I'm sorry but I just felt the need to shout about this.

Can anyone tell me the last Dodger prospect to win a MVP award and get traded in the same year? Has it ever happened?

One other item of note about Mr. Santana. Matt Weiters is considered a fricking prospect God at the moment. He and Carlos Santana entered the Class A league at the same age. They both dominated, Weiters got promoted, Santana got traded.

That is all

As the Clippers salespeople were trying to convince me to shell out some coin for this team, they mentioned that they are having an opening ceremony for the practice facility in Sept, and that season ticket holders would get invited to the party. Anyone know anything about that?

This seems to be a head of schedule from what I remember. While I've been in disagreement with MDSR over how he runs a team, being on the forefront of getting this facility built is something that Clipper fans should be grateful for.

The Midwest League is not made for players who grew up in So Cal or the Dominican. The spring games are played on barely thawed tundra and if you have never played a baseball in weather below 60 degrees it can be a bit daunting to make the transition. San Fernando boy Andrew Lambo must have been counting the days until he got his promotion and last week he got his wish. I'm sure it came as a surprise to him and his fans who wanted to see him play closer to home in the Cal League when he was skipped all the way to the Dodger AA Southern League, but he seems to be handling the extra promotion just fine. He can say goodbye to Scott Elbert who gets the call to the big leagues and bide his time until he gets the same call.

For a guy one year removed from high school this is quite a jump but at the moment he is not in over his head. In his first 18 at bats the kid has driven in 11 runs and at this point has to be the best offensive prospect left in the Dodger organization. I know we are supposed to ignore RBI's and concentrate on the peripherals but my old baseball card skills keep getting in the way. Later we can look at his bb/k ratios' and his LD% but for now allow  me to get carried away with his 11 rbi's in 18 at bats. I need something to hang my hat on with the big club looking like the Tampa Dodgers while the Dodger Bays are looking like what we are supposed to be.

To me he is looking like the best hitting prospect since Matt Kemp was tearing up the FSL in 2005. The Great Lake Loons are our low single A affiliate. We have only been there for two years and I don't know what the park factors are but I'm starting to doubt the dismal offensive numbers our guys are putting up.

After several promising seasons, Carlos Santana went to the MWL and was awful for most of the year. Once he left that league he then went on to destroy the Cal League and win the MVP honors. He has left the Cal league thanks to Ned, and is now thumping the Carolina league. He is in fact even showing more power so for those who said he was a Cal League wonder they may want to reconsider that stance.

Anyway, back to Lambo. Travis Snider is considered by many to be the next great offensive prospect left with so many gifted hitters having graduated to the show. Lambo is only one year removed from HS and has already made the jump to AA, something Snider did not do until his 2nd year out of high school.

Ned has thinned out the minor league core but we can rest assured that Andrew Lambo and DeJesus will give us at least two top 100 prospects, maybe even top 50.

Following Nomar's walk off home run on Aug 13th, the Dodgers looked poised to make a case for being able to give the Diamondbacks a run for their money. That win tied them for 1st place, and it seemed like only a matter of time before they took control of the Western Division Race. The optimism of Dodger fans was at a season-high pitch, and with good reason. The team was clicking on all cylinders. The recent acquisitions of Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake, along with the revitalized Nomar, were just what the doctor ordered.

The Manny Honeymoon phase was still in full bloom and he was hitting everything thrown at him. Matt Kemp was growing up before our eyes. Andre Ethier was cashing in on his full time status. Jeff Kent was getting on base at every opportunity, And Nomar was playing SS like like he did in Boston. By Aug. 17, the Dodgers had posted a 10 - 6 record with Manny in the lineup and were still tied for 1st place.

Unfortunately the worm has turned. Since Nomar's walk-off, the team has been in a horrible offensive, offensive slide. This scenario should be familiar to Dodger fans, as it happened last year at the same time. The cast of characters are basically the same and so have been the results. Just like last year, loss after loss has piled up with runners waiting to be delivered, only to find that "Deliverance" was walking back to the dugout with his bat on his shoulder.

