him at first base. Replays clearly show it was Victorino jawing at Kuroda. Maybe Victorino doesn't realize Kuroda doesn't really speak English that well. Hey Victorino, the Dodgers have been thrown at for two games in a row. You think it might be fair that the Dodgers get some payback?

The Phillies have awoken the sleeping giant.

Anyway, the Dodgers beat the Phillies, 7-2. The momentum of this series will be decided in Game Four. Whoever takes that game will have the momentum after the off day.

NLDS Game Three: A Dodgers Fan's Perspective

Allen Lieu — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:46:04 -0400

Imagine that you've been coming to this stadium the whole year, uncertain of what the team holds. Then, all of a sudden, things start to fall in place. The Dodgers picked up Casey Blake to shore-up third base. The big deadline trade nets the future Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez. All of a sudden, the Dodgers are the powerhouse of the National League West.

Fast-forward three months. As I stepped into Dodger Stadium at 5:45 PM (the game starts at 7:00 PM), I realized that this was the place to be. I had never experienced a Dodgers playoff game before in my life, and boy, this had to be one of the most exciting days of my life.

The stadium in its beauty was filled to capacity. As I walked through the turnstiles with the ushers scanning my tickets, I'm handed a white Dodgers rally towel. I had seen in previous postseasons teams that gave these out to their fans to use to cheer on the home team.

I go to sit down in my seat in the loge section 139 (if you guys want to see my view, go to the Dodgers website and click on seating. You will get a view of where I was sitting or you can just look at the picture for this article) and I realize:

THIS IS GAME THREE. I AM ABOUT TO WITNESS HISTORY!!!

Not only was this my first playoff game, it was also an important one for the Dodgers. The Dodgers hadn't won a playoff series in over 20 years and had only won one game before taking the two from Chicago. Don't mind the fact that the Cubs are the N.L. Central champions with the best record in the National League.

I experienced Manny's first game and the atmosphere was electric. The game was sold out. This playoff game trumped that by 100 percent. Every seat was packed. There were a total of 56,000 fans watching the Dodgers battle the Cubs. Every seat was taken. No one went home early. The crowd threw its support behind Hiroki Kuroda, who managed to wiggle his way out of jams.

With every two-strike count, the crowd would stand on its feet. The crowed roared and groaned as one collective unit. I have never seen Dodger fans more excited.

Fast-forward to the ninth inning. The Cubs are facing our electric closer, Jonathan Broxton. This guy was throwing like a beast. His fastball and wicked slider were mowing down hitters left and right.

When the Dodgers recorded two outs in the ninth, the atmosphere became insane. With each called strike on Alfonso Soriano, fans were jumping up and down, high-fiving each other, and screaming their lungs out. When Soriano could not check his swing, Dodger Stadium erupted into utter bliss.

Even when the game was over, there were fans who stuck around to cheer on the Dodgers as they celebrated. Bit by bit, players began to emerge from the dugout, soaked in champagne. They sprayed water (that sends a better message than champagne) on the fans on the field level.

Russell Martin and Matt Kemp jumped on to the deck in the left field pavilion to high five Dodger fans. This was a sight to remember. Joe Torre came out to thank the loyal Dodgers fans that stayed to soak up the moment.

As I pulled out of the parking lot, I can't recall how many fans I high-fived on the way out. We all had the same joyous feelings of this magical season. Everyone was saying that all we needed was eight more wins to go, and we would be set! It took me an hour to get out of the stadium, but Dodgers fans were blowing their horns, as the Dodgers proved that records don't matter.

The Dodgers were not favorites to win. ESPN had picked the Cubs to win the series 3-2. Take that ESPN.

The Dodgers had finally won a playoff series in 20 years. It was quite fitting that the Dodgers would make it this far during their 50th anniversary. The Dodgers will be taking an extended rest before they face the Phillies in the NLCS.

I bought my ticket for Game Three. I love the playoffs and even more so when the Dodgers are competing for the opportunity to go to the World Series.

One last note. I wonder how it feels to go down the Five freeway.

Manny Ramirez Is the Key to the Los Angeles Dodgers' Postseason

Allen Lieu — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:16:27 -0400

On July 31, the unthinkable happened. Dodgers' fans were in a state of Nirvana. Manny Ramirez, the impact player that the Dodgers needed so desperately, was coming to Hollywood.

The Boston Red Sox had grown tired of Manny's antics in Boston and shipped him off to Southern California in a three-team trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

What kind of impact has Manny had on this team? The answer is quite simple.

Manny is that feared power slugger in the lineup, a role that was supposed to be filled by the mega flop of this year, Andruw Jones. Jones was supposed to provide the same type of impact as Manny, but he failed horrendously.

Instead, Manny has feasted on National League pitching, launching balls over the left-field wall with ease. He seems to get that timely hit when the Dodgers need it the most.

The Dodgers have not had somebody of this caliber since Gary Sheffield (sadly, he has grown into a player with a huge ego)!

I was at Manny's first game as a Dodger. The atmosphere was electric. The fans that were at the stadium waited in anticipation for No. 99 to come out on deck. The game was sold out in a heartbeat. I have never seen a player make this much of an impact on a Dodgers team.

The trade-deadline deals always make the national headlines, but the BIG headlines usually never happen to the Dodgers.

Manny also makes everyone else around him better. This is apparent with Andre Ethier, who has hit in front of Manny. He has since gone on a tear and hasn't looked back since.

Manny also keeps the clubhouse loose by blasting his music throughout it. He is always on base one way or another.

In Boston, they said he didn't hustle. The Manny I've observed gives it 110 percent! Sure, he may be something of a liability in left field, but what fielder isn't? Manny can be Manny here.

One of the most irritating things is the stuff coming out of the East Coast. Curt Schilling is constantly running his mouth about pretty much anyone and anything. I find it unbelievable that he has all of these things to say yet he has not pitched at all this season.

Boston won their championships with Manny. If they fail this year, everyone will know why. Ortiz does not have the same type of protection. The power void is supposed to be filled by Jason Bay, but he is no Manny. We will see what happens in October.

So, is Manny the key to our October? You betcha! As long as Manny's bat and dreadlocks (even though he cut them recently) keep propelling the Dodgers throughout the playoffs, be prepared for a great run! What a great way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Los Angeles Dodgers!

The Los Angeles Dodgers' Bullpen Is the Key to Their Postseason

Allen Lieu — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:17:34 -0400

The Los Angeles Dodgers' bullpen has always been a strength for the team. It is said that a team needs all of the pitching it can get, and in the Dodgers' case, this saying is remarkably true.

The bullpen consists of those guys whose job is to come out and throw strikes. As of right now, the Dodgers' bullpen looks like this:

Joe Beimel
Cory Wade
Scott Proctor
Hong-Chih Kuo
Ramon Trancoso
Chan Ho Park
Takashi Saito
Jonathan Broxton
Scott Elbert
Jason Johnson
James McDonald

Like most teams, the bullpen is either what breaks you or saves you during the game. Relief pitchers, by the end of the season, are usually running on fumes. You could look at the Arizona Diamondbacks as an example, where their starting pitching was great but when they went to the bullpen, it was another story.

You could also look at the New York Mets, whose bullpen leads the league in blown saves. That is a hire-wire act!

The Dodgers have suffered their fair share of injuries within the bullpen, as closer Takashi Saito went on the DL during a key stretch. Many Dodgers fans wondered how future closer to be Jonathan Broxton would do.

Broxton had excelled in the role as a set-up man to Takashi Saito. When it came time to step up, Broxton had mixed results. He would close out games and accumulate blown saves. However as the season progressed, Broxton took the reigns as the Dodgers closer and hasn't looked back.

Saito is back, but he looks like he could use a few more games (which there aren't that many left) to get his stuff back.

Our middle-relief corps is strong, with situational left-hander Joe Beimel and Cory Wade throwing nothing but strikes. Wade, a AA player called up to the majors, has shown why he is here to stay for a long time. Pressure doesn't bother him. He just comes in and gets outs.

Beimel is great with his deceptive move to first, where he pauses before throwing the ball. Talk about a way to throw a baserunner's timing off or a batter's timing off! Scott Proctor, before admitting he was injured, was really hurting the team. Every time he went out it was like he was throwing batting practice.

After spending a long time on the DL, he came back and has been a workhorse. Hong-Chih Kuo, the man that has had many surgeries in his pitching arm has been phenomonal. He is currently experiencing arm discomfort, but this could a be a result from fatigue.

Park is hit or miss. Sometimes he is on his game. Other times he is way off. It is a roller-coaster ride. However, this is his first season back in the majors after barely pitching last year.

Jason Johnson is great as a long relief pitcher but nothing more. Every time I watch him pitch, it is like he is serving batting practice to the other team. Quite scary because he usually pitches with men on base.

Elbert, McDonald, and Trancoso are callups (even though Trancoso was with the club in the beginning of the year). Elbert has filthy stuff, and I'm excited to see him in '09. Same goes for McDonald. Trancoso has a filthy sinker that he can use as his out pitch.

So, the playoffs are coming around and who makes the cut?

Here are my predictions.

Joe Beimel
Cory Wade
Jonathan Broxton
Chan Ho Park
Scott Proctor
Hong-Chih Kuo (if he doesn't go on the disabled list)
Scott Elbert (if Kuo goes on the disabled list)
Takashi Saito

Playoffs start next week. I will be at the first Dodgers home game. I bleed Dodger blue. 2008 NL West Champions.