Wednesday's loss to D.C. was typical as the Dodgers as a team are unable to deliver with runners in scoring position. Home Run, single, double Play, home Run is how the 1st inning went. Andre Ethier had two doubles and a home run. All with the bases empty. When someone was on base, he came up empty. This type of performance can be cited up and down the lineup with no one free of blame. Until Casey Blake lined an RBI single late in the game on Wednesday, Eric Stephen(research analyst) noted they had gone 42 at bats without knocking in a run with runners in scoring position since last Sunday. Some of it was bad luck with line drives finding gloves, but some was just terrible at bats by a group of players whose experience should be on display during these tough times.

The numbers are spectacularly ugly during this 1 - 9 stretch but 6-4-2 has some fun facts about the losing streak. Even with this dismal record they are still in a pennant race because the team they are chasing is almost as bad. While the Dodgers were undergoing this dismal stretch the Diamondbacks were getting rocked by the last place Padres and have only been able to gain 3.5 games. On Friday Night these two pretenders will be meet in a head to head clash of the pathetic.

The race is close but does anyone really care when the teams involved seem intent on embarrassing the NL by winning a division with a winning % below 500? 

Ned, you are without a doubt the best person I've ever hired but as I look at my 18 million doller center fielder playing in AAA, my other 8 million dollar center fielder sitting on the bench, my 15 million ace playing soft catch for the last two season, my 15 million dollar SS taking a summer vacation, my current 18 millon dollar middle infielders showing the range of a failed AI contestant, the 7 millon I'm paying that clown you picked up last Sept, I think it is safe to say that no matter the good intentions, everything you touch turns to shit. You are just an unlucky SOB and I can't afford that kind of luck. On your way out can you ask Kim to come in. Say Hi to the kids.

Tony Jackson is reporting that the other Blake has been recalled. Osuna has been cut loose. I'm going to assume that DeWitt passed muster in Vegas at 2nd or they wouldn't be making this move.

This does give us a better option then playing Kent when he is tired or hurt and I for one can't wait to see Blake come in for defensive purposes when they double switch out Kent late in games. Of all the surprises this year, having Blake DeWitt playing 2nd base in Aug would be near the top of the list back in January of 2008.

As reported earlier this week in Blue Sparks, Blake has been on a hot streak.

Blake DeWitt gets off the floor and caps a strong 4 game stretch with a 5 for 5 game. All singles but over that 4 game stretch he collected 11 hits in 19 at bats including 6 XBH. He started the stretch by hitting two home runs on Aug 20th. He's been playing 2nd base every game

While Dodger fans ponder the latest inability of the Dodgers to find a way to score via the basehit it should be very familiar to everyone concerned. It was only a year ago when the same problem manifested itself leaving everyone groping for an explanation.

 Thu, Aug  2 box LAD  SFG  L   2-4       58-50    2     1.0  3:18 B Zito       B Tomko       56,000 -
 Fri, Aug  3 box LAD  ARI  L   0-1       58-51    3     2.0  2:32 D Davis      C Billingsle  51,582 --
 Sat, Aug  4 box LAD  ARI  L   7-8       58-52    3     3.0  2:55 L Hernandez  D Lowe        52,921 ---
 Sun, Aug  5 box LAD  ARI  L   0-3       58-53    3     4.0  2:19 B Webb       B Penny       48,803 ----
 Tue, Aug  7 box LAD @CIN  L   0-4       58-54    3     4.0  2:40 B Arroyo     M Hendrickso  22,057 -----
 Wed, Aug  8 box LAD @CIN  L   0-1       58-55    4     5.0  2:28 A Harang     C Billingsle  20,462 ------
 Thu, Aug  9 box LAD @CIN  W   5-4 (11)  59-55    3     5.0  3:35 S Proctor    V Santos      25,965 +
 Fri, Aug 10 box LAD @STL  W   2-1       60-55    3     5.0  2:41 J Beimel     A Wainwright  44,595 ++
 Sat, Aug 11 box LAD @STL  L   1-6       60-56    3     6.0  2:27 B Looper     D Lowe        44,260 -
 Sun, Aug 12 box LAD @STL  L   2-12      60-57    4     6.0  2:54 A Reyes      M Hendrickso  45,379 --
 Mon, Aug 13 box LAD  HOU  L   1-4       60-58    4     6.5  3:02 R Oswalt     C Billingsle  49,511 ---
 Tue, Aug 14 box LAD  HOU  L   4-7       60-59    4     6.5  3:01 M Albers     B Tomko       49,399 ----

So in a 12 game stretch last year we scored less then 3 runs 8 times thus resulting in an 2 - 10 record.