UPDATE: Well I was pretty much right, minus Scott Elbert. Taking his place is Ramon Trancoso. We are carrying 11 pitchers.

Dodgers Surging Into The Playoffs

Allen Lieu — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:20:12 -0400

The Los Angeles Dodgers are in first place coming off only their third defeat of September. The Dodgers are now a team ready to go into the playoffs. With 11 games left, the Dodgers are well on their way to winning the division.

So why the sudden surge?

The additions of Casey Blake and Manny Ramirez (MANNY!) have helped to boost the Dodgers into first place. Ramirez, known for not hustling or simply just Manny being Manny, has been a huge acquisition for the Dodgers from the Boston Red Sox.

The Dodgers have that feared bat in their lineup and the man hitting in front of Manny benefits because he is able to see better pitches. Russell Martin was in that role and it didn't work out for him.

However Andre Ethier took full advantage of hitting in front of Manny and has he gone on a tear! The Dodgers outfield situation resolved itself with Jones stinking up the whole season, Pierre riding the pine and the three best outfielders were assured of their jobs.

Pitching has been great, even though our bullpen has some question marks. Can Broxton hold onto the lead as the interm closer? Even though Saito is back, he may reinjure himself (which I hope he will not).

Hopefully the Dodgers will continue to surge in a division that is theirs for the taking.

I will be buying my postseason tickets tomorrow. Go Blue.

Shaquille O'Neal's Rap: Disgrace to the NBA and Kobe Bryant

Allen Lieu — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:43:43 -0400

Lakers fans, we've witnessed what happened in the relationship between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. The "dynamic" duo played together with the Lakers, where they won three championships, but also had a huge falling out with one another after failing to win their fourth championship. Who meant more for the Lakers? Was it going to be Kobe? Was it going to be Shaq?

Well, Shaq got traded to Miami and Kobe was signed for seven more years to wear the purple and gold. Shaq took no time to blast his former team and take huge shots at Kobe. He promptly won one championship with the Heat before getting shipped off to the Suns.

As the years have progressed, Kobe and Shaq's relationship has always been under scrutiny.

Well, Shaq just brought himself down to an all-time low. I understand if you have "beef" with another player, but to be captured on video blasting your former teammate is just flat-out sad. Kobe did it with Andrew Bynum, but after Bynum started to play really well, it was put behind them.

I always thought that Shaq was a cool guy with the Lakers. He would always be messing around and joking with the media. Shaq is still a huge icon in the NBA, and he probably has a lot of people who look up to him. So, when little kids hear Shaq blasting Kobe, they might get the impression that it is acceptable to blast a teammate.

The NBA has tried hard to get rid of their thuggish image, but Shaq is just adding fuel to the fire. We all swear when we're frustrated ,but not to the point where you tell someone off.

Shaq was freestyling about Kobe and how without Shaq, he has yet to win another championship. Shaq does not realize that he's not getting any younger. Oh, yeah! Did Shaq make it to the Finals this year? The Spurs stomped all over the Suns.

Shaq said his rap was in plain fun. I guess throwing in some racial slurs and talking smack about a former teammate is all fun. Shaq even blamed his divorce on Kobe, which is just flat-out stupid. What next? Shaq is probably going to blame Kobe for rising gas prices or he might blame him for letting him get traded to the Suns.

His whole freestyle rap is also forcing him to turn in his two police badges, where his conduct is not up to par of a law enforcement officer. He makes police officers look back by freely using derogatory language and racial slurs to attack others.

Kobe has yet to respond, but wait until next season. If you see a blurry 24 dunking on Shaq, there's your answer.

Kobe has put this feud behind him. It's time to let go, Shaq. It's been almost four years since the split. No need to keep reminiscing about the past. Kobe still has a lot of left in him. I believe the Lakers will make it to the Finals again, and don't worry—Kobe might have more rings than Shaq.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Can They Break Out Of a Season-Long Slump?

Allen Lieu — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:56:01 -0400

Like many Dodger fans, I'm left wondering with this lingering question: What is going on this season?

This article will look at what has gone on this season, what is currently going on this season and hopefully what will happen during this season.

We have a new manager, a new coaching staff, a center fielder who signed for a whopping amount of money but has failed to produce, the outfield situation with four outfielders for three spots, and a bunch of "vets" on the disabled list who ironically are getting paid to be injured.

So let's start with the whole disabled list and vets who are basically taking up salary space. Andruw Jones, signed for $36 million, has made Dodger fans cringe every time he is up at the plate. I guess it doesn't help when you report to camp overweight and sluggish. It also doesn't sit well when every time Jones goes up to the plate, he has a smirk on his face. He's been doing it his whole time with the Braves but that won't fly here in Los Angeles.