This year
Gm  Date            Team Opp     Score       W-L  Rank      GB  Time Winner       Loser         Attend Streak (+win -loss)
 Tue, Aug 19 box LAD  COL  L   3-8       64-61    2     1.0  3:20 U Jimenez    H Kuroda      46,687 -
 Wed, Aug 20 box LAD  COL  L   3-4       64-62    2     2.0  3:04 T Buchholz   J Broxton     48,183 --
 Thu, Aug 21 box LAD  COL  W   3-1       65-62    2     2.0  2:36 D Lowe       J de la Rosa  44,885 +
 Fri, Aug 22 box LAD @PHI  L   1-8       65-63    2     2.0  2:28 K Kendrick   G Maddux      42,620 -
 Sat, Aug 23 box LAD @PHI  L   2-9       65-64    2     3.0  2:41 C Hamels     C Kershaw     45,019 --
 Sun, Aug 24 box LAD @PHI  L   2-5 (11)  65-65    2     3.0  4:11 C Durbin     J Beimel      43,039 ---
 Mon, Aug 25 box LAD @PHI  L   0-5       65-66    2     3.0  3:00 B Myers      C Billingsle  40,873 ----
 Tue, Aug 26 box LAD @WSN  L   1-2       65-67    2     3.0  2:36 C Balester   D Lowe        26,110 -----

You would think having Manny instead of Hillenbrand would have helped but alas it has not. What is wrong with the makeup of this team that they are unable to deliver a simple single with a runner in scoring position? Are we to old and they get worn out(Kent, Nomar, Blake), to young and they are not yet used to playing in August(Kemp, Etheir, Loney, Martin)? I can't buy that.

Sample size applies to this whole shindig, but I just found it strange that we are replicating early August of 2007 in exactly the same way in late August this year. It certainly is not the quaility of the pitching. Not with the stiffs being thrown at us.  No matter what the reason, if they don't turn it around on a dime this team is destined to look more like Jon Weisman's 2005 Dodgers then the team I felt so optimistic about two weeks ago.

The optimism was based not on the past record of the Dodgers but on the fact I had hoped we had closed two offensive black holes at SS and 3rd base while greatly improving our offensive capabilities by playing the best outfielders we had. On paper it still looks good to me, but the execution is certainly lacking. Why teams go into offensive slumps is mystifying but it is becoming quite irritating that we do it in August.

I'm not sure what is more irritating. That the Diamondbacks can't put us a way and leave us with a glimmer of hope or that we can't catch such a flawed team. It doesn't help that our bench has reeked for most of the season but right now the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the starters who are just not doing the job.

Previous Blue Sparks

AAA Vegas Stats
AA Jacksonville Stats
High A Inland Empire Stats
Low A Great Lake Loon Stats

Player Highligh Beat writer Diamond Leung is reporting that  2008 2nd round pick Josh Lindblom has been promoted to AA after 8 appearances with the Loons in Low A ball. He dominated during his brief stay with the Loons showing exceptional command and dominance. The 21 year old will now get to ply his trade against more advanced hitters. He also reports that Great Lake Loon hitting star Andrew Lambo will make the jump with Lindblom to AA. So both are skipping the Cal League. I hope Lambo does not skip the Cal entirely next season as I'd like to get a look at him.

AAA Vegas:

Blake DeWitt gets off the floor and caps a strong 4 game stretch with a 5 for 5 game. All singles but over that 4 game stretch he collected 11 hits in 19 at bats including 6 XBH. He started the stretch by hitting two home runs on Aug 20th. He's been playing 2nd base every game.

Xavier Paul is trying to prove his future is not as a backup outfielder. After struggling in April/May, Paul is quietly putting together a fine season in Vegas. His OPS in Aug is now at 965.

James McDonald made two great starts but then failed to impress Ned on Aug 17th and the next day we acquired Maddux. Makes you wonder what would have happened if James had been able to throw a game like he did on Aug6th or 12th(10 K's in each game). After the debacle in front of Ned in which he gave up 5 runs in 3 innings his next outing was in relief. I think they are hoping he can help the bullpen in the near future.

AA Jacksonville

Ivan Dejesus just continues to rake. Easily the top prospect in the organization he is riding a 15 or 16 game hitting streak. I lost count but what I didn't lose count on was the power he is showing. He has a plus 600 slug % for far in August. For a punch and Judy hitter that is virgin territory he has moved into.