This was the man who was able to launch HRs with ease, but now it looks as if he can't even make contact with the ball. You know it's really bad when the fans at Dodger Stadium start to boo him every time his name is mentioned.

Who wouldn't be angry? This guy was supposed to be our power threat, but we've had a huge power outage (not just Jones, but the whole team). Where is Jones now? He's on the disabled list having knee surgery. I really hope that this was the reason for his slump but only time will tell.

Jason Schmidt, the ex-Giant pitcher, has won ONE game. ONE GAME! How do you sign a three-year contract and have only one win to show for it? That's insane!

Every time Schmidt feels like he is "fine", something sets him back. Let's take the recent news. He is in Inland Empire in a rehab assignment and is doing well. However, he was hit in the calf with a ball, so who knows if this will set him back for another month. If he does come back healthy, then we might be in good shape.

Mark Sweeney, the veteran left-handed pinch-hitting specialist, has not really fulfilled that role. He goes up hacking, and usually comes up empty. I wonder how many more ex-Giants are going to make the roster. Last time I looked, this team was the LOS ANGELES DODGERS.

How about Esteban Loiaza? You know, the guy Dodgers picked up from Oakland's disabled list for $7 million or $8 million?

Where is he now? He got DFA'ed. Every time he pitched for us, I would get afraid. He'd have a 1-2-3 inning, and then the next inning he was serving batting practice for the other team. So if he doesn't accept his minor-league assignment, it will free up a spot for the Dodgers on their roster.

Nomar Garciaparra has constantly been on the DL each season he's been with the Dodgers. I feel bad for him, because his current injury has not healed and there's no telling when he is coming back.

The Dodgers sorely could use his bat, even though it's not what it used to be. He was our clutch hitter, but he needs to get healthy.

Rafael Furcal is in the last year of his contract. He is actually one of the veterans who is not sitting, wasting money. With Furcal in the lineup, the Dodgers are deadly. They have an experienced leadoff hitter who can hit for power, run for speed and pretty much disrupt the other team's pitcher and defense.

He's been out for a while, but once we get him back, we should be fine. His arm is a cannon and his range is huge. Chin-Lung Hu is not the answer as his replacement.

One of the lingering issues for this season was the outfield situation. There were four outfielders for three spots! Juan Pierre, who was signed last season for $44 million over five years, didn't take kindly to being demoted to the bench.

However, when he did get the chance to start, he actually started to produce. His offensive game is his speed and his ability to steal bases. He will not hit HRs (even though he came close in Arizona), but he will get on base! His outfield arm is not that great and this is why he was moved from CF to LF. The outfield situation has resolved itself with Jones going on the DL.

Ned Colleti, the Dodgers GM, has made some awful deals. You just have to glance up at this article to see some of the faults of his signings.

How about those other signings and trades? Julio Lugo, Mark Hendrickson (who is doing really well, ironically), Wilson Betemit, Ramon Martinez (even though he's with the Dodgers but on the disabled list), etc. He's got to stop signing ex-Giants too.

One way to disrupt everything is to get a new manager. Grady Little got fired, but we got Joe Torre. This coaching staff seems to be a lot better than the previous one. Bowa needs to use that FIRE he has in him to get this team to PRODUCE!

What are some of the bright spots for the future? The kids.

Russell Martin, our gold glove and silver slugger catcher, is the most impressive out of the bunch. James Loney, even though he is struggling now, was a monster when he first was called up. Look for Loney to get going soon.

Andre Either and Matt Kemp are the two corner stones of the outfield, even though one is usually displaced. Kemp has developed into a great hitter, and Either has rebounded greatly from that drop off from his first season as a Dodger.

Chad Billingsley is becoming one of the more dominant pitchers and he has filthy stuff.

How about that other new kid? You know, the guy with the long blond hair. That lefty... Clayton Kershaw. Even though he was knocked around by the Mets, he has some crazy stuff. That curveball is nasty. His fastball is electric. If Schmidt doesn't come back, and Kershaw steps it up, we will be good!

The bullpen has been amazing, even though Saito and Broxton have blown a few games.

The starting pitching could use some help. Billingsley has a bad record because the Dodgers couldn't buy a run in the beginning of the season. Penny has not been the same pitcher, and he keeps getting rocked when he starts. It's always ONE inning that does him over.

The Dodgers have a buyout on Penny's contract. Hopefully he picks it up. Lowe frets when he gets into tough situations. This is his last year of his contract and he will most likely be leaving.

Kuroda, the Japanese import, has his good and bad days. If the Dodgers could score some runs for him, his record would be better.

How can the Dodgers improve? They need that fire, that intensity that they have not shown this year. Once they figure it out, the Dodgers will be ready to win. We need to win. It's been too long without a WS banner.

2008 has got to be our season!