Scott Elbert continues to slog along in relief. Sometimes he throws a two inning gem like he did on Aug 8th and 13th when he combined for 9 K's in 4 innings but mostly he is just throwing 1 inning here and there with okay results.

High A Inland Empire:

22 year old Scott Van Slyke has been a worthless prospect since being drafted in the 14th round in 2005 and I've never had a positive thing to say about him. Struggling as usual he was shockingly  promoted to the Cal League but even in the high octane offensive league he was unable to mount anything substantial. Until this week, where he finally broke out of his career slump just long enough to bust out 11 hits in 5 games including one two home game. That multiple home run game will probably be the highlight of his career as it should resume it's slumber shortly.

Victor Garate continues to amass strikeouts at a dizzying pace, as he garnered 11 more last night. He is getting hit in the Cal League but he's still missing bats and has to rank as one of this years biggest surprises.

Jaime Pedroza is just about to bust over 300 for the 1st time this year. He really struggled in April but since then he has been busy posting an OPS over 800 each month including two months with an OPS > 900. Not bad for a middle infielder who nobody considers a prospect.

Down in the rookie league, Gordon and Baez are putting on a fielding clinic. Combined they have over 40 errors in the short rookie league season. They have two weeks to shoot for 50.

Three of the hottest players in August decided in unison to come back to earth on Tuesday night. Andre Ethier who was among the OPS leaders in August struck out his first 3 times up and finished with a weak fly ball to left field. Crowd favorite Manny Ramirez failed to bring in any base runners and finished with a simple single to centerfield, disappointing his dreadlocked legions. Kuo who had been death to left handed batters  took a close game and turned it into a laugher for the Rockies when he allowed Ian Stewart to take him deep for a 3-Run home run.

That is the same Ian Stewart who is actually producing at the level we hoped of for LaRoche. Some have felt that Ian Stewart was over hyped based on his production in hitter friendly minor leagues but in his first extended stint for the Rockies he's doing just fine.  Three weeks after becoming the regular 3rd baseman for the Pirates, .Andy LaRoche continues to look more like Andy Marte then the next great NL 3rd baseman. Another minor injury might be the culprit more then his talent but maybe he will be the answer to Andrew's question about which prospect who displayed this kind of power and patience, with solid contact skills failed at the major league level.

Russel Martin watched James Loney take a walk to load the bases and then proceeded to swing at the 1st pitch, and that was the last look the Dodgers had at this game. I'm not sure where his patience has gone, we have seen him take some walks this month, but we have also seen him swing at more bad balls then I can ever remember.

If Kuo and Broxton wear down we are screwed unless Penny can give us some life in the bullpen. Looking at the schedule after these last two games with the Rockies I'll be surprised if we come back off this road trip closer then 3 games. I was worried about this stretch of the schedule back in the spring, and now that it is about to start, I'm even more worried with Wade out, Kuo starting to resemble a human being, Broxton probably due to get used more then he can handle, and more innings for a middle relief core due to get manhandled. The Philly series could be ugly and by the time they get home they will be worn out.

Nomar Homer

The player who had been declared dead by the True Blue faithful hits another walk off home run and continues to lead the non dreadlock Dodgers in OPS+.

SInce Sept 1st 2006, Nomar has only hit 17 home runs but 3 of those have been some of the most dramatic home runs in recent Dodger history. The 4+1 game, the grand slam a week later and then tonights game. All walk offs, all during key pennant race games.

I thought that in each of those games he had been hitless until the walk off but I was mistaken. He had one other hit in the 4+1 game but was hitless in the grand slam game and tonight.

My eyes are probably deceiving me and Andrew will probably whip out some defensive metric showing how crappy Nomar is, but he looks okay to me defensively. Other then the throw on Tuesday that Loney saved, his arm has looked much stronger and accurate then I expected. His range is limited but he is not a statue, he has gone to both his right and left to make plays.

Just stay healthy

Joe Torre had one of his best managerial games of the year tonight. He put out the best lineup I've seen this year based on how the players have been doing. He picked the right guys for the relief work. Didn't hesitate to use Broxton in a non - save situation and realized that Johnson couldn't do any worse then Berroa or Osuna as pinch hitters so he let him hit and he almost gave him one more inning.